There are a host of high-end applications that most consumers will never see - even beyond the capabilities of IMAX theaters. Deep inside corporate R & D centers, universities and military bases are exotic facilities that portray exquisite ultra-high definition renderings of oil & gas deposits, organic molecules, complex machinery, terrestrial landscapes or urban jungles.

John DiLoreto
Analyst and Editor for
Insight Media

The multiple projectors used in these costly facilities can run over $1M and are seamlessly edge-blended over an expansive field of view, comprising millions upon millions of pixels. However, increasingly, there are settings where the public can get a glimpse of such awe-inspiring projection imagery. Have you visited your local planetarium lately? There are changes afoot in this high-growth application for high-end displays.

One example in the news this week is an installation that has emerged as the UK’s largest digital planetarium. Located near the historic city of Winchester, the INTECH Science Centre, has upgraded their domed amphitheatre with six SXGA+ (1400 x 1050) single-chip DLP projectors from projectiondesign (Fredrikstad, Norway; www.projectiondesign.com).

The Science Centre aims to inspire and excite young people about science and technology and already draws around 90,000 visitors a year. It was originally built in 2002 with a dome structure that was used for science shows and as a corporate and conferencing facility.

The INTECH dome measures 54 feet across and currently seats 176. The six F30 sx+ projectors provide a total resolution of over 8M pixels on the domed screen surface. The overall effect is enhanced by 160 segments of LED cove lighting, stage spotlights and audience floodlights, all wirelessly controlled. The whole set-up also benefits from remote diagnostics, enabling engineers to access status and provide 24/7 assistance.

The dramatic transformation of an auditorium into a state-of-the-art planetarium, was performed by immersive theatre design and integration specialist Global Immersions, which also integrated 8-channel sound, server playback and wireless control. In addition to providing all of the technology for the project, the company has also produced a custom show called "Neighbourhood Earth" that can be adapted by the presenter, depending on the audience profile by the integrated Media Director software.

The project was the first to be won by Global Immersion since its management buyout from systems integrator SEOS last summer. The company is currently working on ten other similar theatres around the world.

Indeed, digital planetariums and other domed amphitheatres is a growing business. According to the Journal of the International Planetarium Society, the number is skyrocketing past IMAX theaters, as shown in the accompanying chart.

So go check out your local planetarium. In addition to learning something about the universe you live in, you might see some very advanced digital projection technology.

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