MediaCAST Viewer and MediaCAST Viewer HD—IP media player and display control

MediaCAST Viewer is a small form-factor computer used to play streaming video, audio and other digital content on displays throughout an organization.  They work in harmony with a client's LCDs, plasma screens and traditional televisions.  Sometimes referred to as a set-top box or decoder, they convert IP-based digital content into a format that can be viewed in analog or digital format on most displays and monitors. 

MediaCAST Viewers are most commonly used in entryways, hallways, offices, auditoriums, staff lounges and lunchrooms where access to content is needed but a PC is not convenient or desired. They support both on-demand media (in a pull scenario where the user requests programming) as well as live broadcasts and digital signage playlists with automatic sequencing of conent (in a push scenario).

MediaCAST Viewer has an available handheld remote control and a wireless keyboard option.  With its simplified TiVo-style interface it is easy to browse the digital library, view live IP TV channels and access Kiosk Central digital bulletin boards and playlists.

In addition to streaming and decoding content, MediaCAST Viewers have built-in ability to control the displays/monitors.  Through the centralized management tools in Kiosk Central an unlimited number of "zones" can be created within a building, campus or across an entire dispersed organization.  These zones are similar to traditional paging zones but are now equipped with multmedia allowing streaming video, audio and digital files to be played during announcements and communication broadcasts.  

If an all-call (or emergency-mode) broadcast is done using Kiosk Central the MediaCAST Viewers located within the specified broadcast zone will automatically turn on the associated displays, set them to the correct input and begin playing the broadcast.  After the broadcast is done the displays will be turned off or can be set to resume playing their last TV channel or an automatic bulletin board message. 

The control functionality is supported through either an RS-232 port on the display or an IR (infrared) emitter mounted to the display.  A brand neutral approach is supported with the system so that control codes can be entered for almost any type of display supporting RS-232 or IR.  The built-in all-call feature is generally a prescheduled event that can be set to reoccur at a given date and time, whereas emergency mode is a broadcast of information that needs to be started immediatly.

MediaCAST Viewers are a superior solution to most set-tops in the market because they are non-proprietary towards content type.  They support the ability for digital bulletins, all-calls and emergency broadcasts to include media of any format including the full range of insustry-standard video and audio formats—not just video in one or two formats like many proprietary set-tops on the market. 

With MediaCAST Viewer you are able to incorporate any media resource stored in the MediaCAST digital library or upload resources and have them included in a digital bulletin board playlist or virtual TV channel.  With this flexibility, it is easy to have students do the morning announcements starting with a live video broadcast followed by self-running PowerPoint slides, then the Weather Channel Website, district news bulletins, a Flash presentation and finally a PDF of the new policy changes.    

MediaCAST supports automatic “push out” of your digital bulletin boards and live broadcasts on your instructor computers using our PCListener software.  This lightweight software installs on any Windows computer and launches a broadcast automatically when it receives an announcement from the Kiosk Central system.  They can be started at will, or on a predetermined date and time schedule.  

MediaCAST Viewer is a small-form-factor, multimedia decoder that requires only power and an Ethernet connection. It can display content on almost any type of monitor using s-video, composite video, VGA and optionally HDMI support for those HD applications.