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Need help writing shell program - 4/4/2008 1:24:00 PM

DaveT2

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Not related to Studio or Vegas or anything.

I have a client who runs a program that is a Director file. If you are familiar with director files, this will make sense to you. The file has an Attract loop that runs until someone touches the screen (mouseclick equivalent) and then it goes to these quizzes. If after a certain amount of time, no one touches the screen (such as they walk away during the quiz) it returns to the attract loop. All enclosed in the program.

When they made the attract loop, they did not think about screen burn-in, and as a result they trashed some monitors (42"LCDs) after a couple of years.

I can create a screensaver type attract loop, but the director program is locked (created by a third party) and they won't unlock it for us to change out the attract loop. IF you are still with me, here is what I am trying to do.

I would like to have the director program and my attract loop (avi, mpeg, flash or whatever) running at the same time. IF there is no mouse action after a timed period, then my attract loop plays. Once the screen is touched, then the other program takes focus and starts the quiz. As you can see, two mouse clicks would be needed, but we don't want the customer to have to touch the screen twice. And during the quizzes, the mouse screen only needs to be touched for each answer. And then the cycle repeats, no activity, back to my attract loop.

Any ideas on a shell program to run this?

And if you have questions, please ask. It is confusing.

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RE: Need help writing shell program - 4/4/2008 2:24:37 PM

bittmann

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Now, that's ugly...I wish I could help you, but I'm not able to figure out how to participate in this mess with a shell script of any sort.

No way that you can emulate the behavior that you're after with a properly-configured screen-saver? That sounds like what a reasonable screen-saver is *supposed* to do...

And, FWIW, it's my understanding that LCDs "age", but they don't necessarily "burn in". If you leave an LCD on 24x7, the backlight can go soft, but you shouldn't have burn-in from simply running a loop. Plasma? Definitely! (You sure it wasn't plasma?)

Now, as far as making the hardware last, the best thing to do (IMO) is to turn off the screens when no one is around. You can double-to-triple the life of the hardware if the screens are only burning for 8-10 hours per day.

Anyway, that's all I can come up with in my limited experience. I'd run a decent screen-saver and call it good, if you're running on Plasma screens. If you're running on LCD screens? Not sure that there's a lot that will make things better except for limiting the actual run hours.

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RE: Need help writing shell program - 4/4/2008 4:53:27 PM

DaveT2

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Yeah, you can burn an LCD, believe me. This was a 42" Sony LCD, and I have it in my basement right now. When you turn it on, you can see the image that was on it a month ago. These set on this static text probably about 80% of the time. I also can see the lines on my 19" LCD at work when I leave a high contrast image on for a couple of hours.

Thanks for the input. A normal screensaver works except you have to touch the screen once to wake up the program and then again to activate it. We are trying to avoid this. Once and done.

< Message edited by DaveT2 -- 4/4/2008 4:57:47 PM >

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RE: Need help writing shell program - 4/4/2008 5:26:25 PM

gjslaw

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Not worth talkin' about around here.

Dave, maybe your screensaver can have bouncing text that says "Touch here TWICE."

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Post #: 4

RE: Need help writing shell program - 4/4/2008 7:55:05 PM

DaveT2

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Greg,

You might have said that in jest, but we have seriously considered it. It might be our only option. These monitors cost about $3000, and I think they want them to last a bit longer.

I just know that people in a museum, are not going to wait for something to happen if it doesn't happen when they expect. It needs to respond quickly and easily to hold their attention.

Thanks.

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Post #: 5

RE: Need help writing shell program - 4/4/2008 8:23:56 PM

bittmann

In the meantime--

LCDs don't really get "burn in" per se -- instead, the crystals take a "set". It may be possible to "un-burn" in the display by "leveling" the color (e.g. set the brightness down as low as it'll go, and then run a solid white screen for a few days. Then, display rotating colors, or something like a movie, or static, or some such for a few more days. That *may* cause the liquid crystals to relax and the "burn-in" to go away.

Maybe.

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RE: Need help writing shell program - 4/4/2008 8:36:50 PM

dun4cheap

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This would not be done with a script. It would require subclassing the other program and creating some hooks.

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RE: Need help writing shell program - 4/5/2008 6:25:03 AM

DaveT2

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Bittmann, that's what I was planning on doing. Unfortunately, after getting the monitor home I realized there were other issues in addition to the setting. These were mounted vertically with no ventilation, so the right side of the screens (which would have been the top) are streaking and blurring real bad. We think some caps have gone, but I have not had time to investigate.

Ed, Yeah I am finding this is quite a programming feat. That is why I am asking here, but so far, and I have consulted several people, this seems like a task that is not easily accomplished.

If it wasn't for the politics of the situation, we would just ask the company that did the original director file to replace the attract screen with the screen saver style screen. Not my call though.

I did just check the monitor I have downstairs and the burn in has dissipated. I can no longer see the image that was retained before. Now I will see how long before the right side goes wonky.

< Message edited by DaveT2 -- 4/5/2008 8:16:23 AM >

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