Dataton brings more style to control at ISE

At ISE for the 12^th year in a row, Dataton will give a sneak peek at the next version of its WATCHNET manager system, plus hot new features in its WATCHOUT multi-display software. The upcoming WATCHNET release focuses on user interface customization, adding further creative tools for integrators and their design-savvy users, taking WATCHNET out of the control room and firmly onto the show floor.

WATCHNET is web-based control software for Dataton WATCHOUT multi-display systems. With WATCHNET at the helm, the integrator/user gets interactive control of unlimited WATCHOUT shows from an unlimited number of custom-designed panels. The new WATCHNET version, previewed at ISE, adds a range of features to the panel design interface; improves workflow for panel designers, and offers video playback as a component in the panel design.

“The new skinning features add a whole new design level to the system. They open up for greater creativity in the UI appearance and make it possible to really tailor the panel's look for the client or user,” explains Miroslav Andel, Chief Software Developer at Dataton. “For example, an exhibition designer could incorporate the design theme or idiom of the exhibition into public panels, or a corporate graphic profile could be clearly reflected in the control panel on the front-desk.” What's more, with new video playback and image handling features, a WATCHNET panel becomes a communication medium in itself – as well as controlling WATCHOUT shows and external events.

The WATCHOUT shows on the Dataton stand at ISE are, of course, controlled from WATCHNET, running on iPads. The control panel mirrors the esthetics of the main stand show which centers around a polar landscape. The designer, MOOV, has incorporated the Nordic theme of the stand into backgrounds and buttons, even down to a polar bear as the volume slider.

New WATCHOUT features previewed at ISE include a Stage List with a hierarchical view of tiers and displays to make selection easier in complex shows. The upgrade will also introduce Auto Save, Auto Refresh and a right-click contextual menu to make workflow even smoother. Support for additional 3D file formats (BLEND, FBX) will be added, plus a range of enhancements of existing features.

See WATCHOUT and WATCHNET in action at ISE 2016, stand 11 F-68