Designed for use with a Crestron® V-Panel™ HD Touch Screen Display[1,2], the DGE-2 Digital Graphics Engine allows for a very streamlined touch screen installation by placing the bulk of the electronics out of sight at the central equipment location. Mounted within an equipment rack, the DGE-2 connects directly to the head end AV sources, switchers, and control network, while the touch screen display can be up to 450 feet (137 meters) away with just a single cable between them[3].

　　The DGE-2 delivers the ultimate touch screen experience with the latest high-definition graphics technology powered by our groundbreaking Core 3 UI™. Additional features include extensive connectivity for displaying HD video from external AV and computer sources, plus high-performance H.264 streaming video, onboard multimedia and Web browsing, IP Intercom[4], and built-in annotation. The DGE-2 supports HDCP and enables full integration with a complete range of digital and analog devices via HDMI®, DigitalMedia™, Ethernet, and various analog connections.

　　Powered by Core 3™

　　Crestron touch screens have always offered the ultimate user experience. With Core 3 UI, they also deliver the ultimate value, enabling the creation of dynamically rich user interfaces with incredible efficiency and unparalleled functionality. Using Core 3 UI, programmers can swiftly integrate fluid gesture-driven controls, animated feedback, metadata, embedded apps, and full-motion video for a deeply engaging and ultra-intuitive touch screen experience.

　　Some Core 3 UI enhancements:

　　Cool-looking graphical buttons, sliders, knobs, and gauges are intuitive and fun to use.

　　Kinetic effects enhance the feeling of realism with lists and toolbars that scroll with momentum at the flick of a fingertip.

　　Drag-and-drop objects snap into place offering an easy way to assign assets to rooms.

　　Desktop widgets personalize the touch screen with animated clocks, calendars, weather, news, and other information.

　　Customizable themes allow a completely different look and feel for every user, event, or season.

　　Fully-developed SmartObjects™ enable sophisticated control over complex devices with minimal programming.

　　Smart resizing scales objects perfectly and instantly for faster GUI development — even across different sized touch screens.

　　Embedded PC Applications

　　The DGE-2 provides everything you need to enjoy online music and videos, browse the Internet, and even review digital documents, all on your touch screen display without a separate computer. With Microsoft® Internet Explorer® embedded, you have full access to the entire World Wide Web including sites that use Flash® or Java™. Windows Media® Player ensures broad compatibility for playing most types of digital media. Adobe® Acrobat® Reader and Microsoft PowerPoint®, Word, and Excel® document viewers complete the online experience, allowing you to download and view documents and presentations.

　　In addition, VNC Viewer support delivers enhanced cross-platform interaction with computers over the network or Internet, allowing remote access and control of desktop applications to unleash a host of possibilities for system integration and multimedia presentation.

　　HD Streaming Video

　　High-definition streaming video capability makes it possible to view security cameras and other video sources over the network right on the touch screen. Native support for H.264 and MJPEG formats allows the DGE-2 to display live video images from Web cameras and servers such as the Crestron CEN-NVS200 Network Video Streamer[1]. And, through its embedded Web browser and media player, it supports a wide variety of other streaming and downloadable video formats, enabling access to all kinds of content from media servers and Web sites like YouTube® and Netflix®[5].

　　HDMI® and Analog Video

　　In addition to handling streaming video, the DGE-2 also provides extensive connectivity for more conventional types of sources including HDMI. The DGE-2 can simultaneously generate two fully-scalable, full-motion video windows, each supporting SD or HD video and high-resolution computer signals from external digital and analog sources.

　　Input connections include two HDMI, two RGB, and two multi-format analog video. The HDMI inputs support digital HD sources including HDMI, DVI, and DisplayPort Multimode[6]. The RGB inputs handle high-resolution analog VGA computer sources, and the multi-format video inputs accept analog composite, S-Video, and component HD video sources. External audio signals are handled by the HDMI inputs, and by a single analog line input.

　　HDCP Support

　　Industry-leading support for HDCP (High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection) ensures seamless compatibility with content-protected DVD, Blu-ray Disc®, digital HDTV, and multimedia computer sources.

　　IP Intercom[4]

　　Using the microphone and speakers built into the V-Panel display[1], the DGE-2 supports 2-way voice communication via a choice of IP or Crestron Home (CH) CAT5 wired intercom. Crestron IP intercom eliminates the need for dedicated audio wiring, enabling 2-way speech and room monitoring over Ethernet with other compatible Crestron touch screens.[4] Wired analog intercom is also supported through a dedicated CAT5 audio connection to a C2N-IADS30X24[1] or other CH CAT5 switcher or processor.

　　Keyboard/Mouse Options

　　On-screen keyboard and mouse capabilities enable complete control of the DGE-2's embedded Web browser and other applications, and can also be used to control computers running TouchPoint™ Virtual Mouse & Keyboard Software (VMK-WIN). USB ports are also provided on the front and rear of the DGE-2, and on the V-Panel display[1], allowing for the connection of a physical keyboard and mouse.

　　Real-Time Annotation

　　Whether conducting a high-level boardroom meeting, training seminar, or watching sports in your home theater, annotation helps put the fine point on any presentation. Native to the DGE-2, annotation provides the ability to illustrate your thoughts on-the-fly, letting you draw and write over high-definition video and computer images, and sketch out ideas on a whiteboard screen, without leaving the podium or your favorite chair while other viewers watch on the big screen.

　　Remote Annotation

　　Remote annotation capability allows multiple touch screen users to draw with their fingertips over the same video image or whiteboard screen, enabling enhanced interaction between several participants in a courtroom, classroom, or council chamber.

　　Presentation Output

　　Through its HDMI output, or via a DigitalMedia system, the DGE-2 allows the touch screen image to be sent to additional display devices, allowing videos, PowerPoint presentations, annotation, and other on-screen media to be shared with a live audience.

　　DigitalMedia™

　　DigitalMedia (DM®) connectivity opens up new ways to configure a touch screen control system. For instance, using a DM switcher such as the DM-MD8X8[1], multiple touch screens can be connected to a single DGE-2, providing a simple, cost-effective way for multiple participants to view and control the same graphical interface. DigitalMedia also provides a versatile means for distributing touch screen content to a larger audience, routing the DGE-2's DM output to feed additional video displays and sound equipment.

　　V-Panel Connectivity

　　The DGE-2 features a DM CAT type output, supporting the direct connection to a V-Panel touch screen model V12 or V15[1]. It can also connect to any DM switcher or receiver equipped with a DM CAT input. A single DigitalMedia cable carries all video, audio, Ethernet, USB, control, and power signals up to 450 ft (137 m) between the V-Panel and DGE-2.[2,3]

　　The DGE-2 is also compatible with the V24R-C series of V-Panel 24" HD Touch Screen Displays[1]. A DigitalMedia 8G+™ transmitter (DM-TX-201-C or equivalent)[1] provides the interface between the DGE-2's HDMI output and the DM 8G+™ input of a V24R-C. Alternately, when feeding a V24R-C display through a DM switcher, the DM 8G+ transmitter is not required.