How to use ChromeBox for Immersive display

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How to use ChromeBox for Immersive display

PostedSeptember 12, 2024
UpdatedOctober 24, 2024

The Benefits of Adopting Chromebox

Chromeboxes have emerged as powerful tools in educational and professional settings, offering numerous advantages such as cloud-based collaboration through Google Workspace, easy management via Google Admin Console, cost-effectiveness compared to traditional desktop solutions, and robust security features with automatic updates. Complementing this technology, immersive display is gaining traction across various industries, offering enhanced visual experiences and engagement. This innovative display method utilizes multiple projectors or displays to create large, seamlessly combined image and offer views stunning, immersive visual experience.

Options for Using Chromebox as Input Source for Immersive Projection

When integrating a Chromebox into an immersive projection setup, following options are available:

  1. Dedicated Hardware: Simplifies setup and eliminates the need for a powerful PC no matter you opt for projectors with built-in edge blending and warping functions or not.  
  2. Capture Card + PC:  When you are limited to use edge blending and warping software.

Method 1: Dedicated hardware

  • Connect Chromebox to Hardware Processor: 
    If you choose projectors with Built-in blending feature, you can use GeoBox G400 or G900 hardware processors, if your projecrtors have no built-in blending feature, you can use GeoBox M810, G810 or UD100 edge blending hardware processors.  

  • Connect Projectors:
    Connect the outputs from the hardware device to each projector, ensuring that each one receives the appropriate part of the image.

  • Process Video for Multi-Projector Setup:
    configure the settings for splitting the source from Chromebox and adjust the overlap region for edge blending.

  • Calibrate and Fine-Tune:
    Use either the hardware edge blending processor or projector built-in feature to fine tune image for smooth blending, correct warping, and alignment across the three projectors.

Method 2: Using a Capture Card on the PC

  • PC with Capture Card:   Install a high-quality capture card on the PC to receive the video signal from the Chromebox. The capture card will take the HDMI output from the Chromebox and allow the PC to treat it as an input source.

  • Chromebox to PC Connection:  Connect Chromebox to Capture Card: Use an HDMI cable to connect the Chromebox to the PC via the capture card. This sends the Chromebox’s video output to the PC for processing.

  • Run Blending/Warping Software on the PC: Once the video signal is captured by the PC, you can run the edge blending and warping software. These programs will process the video to ensure that the image is mapped correctly across all three projectors.

  • PC to Projectors:  Connect PC to Projectors: After processing, use the PC’s multiple display outputs (or a multi-output GPU like NVIDIA Surround) to connect to the three projectors. 

The Optimal Solution for Chromebox-Based Immersive display

If you prefer to avoid using a PC for processing and want a streamlined, hardware-only solution, GeoBox stands out as the best option for use with Chromebox in immersive projection setups due to several key advantages:

  • No Need for a Powerful PC: GeoBox is a stand-alone solution, ideal for use with Chromeboxes.
  • Simplicity and Reliability: Easy to configure and maintain, with stable performance over time.
  • Minimal Latency: Real-time processing ensures low-latency performance.
  • Dedicated Processing: Purpose-built for edge blending, warping and image cropping, ensuring high display precision.
  • Compatibility: Input-agnostic, making it perfect for use with Chromeboxes.
  • Hardware Stability: Less prone to crashes or software-related issues.
  • Independent Operation: Easily scalable and adaptable to different content sources.
  • Ease of Use: Quick setup and user-friendly interface.
  • Cost Efficiency: More cost-effective in the long run due to reduced maintenance and increased reliability.

In conclusion, the combination of Chromebox and GeoBox hardware offers a powerful, efficient, and user-friendly solution for immersive projection setups. This pairing is particularly well-suited for educational institutions, museums, and professional environments seeking a reliable and easy-to-maintain immersive display system.