The centre, known as the ISDN Showcase, was recently opened at BT’s Adastral Park Technology Centre near Ipswich, and features eight zones demonstrating different ISDN applications. These include a multimedia bus stop and a call centre environment. BT approached Signpost to develop the presentation software for each of these zones and also wanted a means to control the environment within the centre.

ESL and Signpost devised a system whereby a presenter can light up different areas as he or she gives the presentation, remotely switching them on and off from a central podium in the demonstration room.

This automation is done by combining an Arcom control system card and software developed by ESL which amongst other features provides a basic representation of the room.

Richard Johnson, Managing Director of Signpost, said: “Highly targeted groups of customers come into the centre to be given a sophisticated presentation on the functionality of ISDN. The Showcase needed to be fully automated to give the maximum impact to the customers, and the system we have devised together with ESL is meeting this requirement. ”

The automated lighting of the ISDN Showcase is just the first phase in the development. The logical next stage is to build a 3D engine providing a virtual reality image of the room which can be accessed remotely, or over the Internet. The advantage of this to BT is that its sales people could offer web access to the ISDN Showcase for a virtual presentation without ever requiring the customer to leave their own office. Similarly, customers could receive a remote demonstration by logging onto the ISDN Showcase through the Internet.

Simon Hull, Technical Director, ESL, said: “This is the next stage for BT, and we hope before long to be able to add software which provides the remote viewer with different camera angles. This will make the virtual presentation even more realistic.”

Richard Johnson added: “The card that is being used to control the system is installed as part of an extranet at BT, which means that we can remotely change the functions that it provides. We have been very impressed with the work done by ESL and we are really looking forward to moving forward into the ‘virtual phase’ and introducing new ideas and suggestions to BT over the coming months.

Keith Halton, owner of the Showcase said: “The ISDN Showcase is playing a key role in BT’s campaign to build greater awareness and understanding of ISDN technology. It was vital to us that the Showcase should offer customers a realistic view of ISDN applications at work, and that our presentations should be highly professional. The automation of the lighting now complete, our next aim is to make the Centre accessible remotely. The expertise provided by both Signpost and ESL has been invaluable in achieving our objectives.”

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