Art
Dallas New Technology
When Art Dallas set up a large format imaging studio in 1995, computers
were slow, software wasn't very advanced and our customers weren't used
to sending their photographs over the Internet. We were early with
what became known as "On Demand Printing". As technology improved, digital imaging became easier and
easier to do, "On Demand Printing" became better understood and more widely utilized.
Now, our large-format, digital printing is an integral part of our core business and
our large-format image bank provides the basis for some of our most
creative design solutions. In addition, we were among the first to
show that large-format, giclee printing could be produced at about the
same (or lower) cost than posters even when only a few of each image
were needed for a job. Now, we've taken our technical expertise
several steps further.
Over the past year, we've designed and implemented a new server network
with vastly expanded information processing capabilities. Our goal
was twofold.
First, we wanted to implement a system that allowed our art to be seen
by any number of people in any part of the world in real time with
sufficient clarity, detail and context to permit at least a "first cut"
decision regarding the art's suitability for a given project. That
is, we wanted to make it possible for busy designers, architects, owners
and anyone else who might be interested to participate in the initial
art selection process without leaving their office(s).
Second, we wanted to setup a secure area on our LAN where customers
could keep updated information on their ongoing projects, keep in touch
with their Art Dallas designers, and otherwise keep track of jobs
pending at Art Dallas without leaving their desks.
In the spring of 2007, Art Dallas unveiled Horton, a fully mobile, HD
quality video station capable of streaming video to the new servers.
From there, anyone in the world with access to the Internet who happened
to have the correct IP address for Horton's publishing point could
participate in the "show." Combined with standard Microsoft
elements like Office Communicator, we made it possible for (say) a
designer in New York to be looking at art at Art Dallas in real time
with an owner in London - or anywhere else. Similarly, we found we
were able to provide a publishing point for video streams from our
vendors, so they could show us art in Dallas while they remained in
(say) Seattle. That this "art show" could also be viewed
anywhere by anyone with the correct credentials, increased the
flexibility of the system to the point that our new
imaging/communication system became like a spider on the internet web, capable of
bi-directional video streaming with instant communication between any
number of active participants.
Additionally, we implemented a number of other hardware/software
innovations to provide a separate and fully secure area in our local area
network (LAN). This allows credentialed members of our customers'
firms to review the status of their job online or consult directly (in
real time) with their Art Dallas designer.
Collectively, the new network represent a huge
investment in time, energy and money. However, we believe that
"designing green" extends to all levels of the industry. So if we
can reduce unnecessary travel with low carbon impact technology, we
should. Additionally, we believe our customers have better things
to do with their time than travel to Art Dallas if they can avoid it.
With our new system, designers and owners can BE in our gallery, looking
at art and discussing options in REAL TIME without leaving their
offices. And when the inevitable happens, like a moulding that's
out of stock, selecting a replacement doesn't mean another trip to the
gallery. It can all be done online in real time. As Friedman said,
it's really becoming a "flat world." Art Dallas is determined to
be a part of it.