ABS Helps Oregon History Museum Visitors Remember Columbus Day Storm with Video Exhibit
SEATAC, WA, - Visitors to the Oregon History Museum in downtown Portland are reliving the Columbus Day Storm of 1962 with the help of professional video and audio systems integration firm Advanced Broadcast Solutions (ABS). Presented by Portland General Electric, "The Mightiest Wind" exhibit includes an area engineered by ABS, where patrons can act like a meteorologist by standing in front of a green screen and creating a video weather report.
Considered the most disastrous weather event in Oregon's history, the Columbus Day Storm was blamed for almost 50 deaths in the region and had damaging wind gusts that knocked out power in some locations for several weeks. According to Marsha Matthews, director of museum services, response to the exhibit has been very positive. "Our attendance was way up in October," she noted.
KGW, the NBC affiliate in Portland, which is a media sponsor and partner for the exhibit, loaned the museum some video equipment, including a video camera and pedestal. The station also provided file footage and new video interviews for the exhibit, and KGW chief meteorologist Matt Zaffino is serving as a guest curator. KGW's director of technology, David Boyd, helped the museum connect with ABS to create the green screen area.
ABS designed and installed the system, coordinated content with KGW, and provided training to the museum staff. Using a Blackmagic Design ATEM switcher, LaCie LaCinema PlayHD media player, and Litepanels LED lighting, ABS was able to create an operational and cost effective weather video production demonstration. Matthews said the setup took less than two days and the ABS crew was very professional.
"The green screen area of this exhibit has been a huge hit with museum visitors," said Mark Siegel, President of ABS. "The Columbus Day Storm was a significant event in Oregon's history, and we are thankful that KGW helped us contribute to this project."
"The Mightiest Wind" opened on Oct. 12, the 50th anniversary of the storm, and will be on display through Jan. 6, 2013.
About the Oregon Historical Society:
The Society has served as Oregon's primary research collection and museum about Oregon history since 1898. OHS has an extensive collection of historical pieces, including over 85,000 artifacts and 3 million photographs and films. It safeguards and presents Oregon's history through a museum, research library, traveling exhibits, school programs and website content.
About ABS:
Based in SeaTac, WA, ABS (Advanced Broadcast Solutions) delivers customized, technologically superior solutions for broadcast, corporate, house of worship, entertainment, government, and educational facilities - from design and integration to installation and support services. Since 1982, its experienced technical staff has installed more than 700 systems for clients including Fisher Communications, Cowles California Media, Real Networks, Cisco Systems, and Microsoft Studios. For more information, call 206-870-0244 or visit www.advancedbroadcastsolutions.com.
Robin Hoffman
Pipeline Communications
Cell: (917) 763-8069
robinhoffman@pipecomm.com
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