vr-max / VisionDome :: rental and Sales FAQ

Who is Sinard?

Sinard is an interactive agency with a specialty in high-end technologies. We're the world's most experienced provider of high-end presentation technology to the B2B market for trade shows, special events, training, and other applications.

What is VR-MAX™?

VR-MAX™ is an immersive, interactive media experience using specialized portable domed or curved screen theater environments. Think IMAX®-Dome scaled down for a trade-show booth, with content custom-designed to support your product or service.

Why Does a Curved Screen Create a Different Experience?

The curved screen fills the viewer's field of vision, resulting in the perception of "being there." If it fills your peripheral vision, you can be fooled into a physiological response (vertigo, dizziness, ducking).

Did Sinard invent this technology?

The Military and NASA were the earliest adopters of 180º field-of-view, which provides flight training that is superior to a flat computer monitor. The medical and manufacturing industries have used immersive environments for training simulations as well as R&D. VR-MAX™, VisionDome, Barco's "Reality Room," FakeSpace's "CURV" and "CAVE" are the big players in the business world.

Sinard's innovation is to make this technology available for custom production and rental, at a much more reasonable price than the others. We also approach the client assignment with a disciplined marketing methodology.

Can Sinard create a VR-MAX™ presentation for me?

Production is what we do. We have nearly a decade's experience producing all forms of media that go into VR-MAX™ programs, including helicopter, SCUBA, and other high-end film and video techniques. Our Lightwave and Maya personnel know specific techniques for how to create vertigo-inducing immersive effects.

Can I show my existing video or CGI on the VR-MAX™ equipment?

Short answer: No.

Full answer: If your footage is 35mm film or HDTV 1080p, and shot extremely wide angle, talk to us. Some of it may be usable.

If you have 16mm film or video shot in another format, then there are two reasons why it won't work:

If it was not shot at 1280 x 1024 or above, progressive, it does not have high enough resolution.
If it was not shot properly for curved screen, it will never be immersive, no matter what.

If you have computer generated imagery (CGI) it may be possible to re-render or re-create it, if the original developer can provide:

the original 3D source files, including all animation, texture, mapping, camera, hierarchy, geometry and effects data;
any video compositing scene files;
the names of any plug-ins or filters;
the names of all software identification (Maya/3DS MAX, Final Cut, After Effects/Premiere, Smoke/AVID, etc.)

If you can meet those criteria, we can either re-render this for you, or teach you to create CGI properly for a VR-MAX™ presentation. Either is expensive, but possibly less expensive than re-creating your CGI from scratch.

Finally, irreplaceable, existing low-resolution, non-immersive footage, such as an interview, can be used as an "adjunct" if we put it in a small box in the middle or corner of the screen.

Tell me more about the VR-MAX™ "theater environment."

A VR-MAX™ presentation requires a dark environment and opaque ceiling. MINIMAL ambient light is allowable, but in situations like trade shows where you don't know how much light there will be in adjoining booths, planning for total darkness is best. The theater environment will also help you get the most from the sound.

Please note: we cannot guarantee nor be responsible for end-user disappointment if the images become "washed out" because the VR-MAX™ equipment is not put in a completely dark theater environment.

What is the seating capacity of a VR-MAX™ presentation? Is there a difference between total capacity and optimum seating for the best immersive experience?

See our rate sheet for all theater details. Optimum seating is largely subjective. Some people will experience vertigo (if that's your goal) from the back of the room, others may notice it only front and center, while some simply don't experience vertigo at all.

For most people, dead center is the "sweet spot." Creating cantilevered stadium seating, with the shortest chairs in front and higher chairs, or even risers behind, will maximize the experience.

Will Sinard help us design our over-all show, down to the seating?

Absolutely.
This service is available for $250/hour.

Do I still need an Exhibit House?

Yes. Sinard provides the content, projector and screen; your Exhibit House should do the rest.

Sinard works closely with your professional Exhibit House to provide:

Event planning (Booth size, equipment placement, demo strategies, crowd control).
Shipment planning of equipment to & from the event city.
Local hauling to & from the event site.
Dock-to-booth equipment movement.
Assembly and Disassembly of the VR-MAX™ equipment at event site.
Connection of the projector to your computer workstations.
Initial test of all components. (except the customers demo)
Parts for maintenance during event.

Your Exhibit House, for instance, has experience contracting with respected Union and Non-Union companies and personnel who are approved vendors at various convention halls. Your Exhibit House is also familiar with drayage and other costs associated with getting equipment safely from the dock to your space on the show floor.

Also, your Exhibit House will know (or learn) the local fire codes, and will build your theater ceiling as opaque as local codes will allow. Maddening as it is, fire codes vary from convention hall to convention hall. What is permitted in LA is not permitted in Seattle. In most locations a 100% opaque ceiling will be just fine, but not all.

When we rent the VR-MAX™ equipment, installation fees are included, right?

Well, no. Are you in Paris, France or Paris, Texas? Set-up and tear-down are billed separately at a rate of $800/day, port-to-port, plus airfare, hotel and per diem. Costs associated with working in a foreign country, or associated with working in a difficult convention center are also billed. Shipping is also billed separately.

How long does the system take to install?

Typically, VR-MAX™ uses portable systems such as our 1.5 meter VisionStation or our 4-meter, inflatable, truncated dome and projector system. Our 4 meter dome, the world's first inflatable truncated dome, can be assembled and disassembled within about 2 hours. But remember that incorporation within an exhibit environment will add time to assembly.

What if the bulb burns out? What about a back-up projector?

Your Exhibit House contractor should have an expert (often a Union Projectionist) on the floor capable of changing a bulb in our standard projector. If not, we can train one of your people to change the bulb without burning themselves.

The projector, with its $24,000 lens, is the largest part of your rental. Renting a second projector will double the rental cost of the VR-MAX™. (It would be like renting an extra engine when you rent a car.)

Our contractual default is that Sinard will do its best to fly a projector into the Trade Show within 24 hours, airlines and weather permitting.

We can provide an on-site Sinard employee to watch over the screen and projector, and some clients have felt this is a great confidence factor. But honestly, $2,500/day to potentially change a light bulb? Our rate is set to discourage this option.

We may be able to rent a "hot standby" if available; check for current pricing. Hazard Insurance, as a backup to catastrophe, is available through our Insurance Agent.

Speaking of Insurance, what's insured, what isn't?

Our contract goes into this more thoroughly, but you must provide proof of (a Certificate of Insurance for) $1,000,000 liability + $75,000 "inland marine" damage insurance when placing your down payment. Failure to do so will result in the cancellation of your reservation and forfeit of any down payment. This is standard for the Trade Show industry.

The damage insurance is to replace the screen or projector due to sabotage, vandalism or accident. The screen is made of thick, durable vinyl, but can be punctured. The projector is shielded but is susceptible to spills. It is incumbent on the renter to police the equipment and insure it for such possibilities.

Statement of Quality

The VR-MAX™ experience uses vertigo-inducing immersive devices. To put inappropriate or poorly realized imagery on them renders their unique attributes moot.

Only a handful of people in the world know how to shoot or incorporate the proper distortion software, to render this unique experience. It goes far beyond "using a wide angle lens" or "wrapping the image around a sphere."

However, in the spirit of optimism, we are more than happy to have our experts review any project. In some rare cases we may become a "service bureau" to re-create existing work for our equipment.

Terms of Rental

See our contract for important details

All rentals will be by signed VR-MAX™ Rental Agreement between the customer and Sinard.
Payment terms are 50% of the total rental amount as a down payment to secure and hold the reservation. The customer forfeits the down payment if the rental is cancelled within 60 calendar days of the event.
50% due at the completion of the event, COD.
Customer is responsible for Shipping Costs from Sinard to rental site back to Sinard.
Customer must provide proof of $1,000,000 liability and $75,000 damage insurance.

Optional Services

Sinard's 25 years of experience in content creation, the past 10 specifically for the VR-MAX™ environment, is available to the end-user. Use the VR-MAX™ capability to maximize the impact on event participants. Any or all of the following Content Implementation Services are available from Sinard:

Demonstration & Develop Content: Sinard's experienced staff can create demo strategies, storyboards and scripts. Once the strategy is determined, Sinard can assist with selecting the type of graphical content, the means of content creation and the best software tools for creating, optimizing and displaying content.
Onsite installation and test: after the VR-MAX™ equipment has been assembled at the event site, Sinard staff are available for installing and testing the content.
Onsite operation/trouble-shooting: during the event, Sinard can provide staff to operate the equipment for participants.