ETC's Tiny Tessera Touch Screen Controls Complex Effects

ETC named its new touchscreen lighting-control product after the ancient word for "tile." As Joe Bokelman, ETC's architectural market manager, explains, "A tessera is a tile in a greater mosaic but also an object of beauty and utility itself. Our Tessera is both a part of a greater sophisticated networked system and a stand-alone full controller, in a compact interface."

The Tessera, or, Unison Mosaic Tessera Controller (MTPC) is now shipping.

A new addition to ETC's Unison line of architectural control, Tessera combines a 4.3" touch screen with a 512-channel DMX-over-Ethernet Mosaic controller. Complex lighting shows, as well as devices like moving lights, color-mixing LEDs, conventionals, and dimmers, can all be controlled by Tessera. It also handles impromptu show control, accessories, automation, waterworks, and other non-lighting effects.

"Imagine color-changing lights in the lobby of a mall or an office tower that can go through dynamic effects, seasonal looks, or subtle lighting events -- without requiring a massive control system that no one knows how to use," says Bokelman. "Tessera provides simple access, standalone touch screen control, at your fingertips. Tessera is a complete controller, capable of mastering an entire installation -- while also integrating with a larger Mosaic installation."

Mosaic Designer software v1.9 is also now available for download from ETC's website.

This new version includes support for Tessera, with TouchEditor software for creating customized touch screen designs.

More information on the new Tessera and Unison Mosaic is available at the URL listed below.