The Astera range features handheld LED controllers for all types of user, from the simple infra-red controller (ARC1) with limited features to the more advanced radio frequency controller (ARC2) with a greater range and extensive control. The AsteraTouch improves the current range with its visibility and enhanced usability. Due to the seven-inch, 1024x600-pixel captive touchscreen, the often complex Astera control system is simplified into easy stages, but more importantly, it still maintains the comprehensive control and customizability that users are familiar with.
Hanan Yariv, the technical director at Astera, commented on the new user interface, "The AsteraTouch is different in that it was created by professionals of the lighting Industry for the professionals of the lighting industry. With the new version, we have opted for a portrait orientation, instead of the previous landscape view, to make the actual holding of the remote more comfortable when on-the-go.
"We designed visually-informative buttons to make sure that the programs are not only aesthetically pleasing, but that it would also be easy to use in an effective way; we have integrated new features that will allow users to control our lights better than ever before with the goal of giving our customers a complete lighting management solution that works straight out of the box".
The AsteraTouch gives users the freedom and ease-of-use to walk through an event and organise the lights and effects from the clienteles' perspective, but also to manage the lights and programs from a place of height so as to have an overview over the proceedings. The flexibility in control is further displayed by all of its 24 pre-defined programs being fully customizable, and with many other slots available for users to make programs from scratch. Further benefits include the option to periodically install the latest firmware that Astera's software team are continually developing.
(Jim Evans)
