INTRO BY DOUGLAS MESNEY

“Bird's of a feather flock together” is an adage, a commonly held belief stated concisely... a time-tested truism. This one pretty well sums up what the new Showroom forum is all about. But there are other adages that are also fitting for this momentous occasion. To wit...

WHEN THE STUDENT IS READY, THE TEACHER WILL APPEAR

In the year since WATCHOUT was released we've come to realize that there's a new learning curve involved, and I don't just mean the software.WATCHOUT shows are fundamentally different than multi-image slide shows, videos, PowerPoint or what have you. It's a different gestalt... a new paradigm. WATCHOUT puts weathered captains of multi-image and video on an even keel with a new generation weaned on the Web. All are students who have had no teacher... because there is no teacher. WATCHOUT is so new that nobody's had enough time to fully explore its potentials. Showroom will be our teacher... we will have the opportunity to learn from one another.

IN TIMES OF CHANGE, LEARNERS INHERIT THE EARTH

while the learned are perfectly prepared for a world that no longer exists

NEED I SAY MORE?

Perhaps this: WATCHOUT brings to big-show production many of the benefits that desktop publishing tools brought to print media a decade or so ago. Not only did the production tools change, the entire process morphed from the well orchestrated efforts of large teams to the streamlined efficiencies of one-man bands.WATCHOUT has fundamentally altered the creation process for large, multi-screen presentations. Business Theater will never be the same again because Dataton has changed the rules.

THE NEXT BEST THING TO KNOWING
SOMETHING IS KNOWING WHERE TO FIND IT

Not even Dataton can answer all our questions yet. We're doing things with their stuff not even they could have dreamed of... Yes, it's that new.So, it's been a long year searching for bits of information (no pun intended). I've been learning more about computers and networks than I ever wanted to know... because beyond a certain point there was no more help. And although they say “No Man Is an Island”, I've sure felt like one.

SEEK AND YE SHALL FIND

With Showroom the search may be over. It's up to... us!If Showroom is even half as successful as its progenitor, the Wizard Forum, we'll be able to find the help we've been looking for, query each other, explore new ideas... whatever.

KNOWLEDGE IS POWER

Being the platform for a global forum, Showroom will exponentially expand the knowledge base about WATCHOUT... and in the process our power... individually and collectively.This is big. Its importance cannot be understated.

WE CAN GO A LOT FARTHER TOGETHER THAN WE CAN ALONE

Either you got to know about WATCHOUT as a logical extension of a career in video or slides, or possibly you just heard about this cool stuff and wanted to clue in.Doesn't matter. Whether you are a veteran or a just getting started, when it comes to WATCHOUT we're all in the same boat, re-inventing one of the world's most powerful ways to communicate: multi-image.

THERE'S STRENGTH IN NUMBERS

(And not just budgets.)Showroom gives us the opportunity to share our experiences and as our numbers increase so will the knowledge base we'll be creating and sharing.

ONE GREAT MIND DESERVES ANOTHER

Yours perhaps?

LISTENING MAY BE THE MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU DO TODAY

Dataton always has one ear to the ground.Listening to WATCHOUT users' comments, they learned that we represent a special niche and wisely created a new forum for our special challenges. Showroom is a resource exclusively for WATCHOUT users.

TO GET THE MOST OUT OF A RELATIONSHIP, PUT ALL YOU CAN INTO IT

What goes around, comes around.Copy that.

REMEMBER, TRUTH IS STILL TRUTH EVEN IF IT MAKES YOU MAD

I once threw a multi-image controller out the window of my New York townhouse to demonstrate something to the manufacturer's sales manager.He got the point... and so did I.With anything new there aren't always answers but now I know that it's better to focus on what something can do instead of what it cannot.Once you discover what WATCHOUT can do you'll be a happier person, on the cutting edge of those producing a “new” look.

SPEND YOUR TIME COUNTING YOUR
BLESSINGS, NOT AIRING YOUR COMPLAINTS

Been getting more junk email lately? Then you know what wasting someone's time means.Please don't use Showroom to spam us with your fears and tears.

A WISE PERSON LEARNS FROM EXPERIENCE,
BUT A WISER PERSON LEARNS FROM THE EXPERIENCE OF OTHERS

Thank you Dataton... first for the powerful new production tool, WATCHOUT, and now for the opportunity to empower ourselves with Showroom.Together we'll keep the cutting edge sharp. Let's flock around the clock and never forget that... In two days tomorrow will be yesterday

Douglas Mesney is an internationally renowned presentations designer/producer.
Read more at www.mesney.com