Black Box Introduces Emerald Unified KVM Platform

Black Box (NASDAQ:BBOX), a provider of keyboard, video and mouse (KVM) connectivity and signal distribution systems introduced Emerald Unified KVM platform for distributing high quality video, audio and peripheral signals.

As quoted in the press release:

“As media enterprises continue to migrate from SDI-based signal distribution to all-IP operations, they’re looking to leverage IP’s virtually unlimited scalability and cost savings through the use of commodity, low-cost hardware. At the same time, virtualization offers even greater potential for reducing IT operational overhead and hardware expenses, and also for building resiliency into the network,” said Josh Whitney, Senior Vice President – Technology Product Solutions business at Black Box. “A critical requirement of IP operations is a centralized connectivity platform that can handle the complexities of today’s media environments, including 4K video distribution and support for virtualization.”

Emerald™ is the first KVM platform to support DisplayPort 1.2 4K video at 60 Hz and 10-bit color depth over standard IP network switches and connections, enabling pixel-perfect 4K image transmission with mathematically lossless compression. But because Emerald™ is a true hybrid KVM solution, operations still working primarily in HD can add 4K at their own pace and transition individual user groups as the need arises.

“As the first KVM platform to support both IP and direct connections, the Emerald™ Platform gives enterprises the ability to deploy both IP and proprietary KVM networks from all Emerald™ units. Customers can scale up as their operation expands, simply by adding endpoints. In this manner, Emerald™ provides seamless connectivity in a direct-connect SDI environment today, while paving a smooth and easy upgrade path to IP.”

“Broadcasting and media enterprises, including post and live production, are clear beneficiaries of the Emerald™ KVM platform. But this innovative and future-proof technology will forever change the way KVM technology can be implemented and utilized across many different application areas, such as medical imaging, industrial automation and command and control rooms,” Whitney added. “With Emerald™ as a true migration platform, Black Box has taken a large step forward towards helping its customers prepare for the future — offering connectivity solutions for the Intelligent Digital Edge.”

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