(photo courtesy of ELMOUSA)
Today’s courtroom is a stage built upon technology. Technology such as visualizers, interactive displays, and software solutions plays a vital role in presenting a case effectively. As one’s freedom is at stake, as well as justice for the victims, juries and attorneys require the latest technology to be installed in the courtroom to maximize effectiveness in presenting any cases. Follow Trish, Senior Marketing Executive, as we get to know more about technologies in the courtroom.
You’ve probably heard of Ted Bundy, the infamous serial killer that has gained a lot of public attention in 1979, or probably O.J Simpsons, the former national football league player turned killer in 1994. These are some of the high-profile cases that have gone through a series of trials in the courtroom. During those times, it was difficult to present intricate evidence in the courtroom as there were limited technological resources. Attorneys find it arduous to explain technical evidence without a form of graphical representation. Furthermore, members of the jurors often pay more attention to a document that is displayed on the monitors rather than just a piece of document passed to them.
Now, most courtrooms are equipped with the latest technology such as visualizers, interactive displays, pen-touch displays, and video conferencing equipment. These devices are deployed to increase efficiency in the courtroom while the trial is in session. For instance, visualizers are used for presenting tangible evidence to the panel of jury and either the attorney or the witness can cross-examine the documents and the exhibits. This makes it easier for members of the jury to assess the case presented in court.
One of the industry leaders in the visualizer market is ELMO and they have been providing visual technology solutions to create effective presentations in various industries for over 100 years. Some of the popular visualizer models that are in the market are MX-P2, L-12F, and PX-30E.
Features of ELMO Visualisers for the Courtroom
1. Zoom In and Zoom Out Function
(photo courtesy of ELMOUSA. Product shown: ELMO PX-30EX Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXoEX93osjM)
All ELMO visualizers come with a zoom-in and out feature that enables the attorney or witness to present the evidence with just a click of a button. It allows them to zoom in on any of the portions of the evidence to capture the members of the juror’s attention. This function can easily be used to enlarge documents, photos, or even small objects. However, different visualizers have different zooming capacities. For more intricate evidence, PX-30E would be ideal as it has a 4K resolution and can zoom up to 12X.
2. Image mode
(photo courtesy of ELMOINDIA. Product shown: ELMO L-12F Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ceLekTQUb6Q&t=41s)
Other than having the zoom-in and out function, most ELMO visualizers have the function in which the person operating the visualizer can adjust the colour of the image displayed. By just pressing the image mode switch on the visualizer, you can change the coloured photo to black and white. This will be useful to show any unsightly gruesome photos of murder cases presented in the courtroom.
3. Auto-Focus
(photo courtesy of ELMOINDIA. Product shown: ELMO L-12F Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ceLekTQUb6Q&t=41s)
As physical evidence comes in many shapes and sizes, most of ELMO visualizer comes with the focus function which can be set to automatic or manual with just a press of a button. On some of the ELMO visualizers like the L-12F, the attorney presenting the evidence can adjust the focus by turning the bezel around the camera lens. For three-dimensional evidence, the attorney can use the manual mode whereas, for items such as paper documents, they can use the auto-focus function.
4. Displaying Recorded Files
(photo courtesy of ELMOUSA)
One of the interesting features that most ELMO visualizers have is the ability to display recorded still images or videos. For instance, the ELMO PX-30E and PX-10E allow the attorney to present a recorded video as evidence such as CCTV footage by just inserting an SD card or a thumb drive. Once connected, the attorney or witness will be able to choose any still image or videos from the list of thumbnails shown on the screen found at the bottom of the visualizer.
The use of a visualizer in the courtroom plays an important part in presenting evidence for mild and high-profile cases. The need to have a multi-functional visualizer is of paramount importance in the courtroom to present intricate evidence for the jurors to make a ruling on the case. Other than visualizers, technological tools such as interactive displays, video conferencing, projectors with motorized projection screens, and desktop displays should be deployed in the courtroom. For example, with the aid of video conferencing tools in the courtroom, witnesses do not have to be physically present in the courtroom to give their statements. This will save time and travelling expenses for court users to bring in evidence from overseas witnesses.
Overall, courtroom technology is here to stay, and its importance will rise in the future. Various studies have shown that the use of technology in the courtroom aids in increasing efficiency while decreasing trial cost and at the same time, improving the engagement and attention between the members of the jury and the attorneys. Courtroom technology, when applied properly, can be the determining factor in achieving a favourable result in a lawsuit.
Contact ESCO at esco@esco.com.sg if you would like to purchase any of the ELMO Visualisers.