What’s vitally needed, according to Neil Maycock, EVP and General Manager, Media Software Solutions at SAM, is the ability for customers to define their own user interface, even on a channel-by-channel basis if desired. They have to be able to quickly access core functionality rather than pour through unused items or menus.

“Today’s playout environments vary massively both in scale and complexity of channels,” said Maycock.  “With virtualization set to increase the ability to launch additional services, a new way of looking at control is essential. Morpheus UX is the result of a thorough analysis of today’s playout operations, where it’s abundantly clear that one size no longer fits all.”

He also said customers need to be able to focus on significant events—such as live feeds or potential error points—rather than using up large amounts of screen space with “green” events that are guaranteed to go to air. SAM’s concept with Morpheus UX was to challenge the long-held belief of what a channel playlist view should consist of and to deliver a fresh approach to playout automation. 

“This technology really puts the customer in control and there’s no other interface like it on the market,” Maycock said.

With Morpheus UX, ICE and Morpheus, customers can build user-defined panels that precisely match their playout operation and they can build screens made of as many of these panels as they need. Specific functions can be built into any screen, in any layout, and recalled at any time. Unnecessary or rarely used functionality can be hidden away, while functions that are required at the touch of a button are front and center.

With Morpheus UX, one operator can far more easily manage complex playout environments with each channel able to benefit from a different look. Morpheus UX reduces the cost of ownership for client seats, enhances data center deployments and ensures operations can be located anywhere to further reduce OPEX costs. Plus, its editing tools are intuitive for quick and easy screen development.