System Overview

• The ZAPP™ System
• How to Apply to Shows
• History of the Project
• The Hardware
• The Hardware Settings
• Security
• Benefits to Artists
• Benefits to Art Show Staff & Volunteers
• Benefits to Art Show Jurors

ZAPP™ features:

• Built on the Web, ZAPP™ allows artists and art show administrators 24-hour global access.
• ZAPP™ is scalable (near to infinity) and have the capacity to manage a vast number of artist application forms and a vast number of art shows.
• Individual artists complete a standardized universal application form that collects basic contact information (name, address, etc). Each artist only needs to enter this data once into the system. This data will be automatically pulled into any new show's application form an artist chooses to complete. In addition, the site collects customizable supplemental data as needed for each show the artists elects to enter.
• Shows that use ZAPP™ will no longer need to devote time and resources to entering artist application data that is handwritten or typed into a paper form.
• Artist application fees are collected centrally online for each show, using a VeriSign account maintained by ZAPP™. This process reduces the time and resources each show must allocate to accounts management. Collected funds are disbursed on a pre-scheduled basis to each participating show, less the pre-agreed upon credit card transaction fee.
• ZAPP™ serves as an online application management system, not simply an online data collection device. With this capability, shows are able to use the system to contact applicants, run reports, and manage a number of other functions.
• ZAPP™ has the ability to collect show-specific, customizable data elements (such as categories and questions) that are not shared among shows.
• ZAPP™ has been designed to ensure that confidentiality will be maintained among art shows and among artists.
• ZAPP™ has the capacity to hold show data for multiple years. The system can archive applicant data and images for reference in future years.
• ZAPP™ contains basic marketing and branding information on each show, such as show descriptions, logos, and Web site links. In addition to reinforcing show identity, the information helps artists select the shows for which they wish to complete applications.
• ZAPP™ includes online scoring functionality.
• Shows are able to download all show-specific data that resides in the database as a csv file (comma separated values, aka comma delimited format) that is readily importable into Access and Excel.

How to Apply to Shows (back to top)

Artists can apply through ZAPP™ by following these steps:

1. Prepare your artwork images formatted to the Image Preparation specifications.
2. Create a profile by entering basic contact information and creating a username and password to ZAPP™.
3. Upload up to 40 digital images of your artwork to your image portfolio.
4. Select your choice of participating shows to apply to.
5. Choose the required number of images to apply to a specific show from your image portfolio.
6. Pay the application fee online with a credit card or mail a check.
7. Submit the application online.
8. Receive e-mail notifications when your applications have been received.
9. Receive email notification regarding your jury results.
10. View your application status at any time on the "My ZAPPlications" page and choose to accept or decline show invitations on the site.

History of the Project (back to top)

In 1999, the Western States Arts Federation (WESTAF) convened several meetings with representatives of the National Association of Independent Artists (NAIA) and several major art shows to discuss the feasibility of developing a web-based system that would enable artists to apply to art fairs, festivals and shows online. Discussions regarding this technology continued over the next few years. In March 2004, WESTAF began the development of an online application system in consultation with the NAIA and eight major art shows across the U.S. The system was branded as ZAPP™, the universal online arts application and was launched in September of 2004.

The Hardware (back to top)

Art shows can use the ZAPP™ system to present images to jurors in three ways: 1) High definition projection using the Roku High Definition Media Appliance and flash media, 2) High definition monitors using the Roku High Definition Media Player and online data access, or 3) High quality computer screens and online data access. Shows using the ZAPP™ system are required to disclose which method of image presentation they are using. Below is a description of the hardware used in each:

High definition projection is a method in which the images that are uploaded by the artists are saved as high definition images and transferred to compact flash media. Compact flash media have the capability to hold large quantities of data on a piece of equipment that is the size of a thumbnail. They replace the slides and the slide carousels used in the past. These media cards are inserted into a Roku High Definition Media Player, referred to as the "Roku" in the online application system description. This device is a small computer that reads the data on compact flash media. A high definition display (LCD) projector is connected to the Roku to physically display images that are read by the Roku. An image displayed using a Roku and an LCD projector provides high image quality suitable for jurying and is equal to the quality of a slide displayed by a slide projector (and can be better in certain situations).

The Roku has four slots to accommodate a variety of media. Each discipline category has its own set of compact flash media. The Roku has been designed to program "slide shows" at precisely equal intervals. A remote control allows users to pause the image presentation if necessary.

The reason ZAPP™ selected Roku as the media server is that, at the time of project launch, it was the only high definition media player on the market that had the functionality required by the ZAPP™ system. If you are interested in reading more about the Roku, please go to http://www.Rokulabs.com.

High Definition Monitors Using the Roku and Online Data Access are used by art shows that opt to make use of high definition monitors (such as a High Definition LCD television) connected to the Roku HD1000 media player. In this method, a single image is displayed per monitor. This method is very similar to projection, however, it typically requires less space than projection. The jurors score using computers in the same way as do jurors engaged in a projected image method. Image quality is comparable to projection.

High Quality Computer Screens and Online Data Access allow jurors to make use of the very high quality 700 x 700 pixel images for jurying. In this method, jurors view images as a "slide show" on high quality monitors and score at the end of each series of images provided by the artist. Jurying is done entirely online. This method of jurying has proven to provide excellent results and helps shows that may not be able to make use of the first two jurying methods for financial, geographical, or logistic reasons.

The Hardware Settings (back to top)

Following are the hardware settings used for the projection system and the Roku media device The DELL 4100 MP LCD Projector settings:
Brightness: 48
Contrast: 68
Colortemp: Mid
User Color Red: 128
User Color Green: 128
User Color Blue: 128
V. Keystone: 0
H. Keystone: 0
Auto Keystone: Off
Semi Auto Keystone: Off
Zoom: 1
Aspect Ratio: 16:9
Video Mode: sRGB
White Intensity: 4
Degamma: 3

The ROKU HD1000 settings:
Video Format: 9:VGA 1080i

Security (back to top)

• Reliability
  Reliability is a key issue when you are selecting a server to host systems. All data that is accessed through the Internet is stored on computers called servers. They are called servers because they "serve up" information. There are a variety of different kinds of Internet servers, the most common being "Web" (like Apache) which allow the display of Web pages. Servers are physical computers that have a large capacity to retain information and programs. The ZAPP™ database will physically reside ( be hosted) on a Linux server.
  
  A server needs an operating system to allow computer programs like the ZAPP™ database to run on them. An operating system is a computer program that acts as the central system allowing other computer programs to operate. One familiar operating system is Microsoft Windows. Windows allows other programs such as Word and Excel to work together on your work or home PC. Similarly, the server's operating system will run all the programs needed to create and operate the ZAPP™ database allowing it to "serve" information to Internet users and maintain security.
  
  The Linux operating system is extremely reliable and stable. Other operating systems may cease to work when they have too many users accessing data. Linux is known for its ability to accommodate large numbers of users with little loss of performance.
  
  The ZAPP™ server resides at a high-speed broadband Internet-access facility. Many home PCs access the Internet through a dial-up connection. This is a very slow connection. The server has access to the Internet through a much larger connection. Think of this as the highway to the database. The high-speed broadband is a six-lane highway; a DSL or Cable modem is a two-lane highway; and a dial-up connection is a dirt road. The high-speed broad-band connection means lower congestion and better speed for sending and receiving data to the ZAPP™ database.
  
  
• Redundancy
  ZAPP™'s first level of redundancy is known as a RAID 5 (Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disks) configuration. This is the hard disk configuration on which the system will operate. This means that the physical computer is made up of multiple hard drives instead of just one. The server will share redundant copies of the same data on separate physical hard drives.
  
  For example, your PC at home has only one hard drive. If your one hard drive breaks down, you can't get to your information, run programs or operate your computer. A server with several hard drives running would allow the server to continue operating, run programs and give out information, even if one of its hard drives breaks down. Basically, the ZAPP™ server has multiple chances to survive before it cannot operate. It also allows for continued operations while the broken drives are being fixed. This configuration is known as "hot swappable disk drives". There is very little chance of down time due to drive failure.
  
  The second level of redundancy is used to back up data. All the data on the ZAPP™ server is backed up every six hours off site, protecting precious data in case of fire, natural disaster, or electronic attacks. If the server were to have a catastrophic failure, we could reload the backup data onto a different server and resume operations very quickly. The third level of redundancy is back-up power. The ZAPP™ server is secured at a facility that has back-up power supplies. This back-up power will provide electricity to the server in case of black or brown outs.
  
  Sometime between August 1, 2006 and January 1, 2007, the redundancy of the system will be further enhanced. At that time, the ZAPP™ software and data will be moved to a cluster-type security system. A cluster system uses multiple linked servers to mirror data and back up software in a manner that further reduces the likelihood that access to ZAPP™ data would be lost even on a temporary basis.
  
  
• Security
  The server is physically located on an Internet-connected network facility in New Mexico. This is called a co-location facility (also known as a Server Farm). The co-location facility safeguards your data on the server from external intruders, whether they are physical or electronic. It also utilizes climate controlled rooms that will protect the physical server from environmental stress. The server is monitored by live persons at this facility and off site 24/7, 365 days a year. Issues are automatically communicated to our network administrator via email, text page and cell phone. In addition, we have utilized password protection to safeguard access to the ZAPP™ database.

• Using ZAPP™ is free to artists.
• ZAPP™ resides on the Internet, so artists can manage applications while traveling.
• Artists can manage multiple applications through ZAPP™.
• Contact information only needs to be entered once into ZAPP™.
• ZAPP™ is paperless.
• ZAPP™'s e-mail functionality allows immediacy in communication.
• Artists save money on reproductions of slides.
• Artists can upload up to 40 digital images to be stored in an online portfolio. Artists select which images to submit for each show.
• Artists' images and information are kept secure and confidential.

• Staff and volunteers do not have to load or unload slides by hand. Instead, they are trained on working with compact flash media, which are more efficient than working with slides.
• There is never the potential for a slide to jam in the tray mechanism.
• Art show staff do not spend time physically pulling eliminated artists' slides from the slide carousels.
• A finalist list is created with great ease.
• Art show staff do not have engage in any data entry unless a show decides to accept paper applications on an exception basis.
• Application fees and booth fees are processed automatically using a secure credit card transaction company.
• Staff has the ability to send individual and group communications to artists through ZAPP™.
• The high-quality computer screen online data access method allows great flexibility for staff in the coordination of jurors.

• Jurors view images in a consistent manner because all artists are required to format their images based on established guidelines.
• The ZAPP™ system hardware produces far less ambient noise than slide projectors, thus, providing a better conversational environment for jurors.
• The system provides jurors the ability to efficiently enter scores online.