PIXILAB Blocks combines display management, system control and mobile guide in one system.

Below is a short presentation of the BLOCKS system, recorded at ISE 2020 in Amsterdam.

PIXILAB Blocks® is comprehensive software, now in version 5.5, for producing and managing rich experiences for museums, exhibitions, visitor centers and company presentations. A laptop is used to produce content, create interactive presentations, program the experience in space and build mobile guides. Everything connects to a standard network that is managed by the Blocks server running on a Mac, Windows or Linux computer. The server then controls all displays, players, lighting, I/O modules, beacons, mobile phones and other subsystems.

The server is the heart of the Blocks system, taking care of every aspect of your show. A Blocks server runs on Mac, Windows or Linux and connects to displays, media players, mobile phones, I/O modules, WiFi and other subsystems.
Every server needs a Blocks base license (supporting Mac, Windows and Linux), which can be supplemented with the desired number of Display-, Visitor-, Location- and WATCHOUT spots. A server can be built and configured by the system integrator to the preferred specs, but it can also be supplied as an out-of-the-box ready-to-use system, supplied to the desired composition.

Especially for off-site project preparation or smaller installations we have composed a compact ready-to-use Blocks Linux server, if desired with a built-in licensedongle.

A Display Spot can have many shapes. Basically it is a browser in kiosk mode that can be displayed on a selection of media players that start up via USB or network with Pixilab player software. But other devices such as a Smart TV, Chromebox or PC with browser can also be used.

A Visitor spot represents a mobile device, such as a phone, iPad or Android tablet. Such devices can be used for a wide variety of applications:
• Visitors’ phones (assuming the Blocks server is accessible through a local wifi network).
• Loaner units, for use by visitors not bringing their own devices.
• Locally managed devices, used as operator panels by the staff.

A Location spot represents a physical location, or an object of interest. This is used to associate content with this location or object.

A WATCHOUT spot allows you to play audio synchronized with a presentation running on Dataton WATCHOUT, which is used for specialized requirements, such as projection mapping onto a non-standard screen or physical object.


A Blocks system can look like this:


1 PIXILAB Blocks server
2 network
3 screens with separate mediaplayers
4 interactive touch-kiosks
5 Dataton WATCHOUT-cluster
6 projectors controlled via the network
7 relais, schakelaars en sensors
8 screens with built-in mediaplayers
9 Wifi for control and/or public access
10 tablet with controlfunctions
11 visitor phones or lending equipment for mobile guide applications

If you want to see for yourself wether Blocks is the right product for your projects there is a possibility to borrow an Evaluation License or a completely configured Blocks server.
For more information or a demonstration, please contact us.
For project stories visit the Pixilab website.

technical information

More information can be found in the current manual.
For technical information and downloads visit the Pixilab wiki.
Instructionvideos for working with Blocks can be found on Vimeo.
Users can share experiences on the Blocks forum.
Programmers can share drivers and scripts on Github.