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67-672: The initial Digital Command Center released in 1984 with the Dimensia system, the CRK35A, had 52 buttons, had onboard memory, and weighed nearly a pound with its batteries. In 1985, RCA released the Digital Command Component System , an all audio system that was compatible with all Dimensia audio components, which also used the Digital Command Center remote. The idea of this system was to have

134-552: A high fidelity range. The second-generation Dimensia audio components were also made for the Digital Command Component System. In 1985, RCA released a fully integrated audio system known as the "RCA Audio System" that used the MSR-140 stereo receiver as its center for control over all the components. This allowed all Dimensia audio components to be controlled and fully functional without the need of

201-498: A woodgrain veneer and a black exterior from 1984 to 1986. These monitors featured BTSC system three-channel audio which had just been adopted by the Federal Communications Commission as the U.S. standard for stereo television transmission in 1984, the same year as the release of Dimensia. In 1985, RCA released a 40-inch projection monitor for the system with the 32 kilobyte microprocessors. This

268-522: A 'ghosting' effect, but it does not always eliminate it due to various factors. A more permanent method is to remove pin 19 (Video Out) from the SCART plug that is put into the TV, preventing a signal from being broadcast by the TV into the cable, so it cannot cross-talk with the incoming signal. Two pins provide switching signals. Pin 8, the switch signal pin, carries a DC voltage from the source that indicates

335-460: A DVD player to the TV set and stream the Dolby and DTS to the surround of the TV set . However, this protocol was rarely used, as it was limited only to a certain manufacturer, and the connections were different from a manufacturer to another, and in some cases, it was only commanded by the pin 8. In this case, it was unusable with RCA to SCART adapters. Also, if a Compatible TV with such connection and

402-621: A Dimensia television set. The price of this system started at $ 1,500 and included the Digital Command Center remote control. It also used the Colortrak 2000 monitor. The SPK400 and SPK500, released in 1987, were second generation three-way speaker systems. Also released in 1987 for the second generation Dimensia system and for the Digital Command Component System were the MPA-100 and MPA-120 amplifiers; released to replace

469-626: A Japanese version of the SCART connector, which is referred to as the Japanese RGB-21 connector, EIAJ TTC-003, or simply JP-21. This version of SCART uses similar signals and the same connector, but it has a different pinout. In Japan and Korea, it is commonly called RGB-21 while it is more generally called JP-21 in the English-speaking world. JP-21 was standardised in January 1983 with the norm TTC-0003 published by EIAJ , which

536-461: A Pay TV decoder and a dish positioner/polariser to a single Decoder socket on the receiver. CENELEC EN 50157-1 introduced AV.link as a standardised protocol to carry advanced control information between devices. It is a single-wire serial data bus and allows carrying remote control information and to negotiate analogue signal types (e.g. RGB). AV.link is also known as nexTViewLink or trade names such as SmartLink, Q-Link or EasyLink. It appears as

603-517: A SCART set-top box does not have to process and send back a complete new video signal, which would require full decoding and re-encoding of the color information, a signal-degrading and costly process, especially given the presence of different standards in Europe. The box can instead ask the TV to stop displaying the normal signal and display a signal it generates internally for selected image areas, with pixel -level granularity. This can also be driven by

670-467: A button on the Digital Command Center. The two TV sets that were the center of this system (FKC2600E and FKC2601T) were physically identical to the Colortrak 2000 chassis. These monitors were where the systems 32 kilobyte microprocessors were located. They sat in a dedicated entertainment center that suited all the components of this fully integrated system. The system was available in two color schemes;

737-490: A compatible DVD with such connection, but from different manufacturers were interconnected, the surround might not work, and only the stereo sound from the DVD player was available to the TV, because some manufacturers did not use SPDIF, but an own protocol. Also, this connection might be also lost, if the connection of the DVD with the TV was made indirectly (through a VCR in daisy chaining mode, for example), however, some VCR allowed

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804-402: A composite sync, which is SCART-compatible. Besides simple connection of external devices to SCART TVs, RGB SCART is used in the retrogaming scene for connecting vintage games consoles (including ones internally modified for RGB or 60 Hz RGB where necessary) to: The SAM Coupé microcomputer also uses a SCART connector for its output, however it is a non-standard pinout. There is also

871-488: A composite video signal through a German-originated DIN-style connector , an American-originated RCA connector , an SO239 connector or a BNC connector . The SCART connector first appeared on TVs in 1977. It became compulsory on new TVs sold in France from January 1980, and since 1987 in eastern Europe, such as Poland. The actual French legal decree was adopted on 7 February 1980 and revoked on 3 July 2015. The standard

938-512: A recorder. Closing a loop on either the "up" or "down" chain-path may not have useful effects and may create instability. As audio and (composite) video use the same pins on "down" and "up" connectors (and require a crosslinked cable), it is also possible to connect two devices directly to each other without paying attention to the type of the socket. However, this no longer works when S-Video signals are used. As straight links (RGB red and blue up) were re-purposed to carry chrominance information,

1005-410: A standard format as a result. Some sources assume that the TV is always capable of widescreen functionality and hence never perform the adaptations. Some sources will not even issue the widescreen signal or maintain it at the same level all the time. Other sources might offer the option of truncating the sides, but not of letterboxing, which requires significantly more processing. Notably, the circuitry of

1072-585: A time. With the Dimensia remote, just pushing the VCR button will turn on the VCR, turn on the monitor and then play the tape in the VCR, assuming there is one in the VCR. The Dimensia remote was not programmable like most universal remotes today. It was only fully compatible with Dimensia components. These components were referred to as Dimensia Intelligent, hence the name, Dimensia Intelligent Audio Video. Dimensia televisions had many unique features that were state of

1139-404: A very large and advanced universal remote , called Dimensia Intelligent Audio Video or Dimensia Digital Control, variations of the Digital Command Center . The capabilities of this remote were far more advanced than many (perhaps any) other remotes at that time. For example, with other universal remotes you can control everything separately by controlling one component at a time; one command at

1206-418: A virtually unlimited number of devices to a single SCART socket on the TV. While audio and video signals can travel both "up" to the TV and "down" to devices farther away from the TV, this is not true for RGB (and non-standard YP B P R ) signals, which can only travel towards the TV. "Down" and "up" are conventional. Logically, the TV is the last device of the "up" chain-path (stream) and the first device in

1273-413: A wedge-shaped remote (CRK45A) shown at the bottom of the picture above. Digital Command Component System Dimensia ( / d ɪ ˈ m ɛ n s i ə / dih- MEN -see-uh ) was RCA 's brand name for their high-end models of television systems and their components ( tuner , VCR , CD player , etc.) produced from 1984 to 1989, with variations continuing into the early 1990s, superseded by

1340-514: A wide array of high-end features that were novel for its time and are still not common anywhere. The main unique feature of the Dimensia system was the MRT 003, a 32- kilobyte built-in computer module which allowed the monitor to communicate with all Dimensia components and the remote functions. All components were connected via the control bus found on the I/O panel on the back of the TV. The control bus

1407-472: Is CENELEC document number EN 50049–1. SCART is sometimes referred to as the IEC 933-1 standard. Before SCART was introduced, TVs did not offer a standardised way of inputting signals other than RF antenna connectors, and these differed between countries. Assuming other connectors even existed, devices made by various companies could have different and incompatible standards. For example, a domestic VCR could output

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1474-467: Is induced or crosstalked onto an incoming video signal due to inadequate or non-existent screening; the result is ghostly images or shimmering superimposed on the incoming signal. To non-destructively verify if a SCART cable uses coaxial cables, unscrew the strain relief at the SCART connector and fold open the plastic shell. Using higher-quality cables such as those with ribbon cords that have properly shielded coaxial cables inside might help in reducing

1541-570: Is no switching signal to indicate S-Video. Some TVs can auto-detect the presence of the S-Video signal but more commonly the S-Video input needs to be manually selected. The same for the rare component YPbPr, which is in many cases implemented over a composite or RGB SCART. The use of the data pins was not standardised in the original SCART specification, resulting in the use of several different protocols, both proprietary protocols and semi-proprietary protocols based on standards such as D²B . Some of

1608-552: The Consumer Electronics Control channel in HDMI. The data pins, 10, 12, 14, were used by some manufacturers for Dolby Pro Logic , surround and multichannel on their TV sets (some high end models with built in Dolby decoders, and external surround speakers, both CRT, LCD and plasma sets, and only in Europe - and European versions of Japanese TV Sets and DVD players -, and mainly on S/PDIF), in order to connect

1675-566: The Digital Command Component System, a fully integrated audio system that permitted the full functionality of Dimensia audio components without a Dimensia monitor. The name "Dimensia" actually dates back to the early 1970s when RCA used the term for an enhanced spatial stereo effect which they called "Dimensia IV". The tagline for the Dimensia was The Next Dimension in Sight and Sound. The RCA Dimensia systems had

1742-557: The ProScan model line. After RCA was acquired by General Electric in 1986, GE sold the RCA consumer electronics line to Thomson SA which continued the Dimensia line. They are significant for their wide array of advanced features and for being the first television receiver systems to feature a built in computer, somewhat of an early incarnation of a smart TV , but without internet access (see Technological convergence ). In 1985, RCA released

1809-405: The "down" chain path. Physically, the TV is under the device which sits on its top, hence the name "set-top box" for the device. Moreover, some sockets' relative position may enforce the belief that the TV is physically the last in the down direction. Logically, the TV is on top and ends the "up" chain-path, translating the electrical info into an image and sound. From the same logical point of view

1876-569: The 100 watt MSA-100 amplifier; then later in 1985 the 200 watt MSA-200 amplifier was released which was compatible with the MGE-160 graphic equalizer . The impedance of the SPK-375 was six ohms and their sensitivity was 91 dB/watt/meter. The frequency response of the speakers built into the TV chassis was 50-15000 Hertz, a standard range for mid-range audio components; the external speakers and amplifiers increased this range to 35-20000 Hertz,

1943-523: The MSA-100 and MSA-200, respectively. In 1987, RCA released the MSP400 for the second-generation Dimensia audio system, an early Dolby Pro Logic surround sound decoder. Various images of a 1987 console model GPR2740T General : SCART Status & Aspect Ratio up Blanking signal up RGB-selection voltage up output / input denotes symmetrical links up / down denotes links to/from

2010-890: The Nintendo GameCube and Xbox automatically switch to the proper mode, the PlayStation 2 must be told via a selection in the system menu whether it is to use YP B P R or RGB video. RGB is only available on PAL region GameCube and Wii consoles, while S-Video is only available on NTSC consoles. Some older consoles such as the Master System , Mega Drive/Genesis , and Super Nintendo Entertainment System output RGB, and many older home computers ( Amstrad CPC , later ZX Spectrum models, MSX , Amiga , Atari ST , BBC Micro and Acorn Archimedes , etc.) output RGB with composite sync suitable for SCART use, via DIN plugs. Standard-resolution arcade monitors use RGB signals with

2077-513: The S-Video pinouts are different for "down" and "up" SCART connectors. Further, they are often not fully implemented. Paying attention to the type of socket is essential when handling component RGB/YP B P R /S-video. Damage can be caused to devices incorrectly connected as follows: Damaging pins 7, 11 or 15 may result in yellow, purple or blue/green images, due to the missing blue, green or red components respectively. When using S-video, damaging pin 7 or 15 may result in black-white images due to

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2144-426: The SCART connector will be held at approximately half mains voltage if it is plugged into a powered TV with the other end unplugged. If the cable is then plugged into an earthed device with a metal case, inadvertent contact with the SCART cable shield while the earthed device is touched with the other hand can cause a painful electric shock. For this reason the device end of the cable should always be plugged in first and

2211-418: The TV end plugged in last. Quality differences exist in SCART cables. While a proper SCART cable uses miniature coaxial cables for the video signals, cheap SCART cables often use plain wires for all signals, resulting in a loss of image quality and greatly reducing the maximum cable length. A common problem on a cheap SCART cable is that a TV outputs a composite video signal from its internal tuner and this

2278-602: The TV set ^ a rarely supported. ^ b non-standard extension. ^ c from STB to VCR when used for unattended recording; 12V forces tv-set to AV-channel ^ d protocol not standardised, e.g. D²B . SCART (also known as Péritel or Péritélévision , especially in France, 21-pin EuroSCART in marketing by Sharp in Asia, Euroconector in Spain, EuroAV or EXT , or EIA Multiport in

2345-413: The TV to power off, which it will do if it had been powered on by the VCR's request and if it remained in video mode. Only some TVs will do this—most only implement automatic switching to and from the SCART input. The same signal can be used by a satellite receiver or set-top box to signal a VCR that it is supposed to start and stop recording ("pin 8 recording"). This configuration usually requires that

2412-535: The United States, as an EIA interface ) is a French-originated standard and associated 21-pin connector for connecting audio-visual (AV) equipment. The name SCART comes from Syndicat des Constructeurs d'Appareils Radiorécepteurs et Téléviseurs , "Radio and Television Receiver Manufacturers' Association", the French organisation that created the connector in the mid-1970s. The related European standard EN 50049

2479-407: The VCR be farther from the TV than the source, so the signal usually travels "down". SCART also supports automatic widescreen switching . This is an extension of the functionality of pin 8, which previously only indicated to the TV that an external signal should be displayed. Ideally, a widescreen source should offer three operating modes in order to deal with widescreen signals: In the first case,

2546-489: The ambient light in the room; at night or with the lights off it would lower its brightness. Retailed at over $ 5,000 USD upon its release in October 1984, it came with all the matching Dimensia-intelligent components, including the VCR, CED player (canceled just before release, with the Digital Command Center remote's "DISC" button being relabeled "VID2", though some of the manuals for Dimensia components continued to show

2613-442: The appropriate AV channel when the SCART attached device is switched on. SCART was also used for high definition signals such as 720p , 1080i, 1080p with YPbPr connection by some manufacturers, but this usage is scarce due to the advent of HDMI . In Europe, SCART was the most common method of connecting AV equipment and was a standard connector for such devices; it was far less common elsewhere. The official standard for SCART

2680-447: The art at the time and some that are still rare today, including: There are different models of the Dimensia, and there were two "generations" of the console and full Dimensia systems. This variation of the Dimensia featured just the TV monitor mounted in a heavy wood grain veneer with a large input/output panel. It was on a swivel mount. It was not as commercial as the monitor for the full component-based Dimensia system; however, it

2747-658: The black control jack found on all Dimensia components. This remote had 8 device keys on it; TV, VCR, VID2 (DISC), AUX, AM/FM, PHON, TAPE, and CD. Since the CED Player intended to be released with the Dimensia system in 1984 was cancelled, the VID2 button and the ability to control the CED Players was absent from later remotes. In 1987, the Dimensia Intelligent Audio Video was replaced with

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2814-464: The cable connects to an input signal at the other end. The complete list of wires that are swapped are: pins 1 and 2, pins 3 and 6, pins 17 and 18, pins 19 and 20. The original SCART specification provided for different cable (cordset) types denoted by a key color, but color-coding is rarely used and cables often use different, non-standard configurations. Maximum SCART cable length is estimated to be about 10 to 15 metres without amplification. Due to

2881-504: The console Dimensia monitor was intended to stand alone (the full system had a 100 or 200 watt amplifier and 3-way tower speakers), but was still a high-end system, it featured a more complete built-in audio system than most monitors of the time. It had both woofers and tweeters in the TV cabinet, whereas almost all standard CRT television sets featured just one (mono) or two (stereo) low fidelity mid-range speaker drivers. It also had selectable external speaker connectors to be powered by

2948-400: The control bus data link via the same piggy-back style RCA connectors . All Dimensia-Intelligent components could interact with the monitor's built-in computer. The first generation console Dimensia I/O panel shown to the left also has a SCART interface, an early multiport A/V interface which was popular in Europe (called EIA Multiport-Stereo Connector by RCA). The Dimensia system came with

3015-523: The early widescreen MAC standard decoders (e.g. the Visiopass ) could not letterbox. The limitations apply mostly to satellite TVs, while DVD players can always at least letterbox and often zoom . The cables for connecting equipment together have a male plug at each end. Some of the wires such as ground, data, switching and RGB connect to the identical pin number at each end. Others such as audio and video are swapped so that an output signal at one end of

3082-419: The full functionality of the Dimensia's sound system without the need of a Dimensia monitor. In Dimensia television systems, the remote was called Dimensia Intelligent Audio Video or Dimensia Digital Control because all of the components were integrated so that the remote could activate the entire system with the touch of one button by communicating with the built-in computer found in the Dimensia monitor via

3149-447: The info stream, wherever it originates, may need processing such as decrypting (decoding, descrambling) or adding captioning/subtitles. In this case the info stream is sent logically "down" to dedicated function devices. From the last processing device the info stream is sent logically "up" to the TV, through all the chain-path. Another case is when the info stream is sent "down" and not expected to be sent back "up", for example when sent to

3216-624: The internal amp. The commercial models featured a 20-foot-long (6.1 m) grounded power cord and BNC high-end commercial coaxial inputs. These models were around before the Dimensia system and were called the RCA Lyceum TV . These units were often used in educational facilities or other institutions and had the same chassis as the Colortrak 2000 and Dimensia tabletop model (the primary one). The commercial models had many extensive features such as automatic color balance and an automatic screen brightness adjuster which varied according to

3283-437: The main features of the Dimensia's was the large input/output panel on the back. This included several RCA composite video terminals as well as multiple unbalanced and balanced RF antenna/cable inputs. This enabled easy connection of all Dimensia system components, each on their own channel. Additionally, the RCA cables were able to be connected piggy-back, resulting in daisy-chain wiring. The components were also connected to

3350-418: The menu or via switches on the back of the device. The GameCube , Wii , Neo-Geo , Dreamcast , PlayStation , PlayStation 2 , PlayStation 3 , Xbox and Xbox 360 can output RGB , component video , S-Video, or composite video. These consoles come with the standard composite video connector, but the manufacturers and third parties sell connectors for component video hookup and for RGB SCART hookup. Where

3417-453: The missing chroma component ("down" and "up" respectively). Similarly, damaging pins 7 and 15 (P B and P R ) while leaving pin 11 (Y) undamaged may result in black-white images when using YP B P R . Damaging more than one of these pins may result in combined effects. SCART enables a device to command the TV to very quickly switch between signals, in order to create overlays in the image. In order to implement captioning or subtitles ,

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3484-466: The most creative usages appeared in analogue satellite receivers. The function of decoding hybrid, time-compressed analogue-digital MAC transmissions into RGB and analogue audio was akin to making a digital receiver out of an analogue one. The D²B pins (10 and 12) were used for communicating with satellite dish positioners and for driving magnetic polarisers , before these became incorporated into LNBs . The daisy-chaining features were used to connect both

3551-407: The original "DISC" button; some CED players released before the Dimensia system hit the market have the special control jack and can be used with the system), amplifier , equalizer, speakers, tuner, cassette recorder, CD player and turntable. This was the most remarkable system, as all the components were compatible with the TV's computer and almost any operation could be executed with just the push of

3618-699: The pass-through of these signals. Some DVD player manufacturers on some models offered SPDIF only on SCART, and an adapter in order to extract the digital audio signal to send it to a home cinema. To the present day this connection remains rare, as HDMI, S/PDIF, and TOSLINK can provide multichannel audio, also some TV sets with Surround built in may have an Optical or S/PDIF INPUT, beside Output . Nearly all modern DVD players and set-top boxes with SCART sockets can output RGB signal, which offers superior picture quality to composite signal. However, many devices do not have RGB output turned on by default, instead defaulting to composite video: RGB often has to be set up manually in

3685-401: The relatively high signal voltages used in SCART, "hot plugging" (connecting or disconnecting devices while they are on) is not recommended. Although there is no risk of personal injury, there is the possibility of damaging electronics within the devices if the connector is inserted improperly. Also, since many TVs are Class II (double-insulated) rather than earthed, the large exposed shield on

3752-605: The signals from the TV to the set-top decoder and send the processed result back to the TV. When a scrambled show is recorded, the VCR will drive the set-top box from its own tuner and send the unscrambled signals to the TV for viewing or simple recording control. Alternatively, the VCR could use the signals from the TV, in which case it would be inadvisable to change channels on the TV during the recording. The "down" socket can also be used to connect other devices, such as DVD players or game consoles. As long as all devices have at least one "down" and "up" socket, this allows for connecting

3819-508: The time and watch for returned signals, to display and reproduce them. This allows "transparent" set-top boxes, without any tuner, which just "hook" and pre-process the TV signals. This feature is used for analogue pay TV like Canal Plus and was used for decoding teletext . A VCR will often have two SCART sockets, to connect it to the TV ("up", "primary" or "1"), and for video input from a set-top box or other device ("down", "secondary" or "2"). When idle or powered off, VCRs will usually forward

3886-454: The type of video present. Pin 16, the blanking signal pin, carries a signal from the source that indicates that the signal is either RGB or composite. The original specification defined pin 16 as a high frequency (up to 3 MHz) signal that blanked the composite video. The RGB inputs were always active and the signal 'punches holes' in the composite video. This could be used to overlay subtitles from an external Teletext decoder. There

3953-456: The use of a "transparent" color in a teletext page. SCART allows a connected device to bring it in and out of standby mode or to switch it to the AV channel. A VCR or other playback device will optimally power on when a cassette is inserted, power on the TV (or switch it to video mode) and then start playing immediately if the cassette write protection tab is absent. When turned off, the VCR will ask

4020-403: The widescreen pin allows to indicate the current signal format, which allows widescreen TVs to adjust the image width, and widescreen-capable standard TVs to compress the scan lines of the image vertically to a letterbox shape portion of the picture tube. In the second case, the widescreen SCART signal is never active and the signal source performs the adaptations itself so that the image has always

4087-516: Was a unique RCA connector which was colored black. All Dimensia branded components had this control jack and they all interconnected by using RCA plugs that could piggy-back, resulting in a daisy chain which simplified wiring. This was known as the SystemLink, a communication system that had 16 kilobytes of computer memory (after the discontinuation of the Dimensia product line, RCA reused the SystemLink term for their universal remotes). One of

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4154-411: Was extended at the end of the 1980s to support the new S-Video signals. A TV can be awakened from standby mode, and it can automatically switch to appropriate AV channel, when the device attached to it through a SCART connector is turned on. SCART is bi-directional regarding standard composite video and analogue audio. A TV will typically send the antenna audio and video signals to the SCART sockets all

4221-465: Was otherwise identical to the 26 inch displays that were initially released. The initial 1984 Dimensia system came with one of several three-way stereo loudspeaker systems. The first one was the SPK375 which were made to go on optional speaker stands. They were rated at 60 watts RMS and 120 watts maximum and were in a 36-pound acoustic suspension enclosure . These were initially meant to be used with

4288-452: Was refined and published in 1978 by CENELEC , calling it péritelevision , but it is commonly called by the abbreviation péritel in French. The signals carried by SCART include both composite and RGB (with composite synchronisation) video , stereo audio input/output and digital signalling. SCART is also capable of carrying S-Video signals, using the red pins for chroma. A TV can be woken from standby mode and automatically switch to

4355-426: Was still considered high-end and had the control bus. In other words, the console Dimensia system was intended to be more stand-alone television set than the full Dimensia system. The second generation console version of the Dimensia had the speakers located on the sides rather than underneath the screen (e.g. Model GPR2750P). It had three coaxial cable/antenna posts for separate RF inputs and one output. Audio : Since

4422-626: Was subject to several amendments and at least 2 major revisions, approved by CENELEC on 13 November 1988 (EN 50049-1:1989) and 1 July 1997 (EN 50049-1:1997). The SCART system was intended to simplify connecting AV equipment (including TVs, VCRs , DVD players and games consoles ). To achieve this it gathered all of the analogue signal connections into a single cable with a unique connector, which normally made incorrect connections nearly impossible. The signals carried by SCART include both composite and RGB (with composite synchronisation) video, stereo audio input/output and digital signalling. The standard

4489-568: Was superseded in March 1993 by the norm CPR-1201 to include S-Video. CPR-1201 was withdrawn in March 2003 to be replaced by the equivalent norm CPR-1205, representing Japan's transition from analogue to digital, and thus antiquating analogue connectors. It was adopted in Japan for the connector's ability to support RGB output format (no compression nor deterioration of original video signals) but, contrary to SCART in Europe, it never saw widespread use on

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