For more than a decade, AV Technology and Systems Contractor News have joined forces to deliver a full day of hot-topic panels, peer networking, and intimate conversations with vendors at the AV/IT Summit.

If you are a CTO, CIO, AV/IT director, consultant, or integrator, the AV/IT Summit on Aug. 5, 2026, in Times Square, is the must-attend event of the summer.

Space is truly limited, so apply now.

Check out the video below and learn why SCN’s Mark Pescatore and AVT’s Cindy Davis think you need to register to attend.

Designed to Engage, Inform, and Inspire

Our keynote, "The AI Moment for the Collaborative Workplace," delivered by Byron Tarry, founder and chief transformation officer of NΞXXT, is sure to inspire you and challenge your assumptions of AI in the workplace. Tarry will explore how analytics, automation, and intelligent agents can anchor the digital layer of a space, offering the ability to generate insight, optimize performance, and increasingly collaborate with the people who use it.

Pain Points 2026: Bring yours and get answers!

Designing the Modern Higher Ed Classroom: Moderated by HETMA's Joe Way

Broadcast-Level AV for Enterprise and Higher Ed: What you need to know to get started and level up.

The Consultant’s Roundtable: Learn how they can help your organization plan, design, deploy, and manage AV and IT infrastructure solutions—and, of course, simplify the process.

The State of Collaboration: We discuss the new collaboration space and the drivers for high-quality solutions.

The Great AI Debate: We discuss how AI is truly impacting Pro AV.

Better Every Year

“Each year I have been involved with the AV/IT Summit, it gets better and better,” said Cindy Davis, content director for AV Technology. “Last year, we introduced the Pain Points session, and it was so much fun. Attendees bring their top AV/IT pain points, and our panel of experts and other attendees attempt to solve them.”

On a more serious note, our panels cover some of the most important topics in the AV/IT industry today. There’s plenty of networking time to talk further with our speakers, your peers, and the AV/IT Summit vendors to share ideas.

You might think that stating that space is limited is a marketing ploy, but it’s not; we can only accept a limited number of people. Attendees must qualify to attend, so register today!

We look forward to seeing you at the AV/IT Summit!

REGISTER NOW TO ATTEND!
This AVNetwork Roundtable is specifically designed for decision-makers within corporate enterprises.

Join us for an insightful roundtable discussion, where we'll delve into collaboration and meeting spaces. Learn how HP Poly and AVI-SPL are revolutionizing the way we connect, offering seamless and secure experiences across all platforms and devices.

Learn about cutting-edge solutions like the immersive HP Dimension with Google Beam and how they're transforming communication. Attendees will gain insights into cutting-edge solutions, practical considerations, and evolving demands of modern meeting environments and how to stay ahead of the curve. You won't want to miss it!

THURSDAY, July 17 at noon ET. Register now!

THIS ROUNDTABLE WILL COVER:

The New Collaboration Space

+ How meeting spaces are changing and adapting to new demands

+ Understanding the multimodal meeting experience

+ Helping customers achieve interoperability across multiple platforms

+ Finding the right solution for various platforms and devices

+ BYOD in meeting spaces: pros, cons, and considerations

HP Dimension & Google Beam: A New Immersive Experience

+ Introduction to HP Dimension's 3D immersive technology.

+ The unique, visceral experience of feeling physically in the same space as remote participants

+ How AVI-SPL is uniquely positioned to deliver this experience

Delivering a Simple, Secure, and Seamless Experience

+ Security considerations for today’s meeting experiences

+ How technology has advanced to make the experience the forefront

+ The role of management platforms in ensuring functional systems and a consistent user experience

REGISTER NOW!

InfoComm 2025 is days away from opening its doors. We're here to help you prep your to-do list, with the must-see products to check out on the show floor. Whether you can make it to Orlando or will be following from afar, AV Network brings you everything you need to know before the doors open on June 7, and all the way through the final day on June 13.

[New Products and InfoComm Insights]

Today, check out a new Shure loudspeaker, plus find out what Epson, AVer, Custom Channels, and Telycam are doing.

AVer to Showcase Intelligent Collaboration Solutions

AVer will highlight intelligent conferencing and collaboration at booth 3181, including the launch of the TR615 professional broadcasting camera and the BYOM Kit. Designed to empower hybrid work, streamline control and deliver unparalleled user experiences, AVer will demonstrate how technology can transform any meeting space into an intelligent, connected environment.

The TR615 enhances professional broadcasting with unmatched precision and AI-driven innovation. Built with a 1-inch sensor and a premium 1-inch lens, the TR615 delivers cinema-quality visuals and supports Presenter, Zone, and Hybrid Tracking for subject recognition. The TR615 offers flexible connectivity with HDMI, USB, 3G-SDI, dual 12G-SDI, XLR and supports IP streaming via NDI|HX3 and Genlock, making it ideal for studios, live events and houses of worship seeking top-tier video quality and control.

AVer's BYOM Kit features USB-C connectivity, delivering 4K video, audio and power, along with ultra-high-definition output, four to five inputs and dual-screen support; it ensures seamless integration and crystal-clear visuals. With intuitive touch controls, the BYOM Kit enables smooth content switching, while dual AVer camera support provides dynamic, multi-angle video experiences. It integrates seamlessly with AVer’s professional AV products, supporting Auto-Tracking PTZ cameras and video conference cameras. Ideal for corporate meetings, education, government panels and live production, AVer's BYOM Kit offers unmatched flexibility and efficiency to deliver professional-grade performance in any setting.

Custom Channels to Debut “Custom Channels Pro”

Business music service provider Custom Channels will debut Custom Channels Pro at booth 6948. It is the first licensed music solution designed specifically for digital signage integrators and CMS providers to bundle music with signage.

Custom Channels Pro enables partners to easily add background music to signage deployments—without hardware or licensing headaches—turning music into a strategic selling point and reliable recurring revenue stream. The service is compatible with platforms including Navori Labs, BrightSign, TrueSyncMedia, and Pickcel designed for use in retail stores, restaurants, hotels, resorts, and medical offices.

Epson to Demonstrate High-Impact Visual Experiences

Epson will showcase its latest 4K 3-chip 3LCD laser projection technology for high impact, immersive experiences at booth #3427. During InfoComm, Epson will demonstrate how virtually any surface can become a dynamic display with its ultra-sharp 4K projectors, new innovative fixed-lens options, versatile short throw models and interactive solutions.

Among the slew of solutions on display, like EB-PQ Series 4K Projectors, new solutions will be debuted. The recently launched PowerLite L Series delivers higher brightness and pro level features in a portable design. Including standard throw projectors and newly added optical zoom on short throw options, the lineup covers an expansive range of throw ratios between 0.5 to 2.2 for greater installation flexibility across applications. Ranging from 6,000 to 8,000 lumens, including Full HD WUXGA resolution and 4K Enhancement Technology options, the projectors deliver sharp, detailed images for up close viewing.

Also, the newly designed PowerLite 810E extreme short throw display features 4K Enhancement Technology coupled with 3-chip, 3LCD technology and 5,000 lumens, to deliver sharp, bright images up to 160-inches sitting merely inches from the wall.

Shure to Debut IntelliMix Foundation System and Networked Pendant Loudspeaker

Shure, which is celebrating 100 years at InfoComm 2025, will showcase two new conferencing solutions that will enable AV and IT integrators to better support varied meeting spaces.

Shure's IntelliMix Room Kits are complete, Certified for Microsoft Teams Room Kits with Shure's renowned audio and video performance for small to large meeting rooms. Now, the powerful compute and touch panel included in the room kits will be offered as a standalone base kit—the IntelliMix Foundation System—enabling qualified AV professionals to mix and match with Shure’s versatile Microflex Ecosystem portfolio of microphones and loudspeakers and complementary third-party camera and control products.

Making its first appearance at InfoComm 2025, the Microflex MXN-6 Networked Pendant Loudspeaker offers high-quality speech reproduction for AV conferencing and is the latest addition to the Microflex Loudspeaker lineup. Combined with Microflex Advance Array Microphones and IntelliMix DSP solutions, the PoE-powered MXN-6 fits perfectly in a Shure-networked conferencing audio system and delivers premium audio performance, while eliminating the need for an additional outboard amplifier.

Telycam Launches Explore XE 4K PTZ Camera

Telycam will debut its Explore XE, a new 4K PTZ camera specifically designed to bring broadcast-class quality and capabilities to the professional AV market. Featuring a 1-inch Sony sensor, phase detection auto-focus (PDAF) and 20x optical zoom, the new Explore XE offers the premium performance of Telycam's Explore broadcast camera in a purpose-built model tailored for the connectivity and budget requirements of AV environments.

Telycam will demonstrate the Explore XE in booth 3088. Explore XE features the same sensor, optics, and advanced auto-focus as the Explore series. Explore XE's large 1-inch sensor enables spectacular video quality and excels in low-light conditions, capturing sharp detail with minimal noise. Its superior light sensitivity, dynamic range and shallow depth-of-field capabilities combine to enable stunning visuals with exceptional contrast and clarity. Advanced PDAF provides accurate, lightning-fast auto-focus with minimal focus hunting, keeping subjects in focus even in fast-paced environments.

Diversified, an SCN Top 50 systems integrator, unveiled its International Women’s Day event and film festival taking place at Pace University on March 6 in New York City. The event, Without Boundaries: Accelerate Action, is a collaboration of Diversified, Diversified’s Women’s Empowerment Group, AVIXA Women’s Council, SVGW (formerly Women’s Sports Media Initiative), #GALSNGEAR, and NextLVL Learning. Diversified will host the gathering, which aims to inspire, empower, and advance women in AV, media, and technology by providing a platform for sharing bold ideas, breakthrough projects, and transformative visions.

Industry professionals and students will gather at the in-person event by invitation and virtually all over the world to discuss advancement and opportunity for women in AV, a field that still has a large gender gap to close.

[Pro AV Welcomes Women Back to the Workforce]

“Without Boundaries: Accelerate Action gives women a new platform through which to showcase their voices, celebrate innovation, and build networks that can define careers,” said Diversified chief people pfficer Debbie Fulton. “We know that representation matters and we’re committed to shaping a workforce that is more inclusive and reflects the diverse world that we serve."

Without Boundaries: Accelerate Action will feature a fireside chat with Diversified CEO Eric Hutto and special guest Melanie Kalmar, Dow’s corporate VP, chief information officer, and chief digital officer, who was recognized on the Forbes CIO Next list. Hutto and Kalmar will discuss how organizations can drive immediate impact by embracing collaboration, inclusivity, and forward-thinking strategies. Their fireside will be livestreamed on AVIXA TV, kicking off at 3:30 p.m. ET.

[Tech Perspectives: The Power of Intimacy]

The New York event also kicks off Diversified’s inaugural Without Boundaries Film Festival. Staged in partnership with AVIXA and SVGW, the festival celebrates and supports the creativity, innovation, and incredible impact of women in the AV, media, and technology fields. Festival attendees will see films that share inspiring stories, ideas, and innovations to uplift others and support growth as a community from women working in or studying AV, media, and technology.

“Diversified’s vision as a company is to create a world without boundaries,” said Hutto. “This event is one way we’re putting that into action—connecting with women in AV, media, and technology, along with mentors and allies to tackle challenges, drive innovation, and celebrate their impact.”

AVIXA TV is a strong advocate for amplifying diverse voices. In 2023, the Beyond Visual video series was launched to spotlight how personal experiences shape an individual’s perspective and how their expertise, in turn, impacts the world.

To view more details about the event, the keynote, and the film festival or to register for the live stream, click here.

Chyron 2025 Designer of the Year Competition—which to be awarded live during the 2025 NAB Show in Las Vegas—is now open. Anyone with design experience and proficiency using Chyron PRIME Designer is eligible. PRIME Designer is the common design interface for PRIME CG, PRIME Video Walls, PRIME Touchscreen, and PRIME Branding and offers innovative design, animation, data integration, and playout management functionality driving some of the most recognized live video productions in the world.

“Chyron recognizes that our work is a creative collaboration, inspired by the needs of our customers, developed by our software ideation and design process, and brought to life by the many talented Chyron end users,” stated Carol Bettencourt, Chyron VP of marketing. “This award honors some of the best work of our end users. It gets harder each year to select a winner, because there are so many excellent Chyron designers out there.”

[5 Sentiments from NAB Show 2024]

Previous winners include Zack Millican (NAB 2023) an in-demand sports graphics freelancer, Perry Littman (IBC 2023) graphics operator at MOOV, Kyle Taragowski (NAB 2024) for his work with Academy of Lower Thirds for CPAC-Canada, and Tom Gray (IBC 2024) graphics implementation specialist at MOOV.

"TV graphics are constantly evolving, and with creative departments and production companies becoming more demanding and ambitious with how they want graphics to animate and what information to display, Chyron Prime has all the tools I need to recreate their designs with the polish and flexibility expected in today's broadcasts," said 2024 Chyron Designer of the Year winner Gray.

[5 Booths That Caught Our Eye at NAB 2024]

Anyone is eligible to enter by submitting four or more broadcast quality scenes, created with Chyron PRIME. The scenes must include animations, and the use of data integration, base scenes, style sheets and playout control panels is encouraged. Tom Gray’s winning show reel may be seen here. The deadline for entries is March 20, 2025. Designers may submit work created specifically for this competition, or may submit work created for a customer or employer, with their permission.

Join us on Wednesday, August 21 at noon Eastern for a roundtable discussion on The State of Networked AV. 

There's no looking back; AVoIP, AVoIT, or AVoX, "on the network," is becoming part of the fabric of every enterprise. Nearly every company that started as a traditional AV manufacturer has a full suite of networked AV/IT solutions.

This panel defines Networked AV, addresses barriers to entry such as existing infrastructure, major AV equipment that hasn't reached the end of its lifecycle, and how to overcome interdepartmental resistance and help plan for the future.

We will discuss:
+ How Networked AV simplifies provisioning, management, deployment, and monitoring
+ How Networked AV enables ease of use, scalability, and flexibility
+ Understanding the AV network
+ What you need to know about networked AV and security
+ AV over X

Bring your questions and share your experiences. 

Register Now!

ISE 2024 is creeping closer, Pro AV-ers. We'll keep you up to date on the latest product information and company news and insights on the road to Barcelona. 

Today, check out ISE info from PPDS, DPA Microphones, EAW, and Pliant Technologies, as well as big partner news from Sustainability in AV (SAVe). 

DPA Microphones New Shotgun Mic Makes European Debut

DPA Microphones will showcase its new 2017 Shotgun Microphone at ISE 2024 (booth 7B910, Hall 7). Designed to capture authentic sound with high directivity, clarity, and consistency, the 2017 is crafted for various challenging AV, live-performance, and broadcast scenarios. Its versatility, durable design, and ability to withstand difficult environments or extreme weather make the 2017 ideal for integrators that address an array of applications—such as affixed to a fly bar in theatres or concert settings or in fixed setups in lives sports and news.

The 2017 will hold up to travel and repeated use in harsh environments. The microphone persists in humid conditions and direct rain showers, as well as dry, arid environments. It has been tested for use in settings with temperatures up to  113 degrees Fahrenheit (45 degrees Celsius) with 90% relative humidity, and cold environments as low as -40 degrees Fahrenheit (-40 degrees Celsius). With a consistent ability to easily withstand the effects of moisture, the 2017 ensures that any event can go live with incredible sound, no matter the setting or forecast.

Eastern Acoustic Works to Unveil New Full-Range Loudspeaker

Eastern Acoustic Works (EAW) will debut its new MKD526, a two-way, full-range dual-woofer loudspeakers at ISE 2024 (booth 7J100). The MKD526 is a compact dual 5-inch, full-range loudspeaker designed for a variety of fill applications.

The MKD526 installation loudspeaker is engineered to deliver high output, broadband pattern control, and high fidelity ideal for a variety of applications including front fills, under balcony fills, corporate events, and bars/restaurants. The compact durable Baltic birch enclosure provides for easy installation with an array of accessories including a u-bracket, yoke and ceiling bracket. MKD526 also offers weather protection options, custom colors, and a small profile allowing for concealed installations in the most visually sensitive environments.

MKD526 also features various built-in EAW technologies, including Beamwidth Matched Crossovers, which uses carefully designed HF horns and crossovers to eliminate polar irregularities through the crossover point; advanced digital signal processing to perfect the impulse response of a loudspeaker in the time domain with Focusing, and DynO Dynamic Optimization to actively track the input spectrum and power delivery.

Pliant Technologies to Showcase MicroCom 863XR Wireless Beltpack

Pliant Technologies will showcase the latest addition to its MicroCom family of products, the new MicroCom 863XR wireless beltpack at ISE 2024 (booth 5F900). This product is designed for use in Europe as it operates in the 863-865 MHz ISM band, which allows for unlicensed use in most European countries. The 863XR features excellent range, two intercom channels and the capability to support up to six full-duplex users with unlimited listeners, without the need for a basestation. In addition, Pliant will also have its new CrewCom IP-rated Radio Transceivers (RTs) on display at the show. 

MicroCom 863XR provides full-duplex, multi-user intercom solutions for applications where high-quality audio, extended range, ease of use, and affordability are essential. Built with rugged IP67 construction, a long 12-hour battery that is field replaceable, along with a range of MicroCom accessories, the MicroCom 863XR is perfect for jobs that require continuous use. 

Additionally, at ISE 2024, Pliant will also highlight its new CrewCom IP-rated Radio Transceivers (RTs). The new RTs are the latest addition to the flagship CrewCom wireless intercom line. They are available in both 2.4GHz and 900MHz versions (where legal) and are ideal for any installation or live event where outdoor placement of transceivers for wireless coverage is required.

SAVe Partners With Edge at ISE 2024 

SAVe is partnering with Edge at ISE 2024 to drive Pro AV industry support for the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Edge will sponsor an opening networking reception for all who want to be part of the solution to achieve meaningful change in the Pro AV industry’s approach to sustainability issues. The opening networking reception sponsored by Edge is on Jan. 31 from 4-6 p.m. local time in Banquet Room D3 in Hall 8.

“Edge creates unparalleled partnerships across the AV industry, and we are proud to support the important work that SAVe is leading to draw down our industry’s impact and help create a more sustainable future for our planet,” said Michael Boettcher, president of Edge. “Our industry is positioned to make significant impact and Edge wants to play a role in our progress.”  

SAVe will be at ISE 2024 in Congress Square at booth CS220 for its second year helping make substantial progress in areas related to responsible waste management, life cycle carbon emission reduction, and reduced energy usage. The Congress Square location can be found in the central aisle between Halls 4 and 6 and Halls 5 and 7.

Register Now! Reimagining the Workplace: Collaboration to Displays - Webcast, Wednesday, May 24, at 2:00 p.m. ET

An architect from HOK who has designed more than 900,000 square feet of innovative, agile space that encourages collaboration and inspires productivity joins us as our guest speaker as we explore the new-era workplace. 

Are the open plan and the huddle room a thing of the past? We call BS on some of the knee-jerk reactions being discussed and take a 360-degree look at the new-era workplace. From hot-desking and hotelling to meeting spaces that enable the hybrid workforce. 

We discuss the human factor and how staff wants to engage in the office and remotely. From furniture to technology solutions, our panel explores what did and did not work during the past couple of years and how to plan for a productive environment that includes a hybrid workforce.

The Panel:

Ken Eagle, VP of Technology, Hall Technologies

Adam Griffin, Director of Sales and Business Development, Atlona

Jeremy Hall, National Key Accounts Manager, Absen

Kristina Kamenar, NCIDQ, ARIDO, LEED GA, Senior Associate | Director of Design, Interiors, HOK

Moderator, Cindy Davis, Content Director, AV Technology

Register Now!

Displays are playing varying roles from people-counting kiosks, to imparting critical information, to providing touchless wayfinding, and creating a calming environment. Large-scale video walls and projectors create engagement and a new sense of community in outdoor spaces. On the network, more displays are able to provide data and share content. This panel explores the enhanced role of displays inside and out.

Enhanced Role of Displays Webinar: The Agenda

• A new welcome: digital signage, kiosks, and mobile
• Networked AV and SoC play a major role in the hybrid environment
• Touchless and Interactive displays
• Utilizing near-field communications (NFC) A new role for outdoor displays 
• Artificial Intelligence and displays

Join AV Technology and a panel of experts from Absen and Legrand|AV, as well as our own Cindy Davis on Wednesday, Sept. 21 at 2 p.m. ET. For more information and how to register, click here.

Join me, Cindy Davis, content director for AV Technology, and Mark J. Pescatore, content director for Systems Contractor News, as we host an engaging (we promise) and information-packed day of panel discussions, peer networking, and opportunities to talk one-on-one with key manufacturers.

I swear this isn't a ploy to get you to sign up early—while Citi Field seats 41,992—AV/IT Summit attendance will be limited to our event space. So, register now—really, not kidding!

KEYNOTE: The Explosion of Esports—From Trends to Opportunities in Higher Ed

How could we pass up the opportunity to talk sports at Citi Field? But we've got a special AV/IT angle: We invited keynote speaker Ashley "AJ" Jones, director of membership sales and services at the National Association of Collegiate Esports (NACE), to share recent trends and provide insight into the explosion of Esports in higher ed today. With more than 200 colleges and universities that she represents at NACE, AJ has her finger on the pulse of what is trending today and what the near future of Esports programs looks like—and translates that into opportunities. AJ comes to Esports with calloused hands, as she was the Esports Head Coach at Park University in Parkville, MO, before joining NACE.

Batter Up

Optimize Your Hybrid Meetings, panel session moderated by Pescatore: It's a hybrid world—and that means flexibility is a priority for your collaborative spaces. The proper audio, video, and conferencing solutions are essential to help ensure engagement and productivity. From conference rooms to huddle rooms and beyond, what technologies do you need to create an environment that best serves remote and in-person workers? Our panel of experts will discuss best practices to make your next hybrid meeting efficient and effective.

For IT Directors: Video Conferencing and Collaboration, panel session moderated by Davis: The hybrid workplace is here to stay, and hybrid/HyFlex classrooms are on the rise. The lion's share of implementing videoconferencing and collaboration lies square in the IT department. This panel discusses the intersection of IT and AV and the critical elements both teams need to create a successful conferencing and collaboration deployment—whether in 50 or 500 rooms. Bring your questions to our panel of experts from AVIXA, end users, integrators, and key manufacturers.

The Future of Pro AV Technology, panel session moderated by Pescatore: Innovation doesn't stop, even when supply chain issues continue to delay manufacturers. What are the next big (and maybe not-so-big) technologies that will impact the Pro AV industry? Our panelists will discuss some of the major trends that could change the user experience in the coming years.

Find more agenda details here.

Did I Mention the AV/IT Summit is at Citi Field?

Did you know that Citi Field recently underwent a major-league technology upgrade? This happens to be the reason we chose the stadium for our event. We have designed a panel discussion and a technology tour around key installations.

First up, the panel: Citi Field Digital Experience—The Strategy moderated by Davis. Curious about how 12,000 square feet of direct-view LED displays and more than 300 LCD screens were chosen, how video is distributed, how they're networked, and how they're operated? From planning to integration to operations, a panel of key stakeholders share insights on the strategy behind the digital experiences throughout Citi Field. Learn how each space has been purpose-built for the fan experience.

Citi Field Tech Tour: At the conclusion of our last panel session, the Citi Field AV/IT staff will take us on a behind-the-scenes technology tour within the stadium.

But That's Not All

Because this is a right-sized event, manufacturing sponsors are present to give you more time than at a larger show. Our sponsor list is updated daily; you can check it out here.

We are fortunate to have some of the brightest minds in the industry joining our panel discussions. Our speaker list is updated daily; you can check it out here.

After the tech tour, we gather for cocktails to continue networking and sharing highlights from the day.

Mark and I hope you can join us. We look forward to seeing you in person.

Register now!

InfoComm22, the most anticipated US in-person meetup of the professional AV industry, brought a unique feeling of reunion for AV professionals. The event, held in Las Vegas in June 2022, may not have broken attendance records, but the vibe and experience did not disappoint.

Amongst the over 19,000 attendees and 500 exhibitors were many annual attendees eager to catch up with friends, build business connections, and celebrate the opportunity to gather in person and appreciate the value of the AV community. What should not be overlooked, but instead needs to be highlighted, were the many new faces who experienced InfoComm for the first time in 2022.

One of those AV industry newcomers and InfoComm first timers was Control Concepts' marketing specialist, Emily Rocha. Rocha joined the industry shortly after InfoComm21 and has been eager to find her place in the AV community for the past seven months. For her, this first InfoComm experience was an eye-opener providing perspective and exposure to the infinite possibilities and vast potential of the AV industry.

A Newbie's Takeaways

When asked about her takeaways from InfoComm22, Rocha shared, "InfoComm attendance should be a requirement for all newbies to the AV industry like me. The chance to witness the direction of the industry, understand technology trends, and appreciate the diverse opportunities available to those who want to get involved and support the growth of the AV community is amazing."

One of the stories commonly shared by those who have been in the AV industry for a while is that once you join, it becomes your home, and you never leave. Emily validated this as she was introduced to many AV veterans for the first time. "Many people I met shared how they started in a role or organization and ended up in another while remaining in the industry," commented Rocha. "It is incredible how often I heard this and the consistency of the message. It proves that the AV industry is worth the investment and gives me confidence that it is a great place to be."

A notable highlight of InfoComm22 that Emily identified was the AVIXA Women's Council Breakfast. "It was during this event that my eagerness to get more involved intensified," Rocha said. "Hearing that women only make up 14 percent of the AV industry displays how much work still needs to be done. Coming from Control Concepts, where our team is more than 25 percent female, means we are ahead of the curve. However, I must pull up my sleeves and get more involved to make a difference. I believe that being part of the Women's Council and supporting the women in AV is the first punch in winning the equity battle. For me, this breakfast brought awareness of industry needs while also offering an excellent guide for personal brand and professional development."

[ AV Industry Veteran Introduces a Newcomer ]

The Power of Relationships

At Control Concepts, there is a strong belief in the power of relationships. InfoComm22, like past InfoComms, offered a terrific opportunity to reinforce connections with existing clients and partners. Meeting in person greatly enhances those personal and professional bonds through in-depth conversations and shared experiences. Rocha added, "It is rewarding to meet people face-to-face who we have only spoken with on calls. We also witnessed firsthand the success of the manufacturer partners we actively support, which is the goal we have been working hard to achieve."

Over the week at InfoComm, the Control Concepts team participated in many valuable meetings, events, and casual interactions. One common sentiment is that no price tag can be put on the value of these activities, and the long-term impact on business is immeasurable. "The opportunity to discuss the unquestionable need for software and value that software developers can bring to a product and manufacturer's business through supporting API integration was truly significant. We want to help everyone in the industry be more effective," remarked Rocha. "Witnessing conversations with clients and prospects firsthand and seeing how they respond to our work, mission, and the value of our offerings shows that we are on the right path. It also confirms that I work for a company that is truly invested in supporting the success of others."

From a marketer's perspective, Emily shared that she gained a valuable perspective of the AV industry as a whole and precisely how Control Concepts fits in. "InfoComm inspired me to develop new approaches to communicate Control Concepts' message," Rocha stated. "By better understanding how what we do impacts others, I can be more creative and effective in connecting with our audience on various levels."

Lastly, a fantastic by-product of attending any conference or trade show like InfoComm with team members is the bonding that occurs. Control Concepts embraces the value of InfoComm and the camaraderie that results. Each year a team is selected to represent the company based on need, role, and personal interest.

"Working together on achieving our goals at the show reinforced the bond with my team and increased our eagerness to do more for the industry," Rocha concluded. "I am already looking forward to next year's show."

[ Tried-and-True Wins the AV Heart and Business ]

During the past two-plus years, exponentially more in-person trade shows were canceled than were hosted. The world and our AV industry have been on a roller coaster ride of on-again-off-again, on-again masking mandates due to COVID variants.

Last October, InfoComm 2021 was the first of our industry events to brave the waters and hold an in-person event. It was a great success by most accounts, albeit significantly smaller. We were clamoring for the chance to connect in person again, and for those who attended, it was the first step towards getting back to the AV life we love. The common refrain at the show's close was, "see you at ISE."

When the edict came down that because of another COVID surge, Integrated Systems Europe would be moving from its traditional February slot to May. The collective sigh was palpable. Was this the death knell for our industry shows?

A Groundswell of Hope

There was a groundswell of hope leading up to the debut of ISE at the Fira de Barcelona, Gran Vía, from May 13, 2022. At the press event the morning of the show, Integrated Systems Event's managing director, Mike Blackman, shared early registration numbers which surpassed what most expected. The excitement was building. 

Attendees waiting for the show to open packed the lobby as dense as any other year. Making my way from one booth appointment to the next felt as crowded as the last ISE in Amsterdam, with one marked difference—the Fira de Barcelona, Gran Vía was easy to navigate. 

On May 13, the official final numbers were released: 834 exhibitors in 48,000 square meters of show floor across six technology zones, with 43,691 unique attendees from 151 countries, making 90,372 visits to the show floor.

The In-person Factor

The reason for attending industry trade shows is to kick the tires of new products and technologies announced. Many of us hadn't seen some of the new products announced during the past 18 months. But there's no denying that the people really make shows worth attending. Whether it's meeting someone for the first time that you've only corresponded with via email, reconnecting with old friends, or meeting new ones, nothing can replace the dynamic of an in-person show.

Following are only some of the highlights that tell the story of #ISE2022 through the tweets of the #avtweeps community.

See You Next Year!

Register now and join AV Technology's content director, Cindy Davis as she moderates a panel discussion that is top of mind for every AV/IT director, technology consultant and integrator, educational technologists, and the C-suite—the Immersive Learning, Training and Collaboration Environment—from Culture to Collaboration. 

As the workforce returns to office, and students return to the campus, the environments they left in 2019 need to be transformed into collaborative and productive hybrid spaces. 

Are the open plan and the huddle room a thing of the past? We call BS on some of the knee-jerk reactions being discussed and take 360-degree look at the new-era workplace and the higher ed classroom. We first discuss the human factor and how staff, instructors and students want to engage in the office, the classroom and remote.

From furniture to technology solutions, our panel discusses what did and did not work, and how to plan for a productive environment that includes a hybrid workforce.

+ People

+ Place

+ Process

+ Tools - meeting & learning space AV, audio, cameras, displays, collaboration

+ The automated room

+ Hybrid unified communication

THE PANEL

Fred Cain, Industry Development Director at Absen

Peter Melvin, Director of Sales, East Coast at Herman Pro AV, an ADI Company

Scott Sanders, Higher-Ed/Corporate Business Development Manager at Sennheiser

Victoria Sanville, National Sales Manager, Public Sector at LG Electronics

Caitlin Turner, NCIDQ, ARIDO, LEED GA, Director of Interiors at HOK

REGISTER NOW!

University of Southern California's Joe Way shares his approach to pop-up studios and live production. 

REGISTER NOW!

From pop-up studio classrooms and training rooms, to broadcasting town halls, to corporate and sporting events, high-quality productions have become a necessity. This panel discusses products, solutions and best practices for ensuring quality recording and streaming – whether you are working with a production company or producing the event in house. Portable video walls and projection mapping create engaging and memorable indoor and outdoor experiences.

+ Video cameras, PTZs, microphones and headsets

+ All-in-one video production

+ IP workflows and streaming services

+ Cellular bonding

+ Pop-up production studios – audio, video, lighting, and connectivity

+ Projectors and portable video walls to engage audiences

Panelists:

Daniel Pisarski, Vice President of Engineering at LiveU

Paul Richards, Director of Marketing at PTZOptics & HuddleCamHD

Tobi Tungl, Vice President of Sales, North America at Epiphan Video

Joe Way, Ph.D., CTS, Director, Learning Environments Information Technology Services University of Southern California

Moderator: Cindy Davis, Brand and Content Director of AV Technology

REGISTER NOW!

The Best in Market 2022 and Best of Show at ISE 2022 awards programs are live and kicking, with ISE exhibitors and those unable to exhibit this time around submitting their entries as they bid for recognition in both awards. The revised entry deadline of 27 April is fast approaching and companies are being encouraged to enter now to avoid the last minute deluge.

All entries submitted for the original program in February are still valid for both awards, while any nominations that have been started will also still be saved on the awards site so companies can complete their entries.

The Best in Market 2022 and Best of Show at ISE 2022 awards provide an opportunity for manufacturers to nominate and celebrate their outstanding AV products and solutions. Nominations for both awards remain open with entry available here.

Enter NOW for AV Technology's Best in Market '22 and Best of Show at ISE 2022 - Deadline is April 27!

The Best in Market ‘22 awards, successfully launched last year, recognize the most innovative technology from across the AV marketplace to have deployed in the last 12 months. The program is open to all manufacturers of professional AV products and solutions regardless of their exhibitor/non-exhibitor status at this year’s major trade shows.

AVT's Best in Market ’22 and Best of Show at ISE 2022 awards programs are being held in conjunction with five of our industry-leading Pro Audio and AV titles, including Installation, Sound & Video Contractor, Mix, Residential Systems, and Tech & Learning. Both awards are organised by AVTechnology publisher Future, which also publishes the ISE Daily.

Benefits of entering:

• Dedicated editorial coverage for all nominees in the Best of Show 2022 digital publication, distributed post-show to all participating brand databases

• Digital and social coverage from media partners and participating brands

• Winning entries receive guaranteed coverage in post-ISE editions of each participating magazine

• Certificate and winners logo for all winning entries

• Official nominee logo for all entrants to use in marketing (sent by email)

Further details can be found here. Nominations can be entered here.

InfoComm 2022, the largest technology exhibition and conference in North America focused on the Pro AV industry, will host Integrated Experience Tours around Las Vegas where attendees can see stunning AV deployments in the real world and hear from the creators behind them. The tours include the University of Nevada Las Vegas, Arcadia Earth, Resorts World Las Vegas, Illuminarium Experiences, Las Vegas nightclubs, and Meow Wolf’s Omega Mart and AREA15.  

“The week of InfoComm allows you to explore Pro AV solutions from many vantage points—talking with experts, seeing the technology up close, and experiencing the Pro AV installations in the real world,” said Rochelle Richardson, CEM, senior vice president of expositions and events, AVIXA. “This year’s tours will showcase remarkable Pro AV in a wide range of environments around Las Vegas—from nightclubs to art installations to classrooms. We’re excited for attendees to find inspiration from these exciting sights.”

[InfoComm 2022 is Pro AV Digital Signage Destination]

On the University of Nevada Las Vegas tour, attendees will explore the Flora Dungan Humanities building’s 254-seat theater/classroom featuring a Dolby Atmos immersive audio experience and a 4K Barco cinema laser projection system. Led by Frank Alaimo, CTS-I, DMC-E-4K, senior AV systems specialist at UNLV, the tour will also showcase the university’s hybrid learning classroom solution, RebelFlex. Two tours will take place: Tuesday, June 7, at 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. PST and 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. PST.

Experiential artist and founder of Arcadia Earth Valentino Vettori will lead a behind-the-scenes look at the technology used to create the immersive storytelling journey of the art installation Arcadia Earth. From motion picture projections and projection mapping to extended reality and laser technology, guests will experience the innovative uses of these tools in creating an emotional and impactful interaction with the climate challenges of our planet. The tour of Arcadia Earth takes place Tuesday, June 7, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. PST.

[InfoComm 2022 Registration is Open]

The tour of Resorts World Las Vegas will take attendees on a Pro AV exploration of this new $4.3-billion property. Yago Pita Alvarez, executive director of entertainment for Resorts World Las Vegas, will lead the tour of the Zouk Nightclub, Ayu Dayclub, theater, outdoor screens, and much more. The tour takes place Tuesday, June 7, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. PST.

InfoComm 2022 will also host an exclusive tour of Illuminarium Experiences, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in the world’s natural wonders, cultural moments, and beyond. This immersive experience is powered by 4K interactive projection, 360-degree audio, in-floor vibrations, and scent systems. Led by Calum Pearson, executive vice president and general manager of Illuminarium Experiences, this tour takes place Wednesday, June 8, from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. PST.

A tour of Las Vegas nightclubs led by Gerardo Gonzalez, senior director, technical services for Tao Group Hospitality, will take attendees through JEWEL, Hakkasan, and Omnia to see how each showcases their style of audiovisual guest experiences, from automation to lights, visuals, and sound. Attendees will learn firsthand from the technicians that work with some of the top artists in the world. This tour is set for Wednesday, June 8 from 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. PST.

[Now Available: Digital Signage Best Practices Guide 2022] 

In addition, a tour of Omega Mart will take visitors inside the interactive art installation created by Meow Wolf, which features contributions from over 300 artists. It begins in what is ostensibly a supermarket, leading to a network of media-rich spaces and storytelling that comments on consumerism and corporate culture. The tour also looks at the technology that powers the Portal at AREA15, a 4K, 360-degree 3D floor-to-ceiling projection-mapped indoor event space. The tour, led by AREA15’s JD Bouck, director of production, and Jacob Roeber, senior production manager, takes place Thursday, June 9, from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. PST.

For more information about the Integrated Experience Tours, visit www.infocommshow.org/education/tours. To register for a tour and InfoComm 2022, visit www.infocommshow.org/register.

InfoComm 2022 is sponsored by presenting show partner Samsung, Strategic Show Partners Blackmagic Design and Crestron, and supporting show partner extertis|ALMO.

Health and safety at InfoComm 2022

AVIXA is committed to the health and safety of exhibitors, attendees, partners, and staff amid the COVID-19 pandemic. All InfoComm 2022 participants must provide proof of full vaccination or a COVID-19 negative PCR or rapid antigen test. Digital or physical documentation will be accepted. AVIXA will follow the CDC mask recommendations for InfoComm based on the latest data using Know the COVID-19 Community Levels resource tool to determine low, medium, and high levels. The AVIXA team will continue to monitor recommendations from local health authorities, the World Health Organization (WHO), and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and communicate any updates to health and safety protocols to show participants. For the most up-to-date information on health and safety, visit www.infocommshow.org/health.  

ISE 2022 will light up Barcelona in May with an inspiring and eye-catching projection mapping installation. Created and produced by Barcelona-based Flaix Studio, the projection mapping will take place on one of the iconic curved buildings on the Plaça d'Espanya by the Fira Montjuïc–sister venue to ISE’s new home, the Fira Gran Vía.

The pillars on the two curved buildings that span Avinguda de la Reina Maria Cristina are regarded as the gateway to the Montjuïc fountain, an important Barcelona landmark and tourist attraction.

With the theme ‘I RISE’, the immersive projection will explore the themes of hope, regeneration and renewal as the pro AV industry looks to return to more normal ways of working following the upheaval caused by the pandemic. The 15-minute program will loop over two hours on three successive nights during ISE 2022.

#Get Involved #ISE2022

ISE will be inviting exhibitors and attendees over the coming weeks to suggest hashtags that summarise the industry’s hopes for the future, with a view to incorporating the best ones within the projected content. A social media campaign will run in April encouraging people  to send their wishes for the future of the audiovisual industry with a single hashtag, some of which will be projected on the mapping in different languages.

Hope, Regeneration, and Renewal

I RISE will run from 9:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. from Monday 9 May to Wednesday 11 May. On the first evening ISE will mark the opening with a VIP reception on the roof terrace of the Catalonia Barcelona Plaza Hotel opposite.

Mike Blackman, Managing Director of Integrated Systems Events, said: “Ever since 2018, when we started working towards moving ISE to its new home, we’ve had a really warm welcome from the numerous authorities and organisations that we’ve worked with in Barcelona and Catalonia. This projection mapping is our way of giving something back and saying ‘thank you’. It will also spread awareness of ISE to the city’s wider population.”

Sergio Garcia Roig, CEO of Flaix Studio commented: “We are very proud to be working with ISE on this great project. I RISE is an immersive installation that for 15 minutes will make the viewer travel through the wishes and aspirations of an entire industry – one that has the vision and mission to make a better world from technology, entertainment and technological solutions.”

Make sure you are following ISE on twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook and use the hashtag #ISE2022 for up-to-the-minute news, event highlights and exciting announcements.

Integrated Systems Europe, ISE 2022, will take place at the Fira de Barcelona Gran Vía on 10-13 May 2022. The ISE Conference programme runs from Monday 9 May through to Thursday 12 May. For more information, please visit www.iseurope.org

Harnessing the Accelerated AV/IT Digital Transformation - Register Now! 

March 22nd, join AV Technology's content director, Cindy Davis as she moderates two important discussions for today's AV and IT decision makers:

Session 1: Digital Workplace Management at 1:00 p.m. ET

Session 2: The Managed Services Ecosystem at 2:00 p.m. ET

The past two years have accelerated the digital AV/IT transition punctuating the need for corporate enterprises, institutions, organizations, hospitality, and entertainment to adopt an agile methodology to enhance collaboration and productivity while improving operations. 

In partnership with Sony Corporation’s B2B division and its partners, AV Technology has designed two panels to discuss how to successfully implement holistic workplace management and the role of a managed service ecosystem.

Session 1: Digital Workplace Management

It has become imperative for AV and IT departments to enhance collaboration, increase the flow of information and productivity in workspaces—whether in the office or “from anywhere.” With the power of compute, interactive visualization devices now have the ability to engage, impart, collect, share, and analyze data. They have become key to implementing holistic workplace management.

This panel of solutions experts share the foundation of a well-designed workplace management ecosystem.

By 2025, 25 billion IoT devices are projected to be deployed globally, with more than 20% of that number in North America.

Session 2: The Managed Services Ecosystem

To address the fast-paced and often evolving digital transition, managed services have become the go-to for enterprises to remain agile. These offerings have also evolved to provide a complete ecosystem from software and hardware to cloud strategies, customer experience design, operational optimization, and distributed security.

This panel of managed services experts discusses the new managed services ecosystem.

“By 2025, cloud-native platforms will serve as the foundation for more than 95% of new digital initiatives — up from less than 40% in 2021.” — Gartner

Today, a truly unified communications infrastructure including endpoints, software, and agnostic platforms is essential.  The new role of room scheduling, people counting and device usage, to revamped ideas of unified communications and standardization, and digital signage. What AV/IT solutions are available, and which ones can be migrated to work in the cloud.

+ The new endpoints – all-in-ones, phones and more

+ Managing audio and video in the cloud

+ Ensuring intelligible audio near and far

+ Auto-tracking video cameras

+ Conferencing platforms

+ Collaboration & presentation systems that shine in the cloud

+ AV over IP – the time has come

REGISTER NOW!

In honor of International Women’s Day on March 8th, Snap One has opened registration for its first ever Women in Technology Summit, a virtual event that encourages women to pursue leadership careers in the technology industry. Featuring two 90-minute sessions, the global summit will adopt this year’s theme: “Break the Bias.” Register for both sessions here and here.

“There is an unfortunate bias that women can’t work in the technology field. We are living proof that not only can we work in this industry, but we can make a significant positive impact as leaders,” said Dawn Boland, Snap One SVP of Partner Services and Technical Support. “By spreading the word about our accomplishments, we hope to embolden other women to apply for careers in the field, while simultaneously encouraging industry organizations to bring on more female talent.”

The two 90-minute sessions will feature female panelists from CEDIA, AVIXA, Snap One leadership, and Dealership owners, as well as include a live, interactive Q&A. The schedule includes: 

“We can #breakthebias and encourage young women to develop their STEM talents and strengths,” continued Boland. “Simultaneously, we can educate hiring managers about the implicit bias that prevents women and women of color from rising in the ranks. By identifying challenges and obstacles, we can take steps to overcome them. And the first step is a discussion.”

At the conclusion of the event, Snap One will unveil a resource page and forum for industry professionals to refer to on an ongoing basis.

The Prism Scholarship was founded by HETMA in partnership with AVIXA to encourage women, LGBTQIA+, Black, Latino, Asian, Indigenous, disabled persons, and anyone who identifies as being underrepresented in the AV industry, to become active leaders and role models within higher education technology.

This groundbreaking collaboration offers a tremendous opportunity to employees in higher ed institutions who do not have access to professional development funds. Recipients of the scholarship receive a one-year Elite Membership to AVIXA, inclusive of the entire online catalog of education, access to a virtual Certified Technology Specialist (CTS) prep course and course materials, the coverage of exam fees for the CTS exam, mentorship by a HETMA member, plus a trip to a future InfoComm show.

There are a total of ten scholarships to be awarded in May 2022 and applicants do not need to be a member of HETMA to be selected. Deadline to apply is April 31, 2022!

Spread the word to your staff, network, friends, and AV industry colleagues, encouraging them to APPLY TODAY!

If you have any questions, please email dei@hetma.org.

To learn more about HETMA and join for free, visit https://www.hetma.org.

Join us on Wednesday, February 23, at 2:00 p.m. ET, as AV Technology’s content director, Cindy Davis moderates a panel of experts to discuss the pedagogies and technology solutions that will define the next-gen immersive and hybrid classroom.

The AV Technology, New Era AV/IT Webcast, Designing for the Future Higher Ed Classroom Webcast is guaranteed to spark some lively discussion and even debate.

2022 is the year to embrace in-class engagement through immersive and active learning solutions while also ensuring parity with a quality audio and video experience near and far. 

Technologies such as PTZ and auto-tracking cameras, beamforming microphones, interactive displays, and lecture capture that help enable hybrid and HyFlex modalities have been in use for many years. The cost of entry has become more affordable than ever, and manufacturers and solutions providers have continued to evolve their offerings.

Learn how some are extending the classroom beyond the campus and streaming from unique and engaging locations. For others, pop-up studios have become mainstays as production values have increased.

Join us, share your experiences, and bring your questions.

Moderator, Cindy Davis, content director, AV Technology

Jeremy Hall, National Key Accounts manager, Absen

George Klippel, director of Channel Sales for North America, LiveU

Tim Mackie, field systems engineer, Yamaha Unified Communications

Peter Melvin, director of Sales, East Coast, Herman Pro AV, an ADI Company

Randy Tritz, partner of SM&W and the Managing Principal of SM&W Chicago

REGISTER NOW!

Bikefest Spain 2022 is a  1, 2 or 3 days sponsored cycling event  from Valencia to Barcelona. The idea is to raise awareness for vital funds for those in the live events supply chain severely impacted by the pandemic. The event is also being used as an opportunity to raise awareness of other important areas such as inclusivity, sustainability and diversity.  

Organised by #WeMakeEvents in UK and Spain, BikeFest Spain 2022 has so far raised 6,000 Euros, with donations still rolling in. The funds are being split between two industry charities that help individuals through financial hardship – Backup in the UK and the AAA Foundation in Spain.
 
BikeFest Spain 2022 was delivered by #WeMakeEvents in partnership with PLASA, AFIAL, AVIXA, ISE, FIAVE, Alerta Roja and LSi. The event garnered support from companies across Europe, with sponsorship from Ayrton, Equipson, EarPro, EES, FANTEK and Ruisaljo. In addition, the cyclists represented PLASA, Equipson, Bishop Sound, Britannia Row, and Sharp NEC.

Federico Haba, Head of Sharp/NEC Display Solutions Ibérica, said, "As a representative of an AV manufacturer, we at SHARP/NEC wanted to join the cause to raise awareness of the impact Covid is having on the Live Events sector. In addition, with limited access to key components and steep increases in costs, we—and many other companies like us – are being forced to manage supply chain delays. This is having ramifications for distributors, venues, end-users and ultimately, the public."

From Valencia to Barcelona (ISE 2022)

The team hit the road at the Mestalla Stadium in the historic port city of Valencia, and over three days cycled along the sunny Mediterranean coast, taking in orange groves, beaches, and some very challenging mountains. 400km later the team approached the bustling roads of Barcelona and crossed the finishing line at the Fira Barcelona exhibition centre.

[ Future Exclusive with ISE's Mike Blackman: Answering the Tough Questions ]

The arrival in Barcelona was bittersweet. Although a small audience of industry colleagues were there to celebrate the team’s arrival, the exhibition centre should have been thronging with event attendees but instead stood empty. Another stark reminder of the ongoing impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the Live Events Industry and the imperative to keep campaigning.
 
Nicky Greet, of PLASA and #WeMakeEvents, co-organiser of the event added, "It's so vital that #WeMakeEvents continues to run activities like this, that both fundraise and keep our industry in the minds of governments. The relentless impact of the pandemic has hit people's livelihoods and mental health, and they mustn’t be forgotten about. As the driver of the support van for BikeFest Spain 2022, I can tell you that the team cycled some serious terrain, in cold and windy conditions too. It was really impressive seeing them keep the momentum going, doing it on behalf of all of us in the industry."

Future Sponsorship Opportunities

#WeMakeEvents in the UK and Spain are extremely grateful for the sponsors, the cyclists, and the donators. With another BikeFest planned in May to align with the postponed dates of ISE, there are further opportunities to get involved as a cyclist or sponsor. More information on sponsorship packages and promotional opportunities will be shared soon. 

Juan Jose Vila, of Equipson and #HacemosEventos, who conceived the idea and co-organised the event, comments: "The aim of BikeFest Spain 2022 was to show solidarity with the industry—from the freelancers right up to the international companies. And when ISE postponed, the team unanimously agreed to continue, highlighting not only the past two years but what is still happening in our industry right now! BikeFest was only made possible by our sponsors, for which I give them my thanks. We invite even more sponsors on board for when BikeFest returns in May for ISE, so join us and align your brand with a worthy and fun cause!"

[ I’m Dreaming of Barcelona ]

When I turned my computer on this morning at 5:30 a.m. ET, I was greeted by an email, “Register now – Sunshine ahead!” Yeah, that’s the ticket.

I live just north of Boston, and right about now, the temperament of many New Englander’s is “winter be damned and bring on the sunshine.” A nor’easter dumped nearly 30-inches of snow on my house last week, leaving four-foot snowdrifts, and it was bitterly cold (low-single digits). This morning it’s raining, creating little icebergs in my yard that I can only hope will be gone by May. The poor folks in Texas had it worse with single-digit temps, freezing rain, and power outages. I am ready for a warm vacation—or at least dreaming of one.

The Tide Appears to Be Turning in Our Favor

As of February 2, 2022, the CDC reported that new cases of COVID-19 are down 53.1 percent from their peak on January 15. This morning, COVID-19 cases in Spain are reported to be down 47 percent from their peak on January 12.

During an article interview with a manufacturer yesterday, I heard something I hadn’t heard in many months, “We just booked our booth at ISE.” Check out the up-to-date exhibitor list here. 

That email I received this morning, “Register now – Sunshine ahead!” was from ISE. Clever, it got my attention. It went on to say, “With our new dates, we’re set for sunny weather as well as bright business prospects. It’s an unbeatable combination: new cutting-edge solutions, emerging opportunities and the chance to reconnect – at last! – with partners and colleagues; plus the wonderful setting of Barcelona, with, open-air networking, delicious tapas, sunshine and sea." 

And so, I have booked tickets to attend ISE in Barcelona with a few days tacked onto the end to enjoy the sights, warm weather, and maybe even a dip in the Mediterranean. Some say 65 degrees is a bit chilly for swimming, but not if you’re from Boston.

[ Future Exclusive with ISE's Mike Blackman: Answering the Tough Questions ]

Here’s what you can expect in Barcelona May 10-13, 2022:

Low 57°F  | High of 68°F

Sea Temperature 64.6°F

Sunrise 6:35 a.m. | Sunset 9:00 p.m.

Pack your sunglasses

ISE 2022 is On

[ ISE 2022 is Joining Forces with IOT Solutions World Congress – May 10 - 13 in Barcelona ]

Having postponed its event that was scheduled to take place in Barcelona in early February, 2022, ISE is laying the groundwork for the event that won't disappoint on May 10-13, 2022. Below is the press release from ISE. 

ISE teaming up with IOT Solutions World Congress

ISE is joining forces with IOT Solutions World Congress (IOTSWC), the largest international event devoted to industry transformation through disruptive technologies. The two events are teaming up at the Fira de Barcelona in May to present an unparalleled ecosystem for digital transformation to professionals from many industries.

The joint celebration of the two events will provide a unique opportunity to explore the crossroads between two different sets of disruptive technologies. Alongside ISE’s experts in audiovisual technology and systems integration, IOTSWC will bring to the table leading experts and companies working on Artificial Intelligence, Digital Twins, Internet of Things and Quantum Computing. The goal of this co-operation is to highlight the common ground that offers new ideas and inspiration for attendees and exhibitors alike.

The agreement will allow each show’s visitors to access both exhibition areas, at no extra cost, whilst attendees registered to any of the ISE conferences will benefit from a 50% discount on the IOTSWC congress programme – and vice versa.

Directors’ Viewpoints

The directors of both shows are enthusiastic about what this co-operation agreement promises for attendees.

"We are very excited about this agreement. At IOTSWC we believe that some of the key technologies we have been showcasing such as Artificial Intelligence and the Internet of Things have an incredible transformational potential for the professional AV industry and likewise the AV and systems integration industry can help to develop disruptive new solutions for the digital transformation ecosystem," said Roger Bou, director, IOTSWC

"AV and IT convergence has been the single most important industry trend at ISE over the past decade and the inspiring innovations happening in IoT take this to another level. With our two events now happening at the same time and place this May, it is very exciting to be able to work together and explore even more areas of collaboration. The exciting world of pro AV and the inspiring innovations in IoT make all sorts of possibilities a reality," said Mike Blackman, managing director, Integrated Systems Events

What is IOTSWC?

IOT Solutions World Congress is organised jointly by Fira de Barcelona and the Industry IoT Consortium (IIC), which was founded in 2014 to accelerate the adoption of the Industrial Internet of Things. The IIC “ focuses on driving deployments of innovative technology solutions that digitally transform businesses”. For the 2022 edition—its sixth—IOTSWC is taking the title Game-Changing Solutions for Industry Transformation.

The event identifies four key types of end-user within its visitor profile:

The congress programme at IOTSWC is structured around five themes: Business Optimisation, Artificial Intelligence, Connectivity, Security and Customer Experience. Also taking place alongside IOTSWC is the Barcelona Cybersecurity Congress, an annual event co-organised with the Catalan Government.

A Smart Collaboration

Bob Snyder, Content Chair of ISE’s Smart Building Conference and Smart Workplace Summit, is excited about the co-operation between ISE and IOTSWC.

“The AV and IT industries have been coming together for over a decade now – and the technologies championed by IOT Solutions World Congress, such as the Internet of Things, Digital Twins and Artificial Intelligence, represent the next step in this progression,” he says. “Just about any kind of ‘smart’ technology environment – such as smart buildings, smart cities, smart workplaces or smart homes – is built around solutions on show at IOTSWC.”

There are compelling reasons why the audience for each show should visit the other, he adds: “ISE attendees should come to IOTSWC to find out what is going on in their key verticals, and get ahead of the curve rather than behind it. IOTSWC delegates should attend the Smart Building Conference, which takes place the day before both exhibitions open, and learn about the latest developments in this important market. Then once the show starts, they should explore the ISE show floor to find the latest smart technology solutions. ISE is the leading show in Europe for smart homes, smart signage and much more besides.”

Rob Lane, content editor for our sister publication, Installation has shared this exclusive interview with Mike Blackman, managing director at Integrated Systems Events. 

Q: What were the main factors that informed your decision to postpone?

Blackman: It’s been a challenging time for so many over the past two years, and we have been keen to satisfy the appetite within the industry to meet again face to face. The situation with regard to Covid infection rates and different countries’ travel restrictions has been fluid, particularly recently; and after speaking with our exhibitors, owners and stakeholders, we agreed the best course of action was to postpone the show edition for three months.

In today’s environment – now more than ever – we need to be agile and responsive. Shows like ISE are for doing business and meeting in person, but none are the same as they were before the pandemic. We must acknowledge the factors within our control, and we are doing our best for the industry, our customers, and their customers – these are some of the factors we reviewed when making the decision to postpone to 10-13 May 2022.

Q: Was Omicron incidence growth in Spain the main reason? Or was it the low numbers of previous attendees confirming their attendance?

Blackman: Of course, we have been monitoring the conditions in Spain, but we are also closely monitoring the situation across Europe and many other countries. Vaccination programmes are progressing, but countries are still experiencing challenging restrictions. These conditions are affecting us all, and whilst we all want to get back to business, there continues to be a wide range of restrictions and a reluctance to travel. We have been working hard to balance health and safety concerns with the need for commerce and in-person interaction. As I have said already, we had to balance many factors in reaching this decision together with our exhibitors, the associations and our stakeholders.

Q: I think the industry appreciates how incredibly difficult a call this is to make, but the general consensus is that it's the right decision. In hindsight, do you feel that the decision could have been made sooner given the ominous spread of Omicron throughout Europe in December?

Blackman: As you have said, it was a difficult decision, and I think everyone appreciates that in today’s environment, we need to be agile and responsive. We made the decision together to postpone the show until spring (May 2022) and we believe it is the right choice to make.

Q: How did you come to a decision on the best dates for the rearranged show? May sandwiches ISE between two major US trade shows in NAB (April) and of course InfoComm (June), so will potentially impact upon American attendance. The dates also clash with smaller regional shows such as PLASA Leeds, the Media Production Show, and London Digital Signage Week. Were other dates considered and were exhibitors consulted regarding these new dates?

Blackman: To move a show the size of ISE is a challenging prospect and, in a venue as popular as the Fira de Barcelona, the options were very limited in a timescale that works for our industry. The window of available dates was extremely tight, the spring dates of 10-13 May provides time for our community to rebalance and for confidence in international travel and meetings to resume. We will be working closely with all our exhibitors and stakeholders to ensure a smooth transition to the new dates.

Q: Obviously postponement is an inconvenience for everybody, what with flight/hotel cancellations etc. But the exhibitors suffer the most – especially those that had already started shipping and even building pre-Xmas. How did you approach this difficult decision with them all?

Blackman: We have had significant feedback from our exhibitor community that this was the right decision to make. We are in the process of contacting all our customers to discuss their options and how we can help ensure that the transition to ISE 2022 in May and ISE 2023 in February is as smooth as possible. If they aren’t already doing so, I would urge all exhibitors to get in contact with their account manager to discuss the situation.

Q: With – I understand – 95% of their payments non-refundable if they were to pull out of the event, it’s unsurprising so few exhibitors pressed the cancel button even as Omicron started to spread across Europe. And this must hurt all the more for those that started shipping/building. Does ISE have any compensation packages in place for this eventuality?

Blackman: We are working closely with all our exhibitors to minimise the impact of the postponement and ensure that their experience at ISE 2022 in May is the best possible.

Q: What are the benefits for North American attendees to travel to Barcelona for ISE, when InfoComm in the US is coming up in June – especially in the light of the move to May? Have you budgeted for a reduction in American attendees as a result; or do you anticipate similar numbers to a February event, given that travel is likely to have opened up more by May?

Blackman: I was speaking to Dave Labuskes earlier this week and yes, we do have a number of events in close proximity – ISE in May, InfoComm in June and Beijing InfoComm China in July. The intention for each show in this coming year is to galvanise and rejuvenate the AV community while always keeping the safety of those in attendance as a priority.

Three major markets and three major shows! We are excited about the ‘summer of AV’ – while we realise that there are some challenges for those who want to participate across the globe – we invite exhibitors to call us and let’s work together to make the most of this time.

Of course, Covid is changing everything around us every day, but the constants of in-person value, innovation and story-telling have remained. No matter where or when, these shows will act as a catalyst for market growth and serve as a hub for the AV profession.

Q: How many attendees were registered for the February event, and what would be your forecast now that the show will be in what we hope will be a less restricted window in May?

Blackman: Our exhibitors were reporting to us that their customer feedback also showed that attendance was greatly impacted by the continued impact of Omicron as well as travel concerns, and that there was a strong desire to attend lSE later in the year. But as I mentioned before, exhibitor support and bookings for the show remain extremely strong – and, whilst it is fair to say that typically attendees are registering for shows much later than in previous years, we very much hope that the new dates in May will allow more of us to get together, to do business and to celebrate our inspiring industry.

Q: With the move to May, and the (hopefully) more realistic chances of being able to stage an in-person show, are you now forecasting to see an upswing in exhibitors committing to the show and will attendees be likely to see a bigger event than was slated for February?

Blackman: We now have another two and a half months to add some more features to the show – we will be revealing details over the coming weeks – so I say, stay tuned, keep an eye on our website for updates, and of course, we will share news of this with you as soon as possible.

Q: In addition, do you have any changes planned for the May event that weren't part of the original February show?

Blackman: We had a fabulous show floor, with six technology zones, set across five halls of the Gran Vía, and that remains. All seven of the ISE Conferences will also be taking place, we have a number of show floor networking lounges and of course the AV Experience Zone. There will also be some additional features, but as I am sure you will appreciate, we are working with our partners to confirm the details of the necessary rescheduling and I cannot wait to share the exciting stories with you over the coming weeks – watch this space!

Q: There has been much discussion about how trade shows will evolve as a result of Covid, as they accelerate into hybrid in-person/remote access events. Could you share what ISE has in place for the 2022 show in terms of producing a valuable trade show experience for attendees however they wish to ‘attend’ ISE 2022?

Blackman: ISE 2022 will offer a digital platform presenting many of the conferences, keynotes and up to date news. Although this will be comprehensive and also be augmented by many of our media partners, it of course cannot match the “in-person” experience of being in Barcelona.

Q: This must have been an incredibly taxing period for everyone concerned with ISE 2022, and its organisation. How has this affected you personally?

Blackman: This has been a difficult time, but we have an admirable community, a fabulous team and the support that has been provided has been a source of incredible strength and I’d like to thank each and every one for their efforts during this period.

Q: And how accommodating have the local Barcelona authorities been in assisting/backing the decisions you've had to make?

Blackman: Everyone involved in every aspect of this situation has been extremely supportive. The city of Barcelona, the regional support from Catalonia, the exemplary team at the Fira as well as many partners – their willingness to help and be flexible has been very much appreciated and we are hugely thankful. We cannot wait to celebrate with the entire community at the Fira in May.

Q: Finally, what's your message to attendees and exhibitors alike about the new May event, what they can look forward to, and of course why they should attend the leading AV and systems integration show on the planet?

Blackman: Well, I would like to say that I’d like to thank the AV community for their unwavering support. The positivity and solidarity shown over the last couple of days is a brilliant reflection of our industry. I can’t wait to welcome everyone to ISE this May in sunny Barcelona. 

[ Breaking News: ISE 2022 Postponed ]

The following is from ISE's official KEEPING YOU SAFE AT ISE 2022, page.

Venue entry requirements and safety measures

Following our successful events in both Barcelona and London in 2021, we will again be deploying Covid safety measures to ensure each other’s safety. For ISE 2022, these will involve the use of our new ISE app.

Anyone that wants to enter Fira Gran Via during the four days of ISE 2022 (1-4 February) must have a validated badge on the ISE 2022 app. Once you have registered for the show, in order to get your badge validated, you will need to upload one of the following to the app in either English or Spanish:

>> Proof of vaccination against COVID-19

>> Proof of recovery from COVID-19, or

>> Proof of a negative PCR or Rapid Antigen Test

People who upload proof of a negative PCR or Rapid Antigen Test are granted access to ISE 2022 for the day they have tested negative plus the following day. Once this has expired, a new proof of a negative PCR or Rapid Antigen Test must be uploaded.

Once uploaded, these documents will be validated by our medical partner Quiron Salut prevencion.

ISE 2022 – the official show app will be available to download from app stores from 17 January.

Testing

As there will be no on-site testing facility at ISE 2022, ISE has ensured that all hotels booked via bnetwork will offer the following Covid testing options, on request:

>> Booking an appointment at a nearby testing facility centre

>> Booking an appointment for test laboratory staff to come to the hotel to carry out a test

Testing facilities can also be found at the following locations near Fira de Barcelona – Gran Via:

>> Quiron – Avinguda Josep Tarradellas, 34, 08029 Barcelona

>> Synlab – Asinsa Centre Medic, Numancia 47-49, Ent. 1, 08029 Barcelona

>> Quiron – Carrer de Provenza, 319, 08037 Barcelona

>> Quiron – Carrer del Rosselló, 484, 08025 Barcelona

For an overview of facilities in and around the city of Barcelona, please see the following links:

Quiron

Synlab

COVID Protocols at ISE 2022

The following measures will apply during ISE 2022:

>> Face masks must be worn in indoor spaces, as well as outdoors.

>> Hand sanitiser will be available throughout the show; exhibitors will provide it on their stands.

>> Exhibitors will store the contact details of each person who visits their stand in a track-and-trace system. Information from this system may be retrieved by the health authorities for track-and-trace purposes only.

>> Social distancing of 1.5m must be observed wherever possible.

>> Protective screens will be placed in temporary structures.

>> Paperless systems and information distribution methods will be used wherever it is reasonable to do so.

Risk Reduction and Safety

Knowing your Covid status is important not only for yourself, but also for those around you. Self-testing is a risk-reduction measure that protects you and others. Testing is critically important, regardless of your vaccination status.

We cannot stress enough the importance of keeping each other safe. So please consider the following suggestions to be of the utmost importance:

>> If you are feeling unwell, or have COVID-19 related symptoms, please stay at home

>> Please test yourself regularly; in case of any doubt, consider taking a PCR or Antigen Test

>> While in Barcelona, please take Catalonia’s COVID-19 health and safety measures into account

For general health and safety information, and also travel information, please visit Conditions for entry into Spain. 

Computer Science Education Week, or CSEdWeek, is an annual call to action to inspire students to learn computer science, advocate for equity, and celebrate the contributions of students, teachers, and partners to the field.

North America Scholastic Esports Federation (NASEF), offers esports tournaments and Minecraft challenges that enable students to play their favorite games while learning career and life skills. NASEF focus on the whole ecosystem of job opportunities.

During CSEdWeek 2021, NASEF will zero in on one aspect of the esports world: how to create the games your children love to play. Thousands of students have joined our Minecraft challenges. And millions of people play Fortnite. What goes into making a custom world in Minecraft? How can you use Fortnite Creative to build a game of your own? And how can you learn robotics in Unreal Engine? Join NASEF and itd developer partners for this exciting week of free livestreams, Coding with Cleverlike!

Hosts of Coding with Cleverlike

As a kid, Brian Dickman / Cleverlike, was fascinated with computers and worked hard to learn new skills. He ended up graduating college with a degree in Computer Science and working many years in the software industry. Now he owns a company that focuses on creating games and technology education content. His company partnered with NASEF to produce the custom world used for Farmcraft. 

Livestream Schedule

Monday, December 6, 2021 (5:30pm - 7:00pm Mountain Time)

Hour of Code in Fortnite Creative - Explore several Hour of Code activities created by Cleverlike Studios for Epic Games. This session will include a full walkthrough of one of the Hour of Code activities.

Tuesday, December 7, 2021 (5:30pm - 7:00pm Mountain Time)

Minecraft Hour of Code: TimeCraft - Join us as we play the new Hour of Code activity in Minecraft: Education Edition. 

Wednesday, December 8, 2021 (5:30pm - 7:00pm Mountain Time)

Creating a Game in Minecraft - Junior Solar Sprint World Creation - The team at Cleverlike Studios is making innovative new education experiences inside popular video games. The developers will share a current work-in-progress so students can learn more about the life of a game developer. Special Guest: Ace_Unhacked, Game Developer for Cleverlike Studios.

Thursday, December 9, 2021 (5:30pm - 7:00pm Mountain Time)

Learn Robotics in Unreal Engine - The team at Cleverlike Studios is working with Epic Games to create a new robotics learning platform inside Unreal Engine. It will launch with a full asset kit and five Hour of Code activities for teaching Introduction to Robotics. This exciting session will be the first public preview of the project that will be shipping in Spring 2022. Special Guest: Steve Isaacs

HOW TO JOIN

To join the livestream or access the recordings, visit the Cleverlike Studios’ YouTube channel at: https://www.youtube.com/cleverlike

Dec. 14 - Join NASEF, AV Technology & SCN for the Esports and Education Virtual Conference & Expo 2021

December 14, 2021, join us for the Esports and Education Virtual Conference & Expo 2021

From highly organized events, to tournaments watched by millions, this professional and competitive sport is now top of the curriculum at K-12 and universities across America.

AV Technology, Systems Contractor News, Tech & Learning, and NASEF are co-hosting a one-day virtual conference for K-12 and higher education AV professionals with sessions that explore the technologies, trends, and experience in esports and education.

Agenda Snapshot

Keynote: Enriching Esports Based on Four Years of Research: Constance Steinkuehler is a Professor in the Department of Informatics at the University of California, Irvine where she researches culture, cognition, and learning in the context of multiplayer online videogames. 

Anatomy of an Esports Program: Planning, Infrastructure, Software, Hardware and Streaming: This expert panel will discuss defining program goals and matching the technology needed to equip a university or K-12 esports program. 

The World of University Esports: From a student-centered, academic endeavor with a modest gaming room to a highly competitive Division 1 university with a varsity-level spectator arena, esports directors from leading universities discuss goals and objectives, challenges, and successes of their respective programs.

[ REGISTER NOW! ]

Education Through Esports: A team from NASEF will discuss the important core values for a K-12 esports program. NASEF is on a mission to provide opportunities for all students to use esports as a platform to develop STEAM-based skills and social emotional attributes such as communication, collaboration, and problem-solving abilities needed to thrive in work and in life

Networking in Exhibit Hall: Visit with leading manufacturers in the esports industry, and network with your peers. 

An Exciting Afternoon

Afternoon Keynote: What is Cybercitizenship?: In her keynote, Miss Harvey will explore the definition of digital citizenship, cornerstone concepts that support it and the small changes that each of us can make today for a better digital tomorrow.

Esports Tech Talk: When nanosecond latency, the highest resolution displays, and fully immersive audio matter. This panel of experts discuss the technologies that make the difference between first and second place, and the elements that create an immersive experience for athletes and spectators.

Networking in Exhibit Hall: Visit with leading manufacturers in the esports industry, and network with your peers.

The Making of The Digital Rube Goldberg Machine Minecraft Contest: The students shine in this panel when you see their projects in action! Jennifer George, granddaughter of the brilliant cartoonist, engineer and inventor Rube Goldberg will present how The Digital Rube Goldberg Machine Minecraft Contest transformed the physical to the digital world. 

Wrap-Up/Passport to Prizes: Join us as we wrap-up the day’s programming, along with prize giveaways, courtesy of our group of sponsors. 

REGISTER NOW!

This Thursday, December 9th, 2021, join AV Network Nation’s Tim Albright, AV Technology’s Cindy Davis, and Systems Contractor News’ Mark Pescatore, for AV Network Nation (AVN²), a one-day virtual experience. 

Earn AVIXA RUs by attending the a full lineup of engaging panels and keynotes. Visit the virtual exhibit hall to learn about the products that will make a difference, and network with your peers. And of course, there are prizes to be had!

The exhibit hall will also be open for four weeks after the event, allowing AV professionals to learn more about these products at their leisure.

Here’s a rundown of what's scheduled for AV Network Nation.

REGISTER NOW!

Agenda Snapshot:

Morning Keynote: Perspective on the AV Economy

A fireside chat with AVIXA’s senior director of Market Intelligence, Sean Wargo, and AVNation’s Tim Albright. From global supply chain issues to labor shortages, there isn't an industry that has not felt an impact since the pandemic began. The AV industry has benefited from the world learning to collaborate via video, translating to the need for more advanced enterprise-wide unified communications in every vertical market. Remote deployment, management, monitoring, and data collection have become essential in this new era. Wargo and Albright will bring all of this and more into perspective as it relates to the AV economy now and in the future. 

The State of AV and IT

While some say AV and IT have fully converged, for others, neither the physical infrastructure nor are the AV or IT departments there yet. This panel of subject matter experts will dig into where networked audio, video, and control are today and preview where they see AV over IP headed in the next two to three years and what challenges the industry faces.

The Future of Work and Learning

Collaboration is the cornerstone of workplace and education environments, and it's the charter of the audiovisual industry to provide solutions to enable the next-gen experience. From cameras, microphones, and speakers to a myriad of displays and content distribution, workplaces, schools, and universities rely on a unified approach to deliver an easy-to-use and truly equitable in-person and remote experience. This panel will discuss today's technology, work culture, pedagogy, and workflows and what is coming next. Learn about the systems you will be using and installing next year. 

The Audio Ecosystem

Analog to digital and back again. Audio is both science and art. During this panel, our experts will look at the current state of audio and the entire ecosystem. We will look at cloud processing, audio transports, microphones, and speakers and how to ensure you get the most out of your next upgrade.

Future of Visualization

From direct view LED to projection mapping, video has come into a renaissance of its own. The future of video includes content creation, distribution, processing, and displays for different applications. Whether an interactive meeting space, an engaging lobby, or creating an immersive experience, this panel of experts will discuss more than just the "next resolution."

Wrap-Up/Passport to Prizes

Join us as we wrap-up the day’s programming, along with prize giveaways, courtesy of sponsors. All registered attendees are eligible, with winners selected randomly from a group that demonstrates the most active engagement with sponsors and programming.

Register Now!

A must-attend webcast for AV/IT managers and directors, technology integrators and CIOs in enterprise, corporate, government need to define the New Era Workplace in 2022 and Beyond.

Wednesday, December 1st, at 2:00 p.m. ET,  join content director of AV Technology and webcast moderator, Cindy Davis and five industry panelists as they discuss how to create seamless and intuitive hybrid working and learning environments.  

The reconfigured hybrid workplace is here to stay. From the everywhere and anywhere workforce, this panel works to define the hybrid workplace of 2022 and beyond. From hoteling to hot desking, furniture to technology solutions, our panel discusses what did and did not work, and how to plan for a productive environment that includes a hybrid workforce.

This panel discusses the cultural changes and mindful choices of when in-person collaboration should happen versus allotted specific days of the week.

We leave no stone unturned.

>>  Room and open space speakers and microphones

>> Microphone systems for presenters

>> Presentation and collaboration systems

>> Video cameras

>> Streaming and recording town halls, all-hands meetings, and training

>> Bringing remote participants into the workplace through interactive displays

>> Ensuring voice intelligibility and visual inclusion for remote workers

Bring your questions and share your insights!

Register Now

Panelists:

Erik Beyer, Business Development Manager at Sennheiser

Tim Mackie, Field Systems Engineer at Yamaha Unified Communications

Kay Sargent, Senior Principal | Director of WorkPlace at HOK 

Jeffrey Wolf, General Manager at Herman Pro AV

Moderator, Cindy Davis, Content Director at AV Technology

Register Now

Under embargo, JBL Professional invited us to a special launch event happening on November 16, 2021. They said we could extend the invitation to our readers, and we thought you might enjoy learning about this new product line (oops) first-hand. 

We can tell you that they are announcing a new JBL Pro speaker! We're excited, but they would have to kill us if we told you more before the event!

YOUR invitation is below. 

JBL Professional Product Launch Event

We are delighted to invite you to attend our next JBL PROFESSIONAL PRODUCT LAUNCH EVENT. We can’t reveal much until the launch, but we can say that singer/songwriters, event DJs, corporate AV providers and houses of worship will all love the remarkable versatility and incredible acoustic capabilities that this powerful pro audio solution offers.

Two sessions are available and both will be presented by JBL’s Brandon Knudsen and Craig Lambrecht, David Glaubke and Andy Flint. We look forward to having you join the event!

Register below for one of the two global sessions:
Session 1  North America, South America, EMEA and Russia

Session 2 India, China and APAC

See you there!

If you couldn’t catch the live streams from InfoComm 2021 last week, no worries.

Purchase the virtual package today and travel back in time to watch the content you missed during each day of the show, including the InfoComm Morning Shows, sessions presented at the Technology Innovation Stage, and the Daily Wrap‑Up Shows.

$59 — AVIXA Premium & Elite Members
$89 — Free Members and Non‑Members

Extra Content Without the Extra Fees

The virtual package also includes access to the InfoComm Post-Show Event on November 9‑10 — a separate online event with even more content and opportunities to interact with exhibitors — at no additional charge.

Watch sessions from D=SIGN: Digital Signage Conference, select sessions from the Conferencing & Collaboration conference package, and interactive sessions from InfoComm exhibitors:

• BrightSign
• Crestron
• INFI Group Inc
• LG
• Newline
• Peerless-AV
• ProCo Sound (ACT Entertainment)
• Epson
• HuddlecamHD & PTZOptics
• Robin Powered Inc
• Sennheiser
• Sharp NEC
• Synnex

You’ll have on‑demand access to all the sessions from the livestream and post‑show event through November 30. So, feel free to watch at your own pace or re‑watch as many times as you’d like.

Purchase the Virtual Package now!

Every year, Future publications contract with AV industry experts to evaluate products submitted by manufacturers exhibiting at InfoComm for Best of Show. There’s no denying that this year is a bit different than the past, so we allowed companies not exhibiting at the show to submit for a new award, Best of Market.

Our judges are experts in the categories of products we have chosen for them to evaluate and always remain anonymous to the manufacturers. They are your peers, AV/IT managers, directors, and engineers, or industry consultants and integrators.

We want to congratulate the InfoComm 2021 Best of Show and InfoComm 2021 Best of Market for AV Technology and Digital Signage.

[ Check out the winners of SCN 2021 Installation Products of the Year ]

Best of Show, InfoComm 2021 - AV Technology

AJA BRIDGE NDI 3G

Aurora Multimedia IPX-UC1 Ultra

Barco ClickShare Conference

Black Box MCX Gen 2 Multimedia Distribution and Management System

Datapath Aetria

Draper Acumen Recharge

IHSE Draco Ultra eSports Extenders with SSFRC

Jupiter Systems Catalyst V

Jupiter Systems Pana 105D

Just Add Power Warp Engine

Kramer VIA Connect2

MAXHUB LM220A18 220" 4K LED Video Display

NETGEAR M4250 AV Line Switches

Pexip Private Cloud

Renkus-Heinz Iconyx Compact Series - RD1

Ross Tria Express Duet Compact Production Server

Samsung The Wall

SAVI Server Pro featuring SAVI Creator

ScreenBeam Conference

Sennheiser TeamConnect Ceiling 2 – Ceiling Microphone with TruVoicelift

Sharp NEC Display Solutions LED-E012I-108”

Smart Monkeys ISAAC 2.0

Squirrels Reflector Receiver

tvONE ONErack Spider

Vanguard LED Displays Axion Invictus

VisibilityOne ONErack Spider

ZeeVee Zyper4K-XS

[ 2020 Best of Show Winners ]

[ 2019 Best of Show Winners ]

Best of Market, InfoComm 2021- AV Technology

ATEM Mini Extreme/ATEM Mini Extreme ISO

AVer TR313V2 4K AI Auto Tracking Camera

BlueJeans by Verizon

Christie M 4K25 RGB pure laser projector

ClearOne BMA 360

Crestron XiO Cloud

Green Hippo Hippotizer V4+ MK2

Jabra PanaCast 20

LG 14mm pixel pitch Transparent LED Film

Optoma Ultra Bright Series

Planar DirectLight Ultra Series MicroLED Video Wall

Poly Studio E70

Prysm Systems 225” Interactive LPD 6K Series

Roland V-160HD

Shure IntelliMix Room Denoiser

Sony Crystal LED Direct View Display

Zoom Apps

Best of Show, InfoComm 2021 - Digital Signage

Clevertouch Live

Fibercommand VisionBeam – HydraView

IHSE Draco MV42-4K60 Multiviewer

MAXHUB LM220A18 220" 4K LED Video Display

Samsung Kiosk

Best of Market, InfoComm 2021- Digital Signage

Blackmagic Design HyperDeck Studio

Calibre LEDFusion Pro A130C-15

LG DVLED Ultimate Business Display

Optoma Ultra Bright Series

Seneca ElementMP Series Media Player

Seneca xConnect Guardian

Zoom Apps

Yesterday was Day 1, the official opening of InfoComm 21. Before the ribbon-cutting, David Labuskes, CTS, CAE, RCDD, and Chief Executive Officer of AVIXA, took to the microphone to address the respectable-sized crowd gathered outside the entrance of the show floor waiting for the doors to open.

“Throughout the pandemic, AV pros have leaned on each other for support—whether it be for personal or professional challenges. AV peers were only a text, tweet or video call away. Conferences and social gatherings were held virtually so we could continue to learn and make new connections. The AV industry is a tight-knit community, which is evident at InfoComm shows and even more so during hard times,” Labuskes said.

With great class, Labuskes concluded by saying, “We acknowledge some important parts of the AV community are unable to participate with us this year and we will miss connecting with them. Please know that for those attendees or exhibitors that couldn’t make it to InfoComm 2021, we respect and appreciate them all.”

What Would Be Revealed Once the Doors Were Opened?

The overall footprint of the show floor was markedly smaller, and as attendees quickly dispersed, the aisles felt sparse. But as the day drew on, if you focused on individual booths, they were surprisingly full.

As someone covering the show, my day was as packed as any InfoComm in the past. Just after lunchtime, every booth I visited said they were surprised and caught a bit off-guard by the number of attendees. Each admitted they weren’t seeing as many people on the first day as, in years past, but said that the quality of the conversations was deeper and there weren’t as many “tire-kickers.” More than one said they wished they had brought more products to display.

Day 1 was best summed up in this tweet by NETGEAR’s product marketing manager John Henkel, “Wow. I wasn’t expecting to be this busy at #InfoComm21!! Excellent conversations and great enthusiasm.”

Auralex Acoustics’ CEO, David Pedigo, said, “If #InfoComm2021 was only one day, it would be worth it. The traffic has been great, conversations even better. Worth every penny.”

I am looking forward to seeing what Day 2 brings. For those who couldn’t attend, I’ll let you know how today goes so you don’t have to suffer the Fear Of Missing Out (FOMO).

While the show floor and attendance of InfoComm 2021 in Orlando might be smaller due to the ongoing pandemic, the level of excitement the day before the exhibits opened had to be ten times greater than ever before.

It has been nearly 30 months since the last en masse gathering of AV industry #AVtweeps. The two-dimensional Zoom meetings and virtual happy hours have finally given way to in-person fist-bumps, hugs, and the clinking of real glasses in celebration of the reunion.

AVIXA mandated that everyone show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test to keep everyone as safe as possible. But much like the safe pods of friends and family at home, the assurance led to many removing masks outside the convention center to further the personal connection.

As we walked through the show floor as exhibitors set up booths or attended sessions or an event such as Almo’s 75th celebration, the emotion of seeing industry friends was as strong as reuniting with old college roommates.

Highlights from Tweets posted on the day before the show floor opened.

(Left to right) AtlasIED’s vice president of Marketing & Corporate Communications, Gina Sansivero, is among the uber-excited. Kelly Perkins, CTS, is showing off her badge as the new marketing manager for Hall Technologies. James King, audio visual specialist at Stockton University, meets up with industry icon and InfoComm instructor Paul Zielie. AV Nation founder, Tim Albright, trying to master the art of the #AVSelfie during a panel session.

At InfoComm 2021, AV Technology’s content director, Cindy Davis, meets up with Joe Way, PhD, CTS, director of Learning Environments Information Technology Services at the University of Southern California, and chair of HETMA.

AVIXA’s senior director of marketing, Barbara Blaskowsky, sporting #10 of 30-plus shoes shipped to the show via a crate. This is what move-in day looks like.

During Almo’s 75th anniversary celebration, AVIXA’s CEO, Dave Labuskes, was presented with a generous donation for the Michael Fergauwen Fund Scholarship.

(Left to right) James King, audio visual specialist at Stockton University, finally got to meet industry expert, Steve Greenblatt , CTS, president, and founder of Control Concepts, in person. Paul Hickey, director of sales and marketing at TouchView Interactive, celebrates working with his daughter at the show. Renkus-Heinz booth is getting ready for opening day. Veteran AV industry writer Dan Ferrisi attends #AVraoke night.

(Left to right) Higher eds are in the house. In his exuberance, Joe Way, Ph.D., CTS, director of Learning Environments Information Technology Services at the University of Southern California, and chair of HETMA showcases his Tik Tok dancing talent (you be the judge). Brought together by HETMA, the higher ed family enjoyed their reunion. Tim Van Woeart, senior project supervisor at Rutgers University and executive board member of HETMA, doesn’t let the rain stop his migration to InfoComm 2021.

IHSE team takes a moment out of set up for a photo op and proudly displays its recent Installation Product Award 2021 from SCN magazine.

LED display company, INFiLED, has announced an expanded presence at InfoComm in Orlando, FL, this week. Their booth space #801, will include many of the prominent dvLED products their clients use in applications around the globe.

“We’re having an excellent year in the Americas, with our new office opening in Los Angeles and our new U.S. team exhibiting at InfoComm, with many of our quality dvLED products on display. Additionally, we are gold sponsors for several elements of the show, including the Digital Signage Conference and Pavilion, the Technology Innovation Stage, and the Tech Managers Reception. We’re excited to have an expanded presence and invite you to tour our awesome booth at InfoComm,” said vice president of sales Grif Palmer.

INFiLED’s booth will have three sizable dvLED video walls comprising their AR Plus, DB, DF, and WP products, as well as, many other dvLED samples available for demonstration during the show. INFiLED focuses on the rental/staging, corporate, retail, and creative digital signage applications.

RELATED: The Integration Guide to Digital Signage

RELATED: Creating Interactive Experiences with Digital Signage

EVERY DAY, All participants at InfoComm 2021 are required to provide proof of a negative COVID‑19 test result OR proof of full vaccination.

Below are directions on how to download and use the Health Pass by CLEAR mobile app.

To verify test results and/or vaccination information at InfoComm 2021, AVIXA is using Health Pass by CLEAR. The CLEAR mobile app, which you can download and use for free, is a secure way for you to upload your information so you don’t have to bring your vaccination card or paper test results with you.

How to Use the Clear App

Step 1: Download the CLEAR app and enroll.

Step 2: Select Health Pass and confirm code IC21ATTENDEE or find us under the Event tab, scroll down to Conference section and select InfoComm2021.

Step 3: Select the health screening verification you will be providing: Negative COVID test or COVID vaccine; then follow the prompts to verify your CDC Vaccine Card or link to your test provider.

We encourage all attendees to have your information uploaded into the app at least 24 hours before arriving at InfoComm.

Visit website for detailed instructions on how to use the CLEAR app.

Trust and transparency are CLEAR’s top priority, and with Health Pass, users are always in control of their health information. Personal information is only used to deliver a frictionless and secure experience with CLEAR and AVIXA. You can read more details about this in CLEAR’s Privacy Policy.

Please note: You are not required to use the CLEAR app, but use of the app will make your experience onsite at InfoComm go more smoothly.

If you have any questions about enrolling in CLEAR, please reach out to clientservices@clearme.com or tap “Get In Touch” in the app for assistance.

When the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic for businesses around the world started to become clear, our global professional display product development team immediately brought together collaborations with our strategic software and complementary hardware partners, including NowSignage and Bosch, to create PPDS PeopleCount. The dedicated digital signage queue management solution, PeopleCount is designed exclusively to help safely manage capacity, encourage social distancing, and create new brand and communication opportunities for businesses.

A perfect example of our Total Solutions approach, innovating agilely to respond and react quickly to fast-changing market conditions, this continues to be a proven lifeline for companies across the sectors, including corporate, retail, hospitality, and food and beverage.

PeopleCount uses our Android SoC, Wi-Fi-enabled Philips D-Line displays, installed at or near entrance area(s). These are connected with powerful software, together with intelligent cameras, positioned to count customers as they enter and leave the premises and providing live automatic updates to the display(s) when capacity is neared or reached. If there is queuing, PPDS PeopleCount will calculate and display average waiting times, replacing the need for a member of staff. 

A customizable traffic light system automatically informs customers when and when not to enter, with the software also able to integrate into a store’s automatic doors, opening and closing according to capacity. 

For maximum versatility, PeopleCount displays can be used to provide safety information, such as social distancing reminders, what to expect inside (cleaning gels, arrows on the floor, etc.), as well as advertising, brand messages, and other communications. 

Each display provides full remote management and control with the ability to create and present content easily, as well as powerful data for management decision-making.

Proven to be a potential lifeline for customers, PPDS PeopleCount is not just an investment for today—it’s an asset for the future.

InfoComm booth - 3421

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We’re very excited to be at InfoComm with all our customers and industry partners. LynTec has been very fortunate regarding the pandemic, due mostly to the fact that all the main components we require to manufacture products are made in North America—either in the United States or Mexico. We've even been able to launch some exciting new hardware offerings this year, including our Lighting Control Panel (LCP) Series and Narrow Profile Panelboards—both of which we have on display at InfoComm 2021. 

The LCP Series is tailored for lighting applications. Built on the same platform as the patented RPC Power Control Series, the LCP Series includes the lighting control features those projects require and increased installation flexibility. 

The Narrow Profile Panelboards are the only power solution of their kind to maximize space efficiency while providing comprehensive power control to audio, video, and lighting installations. It's so thin it can be mounted inside a 10-inch structural support column in the building or on the rigging. The panel is not only narrow, with less than half the width of a standard panel, but it also packs in performance, holding either 30 or 42 controllable circuit breakers.

Our roadmap for the next six to nine months has been affected by the pandemic, in that the offerings will be primarily software-driven, focusing on firmware updates that will drive new feature sets. 

We’ve made that shift to manage the shortages we’re seeing on the horizon for Q4 of 2021 into Q2 of 2022, especially in the chip and component markets. For instance, something as commonplace as diodes are being hoarded to the point where they are becoming a rare commodity. Ultimately, that's what we're working to manage and prepare for as we lead up to and beyond InfoComm.

InfoComm booth - 4034

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Over the course of the pandemic, corporate and education settings drastically changed with a technology-led path towards the hybrid and hybrid flexible (HyFlex) environments we see today. This resulted in an uptick of interest in cost-efficient tools and solutions designed to create safe, engaging, and productive environments. With an edge over other display solutions, Epson’s innovative projection technology and collaboration tools seamlessly transition into hybrid and HyFlex work and school models. Specifically, Epson’s advanced laser projection technology with intuitive software and interactive tools can help create extra-large, bright visuals to ensure everyone can clearly and effectively view content and participants—whether in person or remote.

As hybrid and HyFlex learning and work environments continue to become the new normal, AV technology will remain crucial when it comes to keeping employees and students engaged and productive. In today’s business and education settings, large displays have become more important than ever to ensure everyone can see not only the content being shared, but also virtual and in-person participants. Reliable and built to adapt—from hybrid to HyFlex to in-person—Epson’s projection solutions offer greater installation flexibility along with higher brightness and better picture quality to keep everyone engaged from virtually any seat in the conference room, classroom, lecture hall, or when tuning in from home. 

Additionally, with an understanding that classrooms and conference rooms come with display size and location constraints, Epson’s projector solutions are designed to eliminate boundaries and free up valuable space when turned off, unlike flat panels. From compact and portable to powerful, permanent-install projectors, Epson, the market leader, provides an extensive selection of cost-effective, innovative display and accessory options that aid in adapting to today’s ever-changing learning and corporate environments.

InfoComm booth - 3875-MR

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The pandemic affected the way we worked with each other in ways that we had taken for granted—not only in the pro AV industry, but in every other industry as well. Social distancing led the way to hybrid work models. The operation of devices changed our behavior to bring your own device (BYOD). 

ATEN understood that changes needed to be implemented in the operation and functionality of our products to continue working as normally as possible, while following the respective safety precautions. We also knew that these products had to be intuitive, without complex setups or connections, and with configuration capabilities from your own mobile phone or tablet to minimize unnecessary contact.

Therefore, the introduction of easy-to-operate video streaming devices was key for activities in higher-learning institutions, corporate meeting spaces, and houses of worship. The addition of mobile or portable devices in presentation equipment allowed attendees to participate in meetings via their own materials without touching other people’s hardware. Video matrixes, extenders, splitters, and switches that work over long distances became important as people started working remotely and not from a central location. 

All the above solutions will be available for attendees to see and experience at InfoComm 2021. Our 2022 product roadmap expands these solutions to maximize the possibilities of hybrid work environments as well as remote learning and operations.

InfoComm booth - 3833

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At InfoComm 2021, IHSE will be showcasing products that provide hybrid work solutions to maintain secure environments between work-at-home and office connectivity. Remote workers present a unique challenge to protecting confidential company data because remote work environments usually don’t have the same safeguards in place that would be found in an office environment. When workers are at the office, they are typically behind several layers of security control and firewalls. While there may be different levels of security in an office environment, it becomes a much higher risk to the company to prevent security breaches once a computer leaves the office security perimeter. This is why it’s important to make sure you have security measures in place to protect peripheral devices from cyberattacks. 

IHSE’s Secure IP Remote Access Gateway (SIRA) overcomes the problems associated with security, accessibility, immediacy, and image quality of traditional packetized remote IP-connection to distant computers using client-server models. SIRA’s premise is simple and straightforward: It provides KVM extension over an IP network by extending keyboard, mouse, USB, and video signals in the same manner that IHSE’s traditional KVM extenders transfer signals. It means that a remote operator can access any desired computer, at any distance away, using a keyboard and mouse as though they were physically located alongside that computer. 

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The signals passed between the operator and computer retain full integrity, have the highest possible transmission rate, and can be switched on demand. Most importantly, total system security is maintained. The only data transferred over the network is visual images and USB commands. So, it is almost impossible to mount cyber-attacks that take operational control of computers or plant malicious software.

InfoComm booth - 2611

Throughout the pandemic, we’ve seen more remote participants in meetings or classrooms than ever before. As a result, our customers have identified dependable and high-quality audio capture as the paramount need moving forward. If audio is unintelligible for even just a few seconds, the far-end attendees have potentially lost some important content. Asking for clarification then disrupts the meeting and wastes significant amounts of time, which can translate into lost productivity and even profit over time. 

Over the past 18 months, Sennheiser has adapted to these new priorities and has delivered some of the most innovative solutions to address them, including the TeamConnect Ceiling 2, SpeechLine Digital Wireless, Evolution Wireless Digital, and more. This year at InfoComm, we’re proud to showcase some of the most advanced products and technologies in beamforming microphones, robust RF transmission, and remote management solutions.

InfoComm booth - 3546

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See Sennheiser's TeamConnect Ceiling 2 at InfoComm

The TeamConnect Ceiling 2 ceiling microphone, with its patented automatic dynamic beamforming technology, is a leader in conference room audio technology. Now, with the addition of TruVoicelift and advanced zone control, TeamConnect Ceiling 2 combines the advantages of a boundary microphone and a microphone array. It is a comprehensive solution for both video conferencing and in-room audio in classrooms, lecture halls and boardrooms. TeamConnect Ceiling 2 offers unparalleled levels of control with the addition of a priority zone, allowing a single area in the room to be highlighted, as well as 5 advanced exclusion zones for pinpoint targeting and removal of unwanted noise sources.

The circumstances of the last 18 months have changed our industry in ways that are not yet fully realized. As a manufacturer of LED displays, we found our products being specified in new ways. Gone are the days of the market primarily thinking of dvLED as a large-format display in lobbies, houses of worship, and performance spaces.

Those applications certainly remain a core component of our portfolio offering. The commercial display products like the Acclaim Plus, HC Series, and rental and staging products like the PL Pro and VN Series products will all be highlighted in the Absen booth at InfoComm 2021.

As designers began to incorporate more and more UCC platforms for virtual collaboration, LED became a central component to the functionality of some of these spaces. Larger screens were specified in smaller spaces to allow for virtual interaction to feel more natural. All-in-one solutions have become an easy way for designers to specify, standardize, deploy, and maintain displays for their clients.

RELATED: Absen at InfoComm 2021: Next-Gen Products in Spotlight

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At this year’s show, Absen will show the latest generation of our all-in-one solution for the commercial and conference room solutions. The AbseniCon 3.0 features integrated audio, switching, scaling, control, BYOD, and enterprise connectivity.

New-generation technologies have also been accelerated during this time. Our second-generation, fine 0.9mm pixel pitch Chip-on-Board (COB) display will be highlighted in the booth.

In addition to the new product in our booth, we will be featuring new applications for dvLED. Our MR Series Floor platform display will be combined with our PL Series rental and staging product to create a virtual studio application. 

It has been exciting to see the acceptance of dvLED as a mainstream display technology. I look forward to what we get to share about the other new products in-development that are just around the corner.

InfoComm booth - 1008

Aside from the excitement of the first in-person event in a long time, InfoComm 2021 will be business as usual for NETGEAR. We launched the second wave of our most popular Pro AV products, the M4250 AV Line series of switches, in March of this year and are still getting the word out about this ground-breaking product line. We have relied on many webinars and videos to show off these products, so InfoComm will be the first time we can show people and they can get their hands on them at a show.

NETGEAR is lucky when it comes to supply issues since we have about 30 different switches in our Pro AV lineup. If you have trouble finding a particular switch, we can find an alternative that meets the needs of any project.

RELATED: NETGEAR Expands Line of Pro AV Ethernet Switches with M4250

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Finally, with all the partners we’ve aligned with since the last trade show, it’s going to be fun to see all their gear in our booth and see our Pro AV switches in all our partners’ booths around the show floor.

InfoComm booth - 1709

The latest stop on our product road map is our MaxColor Series of transmitters and receivers, which natively supports 4K60 in and out, allowing end users to play 4K Ultra HD video from the growing number of 4K sources and devices.

With MaxColor, 4K 12-bit video can be distributed over existing Cat 5/Cat 6 cable, eliminating the expense of upgrading to fiber and buying costly network switches. The series works with existing Just Add Power drivers and supported control systems, while also supporting MPEG downstreaming for connected devices like laptops, smartphones, and tablets. The series offers instant, seamless switching; 4K up- and downscaling; support for all audio formats; HDR management; support for Dolby Vision; and more.

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In recent years, we’ve also focused on enhancing our Ultra HD over IP platform with audio functionality. We can deliver audio over IP in any flavor an installation requires—from an analog out to Dante and Dolby Atmos. Most recently, we’ve introduced our new 2G/3G ST1 Sound Transceiver, a new audio-only component that functions as either an input or output, allowing installers to add a stereo audio source to any system, or to extract stereo audio from an existing transmitter. Both our ST1 Sound Transceiver and MaxColor Series will be on display at InfoComm.

InfoComm booth - 2733

If there is a lesson that comes out of the pandemic, it’s that uncertainty is a certainty and flexibility is a crucial asset in our collaboration tools. Monolithic solutions come with a high level of risk in a world where unpredictable needs frequently arise. The ideal collaboration solution delivers broad utility and fluid adaptability, giving organizations the agility to react quickly to a changing landscape.

RELATED: Intel Unite Review

Out of the box, the Intel Unite solution excels across use cases but can also be quickly adapted to address changing needs. Off-the-shelf apps provide just-in-time tech while its open architecture and publicly available SDK lets developers craft custom solutions. Wireless connectivity and BYOD compatibility not only add to this flexibility, but also reduce potential infection from shared devices and adapters.

The Intel Unite solution had these qualities before the pandemic. Recent updates have directly targeted the challenges created by COVID-19.

The pandemic has caused the use of UC apps to explode, spurring Intel to prioritize expansion of its UC integrations to include Microsoft Teams. With the Intel Unite solution, UC sessions are hosted by a room hub, but launched and managed from client devices, eliminating multiple logins while delivering a native UC experience. Remote participants see what in-room participants see: simultaneous presentations from multiple participants.

Occupancy-sensing capability (coupled with optional sensors) can help enforce COVID-19-related policies, guide infection reduction strategies, and facilitate a phased return to in-person meetings.

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Patient Sight is an in-patient telehealth app that lets caregivers observe and communicate with patients using high-resolution audio and video. The benefits of virtual bedside check-ins include reduced exposure to infectious diseases, reduction in the toil related to PPE, and potential increases in patient satisfaction. 

Looking beyond the pandemic, the ability of the Intel Unite solution to evolve will play a crucial role in future-proofing collaboration.

InfoComm booth - 2501

We saw business models reinvented on the fly during the pandemic, as innovation cycles shortened from years to months or even weeks. Customers sought ways to keep up business while maintaining social distancing. For example, QSR and retail customers needed Samsung solutions like curbside digital signage and kiosk technology for contact-less pickup and transactions. Those customers subsequently enjoyed significant savings during what was a critical period, thus we see a lot of future opportunities for kiosk technology there, especially as our new Kiosk product provides contactless ordering with a shatterproof film and an antimicrobial coating to help inhibit bacteria growth after continuous uses. 

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The needs and expectations of consumers—especially younger generations who expect more immersive and personalized experiences—have evolved too, and we have had to help businesses and organizations meet them. Businesses accelerated and enhanced plans to integrate LED technology that is customizable for both indoor and outdoor integrations. Monitors, too, played a significant part in hybrid work solutions and gaming, which saw a bump in sales as people stayed indoors.

The pandemic’s effect on education challenged us to reimagine the features on interactive whiteboards which led to the new Flip 2, an intuitive, easy-to-use digital board that connects students in and out of the classroom. Its immersive touch technology and ability to easily import and export content to share makes it our most collaborative education display offering yet. 

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Smart, state-of-the-art displays with intelligent content management solutions that can evolve with the times will be a major focus. We’re excited to show our lineup in-person and talk about how we are supporting classrooms, retailers, and other business verticals. After years of unexpected changes to how we interact and socialize, display technology is redefining how we overcome the challenge of physical distance to remain more connected than ever.

InfoComm booth - 2142, W203B, W203C

One of the greatest benefits of attending InfoComm is connecting with the AV community, and AtlasIED is putting on a fun event to do just that.

AtlasIED is inviting its closest family and friends in the AV industry to swing by Topgolf in Orlando Wednesday, October 27, 7:00 p.m. through 10:00 p.m. for some golf, gear, and grub.

The event is to show appreciation to AtlasIED's partners for their support from every market in the commercial AV industry.

Sign up here to attend!