Workplace meetings have undergone a physical and cultural transformation during the past five years, both in terms of their location and the technology used to facilitate them. Modern working habits and technological advancements have contributed to the rise of the meeting room as a high-growth vertical for audio visual, unified communications and collaboration technologies. Further to this, employees are increasingly meeting in other areas of the office with major implications for the vendors involved in these markets.

The development of modern technologies serving to increase teamwork—and businesses pursuing top-down policies to create collaboration-focused spaces—are fundamentally altering the modern workplace. This evolution is exposed in the Futuresource 2018 Corporate Meeting Room End User Report.

Want to learn more about collaboration? Free webinar: bit.ly/AVcollab

One key area of change relates to the physical makeup of meeting rooms. Here, the number of large meeting spaces has decreased during the past two years, predominantly due to the macro trend toward smaller, faster, more flexible meetings. Typically, large meeting rooms are being repurposed for smaller meeting spaces and, with over a quarter of companies looking to add additional meeting rooms over the next three years, the overall total addressable market of meeting rooms is expected to surge. Businesses are very keen to promote top-down policies that utilize space more efficiently and promote smaller, more collaborative sessions among workers.

Manufacturers have also been quick to respond to these changes, producing a raft of collaboration technologies designed for smaller meeting room and huddle spaces that are already seeing good traction in the market.

Another clear indication that the traditional meeting is undergoing fundamental change is the type and variety of products that are now being used in these spaces. This development is most evident when we look at meeting room budgets, which have grown increasingly diversified across product categories. While the meeting traditionally was the mainstay of telephone and display technologies, we are now seeing that as the size of a meeting room grows, there is a significant increase in spending on goods other than displays, such as audio, collaboration devices and control products. The distribution of budgets is highest in large meeting rooms, where over 60 percent of funds are spent outside of display technologies. This diversification is not only evidence of the growing importance of a wider set of technologies but also the increasing complexity of the meeting room market.

Read the 2018 Integration Guide to Collaboration.

Demographic change and budget diversification are not the only significant changes happening to the meeting, with employee habits and practices also undergoing a cultural transformation. With more employees working from home, and the increased ability to work in multiple locations geographically or in different areas within an office, workers are now much more flexible with where they are working and who they are working with. Employers have been keen to develop more informal meeting spaces in step with these modern flexible working habits and, with 20 percent of meetings now being held in locations such as kitchens/eating areas, breakouts rooms and receptions/foyers, it is no surprise that 43 percent of companies surveyed as part of this research state they are investing in dedicated technology for these spaces.

With dramatic changes happening in the corporate meeting room, technology providers are meticulously following the evolving demands of the modern workplace and how employees work with one another. This market presents both an exciting opportunity for growth but ample room for failure and, with culturally diverse variations in how employees work with one another, Futuresource’s Corporate End User Study provides the most comprehensive guide to the corporate meeting room and the nuances of this rapidly evolving marketplace.

Anthony Brennan is a research analyst at Futuresource Consulting.

When it comes to the importance of taking your sales team mobile, the numbers speak for themselves. Did you know that outside sales reps are now spending 89 percent of their time selling remotely? And it’s no wonder they do—studies show that mobile customer relationship management (CRM) tools can increase productivity by nearly 15 percent.

Mobile CRM technology can certainly work magic...but not without a magician at the helm. After all, implementing a mobile sales strategy is no easy task. It requires planning, proper execution, and the right mobile sales tools.

Growing your business through mobile sales can be as challenging as it is lucrative. To ensure your sales team is taking the right approach, ask yourself the following questions:

1. Does your mobile sales tool put the right information in front of your sales team?

Chances are, you’re counting on your mobile CRM to bring in more revenue for your small business. And statistically speaking, the odds are in your favor. According to this study, 65 percent of companies with mobile CRM reached their sales quotas. Conversely, just 22 percent of companies without mobile CRM reached the same goal.

A good salesperson knows her mobile CRM is valuable in the field—but only if the right information is readily accessible. Your mobile sales tool should include your CRM’s most important and relevant customer information so that sales professionals can easily access important data while on the go.

Conversely, avoid mobile CRM solutions that attempt to squeeze your entire customer database and functionality into your CRM’s mobile application. It will be too large and cumbersome for out-of-office employees to navigate and they’ll use it sparingly to avoid the hassle.

2. Is your team trained on how to use the mobile sales tools they have?

The best mobile sales tools are intuitive and easy to maneuver, but your sales team could always benefit from training to master your business’s mobile CRM.

Ensure your employees are up-to-speed on how to use your mobile sales tools, and encourage them to report any bugs or issues that are making it difficult to use. You might also consider hosting a seminar or question-and-answer session to address any lingering concerns—studies show that sales training leads to bolstered sales and a higher employee retention rate. Sales professionals should be aware of their mobile CRM’s key features, and be comfortable with navigating the system.

Additionally, your mobile CRM system should be well designed, and include applications that help sales pros quickly and easily retrieve the information they need to make a sale.

If your sales tool is too complicated to use, you’ll be paying for a product that’s more valuable in theory than in actual practice.

3. Is this the right tool for your size business?

If your sales force is small, you’re in a great position when it comes to mobile sales tools. Your business has the option to choose from CRM solutions that are tailor-made for a company your size, and that can support your specific needs.

Small businesses are significantly better positioned for success by selecting a customized solution to suit a small (but mighty!) sales team, rather than trying to use the same CRM as your enterprise competitors.

Remember: the needs of small sales teams can differ greatly from the sales armies of corporate giants, and your mobile sales strategy and technology should reflect those differences.

4. Is the tech you’re using right for your space?

When companies are marketing to consumers or professionals within a specific industry, their mobile sales needs are as unique as the verticals they’re targeting.

When researching your mobile CRM options, ensure the one you choose is a good match for your vertical. While some tech tools are designed to be flexible to meet the requirements of a specific industry, others aren’t nearly as malleable. And while some might be small business-minded, they could still lack the features your sales team needs to be successful in the field.

Identify the key information and technology your sales team requires to be successful and make sure the CRM solution you choose will work for the space your business is targeting.

5. How about third party integrations?

When shopping for a sales and CRM tool, look for one that aligns well with a variety of third-party solutions. The integrations you seek should be ones that benefit your business and team while they’re making sales outside the office.

Sales professionals should not have to struggle trying to navigate and toggle between several apps and tools on their mobile device. That’s why it’s important to ensure your mobile CRM tool is complimented with the right integrations to give your team the edge it needs to make the sales in the field your small business is relying on to grow and thrive.

The definition of a sales professional’s “office” is more fluid today than ever before. They could be striking deals from their home, a customer’s place of business—or even poolside on a sunny day. Statistics indicate that an increasing number of Americans are working remotely, and sales professionals are at the forefront of this trend.

Make sure your sales team is equipped with the tools it needs to succeed—whether it be at the company’s headquarters, or on the go.

There are many important aspects you must keep in mind when beginning a major digital media installation. Hours are spent analyzing the best products to use and the right content management system to install, but the most important element has always been the user experience (UX).

Every element that goes into the install is chosen with that in mind. Will this placement be best to engage with the end user or consumer? Will this content grab the consumer’s attention? How can the user engage directly with the technology? With advancements in UX happening rapidly, it’s hard to keep up with all the different trends.

This Thursday—September 27—I will be discussing this exact topic at the SCN Think Tank in Jersey City. Here's a sneak preview of some of the trends you can expect to hear more about later this week.

Finding the right balance between content and technology can be tricky. A digital display is nothing without the right content to show off the display’s quality and engage with the user. So much focus is now being placed on creating the right content to fit the digital display network. A great example of this is at Westfield World Trade Center on the 4mm LED display in the East/West Concourse. The display measures 280 feet and visitors walk along aside it as they travel throughout the complex. At times you can see cars traveling down the canvas or people walking alongside the viewers, utilizing the canvases length to its advantage.

Augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) are constant buzz words you hear throughout the industry. This technology is still more of a spectacle than part of the UX , but slowly you’ll start to see more and more instances of it as the tech improves. One day, you may be able to swipe up to visually browse plates of food you are interested in on a menu before you order or sit in a car you want to purchase and test drive it without ever visiting the lot.

Responsiveness is now expected of most technology. Everyone has a device in their pocket that allows them to do anything imaginable with the click of a few buttons. This same type of responsiveness is now becoming expected of digital signage technology. We see this successfully deployed in a variety of settings, like shopping malls and fast food restaurants, and I think the possibilities are continuing to grow. The key with this type of technology is speed. Without it, engagement is loss and distrust in the technology is something that is hard to overcome.

Want to continue the discussion on UX?

Don't miss the "What's Next for the UX?" discussion on September 27 at Liberty Science Center in Jersey City, NJ.

Register for free using code "SCNGuest" at https://www.scnthinktank.com.

Without giving away the secret to the sauce, I wanted to highlight (and basically give mad props) to Conference Technologies (CTI) for creating a really kick-arse audiovisual internship program. Developed five years ago by CTI’s leadership team, CTI University currently hosts 12 interns across four different locations with the intent to grow each summer.

For ten weeks, students are immersed into the daily mix of the integration business—everything from creating proposals and quotes to purchasing and design work to actually completing a real-world integration project.

Each intern is flown into the St. Louis headquarters for a few days of employee onboarding—the same treatment any other employee would receive. What follows is several weeks of in-the-field and office work. Everything from getting into the field (and yes, they have to have OSHA-approved footwear) to actually meeting with internal customers and going through the sales and discovery process. By the end of the 10-week internship, interns are handing over working conference rooms—monitors, audio, codecs, touch panels, lighting, everything.

“CTI is very proud of our internship program and the teams of people who help carry this vision out,” explains Cathy Kelly, chief business and strategy officer, CTI. “It is much more than a summer work program, but rather a way of building, teaching, and mentoring the next generation of AV/IT professionals.”

I got the opportunity to speak with these interns at the end of those ten weeks and what they said was not only interesting, but also surprising.

Cody, Matt, Kaitlyn, and Katlyn connected with me over video this week from St. Louis, Kansas City, and Des Moines. All four are college students working towards a degree in technology.

I asked them to explain the internship program and each experience varied a bit based on location, staff, and “how slammed” they were. For example, the St. Louis office had a larger staff, hence more on-premises help and guidance. In Kansas City, the technicians and programmers were always in the field, so in-person help was a little harder to come by.

The Des Moines office was consistently collaborating with the Omaha office to help test equipment. “It was cool because we could reach out to the other office interns before having to reach out to employees,” explained Kaitlyn, “making it a more comfortable environment.”

By the end of the internship, both Kaitlyn and Kaitlyn decided they were more interested in sales as a career path versus installation, design, or programming. “I love working with the hardware components and the videoconferencing technology,” explained Kaitlyn. “I could definitely see myself working at CTI in the future.”

On the other hand, Cody and Matt don’t think they’ll stick with the audiovisual industry. Cody, a senior majoring in mechanical engineering said, “I had a vague idea of what the AV industry was but had no idea how in-depth it went, how much work was involved. I’d like to try a few things before committing to an industry.”

Matt, a senior mechanical engineering, added, “It’s very different than mechanical engineering—not a lot of crossover—so I probably won’t go into AV.” Post-graduation Matt plans on applying for jobs at manufacturing companies.

At the end of the day, all of the students greatly appreciated the opportunity to intern at CTI. The central consensus was that CTI is a great company with an even better culture.

Back to school planning isn’t just for the kids. As summer winds down, September is the ideal time for CIOs, CTOs, and technology managers to focus, plan ahead, and invest in new skills. Scan any job posting in the professional AV industry, and it’s clear that IT acumen is quickly becoming a requirement. AV specialists will always be in demand, but the AV leaders of tomorrow also need to be adept in networking, infrastructure, security, and IT assets. That’s why Future Plc hosts the AV/IT Leadership Summit live events series, co-located with SCN Think Tank. We bring our best-in-class magazine content to life and dive deep into the topics and techniques to give you the edge. Here are some must-attend sessions coming to New Jersey on September 27.

1) Keynote: AV/IT Collaboration

Dr. S. Ann Earon, the Founding Chairperson of IMCCA, with more than four decades of leadership and collaboration experience, will put AV and IT convergence in context and point to critical trends to watch.

2) Lifecycle Planning for a Softer AV Ecosystem

We will drill down of the new AV/IT Model and software-based AV designs. Discussions will be centralized around analysis, refresh cycles, upgrade paths, network investment, BYOx and how to ensure a better ROI.

3) Enterprise Deployments—What’s Next?

These tech managers share tales from the front-lines of AV/IT convergence. We will share success stories with the unified collaboration adoption, real-time operations support models, commissioning AV on secure networks and standardized system designs

4) What's Next for the UX?

Experience designers, AV integrators and consultants identify the hallmarks of a solid user experience, both from a customer perspective and a user point of view.

5) Venue AV Tour

• Demo cutting-edge AV live in action, on site, during this exclusive tour of the Liberty Science Center in Jersey City. Seeing is believing.

6) Connect With Peers

Meet technology managers from venerable institutions and discuss your common challenges and the ways you are working to address them.Registration is free for qualified AV and IT managers, CTOs, and CIOs.

Sign up today: https://www.avitsummit.com/avit-jerseycity2018

Correction: The initial publication of this article stated that sessions would be worth 5.5 AVIXA CTS RUs. The renewal units are for SCN Think Tank sessions only.

Think all remote employees sit around in their pajamas all day? Nope. Let's dispel the top five myths about remote work in the tech industry.

Myth #1: People Who Work Remotely Don’t Actually Do Any Work

There have been a ton of studies on the benefits of remote working for employers. Check out this study from Stanford, which shows that people who work from home are actually more likely to complete a full shift of work than those in the office. Or this article in the Harvard Business Review that talks about the fact that remote employees are more engaged at work than their in-office counterparts.

Myth #2: Remote Jobs Mean You're Working All of the Time

The truth is, if you have workaholic tendencies, working too much is something you have to look out for whether you're in an office or remote.

The best employers will stress work-life balance, encourage you to take time off, and will notice if you’re answering pings and emails late into the night…and yell at you to go to bed.

Myth #3: You Can Work From Anywhere You Want

Okay, okay. You can work from bed if you really want to—just remember, you'll need to jump on video calls every now and then.

The bigger factor that plays into where you can *actually* work remotely from is… you guessed it…Internet. As awesome as it might sound to work from the middle of a National Park or on a boat somewhere, if you don’t have internet, you don’t have a job.

Myth #4: Remote Workers Are Anti-Social

You don’t have to feel isolated when working from home. You don’t have to worry about having no work friends. No matter what job you have, any remote position at a tech company will mean that you are constantly connecting with your co-workers, clients, and partners.

Myth #5: Remote Jobs Pay Less and Don't Come With Benefits

Remote tech jobs should pay you just as much as you’d get in an office. And you’ll have the flexibility to enjoy it more, what’s better than that?

In fact, I’ll go so far as to say that if you’re applying or interviewing for a remote job and it pays less than you’d get paid in office…run!

Want to learn more about remote work in the tech industry?

Remote Work Life in the Tech Industry: The Ultimate Guide

We’re all busy—and it’s easy to have unexpected meetings prevent you from attending a local event. I’m happy I recently resisted that temptation, because these events can be particularly rewarding. In addition to sharing a common industry, you share the same language. When an entire group parks their cars in the same yard—it’s magic.

Yup, Boston is my hometown, yet I had only met two of the attendees at the first AVIXA Women Boston Regional Group networking event on August 9, hosted at the Rajen Kilachand Center for Integrated Life Sciences & Engineering at Boston University (BU).

It was wicked hot outside, which made for a perfect summer evening to enjoy Boston’s best ice cream from Toscanini's, talk everything AV, IT, and Red Sox with fellow women and men from our industry.

The first AVIXA Women's Council Boston event was organized by regional group leaders Linda Jerrett, assistant director of learning and event technology services at BU; Hope Roth, lead programmer at Boston-based, Riordan Brothers Integration; and, Gina Sansivero, director of business development, education at FSR and co-leader of the AVIXA Women NYC Metro Group.

AV in Action

With its official opening in September 2017, the newly constructed, nine story, state-of-the-art Rajen Kilachand Center for Integrated Life Sciences & Engineering facility at Boston University is stunning.

We all agree there’s nothing more rewarding than to experience outstanding AV design and integration in action. After finishing ice cream, AVIXA Women's Council Boston attendees were in for an even greater treat.

BU’s Jerrett and Tyler Brown led a presentation highlighting the integrated AV at the Kilachand Center Auditorium, which is the main hub and colloquium room.

For this project, Brown was the owner’s representative, communicating standards to AV designer Cavanaugh Tocci Associates and systems integration firm McCann Systems, as well as other external and internal stakeholders. He also ensured that when systems were brought onto the network, clients understood how everything worked.

A 12,000-lumen laser projector, a massive acoustically transparent screen, a 7.1-channel surround sound system, with microphones and voice reinforcement throughout the auditorium deliver an immersive experience for attendees.

For larger events, audio and video is streamed from the auditorium to four meeting spaces used for overflow, and audio plays in the lobby.

A combination of large airy conference rooms, meeting rooms, and huddle spaces are located throughout the facility and enabled with audio, video and web conferencing capabilities, making this space the envy of our AVIXA Women's Council Boston group.

We’re all looking forward to our next gathering!

The SCN Think Tank is right around the corner, and I for one, am stoked. Here are my top five reasons why you need to attend.

1. All of your friends will be there.

The Think Tank will be packed with top integrators, consultants, and experience designers. And they're there to meet you. Everyone is there to learn and share their tips and tricks on bringing AV to the next level.

2. You'll make new connections.

The Think Tank is co-located with the AV/IT Leadership Summit, the must-attend event for CIOs, CTOs, and in-house AV managers. They'll be plenty of time for you to network with those attendees—you can't afford to miss your chance to mingle with power players from companies like United Airlines, Google, Indeed, Rutgers University, and more.

3. You'll walk away with a better understanding of the future of pro AV.

Want to know what the pro AV market will be in one, three, even five years? You won't want to miss The Future of AV panel at 1 p.m. You'll get a sneak peeks of new technologies and how they apply to the market directly from leading AV manufacturers like Barco. And, no, this won't be a product pitch—they'll be talking about the overall state of the market and how trends will shape their product roadmaps.

4. You need AVIXA RUs.

Let's face it—you need those AVIXA RUs to keep your CTS certification. People who attend the full day of education will receive 5.5 RUs. Kill two birds with one stone—get actionable info to take back to your job and renew your certification.

5. You'll see AV technologies in action.

We're ending the day with a behind-the-scenes tour of the Liberty Science Center's AV systems. Led by the venue's AV team, you'll hear about how they chose the technology, challenges they face, and how it enhances the visitor experience.

If that doesn't convince you, I don't know what else will. Well, maybe I have one more thing—IT'S FREE! Use code "SCNGuest" for admission on me.

See you September 27 in Jersey City!

REGISTER NOW: https://www.scnthinktank.com/tt-jerseycity2018/begin

There’s value to a can-do attitude, but some tasks steal your time and energy from your actual job responsibilities.

As a technology manager, you are used to taking on a lot of extra work. You perform a variety of do-it-yourself (DIY) tasks, including production, workarounds, trainings, and integration. But are there times you wish you could call another professional to take some tasks off your plate as well as to help you make the most of your time and investments? AV integrators can take on a variety of complex AV-related tasks but can also simply make your life easier by reducing worry and a heavy workload.

So how do you know when you should do it yourself and when you should seek out a professional audiovisual partner?

Here are some tips from industry pros:

When to Do It Yourself

When all you have to do is plug in a solution, and it will take more time, effort, and cost to seek out an audiovisual integrator, you can consider doing it yourself. However, this advice comes with a couple of caveats:

1. “Only do it yourself when you are 100 percent sure you can do it right,” advises Jason Ward, sales and marketing director at Involve.
2. Ensure you don’t want other services like advice, integration, maintenance, monitoring, training, etc. beyond the basic installation.

Tips for Doing It Yourself

If you decide to take on a DIY project, Ward recommends remembering the adage: “Buy cheap, buy twice,” meaning if you don’t choose a quality solution, you’ll end up replacing it sooner rather than later.

Other important tips include reading the directions and following manufacturer recommendations which often offer helpful hints, tips, and additional resources. An important step often skipped by DIYers is to address user adoption. Even if the solution is high quality and installed correctly, users won’t take advantage of it if they don’t know it’s there, don’t know what it does, and don’t know how to use it.

When Do You Need an AV Integrator?

You need an AV integrator when:

• The solution is complex
• It must work with other solutions
• You aren’t sure you can install it correctly or quickly
• You want to ensure ROI
• You need to maximize adoption

Some solutions require a high level of expertise, while others may be moderately difficult but take up valuable time to figure out, so they divert resources from daily duties and other projects.

Kevin Talbot, head of technical sales at Involve, says, it’s not just an issue of technology complexity but also of the service wrap. “Don’t take on the burden yourself of dealing with issues on kit that can be highly specialized in its implementation or deployment or you don’t have the time to install, implement, deploy, and/or maintain.”

The Value of an Integrator

The value of an AV integrator extends far beyond simply installing an AV solution. Ward explained that the “enhanced support and management ensure increased usage and adoption.” Also, integrators take a big picture approach that considers the entire space and user experience—not just the technology. “We deliver services with the end user’s benefit at the heart of everything we do,” Ward said.

Ideally, a client will include the integrator from the beginning of the project. When they are part of the planning and design phases, they can help you make the best purchase decisions. However, even if your project is well beyond that point, an integrator can provide expertise and resources that can help.

This blog was originally published on PSNI's website: http://blog.psni.org/av-blog/hire-an-audiovisual-integrator

The University of North Carolina (UNC) School of Medicine, based in Chapel Hill, is a beehive of activity. In lecture halls and smart classrooms, the ideas never stop. Just ask Ben Whitfield in the school’s Academic Technology Services department. Whitfield’s role covers “a broad gamut,” from AV system design to product research, but he has a particular passion for AV project management. From this vantage point, he observes that AV over IP is the quickly becoming the “reality on the ground,” he said.

This exciting—but not always seamless—evolution from point-to-point systems to network-centric designs is creating more opportunities for in-house AV engineers and managers like Whitfield. With software-based approaches, and more ways to bring integrated experiences to life, Whitfield believes that we are living in the Golden Age of AV.

The Golden Age is a phrase that denotes prosperity and relative peace. It is often applied retroactively, after a period has ended, such as the Golden Age of Radio. Why does Whitfield think the industry’s halcyon age is occurring right now? It’s part technology development, part technology acceptance, he said.

“The use of technological tools, with the main focus of smartphones, has transformed us from conveying ideas and knowledge via ink and paper or audio transmissions to a world that communicates by face-to-face video interaction,” Whitfield noted. The acceptance of AV-enabled mediums—whether via phone, web conference, streaming lectures, et cetera—is what has ushered us into a new age of knowledge transfer, he said. “I call it the Golden Age because the acceptance is there. That was the first and major hurdle. All else moving forward will improve on that communication form.”

“I call it the Golden Age because the acceptance is there. That was the first and major hurdle. All else moving forward will improve on that communication form.”

Furthermore, in many commercial verticals, AV is now the expectation, not the exception, to the rule. Most new classrooms include HD or UHD displays of some kind. Static whiteboards alone no longer cut it in the conference room. People raised with Apple TV and iPhones in their hands are demanding dynamic, technology-rich learning and working environments. Interest in augmenting AV applications with IoT access and AI is on the rise.

Also, consider the trend toward more streamlined and standardized AV: The days of pulling five or six wires for signal transport and power are gone. Compare how much rack space an AV pro needs now compared to 15 years ago. This means that we can integrate more AV at more touch points for a higher impact. Distributed teams can also be united in more meaningful ways thanks to software-based AV solutions.

What's your take? Are we living in the Golden Age of audiovisual technology, or does the commodification of components change the equation? Tweet your golden ideas to @AVTechnologyMag.

Margot Douaihy is a storyteller, polymath, and the editor-at-large of AV Technology magazine.

It is a pleasure to kick off this last month of summer as the new content director for Digital Signage magazine, part of the AV Network family of pro AV titles covering every aspect of the global technology scene. Having started my AV journalism career covering digital signage and commercial integration in London for Installation Europe way back in the mid-2000s, I am coming full circle after making enriching stops along way with other pro AV titles under the Future umbrella, including Residential Systems and Sound & Video Contractor.

What I have learned on this journey so far is that the best stories, whether covering new innovative products, an outstanding integration project, or a current high-profile appointee, is that information is best delivered with an emphasis on accuracy and fun.

It’s with that spirit that I delve back into the world of digital signage, which is not only changing the way we get around but also how we interact with our rapidly evolving, tech-driven world. We haven’t yet hit Blade Runner or Altered Carbon levels of sensory engagement, but in the practical, fantastical, and creative ways that digital signage is used today, the expanded visual and technical vocabulary of the sector is undeniable. This evolution speaks to how quickly technology has become an integral part of our everyday experience—as well as how it is reshaping our connection to each other and our shared environments.

As content director for Digital Signage magazine, I welcome our readers, integrator and tech partners to be in touch with me directly—e-mail me at pllanor@gmail.com. Tell me your integration stories, what you are working on now, how you see the sector evolving, what you would like to see more (or less of) from the sector and our editorial team. My door is open.

Feel free to connect with me via Twitter: @llanordsm and @DigiSignMag.

The world has a shortage of healthcare workers right now but by 2030, that shortfall could reach 15 million. Technology will play a big role in how countries are able to address the problem.

The Reach of Telehealth

Remote areas are usually hardest hit by health worker shortages. Telehealth has long been a solution for reaching patients in these areas, but with lower costs for equipment and better connectivity, the practice is growing. Remote nurses, physicians, and pharmacists can reach more patients in less time and for less cost than by relying on traditional approaches.

Telehealth minimizes the effects of provider shortages not just by reaching patients who can’t make it to an office but by making interactions more efficient through standardized workflows and eliminating office wait times. That way, nurses and physicians can call on more patients. Pharmacy teams can also serve more patients by establishing processes to fill requests faster because they can receive many requests in advance.

Better Treatments

New technologies are also providing patients with better diagnoses and treatments. Many new treatments are less invasive, meaning faster recovery and healing. Better outcomes equal shorter stays, easing the burden on hospital and facility workers.

Decreased risk and improved outcomes also mean patients are less likely to return for follow-up or to receive treatment for complications.

At-home patients can use devices to monitor everything from weight and blood pressure to insulin and other levels. These technologies replace some traditional face-to-face visits and can be followed up with video calls. Thanks to artificial intelligence, algorithms mining medical records and healthcare trackers such as wearables and sensors, allow patients to take more control over their health. Technologies ultimately mean less dependency on healthcare workers.

The Future of Healthcare

The Association of American Medical Colleges predicts that by 2025, the shortage of physicians in the U.S. will be in the range of 34,600 to 88,000. Fortunately, advances in healthcare technology are rapid, allowing healthcare providers to extend their reach significantly

There’s a lot of talk about nurse robots that can perform a variety of tasks including carrying patients, helping the elderly battle loneliness, and reminding patients to take their medication. They are certainly not ready to replace humans, but they can begin to fill gaps in care with simple tasks that contribute to nursing staff’s long hours and burnout.

The right solutions can benefit providers, patients, hospitals, and other healthcare facilities. Technologies can not only make healthcare more efficient but can perform some of the tasks people don’t want to do or to assist in jobs where there are not enough trained providers.

This blog was originally published on PSNI's website: http://blog.psni.org/av-blog/technology-in-health-care-shortage

Preventative measures help people protect themselves from future harm in many ways. Doctors can provide vaccinations against future illness, for example, and auto mechanics can perform regular maintenance to ensure that your car does not suffer a major breakdown. We recognize that spending a modest amount of time and money to perform preventative procedures can stop much larger problems and costs from occurring in the future.

Proactive measures can help to detect future problems that are currently hidden or uncertain, and would not be discovered without consistent preventative maintenance. Not only can proactive measures prevent early failure and future problems, they also help find and stop problems that would not have been known until they caused a catastrophe. This is just as true in business as it is in personal health and property maintenance, particularly when it comes to surge protection procedures.

However, businesses often see proactive measures as an unnecessary expenditure. If they believe the risk is low, they may see the cost of consistent maintenance or proactive, preventative measures as a problem for their bottom line. Having not experienced any problems in the past, they often believe that they may not need preventive action. Many businesses do not believe they need to protect their facilities from surges, in most cases because they operate in an area with little occurrence of lightning. Unfortunately, this can have catastrophic consequences.

It is important to understand that your business may be more at risk from surges than you believe. Some experts estimate that between 60 and 80 percent of all power surges are caused by events or problems within the same building as the electronic systems they are affecting. These experts point out that within commercial buildings, there are usually many devices with powerful motors that switch on and off during a day, including elevators, refrigerators, pumps, and similar equipment. The truth is that surges can be the result of something as simple as your air conditioner cycling on or off. They can also be a result of electrical power plants connecting or disconnecting from the grid, which happens frequently as power needs change during the course of a day. The wear and tear from these frequent, smaller surges can degrade your devices over time, reducing their lifespan.

In addition to protecting your investments, proactive surge protection can act as any other preventative measure would—incurring a smaller cost initially (such as a surge protector sacrificing to prevent surge damage) to avoid the much larger expense of damaged or destroyed equipment. As surges are impossible to predict and can cause massive damage to any device on your power grid or IP network, it is an essential measure to reduce these risks. Considering a proactive approach to the protection for your devices can be a cost-effective measure that ensures your business can keep running even in the event of a damaging power surge.

This blog was originally published on ADI Global's Website: http://blog.adiglobal.us/how-proactive-surge-protection-keeps-your-business-running.

Sales is a highly competitive field. People who sell for a living often face many rejections before receiving a “yes.

Coaching can be helpful to struggling salespeople, as shown by a recent Forbes article that reported many salespeople who quit cited a lack of coaches and mentors as one of the top reasons they bolted. Some in sales management see their role as comparable to a sports team coach, given the attributes required to drive success in sales and sports are similar: encouraging a positive attitude, motivating, presenting a clear strategy, insisting on dedication and breeding consistent winning habits.

As a sales leader, you will often find your people looking to you for wisdom, direction, and reassurance. Therefore, you need a coaching process that takes time to build up the people who make up your talent pool. You need to look beyond what they can do today and help them realize what’s possible tomorrow.

Here are five ways sales leaders can improve their coaching of their sales teams and thus facilitate more team success—much like a sports coach looks for ways to lead his or her team to more wins.

1. Identify weaknesses.

Sales leaders must keep their eyes and ears open to find areas that need improvement. This information may come from a customer or vendor, a performance review, or observations from a colleague. Regardless of the source, always assess different opportunities for coaching and improvement.

2. Establish desired results.

This requires a leader to describe to salespeople the gap between what they are currently doing and what they should be doing. Associate an identifiable action with all the steps in between. When you outline the process up front, your team member can envision well-defined results.

3. Provide resources.

For the coaching process to be successful, you must clear away obstructions and make the appropriate resources available: time, money, equipment, training, upper management buy-in, and support. Most importantly, your salespeople must commit to the process and want to achieve the results.

4. Practice, practice, and observe implementation.

Better results require new behavior, which won’t come overnight. Once you have the resources in place and you’ve explained and demonstrated the desired skill, it’s time for the team member to implement it. They must sharpen the behavior with the help of a coach. Practice allows the coach to identify strengths and opportunities for improvement while witnessing the skill in real-time.

5. Use effective follow-up.

Many training sessions have gone for naught when there was no follow-up and new ways toward success were forgotten. Remember as a sales leader that your goal is to effect a behavioral change. Coaching is a process, and it never really ends. The next step is follow-up—regular intervals to review results. And when your salespeople reach goals, take time to acknowledge and celebrate it.

In conclusions, as a sales leader, you just can’t settle for telling your team what they should do. You need a process for coaching them to achievement. It gives you a framework to accommodate an individual’s unique personality through small adjustments.

As companies are scaling up quickly during this time of digital transformation, many are discovering the benefits of a hefty IT department. However, they are not finding the budget to go with it. To meet this demand, many cloud service providers are offering a variety of services that meet the IT needs of organizations in a more cost-effective and productive way. Infrastructure as a Service or IaaS has exploded in popularity in the last year as a service that delivers virtualized computing resources to organizations using the internet. As technical as it sounds, IaaS is a great tool to enhance the health of your IT department.

What is Infrastructure as a Service?

You may have heard of other cloud services such as SaaS or software as a service and PaaS or platform as a service. IaaS uses the cloud to hold critical processes for computing within your business. Within IaaS, cloud service providers host operating systems, equipment, servers, storage systems are other IT tools and components in one automated model. Depending on the service provider, you may benefit from maintenance and data backup added into your service plan.

Using IaaS, you no longer have to use your own data center to house your computing components. Instead, IaaS provides access to all resources inside of a virtual environment, usually using the internet. Not only are you given access to the components, but you are able to build your own IT platforms on the infrastructure itself.

These resources can be multitenant or single-tenant, depending on your company’s requirements. According to Info World, “Multitenant” means multiple clients share those resources, even though their systems are kept separate. This is the most common way to deliver IaaS because it is both highly efficient and scalable, allowing cloud computing’s generally lower costs.”

However, single-tenant infrastructures are best for clients who need to be separated from other clients. The cost is higher than multitenant, and the experience is similar to run of the mill third-party hosting services. However, through IaaS, you are given the opportunity to access more scalable options that simple hosting can give.

How is IaaS Used?

IaaS can be used for various purposes within an organization. For example, in digital business, IaaS is the perfect tool for digital marketing, CRM and IoT. IaaS is also a great tool for executing agile projects through rapid application development and flexibility. Datacenter substitution and batch computing are also on the list for the best uses of IaaS.

Why Companies Should Use IaaS

IaaS has many benefits over traditional third-party hosting and hosting on your own servers. In fact, it is the only scalable option that still allows for the customization your organization needs. Let’s discuss some of the benefits in more detail.

Utility Means Quick and Easy Service

IaaS services follow a utility model that is unique to cloud services. You pay as you go and for what you use, instead of a bunch of tools you don’t ever touch. IaaS services are ready to go at a moment’s notice, reducing the time required for implementation, training and customization. Scaling up your business requires more IT power to maintain your growth. Fortunately, IaaS offers quick scalability in a cost-effective way.

Limits Your Investment

Are you an SMB or small to medium-sized business? If so, you may understand how difficult it is to finance a complete IT department to handle your IT needs. With IaaS, there are no upfront costs associated with using the infrastructure. You will pay as you go for exactly the amount you use. There is no maintenance for you, leaving you free to focus on your products or services.

Allows for Focus in Important Areas

Your IT department is important for your business success. However, so is product development and research. Using a cloud service provider for your infrastructure allows your team to focus on other important areas that may have been neglected. IaaS services have virtually no set-up and do not require intensive user training. They also do not require any maintenance on your end. What could your team be doing without all of the repetitive computing tasks?

Scalability for the Highs and Lows

In business, we sometimes forget to prepare for the lows while we are overcome by the highs. Infrastructure as a Service offers a level of scalability that is unmatched. During moments of low demand, IaaS services can be scaled down to fit your needs. Once demand is up again, IaaS can follow suit, saving you time and effort.

IaaS is the perfect tool for organizations of any size looking for scalability, flexibility and functionality and your business should be taking advantage of it. If you don’t, you are missing out on cost and time-saving benefits.

This blog was originally published on New Era Technology's website.

When you work in sales, there's no end to the advice you field. Everyone—from bosses to consultants and trainers to the industry veterans you meet at the hotel bar—has tips and techniques that (supposedly) vastly improve your likelihood of making a sale. But here's the problem: the way people buy has changed. And that means that a lot of the conventional wisdom out there just isn't that wise anymore.

I did a Google search and quickly found the most popular pieces of sales negotiation advice being shared these days. Some of it still applies, but much of it does not. Keep reading to learn whether the conventional sales wisdom you've heard all your career still applies in the age of inbound sales.

Conventional Sales Wisdom #1: Never Negotiate with Influencers.
You don't always have complete access to decision-makers during the entire sales process. Also, there is typically more than one decision-maker in any given sale, and the influencer may be one of them. I agree that negotiating with the influencer or influencers alone is probably not going to drive great results, but the influencer can be your champion to tip you off or coach you on what types of points need to be addressed in the contract signing process. Don't count this person—or these people—out.
The Verdict: DISAGREE

Conventional Sales Wisdom #2: Never Be the First to Make an Offer.
This makes sense to a certain degree, but one could make an equally valid argument as to why you should be the first one to make an offer. If you know you need to negotiate around price to get a deal done, you're better off setting the range—"anchoring"—rather than letting the prospect set the range.

Starting the range low is key, using dollar figures or percentages—whichever appears more powerful or substantial. For example, a five-percent discount may sound like a slap in the face, but if you're negotiating a sale for a $100,000 per year product, that equates to $5,000 annually. This is an amount that carries far more weight than five percent, and offering it puts you in a much better negotiating position.
The Verdict: DISAGREE

Conventional Sales Wisdom #3: There's a Big Difference Between a Trade-off and a Concession.
Insightsquared.com features a blog titled "The 5 Keys of B2B Sales Negotiation," which I wrote about in my book, Inbound Selling: How to Change the Way You Sell to Match How People Buy.

This is probably my most favorite point raised by the team at InsightSquared. In effect, they define a trade-off as a give/get. For example, if you offer a five-percent discount, then the prospect will sign their contract two weeks earlier than planned. However, a concession is one-sided. In the same scenario, the prospect may demand a five-percent discount or threaten to take their business elsewhere. Because the prospect is viewing you as a commodity in this second scenario, either something went wrong in the sales process itself, or you're potentially dealing with a poor-fit potential new customer that's going to cause a lot more problems down the line. Walk away from people like this.
The Verdict: AGREE

Conventional Sales Wisdom #4: Never Start Negotiating Too Early.
Negotiations should not begin until you have finished the soft close—or what Dave Kurlan in Baseline Selling calls the "inoffensive close." The soft close is the natural conclusion to the advise step. You're basically asking the prospect if there's any reason at all they wouldn't proceed with implementing the plan you've developed together, which you've both agreed will help them achieve their goals or overcome their challenges. In other words, don't start negotiating unless you have an agreement, at least in principle."
The Verdict: AGREE

Conventional Sales Wisdom #5: Offer the Ultimate Package Early.
I completely disagree with proposing a product, service, or solution that your prospect does not need. This undermines your credibility as a rep and sets your prospect up for a poor experience. The 'ultimate' product may offer functionality or services that the prospect doesn't need, and the oversell is setting the services or account management teams at your company up for disaster.

Instead, when the time comes to recommend the product or service, inbound sellers recommend the right product or service for their prospect and make sure they can stand behind why they're recommending it. Your prospect will appreciate this even if it's higher than they were expecting. Setting a range early in conversations will also help. Quoting a price by starting with the highest and moving back down to the lowest reverses the psychology of price negotiation. It gets "better and better" (to the prospect) as you go, because you're coming down to lower and lower levels of pricing instead of causing them heartburn by going in the opposite direction.
The Verdict: DISAGREE

Conventional Sales Wisdom #6: Use Silence to Your Advantage.
Silence is far more powerful than most reps realize. I have observed many prospects literally talk themselves into—and out of—tough demands during a negotiation solely because the sales rep has not responded whatsoever. I suspect it is related to the simple fact that few people are truly comfortable with silence. My advice is simple: When in doubt, stay silent. Let 10 or 20 seconds go by, and I guarantee you'll reestablish control of the conversation.
The Verdict: AGREE

If you're still using outdated advice to negotiate and close your deals, you're working much harder than you need to be. The way people buy from businesses has evolved, and you've got to adjust for it. So examine your negotiating and closing strategies carefully. If they don't make sense for the informed buyers you're meeting with today, it's time to throw out the old playbook and embrace the inbound way of selling.

It’s no surprise that one of the biggest killers of hardware is heat. Long-term, excessive heat will reduce the lifespan of just about any PCB (printed circuit board).

What’s less understood are best practices for protecting equipment from heat and limiting the ruinous effects of high temperatures on AV. But keeping it cool as resolutions increase requires much more than adding fans into chassis design. The pro AV industry needs a new paradigm.

High Heat Means High Cost

Step one in limiting the damage of high heat: think about power. Do everything that you can to reduce the power that generates heat, and then remove the heat you do generate.

Here's an example: at Datapath, we are dedicated to reducing power to minimize heat. We think about chipsets, scrutinizing what’s required and incorporating lower-power chipsets to minimize heat generation. And when those chipsets need over a dozen separate power rails, efficient power supply design makes all the difference.

We perform various oven tests with an empty product chassis to understand exactly how airflow works. It is quite common that the location of a certain board will influence airflow. What we have discovered is that venting and piping can improve airflow dramatically; insight from our extensive testing has inspired the design of the Datapath VSN Micro line of video wall controllers.

What’s more, we control every element of our solution, from the backplane to the power supplies, to the chassis shape and airflow, and we can optimize graphics processing units (GPUs) for the best performance.

Don’t Think Like a Gamer

If you attempt to use general-purpose, off-the-shelf commercial products for video walls, you won’t get a fraction of the number of outputs that our expandable range of VSN expansion chassis offers. The power drawn would be far too high. That’s one of the reasons we focus on flexible solutions using our video capture cards and graphics cards. Using scalable PCIe technology, an expansion chassis can be added to the master system to provide additional PCIe slots allowing for uninterrupted communication between any device in any slot. Full gen-locking can be achieved between outputs within the whole system without the need for additional cables.

Think about a gamer's graphics cards. They often drive much the same resolution as our wall controller outputs, but we don’t need that massive 3D engine to draw flat video. We maximize what matters. We have our own custom-built cards that allow for various configurations that lower the power without sacrificing quality.

AV Over IP and Power

There’s another significant trend in pro AV: the desire to move power supplies and power sources away from the display to get the heat away from the wall and into equipment cabinets. Many vendors and IT directors are taking this approach.

As resolutions per output increase, however, from SD to HD, to 4K or 8K, how do you move signals in efficient ways, and when does cabling become an issue? As we start to think about moving 4K over HDMI or DVI cables, AV over IP becomes an increasingly appealing alternative. This is where 10Gb Ethernet enters into the conversation. IP allows you to go greater distances, and doing this over fiber saves power. With 10GbE as the backbone, you can place equipment in better spaces and continue to scale across a facility or campus. This approach is also helpful with noise distractions. I believe that 10GbE will evolve quickly especially as 4K becomes a more common format.

Focus on Fiber

Fiber is another notable cabling and infrastructure trend as we evolve into the 4K era. While it was prohibitively expensive even four years ago, as prices drop we should see the interest in fiber tick up.

John Storey is the Hardware Director of Datapath.

In its Q1 2018 Skills Index, Upwork reported that blockchain is its fastest growing skill (out of more than 5,000 skills). Intel forecasts that there will be more than 20 billion connected devices by 2020.

With its potential to create a common standard for secure AVoIP and IoT solutions, it's time for integrators, consultants, and end users to get hip to the blockchain movement.

I spoke with the team at BusinessStudent.com and they put together a list of courses that can help you better understand the technology.

1. Cryptoeconomics 101: Introduces you to the major principles that give blockchain its value. Focuses on core topics in cryptography and economics, and how they work together to creative systems of incentives for blockchain.
2. Blockchain 101 Intro – Non-Technical: This is an introductory course to blockchain technology. It will show you how transactions are stored in blockchain, how mining works via consensus, and the difference between permissioned and permissionless blockchain.
3. Build a Decentralized Blockchain App: This introductory course will teach you how to build a decentralized blockchain app with Ethereum.
4. Bitcoin and Cryptocurrency Technologies: This is an introductory course from Coursera that will teach you how Bitcoin works, how secure Bitcoin is, and how anonymous Bitcoin users are.
5. Blockchain Application Development for Microsoft .NET: This class teaches how to develop a decentralized application for blockchain on Microsoft Windows using Visual Studio or Visual Studio Code.

Want to learn more about Blockchain?

Click here to view our Blockchain Need to Know Series.

I recently spent time at the Kimbell Art Museum and chanced upon Annibale Carracci’s “Butcher’s Shop”. It’s amazing in a gallery with the Old Masters to see a depiction of skilled butchers with clean white aprons, fiercely proud of the work they do, but not doing anything more than their daily routine. 400 years later, and Carracci and I still marvel at the beauty on display in their shop.

It’s the same devotion to the daily grind that makes AV an art form. The process of pulling wire, managing schedules, ordering equipment with bulk discounts, maintaining client relationships, and working together to exceed expectations is where the beauty and simple joy resides for us AV nerds. Our clean aprons are racks dressed well and flaunted on Twitter for all to see! The sharp knives these butchers used skillfully are the same as strippers, soldering irons, and Ohm’s Law—powerful in the hands of a skilled tradesman.

I would be awfully embarrassed if, in a few hundred years, folks looked back and saw that my work was lacking, just a little short of magnificent. The beauty comes from the details and from the men and women who strive for excellence, understanding the work they do impacts people on an individual level.

My vision is for our industry to look past low-cost solutions that are good enough, to train eager workers into skilled craftsmen, and to provide experiences that inspire the folks that take part in them. The way to do this is to focus on people over profits, and to think further out than what you will be a part of. I am raising my son as if he will own my company one day, because, if he does, I don’t want a spoiled brat at the reigns. So the moves we make with our employees, partners, and clients are all aligned with a goal to create lasting things of value. I guarantee that the butchers depicted didn’t do just enough to get by—that’s not how you get remembered by Italian masters!

By providing value above cost and protecting the relationship with key clients and partners integrators can create a brand that transcends individual projects—and that is how you make a masterpiece!

In our last blog we discussed the benefits of Crestron’s DM NVX, which runs on a standard 1-Gig Ethernet. Multiple HDMI outputs and native USB 2.0 routing are built into one box that supports stringent network security requirements.

To continue our conversation, we caught up with the Crestron team at InfoComm 2018, June 6 – 8 in Las Vegas.

Nic Milani, Director, Commercial Product Marketing at Crestron, recounted a conversation with a large automotive client. They stated, “Guys, one SKU—put one box on the shelf and that’s it.” Crestron’s traditional DigitalMedia infrastructure has more than 250 SKUs and proprietary cable that adds complexity. “In service to our customers and especially IT folks that understand scale, if you tell them you have one box that handles audio, video, control, and USB 2.0, it makes it much less expensive, while being easier to manage and maintain.” Crestron can now lead the capital expenditure discussion, similar in the way laptops and IT equipment are purchased. “The hardware is the day-one expense, now all of the sudden we start talking about day two, three, four, five, six,” adds Milani. “As an industry, I don’t think we do a good job about thinking of the soft cost.”

Day 2, 3, …

Imagine a scenario where a facility was built-out with an AV infrastructure reaching a hundred rooms, and the CEO decides the Town Hall meeting should be presented elsewhere, such as the lobby or outside. With a traditional system, it’s a no-go. Furthermore, even if you chose a networked AV system, if the supporting tools don’t exist, you’re in trouble. “You've taken what should be a flexible architecture, and because you don’t have the tools to manage those end points, it's fixed,” says Milani.

Enter the DM NVX Director, a single management appliance that as part of the Crestron platform allows users to configure, monitor, and manage all DM NVX’s on the network. “Director is the real-time management appliance for the NVX on the network and XiO Cloud,” says Alex Peras, Product Manager of DigitalMedia at Crestron. “All three of them offer significant savings in time, installation, programming, and ultimately cost.”

Think of DM NVX Director as a virtual matrix. “It allows you to provision all the devices on the network and allows you to group them into virtual matrixes,” says Peras. “You can separate transmitters and receivers, and from a single web-based interface you can see which inputs are connected, where the stream goes across the network, and which outputs those streams go to.” From the interface, support staff can see the resolution of each display. “If you’re managing a solution with hundreds of devices, you can see if the HDMI input or output is disconnected, or if the stream isn’t routed correctly.” Director provides the tools to manage routings directly from the page. “Anything can be done at the management level,” notes Peras.

Sea of Endpoints

An important feature of Director is its endpoint map. “It allows you to see all the groups of devices and their associated multicast addresses, if they are in transmit mode, and allows you to see the names and numbers associated with the device if they’re in receiver mode,” says Peras. “These numbers allow you to control the device from a Crestron 3-Series control system.”

While this endpoint map is traditionally static, Director allows endpoints to be dynamically changed. “Think about every input in a DM NVX as an input on this sea of endpoints,” says Milani. “Every output can subscribe to any one of those.” Say a company is doing a fundraiser and every display in the building needs to share the same digital signage feed. With a few clicks within Director, a user could broadcast their content to every device in the facility. “This gives you the ability to change things and make the system evolve and work for you,” says Milani.

In the end, it’s important that you think beyond the initial deployment and know how your evolving business needs will impact the infrastructure. Can your networked AV system adapt to your new reality?

Next week watch for the last of six installments of the InfoComm Networked AV Series, where we discuss Networked AV via The Cloud with the Crestron team.

Blockchain is here to stay. But how can you make a career out of it?

I talked to the team at BusinessStudent.com and they told me where they'd hedge their bets for the The Best Blockchain Careers for the Future. Here's their picks for the top five:

1. Blockchain Developer: This is currently the most in-demand job in the industry. Companies across all industries want to develop blockchain platforms to optimize business processes but those programs must be created by developers.
2. Blockchain Engineer: Last year there were 14 jobs for every one blockchain developer or engineer. Engineers are required to study the technology needs of the companies they work for and create the applications that meet blockchain business needs.
3. Blockchain Legal Consultant or Attorney: Lawyers are already overloaded with calls from clients seeking legal advice on how to structure and govern ICOs, and how to launch their blockchain projects. The billable hours will be limitless in the years to come
4. Blockchain Project Manager: Companies that work with an outside blockchain development firm will need an in-house project manager to be a liaison between the company’s business needs and the technology jargon. An MBA in project management will pop on a resume.
5. Blockchain Designer: With all of the new blockchain startups and businesses that want to use cryptocurrency, there will be more need for websites and pages to inform customers, clients and platforms of what the company offers in the blockchain space.

Want to learn more about Blockchain?

Click here to view our Blockchain Need to Know Series.

Don’t miss a social beat – follow #MyInfoComm2018 and make sure you visit Crestron located in the Central Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center at booth C2562.

Truly Converged AV over IP

Since we’ve been reporting on AV over IP, there’s been an asterisk. Or more like a hammer from IT directors declaring “not on my network!” Enterprise networks are carefully guarded, as they should be.

The AV industry has spent a lot of time discussing latency and compatibly issues of networked AV, then preaching how AV folks need to become IT experts. Yet you could say we’ve only pontificated about AV/IT convergence.

Until now, AV over IP products were designed as digital iterations of analog products with matrix switchers and other devices requiring customized programming to communicate on a network. Because many AV over IP products are complex and bring with them too many variables such as bandwidth-choking video—as well as potential security holes—the easier and safer route has been to create an ‘AV network.’

Is it really networked AV when it can’t live on the enterprise network? Most would say no. Many IT directors would say they don’t care, as long as it wasn’t on their network.

If …

What if AV solutions were developed so they needed to live on a standard 1-Gig Ethernet enterprise network, and that they needed to connect as easily as printers, and that security concerns were addressed?

Then …

Think of a world where AV integration expertise is directed to the areas that matter most. IT departments don’t need to run duplicate infrastructure of cable and switches. Extra routers and extenders aren’t needed, capital expenses are potentially cut in half, and everything becomes simpler. Sounds like truly converged networked AV.

AV Meets IT Needs

“IT folks who own the infrastructure want to minimize the number of things they need to manage and monitor,” says Daniel Jackson, Director of Enterprise Technology at Crestron. “To do that, AV needs to truly converge with IT.”

This is where Crestron’s DM NVX enters the picture. “Running on a standard 1-Gig Ethernet, the DM NVX has multiple HDMI outputs and native USB 2.0 routing already built into the one box,” says Alex Peras, Product Manager of DigitalMedia at Crestron. “The benefits that were already part of DigitalMedia, such as EDID, HDCP management, DSP downmixing and a lot more, are part of the new DM NVX.”

With DM NVX, all AV can run on the building’s existing Ethernet infrastructure, which saves an enormous amount of money by not needing to purchase and install new specialized cable such as CAT-6a, CAT-7, or fiber. “Not only is there a huge cost savings in labor, think of one box [DM NVX] replacing large, fixed matrix switchers, USB extenders, HDMI switchers, and extra encoders,” says Peras.

Two reasons AV had been relegated to its own network were security concerns and that AV needed a proprietary infrastructure. With advanced compression technologies such as enabling 4K60 4:4:4 HDR on 1-Gig Ethernet and working with companies such as Intel (see “What’s Inside” below), these concerns have been addressed with DM NVX.

“The DM NVX runs on the same Crestron control platform everyone is used to,” says Peras. “And network-grade security is built in, including 802.1X, Network Access Control, SSH, TLS, HTTPS, and AES-128.”

Configuration and deployment are easy using DM NVX Director, an enterprise-grade network appliance that provides a single point to monitor, manage, and control the entire DM NVX system from a web browser. NVX Director automatically discovers up to 1,000 endpoints, creates groups or domains, maps network addresses to user-friendly names, troubleshoots, and more.

AV Meets IoT

Device configuration, firmware upgrades, and monitoring via the cloud are in the IT wheelhouse. “DM NVX will have native support for Crestron’s XiO Cloud,” says Jackson. Crestron has confirmed the firmware upgrade for DM NVX will be available mid-June.

“The cloud is hugely important to our industry and will be critical to a deployment on shared infrastructure,” says Jackson. “I think this will blow people's mind with the ability to do what we call ‘plug-in and provision.’ You can remotely configure the device ahead of time and without ever physically touching it. Once the device is plugged in and can reach the service, it will pull down its complete configuration.

Anybody doing a deployment for scale can set all this stuff up ahead of time, and then it just plugs in, and you get the configuration.” One of the biggest challenges of deployment is going through and verifying that everything actually works. “If management consultants came into our industry, it would blow their mind how much labor and effort has to go into deploying every single system. That's because as an industry we were forced to build things like the auto industry did before the Model T came along with the advanced production line. We as manufacturers needed to build better tools to enable the industry to grow. The ability to deploy, manage and monitor via the cloud is a game-changer,” says Jackson.

IT Meets AV Industry Giant

With nearly 50 years experience, Crestron has risen as the leader in enterprise AV control, automation, and solutions. Although it’s a privately held company, Crestron is no small firm. According to a January 2017 interview with Bloomberg, CTO Fred Bargetzi shared that Crestron was a $1.5 billion company. Most of that growth has come in the last six years; a 2012 Forbes article stated the company had $500 million in annual revenue.

“It wasn’t that long ago we had a hard time getting the best companies to talk to us, because we just weren't to that scale,” says Peras. “Now, it's radically changed. We have chip vendors and technology providers coming to us to help them with their roadmaps and guide them to build better solutions.”

The relationship with Intel culminated in DM NVX. It is an iterative build (a significant one) upon DigitalMedia that has been widely deployed, and technology features evolving since its release in 2008. “Every piece of technology that was in previous DigitalMedia products are present in DM NVX network video solutions,” says Peras.

What’s Inside

In a statement in February 2017, Intel announced that the company was providing its Arria 10 FPGA devices for Crestron’s DigitalMedia NVX (DM NVX) technology architecture, which was demonstrated at Integrated Systems Europe (ISE) later that month.

What’s inside Intel’s Arria 10 FPGA device helped catapult DM NVX to the forefront and changed Crestron’s networked AV story.

Nanometers, TFLOPS, and FPGAs

The AV industry may already have too many speeds, feeds and acronyms to remember—but the IT world wrote the book.

The field-programmable gate array (FPGA) is an integrated circuit designed to be configured by a customer after manufacturing. The FPGA enables in-field firmware upgrades, eliminating the need for hardware upgrades and minimizing truck rolls.

“When programmable, customizable Intel FPGAs are built into these systems, they enable designers to re-architect enterprise networks to support collaboration for 4K, and ultimately [create] even higher-performance 8K networks,” wrote Erhaan Shaikh, vice president and general manager of the Intel Programmable Solutions Group, in an article discussing the DM NVX launch.

The Arria 10 FPGA spec sheet is a veritable what’s what of AV performance: 4K60 4:4:4 10-bit high-resolution video scaler, visually lossless encoding/decoding, HDMI 2.0a connectivity, ultra-low-latency Ethernet, and TFLOPS of digital signal processing (DSP) performance.

Scale and Reliability

Crestron’s growth has allowed the company to manufacture products at scale. “A lot of what we do today is automated manufacturing,” explains Peras. “We have 3D X-ray machines to examine solder joints underneath chips where they aren't visible. These are complex manufacturing processes, and between that and our industry connections we're able to manufacture something that frankly is a lot more reliable than we would have been able to do five to 10 years ago.”

DM NVX may be a new product, but its 10-years of development has paid off. “Our RMA rate is so low that I can't put a number on it,” says Peras. “That’s in large part due to the fact that we've been designing products for so many years, we take the things we've learned and put it into the NVX. It gave us that ability to perform.”

It’s a global world, and with scale comes a global supply chain. “We effectively control all the factories that make our products, and that gives us tighter control over the entire supply chain.” Crestron has 90 regional offices around the globe and three distribution warehouses located in the United States, Belgium, and Australia. “Smaller companies have to go through distribution, making it more difficult to ensure quality,” adds Peras.

With rapid growth comes large-scale challenges. “We're at the stage now where we've sold so many NVXs that Intel is running out of supply of the particular chips we need. With the scale we're at now, and with our relationships, we're able to solve it with our supply chain,” concludes Peras.

AV/IT

Intel and Microsoft have booths at InfoComm, and it’s clear these IT giants have more than taken notice of the AV industry. It’s an exciting time.

Make sure you visit Crestron during InfoComm at booth C2562 to discuss these topics and learn how AV now runs on the enterprise network.

During the two weeks following InfoComm, watch for the last two of six installments of the InfoComm Networked AV Series, in which Jackson and Peras discuss Successful Web Collaboration, and Networked AV via The Cloud.

InfoComm18 Networked AV Series:

One of Six: Networked AV — More Than a Disrupter

Two of Six: Not All Digital AV Needs to be On the Network

Three of Six: 4K Networked Video Image Quality, 1-Gig, and the Latency Discussion

In our series of #InfoCommInspo blogs, we're talking with exhibitors about the hottest technologies and trends they're looking to see at InfoComm 2018.

Q&A with Gina Sansivero, Director of Business Development, Education, FSR

Q: Why InfoComm?

Gina Sansivero: It was definitely smart to ask me this question before the week starts—if you ask me this the week after InfoComm, with aching feet and numb toes, I would have a very different answer. But, seriously, FSR has been in this industry for 37 years. We are part of the foundation of the InfoComm show, and will continue to support the education of our AV community. FSR grows and expands based on the experience and feedback from our clients. InfoComm provides us a venue to easily collect that feedback and bring it back to our headquarters to look at things from a strategic viewpoint. Besides the obvious business benefits we consistently receive from exhibiting at InfoComm, there are also many opportunities that allow us to give back to and thank our community. Every year FSR sponsors the NSCA Education Foundation’s Drunk Unkles concert, we are very active in the AVIXA Women’s Council, we have employee volunteers on AVIXA councils and committees, we co-sponsor the technology manager’s council...I could go on and on. Basically, FSR sees InfoComm as an opportunity to give back to an industry that has embraced us as a partner and has allowed us continued success.

Q: What is the most exciting trend you expect to see at the show?

GS: I am excited to see the continuation of a trend that we kind of knew was happening, but wasn't very clear until InfoComm 2017: the increase in technology managers (end users) attending the show for product information and educational sessions. They want more knowledge to bring back to their in-house jobs so that they can make the best decisions for their institutions. They are increasingly seen as essential to the on-campus experience, and InfoComm affords them the opportunity to keep up-to-date on important components of their careers, just as it does for integrators, consultants, and manufacturers, to provide consistent, awesome, and effective technology systems. Additionally—for technology managers—making sure they stay updated on their craft has a direct impact on the recruitment and retention of students, employees. and guests.

Q: How will your solutions inspire integrators?

GS: This year FSR is staying true to its roots and focusing on workplace connectivity and infrastructure. One of the important pieces of information we learned over the past few years is that as AV hardware is integrated into modern and open architecture spaces, the aesthetics are becoming more important. In our booth, attendees will see a variety of new products that have a new, contemporary look that will complement traditional, transitional, and modern design styles. We are committed to helping our dealers, integrators, and consultants maintain a “seat at the table” when project conversations turn to interior design. We know how important it is for the success of the system, room, building, etc., that the technology component be considered at every level of the project discussion.

Q: How will your solutions inspire tech managers?

GS: Our products have historically been high-quality, high-reliability products, and those features will not change. Technology managers live and breathe the good and the bad of their craft every day. FSR’s new solutions—like our existing solutions—are easy to buy, easy to install, and easy to use. They work, and they help solve problems. One of the reasons why technology managers try to standardize buildings and campuses is because it makes training, maintenance, troubleshooting, and upgrades more manageable. The products FSR will introduce this year are perfect pieces for standardization because they are reliable in high-use, high-abuse settings. And one new product, our DR EDID, is a must have troubleshooting tool for every technician’s tool box.

To learn more, check out FSR in Booth C2128 at InfoComm 2018.

In our series of #InfoCommInspo blogs, we're talking with exhibitors about the hottest technologies and trends they're looking to see at InfoComm 2018.

Q&A with Tim Griffin, Chief Technology Officer, Userful Video Walls.

Q: Why InfoComm?

Tim Griffin: Infocomm is one of the biggest platforms (if not the biggest) to connect with AV industry professionals from all over the world and showcase our technology. It is a great place to establish new relationships—as well as strengthen existing ones— with AV integrators, display manufacturers, end users, content developers, and more.

Q: What is the most exciting trend you expect to see at the show?

TG: Networked systems is definitely a big one, so we'll keep an eye on anything network-related, especially given the AV-over-IP nature of Userful's video wall solution. Integration of cloud services into professional AV systems is also a trend. We work with some of the biggest display manufacturers, and are really excited to see what they unveil at the show.

Q: How will your solutions inspire integrators?

TG: Userful is a 100-percent software-based video wall controller and AV-over-IP platform. It leverages standard network and standard PC hardware to deliver simplicity, power, and cost effectiveness. Integrators love the fact that everything is simple, easy, and browser-based, but, at the same time, they are amazed by the capabilities of the solution. Additionally, because Userful covers the entire spectrum of use cases (i.e. control rooms, office collaboration and dashboard visualization, artistic video walls, digital signage, etc.), integrators will see opportunities for this across their entire customer portfolio.

Q: How will your solutions inspire tech managers?

TG: Tech managers will love that Userful lets them cost effectively deploy and grow their screen, and that there is no need for specialized—generally outsourced—assistance to take care of their video walls. With Userful, tech managers have a multi-purpose, high-performing video wall that they can easily manage without needing to actually be on-site, thanks to our cloud-based management tools.

To learn more, check out Userful in Booth N2937 at InfoComm 2018.

Griffin is also presenting two educational sessions at the show: "AV over IP: LAN vs. Cloud" and "Game Day Digital Signage: Using Displays to Transform the Fan Experience."

Don’t miss a social beat – follow #MyInfoComm2018 and make sure you visit Crestron located in the Central Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center at booth C2562.

Last year justifying 4K video product purchases was a stretch.

According to interviews we’ve done with end users this year, when it comes time to purchase projectors or flat panel displays many are opting for 4K as the price-point is coming down and the higher-resolution provides future-proofing. Depending on the application, 4K camcorders and PTZ cameras are beginning to make their way into more corporate, medical, and higher education classroom environments. Finally, the “no 4K content” argument is disappearing.

In addition, mission critical video content viewed on 4K displays in applications such as simulation training, medical procedure streams, and in command and control centers demands the highest quality and the least latency possible.

“If you think about these larger spaces where you have more complex AV, those are typically the customers that have higher requirements, because they not only have more sources, they have a higher demand for media in general,” says Daniel Jackson, Director of Enterprise Technology at Crestron. These customers are already investing in 4K because no one builds a room with a two-year lifecycle in mind. “You're trying to build rooms for a minimum of five-years, usually 7 to 10 years or longer, and 4K is expected.”

Customer demand for 4K has increased steadily in the past six to 12 months. Alex Peras, Manager of DigitalMedia, cites key drivers as the release of the Apple TV 4K and MacBook Pro and other 4K-capable laptops. “4K has become ubiquitous,” says Peras. “If you actually want to make full use of the computer that you carry around, you want to support 4K in all your spaces.”

The jury is no longer out: Whether in large or smaller spaces, a 4K ecosystem is a must. The important part is how to put this 4K ecosystem on the network.

91 Times to the Moon and Back

Give or take a few trips to the moon and back, there are more than 70 billion meters of CAT5e and CAT6 deployed throughout the world. Unless an installation is part of a major renovation or a new build, Jackson says, “that’s an absolutely staggering amount of installed cable in buildings that support 1-Gig and soon, 2.5-Gig and 5-Gig Ethernet.” Stepping up to Cat6a or Cat7 to support a 10-Gig infrastructure to every endpoint is a rip-and-replace when it’s not necessary—especially when all of that bandwidth is taken up by a single application—video.

New advanced video compression technologies are enabling the transport of 4K signals over standard 1-Gig Ethernet. The question has to be asked, why wouldn’t you use the existing 1-Gig infrastructure? If you don’t ask it, your CFO surely will.

There’s more than one way to transmit 4K60 4:4:4 HDR signals over a network. No matter how you slice it, the 4K signal that comes across HDMI or DisplayPort connections is a whopping 18 Gigabits per second. “You either say I'm going to compress it a little bit and send the 4K signal around on a 10-Gig network,” notes Jackson. “Or, you say I'm going to compress it a little bit more and send it over standard 1-Gig Ethernet.” It all comes down to what the picture looks like on the other side.

Fuzzy Numbers

There’s no shortage of controversial topics in the AV industry. It’s widely accepted that when reading a video display spec sheet, the stated contrast ratio should be taken with a grain of salt and a pinch of skepticism. To a certain extent, these numbers can be gamed, depending on the ambient light when the contrast ratio is measured, as well as other factors.

Some contend that spec sheets mask a multitude of fuzzy math, especially when interpreting networked video quality. Comparing two products from different companies with the same specs such as 20:1 video compression running on a 1-Gig Ethernet doesn’t present the full picture. “There's no spec you can read for the quality of compression,” says Peras. “You'll get vastly different performance results depending on the type of process used to achieve the compression.”

Jackson agrees, “You can't just read it off of a spec sheet anymore because we're in a world of compression. It's all about what the video quality looks like on real-world content.” The best way to determine if a product meets your quality standards is to ask vendors for a demo in your facility using content familiar to you.

The Latency Discussion

In 2014 a team of neuroscientists from MIT found that the human brain can process entire images that the eye sees for as little as 13 milliseconds. The study appears in the journal Attention, Perception, and Psychophysics. “This ability to identify images seen so briefly may help the brain as it decides where to focus the eyes, which dart from point to point in brief movements called fixations, about three times per second,” says Mary Potter, an MIT professor of brain and cognitive sciences and senior author of the study. “Deciding where to move the eyes can take 100 to 140 milliseconds, so very high-speed understanding must occur before that.”

Anything below 13 milliseconds is considered imperceptible by mere mortals—and numerous terms are used to describe what is nearly imperceptible in the sub-50 milliseconds latency range. Some refer to this as “near-real-time,” while others say “zero latency. Crestron uses “no additional latency.”

Latency is often added because of scaling or compression, thus networked video compression inherently adds latency. “If a manufacturer is not optimizing for it, you could have a ton of latency,” warns Peras. “There are solutions out there that can add anywhere from 50 to 150 milliseconds of latency.”

Acceptable latency matters in many applications. If video is being streamed to an overflow room, then latency hardly matters at all. A couple of seconds of delay might be acceptable. “However, imagine trying to move a mouse around, and it's dragging behind you ever so slowly on the screen,” says Jackson. “It becomes really frustrating.” Acceptable latency in this application is under 50 milliseconds.

Make sure you visit Crestron during InfoComm at booth C2562 to discuss these topics and check out a live demo, so you can learn to judge video quality beyond the spec sheet.

During InfoComm watch for the fourth of six installments of the InfoComm Networked AV Series where Jackson and Peras discuss, “The Single Point of Failure?” With several pieces of AV hardware, various software applications, multiple user access, and more; identifying a single point of failure might be several points of failure. We discuss how to mitigate failure.

InfoComm18 Networked AV Series:

One of Six: https://www.avnetwork.com/insights-and-blogs/networked-av-more-than-a-disruptor

Two of Six: https://www.avnetwork.com/av-network-blogs/why-not-all-digital-av-needs-to-be-on-the-network

In our series of #InfoCommInspo blogs, we're talking with exhibitors about the hottest technologies and trends they're looking to see at InfoComm 2018.

Q&A with Andy Fliss, VP, Sales & Marketing, tvONE.

Why InfoComm?

InfoComm is the largest single gathering of designers, integrators, and decision makers in the audio visual industry. It’s important to speak with these individuals at a time when they're mentally engaged and seeking answers to the challenges they face. The InfoComm show also helps provide a roadmap for the industry, and for end-users and integrators for the coming year.

What is the most exciting trend you expect to see at the show?

As a manufacturer, I expect to see more end-users making decisions than ever before.

How will your solutions inspire integrators?

All tvONE products and software are designed to make the integrators life easier, from creative displays to corporate boardrooms tvONE systems are quickly configured and installed.

How will your solutions inspire tech managers?

Because our user interfaces are the most effective and intuitive in the industry, tech managers who see how simple they are to operate are immediately captured by it.

To learn more, check out tvONE in Booth C1740 at InfoComm 2018.

In our series of #InfoCommInspo blogs, we're talking with exhibitors about the hottest technologies and trends they're looking to see at InfoComm 2018.

Q&A with Lisa Barlow Flournoy, Marketing Support Specialist, DVIGear.

Q: Why InfoComm?

Lisa Barlow Flournoy: InfoComm provides a nexus of the latest technologies and products in pro AV, a convergence of industry experts across diverse fields, and a wealth of training and enrichment opportunities that benefit both the neophyte and the seasoned professional, offering a unique ROI for all attendees.

Q: What is the most exciting trend you expect to see at the show?

LBF: We see AV-over-IP (AVoIP) as the biggest trend with the tremendous flexibility and cost-effectiveness it delivers. As a leading adopter of SDVoE technology, we are promoting the unique benefits and technical superiority that this platform offers—in that it is the only solution that delivers AVoIP without latency and image quality compromises.

Q: How will your solutions inspire integrators?

LBF: Our DisplayNet Series, built on SDVoE technology, is a “no compromise” solution for AV distribution that leverages 10GbE Ethernet technology to switch, extend, and distribute uncompressed AV signals in real time with resolutions up to 4K (UHD). DisplayNet provides unmatched image quality with zero frame latency, zero compression, and zero artifacts. Easy to use, it offers highly customizable software. Its versatility is matched only by its quality.

Q: How will your solutions inspire tech managers?

LBF: DisplayNet will be attractive to the IT manager looking for good value, reliability, and ease of use. Limitlessly scalable, easy to install and to configure, DisplayNet offers a combination of robust hardware and forward-looking SDVoE technology to deliver the only AV-over-IP on the market.

To learn more, check out DVIGear in Booth C2809 at InfoComm 2018.

In our series of #InfoCommInspo blogs, we're talking with exhibitors about the hottest technologies and trends they're looking to see at InfoComm 2018.

Q&A with Cole Baker, Senior Product Manager for N.A., Lenovo.

Q: Why InfoComm?

Cole Baker: It’s the largest audio, visual, and collaboration event in North America—just second to ISE. Every solution supplier will be there, with plenty of announcements.

Q: What is the most exciting trend you expect to see at the show?

CB: I plan to see two key trends, the first being new camera sensor technologies that are driving analytics in conference rooms. I also expect to see other suppliers follow the Surface Hub 2 and Samsung Flip with vertical interactive displays.

Q: How will your solutions inspire integrators?

CB: Lenovo is providing smart solutions at the right price that businesses can scale across their conference rooms. These are rich endpoint devices that can be configured various ways with a room design, and accessory implementations.

Q: How will your solutions inspire tech managers?

CB: Our solutions have amazing total cost of ownership and employee engagement stories. On the 500, just the simplicity and ease of use has study-proven results. Our new product and software platform goes way beyond that to provide telemetry and reporting that helps with room health and meeting space management.

To learn more, check out Lenovo in Booth N3320 at InfoComm 2018.

In our series of #InfoCommInspo blogs, we're talking with exhibitors about the hottest technologies and trends they're looking to see at InfoComm 2018.

Q&A with Hannah Grap, Vice President of Marketing at Prysm

Q: Why InfoComm?

Hannah Grap: InfoComm provides a strong platform for Prysm to showcase our innovative solutions to a large, international community of existing partners, system integrators and customers. The Las Vegas show, in particular, tends to a draw a great mix of integrators and end users who come together to discuss the next-generation needs of the pro-AV industry and help advance the technology. This year, we’re excited to demonstrate the new Prysm Laser Phosphor Display (LPD) 6K Series, a first-of-its-kind interactive single-panel, large-format display that offers a panoramic image uninterrupted by seams or bezels. Visitors to our booth (#N1245) will be able to experience how the LPD 6K Series is eliminating the concessions end users typically have to make when choosing a video wall, such as the disjointed viewing experience that can be created by tiled video wall solutions. The outcome is an exceptional combination of visual integrity with a responsive touch experience – setting a new standard for interactive video walls and collaboration.

Q: What is the most exciting trend you expect to see at the show?

HG: We expect that “delivering better experiences” will be a key topic at the show. There have been a lot of technology advances to move the “art of the possible” forward, but now is the time to bring them together to truly change the way people work, and how they experience content. This concept is particularly important for collaboration solutions, but even more so when it comes to experience centers and other premium spaces. Recent advances in video wall solutions, particularly LPD 6K, help eliminate drawbacks that customers complain about with video walls in terms of seams/bezels, uncomfortable viewing or collaboration experiences, and the ability to install video walls in almost any space. All of these impact the experience that businesses can deliver. We know more companies want to add video walls to their spaces but still can’t find the right solution. To support this trend at InfoComm 2018, Prysm will showcase the unique experience the LPD 6K creates for system integrators and end users including:

An immersive, bezel-free viewing experience, featuring a high fill factor and an exceptional contrast ratio, resulting in striking picture quality and built-in interactivity with more than 32 simultaneous touchpoints

A cool-to-the-touch screen with low power intake, consuming at least 20 percent less energy than similarly sized LED/LCD video walls with 96 percent recyclable materials

An easier installation experience with a rollable display panel, which means it can be installed in high-rises and locations with small entryways, and better serviceability with easier access from the front of the unit

Q: How will your solutions inspire integrators?

HG: Integrators have a huge range of options for low cost, low-resolution video walls. However, a new kind of consumer is entering the market looking for a higher quality viewing experience, and the security of being future-proofed against use cases they haven’t thought of yet. Most importantly, this new consumer is willing to pay a premium to have someone meet those demands. The new LPD 6K Series helps integrators meet the demands of this consumer as it provides an immersive, bezel-free viewing experience above 100 inches that is also capable of meeting the needs of today’s workplace. As a result, Prysm is opening new doors for its AV partners to bring this new display approach to two unique markets including:

Collaboration and innovation centers – coupled with Prysm’s visual collaboration platform, the LPD 6K makes meetings more engaging and immersive, ultimately resulting in better, faster decisions

Digital signage – delivers a beautiful, uncompromised distance viewing experience at 6K to draw in customers with the ability to switch to an immersive, touch-enabled experience. Additionally, the new modular design helps speed display integration and permits installation in a variety of locations. The durable front screen – made of a specialty coated polycarbonate layer – is rolled into a cylinder for easy transport. Thanks to this feature, integrators can negotiate tight corners and enter through standard doors and passenger elevators during set-up – something that is nearly impossible for traditional large-format displays

Q: How will your solutions inspire tech managers?

HG: Since 2012, our LPD technology has been deployed by hundreds of global brands spanning vertical markets including automotive, consulting, technology, finance, pharmaceutical, media and universities to help enterprises promote collaboration and business success. Our number one goal with the LPD 6K Series is to provide enterprises, their employees and customers with an exceptional user experience that delivers a unique blend of visual integrity and interactivity to inspire new ideas, drive business forward, and promote working smarter together.

To learn more, check out PRYSM in Booth N1245 at InfoComm 2018.

In our series of #InfoCommInspo blogs, we're talking with exhibitors about the hottest technologies and trends they're looking to see at InfoComm 2018.

Q&A with Bob Caniglia, Director of Sales Operations, N.A., Blackmagic Design

Q: Why InfoComm?

Bob Caniglia: It’s very exciting for us to attend InfoComm and meet with our customers in the pro AV industry. We are excited to show them the new live production products we’ve announced since last year, including several in the past few months alone—like our new URSA Broadcast camera and ATEM Television Studio Pro 4K switcher.

Q: What is the most exciting trend you expect to see at the show?

BC: We’re seeing a number of trends heading into InfoComm this year, but the most exciting one is an increase in 4K and HDR technologies. As people rapidly produce 4K content, HDR is also increasing for things like AV displays. It’s already a standard in the film and television industries, and applying HDR to signal transfer and AV displays brings video to the next level, especially combined with 4K display technologies. We’ve incorporated HDR into several of our products like HyperDeck Studio 12G, and we look forward to seeing what our customers do with 4K and HDR in the future.

Q: How will your solutions inspire integrators?

BC: We make high quality products, and we are constantly evolving and coming up with new and creative solutions. We continue to update products regularly to help make everyday life easier for the end user. We have proven that we can be trusted as we continue to deliver on products and technologies that customers need. For example, we acquired Fairlight Audio and Ultimatte in 2016, and have incorporated their technologies into our new products, like Ultimatte 12 advanced real time compositing processor, and have added Fairlight Audio in our new ATEM Television Studio Pro 4K and DaVinci Resolve Studio.

Q: How will your solutions inspire tech managers?

BC: In addition to our products being professional quality, they are also cost effective, which means tech managers get the best of both worlds. They can invest in our products because they are affordable, and trust that our products will get the job done. For example, by investing in our 4K products now, tech managers can either start doing 4K today, or continue to work in HD now but be 4K capable when they are ready to flip the switch. 4K production doesn’t have to be transmitted in 4K, but it’s still worthwhile to invest in it now, which they can do with our products without disrupting their infrastructure to move to 4K in a few years.

To learn more, check out Blackmagic Design in Booth C3894 at InfoComm 2018.

Don’t miss a social beat – follow #MyInfoComm2018 and make sure you visit Crestron located in the Central Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center at booth C2562.

The confluence of a new mobile workforce and higher real estate costs have pushed facilities managers to create more efficient use of their existing space. This trend also has forced the creation of smaller meeting spaces. The U.S. Workplace Survey conducted by Gensler Research in 2016 stated, “Innovators spend less time at their desks, instead collaborating and socializing from conference rooms, open meeting areas, and café spaces.”

As the networked AV universe continues to expand, the rush to put all digital AV equipment and devices on the network may overshoot what is practical or fiscally responsible for every application. Cost-effective, point-to-point, all-in-one, and standalone solutions are filling the need for small collaboration spaces and huddle rooms.

Traditionally, the AV industry has been focused on high-end conference and meeting rooms with multiple laptop connections at the table, a control panel, a video conferencing codec, a matrix switcher, table microphones, and a speaker. “In the most basic rooms, you might just have a laptop and want to plug it in and get an image on-screen,” says Daniel Jackson, director of Enterprise Technology at Crestron. “There's a lot of growth with these low-cost, simple systems that provide a needed solution.”

Crestron and other control companies are seizing an opportunity once only filled by traditional conferencing manufacturers, by offering stand-alone products that don’t require proprietary AV control systems. This tactic might appear risky when most companies want to ensure ownership of the whole AV ecosystem. It took Porsche almost two decades of watching its customer-base purchase SUVs from Land Rover before offering the Cayenne.

Jackson says that most people tend to think of Crestron as big, complex, and costly. “People don't realize that we have these cost-effective, easy to install, just plug it in, and away you go solutions.”

Flexible and Scalable

For an organization that chooses to install standalone solutions—whether for presentations, digital media switchers, or signal routers—it is essential that the products are “hybrid,” with the capability of connecting to a network when you’re ready.

Although huddle and small collaboration spaces don’t intrinsically need to be connected to a network to make them easy to use, these spaces can benefit from integration with room scheduling software to maximize room usage and employee time. Depending on the vendor, room scheduling can be added as a standalone system.

As you move further into an AV ecosystem, there is greater flexibility and scalability with the ability to deploy hundreds of rooms at a time.

Single Source Benefit

Although always challenging, three years ago, managing multiple vendors with multiple products didn’t have as much of an impact as it does today. The alphabet soup of vendors with networked AV products is of paramount concern for internal information security groups that demand any product be tested before going on the network.

“We’ve seen a ton of demand for consolidation of vendors because when you scale up, people aren't looking to be a product manager or project manager,” says Alex Peras, Product Manager of DigitalMedia at Crestron. “They just want to put something in and have it work, and if it doesn't work, they can go back to one person. What we are trying to do is give people the ability to stick with one vendor to solve all of their digital media needs.”

Exhibitors at InfoComm 2018 will likely position their AV product to be the ideal single platform solution. The question is, will the manufacturer make deployment, management, security and reporting easier?

Be on the lookout for the third of six installments of the InfoComm18 Networked AV Series where Jackson and Peras discuss, “4K Networked Video Image Quality and the Latency Discussion.” There’s more to the story than the spec sheet shows.

InfoComm18 Networked AV Series

One of Six: Networked AV — More Than a Disrupter

In our series of #InfoCommInspo blogs, we're talking with exhibitors about the hottest technologies and trends they're looking to see at InfoComm 2018.

Q&A with Brett Stokke, Director of Marketing for RTI

Q: Why InfoComm?

Brett Stokke: More and more, RTI is getting pulled into the commercial space by our dealers and InfoComm gives us an opportunity to show off our latest and greatest custom control solutions. This year we’re looking forward to putting the spotlight on our new line of AV signal management solutions. Offering tight integration with the RTI control ecosystem, our video matrix switches, extenders, presentation scalers, and audio mixer amplifiers deliver a complete end-to-end solution for commercial projects, ranging from hospitality to corporate environments. Adding to our offering, we also acquired the Miravue video-over-IP distribution solution for powerful, scalable AV distribution over wired and wireless Ethernet networking.

Q: What is the most exciting trend you expect to see at the show?

BS: Managed services is a key trend we expect to see. As a society, we’ve become very reliant on technology, and a growing expectation that all of these devices will "just work.” If something does go wrong in a commercial environment, it isn’t just an inconvenience, it can be a drag on productivity and even hurt a business. It is the expertise of the integrator that can minimize downtime with the right blend of devices, infrastructure, and the control system that ties it all together. To that end, we have developed the RTiQ Intelligent Monitoring System, which not only checks the status of all devices in a system, but also sends notifications in real time. This gives the integrator time to correct issues, in many cases before the client even knows there’s a problem.

Q: How will your solutions inspire integrators?

BS: With a complete line of award-winning custom control solutions, and now AV signal management, RTI has an extremely powerful end-to-end control and automation solution. Evolving over the past 25 years, our Integration Designer APEX programming platform combines speed and simplicity with the complete freedom to design a custom control experience for their clients. These hardware and software solutions work in harmony to provide the power and flexibility that is needed to deliver an enjoyable control experience for the end user and set dealers apart from the competition.

Q: How will your solutions inspire tech managers?

BS: The RTI control ecosystem provides tech managers with the flexibility to pick the products that work best for them via flexible and expandable options. In terms of functionality and ease of use, RTI has a product to accommodate just about any type of installation. With our Integration Designer APEX software, tech managers are offered the customizable solutions they need to bring their vision to life.

To learn more, check out RTI in Booth N422 at InfoComm 2018.

The convergence of AV and IP technologies has been well documented over the past few years. And many AV integrators have expanded their services to compete with IT integrators who’ve expanded into AV.

Because wireless networks have become integral part of just about any business’ technology infrastructure, it’s a segment that should be a priority for AV installers to understand and provide. After all, while AV systems are usually wired, content to them is increasingly being streamed.

But when WiFi goes down or is inconsistent, office productivity stops, and the potential for revenue loss is substantial: employees can’t work, client service is compromised, and orders can’t be processed. And, of course, you have a frustrated client.

This creates a real opportunity for integrators with the chops to tackle it head-on. For those integrators, I offer you three words: Cloud. Managed. WiFi.

Although cloud-managed WiFi certainly isn’t new, it’s still an underutilized component of network technology that can differentiate you from competitor and offer your clients quantifiable advantages, while also providing you as a service provider with your own set of benefits.

Sellable Client Benefits

There are several extremely sellable advantages to cloud-managed WiFi, with the most important being reliability, manageability, and scalability.

By eliminating onsite hardware and shifting WiFi management to the cloud, you eliminate the scenario of single point failure—the failure of any piece of onsite hardware or software that cripples the system.

The latest cloud-managed WiFi systems also take advantage of technologies such as mesh networking. When an individual access point fails—for example, in the case a cable is accidentally cut—mesh can automatically be enabled to provide an overlap in coverage between access points to eliminate any coverage gaps until a replacement is installed.

Mesh technology combined with cloud-based management also greatly simplifies deployment. While some access points will require Cat5/6 wiring, many can be set to operate in repeater mode and require only power. This reduces the number of cable runs, resulting in faster installation and causing far less (or no) disruption to office routines.

Cloud-managed systems are also more efficient to manage when scaling beyond one or two devices. Rather than having to managing multiple individual devices, each with its own login and password, and each with its own firmware updates and critical security patches, the entire system can be monitored, managed, and updated, either onsite or remotely, through a single portal.

These client benefits also work to your advantage as the integrator. Having a system that’s configured to eliminate coverage gaps not only means less disruption to your client’s business and a higher level of customer satisfaction, but it reduces the number of emergency truck rolls, which also saves you money.

Faster Installation and Setup with Fewer Disruptions

Cloud-managed access points are now essentially plug-and-play devices: once installed, they’re easily configured online from your dashboard. But for even greater convenience, they can also be pre-configured prior to installation, making the process even smoother. And because standard configuration settings can be quickly deployed across dozens, or even hundreds of access points, the time it takes to deploy the wireless network, including the time spent onsite, is greatly reduced.

Imagine employing a technology where configuring 1,200 access points can be completed in the same amount of time it takes to configure 10 the “old” way. That’s a significant, sellable advantage that can help you win more business.

Integrator Benefits

The advantages for integrators in employing cloud-managed WiFi networks are just as significant.

The above mentioned selling points of a cloud-managed WiFi solution should be able to shorten what can sometimes be a protracted sales process:

· Lower upfront costs? Check.

· Centralized monitoring and management? Check.

· Centralized billing? Check.

· Greater reliability with no sacrifice in performance? Check.

· Faster installation with minimal disruption to daily business? Check.

· Happier client? Check, Check.

In addition to having a more satisfied customer, you stand to benefit in other ways. Cloud-managed networks also provide you with the opportunity to move from a hardware model, where you make little or no margin, to a recurring revenue service model.

And the benefits extend to centralizing the management of multiple systems for multiple customers through a single dashboard. You’ll have the ability to monitor and control the WiFi networks for all your customers from a single pane of glass.

You’ll also be able to update firmware to all the system components quickly and automatically. Alerts can be created to immediately notify you of issues; you’ll be able to diagnose and respond to any problems, often times before your client even knows they exist. And new access points can be added and configured to expand coverage areas in minutes. The result: your management platform offers benefits that will save you money by reducing the number of truck rolls needed to address any issues.

Cloud-managed WiFi is a natural evolution of networking technology, and the benefits to both integrators and customers are compelling and increasing. If you aren’t recommending cloud-managed networking, now is the time to consider it.

And even if you’ve been using a hosted solution, the explosive growth of features and technology justifies taking a new look at the market to ensure that your current solution is well aligned with your clients’ needs and maximizes the opportunities afforded by a recurring revenue business model.

In our series of #InfoCommInspo blogs, we're talking with exhibitors about the hottest technologies and trends they're looking to see at InfoComm 2018.

Q&A with Richard McPherson, Senior Product Manager for Projectors, NEC Display.

Q: Why InfoComm?

Richard McPherson: It’s the biggest show of its kind in the U.S.! In fact, InfoComm 2018 is the largest Pro AV show in North America, so it attracts the best of the best in the industry. It’s a great place to meet with new and existing NEC Display partners, customers, and colleagues from across the industry under one roof.

Q: What is the most exciting trend you expect to see at the show?

RM: This year, InfoComm is in Las Vegas, the mecca of AV experiences, so we’re excited to see how industry pros are using multiple technologies like video, audio, collaboration, and control to enhance the end-user experience. In particular, we’re expecting 4K in both laser installation projection and large format displays to take center stage as the technology matures and becomes part of more applications. There are always eye-popping demos and displays, so we’re excited to witness the creativity that goes into designing the ultimate AV experience.

Q: How will your solutions inspire integrators?

RM: Quite simply, NEC Display makes life easier for integrators and their clients. NEC Display offers the best warranties in the industry to provide peace of mind, and has a full line-up of professional, commercial-grade products that come in varying resolutions, pixel pitch, screen sizes, and brightness options, with content solutions like Open-Pluggable Specification (OPS), and interactive collaboration and touch technology. We know integrators are looking for a trusted partner who can provide expert counsel at each step of the installation process, which is why we are able to deliver solutions across multiple formats and applications, such as LCD, dvLED, projection, and more. And with a breadth of partners, NEC Display products can be integrated into almost any environment.

Q: How will your solutions inspire tech managers?

RM: We know tech managers are looking for solutions that deliver low total cost of ownership with maximum ROI. NEC Display delivers on both counts with low-maintenance products that have industry-leading image quality and unsurpassed lifetime expectancy. In addition, NEC Display prides itself on having key industry partnerships that enable tech managers to enjoy seamless installation and compatibility with third-party equipment. We’re looking forward to showcasing these platforms and solutions at InfoComm 2018 that will enable tech managers to take their AV projects to the next level.

To learn more, check out NEC in Booth C1864 at InfoComm 2018.

In our series of #InfoCommInspo blogs, we're talking with exhibitors about the hottest technologies and trends they're looking to see at InfoComm 2018.

Q&A with Mark Bonifacio, Head of Education Segment, Sony Professional Solutions Americas.

Q: Why InfoComm?

Mark Bonifacio: InfoComm is something we look forward to each year, not only to showcase our newest products and solutions, but to connect with our valued customers and industry leaders and for the opportunity to meet new prospective clients who can benefit from our latest technology. Meeting with people who use our products daily is a good reminder of the affinity and loyalty associated with our brand, as well as the tangible advantages our solutions offer. It also affords us the opportunity to solicit feedback on ways we can continue to improve.

Q: What is the most exciting trend you expect to see at the show?

MB: Collaboration and active learning are trending topics being embraced by Sony and the industry at large. Through solutions like our Vision Exchange, higher ed institutions and corporations are connecting in new ways to foster interactivity, communication and engagement through immersive learning environments and collaborative tools. Another trending topic in the technology community is VR, and we’re showcasing an audio based VR experience called Sonic Surf VR, a spatial audio technology, which creates and delivers immersive experiences and enhances VR scenarios.

Q: How Will your solutions inspire integrators?

MB: Our solutions inspire integrators because Sony is in a unique position, being able to offer products and solutions to outfit a project end-to-end and offer a complete solution. In addition, our staff likes working hand-in-hand with our partners to build custom solutions to their specific projects, addressing pain points and incorporating the feedback and concerns that we receive from our customers.

Q: How will your solutions inspire tech managers?

MB: Tech managers appreciate the expertise Sony brings to the table to create a fully formed solution which addresses the concerns each institution or facility has. Our cutting-edge technology brings the latest trends to market at an affordable price and demonstrates our understanding of the demands of our core customers. Sony has the right solution to meet any application, requirement and budget in the professional display and presentation market.

To learn more, check out Sony Electronics in Booth #C2363 at InfoComm 2018.

In our series of #InfoCommInspo blogs, we're talking with exhibitors about the hottest technologies and trends they're looking to see at InfoComm 2018.

Q&A with Peter Herr, Associate Director, Global Marketing Systems and Chris Merrick, Global Marketing Director, Integrated Systems at Shure

Q: Why InfoComm?

Peter Herr: First and foremost, InfoComm is the leading integrated systems show in the U.S. in terms of market reach. The show garners more and more participants each year, allowing us to connect with integration partners, sales representatives and others in the industry on a consistent, annual basis. Over the past few years, we’ve also noticed that there have been an increased number of end-users and IT professionals at the show. From the perspective of the end-user, they find it valuable to be able source and discover viable solutions directly from the manufacturers and distributors at the show. As for IT professionals, this isn’t surprising at all, especially considering the convergence of AV and IT, and the quest for exceptional solutions for meeting spaces, conference rooms, etc.

Chris Merrick: The North American market is paramount for the AV industry and enterprise space. This market is a mecca for new adopters along with Fortune 500 companies, and InfoComm is the perfect place for manufacturers to showcase their latest and greatest products to industry.

Q: What is the most exciting trend you expect to see at the show?

CM: Both AV and IT solutions are critical for business success in today’s world; in the past several years, such solutions have become a fundamental and known aspect of everyday business life. With this in mind, we expect to see manufacturers continue to rise to the occasion, providing end users with solutions that offer the sort of connectivity, security and intuitiveness that’s desired. And of course, device intelligence will continue to boom, especially considering the growing number of IoT devices out there.

Q: How Will your solutions inspire integrators?

CM: Across the board, we’ve shown our commitment to introducing products that help improve and optimize integrator workflow and efficiency. From things like our Designer software—which enables systems integrators, designers and sales staff to configure Shure supported hardware via one tool—to Microflex Complete Wireless, our goal is to arm integrators with the tools needed to exceed customer expectations. The integrator audience knows that Shure has deep roots in wireless technology and audio performance, which has really informed the growth and success of our wireless conferencing portfolio. Understanding the complicated RF environment and building meeting room solutions based on this is a natural application of our expertise.

Q: How will your solutions inspire tech managers?

CM: Technology and IT managers desire intuitive products that end-users can easily adopt and utilize, without having to call up a professional every time they need to hook something up. The ability to get a meeting or conference room up-and-running—especially from a remote locale—is extremely helpful, especially in today’s crowded RF environment.

PH: It’s no secret that technology managers are often compelled to choose products based on price. We take pride in providing premier quality solutions that are also highly cost effective. Our SystemOn™ Audio Asset Management Software is a good example of this. SystemOn allows users to monitor Shure devices without requiring constant attention and proactively alerts users via SMS and email when action is required—whether to check battery life, audio levels or RF spectrum status in real-time.

To learn more, check out Shure in Booth #C1366 at InfoComm 2018.

In our series of #InfoCommInspo blogs, we're talking with exhibitors about the hottest technologies and trends they're looking to see at InfoComm 2018.

Q&A with Stephanie Frey, Director of Marketing Communications, Peerless-AV

Q: Why InfoComm?

Stephanie Frey: It’s huge—literally and figuratively. As the largest AV-focused event in North America, it’s one not to be missed! The unique blend of B2B partners as well as end users provides a perfect balance of value. As Peerless-AV drives technology through innovation, it is rewarding to meet with customers, partners, and other industry experts to demonstrate and discuss how our unique solutions solve their varied AV needs. InfoComm provides a great opportunity for us to unite with the industry in our shared passion, imparting ideas and solutions that help propel it forward.

Q: What is the most exciting trend you expect to see at the show?

SF: We are in a pivotal time for technology—numerous avenues are advancing at accelerated rates. A trend we can expect to see is improvements and innovations in interactivity with technology. Take kiosks as an example—they are no longer just sources for information. Through new technology they can identify our age, gender, and more, and cater content to us. Even more, interactivity is also amplified in regards to different devices and technologies working together. It is truly an exciting time to be in this industry. This year, AVIXA has expanded InfoComm to include more technologies for smart buildings, homes, and spaces where audio, video, control systems, and content intersect.

Q: How will your solutions inspire integrators?

SF: Across our various offerings in the AV space, integrators will most certainly reap benefits. For example, we offer kiosks that are easy to use, cost effective, require little to no maintenance, and can be installed quickly right out of the box, without any trouble.

Further, our mounting solutions ease installation and maintenance, while aiding integrators in developing eye-catching video walls. With features such as tool-less micro-adjustments, reusable spacers, and easy hang wall plates, our mounts allow for expedited, one-person installations and ease serviceability, reducing time and costs. In sum, throughout our line of AV solutions, integrators will be inspired by Peerless-AV’s ability to continually push technical innovation while maintaining our mission to create products that save time, money, and labor, and provide true, lasting value.

Q: How will your solutions inspire tech managers?

SF: Peerless-AV’s product options and universal nature keep costs low. Also, Peerless-AV offers solutions that can be customized to best meet the needs of a project. These advantages for technology managers may include ADA compliance, easy installation, clean and thoughtfully designed solutions, and more—each saving time and money, now and into the future.

For example, Peerless-AV kiosks are highly customizable, eliminating costs associated with static signage and allowing information to be current and readily updatable. By utilizing these networked digital solutions, up-to-the-minute content additions or changes can be remotely controlled by a computer. Overall, tech managers look to us for solutions that increase efficiency, provide value, and are easy to use and maintain.

To learn more, check out Peerless-AV in Booth # C2947 at InfoComm 2018.

With InfoComm 2018 just a few weeks away, we've asked exhibitors to highlight the innovation, progress, and product launches you'll see at the show. This blog will be the first in a series of #InfoCommInspo designed to get you amped for one of the biggest pro AV shows this year.

To kick things off, we spoke with Vanguard Displays about the company's latest touch screen integration technology in LED screens.

Q&A with Michael Wiener, CEO, Vanguard Displays

Q: Why InfoComm?

Michael Wiener: InfoComm, for Vanguard LED Displays, is the only "must attend" trade show of the year. We are fully aware that our targeted customer base, the integrators, consultants, architects, audio-visual aggregators, and critical end users who influence our key clients, will be in attendance.

Q: What is the most exciting trend you expect to see at the show?

MW: The most exciting trend we expect to see at the show is interactive LED video screens.

Q: How will your solutions inspire integrators?

MW: Vanguard LED Displays offers the widest range of LED products in the market, allowing integrators to let their imaginations run wild knowing that we will have the product to fit their needs.

Q: How will your solutions inspire tech managers?

MW: P1.0 and below pixel pitches allow for the highest resolutions achievable in infinite scalable display technology. Our touch screen integration provides tech managers with endless new opportunities to engage with users.

Vanguard Chip On Board (VCOB) module protection will allow for high resolution displays in venues and applications previously thought of as too hostile for fragile low pixel pitch LED displays.

To learn more, check out Vanguard in Booth N3046 at InfoComm 2018.

Collaboration.

If you’ve heard the word, you’ve heard it a thousand times. I have lost count of the number of seminars and webinars I’ve watched, and articles I’ve read covering the subject in recent years.

And there’s the crux: the subject. In truth, collaboration (from an AV perspective) is many different things to many different people. Video conferencing is collaboration, as is, in essence, a basic group email. I guess even work conversations in corridors tick the collaboration box.

But here I want to address the software application sharing aspect. There are many things to consider to ensure application sharing and collaboration is a truly beneficial, time saving practice in the workplace. For any business or organization that is looking to invest in this technology, here are a few essentials items to consider.

Writing to the Source File Annotating over a screen in a meeting, and then having to replicate those amendments on the source document when back at your desk is counter-productive.

Priorities Management Look for solutions that provide complete control over who does what. It may be that a large group need to view an application, but with only a select few allowed permissions to edit.

Video Wall Compatibility This is a major consideration for large organizations, where applications are needed to be shared and viewed on a command and control center video wall. This feature is also important for boardroom environments.

IT Infrastructure Rather than operating on company networks, look at secure peer-to-peer solutions. Peer-to-peer sharing brings two key benefits. First, it takes away the load from network servers—something that is warmly welcomed by IT departments! Second, it provides additional security as only those in the group have the ability to access.

Share and Annotate Anything, In Real Time Our definition of application sharing means sharing anything—regardless of whether the third party has the software or not. This means that any software window (accountancy software, CRM, pay rolls, medical documents, architectural plans, the list is endless) can be shared with a third party, as long as they are members of the same organization.

Today, many meeting-goers are turning away from large, professional conference rooms in favor of smaller, less formal meeting spaces. As such, huddle rooms have become the gathering place for spontaneously exchanging ideas in the workplace and bringing together remote participants—just because the rooms are small doesn’t mean their AV technology is less sophisticated. But, to be effective, these rooms must deliver the same reliable, high-quality AV experience as their larger counterparts. That is, content needs to be visible, audio needs to be clear, and cameras need to be positioned to capture the action. It’s these simple measures that can minimize sensory fatigue and maximize collaboration and productivity.

AV technology manufacturers have responded with new products and even new divisions focused on huddle room innovation. Some companies are offering new portfolios of AV and unified communication solutions that cater to huddle rooms and their unique requirements—solutions that allow for spontaneous meetings with quick startup, accommodate limited space, and offer ample connectivity; solutions that encourage the natural, effortless exchange of ideas to foster growth. Organizations of all kinds, from enterprises to startups, schools to nonprofits, are deploying those solutions to create innovative huddle and collaboration spaces of their own.

A leading hospitality organization in downtown San Francisco has taken the collaboration baton and ran with it. Recently, I toured this organization to learn more about how the company is applying these workspace trends.

Before diving into key learnings, I must say I was incredibly impressed with their first step—the company’s first consideration was to profile its workforce to understand the needs of its “audience.” Every organization should be doing this. This particular company discovered the average employee is 27-28 years old, meaning millennial preferences aren’t suggestions, they are primary drivers. This understanding was apparent in all aspects of the company’s workspace design, but a few areas and considerations really stood out.

Flexibility

Space flexibility is a serious matter. For example, like most organizations, they needed a space to accommodate town hall-style meetings for the entire company. However, those meetings don’t happen regularly, so they found a way to repurpose that large space for multiple uses. It solved for the primary use first—creating collision space for employees to eat and work in a large, loft-like area with plenty of power and connectivity to support their day-to-day needs. To accommodate large meetings, recessed bleachers are located along the wall and pulled out when needed.

Connecting Virtual Teams

One of the key reason for my visit was because the company was in the middle of expanding into a new building, its third within a few blocks in San Francisco. Growth can play the largest role in isolating teams. As the IT manager described, one of the challenges was to minimize the barriers groups and/or departments face because of being split up into separate buildings. To prevent this, his team deployed virtual “water coolers”—carts with screens that live-stream to other workstations, either in the same space or at other locations. The live stream runs throughout the workday so that group members stay connected: saying “good morning” to each other, swiveling around in their chairs to collaborate, and more. Removing spatial barriers like walking to another building, picking up the phone, or scheduling a meeting keeps communication open, flowing, and simple.

Immersive Team Environments

They also deployed a new type of meeting space: immersive team rooms. These spaces contain all the amenities of a traditional meeting space with extra perks:

Long-term Reservations

Immersive team rooms are reserved for special projects that require a dedicated, cross-functional team. Rooms can be reserved for one month or an entire year so project teams needn’t worry about locating available space. The space is always available and suited to the group’s size. The other benefit is that the team doesn’t consume other company space for projects, which frees traditional meeting space for day-to-day operations.

Casual Seating

Couches and coffee tables add warmth and comfort to these spaces, and serve as an ideal place for teams to sit and brainstorm. After all, if you’re going to keep a team in one room for up to a year, everyone should be comfortable.

Workstations

Workstations are located around the perimeter of these rooms so dedicated teams can be immersed together even outside of official meetings. This layout maximizes team members’ exposure and availability to one another to drive focus, communication, and innovation.

Together, the company’s thoughtful huddle and collaboration design is something all organizations can model as they rethink their own meeting spaces.

When you start with the right gear, and couple it with solid space design that meets the needs of the people who use it, then your huddle rooms will really pack a punch—and you’ll empower everyone in your organization to be more productive.

Since the stone age, our industry has sought a method to incorporate increasing levels of technology in support of curriculum and pedagogy into the class environment. Many times, sadly, technology has been installed purely for technology’s sake, and had little to do with specific curriculum.

It had become a practice to install lots of devices like video/data projection, dedicated computer sources, VHS/DVD players, sound systems for pre-recorded content and voice amplification, distance learning, recording, and camera manipulation—just in case there was a need. The shortcoming here is that by the time the technology was needed, the instructor had long forgotten how to use it or the technology itself was outdated or non-functional. Even worse, educational institutions were making investments in technology that were inappropriate for the curriculum with the intent to prepare for the future.

Pipe Dreams

What if the industry standard when designing the classroom environment and its related technology was to enhance the user experience, to be more intuitive and easier to adapt to changes in pedagogy or space, and more manageable, with less hardware and computer code writing for integrated control systems?

Why do classrooms need to be saddled with complex devices and control interfaces that make the space less useful than envisioned, and more technology laden than necessary?

User Control Interface Utilization and Challenges

The advent of voice recognition has enhanced the user experience in our cars and homes, reducing the need to punch buttons and scroll between screens while driving or enjoying our home entertainment centers.

Today, devices such as Alexa, Google, Bixby, Invoke, and Watson, to name a few, can offer options in classrooms that respond to individual requirements for each room and/or instructor, using a standardized and customizable set of voice commands that can automate and simplify the user experience to the technology in the space. Is voice recognition technology the answer to all spaces and needs? That’s debatable, but certainly an option to be considered.

Voice recognition has come a long way in the past couple of years, but it is not perfect. Voice commands must follow a structured command protocol. If it falls out of a specific order, the result can be a less than desirable experience for the user. For example, the user is presented with a control panel (buttons or touchpanel) that often requires them to follow logic in selection of sources and the requisite display of content onto a projection device or devices. The user would then press a few buttons and when things appeared to be unresponsive, the disruption would cause instructors to become frustrated and create work-around solutions to achieve the expected results. The remote-control system, and the hours of computer programming necessary to create a ‘user interface’ that is understandable and adaptable to new technologies and applications in the classroom have become quite complex to design, install, and debug.

As a result, technology that was designed to enhance the educational experience can end up standing in the way of instructors conducting their designated class. If we add the complexity of the flipped classroom, active learning, team-based learning, and problem-based learning environments, this discussion is exacerbated even further.

Intertwining of Design and Education

Technology manufacturers have been developing consortiums to develop standards that will bridge operability between systems to expand operational control that rivals the more traditional, labor-intensive touchpanel form of remote control. However, will voice recognition replace the touchpanel control system that we have all come to know and love? I am not sure I would take that leap yet.

The future will undoubtedly see greater development of options intended to enhance the user experience in the classroom, not only for the instructor but for the student as well. This includes expanding the functional control of the classroom beyond the purview of the instructor and to its students. The active learning classroom is an example of this: the need to enhance the experience of everyone within the room.

One such active learning classroom configuration utilizes collaboration stations with five to seven people throughout the room. Each collaboration “pod” might include a flat panel display for students to share individual PC outputs, or combine them onto their local screen. During sessions, it is often desirable for groups to “report out” certain findings or results of their work with the entire class. This requires any given pod to be able to gain access to the other pod displays, or a large screen display elsewhere in the classroom, that all can view. Additionally, many such environments offer the instructor the capability to share information from their PC onto a single large display or to each pod, thus reducing the need for a traditional teaching wall.

The ability to manage these signals from multiple pods, as well as the instructor’s PC, to various distributed displays or a large classroom display can be confusing for instructors and students alike. The end result is that many such applications tend to be curtailed either by a remote control system that is overly complex, and/or an instructor that simply does not want to deal with the complexity of managing these devices.

The holy grail of maximizing flexibility while minimizing user frustration and reducing costs. Voice control might provide the key to this, allowing persons to more easily communicate the desired function and improve the overall user experience.

Projectors can be used to create displays much larger than a typical digital screen as the canvas is virtually limitless. Being displayed on anything from an entire wall in a room to sides of buildings and mountains, projection technology allows for larger-than-life experiences.

DSE features all of the top manufacturers of projection technology. We spoke with Epson’s Remi Del Mar on the role Epson’s “laser” focus on digital signage (pun intended).

Q&A with Remi Del Mar, senior product manager, Epson.

Q: Why DSE?

Remi Del Mar: The global digital signage market is rapidly growing. With the technology advancements in projectors, we have a strong story to tell about the role of projection in the digital signage market. DSE provides a great launch pad for us to showcase our specialty laser projector solutions ideal for different signage applications—from retail and hospitality to museums and even restaurants and bars. In addition to showcasing our existing laser projectors, we are leveraging DSE to introduce a brand-new Epson product category designed to blend into nearly any environment and inspire creativity in visual merchandising and spatial design. Given the well-established, strong focus on innovative digital display and technology, DSE is the perfect venue to introduce this new solution.

Q: What will you focus on at the show?

RDM: Epson will be showcasing several of its latest laser projector solutions for the digital signage market, including the Pro L-Series and PowerLite L-Series.

We are leveraging the Pro L-Series large venue laser projectors, which provide 12,000-15,000 lumens of color/white brightness, to showcase an immersive lounge setting, as well as a large video wall around the outside of the booth.

The PowerLite L-Series, which provide up to 6,000 lumens of color/white brightness with manual lens shift and array of connectivity options in a compact design, will be used with an interactive software solution to project on glass.

Throughout the booth, Epson will be showing various examples of how our laser projectors can enhance and transform any space with high-quality imagery. From retailers, hospitality professionals, marketers, corporate AV professionals, and more, we will have something for everyone at our booth.

Q: What about your solutions is notable for integrators?

RDM: Weighing between 17 and 19 lbs., the PowerLite L-Series feature a compact and versatile form factor for convenient portability and flexible installation, delivering incredible value to integrators. With up to 6,000 lumens of color/white brightness and 20,000 hours of laser light source, these projectors offer both quality imagery as well as reliable technology integrators can count on.

The Pro L-Series deliver up to 15,000 lumens of color/white brightness, flexible connectivity, and high native contrast ratio for spectacular images. Simple setup options across devices, including 360-degree installation, and up to 20,000 hours of maintenance-free operation make these projectors easy-to-use, without compromising quality. With a variety of interchangeable lenses for the Pro L-Series models, integrators can benefit from flexible usage and the ability to achieve advanced display techniques, such as edge blending, portrait or landscape mode, and corner wall projections.

Q: What about your solutions is notable for technology managers?

RDM: From curved edge bending to portrait projection and 360-degree installation, Epson’s laser projectors offer the versatility needed to power any technology manager’s vision, enabling high-quality projection on nearly any surface or material, including corner walls.

Epson’s award-winning laser technology offers virtually maintenance-free operation with up to 20,000 hours of laser light source. The Pro L-Series and PowerLite L-Series both provide bright images for signage in spaces with high ambient lighting, making them ideal for technology managers with its remarkable color accuracy and flexibility.

For learn more, check out Epson in Booth 2336 at DSE 2018.

BONUS: DSE is giving SCN readers a special discount. Use code “SCNDSE” to receive 15 percent off educational courses. To register for the show or to learn more, visit www.digitalsignageexpo.net

A media player is a computer program for playing multimedia like movies, music, or digital signage content on any public digital display. They’re small devices that run digital signage software and plug in directly to your TV or other display via HDMI, VGA, or even DVI.

DSE is the best place to see and learn about the greatest player models from all of the major companies. We caught up with Ann Holland and she told us about the exciting demos we’ll see in the BrightSign booth.

Q&A with Ann Holland, Vice President of Marketing, BrightSign

Why DSE?

DSE provides exhibitors and attendees alike a great view of what lies ahead for the digital signage industry. It’s the perfect venue to connect with partners and colleagues, and to demonstrate some of the latest advancements we’ll begin to see in the digital signage space in the months ahead.

What will you focus on at the show?

This year BrightSign will have some great demos at our booth. In particular we’ll be showing a few different BrightSign Built-In Displays from partners using our HS123 Digital Signage Module, a conference room scheduling solution from partner Signagelive, some amazing synchronized video walls, live social media streaming, and much more. Make sure to swing by booth 1728 and say hello!

What about your solutions is notable for integrators?

Integrators will be especially interested to learn more about our BrightSign Built-In Digital Signage Module, which gives display manufacturers the option of integrating BrightSign media player capabilities into their displays. For integrators, this means they’ll be able to specify much cleaner installations without the need for external players.

What about your solutions is notable for technology managers?

Technology managers will be interested in the new firmware we’ll introduce at the show. While firmware updates often get overshadowed by new hardware introductions, IT folks will be interested to learn about new features the firmware enables, including full-resolution (4K) graphics, Javascript objects, advanced audio routing, and GenLock for perfect video wall synchronization and edge blending in projection mapping…just to name a few.

To learn more, check out BrightSign in Booth 1728 at DSE 2018.

BONUS: DSE is giving SCN readers a special discount. Use code “SCNDSE” to receive 15 percent off educational courses. To register for the show or to learn more, visit www.digitalsignageexpo.net.

I have been to enough conferences in the past few years to see a trend that I find comical. Apparently, Millennials are a force to be reckoned with, and nobody knows what to do with us. (First though, I want to give a shout out to Gen Xers—see, I didn’t forget you.) Topics at these events include “Millennials in the workplace” or “How to incentivize your Millennials.” Even as I’m working in groups I’ll be called upon to provide “the Millennial perspective,” like I speak for “my people.”

So here’s the secret for everyone wondering: Millennials are here, ready to work, capable of doing the work, and are a lot like you.

Millennials are driven, capable, aware of their surroundings, and are excited to be here. Seriously, nobody I’ve met professionally in my generation is hoping to jump between six jobs in four years or is unwilling to work hard because it keeps them from having experiences. The things you’ve read about what motivates us—that’s all there. Millennials are motivated by experiences over things, they want to work for a company that has values that align with their own, and they care about the community and having a cause. Knowing that, though, here’s the skinny on managing the workforce that now is the majority.

Give them a chance. Every leap I’ve ever made in my career is because someone trusted me. Half the time I was probably the only option and given a fair shake, I never would have been given a shot—but someone trusted me (and helped me out) and the result was amazing! I definitely wouldn’t be anywhere without the support of the people above and below me in my organization, and I have had more help than I probably needed.

The result is an independent, capable craftsman that is grinding daily and getting stuff done—and I think every company wants that from their workforce. Giving a shot to a green employee shouldn’t be a chance to prove your assumption that they aren’t as good at 23 as you were, or a chance to see what they’re made of. Give them a chance, be their life preserver and keep them just above water, and be their friend. The result will almost always be a confident and motivated young person who wants more—not to mention less on your plate.

Turning my attention to my Millennials now. I’m assuming you’ve listened to/read Gary Vaynerchuck (because that’s the Millennial thing to do...?) and it’s pretty obvious what you should be doing: HUSTLE. Hard work eats talent for breakfast. If you expect people to give you a manual for how to be successful in your job, wake up. You are the only person who is responsible for how you turn out, and that’s a good thing. Stay late, volunteer for everything at work, sell your TV and start reading everything (includes audiobooks and podcasts), learn that lunch doesn’t always happen at noon, take new technology home and read the manual, ask for a shot, ask again after you get told no, and don’t sleep.

This sounds extreme, but this is how you hustle. (Side note: getting married and having kids makes this harder, so get busy!) The main thing to do coming into a job is figure out your trade; you can’t BS your way to success. Our industry has the CTS exam—read the book and pass the test. I failed it the first time, so don’t give up. After you pass that test, find a veteran in the industry and ask questions (ask too many before you know the basics and you’ll just forget everything they say). Learn something everyday, and maybe keep a journal of what you’ve learned.

Gen X: I’ve gotta give y’all some love. The most supportive people in my career have been Gen Xers. These folks are the ones who are in the prime of their careers right now and really know how to makes moves. So if you’re a Millennial, the last advice I have is find a mentor or two. I personally have a mentor in his mid-late thirties, and another in his sixties. The perspectives and advice I get is top-notch, and I’ve found that people are delighted to share their wisdom and advice for free.

So that’s it! Millennials are a good sign of added value to the workforce, and aren’t all that bad. We will have to wait and see if Generation Z can hold a candle. My prediction: they can already write code and brand themselves socially… they’ll be fine.

From non-touch to multitouch screens and LCD to LED to OLED, there is seemingly no limit to the number of choices of displays on the market. The type of display you ultimately choose will depend on the project—and space—it will be going into. For some installations, something as small as a tablet will suffice, while others might employ a 100-plus-inch curved display.

DSE features displays from all of the largest manufacturers. We spoke with NEC’s Rich Ventura and he told us how the company is striving to maintain growth by delivering solutions across all display technologies.

Q&A with Rich Ventura, Vice President of Strategy, NEC Display Solutions of America.

Why DSE?

Why not? DSE is the only show that is truly focused on the complete ecosystem of the digital signage space. By supporting the growth of the market through education, networking, ideation, and product showcasing, DSE is driving the industry forward. This is a core event that focuses across all vertical markets and bring all aspects of the market together under one roof.

What will you focus on at the show?

From an NEC standpoint, it is the continued growth and focus on delivering solutions across multiple vertical markets and applications. NEC delivers solutions across all display technologies. Personally, I will be focusing on how analytics, big data, technology convergence, and new innovation will drive the next generation of the industry as a whole. We’ll also focus on how the strategic direction of the market is driving technology, and how NEC can deliver to those new markets and solutions that are coming.

What about your solutions is notable for integrators?

NEC is able to deliver solutions across multiple display formats: LCD, LED, and projection. Further technologies like Open Pluggable Specification (OPS) allow for strong and more seamless integrations. Advancements in touch and interactive solutions will allow for integrators to bring these technologies together to drive new compelling conversations with their clients.

What about your solutions is notable for technology managers?

Having solutions that are robust, easy to manage, and designed with the enterprise in mind, NEC is able to supply technology managers’ platforms to exceed their goals and strategies. Further, we will be showcasing platforms that will empower technology managers to be smarter with their solutions and projects. Exciting times coming from NEC at DSE.

To learn more, check out NEC in Booth 1506 at DSE 2018.

BONUS: DSE is giving SCN readers a special discount. Use code “SCNDSE” to receive 15 percent off educational courses. To register for the show or to learn more, visit www.digitalsignageexpo.net.

Our industry has transformed itself many times in the past fifty years and will continue to do so. As professional AV stakeholders, it is our responsibility to try to stay ahead of the changes and transform our business along with our industry. The latest revolution that is changing the landscape all around us is the Internet of Things (IoT).

IoT is starting to converge all technologies and expand across every industry and every market. It is safe to say that our industry and our clients will embrace this technology and look to leverage their existing partners. The real value of IoT comes from two aspects: a) Monitoring and Control of Devices, and b) Analytics to intelligently manage and coordinate various devices, people and processes around them. With the acquisition of Energy Metrics LLC in New York and Energy Metrics ULC in Toronto, we now have a platform to achieve both.

The Energy Metrics platform allows us to bring accurate and meaningful real-time data from across all IoT and non-IoT devices, user inputs and preferences, and help monitor/manage, analyze and coordinate various assets and operations to be more efficient—economically and environmentally. Providing a portfolio view across assets and locations, it’s perfectly suited to manage distributed properties and assets, helping facility managers to be more efficient. With an ability to retain and analyze very large volume of data from a vast array of devices, over multiple years, the system also brings an innovative capability to understand the relationship between various systems, processes and people.

We believe that this IoT solution will help our existing clients and new clients save money—on energy and maintenance bills, become more productive—with improved comfort. This solution will also reduce process cycle times—better real-time management and accurately plan for the future—with deep knowledge about usage/failures.

Today, IoT exists for an ever-increasing variety of applications, in many different forms with many different manufactures and standards. With the Energy Metrics platform, we are looking to bring all these manufacturers, industries, and standards into one place under one dashboard. This includes our legacy audiovisual industry products and installations. We can leverage this new technology to help our clients build smart work environments that will promote a more pleasant and productive work environment.

The key benefits this solution can help achieve include:

a. Energy savings on HVAC, Lighting and other appliances in work environments

b. Savings on maintenance expenses on all the equipment by reducing number of truck-rolls in the name of scheduled maintenance

c. Better comfort in work environments with real-time environment information, as well as collective user feedback instead of just relying on a single set-point

d. Better work efficiencies with automatic detection of faults, escalation to service vendors and coordinating service windows

e. Tracking of use of all the assets and mapping them to the right time for replacements, based on value and fault rates

With this solution, in the near future, we are looking to integrate advanced AV solutions, along with the other smart devices from various companies in the industry, to create a seamless digital experience, for employees, facility managers, IT administrators, vendors and other stake-holders. This, we believe, will form the backbone of the smart offices of the future.

Ralph Capria is the CEO/President of A-V Services.

INFO

A-V Services
www.avservices.net

Energy Metrics

www.energymetricsllc.com

There are a multitude of considerations to make when it comes to selecting the right mount for your project. Will the display be mounted inside or outside? Do you need it to tilt up and down? Would you prefer full motion? It's also important to consider ADA compliance when it comes to a custom mounting project.

DSE is the best place to view your options from all of the major manufacturers. SCN chatted with Nick Belcore of Peerless-AV about discovering the company’s unique solutions for integrators and tech managers.

Q&A with Nick Belcore, executive vice president, Peerless-AV.

Why DSE?

The Digital Signage Expo is the leading show for digital signage providers. If digital signage is an important part of your business, DSE should be a top priority as it is the best place to discover unique solutions that enhance communication in a variety of verticals. The expo offers tremendous value, providing the opportunity to meet with partners and customers looking for the best options in the space. As a leader in this industry, attending and exhibiting at DSE is part of our core strategy.

What will you focus on at the show?

Peerless-AV will showcase a wide variety of products, with a focus on kiosk solutions and video wall mounts, including our award-winning SmartMount Supreme line of video wall mounts. Stop by the Peerless-AV booth to demo our new LED Video Wall Configurator where you can submit an RFQ and receive a quote within 24 hours.

Digital signage is all about partnerships and we’ll be demonstrating that with our All-in-One Kiosk powered by BrightSign and the new Outdoor Street Furniture Kiosk, which supports both Peerless-AV Xtreme High Bright and Samsung OHF displays.

What about your solutions is notable for integrators?

Peerless-AV mounts and kiosks provide numerous benefits to integrators including: tool-less micro-adjustments to make it faster and easier for integrators to align displays; easy-hang wall plates and reusable mount spacers that allow for expedited installs; and we offer preassembled kiosks that provide quick and easy setup via micro SD cards, simplifying installation.

What about your solutions is notable for technology managers?

At Peerless-AV, we offer a variety of universal solutions for technology managers, making it possible to keep costs low. In addition, many of our solutions are customizable to best meet the needs of a project.

Key advantages for technology managers and end users include: slim mounts that do not sacrifice functionality, meet ADA compliance, and offer a low-profile aesthetic to fit into any décor or application; mounting solutions with quick-release, pop-out levers ease serviceability and minimize display damage, particularly in recessed wall applications, giving end users confidence in selecting our solutions; kiosks that are highly customizable, offering end users the ability to design a solution that meets their specific aesthetic and business goals through multiple colors and vinyl wraps, to match any branding strategy; and kiosks that allow information to be current and readily updatable.

To learn more, check out Peerless-AV in Booth 1917 at DSE 2018.

BONUS: DSE is giving SCN readers a special discount. Use code “SCNDSE” to receive 15 percent off educational courses. To register for the show or to learn more, visit www.digitalsignageexpo.net.

In just under 3 weeks, the digital signage industry will convene en mass in Las Vegas, NV for the 15th Digital Signage Expo (DSE). Wow, I cannot believe this is the 15th year of this show. It seems only yesterday we were all talking about this new idea called digital signage at Navy Pier in Chicago, IL—it is amazing how far DSE and the industry has come in 15 years. Today, digital signage is part of our everyday lexicon and is a core strategy for organizations looking to impact, educate, communicate, and drive a message to their audiences.

If you are one of those rare individuals who has never been to DSE and want to know why you need to attend, here are 5 major reasons to be there.

1. Education

The core foundation of DSE is education. There is a massive amount of education happening in the pre-show sessions alone: DOOH Strategy Summit, Digital Experience Forum, Digital Workplace Summit, Digital Signage Certified Expert, Digital Signage Display Expert, SEGD Branded Environments, Intel Technical Bootcamp, and New Attendee Bootcamp. Then, during the show, there are education tracks focusing on Digital Signage Fundamentals, General Education, Retail, Restaurant, Corporate Communications, Education, DOOH, Pro AV/IT System Integrators, and Emerging Tech Talks. You will also find an abundance of on-floor presentations covering all aspects of digital signage. The week closes with further Digital Signage Certified Experts programs focusing content (DCME) and network (DSNE). Just an abundance of education.

2. Networking

Networking is huge during this week. Between on-show-floor meetings, pre-conferences, education courses, enduser networking spaces, evening events (big Peerless-AV Party Wednesday night sponsored by many other exhibitors), and engaging with the Digital Signage Federation (DSF), this is an opportunity to meet others like you and build upon that massive Rolodex that will be needed to be successful with your projects. Make sure to spend a lot of time on the show floor and build relationships with suppliers. We are here to show our wares, but also to support you. Also, don't forget to attend the APEX Awards; this is the award show for the industry and there are some amazing submissions this year.

3. Strategy

Strategy is key. In fact, it is a critical part of being successful with a digital signage implementation. Without a strong strategy, you will struggle. There is a lot of education covering strategies. In fact, I will be supporting the DOOH Strategy Summit on Tuesday, as well as teaching a course on How to Accurately Measure Digital Signage ROI on Thursday. Both are core to setting strategies. There are many other courses which will help in setting your strategies.

4. Partnership Development

Partnership development is yet another major reason to attend DSE. Where else will you get to meet with all of the aspects of the solution and build your partnerships? Each aspect of the solution is there, and this is the perfect opportunity to see how their solution works and what is needed in order to develop an ecosystem of partners. Remember: engage, engage, engage. Spend time understanding why their technology is key to your business needs. Of course, the best place to start that will be to engage with the DSF in Booth 1343.

5. Technology

The last major reason to attend is the technology. This is the only U.S. show dedicated to digital signage and is the only place you will get to see any all types of technology focused towards this market under one roof. The gang is all here, and you will get to see some amazing technologies that will help you with your journey. By the end of the week, you will see some amazing solutions focusing on delivering a message.

I kind of lied earlier saying there are only 5 reasons to attend DSE. There is actually one more major reason, and that is because it is core to growing your organization. Whether you are an end user, an integrator, a manufacturer, a consultant, or a designer, it doesn't matter. DSE will give you the tools you need to be successful.

So why are you waiting? Go to www.digitalsignageexpo.net and sign up for the show; also note that if you join the DSF you get major discounts on the show and on all the education. What a deal. So why are you still reading this and not at the DSE website?

Rich Ventura is vice president of strategy at NEC and chairman of the DSF. To learn more about what NEC is showcasing at DSE, visit www.necdisplay.com/dse or see Rich in Booth 1506.

This blog was originally published on LinkedIn.

A video wall is usually a large digital signage installation consisting of several monitors and/or projectors used to make up one giant image or message with minimal bezel separation. Typical display technology types include rear projection cubes, LCD panels, and direct-view LED arrays.

There's no place better than DSE to discover all of the components for your next video wall. We spoke with Leyard and Planar’s Steve Seminario about the company’s latest innovations in LED and LCD solutions.

Q&A with Steve Seminario, vice president of product marketing, Leyard and Planar.

Why DSE?
We look forward to being a part of DSE again this year. Its long history as an important trade show for digital display solutions makes it an ideal fit to showcase our products, and to engage with integrators and end-user customers. We also appreciate that a diverse swath of our target vertical markets attends—from retail to higher education to hospitality, and more.

What will you focus on at the show?
We will show new LED and LCD video wall solutions designed for innovative and affordable digital signage applications. These include our latest LED video wall solution, Leyard VersaLight Series, which we launched last month. Leyard VersaLight Series is a highly versatile family of LED video wall displays that can turn even the most challenging environments into dramatic, inspirational video walls. We will also show our new Planar Simplicity Series 4K line of 4K LCD displays for digital signage.

What about your solutions is notable for integrators?
Integrators will have the opportunity to see our latest LED and LCD video wall solutions, providing integrators an even wider range of display solutions to select from—solutions that best meet their customers’ needs. The Leyard VersaLight Series allows integrators to design create unique, non-traditional video wall arrays using these modular displays for digital signage applications (e.g., banners, towers). Our new solutions all feature unique designs that provide integrators with simplified installation and servicing (i.e. front access).

What about your solutions is notable for technology managers?
We will showcase a variety of LCD and LED display technologies of various price points—from affordable to the highest performance-designed solutions—for a wide range of digital signage applications, experiences, and customer requirements. We will also show our newest LED display offering, Leyard VersaLight, designed specifically for digital signage and available for indoor and outdoor applications, ranging from 2.5- to 8- millimeter pixel pitches.

To learn more, check out Leyard and Planar in Booth 2333 at DSE 2018.

BONUS: DSE is giving SCN readers a special discount. Use code “SCNDSE” to receive 15 percent off educational courses. To register for the show or to learn more, visit www.digitalsignageexpo.net.

• The global digital signage market, valued at $16.88 billion in 2015, is expected to reach $27.34 billion by 2022, according to the Digital Signage Expo (DSE). That’s a stunning number and a compelling reason for you to attend DSE March 27–30, in Las Vegas, NV.
• From now until the show, we’ll share exclusive interviews with some of DSE’s top exhibitors. In this edition, Brandy Alvarado discusses the value of DSE to rp Visuals, and what attendees can expect from the company at this year’s show.

Brandy Alvarado Why DSE?
rp Visuals (RPV) does the show for a number of reasons. One, our customers are there, and it’s great to catch up and show them what’s new. Two, we’ve been doing the show for a number of years, and having our brand represented in the digital signage space is very important. And lastly, a number of our manufacturer partners exhibit, so it’s a great way to collaborate and see what innovations they are bringing to the marketplace.

What will you focus on at the show?
Our focus is #CreativeVisualStructures. We’re not just a mount manufacturer. We’ve actually taken that word out of our vocabulary, because it does not convey what we truly do. The nature of our business is 100-percent custom visual structures. These solutions take the building out of the equation and become a part of the architecture and customer experience. Regardless of the technology, our team of engineers and solutions specialists works with AV consultants, display manufacturers, architects, and integrators to bring their concepts into reality. We’re also very excited to be in Vegas, where we are the mount of choice for all of the major race and sports books in town.

What about your solutions is notable for integrators?
We bring a few notable things to the table. One, custom solutions for all types of display technology—LED, flat panels, OLED, and projection. Secondly, we’re known for taking on challenging projects and exceeding expectations. Projects that are large, curved, tiled, or architecturally integrated are some of the challenges we’re accustomed to. And lastly, rp Visuals also offers installation services for our products to integrators—which integrators can use or not use depending on their work load. In today’s busy times this is a real benefit.