For the past few years, Microsoft Teams has been promoting 21:9 ultra-widescreen displays as a more inclusive viewing experience for videoconferencing rooms. Indeed, the 21:9 format offers approximately 31% more horizontal display area than a 16:9 screen of the same vertical height. This is why 21:9 displays are being used to support Microsoft Teams’ Front Row feature, along with immersive gaming and eye-catching video presentations.

However, despite the eye-catching ultra-widescreen advantages, Keith Yanke, Sharp’s VP of product and solutions marketing, told SCN that traditional displays significantly outsell 21:9 displays.

That assessment is endorsed by Rob Meiner, Peerless-AV’s senior technical solutions engineer. “While 21:9 displays are gaining popularity and increasing in demand," he explained, "traditional 16:9 displays remain predominant in many categories, as ultra-wide displays are still considered a more specialized offering. Recent reports project market growth for ultra-widescreen displays at a compound annual growth rate [CAGR] of around 10% from 2026 to 2033.”

So, what happened? “After the initial announcement from Microsoft, the topic of 21:9 display solutions was common, but it never really translated into additional sales,” offered Rob Pickering, Tritech’s director of technology. “Some clients may install one or two specialty rooms to validate the experience but keep the majority at 16:9.”

Compelling Applications

Despite 21:9’s slow sales growth, there are many compelling Pro AV applications for the technology. The standout application is in conference rooms and hybrid meeting spaces that use Microsoft Teams in the Front Row layout, or other UC solutions that benefit from ultra-wide video and graphics presentations.

A key advantage of the 21:9 aspect ratio in these spaces is its ability to boost productivity and streamline multitasking. As Meiner noted, “It’s especially beneficial for professionals managing multiple spreadsheets, communication platforms, creative assets, and organizational dashboards simultaneously. Compared to a dual-monitor setup, a single ultra-wide display offers a more seamless and cohesive layout, eliminating visual interruptions that can come from misaligned screens. By consolidating content on one clean display, users can improve focus, reduce eyestrain, and work more efficiently and accurately.”

“Using ultra-widescreen displays can avoid the downfalls of dual screen setups by not having a bezel,” Yanke agreed. “In some cases, this setup provides a better experience for content and collaboration.”

Plus, the "wow" factor should not be discounted. “Spaces with 21:9 displays can create a more immersive feeling and provide more pixels when sharing documents on screen,” said Pickering. “Since they’re not super common, they can also create an elevated feeling when first participating in the space.”

21:9 displays are well suited to non-videoconferencing applications as well. “This ultra-wide format provides graphic designers, photo and video editors, and other creative professionals with a more ergonomic workspace, ideal for displaying timelines, tools, full mockups, and side-by-side comparisons on a single screen,” Meiner said. “Professionals who frequently work with large spreadsheets or detailed data sets, such as financial analysts, can also take advantage of the ability to view multiple windows simultaneously without the need to toggle between them or use an additional monitor."

In educational environments, ultra-wide displays can enhance classroom settings by enabling the display of multiple content types, such as lecture videos alongside slides, simultaneously. "This facilitates student interaction and offers a more immersive experience, particularly in hybrid learning scenarios,” Meiner added.

Finally, 21:9 displays also provide Pro AV integrators and managers with greater operational flexibility in AV integration. This is because 21:9 displays can show multiple simultaneous video sources without requiring operators to switch inputs or add extra screens during immersive presentations. This makes 21:9 displays particularly useful in high-engagement business settings such as training rooms, command centers, and client pitch environments.

Installation and Cost Considerations

Compared to traditional 16:9 displays, 21:9 displays are physically wider and heavier. This means that they require larger and more robust wall mounts that can support their size and weight. “It doesn't necessarily complicate installation, but there might be some unique considerations, such as having an extra person to help lift the display because it's so wide,” said Jeff Muto, director of product management with ViewSonic Corporation.

“In smaller rooms, ultra-wide screens may also present viewing angle challenges for people seated at the edges,” Meiner added. “This is where curved 21:9 displays offer an advantage, by helping to maintain consistent visibility across a wider viewing area.”

Adding a 21:9 video format to a room’s playout system can also pose problems. As Meiner observed, many software applications and user interfaces, such as videoconferencing apps, are primarily designed for the standard 16:9 aspect ratio.

Plus, most videos are not 21:9. “Content compatibility can be an issue,” added Yanke. “Standard 16:9 material may not scale properly on a 21:9 display, leading to stretched images or black bars on the sides when content doesn’t match the ultra-wide format.”

Beyond these factors, Muto said cost is the primary drawback. 21:9 displays cost more than 16:9 displays—not just because they are larger, but also because they are not being produced in the same volumes. As a result, mass-produced 16:9 displays benefit from per-unit economies of scale that niche-produced 21:9 displays do not.

Is 32:9 the Answer?

The 21:9 display format was created to provide a wider viewing experience than 16:9 monitors, but it does so using a format that doesn't always play nice with 16:9 content. This is why 32:9 “super ultra-wide TVs” are now being produced. The advantage of this format is that it can display two 16:9 video streams side-by-side in their original aspect ratios, like having two regular 16:9 monitors together without the distracting center bezel.

“This is why 32:9 is definitely a thing,” said Muto. “However, a single, super ultra-wide 32:9 panel can present some logistical challenges, especially in terms of mounting and transport. This is why ViewSonic offers a flexible alternative with our LDC series dvLED displays, which are configurable to achieve a 32:9 layout.”

“We see more of a need for 32:9 than 21:9,” noted Yanke. “With that said, whether it is 21:9 or 32:9, we are not sure these solutions are catching on outside of those spaces that require these wide aspect ratios. But yes: The 32:9 is more appealing because of the ability to simulate two 16:9 screens side by side.”

Given the above considerations, the experts agree that 21:9 displays will remain niche for now. “While wider displays are gaining momentum in meeting rooms, hybrid work setups, learning environments, and productivity-intensive roles, they are unlikely to fully replace the widespread use of 16:9 displays,” said Meiner. “Standard consumer TVs, typical office setups, and classrooms equipped with 16:9 projectors or flat panels are much more well-established and may remain the norm for the foreseeable future.”

“21:9 display sales are growing, but there is a long way to go before it can be considered mainstream,” Muto concluded. “In the short term, 21:9 will remain niche due to some of the things discussed like price and content compatibility. But if hybrid meetings continue to be the norm, we'll likely see greater adoption of 21:9 devices in meeting/conference rooms as displays are refreshed.”

Get even more insights: Download SCN's Integration Guide to Video Displays and Mounts.

A new exhibit at Ohio's Cleveland Museum of Art is using innovative Pro AV technology to get a better look at a Renaissance masterpiece. "Pintoricchio Magnified: An Immersive Conservation Experience" puts the 15th and 16th century Italian painter's “Virgin and Child” on display, using a video wall to let visitors explore the intricate details of the painting’s restoration as if under a microscope.

As visitors get closer to viewing the painting, the image on the video wall magnifies hidden details of the restoration. Triggered by people’s movement around the space, it offers an alternative to traditional museum touch-enabled applications.

Systems integrator Zenith Systems facilitated the project, which started with a lobby installation in March 2025, and progressed to a second installation for the temporary exhibit, which opened last August and runs through Aug. 23, 2026. Both installations are supported by Peerless-AV’s SEAMLESS Connect universal dvLED mounting system. The video wall in the Horrace Kelly Art Foundation Lobby uses the previous generation system, while the second video wall integrates the latest system that was launched at InfoComm 2025.

Installation Challenges

Previously, Zenith Systems had used a method involving Unistrut with shims to flatten irregular wall surfaces in preparation for video wall installations. While this approach was effective, it was time consuming, costly, and labor intensive—and it lacked the visual appeal necessary for a public-facing museum environment.

The team had experience with installing Peerless-AV mounts in the past, but never for dvLED displays. As the company’s universal mounting system was highly recommended, it was chosen for the initial installation in the Horrace Kelly Art Foundation Lobby. This was more about solving a particular challenge; the video wall was to be installed on a hammered concrete wall, which required a high level of flexibility and adjustability.

Similarly, for the “Pintoricchio Magnified” exhibit, there were specific objectives that needed to be met. The video wall was to be an integral part of the exhibition, working in parallel with the showcased “Virgin and Child” painting to expose minute layers of the painting on a large scale.

“We had a plan, but we weren’t crazy about it," admitted Doug Fortney, CTO at Zenith Systems. "Then, when we saw Peerless-AV’s new dvLED mount in action at InfoComm, it felt like the solution to our problem landed right in our lap. We’d finally found a solution that elegantly addressed both aesthetic and functional concerns while saving on labor and cost. We are so happy to have had the help of Peerless-AV to bring the museum’s conservation vision to life.”

The goal of the installation was to create a video wall so seamless that it looked like another piece of art in the gallery, with the technology playing its part in the background and going completely unnoticed. Plus, as a temporary exhibition, the video wall would need to have inherent flexibility, allowing for relocation to showcase different artifacts inside the museum in the future. Zenith Systems brought in Peerless-AV for the project, and the two teams worked closely to ensure the installation was executed to exact measurements with minimal disruption.

Peerless-AV’s SEAMLESS Connect Universal dvLED Mounting System delivers a perfectly flat mounting surface, even on uneven walls, eliminating one of the biggest challenges for installers and saving valuable time and on-site costs. This precision is especially crucial in a museum environment, where even minor pixel gaps from non-plumb walls could distort the artwork’s reproduction. The mount’s built-in adjustability was a major draw, allowing the video walls to be mounted cleanly without extensive prep work or wall modification.

Different Walls, Different Objectives

The video wall in the museum’s main lobby is 20 feet wide and more than 6 feet high, featuring Planar DirectLight Pro 1.5mm microLED panels. The space sees 80% of the museum’s total foot traffic, so it was critical that the installation be both functional and visually appealing. Configured with a specialized software package, the museum’s content department can deliver dynamic, regularly refreshed digital signage for visitors, including welcome messaging, timetables, and information on exhibits. Content can also be tailored for special events and functions outside of public opening hours.

The 10x10-foot video wall featured in the “Pintoricchio Magnified" exhibit also features Planar panels and is mounted on a specially designed black cladding/structure in a slim wall recess, which gives the appearance of a piece of art within the gallery. There are six cameras mounted to the gallery’s ceiling and positioned around the “Virgin and Child” painting inside its protective cabinet.

Installation of both video walls was smooth and efficient, taking place within a two-week time frame and working around gallery construction and fixing work. Once the space was dust-free, the meticulous mounting of each Planar cabinet could be completed with power and cabling.

“At Peerless-AV, we understand that no two museums are alike—each has its own structural environment, aesthetic vision, and operational needs,” explained Gina Schneider, regional sales manager, Peerless-AV. “Working closely with Zenith Systems, we learned about the museum’s goal to leverage technology to enhance the visitor experience while keeping the art as the true focal point. Early engagement between Peerless-AV and Zenith Systems was key to identifying the right solution from the outset rather than as an afterthought."

Since completing the installations, the museum has seen significant operational benefits. Although the improvements are largely backend, they have had a meaningful impact on the museum’s team. The long-term video wall in the lobby has become an integral part of the visitor experience, while the video wall for the "Pintoricchio Magnified" exhibit is expected to be viewed by about 50% of museum visitors, offering a uniquely engaging way to display digital art.

“Without the mount, we can see that the glamour of the 'Pintoricchio' exhibition wouldn’t be there," said Jane Alexander, director of communications, Cleveland Museum of Art. "It’s wonderful to watch people’s reactions as they interact with this revered painting, which has been so carefully restored. In the latest conservation treatment, original paint layers were revealed, allowing unparalleled access to the artwork’s original composition. And now visitors can see this in full, large-scale glory, but as if seeing under the microscope."

AVT Question: Please share insights on emerging trends and technologies that help engage fans, distribute audio and video in near real-time, and make a difference in sporting venues and esports arenas.

Thought Leader: Megan Zeller, Business Development Director at Peerless-AV

Large-scale AV solutions, like dvLED video walls, are not only continuing to transform the way esports and higher ed sporting venues deliver experiences, but are now becoming an expected part of the experience. From immersive visuals and multi-screen displays to real-time updates, these technologies engage both athletes and spectators.

In the world of esports, high-resolution displays—like 4K at 60 frames per second—and vivid imagery are essential for showcasing fast-paced gameplay, fine details, and real-time reactions. Large dvLED screens keep audiences informed, with live feeds featuring high-resolution visuals displaying all of the action, stats, and instant replays—boosting energy and engagement in every match.

Traditional sports venues also benefit from immersive dvLED technology. Stadiums and arenas can use the same AV systems to display scores, instant replays, fan content, and promotional media, creating a unified and interactive experience across campus athletics.

High-quality audio systems built into these stunning visual displays further enhance events, delivering crystal-clear commentary, action-packed game sound, and crowd reactions that make both virtual and in-person experiences more thrilling.

By investing in top-tier AV infrastructure, esports venues and universities can create professional, captivating environments for all athletic programs, elevating the fan experience and building momentum for athletes.

Get your free copy of SCN's Integration Guide to Digital Signage.

The Art of Digital Signage

It’s not just for wayfinding and menus anymore. Some of today’s digital signage installations are functioning as dynamic engagement tools that can transform a space and provide a canvas that helps to create an atmosphere. Learn how the next generation of digital signage is creating fully immersive environments.

At Issue

Industry experts from Peerless-AV and Sharp discuss common complications with digital signage systems—and how to resolve those issues.

Download the Integration Guide to Digital Signage.

Read the October issue of Systems Contractor News.

Everyone loves a new dvLED display or the latest classroom technology that enhances the learning experience. But what about the support systems for these shiny toys and the latest innovations? After all, a dvLED display isn’t much without something holding it in place.

Carts and mounts may not be glamorous, but they are imperative in large-scale rollouts or assembling systems in the boardroom. We caught up with some industry experts to discuss the latest innovations and features, as well as tips for your next installation.

Racking Up Innovation

Most manufacturers agree that innovation stems from understanding the needs of both the integrator and end user. "We recognize the challenges of fitting more system devices behind large displays and the need for those devices to be easily accessible if a problem arises," said Beth Peterson, director, product management, Chief, a Legrand | AV brand. "Innovation can be as simple as integrated cable management or eliminating time-consuming steps, such as site surveys."

Take the Chief Velocity outdoor triple pedestal system, for example. This modular outdoor digital signage pedestal mount, which supports Samsung and LG 55-inch outdoor displays, was designed for drive-thru menu boards and wayfinding signage. Its modular design allows for single, double, or triple displays and easily accommodates future expansion. It was crafted for easy installation and its open back allows easy access for maintenance.

One of the common trends in any Pro AV technology is ease of use, and that holds true with recent innovations in racks and mounts as well. According to Joe Wentworth, senior product manager, Peerless-AV, these AV accessories are becoming sleeker, slimmer, and more modular to ensure an aesthetically pleasing finish and a safer, more efficient installation. "Features such as integrated cable management and power outlets, configurable X/Y/Z alignment, tool-less hanging, and easily adjustable builds are gaining popularity, opening the possibilities for more complicated configurations and future adaptability," he added.

Another innovation gaining momentum is the use of Unistrut-based mounting systems. "This is especially true for video walls and menu boards," explained William Bear, VP of sales and marketing, Crimson AV. "Integrators and general contractors already know and use Unistrut, so being able to drop in mounting hardware that’s designed to work with those components is a big win. It shortens install time, reduces the learning curve, and creates a more scalable, repeatable solution—something that’s especially valuable in multi-location rollouts."

Let the Good Times Roll

Not all displays are permanent installations and often need to be ready to roll from room to room. When evaluating AV carts—whether for corporate, education, healthcare, or rental applications—Bear said safety, mobility, and flexibility are key considerations. This includes looking into UL weight rating and tip testing to ensure the cart can safely support the specified load, plus height adjustability, integrated cable management, a wide wheelbase for added stability, and smooth rolling, locking casters to simplify mobility.

Crimson AV has designed the M90XL heavy-duty mobile cart as a solution to meet these requirements. Crafted for displays ranging from 50-98 inches, the M90XL is an all-in-one mobile cart, built for durability, performance, and aesthetics. It offers shelf options that make it ideal for demanding commercial environments. Two side shelves, a top shelf, a front/back heavy-duty steel shelf, plus a full back panel cover system deliver a clean, professional appearance. Other features include four height settings, tilting vertical brackets, cable management, and easy transport.

"Carts with easily maneuverable builds and storage options allow for effective transportation from room to room, while keeping all AV components stored together," explained Wentworth. "Height adjustability and support for a wide range of display sizes also ensure the cart is ready to use for any purpose." Other features to look for include built-in organization tools like power outlets and cable management, as well as a slim build and wide-set wheels.

"At Chief, we prioritize the quality and safety of our products, ensuring they meet UL tip standards and are built to last," Peterson added. "We've all seen the school district buy closeout-priced carts from Amazon, only to have to replace them the next year because the casters have buckled and they aren’t holding up to heavy use. Considering storage is essential, such as whether it offers a shelf or storage bin for items that need to stay with the system when it moves from one classroom to another."

For example, the Peerless-AV SmartMount flat panel carts combine durable support with adaptable setup. These carts are designed with all the requirements of a mobile display setup in mind, making them suitable for diverse professional and educational environments, which earned them HETMA approval. The tubular design ensures a minimalistic and portable setup by concealing all cables internally. Plus, the rear ABS molded cover maintains a clutter-free appearance and offers convenient storage for cables, media players, or mini PCs.

Wall Mounts: Best Practices

Getting a wall mount placed correctly and securely the first time is imperative to avoid delays and additional costs, especially in large-scale rollouts. Unfortunately, that is not always the case, as there are mistakes aplenty in mount installation. According to Wentworth, common mistakes he has seen are overloading the mount, insufficient anchoring, limited rear access for serviceability, and poor cable organization. All these pose safety hazards and damages to displays and aesthetics.

Peterson said a common mistake has been not planning for the inevitable servicing a room system will require. "Our Chief pullout extension accessory can attach to several of our standard wall mounts," she added. "It allows one technician to troubleshoot instead of needing two to remove a large display from a wall to access behind it."

Bear recommends a five-step process to streamline installation. Each step carefully prepares to avoid the mistakes made, including requesting bulk shipping for large projects, standardizing mounting and height templates, checking for stud spacing, pre-assembling whenever possible, and using leveling features and micro-adjustments.

It's important not to overlook the pre-installation process. As Wentworth noted, gathering accurate measurements and weight calculations can avoid those alignment errors and ensure the mount can safely support the display.

Placement is a key decision. "It’s important to consider easy access for serviceability or future replacements," Wentworth said. "Features like open‑back wall plates and internal wire channels allow for easy cable routing and future maintenance without having to remove the entire system."

To ensure everything is properly installed, mounts are designed with features critical in avoiding these installation pitfalls. "Ensuring compatibility is a top priority in the buying process," Peterson said. "We provide the Mountfinder tool, which features hundreds of thousands of models researched over the past 25 years, along with their specifications matched to our range of mounts. Eliminating guesswork in compatibility allows us to continually support our AV integration partners."

Wentworth added that built-in adaptability tools, as well as simple installation tools, aid in making future adjustments more efficient. These include quick-connect and release clamps, micro-tilt adjustability, and alignment tools. Additionally, he added, tools like built-in cable management and universal display size and weight support also allow for easier management for safe, long-term use.

[Brewing Up Effective Digital Signage]

"I often hear from customers that the secret to a stress-free mount installation is to stick with the mount you know well," Peterson said. "When designing our mounts, we focus on quick installation. The key is selecting mounts with post-installation leveling and micro adjustments. These features enable a ‘close enough’ alignment initially, followed by quick fine-tuning at the end."

There was a time when the term "restaurant AV" meant an analog TV set sitting on the bar and a reel-to-reel tape deck playing Muzak. No longer: In the 21st century, restaurant AV means taking video and audio to the next level and beyond, because today's tech-savvy patrons expect no less.

The Big, Big, Big Picture

There are large displays in sports bars across the United States, and then there's the gigantic 4K display in Blinders Sports Lounge in Charlotte, NC. This 5,500-square-foot sports bar/restaurant, which seats 160 inside and 60 more on the 1,500-square-foot patio, has installed an 850-square-foot 4K dvLED video wall over its bar.

Visible from all areas of the main room, the 10,000-pound display can show up to 24 different feeds or any combination of fewer feeds at a larger scale for sports, parties, movies, and esports tournaments. It’s no wonder that Blinders describes the visual experience as immersive viewing: It's like having a video billboard inside the sports bar.

“Kush Anandani, the owner of Blinders Sports Lounge, is an avid sports fan who wanted to create an incredible space in his hometown of Charlotte that mimicked the exceptional experiences he had watching sports at different Las Vegas spots,” explained Rob Meiner, technical sales engineer for Peerless-AV, which provided the mounting system for the video wall in association with AV design firm DCBolt Productions. "To achieve this, Kush wanted to provide a high-definition viewing experience of a sportsbook, combined with the live energy of a sports lounge and the luxurious detailing of a cocktail lounge.”

Of course, offering a gigantic video wall isn’t enough. To motivate sports fans to come back to Blinders after watching the game here once, the viewing experience has to be as comfortable as possible. "The Unilumin USlim2 displays are mounted at a 10-degree forward tilt, making this structure stand out as unique as it delivers the ultimate viewing experience for every guest, no matter where they are seated,” Meiner said. "We implemented a SEAMLESS Bespoke floor-to-wall mounting structure made of steel, weighing 6,000 pounds."

The video wall is controlled by an iPad loaded with the Creston Go app, so it can support custom software made by DCBolt. The lounge is also home to a nearly 50,000-watt VOID Acoustics sound system, also installed by DCBolt, that feeds a row of 24-karat gold-plated speakers installed under the dvLED screen. Total cost for the AV package: a cool $1.5 million.

Currently being billed as the largest dvLED video wall of its kind on the East Coast, the installation required a great degree of care and forethought. “For a dvLED video wall of this scale, precision engineering is critical to account for factors such as total wall load, tight tolerances, and heat dissipation,” said Meiner. “To guarantee optimal performance for 24/7 operation, we conducted thorough testing on samples in advance.”

Sunlight and indoor lighting had to be factored into the mix as well. No problem: “Besides having the angle of the video wall tilted forward 10 degrees, Blinders and their industrial designers selected fixtures that are appropriate for the space and ensured they were placed and angled correctly,” Meiner noted. “This includes ceiling lights and wall sconces that have baffles to direct light and prevent it from spilling. Additionally, windows are slightly tinted to filter outdoor lighting to create a darker ambiance, while the indoor lights are considered warm white light.”

Then there was the challenge of fitting the video wall into the restaurant itself. “Some of the challenges included fitting large-scale installation equipment within the space, such as getting an atrium lift inside the building, and the structure of the bar making it impossible to use ladders or scissor lifts,” said Meiner. “Additionally, working with several types of teams at once in such a tight space and limited time frame presented its challenges, but through collaboration and constant communication, we ultimately made it work to achieve the desired results.”

The Blinders video wall and VOID sound system were installed and ready to go in time for March Madness earlier this year. "Everyone is extremely happy with the final result,” Meiner concluded. “Peerless-AV's close partnership with DCBolt throughout the installation allowed the teams to navigate tight timescales to deliver a result that lives up to its promise of exhilarating, immersive 4K sports action from the moment guests step inside.”

That Sounds Italian

Prati Italia is an upscale Italian restaurant in Jacksonville, FL, whose many rooms are also used for private events and conferences. The sound system at this restaurant was modern when it was installed in January 2013. But time and technology wait for no one, which is why Prati Italia decided to upgrade its audio system as its existing equipment started to fail.

As it turned out, its best choice was to install a SoundTube DSM-16 Dante system manager, which transported audio using Prati Italia’s existing network cables and outlets. This proved to be an ideal solution for this location.

“The old audio system had equipment in various rooms with separate control panels,” explained Ken Hecht, VP of SoundTube Entertainment. “Integrating it through the centralized Ethernet network enabled us to use existing Ethernet cables, which simplified the installation. By using PoE to power the new amplifiers, we were able to centralize everything in one location and add new capabilities without the expense and time required to run cabling.”

Prati Italia IT manager Jerry Gray chose a cost-saving hybrid approach for the upgrade, an approach that allowed the restaurant’s legacy Crown and Ashley amplifiers to be integrated with the DSM-16 and three SoundTube IPD-Hub 2 DSP amplifiers on a property-wide network. The DSM-16’s audio outputs, which can be assigned to different areas of the restaurant on a zone basis, are sent to various SoundTube speakers.

The restaurant has 18 RS500i pendant speakers and 23 CM62-BGM 6-inch in-ceiling speakers in the interior areas. Meanwhile, the outdoor deck has 10 SoundTube SM82 8-inch outdoor extreme weather surface mount speakers, plus four amplifiers designed for multi-room applications powering passive speakers, an audio extender box, and a remote volume control system.

The best part: “All of the audio zones can be controlled using a tablet computer,” said Gray. "So, not only is our new sound system more flexible and better sounding than ever before, but it is extremely easy to control from anywhere in the restaurant using a tablet.”

Lessons Learned

Obviously, the AV installations at Blinders Sport Lounge and Prati Italia are very different. Still, some common lessons can be learned from them both. For one thing, there are innovative restaurateurs who are open to investing in the latest in AV technology, which means there are opportunities worth exploring by integrators and installers.

[Show Me the Money]

lso, the advanced possibilities offered by modern AV equipment can make a real difference in making restaurants more attractive to patrons. In a very obvious sense, the gigantic video wall at Blinders gives sports fans a good reason to keep coming back. In a more subtle way, the same can be said of Prati Italia’s audio system, which helps make the dining experience more enjoyable. Restaurant AV can be expensive and eye-catching or affordable and enhancing—but either way, it can be a competitive advantage that can help keep patrons coming back for seconds.

AVT Question: Please share insights on emerging trends, best practices for creating high-quality content that engages audiences, and choosing the best tools for production.

Thought Leader: Megan Zeller, Business Development Director at Peerless-AV

When it comes to engaging audiences with AV technology, integrators can take advantage of the latest technology advancements, such as new content management tools and digital solutions.

Today’s content systems are far more flexible and user-friendly than in previous years. Cloud-based content management systems allow for easy distribution and synchronization across multiple displays, regardless of location. This flexibility is critical in delivering dynamic content that resonates with intended audiences at the right time, while maintaining a cohesive visual design.

Additionally, over the past five years, advancements in digital signage technology have led to higher-resolution displays that are brighter, designed to withstand harsher environments, and provide better color accuracy. This creates an even greater impact when engaging audiences in outdoor installations on campuses, shopping centers, restaurants, or tourist attractions. The ability to create eye-catching content for wayfinding, educational information, or promotional messaging not only creates a smoother experience for guests but also allows businesses to increase sales and customer engagement. This opens the door to countless creative possibilities for designing content that effortlessly adheres to a space.

Today, display technology can respond to data inputs in real time. For example, a digital signage display can dynamically change its content based on audience reactions, time of day, or environmental factors. This level of data-driven interactivity wasn't as prevalent five years ago. All of these advancements prove to be valuable because of the evolution in how audiences consume content. Today, audiences expect interactivity, personalized content, and immersive experiences that blend digital and physical worlds—all possible with today’s content systems, flexible display options, and built-in technology.

Get your free copy of SCN's Integration Guide to Video Walls.

Video Walls of Knowledge

The newly constructed Malachowsky Hall for Data Science & Information Technology at the University of Florida has integrated large displays in key areas to help faculty and students with data visualization.

At Issue

Experts from Absen, Christie, Datapath, LynTec, Peerless-AV, Planar, Sharp, and Sony explore some of the popular ways video walls are being used in corporate spaces.

Download the Integration Guide to Video Walls.

Read the March issue of Systems Contractor News.

Chicago's Lincoln Park Zoo was founded in 1868 and has always focused on preserving wildlife while enhancing the visitor experience. To modernize its guest communications and provide more dynamic wayfinding solutions, the zoo partnered with Peerless-AV to implement an innovative digital signage solution that optimizes the visitor experience while integrating seamlessly into the zoo’s environment.

The project, launched in Summer 2023 and completed by August 2024, included the installation of outdoor kiosks and indoor display mounts, designed to deliver high-quality, flexible content across the zoo’s high-traffic areas.

['Visually Absorbable' Information Delivery]

As with many historic sites, Lincoln Park Zoo faced the challenge of modernizing its infrastructure without sacrificing the integrity of the location or overwhelming the natural environment. The zoo had relied on traditional, static signage for wayfinding, events, and educational content, but as the guest experience continued to evolve, the need for a more adaptable, engaging, and informative digital solution became clear.

Additionally, given Chicago’s extreme weather conditions—ranging from frigid winters to humid summers—the zoo required a signage solution that was not only adaptable but also durable enough to withstand these environmental challenges.

The zoo received a grant to enhance the guest experience, including funding the installation of digital signage technology that would optimize the communication of venue and programming information across the zoo via digital signage. Peerless-AV was selected as the manufacturer and integrator based on its ability to deliver high-performance, weather-resistant outdoor digital signage solutions and its strong existing relationship with the zoo. The outdoor kiosks and displays used in this installation are designed with exceptional durability and brightness, which allows for optimal visibility in all lighting conditions, whether it's a bright summer day or a cloudy winter afternoon. Working closely with Lincoln Park Zoo and the team at CDW, Peerless-AV provided a comprehensive range of solutions to address the zoo’s needs.

The indoor Searle Visitor Center installation included four 75-inch Samsung landscape displays with Peerless-AV SmartMount Universal Flat Wall Mounts and a 55-inch Samsung display with a Peerless-AV SmartMount Universal Flat Wall Mount. The outdoor East Gate area installation included three Peerless-AV Smart City Kiosks with 55-inch Xtreme High Bright Outdoor Displays fixed to concrete pedestals, each equipped with a Wi-Fi antenna and a BrightSign media player and two Peerless-AV 75-inch Xtreme High Bright Outdoor Displays (XHB754) and Outdoor Flat Wall Mounts with corrosion resistant coating and stainless-steel hardware.

[AI and Digital Signage]

Installation teams designed a plan to implement these digital solutions at key locations throughout the zoo, including entrances, high-traffic pathways, and near the zoo gates to maximize visibility and engagement, which gave rise to another challenge: Ensuring the installation did not disrupt the natural lighting patterns of animal enclosures to avoid impacting the well-being of the animals, while also optimizing communication for guests.

Installation took place in Summer 2024. The zoo’s IT team was also involved in the planning, ensuring the existing Wi-Fi infrastructure was robust enough to support the content management system (CMS). Peerless-AV worked with the zoo to ensure the system was easy to update remotely, facilitating quicker adjustments to content, event promotions, and other important messaging.

Peerless-AV worked hand-in-hand with the zoo’s project managers, providing technical assistance, engineering expertise, and on-site support during installation. Their collaborative approach and problem-solving skills were especially valuable in overcoming site-specific challenges like the placement of the displays in busy and environmentally sensitive areas.

"It’s great to see zoos embracing digital signage as a more efficient and effective alternative to traditional printed posters. Installing in these unique environments requires careful consideration and respect to ensure zero disruption to its inhabitants," Rob Meiner, technical sales engineer, Peerless-AV commented Walking round the zoo grounds, I’ve seen how people are now engaging with the kiosks and displays, helping them to navigate around the enclosures, locate amenities, learn about upcoming attractions, restaurant offers, conservation efforts and more. Using our digital signage solutions allows the zoo to adapt quickly to changing information and communication needs and it’s rewarding to see how these solutions can make a significant impact in improving guest engagement."

[Is Your Digital Signage as Good as DFW's Restroom?]

The digital signage installed by Peerless-AV has not only transformed the visitor experience at Lincoln Park Zoo, but it has increased revenue opportunities by promoting multiple types of content encouraging greater participation in zoo activities and growth in on-site spending. Thanks to the centralized CMS, communication has become streamlined for quick content updates, reducing the time and resources spent managing static signage.

Lincoln Park Zoo is now able to deliver timely, engaging, and relevant content to visitors, all while maintaining the integrity of its iconic and historic Chicago location.

“Our new audiovisual installations have transformed the visitor experience,” said Hyson Gibbon, project manager. “The displays are well positioned at strategic locations; they are also vibrant and crystal clear to be eye-catching and augment our natural exhibits by bringing our educational programs to life.”

ISE 2025 is right around the corner, ready to open its doors in Barcelona from Feb. 4-7. 2025. AV Network will be bringing you updates ahead of the show to make sure you know what to check out on the showfloor. 

Today, check out what AVIXA has in store, new dvLED from Peerless-AV, AVoIP from Just Add Power, Digital Projection's 1-Chip DLP Technology, Matrox's IP video technology innovations, and Black Box's KVM solutions. 

[AV Technology, SCN Invite ISE 2025 Exhibitors to Enter Best of Show Awards]

AVIXA Will Deliver a Dynamic Program of Learning and Networking

AVIXA will present a wide-ranging program of learning and networking, including a comprehensive summit program, broadcast AV in action at the AVIXA TV Studio, interactive sessions at Xchange LIVE, and much more.

AVIXA will present a comprehensive summit program at ISE, which includes the AV Broadcast Summit, Control Room Summit, Digital Signage Summit, Education Technology Summit, Smart Building Summit, and Smart Workplace Summit. In addition, AVIXA has curated ISE education tracks for five mega trends driving the industry: AI, audio, cybersecurity, retail, and sustainability. Learn more about the summit programs and learning tracks.

AVIXA TV will broadcast live at ISE from the AVIXA TV Studio (8A880) and bring hands-on demos and lively discussions while showcasing the latest technology for integrating broadcast-quality content into corporate environments.

The AVIXA TV Studio anchor desk will feature Ross Video’s Voyager tracked solution, which will add AR elements to the broadcast, along with a green screen virtual stage powered by Voyager Trackless technology. The studio will also feature control room support from XPression, Tria Express Duet video server, and Ultrix Carbonite routing and switching platform. In addition, graphics will be created by Ross Video’s Rocket Surgery team. Also on display are a Barco 6x6 TruePix video wall at the anchor desk and a Barco 4x4 LED XT video wall in the podcast area as well as Shure will provide SM7B microphones and boom stands and TwinPlex headsets for the livestream and podcast area.

AVIXA Xchange LIVE (3R150) will return to ISE for four days of interactive sessions covering artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, digital signage, certification, wellness, and more. On Friday, frame:work will take over the stage to facilitate conversations around AV career opportunities.

At the AVIXA Member Lounge (3S400), visitors can meet the membership team to learn more about member benefits and certifications including Certified Technology Specialist (CTS) and Audiovisual Network Professional (ANP) and enjoy some hospitality. 

To learn more about AVIXA’s programs at ISE, visit www.avixa.org/ISE.

Matrox Will Showcase Its Latest IP Video Technology Innovations

Underlining its commitment to high and open standards, Matrox Video will demonstrate a range of devices designed to transform Pro AV environments, control rooms, and live event productions, including IP KVM extenders, IP video gateways, graphics and capture cards, video wall appliances, and encoders. 

Located at booth 5E350, Matrox Video will shine the spotlight on Matrox Mura DVW, designed to redefine the possibilities for scalable, secure, and high-performance video wall installations. This IP-based 4K distributed video wall appliance creates synchronized video surfaces of any size and rectangular arrangement. Each device supports high-density decoding—up to one 8K60, four 4K60, or sixteen 1080p60 streams in H.265 or H.264.

The company will also showcase technologies in the IP video gateway market: Matrox Vion and Matrox ConvertIP DSH. Vion is a 4K-capable IP video gateway for media processing and conversion, offering multi-channel encoding, decoding, and transcoding across formats like H.264, HEVC, and NDI, while supporting protocols such as IPMX, ST 2110-22, and SRT.

Also being showcased at ISE is Matrox Avio 2, the world’s first open standards-based IPMX/ST 2110 IP KVM extender, which offers scalable, flexible and secure connectivity for mission-critical applications that require remote access to computing equipment. Avio 2 provides unparalleled video quality and performance, with support for up to 4K60 4:4:4 resolution, delivering real-time remote performance without compromise.

Additionally, Matrox Video will present its system-based video wall controller powered by Matrox LUMA Pro Series graphics cards and the new Matrox Mura C4K Quad HDMI 2.0 capture cards. The company will also showcase the Matrox Extio 3 IP KVM extenders and the Matrox KMLync keyboard and mouse switch, enabling remote monitoring and control of systems across a multi-monitor workspace with up to four 4K or 16 full HD displays. 

Peerless-AV Showcases an Exclusive Line up of dvLED Concepts

At Booth 3Q150, Peerless-AV will be showcasing new, never seen before SEAMLESS dvLED mounting and kiosk concepts in partnership with display hardware, software, and content brands. Experience a wide range of full solutions that demonstrate Peerless-AV’s expertise in design, engineering, and manufacturing dvLED mounting solutions, structures, and finishes that address evolving, diverse and complex end user requirements in corporate boardroom, in-store retail, control room, showroom environments and more. 

Peerless-AV’s SEAMLESS dvLED Mounting Systems  will include an ISE-exclusive showing of the Kitted Universal third generation product. Kitted+ substructures and Bespoke products will also be featured alongside first-time showings of new design concepts, featuring a mix of compatible dvLED display cabinets. From curved and angled mounting designs, to innovative, all-in-one cladded constructs (110 inches up to 165 inches) with premium custom specifications and finishes, to single/dual-sided portrait kiosks (86 inches up to 138 inches) with customization options.  

A new Motorized Height Adjustable Cart will make its ISE debut, designed to safely mount, move, and store the latest interactive displays up to 95 inches. Also on display will be the 2024 redesigned SA771PU SmartMount Articulating Wall Mount for 50-90-inch-plus displays with In-wall Box and ACC-SB2 UC/VC Soundbar Mount, together with  the STS650 Universal Scissor Wall Mount with the ACC-UCM2 optional accessory for storing media players.

Digital Projection Unleashes the Power of1-Chip DLP Technology

Digital Projection will paint Barcelona red (and green, and blue), showcasing its new 1-chip projectors, which incorporate Texas Instruments’ ground-breaking High-Efficiency-Pixel (HEP) DMD for never-before-seen color accuracy and native contrast, as well as its Nexus electronics platform

Under the banner of its new campaign, We Love Color, the Digital Projection Booth (3K700, in ISE Hall 3) will center on the color reproduction offered by the company’s  new 1-chip DLP projectors: the E-Vision 16000i-WU and E-Vision RGB 4K+. 

Powered by a 0.8-inch HEP digital micromirror device (DMD), the E-Vision 16000i-WU features increased mirror tilt angle for improved light efficiency and ‘filled via’ technology for higher native contrast, delivering unprecedented image quality, brightness and efficiency. The new E-Vision RGB represents a further leap forward in 1-chip projection technology, achieving the full REC 2020 color space at 4K+ resolution, for cinematic-grade visuals without the artifacts associated with traditional 1-chip DLP projectors with color wheels. With 10,000 lumens and HDR support, the RGB laser-illuminated E-Vision RGB delivers stunningly realistic visuals with dynamic contrast ratios of up to 10,000:1.

Where once the complex installations that required advanced warp and blend were reliant on expensive third-party applications, Digital Projection’s recently introduced software tech stack—powered by its next-generation electronics platform, Nexus—allows customers to design and implement an entire installation entirely within the projector ecosystem. On display at ISE will be several Nexus-powered tools, including Advanced Align, Projector Controller II and Multi Projection Simulator Pro, which visitors to the Digital Projection booth will have the opportunity to demo in a dedicated software area.

Just Add Power to Amp Up the AV-Over-IP Experience

Integrators visiting Just Add Power's booth 2R600 will have the first look at the new MaxColor USB 2.0 over IP device (MC-USB), which provides access to all computers on the system with KVM support. Highlights at the booth will also include the MC-QX MaxColor 4K60 Tiling and Warping Transmitter and other products from the award-winning MaxColor family.

Taking center stage at ISE will be Just Add Power’s MC-USB, with two USB-C 2.0 ports on the front, one UBC-C 2.0 on the back, and two USB-A 2.0 on the front, all integrated into the system over 1Gb LAN. Compatible with Just Add Power’s renowned MaxColor series, the MC-USB provides access to all computers on the system with built-in keyboard, video, mouse (KVM) support, including touchscreen and webcam interface.

Also at the booth will be the Just Add Power MaxColor 4K60 Tiling and Warping Transmitter (MC-QX), combining the company's MaxColor technology, 4K network video tiler, and video rotating technology. Users can simultaneously watch up to four 4K60 video sources in multiple formats on a single display, including single-screen or tiled video in a variety of layouts. With the MC-QX warping capability, installers can rotate any source image in a Just Add Power matrix—cable boxes, media players, game systems, cameras, and more — in 0.1-degree increments in real time with incredibly low latency. The rotated image can then be sent to an unlimited number of receivers in the network, allowing for the creation of massive artistic video walls using a single MC-QX. In addition, it supports multichannel audio.

Black Box Showcases Advanced IP KVM Solutions

Black Box will showcase its advanced IP KVM solutions at Hall 5, Booth D700, providing systems integrators, control room designers, live event producers, and Pro AV and broadcast professionals with innovative tools to enhance workflow efficiency, scalability and collaboration. These solutions address the challenges of mission-critical environments and professional workflows, enabling real-time decision-making, seamless multisite management and intuitive teamwork across distributed operations.

Attendees will be able to explore the expanded Emerald DESKVUE family, including the Emerald DESKVUE PE receiver, which now supports more desktop monitors and video wall configurations. This new support makes it possible for control room operators to have four on their desks, while control rooms that require larger video walls can have arrays with 2x2, 2x4, or 4x4 layouts.

Black Box will also highlight the Emerald 4K KVM-over-IP receiver, with support for 4K/60 and 5K (coming soon) over cost-saving 1G IP networks, and the Emerald Remote App, which enables secure, high-performance connectivity to virtual machines and physical systems—both Mac and Windows laptops—from virtually any location. These cutting-edge technologies, combined with seamless video wall control, empower professionals to create flexible, intuitive and highly reliable workflows for control rooms, studios, and live events.

Gordon Dutch’s Pro AV career has spanned three decades and counting. Now serving as CEO and co-founder of business consultancy Re-Sauce, he began his career installing high-end car audio and home cinema. In 1992, he started UK-based BBG, an AV distribution company, which he sold to Peerless-AV in 2009, where he remained as a co-owner for 12 years.

[SCN Hall of Fame 2025: Heather Sidorowicz]

The seeds of Dutch’s impressive Pro AV career were planted as a child. “I grew up with the sound of rock 'n' roll in the house,” he recalled. This inspired not only a love of playing music, but it also developed in him a keen acoustical awareness that has proved to be a great career asset. As he explained, a strong understanding of acoustics is essential in creating high-quality AV experiences and environments.

In addition to music, sales and marketing have been his passion from the beginning. From big clients to installers, Dutch has always valued connecting with people. To him, sales is about “being knowledgeable and enthusiastic—and loving what you do. This industry is built on relationships, and it still runs on multiple brands doing projects together.”

These days, what most excites Dutch in his current consulting work at Re-Sauce is the variety. “I really enjoy the mix of things we can do,” he said. “Sales strategy and sales introductions one day, organizing a product launch the next day, and organizing an event or a media buying campaign the next. They're all things I've done before, but they're always a bit different.”

Having spent his career identifying the “front curve” of industry trends, Dutch is keeping his eye on several emerging trends. For one thing, he is excited to see the expanded use of hologram technology. Holograms have been popping up in live production, such as the ABBA Voyage show in London, and he anticipates seeing them expanding more into the realm of advertising in coming years. In fact, in his early days with Re-Sauce, he worked on a project with Hypervsn (backed by Mark Cuban and Richard Branson) involving 3D holographic digital signage.

Dutch also expects the development of a standard for Pro AV similar to that used in production broadcast as the two industries continue to merge. “In broadcast you’ve had a long-established open standard in 2110, which all the broadcast manufacturers use,” he noted. “And there’s a real push now on getting a standard for AV as well in IPMX. I think that is something that will continue to grow.”

Among other trends, Dutch anticipates a rise in experiential retail as businesses aim to draw customers back into retail spaces. He believes that will also carry over into the workplace, as experiential and immersive spaces will entice employees to return to the office.

[SCN Hall of Fame 2025: Edgar Shane]

Reflecting on his legacy in the field of Pro AV, Dutch looks to two major contributions. First, in his 12 years at Peerless-AV, he helped the company expand from a strong U.S.-based brand to a major global brand, even winning the prestigious Queens Award for Enterprise in 2020. Second, he hopes that as a mentor he has encouraged others to be the best they can be.

Outside of work, Dutch enjoys plenty of time with his family and continues to play music with his latest band, After Eve. His biggest struggle these days? “I’ve got to be honest, I’m really bad at being retired,” he noted. “I just love being active, whether work or play.”

InfoComm hits the Las Vegas Convention Center this June 8-14 for InfoComm 2024. As always, SCN looks to keep you up to date with preshow coverage of new products, events, and insights to expect on the show floor. And don't forget to bookmark the link below for all of SCN's InfoComm 2024 coverage. 

[Follow the ROAD TO INFOCOMM 2024 at AV Network] 

Vanco to Debut USB-C Extender with Full USB 3.2 Support

Vanco International is launching the EVEXUSB32 HDBaseT USB 3.2 Extender. This USB-C host has an extension range of 328 feet (100m). The EVEXUSB32 leverages HDBaseT-USB3 chipsets to extend full USB 3.2 Gen 1x1 over a single Cat6/6A cable. It is backwards-compatible with all prior USB standards and includes both USB-A and USB-C ports for new and legacy device support.

[Trends, Technologies, and What to Expect in Vegas]

The EVEXUSB32 consists of two devices: the host and the receiver. Leveraging PoH, only one unit—the host or receiver—needs to be connected to external power. The host unit features a single USB-C port, while the receiver has three USB-A ports and one USB-C port. This configuration allows the simultaneous connection of up to four peripherals. The receive unit also offers ample power delivery: the USB-C port and one USB-A port deliver up to 1.5A each, while the remaining two USB-A ports offer 1A each. 

The EVEXUSB32 delivers up to 5 Gbps data throughout for USB data and control. In addition to USB signal extension, EVEXUSB32 features passthroughs for RS-232 controls and FSYNC (frame synchronization) for multi-camera videoconferencing or production setups.

Vizrt to Feature Pro AV Tech and NDI Solutions

Vizrt will demonstrate its top tech for college sports, corporates, congregations, and more at Booth C10171. Vizrt has launched a cost-effective sports analysis tool Viz Libero Go, expanding the possibility of creating clips that carry conversations beyond the game’s final play.  

Addressing the need for greater hybrid video communication, Vizrt’s new augmented reality solution Viz Virtual Studio Go helps content creators across Pro AV engage audiences with AR graphics. One box, pre-configured and ready to go to improve visual storytelling and immerse audiences. 

[NDI Reigns over AVoIP Protocols]

NDI will join Vizrt’s booth at InfoComm, presenting a demo pod highlighting how NDI removes the limits of video connectivity. The NDI team will showcase one of the latest features introduced by NDI 6: WAN connectivity, the new NDI Bridge Utility for Hardware that enables devices to autonomously send fully featured, encrypted NDI streams over WAN, and streamlining remote production.  

Attendees will also learn the power and benefits of NDI for digital signage through a demo of NDI running natively on a display product. Additionally, visitors can experience the full plug-and-play live production workflow with NDI PTZ cameras. 

Peerless-AV to Showcase Updated SEAMLESS dvLED Mounting Systems, New Line of Neptune Outdoor Smart TVs

Peerless-AV will be exhibiting a wide range of digital signage and AV solutions, including updated SEAMLESS dvLED video wall mounting systems, outdoor TVs/Displays, kiosks, mobile carts, and newly launched products at Booth W1725.

Peerless-AV will be showcasing its newly updated SEAMLESS Kitted Universal dvLED Mounting System. Updates include several enhancements to the design of the mounting system, making dvLED video wall installations even quicker and easier. These include the 1:1 DS-LEDUNV model that follows the ‘one display, one mount’ universal strategy of LCD video walls, making stocking, inventory management, order processing, and shipping more efficient. Also, a new patent pending, reusable Universal Spacer, unlike any other on the market, dramatically simplifies the installation of displays while offering future-proof adaptability.

The new Neptune Full Sun Outdoor Smart TVs will be on display in the 55 and 65-inch models. Designed to thrive in direct sunlight, these TVs contain a uniquely high TNI panel to accommodate high ambient temperature conditions and harsh temperature conditions.

Peerless-AV will also debut the SmartMount Flat Panel Cart for 43-75-inch-plus Displays (HETMA Approved) and SmartMount Flat Panel Cart for 55-110-inch-plus Displays at the show. The tubular design and built-in cable management of these carts ensure a minimalistic and clean aesthetic while offering cable protection and easy mobility between rooms.

Telycam to Kick Off 10-Year Anniversary Celebrations at InfoComm 2024

As PTZ camera innovator Telycam gears up to mark its 10th anniversary this summer, its celebration of the milestone will commence where it all began. It was at this event a dozen years ago that the company's founders were initially inspired to embark on this journey.

At Booth C9176, visitors will see the North American AV exhibition debut of Telycam's flagship PTZ camera, Explore. Explore features a 1-inch Sony sensor, AI fast focus, and 20x optical zoom to capture stunning 4K60 video. Explore offers versatile connectivity options including 12G-SDI, NDI, NDI HX3, HDMI 2.0, and SFP+ along with genlock functionality to ensure seamless integration into any setup. Advanced functions such as FreeD support for enhanced AR/VR production and built-in Auto-Tracking are complemented by convenience features including 3.5mm line-in audio input, mini-XLR input with phantom power, video recording, and POE++ for hassle-free power management.

[Check Out These New PTZs from NAB Show at InfoComm 2024]

In addition to its video offerings, Telycam will showcase its new SONO AI-enhanced wireless speakerphone. Designed to be portable and reliable while fitting into any home office or huddle room, SONO incorporates eight embedded microphones and is equipped with AI noise and echo reduction algorithms to ensure crystal-clear sound quality. Its long-lasting battery life enables uninterrupted conversations, while full duplex communication and automatic speech direction (DOA) recognition optimize clarity for seamless communication experiences. Multiple SONO units can be linked via Bluetooth to extend their functionality to larger spaces.

AtlasIED to Showcase the New CLA Series of Amplifiers

AtlasIED will highlight the new CLA series of amplifiers at Booth C8634. The CLA Series incorporates patent-pending Power Share technology, allowing for controllable power levels to be accurately applied to different zones regardless of the load impedance.

An analog multi-select knob on the amplifier allows for simplistic power share modifications; each pair of channels can share the power load in four pre-determined increments, and power-sharing is configurable between each pair of channels, regardless of the load on individual channels. 

The multi-impedance amplifiers are designed for versatility in both commercial distributed systems and sound reinforcement low impedance applications. This makes the CLA Series ideal for use in restaurants, presentation rooms, classrooms, conference rooms, and retail background/foreground music applications.

A powerful addition to its AV product lineup, the series includes the CLA804, CLA404, CLA402, and CLA202, two or four-channel amplifiers that range from 200 to 800 watts.

A couple of years into the post-pandemic era of the workplace one thing has been made clear: The hybrid model is here to stay. However, that doesn't mean that all remote workers are thrilled with the technology behind it. That makes creating the perfect conference room for in-person and remote participants pivotal to employee satisfaction and productivity.

[The Integration Guide to Video Displays and Mounts]

What is the best display for a conference room? Should you go with an LED panel or video wall, and which aspect ratio is best to accommodate all participants in the room or offsite? We asked some Pro AV experts what to look for when picking out the right solution to make videoconferencing and presentations inclusive for every participant.

Unique Advantages

Simply put, whether an integrator goes with an LED panel or a video wall depends largely on both the size of the room and the budget. While those are among the first two considerations, there are plenty of others.

"Consider the type of content that will be displayed," said Rob Meiner, technical sales engineer at Peerless-AV. "If presentations or content require a specific size or resolution, this could factor into which choice would be best. Something else to consider is how the display will integrate with existing AV equipment, videoconferencing systems, and control systems. Ensure the chosen solution is compatible with established infrastructure to allow for seamless use.

"The physical layout of the room also plays a role," he continued. "Envision how the display will fit within the room's design and whether it will obstruct viewing or interfere with the room’s acoustics."

Another consideration is whether an LED panel or video wall is more advantageous, because both have their positives. "The advantages for single-panel LEDs are that they are bezel-less, easy to install, have no calibration complications, and are easy to maintain due to front serviceability," explained Victoria Sanville, director, corporate and public sector sales at LG Business. "These single-panel LEDs also have image quality that supports the ability to view typical spreadsheet and PowerPoint style office content without the distraction of bezels or improperly calibrated or aligned video wall displays. Logistically speaking, LED panels are much simpler to transport and set up, as they can be broken down into parts and set up in kits."

[A Business-Focused Product Showcase: Welcome to LG’s New Headquarters]

"dvLED video walls also present their own unique advantages," Meiner added. "They offer flexibility, adapting to various spaces and layouts, making them suitable for many conference rooms. Video walls provide superior image quality, color uniformity, and brightness, even in well-lit environments. The scalability of this type of display is a key strength, enabling users to expand the display by adding more panels as needed."

Terence Migas, AV design engineer at Solutionz, added that video walls also have the advantage of an array of available mounting options, including curved and corner panel options.

"Single-panel displays are undeniably more accessible [due to budget], and that is a significant advantage," said Musfik Dogancay, executive director at JKL Technologies. "While there are size limitations for larger spaces, they are large enough for many conference rooms. Their ubiquity also makes them easy to physically install and support since they don’t require specialized skillset.

[Go Big or Go Home]

"Video walls," he continued, "provide larger images, but selection of the right product—dot pitch, for example, is critical for applications where the users are close to the image—is important. The size of the room and size of image required is the most important criteria, as video walls have a larger entry cost, require more specialized installation labor, and support needs to be planned in advance to avoid replacement challenges later. In many cases, in conference room spaces, video wall brightness needs to be turned down significantly reducing their usefulness."

Don’t Get Ratioed

While 16:9 is the widescreen standard for videoconferencing displays, the 21:9 aspect ratio is growing in popularity and is certainly one of the latest trends. So, is there a "right answer" in finding which aspect ratio is best? There is no one-size-fits-all answer, but there are factors to consider.

"I continue to advocate for the use of the 16:9 aspect ratio," Migas said. "However, I believe that as more people become aware of the benefits and options offered by 21:9 displays, there will be a growing demand for them. I apply AVIXA's recommended standards to determine the optimal display size. In the case of a video conference room, I typically opt for a size slightly larger than the standard recommendation. However, when using a 21:9 display, I do not choose a larger size, since it provides screen space for the far side participants."

"We always start with a discovery session or site walk to determine how a customer is using the space they want to deploy the technology in, as every space and every customer is unique," Sanville said. "We’re definitely seeing a trend of customers leaning toward 21:9 displays, as it is particularly compatible for those who use Microsoft Teams. We are also seeing customers utilize 21:9 for other applications where wide viewing angles are required. Overall, 21:9 seems to be the preferred display ratio these days."

[On Visualization Technologies: Peerless-AV]

What is it about the 21:9 aspect ratio that makes it so appealing for conference rooms? “The 21:9 aspect ratio offers additional horizontal screen space, making it beneficial for presentations featuring wider content,” explained Meiner. "This includes panoramic images, expansive spreadsheets, and the ability to display multiple side-by-side windows, enhancing the viewer's immersive experience. It is particularly well-suited for creative and design-focused presentations, where the broader canvas allows for greater artistic expression.”

Mount Up

Once the decision is made on which solution suits the conference room best, the next step is to get the displays installed. Migas is quick to point out that the space requirement for a video wall is dependent on AVIXA's recommended standards and aspect ratio of the view wall.

Dogancay recommends articulating arms for both ease of installation and maintenance. "Single panels are starting to push the limits at 85 inches on an articulating arm," he said. "Typically, we see displays up to 65 inches on articulating arms for day-to-day use, and anything above 65 inches are on articulating arms for maintenance purposes. There is significantly more hardware being mounted behind displays in the last few years and accessing them—especially behind larger displays—gets harder."

One of the latest trends are all-in-one displays. For LG, if an all-in-one display is the solution, the sky is the limit. But it isn't simply the size of the screen, but also the space available that needs to be examined.

"When it comes to single panel mounting, there are really no restrictions," Sanville said. "All-in-one single LED panels can be mounted on the wall or on a movable stand, and it’s possible to accommodate displays of any size requested by the customer. A single mount can be used for screen kits up to 217 inches.

"The amount of physical space needed around the display varies depending on the product," she added. "For standard LED systems, we generally recommend leaving a minimum of 3 inches of clearance around the outer edges of the screen to allow for proper installation and heat dissipation. However, some products, like LG all-in-one displays, need additional space due to their unique wall mounting method."

[SCN Hybrid World: How to Make Room Scheduling Easy]

Video walls tend to be larger, thus space and mounting require extra attention. “The space required for a video wall installation is contingent upon the specific attributes of the video wall, the room's layout, and the envisioned purpose,” Meiner said. “Effective integration into the space and fulfillment of its intended role requires professional guidance and meticulous planning. It's imperative that the space not only accommodates the physical dimensions of the video wall but also ensures an optimal viewing experience for the audience.”

As the first quarter of 2024 ends, the year is off to a great start. Companies are settling into hybrid workplace models, higher education institutions are continuing to deploy networked AV throughout the campus, and for the most part, supply chain issues are in the rearview mirror.

To understand upcoming trends, I look to the responses to my question regarding company roadmaps and philosophies. Artificial intelligence, sustainability, strategic alliances, cloud, immersive environments, ease of use, and improving the user experience are common threads from the responses of 40 AV/IT thought leaders. 

Manufacturers introduced new products and solutions at Integrated Systems Europe in February and are finetuning offerings that will be announced at InfoComm in June.

During the past couple of years, the most significant trend that emerged was out of necessity; end users embraced the need for high-quality audio, and the deployment of these solutions continues.

Set aside any thoughts of nefarious intent you might have about AI and look no further than the AV/IT industry to see the immense benefits already being implemented in audio and video collaboration products.

AI has entered our audiovisual products over the last few years, leading to better detection of meaningful audio versus non-meaningful audio, detection of speakers in audio and video, and delivery of a good meeting experience to remote participants. “The use of AI will increase in our products, delivering even more meaningful experiences to the remote participant at the far end,” said Holger Stoltze, director of Product Management at Yamaha UC. “It is important to note that these improvements can be introduced through firmware upgrades of existing products—not a ‘fork-lift’ upgrade of existing infrastructure.” 

When it comes to keeping the ship running smoothly, sustainability might not be what keeps you up at night, but fortunately, manufacturers are taking our future seriously. “Minimizing the environmental impact of our products will be an integral feature of our roadmap, including less energy wastage, even more recycling, and further steps to minimize our logistics’ environmental impact,” said Bjorn Krylander, chief executive officer and managing director at Datapath.

Mark Bonifacio, director of Business Management of Professional Display Solutions at Sony Electronics, added, “Building on our Road to Zero global environmental plan, we’ve implemented sustainable practices, large and small, across our entire product lifecycle.”

Creating alliances is one of the ways companies are helping to ensure the overall experience is seamless. “At Sennheiser, we want to be the easiest technology partner for our customers to work with, regardless of their setup,” said Charlie Jones, global alliance and partnership manager, Business Communication at Sennheiser.

History tells us that if something is not easy to use, it won’t be used, and the technology investment will have a negative ROI. Ultimately, a positive user experience will be the measure of success.

Susy Liem, associate vice president of conferencing product management at Shure, said, “Having the right AV equipment and solutions in place helps improve the employee experience, productivity, and decision-making—all key to a business’s success.”

“Nureva’s 2024 roadmap is focused on delivering large-room audio solutions that support the much-needed quality of experience—with maximum adaptability and flexibility but without complexity,” said Nancy Knowlton, Nureva's chief executive officer.

Amber Ward, director of marketing at Carousel Digital Signage, added, “As we move forward into 2024, we’re looking at one guiding principle: helping our customers break through the noise so they can get the most out of their signage system.”

“Working with our entire ecosystem of customers and partners, we’re going head-on into the new year to help elevate experiences and spaces so that they reach their fullest potential,” said Ryan Carson, vice president and general manager of Professional Imaging and Visual Systems at Panasonic Connect North America.

Read the full interviews of these thought leaders and more by clicking on the company names in the box to the right.

AVT Question: Please share insight into your company's roadmap for 2024.

Thought Leader: Megan Zeller, Senior Director of Business Development at Peerless-AV

Peerless-AV prides itself on keeping innovation, progression, and forward-thinking at the forefront of our goals. We continue to look for new, different, and better ways to deliver new solutions to our customers, enhancing the overall user experience.

As we enter 2024, our focus remains steadfast on delivering top-notch structural systems for dvLED video walls, hybrid work solutions, and more. With a dedication to innovation, Peerless-AV solutions carry OEM certifications; we offer continued education for our sales representatives; and more to ensure that from beginning to end, Peerless-AV is a valued partner to our customers. Grounded in quality manufacturing, perpetual innovation, and unwavering customer service, these core values empower everyone at Peerless-AV to defy conventions and unlock new possibilities.

AVT Question: Please share insight into your company's roadmap for 2024.

Thought Leader: Tim Bigoness, Chief Marketing Officer and vice President of Sales at D-Tools

D-Tools manufacturing roadmap for 2024 is as clear as it’s ever been. For 25 years, we devoted our product development time and resources to the evolution of our core business management software platforms, providing custom integrators a valuable tool that helps them operate their businesses more efficiently and prosper in a highly competitive tech market. Our knowledge of and appreciation for the products and services our integration partners provide commercial and residential customers runs deep, and our software solutions are a direct reflection of this understanding. With every new feature refined or added to our award-winning on-premise System Integrator and off-premise Cloud software platforms, integrators experience greater business efficiency and profitability. Workflow is streamlined, processes standardized, organization of data and schedules simplified, and communication with all stakeholders improved.

Due to the dynamic nature of software and the fast progression of the tech industry, our software platforms will continue to advance in 2024. The aim and focus of D-Tools has always been on enabling greater success for our integrator partners, and we’ll stay laser-focused on this primary initiative for 2024. Through closer collaboration with our integrator customers and intensive data analysis, we will gain even better insights into the market and the needs of integrators to further fine-tune and expand our software solutions. With each step, we will deliver meaningful benefits to our loyal integration partners through software that is easy to implement and for everyone in the company to use. When an integration business can tackle projects with efficiency, confidence and professionalism, everyone involved in a project stands to gain—employees, adjacent trades, and end users alike.

AVT Question: Please share insight into your company's roadmap for 2024.

Thought Leader: Omer Brookstein, Chief Executive Officer at Xyte

The landscape of device and hardware manufacturing is shifting profoundly due to hardware commoditization and evolving customer preferences. In response to these changes, manufacturers have been compelled to reassess their business strategies. Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) are pivoting towards offering integrated business solutions that encompass hardware, software, and services. 

As 2024 unfolds, Xyte Device Cloud, a comprehensive servitization platform, is poised for significant growth following a successful $30 million investment round. 

The investment will propel Xyte on its mission to support connected device manufacturers across diverse industries. With a focus on advancing capabilities and reach, the funding will fuel the company's success trajectory and expedite its expansion, particularly in North America and Europe. 

For the AV industry, Xyte is an AV-as-a-Service (AVaaS) enabler, allowing manufacturers to provide remote support and remote device management capabilities to their channel partners and customers. Yet AVaaS is a concept that encompasses much more—a direct engagement of OEMs with their customer base. This brings with it the option to tap into additional revenue streams beyond the initial sales, with the ability to provide additional functionalities on demand without requiring new hardware, eliminating the need to replace products, and allowing faster time to market for new features.

Throughout 2024 Xyte is set to unveil a series of enhancements. At ISE, Xyte introduced Xyte Connect, which empowers OEMs and their industry partners to share data via the cloud. Xyte Connect fosters collaboration on various fronts, including device configuration, setup, support, updates, and comprehensive monitoring and management. By facilitating this shared ecosystem, Xyte aims to enhance efficiency and collaboration across AV and other industries, enabling manufacturers and their partners to optimize and lengthen the life cycle of connected devices. 

With AVaaS, OEMs are able to extract more value from their products, fostering customer loyalty and a competitive edge in the dynamic AV market.

AVT Question: Please share insight into your company's roadmap for 2024.

Thought Leader: Kevin Morrison, Chief Executive Officer at Utelogy

As the global leader in the management, monitoring, and automated control in the modern workplace, Utelogy made a significant appearance at ISE 2024. The Utelogy platform enables customers to proactively manage their meeting space technology and helps to deliver meeting equity. 

The past year has been pivotal for Utelogy, with substantial enhancements to the platform driven by the growth of its global customer base. At ISE 2024, Utelogy announced a major architectural upgrade, introducing new features that promise to elevate platform usability and value. Strengthening the Utelligence program, Utelogy is raising the bar in security and compatibility, working alongside industry manufacturers to showcase exciting product integrations. Highlights include collaborations with MTR Cloud, Zoom Cloud, Logitech CollabOS, Poly Lens, NEAT Pulse, Yealink, and others.

A standout was Utelogy's integration with ServiceNow, which brings a new level of efficiency to alert management by seamlessly automating workflows and incident creation within ServiceNow's ITSM suite, backed by rich data from Utelogy.

Looking ahead, Utelogy's vision encompasses reshaping the AV/UC, IoT, and smart workspace management landscape. The forthcoming iteration of Utelogy will introduce digital twin technology, sustainability efforts, intelligent alerting, enhanced automation, self-healing features, and API expansions, all supported by a cloud-centric architecture and an improved user experience.

Utelogy's strategy is grounded in smart, software-only solutions, leveraging advanced analytics, IoT, and AI to streamline energy and resource management. This approach not only slashes total ownership costs but also delivers valuable analytics and insights.

Global growth and the crafting of connected environments demand bespoke solutions and relentless industry collaboration attuned to our customers' operational efficiencies. By delivering intelligent solutions that enhance user experiences through advanced insights and analytics, Utelogy is catering to the demands of a technologically interconnected global workspace. Utelogy's commitment to innovation ensures it remains the vanguard, meeting the ever-changing needs of AV and IT professionals with intuitive, cost-effective management tools.

AVT Question: Please share insight into your company's roadmap for 2024.

Thought Leader: George Walter, Senior Executive at Digital Projection

For Digital Projection, 2024 will be a year of getting back to the business of providing premium imaging solutions that help our customers overcome common design and installation challenges for quicker, faster deployment in residential and commercial environments and with greater customer satisfaction. 

We continue to receive glowing reports from our dealers about how our team worked with them to streamline the design, configuration, calibration, and installation of our projectors and LED displays and exceeded customer expectations with superior imaging performance. At Digital Projection, our strategy rests on providing our dealers with a great experience with our team, our products, and our company. After all, when our dealers are successful, we are successful. The new year is certainly looking bright.

After three years of proactively addressing the many business challenges and supply chain issues plaguing the AV industry, we’ve fully rebounded, are stronger than ever, and foresee a very exciting and promising year for Digital Projection. Our outlook is bright, showcased by many innovative product introductions and stronger than ever concierge-level service and support for our dealers and customers. We’ve added a host of new features and enhanced color gamut and brightness to our line of projectors and have made steady improvements to the resolution, color performance, and contrast of our growing family of LED displays, all while simplifying installation for a growing range of emerging applications—even those requiring curved displays! 

AVT Question: Please share insight into your company's roadmap for 2024.

Thought Leader: Bob Michaels, Chief Executive Officer at ZeeVee

Security remains a paramount concern, and we channel substantial resources into fortifying our systems. Our latest innovation, the ZyPer Management Platform 3.x, is a testament to our commitment to robust security measures. This software-based solution simplifies the implementation of safeguards across networks, user accounts, and graphical user interface applications. Notably, our dedication to security is heightened for clients engaged in government, enterprise, healthcare, and similar sectors where sensitive data is integral. 

As part of our comprehensive security architecture, we adhere to IT-level security standards, ensuring end-to-end video encryption and employing 802.1x authentication protocols. This multifaceted approach underscores our proactive stance on safeguarding against evolving cybersecurity threats and ensuring the integrity of our clients' critical projects and sensitive information.

Focusing on software-based solutions will enable us to add features, functions, and capabilities to our products that simplify the installation and operation of AVoIP-driven systems. We’re very aware that there are many AV system end users that still lean towards HDBaseT because they fear AVoIP is difficult to learn and implement. Intuitive management and control will go a long way to continuing the steady conversion of the industry to network-based AV signal distribution. Post-installation, users can confidently expect long-term performance with ongoing robust enhancements via firmware updates.

It has long been our mantra and corporate responsibility to provide the industry with detailed AVoIP education. Since the pandemic, we’ve offered our series of zero-cost, Certified Solution Partner Training courses that award attendees AVIXA CTS credits. Attendance at these twice-a-month sessions remains strong, and we’re adding three new courses that will dive deeper into best practices for successful AVoIP system implementations.

Lastly, our support for RF modulation persists, catering to applications like sports content delivery in HD, especially in settings like bars and restaurants. RF also remains a preferred and cost-effective solution for retail and health clubs.

AVT Question: Please share insight into your company's roadmap for 2024.

Thought Leader: Kohei Hattori, General Manager, Live Production Business Department at Roland

Demand for high-quality audio and visual production for online and in-person events has been increasing. Roland is firmly committed to meeting the expectations of mobile and installation-based customers with new product releases, timely updates for our current lineup, and adding more value to the investments our customers make with confidence.

As we begin the new year, we are introducing several unique functions for our flagship Roland switchers, the V-160HD and V-600UHD. These updates are in response to direct feedback from our customers and the market worldwide. 

It is also worth highlighting that our Roland video products continue incorporating advanced audio functions made possible by more than 50 years of Roland’s electronic musical instrument expertise. Professional quality audio functions like ours are highly appreciated in the streaming market as it continues to expand and evolve. 

Our products also allow system integrators to offer affordable solutions with unique technological integrations and intuitive user interfaces. 

The teams at Roland look forward to listening to and acting on customer feedback. It allows Roland to make businesses successful, and we become loyal business partners in the process.

AVT Question: Please share insight into your company's roadmap for 2024.

Thought Leader: Tomer Mann, Chief Revenue Officer at 22Miles

As we embark on the new year, 22Miles is celebrating a significant leap in our commitment to revolutionizing digital experiences. Our latest Content Manager update, version 7.5, brings new features to our customers to better manage enterprise space management, collaboration, and user experience across their hardware ecosystems. 

As part of this release, our AI tools—AI Command, AI Assistant, and AI Backoffice—harness the cutting-edge capabilities of large language models (LLMs) to deliver incredibly responsive user experiences. Using GPT or a propriety on-premises model, 22Miles creates custom AI interfaces suitable for enterprise use cases. These tools empower clients to integrate personalized, accurate, secure content and service tools into their digital signage walls, kiosks, websites, or mobile applications. 

Our platform updates include several new employee engagement features, including a Microsoft Outlook plug-in to make space management and room booking easier and more visually accessible for global users. We’ve also debuted the Microsoft Teams App, which integrates collaboration within Teams channels and chats directly with the system’s other functionality: space booking, concierge kiosk services, dynamic digital signage, emergency alerts, and push notifications. Customers will also enjoy new scheduling capabilities for over 250 players within Web Manager and new wayfinding templates to support workplace efficiency. 

Our product roadmap for 2024 reflects our ongoing commitment to delivering a robust, user-friendly CMS that has garnered client trust and loyalty for over a decade. With continuous evolution at our core and ongoing improvements at the forefront of our innovation strategy, our portfolio guarantees that customers will enjoy consistency and efficiency in the new year and beyond. Eager to deliver unparalleled consistency, efficiency, and ROI across digital ecosystems in 2024, we invite new and existing clients to harness the power of our CMS and our AI-driven solutions to craft engaging, unified, and secure experiences.

AVT Question: Please share insight into your company's roadmap for 2024.

Thought Leader: Robert Detwiler, Senior Director of Product Management and Training at Planar

In 2024, our customers can expect to see our selection of fine pixel pitch front-of-room display products expand. This includes support for outdoor use, and as MicroLED manufacturing efficiency and volume increase, we see an opportunity to incorporate MicroLED into more of our products. 

As with any year, we remain focused on assessing new and evolving technology trends to best address our customers’ needs and offer mature, repeatable products that are easy to integrate and are more readily available. This is true of all-in-one models, which are on the rise and enable quick deployment and ease of use for customers who have limited to no training. We’re excited to stay on top of this demand and further our support in this space.

We’re still seeing new virtual production (VP) applications emerge every day. This spans production and multimedia studios, universities, and an increasing number of corporate settings. We’re evolving our product portfolio as needs arise, and we continue to foster industry events and hands-on learning experiences to help those who may be implementing the technology in a new way or for the very first time. Last year, we launched the Planar Studios Virtual Production Workshop, offering the AV and IT communities a week-long series aimed at helping design, deploy, and support VP and extended reality (XR) projects. VP and XR were once new concepts for us, but today we know the technology holds tremendous opportunity for revolutionizing the production of lifelike content and we want to help make this accessible for all.

Outside of VP and XR, we’re closely following cybersecurity for networked devices, and exploring more connected devices that can help AV and IT professionals maintain their technology over large deployments.

AVT Question: Please share insight into your company's roadmap for 2024.

Thought Leader: John Henkel, Director of Marketing at NETGEAR Business

Last year, NETGEAR released the new PR460X professional router and the first wave of a completely new set of network switches, the M4350 series. For 2024, we will continue to target the AV market with products that are easier to use and at a great value.

We have just released two models of the new M4350 series that support the SMPTE ST 2110 broadcast standard, and this changes the equation. Now instead of a very expensive switch that you have to spend a lot of time configuring, you can get an M4350 switch and have the NETGEAR AV OS set up the switch with a certified profile in seconds. Additionally, our NETGEAR Engage Controller will continue to evolve and offer more and more functionality to anyone setting up an AV network—for a single switch or multiple switches. 

Our focus on making it easier for people to transition to AV over IP will continue with the use of our worldwide team of AV network specialists who can help design your network, choose the right products, and troubleshoot any issues that may arise. Our pro WiFi access points will be growing as well, with exciting new product releases taking advantage of the latest wireless standards. 

Bottom line: more of the same goodness we shared in 2023.

AVT Question: Please share insight into your company's roadmap for 2024.

Thought Leader: Joshua Rush, Chief Marketing Officer at Audinate

2023 was a bellwether year for Audinate, having shipped over 1 million units. Given the strong connection and recognition with customers, we plan to build on last year’s success by continuing to add elements to our complete Dante AV-over-IP platform. Long the de facto standard in networked audio, our growing portfolio of video products and ever-expanding options for control and management have transformed Dante into a comprehensive, interoperable solution for customers looking to deploy AV-over-IP solutions. 

We’re seeing rapid growth in Dante AV, our family of networked video solutions that bring the simplicity of Dante to AV-over-IP. Dante AV comprises hardware and software products that serve the needs of in-house video distribution (Dante AV Ultra), H.26x streaming (Dante AV-H), and products for signal distribution based on the ASPEED chipset (Dante AV-A). Audinate’s video products are rapidly gaining adoption within the AV-over-IP market, with 35 OEMs currently licensed and developing and delivering video-enabled products to end users.

Beyond the growth in video, our strategy over time is to add more value, services, and capabilities to Dante networks. For example, we’ve made huge strides in cloud-based management and control offerings with the recent launch of Dante Connect and our beta program for Dante Director. With Dante Connect, a network of Dante audio products can send up to 256 channels of synchronized audio from any site to cloud-based Virtual Machines for broadcast editing and production, saving time and money. The soon-to-be-launched Dante Director is a cloud-based application that enables you to organize Dante devices in logical groups and more easily manage Dante networks remotely.

We have a rich product roadmap planned for the remainder of 2024 intended to broaden our solutions offerings and delight our customers, so look for additional announcements from Audinate in the near future.

AVT Question: Please share insight into your company's roadmap for 2024.

Thought Leader: Beau Wilder, Global Head of Future Customer Experiences, Hybrid Work Solutions at HP

The success of any organization will depend on its adaptability to the ever-changing needs and work styles of its employees. Employees want flexibility, autonomy, inclusivity, and technology that enhances their collaborative capabilities and productivity.

At HP, we create technology that empowers employees to do their best work wherever they are. By leveraging more than a decade of workplace persona research, we have honed our ability to identify the right tools for various workstyle personas and workplace needs. Whether you work from home, in the office, or anywhere in between, we design our solutions to meet the demands of the modern-day workforce.

AI will become the collaboration technology standard for the future of work. Solutions that can scale, adapt, integrate, and be remotely managed will be at the forefront. HP and Poly have been in the AI space for decades. We integrate AI to enhance, not replace, the human experience. For example, HP | Poly’s DirectorAI technology automatically frames and captures speakers in a meeting, while NoiseBlockAI and Acoustic Fence technology block out unwanted noise. We will continue to leverage the power of AI-driven innovations that allow everyone to have a seat at the table—physically or virtually—so you can have your best meeting, every meeting.

A strategic focus on empowering employees to do their best work by investing in the right tools and technology integrations, and workspace transformation focused on the collaboration experience will be a top priority this year. At HP, our comprehensive portfolio of products can easily integrate with your existing tools and boost productivity. We want to help teams show up and stand out so everyone in the meeting feels seen and heard, from wherever they are.

AVT Question: Please share insight into your company's roadmap for 2024.

Thought Leader: Jeff Boggess, Director of Product Marketing at Avocor

2023 was a big year for Avocor. Not only did we launch our L Series range of ultra-wide 21:9 displays to support a wider range of team collaboration formats, but we also released the R Series, our first co-branded Avocor and Rise Vision products as a result of our strategic partnership with AUO Display Plus.

The release of the R Series saw Avocor move into the realm of digital signage to offer more flexible solutions for clients. Our signature premium interactive display technology was further enhanced with a suite of Rise Vision digital signage software, to create a range of displays that can be used for multiple scenarios in both corporate and education environments. From team collaboration to wayfinding and instant campus-wide alerts—the R Series is a multi-purpose tool that seamlessly adapts to different uses and communication requirements. 

So, what’s in store for 2024? At ISE 2024, we shared the first of our new product developments, which includes a new range of more affordable Avocor displays, ideal for the education market, and a preview of a very cool modular display hitting the market later this year. 

For Avocor as a company, we have worked extremely hard for the last few years to garner excellent strategic partnerships—Google Workspace, Microsoft, Ring Central, Zoom, HP, Lenovo, and Logitech—and combine our expertise to produce meaningful innovations. 

This year, we’ll be stepping away from our traditional interactive display roots and into exciting new areas with products that enhance collaboration, work seamlessly, stand out, and meet the real-time and future needs of our customers.

Watch this space!

AVT Question: Please share insight into your company's roadmap for 2024.

Thought Leader: Randy Reece, Director of Audio Visual Sales and Marketing at Draper

In 2024, Draper will redouble our efforts to provide AV solutions that meet the needs of both today and tomorrow.

We are dedicated to growth, as demonstrated by adding 100,000 square feet to our manufacturing facility in late 2023. In 2024, we will leverage this 25 percent increase in space to improve our already impressive lead times, and increase our efforts to design and manufacture next-generation mounting solutions for dvLED. As part of our commitment to innovation, we’ve completely reinvented the approach to faceted curved structures for cost-effectiveness, faster installation, and improved performance. We will focus on continuing this evolution throughout this year.

Educating the market is another important goal. Draper believes in doing things right the first time around, so there are no nasty surprises. There needs to be an industry focus on items like building in seismic requirements and PE review upfront in projects so they don’t need to be redone later at an additional cost to the customer.

We are also signaling our dedication to growth through team expansion. In 2023, for the first time in Draper’s history, the company began working with Pro AV manufacturers’ representatives. Increasing our presence in this way means better service and more resources to help our dealer network provide end users with the solutions they want and the support they need.

We will also continue to listen to our dealers and the market to fine-tune product and service offerings. Even now, our product designers and engineers are hard at work developing innovative new solutions that will make life easier for installers, dealers, and end users alike.

Draper has a reputation for designing and manufacturing quality products—and standing behind them 100 percent. That will continue with several new product introductions in 2024.

After 122 years in business, we’re just getting started!

AVT Question: Please share insight into your company's roadmap for 2024.

Thought Leader: Gina Sansivero, Vice President of Marketing and Communications at AtlasIED

With 2023 behind us, the work we accomplished last year has set the stage for an extraordinary year ahead. As an audio and communications technology solutions manufacturer, we design products that help customers solve their most complicated challenges, providing safety or bringing delight to their businesses and venues. With an already expansive portfolio serving many markets, in 2024, we'll continue to expand our loudspeaker lineup with more premium-tier offerings, building upon the foundation of quality and reliability built over the more than 85 years AtlasIED has been in business. 

In 2023, we announced a partnership with Fyne Audio that helped us offer customers a new premium line of point-source loudspeakers. At ISE 2024 in Barcelona, we announced a significant equity stake in German loudspeaker manufacturer Aimline. Through the investment, we've introduced a new line of column loudspeakers, including digitally steerable and passive models. Both investments allow us to offer excellent-quality loudspeakers for various applications and broaden our offerings for customers who need greater variety. In addition, you’ll see more strategic partnerships from AtlasIED this year that will support the growth of our security-focused mass communications solutions.

In addition to hardware, AtlasIED designs and manufactures multiple software-based audio platform solutions. One key area of focus for our product teams in 2024 is to continue to innovate and provide value to customers who already own our products. Through our software-based platforms, such as Atmosphere, customers with these systems will receive new features through free software updates to extend the functionality and usable product lifespan.

We're excited to continue to delight our customers, and to show how our premium loudspeakers help make a difference in retail, hospitality, corporate, entertainment, education, and transportation. Here's to growth, partnerships, and enriching the customer experience in 2024.

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AVT Question: Please share insight into your company's roadmap for 2024.

Thought Leader: Zach Snook, Director of Product Management at Biamp 

AV and IT leaders across mid- to enterprise-level businesses need to think not just about how they accommodate a distributed workforce within a hybrid work environment, but also about how best to leverage a scaled-down physical office footprint. 

A smaller office space creates a need to be more intentional and strategic with how that space is utilized across individual offices, shared workspaces, and conference rooms. In response, organizations are increasingly adopting benching and hoteling strategies.

Benching promotes collaboration and interaction among in-office employees. Instead of assigned cubicles, employees share open workspaces, creating a more dynamic and collaborative environment. Benching fosters communication, encourages teamwork, and can optimize office space utilization. 

Meanwhile, hoteling takes the concept of flexible workspaces a step further. Instead of having dedicated workstations, employees reserve desks or meeting rooms as needed. This approach allows for maximum flexibility, as employees can choose the most suitable workspace based on their specific tasks and requirements. Hoteling is particularly beneficial for organizations with a significant portion of their workforce operating remotely.

Organizations, therefore, must address issues like equitable access to workplace technology, effective communication in hybrid settings, maintaining company culture with a distributed workforce, and making it quick and easy for employees to reserve shared in-office resources—such as a workstation in a benching or hoteling environment—from anywhere. 

Reserving office resources quickly and easily, and integrating a scheduling system with other office technologies such as conferencing solutions and unified communication platforms is now easier than ever thanks to the convergence of scheduling software and hardware within the corporate IT environment. 

Those organizations that can master scheduling within effective conferencing AV ecosystems, including unified communication tools, will generate the most employee delight in hybrid work environments well into the future. 

AVT Question: Please share insight into your company's roadmap for 2024.

Thought Leader: Effi Goldstein, President of HDBaseT Alliance

The non-stop adoption of peripherals requiring USB connectivity and extension puts innovations improving the experience for both installers and end users at the top of our 2024 roadmap.

Considering the proliferation of the BYOD trend, the growing demand for multi-camera support, along with the EU’s standardization of USB-C, there is a strong need for a reliable extension with plug-and-play simplicity over a cost-effective cabling infrastructure. As more of these devices come out with USB 3.0, the call for high-performance connectivity is becoming evident.

With that in mind, we are once again leading the way in answering what our industry demands, with the introduction of the all-new HDBaseT-USB3 standard. This new technology provides a professional-grade extension of not only USB 2.0, but USB 3.2, controls, power, and frame synchronization up to 328 feet (100m) over a single Category cable. The first wave of more than a dozen of these solutions supporting HDBaseT-USB3 was on display in our booth at ISE in February 2024.

AVT Question: Please share insight into your company's roadmap for 2024.

Thought Leader: Karen Smidt, Senior Director of Marketing at Legrand | AV

In 2024, we’re excited to expand on our corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives to support the values of our industry.

We continue to meet the goals of our fifth CSR roadmap, including the promotion of diversity and inclusion; reducing our carbon footprint; promoting the circular economy; and being a highly principled, ethical business partner. Each of these priorities includes measurable goals such as upskilling 85 percent of employees with seven hours of training each year, reducing single-use plastic in packaging, and achieving 30 percent of women in manager positions (to name just a few). We’ll be starting a new roadmap in 2025, so look for these initiatives to evolve using feedback from our employees, customers, and industry.

In November, we passed the ISO 27001 audit and continue to work toward certification to ensure our connectivity solutions meet cybersecurity standards. Being able to reassure end users that their AV system will hold up under stress is even more important in hybrid work environments, and Legrand will continue to make it a priority. 

We expect digital signage to continue playing a larger role in installations, with our brands working together behind the display to fulfill the promise of exceptional audience experiences. Look for exciting new options specifically from Chief in this area. 

Middle Atlantic will be building on the success of the Forum Collaboration Suite with new offerings in the series, and Da-Lite will expand Sightline options to additional screen sizes. Collaboration spaces are going to look incredible with these aesthetic-forward options!

Also in the collaboration space, we’re looking forward to finding new ways to enhance the Microsoft Teams Rooms experience after the success of outfitting two of these spaces at Microsoft headquarters in 2023. 

It’s going to be an exciting year for AV, and we are excited to see what challenges our integration partners can address with Legrand | AV.

AVT Question: Please share insight into your company's roadmap for 2024.

Thought Leader: Brad Hintze, Executive Vice President of Global Marketing at Crestron

The organizations we provide solutions for have been through many, many tumultuous changes over the past several years. Our focus for 2024 is helping businesses as they come out the other side of that tumult—how do we help them scale their technological deployments so they can accomplish what they need to do now?

For example: Everybody was focused on video conferencing for the duration of the pandemic and its aftermath, but now priorities have shifted. Our clients are asking themselves, “What’s the new culture within our organization, now that more of our staff is returning to the office? How do we collaborate more effectively in person with the occasional virtual meeting attendee?”

During that period, we spoke a lot about meeting equity, and there’s been an interesting shift in that regard. Meeting equity was initially about virtual meetings, but if you expand that to the culture of collaboration within an organization—whether that’s a virtual meeting, an in-person meeting, or asynchronous chats and email and so on—maintaining that culture becomes critical. 

Technology can be incredibly useful in helping to define, establish, and enable a collaboration culture within an organization. Our core technologies are built for fostering just that: Crestron Control solutions, Crestron Flex Video Conferencing, DM NVX AV-over-IP, 1 Beyond speaker tracking cameras, and AirMedia wireless presentation and conferencing systems. They’re all built for intuitive, seamless operations that allow collaborators to meet, create, and ideate without thinking about the tech driving the experience. Refining those solutions means that their users will have more time to collaborate without concerning themselves with the way a space works. Our focus is on creating more of those solutions and refining them—all while maintaining the best-in-class reputation we’ve come to be known for.

AVT Question: Please share insight into your company's roadmap for 2024.

Thought Leader: Kim Franklin, Vice President of Global Marketing at Listen Technologies

At Listen Technologies, we pride ourselves on innovation and believe that everyone deserves the same great listening experience. Our vision is to revolutionize the way people connect, communicate, and engage through seamless audio experiences.

As smartphones and wearables such as hearing aids, earbuds, and headphones evolve, Listen Technologies continues to bring creative, flexible solutions to market that support these advances in user technology and help people hear clearly. Our newest products and solutions reflect the future of assistive listening and wireless audio.

The next generation of audio over Wi-Fi, ListenWIFI, features a dedicated receiver, beacons, a new server, and enhanced software to simplify venue management, and provides a better experience for venues and guests.

Additionally, Listen Technologies and Ampetronic have partnered both to create a single, market-leading source for innovative audio solutions, and to bring new technologies to market. Together, we are developing the first complete installed assistive listening system utilizing Auracast broadcast audio technology, to be released later this year. This new platform will transform the way hearing assistance is delivered in public spaces.

In a world where sound is a crucial part of how we connect, learn, and experience, Listen Technologies is not just an industry leader; we are dedicated to improving life's experiences through sound. In this ever-changing landscape of technology innovation, we will continue to be at the forefront of development, revolutionizing the way individuals connect and experience sound. We are excited about the future and proud to help end users engage in the things they enjoy.

AVT Question: Please share insight into your company's roadmap for 2024.

Thought Leader: Colin Mahoney, Product Marketing Manager at HARMAN Professional Solutions

Our goal at HARMAN Professional is to develop innovative audio, video, control, and lighting solutions that create experiences which make life more productive and entertaining.

Our most recent product introductions from AMX prove we are on a clear trajectory toward open standards, interoperability, flexibility, and ease of use. The MUSE Automation platform is capable of simultaneously processing multiple standard scripting languages and supporting no-code and low-code development, opening the possibilities for technicians and IT managers of all skillsets to deliver advanced automation with the tools they’re most comfortable using. Varia touch panels have an app-based design which allows them to adapt to the unique needs of any environment. They are pre-loaded with apps that enable them to be used as standard AMX control panels or AMX Book Room Scheduling panels, of course, but they can also be configured as dedicated interfaces for Web apps or custom Android apps. And our new series of networked AV encoders and decoders, the N2600s and N3300s, both include support for Dante AV and an open control API.

At the same time, we have built upon our core strengths of security and reliability. Our solutions include professional-grade hardware and leverage a common secure OS, the latest IP security and management technologies, and are put through the most rigorous government security testing.

In 2024, we will build upon these latest platforms, but we’re also proud to be introducing an entirely new open architecture DSP platform. The BSS Soundweb OMNI Series combines purpose-built hardware with intuitive software that offers the flexibility of centralized or distributed DSP. This platform shares many of the technologies seen in HARMAN products from AMX including the secure OS, open HControl communication protocol, and integrated MUSE control. The BSS Soundweb OMNI Series exemplifies our philosophy of open standards, interoperability, flexibility, and ease of use and will enable a new level of holistic installed AV solutions from HARMAN Professional.

AVT Question: Please share insight into your company's roadmap for 2024.

Thought Leader: Spiro Plagakis, Vice President of Product Management at Matrox Video

Matrox Video has been around since 1976. Our longevity is due primarily to the quality and reliability of our products and our ability to adapt to changing customer and market needs. Case in point: We anticipated the shift to IP and networked products years ago, and our product roadmap evolved not only to reflect that transition, but to make it as easy as possible to install, configure, and integrate IP-based products into existing infrastructure.

As part of that effort, we’ve long championed open standards to ensure maximum flexibility and compatibility (hence our leadership in ST 2110 and now IPMX.) Avoiding proprietary implementations whenever possible means we can also maximize interoperability, including with third parties. This is part of our DNA.

Matrox Video was among the first companies to offer ST 2110 products when that standard first came to market, and we continue to support it heavily. Now we’re working toward making IPMX a standard and expanding our product line to support it.

Our involvement with IPMX reflects our understanding of the challenges associated with shifting to IP infrastructure, as does our first IPMX-ready product line, Matrox ConvertIP Series.

We see a future driven by IP, and 2024 is shaping up to be an inflection point for IPMX. The standard is only as good as the number of available products that adhere to it, and those products must address all the different requirements of doing video over IP (encoders, KVMs, video wall products, et cetera). So in 2024, Matrox Video will put out more IPMX-ready products for the entire video-over-IP workflow. Our 2024 roadmap includes products that will make it even easier to work over IP, to integrate into IP infrastructure, and to move video signals over IP. This will give our customers more choices for populating their end-to-end video-over-IP infrastructure.

AVT Question: Please share insight into your company's roadmap for 2024.

Thought Leader: Nancy Knowlton, Chief Executive Officer at Nureva

As we listen to our customers, they talk about their struggles in adapting to the messy realities of returning to in-person working and learning. They don’t want to lose the flexibility and quality-of-experience gains they’ve made in the past few years.

Many of our customers are now focusing on moving from a “continuity” to a “quality” mindset—in many cases replacing hastily selected and installed stopgap solutions; ensuring their large meeting rooms and higher education classrooms can support a variety of use cases, layouts, and configurations; and handling the challenge of large rooms needing to do more than they did in the past—all while IT managers have shrinking teams and budgets with which to work. 

Nureva’s 2024 roadmap is focused on delivering large-room audio solutions that support the much-needed quality of experience—with maximum adaptability and flexibility but without the complexity. Nureva audio solutions ensure that a room can be set up once and have the intelligence to adapt (auto-calibrate) to changes in layouts and use cases. 

With our second-generation products now fully certified for large and extra-large Microsoft Teams Rooms, we’ll continue to focus on big-room audio experiences and enhancements to Microphone Mist technology algorithms, including via AI. Another key area will be sound location data and new camera zone functionality to support simple multi-camera solutions for larger spaces. We’ll continue to work with camera companies like AVer, Lumens, and PTZOptics that have used our sound location API to create camera tracking and switching solutions. 

Finally, we’ll continue to simplify the setup, installation, and manageability of our solutions with new features in Nureva Console and the creation of assistive tools and apps.

AVT Question: Please share insight into your company's roadmap for 2024.

Thought Leader: Adam Griffin, Director of Sales and Business Development, North America at Atlona

The AV industry has always served a broad array of vertical markets. What is striking is the extent to which AV transformed how organizations communicate across their facilities is made even stronger through seamless convergence with IT infrastructure. We see that transformation taking place in public-facing retail and hospitality, as well as schools and private businesses.

Atlona has a global presence in these and other AV business verticals, though we have increasingly focused on serving the busy education and corporate verticals. We have introduced products over the last several years with these verticals in mind, helping them address the challenges they face today inside learning and meeting spaces. We are also helping them establish networked foundations to distribute, control, and manage signals through entire buildings and across large campuses more efficiently.

The education vertical proved especially strong for AV adoption in 2023, and we see no signs of that slowing in 2024. Higher education customers have spent the last two years racing to bring their classrooms up to speed for hybrid learning, and the results begged for a more standardized approach. With less pressure and cooler heads prevailing, AV managers and IT directors have taken a fresh look at improving their existing spaces with technology that offers better connectivity, less obtrusiveness, and enhanced communication. For example, our customers are adopting more USB-C native designs, and sales engineers are responding to that need by designing more USB switching and management into their AV systems.

Atlona is well-prepared to support our education customers through our platform-agnostic technologies, and our business development managers are dedicated solely to addressing the unique teaching challenges. We continue to see brisk activity in the corporate vertical, including our Captivate family of cameras and speakerphones for small- to medium-sized spaces; and our WAVE-101 wireless presentation switcher. We unveiled the new Omega switching/extension and Velocity control solutions at ISE this year to meet a variety of needs for all customers.

AVT Question: Please share insight into your company's roadmap for 2024.

Thought Leader: Gareth Heywood, Technology Evangelist at SDVoE Alliance

The SDVoE Alliance is steadfast in its commitment to advancing high-performance AV with an emphasis on sustainability. As hardware devices grow in complexity, their power consumption rises significantly. The conventional approach to compression, driven by escalating technological demands, has led to intricate and power-hungry solutions. The imminent arrival of 8K resolutions necessitates an evolution in compression techniques, resulting in larger devices, increased fan usage, and a compromise in performance.

In contrast, an ASIC-based device has the potential to reduce power consumption by up to 80 percent compared to its FPGA-based counterpart, while delivering equivalent performance. While this power efficiency is crucial for current 4K requirements, it becomes even more vital as resolutions continue to climb. The pixel rate directly correlates with power consumption, making ASIC-based solutions, such as SDVoE, indispensable.

The SDVoE Alliance is dedicated to offering a sustainable and eco-friendly solution for uncompressed video transmission. By overcoming the limitations of traditional FPGA devices, SDVoE technology not only eliminates latency but also reduces the device footprint. This is achieved through an ultra-lightweight compression engine, resulting in lower power consumption and more compact products. In collaboration, the SDVoE Alliance's members have developed over 700 products that seamlessly integrate, providing system integrators, designers, consultants, and installers with a reliable and environmentally conscious solution.

AVT Question: Please share insight into your company's roadmap for 2024.

Thought Leader: Taft Stricklin, Sales Team Manager at Just Add Power

Just Add Power continues its mission into 2024 of being dedicated to doing tech differently. Instead of being consigned to the dustbin by planned obsolescence, the company's high-quality video-over-IP distribution solutions increase in value over time. By offering new devices that are compatible or can be bridged with previous systems and providing free firmware updates with new features, Just Add Power respects the original investment end users made in their system. Product-wise, the Max Color line will continue to grow, with a few new SKUs coming throughout the year.

AVT Question: Please share insight into your company's roadmap for 2024.

Thought Leader: Hal Truax, President at WyreStorm Commercial

At the heart of every manufacturer's success lies a forward-thinking product roadmap that should revolve around anticipating future needs and staying one step ahead of technological trends. For WyreStorm, we’re looking towards the seamless integration of cutting-edge features into our products, making them not just reactive, but proactive in meeting the demands of an ever-changing market.

One of my favorite artists said, “It’s not about standing still and becoming safe. If anybody wants to keep creating, they have to be about change.” That’s from Miles Davis, and it applies to our thought process at WyreStorm as well. As a leader for signal distribution and collaboration solutions, we have to keep creating, innovating, and push the boundaries of what's possible in the AV industry.

Our philosophy is rooted in user-centric product designs and functionality. We understand that AV solutions are not just about delivering audio and video; they are about creating immersive and collaborative experiences. Our commitment to the user experience (UX) is reflected in the intuitive interfaces of our products, allowing users to effortlessly navigate and utilize advanced functionalities.

A notable aspect of our product roadmap is the emphasis on scalability. Recognizing the diverse requirements of our clientele is key. We’ve engineered solutions that can seamlessly grow with the evolving needs of businesses and institutions. Whether it's a small conference room or a large auditorium, WyreStorm provides solutions that can be tailored to fit any space.

Lastly, sustainability is a key pillar of our company. Going green by removing plastics and other harmful substances is crucial for our Earth. We continue to improve our packaging to be more environmentally conscious. It’s paramount to not only meet high-performance standards but also to align with global sustainability goals.

AVT Question: Please share insight into your company's roadmap for 2024.

Thought Leader: Holger Stoltze, Director of Product Management at Yamaha Unified Communications

At Yamaha Unified Communications, our efforts over the last few years have been focused on improving audio and video for remote meetings and communications. We do this by offering simplified configuration tools that allow for the creation of the best possible audio without requiring an audio expert, and by implementing new technologies that focus on meeting participants while ignoring and reducing audio and video interruptions from sources not relevant to the meeting.

These efforts resulted in market-leading products that simplify and improve the setup and meeting experiences of our customers. Our philosophy for the next year (and years) is simply to expand on these efforts. We will do this by expanding our product family to offer additional options answering our customers’ needs. We will enhance and add features and functionalities to our existing products, leading to an even better meeting experience. We will also introduce more and new tools to simplify the design, installation, and optimization of solutions in our customers’ environments.

AI has entered our audiovisual products over the last few years, leading to better detection of meaningful audio versus non-meaningful audio, detection of speakers in audio and video, and delivery of a good meeting experience to remote participants. The use of AI will increase in our products, delivering even more meaningful experiences to the remote participant at the far end. It is important to note that these improvements can be introduced through firmware upgrades of existing products—not a “fork-lift” upgrade of existing infrastructure.

AVT Question: Please share insight into your company's roadmap for 2024.

Thought Leader: Ryan Carson, Vice President and General Manager of Professional Imaging and Visual Systems at Panasonic Connect North America

At Panasonic Connect, we believe that creativity and connectivity can spark newfound interest and productivity in all walks of life, and that experiencing the world will be more immersive than ever in 2024. As we head into 2024, our priority is to continue working with our customers to push the boundaries of how we power immersive, high-tech experiences as more and more people crave them in every aspect of their day-to-day lives. 

Organizations now face increased pressure to deliver high-quality experiences regardless of the format. When designed to prioritize quality and flexibility, a wide range of AV technology can relieve this pressure by bridging the gap between the virtual and in-person experience. Everyone wants to enjoy crisp visuals and clear audio no matter where they’re tuning in from. In the same way that clear audio and visuals can heighten the clarity of a professor, manager, or preacher, it can also bring a city together to experience art, or fans together to cheer on their team.

Panasonic Connect recognizes the deep need for digital-first environments, and we’re meeting this need with flexible, powerful technology. Working with our entire ecosystem of customers and partners, we’re going head-on into the new year to help elevate experiences and spaces so that they reach their fullest potential. Organizations are experimenting and expanding upon the future capabilities of AI, AR, and VR, testing the abilities of a completely virtual world. Until then, 2024 requires modernized and accessible technology to create a flexible, immersive experience for those both in and out of the office, at universities, enjoying live events, worshiping at a church service, or rooting for their teams via a live stream. 

AVT Question: Please share insight into your company's roadmap for 2024.

Thought Leader: Sidney Rittenberg, Chief Executive Officer at Jupiter

As Jupiter revolutionizes the enterprise visual form factor, we will continue our breakthroughs in large, 21:9 5K displays, and at the same time champion the highest security standards with our video wall processors.

Leading our 21:9 positioning, Jupiter is raising the bar this year to unbelievable heights. We’re launching our Gen3 large format 21:9 5K LCD products with Quantum Dot Mini-LED backlight and our unique dual-brightness enhancement technology and at 120Hz refresh rate, ADA-compliant through ultra-low-profile mount, and up to 2,200 nits peak brightness with VESA DisplayHDR1400 certification.

Going back to the office has a new allure—with panoramic display visuals rivaling high-end home TVs.

Our state-of-the-art Zavus direct-view MicroLED is now mature with a full product lineup for 2024, from ultra-fine 0.7mm up to 1.2mm pixel pitch. Unmatched color and contrast in a seamless visual is proof of our vigorous engineering in display quality. Zavus maximizes Jupiter’s large-scale 21:9 vision. 

Our philosophy is simple: delivering innovative visual experiences to enterprise customers—from single, 21:9 displays to video wall management; and formulating the best firmware for seamless integration into any enterprise IT infrastructure.

Jupiter has teams of dedicated engineers in various areas of product development, and a wealth of supply chain partners (exclusively) supporting our effort. The optical, electrical, and mechanical engineering that goes into our displays is exclusive to us. We stretched newly launched chipsets to run our large Pana at native 120Hz breakneck refresh rate, developed our own algorithm to drive LCD backlight with over 2,300 local dimming zones, and created our industrial design and especially our own internal boards and connectivity layout. 

Our passion for 21:9 5K has seemingly infected the world over. We will continue to push engineering boundaries and lead in the display and video wall processor space.

AVT Question: Please share insight into your company's roadmap for 2024.

Thought Leader: Susy Liem, Associate Vice President of Conferencing Product Management at Shure

Our philosophy at Shure is to provide customers with the tools they need to succeed while creating high-quality, reliable products that are built to last. The last few years have shown us that more than ever, customers need solutions that improve their ability to communicate and collaborate. 

We commissioned market research firm IDC to conduct a global study on the challenges facing businesses in the age of hybrid work. While most businesses understand that hybrid meetings remain essential for collaboration, we see clear differences in outcomes between those who embrace and prioritize quality hybrid working models and those who seek quick-fix solutions. 

The research found that businesses with higher maturity levels are more likely to have invested in high-quality audio equipment that is standardized across the organization. This results in an enhanced hybrid working experience for employees. Notably, of the businesses that are thriving financially, 72 percent use professional audio equipment, helping draw the correlation between high-quality audio and business success.

On the other hand, when hybrid meetings don’t incorporate the right technology for a smooth experience, employees are left frustrated, highlighting poor communication, impacting collaboration abilities, distracting employees, and contributing to low attention levels. This leads to overall poor performance within a business. With the right technology, businesses can improve the hybrid experience along with employee morale and satisfaction.

Having the right AV equipment and solutions in place helps improve the employee experience, productivity, and decision making—all key to a business’s success. Adding to our ecosystem of existing conferencing solutions, new products are on the horizon to support both AV/IT end users and integrators on their journeys to creating more equitable and effective meeting environments.

AVT Question: Please share insight into your company's roadmap for 2024.

Thought Leader: Mark Bonifacio, Director of Business Management, Professional Display Solutions at Sony Electronics

Beyond being a great place to work, Sony’s company philosophy remains to get closer to our customers, help solve their pain points, and become even easier to do business with. We’ve placed a great emphasis on this approach and kept these objectives top of mind. As Sony evolves, we’ve demonstrated this commitment through our work with customers, partners, end users, resellers, integrators, and beyond. We’ve created resources such as our Architects, Consultants, and Engineers (ACE) Portal to make Sony even easier to spec and integrate. We’ve continued our regular educational webinar series, Tech Tuesday, to both keep our community informed and to open a two-way, real-time dialogue between ourselves and our (prospective) users. We’ve also grown our professional AV alliances program to nearly 100 affiliated companies, combining our collective strengths and giving the industry more compatibility and choice. In 2024, expect even more partnerships and alliances that bring additional value and freedom.

Additionally, we have or are looking to incorporate the most transformative, trending, and disruptive technologies into our portfolio of Pro AV solutions. As AI comes to the forefront, it provides a lot of opportunity but also yields questions. We’re finding innovative ways to create automation, efficiencies, and customization through the power of AI. Our latest generation of PTZ cameras, the SRG-A series, features AI analytics to enable automatic tracking and framing, including options for full body, waist up, or close up. 

Another global focus for Sony is sustainability. Building on our Road to Zero global environmental plan, we’ve implemented sustainable practices, large and small, across our entire product lifecycle. From employing recycled materials to using less ink and making certain accessories optional, we’re committed to the environment and the future. We’re also helping our users to better understand and optimize their power consumption through tools like the ECO Dashboard in our professional BRAVA displays.

AVT Question: Please share insight into your company's roadmap for 2024.

Thought Leader: Amber Ward, Director of Marketing at Carousel Digital Signage

What is our philosophy? At Carousel, we believe that success in digital signage communication hinges on targeting the right person, in the right place, and at the right time. By tailoring your content to the unique interests and needs of your audience, you enhance the impact of your messages.

We help you supercharge your communications by keeping everyone, from your corporate office to your school districts, storefronts, and everywhere in between feeling welcome, informed, and connected. Carousel allows you to go beyond your wall displays, tailoring messages to screens of all sizes. This ensures you reach your audience precisely—when and where they need it—whether it be through typical signage, tablets, mobile devices, or desktop computers.

As we move forward into 2024, we’re looking at one guiding principle: helping our customers break through the noise so they can get the most out of their signage system. We’ll explore what it means to reach your audience and tailor content to their needs, ensuring a seamless experience for all.

AVT Question: Please share insight into your company's roadmap for 2024.

Thought Leader: Bjorn Krylander, Chief Executive Officer, and Managing Director at Datapath

Datapath is well-positioned to take on the challenges of 2024, and we will continue to enable control room operators with groundbreaking technologies and advancements to our Aetria solution. 

Datapath was more visible than ever in 2023, exhibiting and showcasing our offering at more events, expos, and partner events than ever before. This year, we´re planning a significant expansion in different market verticals and our teams will be present at numerous events including security, governmental, utilities, and transport expos. In addition to the large industry, trade shows around the world, we also have in place a growing number of comprehensive training and demo facilities, with full Aetria demo suites now installed with 10-plus partners globally. 

Growing markets bring great opportunities for Datapath, particularly in India and South America. Working with our very capable and strong partners in these regions, we are well-placed to lead the growing control room demand that is expected. Elsewhere, we are seeing many Aetria systems coming online across the U.S., Europe, the Far East, and the Middle East. Aetria is on six continents in all major and many smaller markets and is being used in many different market verticals, from security to energy distribution, aviation, mining, healthcare, and entertainment venues.

The variety and volume of these projects is truly encouraging and shows the scalability and flexibility of Aetria and how it can benefit projects from the most compact organization to the largest of governmental operations. 

Over the past years, our Green Initiative has slowly gathered pace, but more is needed. We look to 2024 when minimizing the environmental impact of our products will be an integral feature of our roadmap, including less energy wastage, even more recycling, and further steps to minimize our logistics’ environmental impact. 

Political uncertainties remain, and yes, there are global challenges ahead, but here at Datapath we look forward with optimism.

AVT Question: Please share insight into your company's roadmap for 2024.

Thought Leader: Charlie Jones, Global Alliance and Partnership Manager, Business Communication at Sennheiser

2024 is all about trying to make things easier for our customers. With so much uncertainty in the world, it seems that every week we have a “new normal,” with companies going back to the office, embracing a remote workforce, or adopting hybrid work policies. At Sennheiser, we want to be the easiest technology partner for our customers to work with, regardless of their setup. We aim to achieve this in a few ways. Notably, utilities like the new free Sennheiser Room Planner software allow AV teams to virtually plan microphones in a room. End users can define the size and height of the room and automatically see the coverage of the mic in their given space, empowering them to select the best possible Sennheiser solution. 

As we want to be the easiest partner to work with regardless of the environment or application, we have a broad ecosystem of trusted partners. This includes industry-leading manufacturers that provide solutions from control to connectivity to cameras and everything in between—even furniture. Whether the space utilizes Crestron, Extron, Q-SYS, or another platform entirely, chances are we have (or are working on) a certified solution that can be integrated seamlessly.

We never stop listening to our customers. As we heard requests for better audio in small- to medium-sized rooms, we have recently begun shipping the TeamConnect Ceiling Medium, and later in 2024 will be shipping the TeamConnect Bar Solutions which allow for a plug-and-play video and audio solution at the front of the room, keeping workspaces clutter-free. No more pucks, pods, or wires covering the conference room! The TeamConnect Bars are in testing for all major platforms, ensuring a certified solution for all rooms, and the TeamConnect Ceiling Medium has plugins/modules for Crestron, Q-SYS, Extron, Xilica, and Kramer, with more integrations to be announced across the TeamConnect Family this year.