AVNation TV

Category: Features

  • AVIXA Womens group gathers with Women of DS

    Over 200 AV and DS Professionals at NYDSW

    As we have reported here, the AVIXA Women’s Council local groups have doubled in size since InfoComm 2018. One of those chapters, the New York City Metro, brought together audiovisual and digital signage professionals during the annual New York Digital Signage Week. The group was joined by the new group, Women of Digital Signage which had its inaugural meeting at this year’s Digital Signage Expo.
    The event was hosted at the Unilumen Showroom next door to Madison Square Gardens. There were professionals there from all aspects of both the commercial integrator and digital signage space. Over 150 attendees were there from programming companies, integrators, manufacturers, and more.
    The event was sponsored by Unilumin, Peerless-AV, New Era Technology, Sapphire Marketing, Chief, BrightSign, and AVI-SPL. These companies provided the food and refreshments as well as the space for AV and digital signage professionals to get together, network, and discuss how to create an industry where women feel supported and celebrated.
    If you’re interested in starting your own AVIXA Women’s Council local group, contact your AVIXA rep or watch this podcast we did with a group of local organizers.

  • NEC gets Interactive with DisplayNote

    DisplayNote provides the Interactive Engine

    One of the things about the NEC Showcase, this is their 25th year of doing these, is the various partner manufacturers that inhabit the space. Draper is there showing off how their screens make NEC displays shine. BrightSign is there behind the scenes delivering creative content to NEC displays. Mount companies like Peerless-AV and Chief/Legrand are showcasing their mounting solutions.

    Follow along with all of AVNations Digital Signage Week coverage

    DisplayNote was also represented at the 25th Annual NEC Showcase giving attendees a demonstration of Montage and Mosaic. These software solutions give NEC displays the ability to transform into wireless collaboration devices. Mosaic and Montage are DisplayNote’s wireless presentation and collaboration suites that can be built-in to NEC displays. Audiovisual dealers buy the displays directly from NEC and DisplayNote supports the software portion. Watch our interview with Ed Morgan from DisplayNote below.

  • Legrand demonstrates collaboration at NEC Showcase

    Bringing together teams within and outside Legrand

    At NEC’s 25th Annual Showcase Patrick May showed off the Chief kiosk mount for NEC displays. The mount is able to open up to reveal a compartment that allows audiovisual technicians to service the display as well as the components driving the content.

    Follow all of AVNation’s Digital Signage Week coverage

    To get to this finished product teams within Legrand worked together. Chief and Middle Atlantic, now part of the overall Legrand AV brand since Legrand’s purchase of Milestone last year, worked on the display mounting solution. The Legrand unified team then worked in conjunction with their NEC counterparts to create a mounting solution for NEC displays that provide commercial integrators the ability to not only mount their displays safely but to also support them once they are in place.

  • Fourth Times a Charm

    AVNation kicks off NYDSW live from Times Square

    For the fourth year now, Daktronics has opened their offices to the AVNation crew. We have kicked off New York Digital Signage Week (NYDSW) each Monday of the event with a live broadcast from the Times Square offices of Daktronics for the last four years. This year we were supplanted by a day as Daily DOOH’s Adrian Cotterill joined Chris Neto for Neto’s weekly #AVintheAM chat on Twitter.
    If you’re not familiar with the #AVintheAM chat, nor how to follow along to a chat, here’s a quick how-to. First, a hashtag (#) centric chat like #AVintheAM requires you to be able to follow along or filter your Twitter feed looking for phrases or, in this case, hashtags. Once you’ve done this, only #AVintheAM related posts will show up in that filter. Each Sunday morning at around 8 am ET Chris Neto puts out a number of topics and the AV universe that is on Twitter began to comment and debate. It is generally a great discussion with a broad range of topics and participants from around the globe.
    So, Mr. Neto and Mr. Cotterill really kicked off NYDSW 2018. We came along probably third or fourth in relation to other events that have started taking place on Mondays. The guests are listed below. You can watch a recap of the show. Thank you to Daktronics for their advertising help with our coverage of New York Digital Signage Week 2018.

  • Enhancing sports with audiovisual

    Getting fans back to their seats with AV

    Football. Or Football. Basketball and Hockey. All the other sports from around the world. Each of these enterprises have become increasingly sophisticated in their television, and Internet, broadcasts of their games. With stats, graphics, on-field audio through player mics, and behind the benches shots, they take us the audience places we could have never been. And that’s a problem.
    I am an unabashed Chicago Bears football fan. I love my St. Louis Blues hockey. If given the choice between heading up to Soldier Field or driving to downtown St. Louis to watch one of my favorite teams in person or watching the same game on television there was a time that the television experience was the better option.
    Depending on where you were in the venue, it could be argued that you will certainly see more of the game, get more information about the players and opposing team, not spend so much on parking, food, and the like, and have a better overall experience sitting on your own couch. Sports franchises have begun to realize this and have made serious overhauls to the fan experience in person.
    Now, the price of a beer and food has not gone down. What has changed is the venues and the games themselves have become more of an experience. More of an audiovisual experience to be more precise.
    Our friends at Westbury National have been involved in some of the most creative ice and basketball projection displays. My personal favorite is still that of the Toronto Maple Leaves. You can check out these others as well. These displays take the playing field and really create a unique audiovisual experience that you cannot get anywhere else.
    Teams are starting to experiment with real-time augmented reality (AR) stats of players on the field. Those in the seats can highlight a player with their mobile device and connect that with various fantasy sports apps to see how that particular player is helping the fans’ own fantasy team. The displays are evolving as well.
    This week the World Series has begun in Boston. Fenway still boasts an old-school scoreboard that requires a person to sit behind it and change physical numbers as the score changes. This is an outlier of a bigger trend of replacing scoreboards across sports franchises. Samsung has installed some large format stadium displays across the U.S. in both college and pro teams. As my Bears fell to the Miami Dolphins I could witness one of these at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.
    At my own Enterprise Center in St. Louis where the Blues play, they have upgraded their center ice experience to include not only higher resolution displays but an impressive line array audio system with the subs to back up whatever sound they want to recreate. This is not some tin-can sounding public address system. The sound quality throughout the venue is relatively even, clear, and powerful. I walked the venue when it was first installed and to say it was an impressive experience would be a bit of an understatement.
    These installations are not your typical audiovisual projects. They are a combination of digital signage, dynamic content creation, live staging that has been permanently installed, and a robust AV network to make it all run. It takes a multi-discipline team to pull it off. If you can, you can bring those fans out of their living rooms and back into the seats.

  • ISE has evolved to be the biggest AV show in the world

    All the connections you need at the world’s largest systems integration exhibition

    The 2019 edition of Integrated Systems Europe is set to be the largest in the show’s history, with more exhibitors, more floor space, more visitors and more events than ever before.
    ISE 2019 takes place at the RAI Amsterdam from Tuesday 5 to Friday 8 February 2019, preceded by conferences and the Opening Address on Monday 4 February. The five days are expected to attract over 80,000 registered attendees and 1,300 exhibitors. In response to the increasing demand for exhibition space, there will once again be 15 halls on the floor plan; in addition, Hall 5 will be extended, increasing its size by a third.
    To help attendees to locate the products, services, and companies of greatest interest to them, there will be six Technology Zones on the show floor: Audio and Live Events, Digital Signage & DooH, Education Technology, Residential Solutions, Smart Buildings and Unified Communications.
    The conference and education programme at ISE 2019 is being presented with the tagline ‘Learn, Discover, Be Inspired’. For the first time, ISE will be extending its reach beyond the RAI throughout the show, with the nearby 5-star Hotel Okura playing host to five conferences over four days.
    The XR Summit will explore the latest B2B technologies, solutions, and business opportunities around Augmented, Virtual and Mixed Reality.
    Digital Signage Summit ISE will give unparalleled insights into trends and strategies of the digital signage industry’s brightest, most talked about and controversial minds.
    The new half-day Digital Cinema Summit, organized in conjunction with Digital Cinema Report, will explore how digital technology is revolutionizing how we produce, distribute and experience films.
    Another new addition for 2019, the full-day HTNG Insight Summit ISE will discuss current issues and cutting-edge research findings from the world of hotel and hospitality technology. It is organized by ISE and trade association Hospitality Technology Next Generation.
    Also new for 2019 will be AGORA, presented by MONDO | STADIA – a conference focussing on stadium and sporting venue technology, with expert panels, case studies and keynote speakers from the industry.
    The popular InAVate Awards, powered by ISE, will once again take place on the evening of the first day of the show.  Companies can still enter into the competition
    And on Friday morning, AttractionsTECH by blooloop will be dedicated to exploring the latest technologies, solutions, and business strategies that are transforming the theme park and attractions business.

    Watch AVNation’s coverage of ISE 2018

    At the RAI, the Smart Building Conference, returning for its ninth edition, will take the theme ‘Making Buildings Smart, Making Smart Buildings’ – exploring the twin themes of retrofitting smart technology into existing buildings, and creating the most sophisticated and intelligent new buildings. Taking place on Monday, it will be followed by the ISE Opening Address.
    Organized by Italian media brand Connessioni, Audio Forum will once again bring together the pro audio and installation business communities, with a focus on integrated technologies and workflows.
    ISE co-owner AVIXA will host two half-day ‘What’s Next’ conferences, looking at AV integrated experiences in higher education and enterprise environments. The education conference, on Tuesday afternoon, will explore innovative ideas and best-case examples in the design of learning and collaboration spaces. It is jointly organized by AVIXA, SCHOMS, and EUNIS.
    AVIXA’s enterprise conference, on Wednesday afternoon, is once again produced in partnership with the AV User Group. It will explore how focusing on the customer experience can create real value in organizations.
    The association will also be hosting Flash Tracks throughout ISE 2019 – free 20-minute education sessions, designed for AV professionals of all experience levels, focusing on hot industry topics.
    CEDIA, ISE’s other owner, will present a full professional development programme across the four days of ISE 2019. Delegates wishing to attend multiple sessions may consider purchasing an All Access Pass, which will enable them to attend as many sessions as they wish.
    On its stand, the Association will be hosting CEDIA Talks – 20-minute sessions in which some of the custom installation industry’s best minds will offer insights into emerging trends and new technologies.
    An innovation for 2019 is the Main Stage, located in Hall 8, which will be a specially designed theatre and presentation space. It will present free sessions produced by ISE, CEDIA, AVIXA and AV Magazine as well as hosting a number of special events.
    Returning to ISE for 2019 will be the Closing Keynote. Taking place on Friday morning, it promises to inform, educate and entertain.
    Visitors to the RAI Amsterdam now have an additional choice of transport to and from the venue. The newly opened metro line 52 can convey passengers between the RAI and Centraal station in just eight minutes. Trains run every six minutes for much of the day. stopping at. Europaplein station, which is just a few meters from the front of the RAI.
    Travel and accommodation booking are now open, with exclusive discounts available from ISE’s partners. RAI Hotel services is ISE’s official accommodation agent; they can help you find the ideal place to stay to meet your needs – and by booking directly through them you can enjoy the best prices. You can email hotelservices@rai.nl or go to the ISE portal on the RAI website (https://book.raihotelservices.com/EventPortal/Information/ISE19/WELCOME.aspx).
    Other exciting initiatives will be added to the programme over the coming weeks. Attendees and exhibitors can look forward to updates in ISE’s RISE newsletters, as well as RISE magazine, which will be published in December.

    The first ever Great AV-over-IP Shootout at Integrated Systems Europe 2019

    Mike Blackman, Managing Director of Integrated Systems Events, said: “We’re delighted to offer such a full programme at ISE 2019. We have a packed schedule, from the Monday before the exhibition opens to when we close our doors on Friday afternoon. We’re looking forward to opening the doors to the home of systems integration and giving attendees their best ISE experience yet.”
    Registration for ISE is open now at www.iseurope.org.

  • Another Year of Telling AV's Story

    By Brad Grimes, AVIXA
    I write this 39,000 feet above the Atlantic Ocean, heading back to AVIXA HQ from a conference in London (where I messaged AV Nation patriarch Tim Albright from the shadows of a scaffolded Big Ben). The conference was for executives and operators of sports venues and the teams that occupy them. AVIXA was proud to take part and to deliver a message to conference attendees that audiovisual solutions can have a positive impact on their businesses, through greater fan engagement and more.
    And it wasn’t just me saying it. I was pleased to deliver the message along with Lisa Knights, who is the Group Head of Communications for Ashton Gate Stadium, where they’ve seen really great results from building one of the U.K.’s biggest pub videowalls, among other AV experiences, to engage fans—inside and outside the stadium. Phil McGowan, curator at the World Rugby Museum at Twickenham Stadium, talked about how the museum has introduced a slew of new AV installations, with a goal of building relationships with fans that extend beyond the games themselves. George Vaughn, Head of Technology for Ascot Racecourse, emphasized the importance of using AV technology to create a more engaging race-day experience; after all, a typical day of horse races includes only, on average, 20-plus minutes of “action.”
    Earlier this fall, I was fortunate to be at a retail design conference in Seattle. More and more, retail stores are fighting back against online shopping by creating engaging experiences that customers only get in the brick-and-mortar world. In Seattle, AVIXA was joined by Rebekah Sigfrids, Vice President of Store Design for Sephora; Angela Gearhart, Vice President of Brand Experience for Sleep Number; and Robyn Novak, Vice President of FRCH Design Worldwide, which does designs for The Container Store. Each has overseen cool implementations of AV in retail stores and was eager to share her experiences with peers on behalf of AVIXA and the AV industry.
    Meeting smart, creative people who will advocate on our industry’s behalf—on your behalf—has been one of my greatest blessings the last couple of years. AVIXA has dedicated itself to growing the market for what you do by going where your potential customers congregate and evangelizing about the impact of AV solutions in venues, stores, hotels, banks, transportation hubs, classrooms, and more. Almost without exception, the people we meet in these markets have bought into the overall experience economy. And even if they have not already considered the role of AV in those experiences, they quickly understand its potential.
    Their reservations, when they have them? They worry about keeping pace with technological change, and, frankly, ensuring stuff works. Oh, and they know that content will be king of many solutions, but many aren’t content experts—creators or curators. They’re looking for trusted partners who will listen to their needs and propose engaging, integrated solutions that work. They don’t know what they don’t know but enjoy learning what’s possible. Some are concerned about ROI, though the majority appreciate the risk of not investing in the AV technologies that have come to define our modern human experience.
    At InfoComm 2018, I got to spend time with Marriott’s VP of Design. He even took part in the show’s Center Stage. It was his first InfoComm show, and he was blown away. Let’s face it: Lots of what this industry creates has to be seen and heard to be believed. Our paths crossed again in Seattle (he was once a retail designer) and he was talking about ways of demonstrating to his bosses how more AV technology could be integrated across Marriott’s many brands. Take whichever side you want on the question of end users (customers) at InfoComm, I believe hosting people like Marriott’s David Kepron forms the basis for a collaborative relationship between our industries that benefits everyone—including visitors to Marriott’s various properties (like my family).
    We call this AVIXA’s industry awareness effort, initiated by our Board of Directors, and carried out by a group I’m lucky to be part of. With the days getting shorter and colder, I appreciate the chance to reflect on some of the year’s highlights. Like the overflow crowd at a conference session for airport executives who came to hear about AV projects at LAX and Changi Airport in Singapore or the executive from a firm called Wildbytes who showed retailers projection-mapping on the moving face of a Sephora model (see if you can find it on YouTube—wow). Or the busy executives from the San Francisco 49ers, NBA’s Milwaukee Bucks, Detroit Pistons and Red Wings, and others, who took time out of their busy schedules to sit down and make the case that audiovisual experiences were critical to their future success (check out some of the video at www.avixa.org/sportsAV).
    To say nothing of use cases like Bank of America’s innovative deployment of in-branch videoconferencing to connect customers with financial advisors. Like retail stores, bank branches are seeing something of a renaissance thanks to technology and a focus on experiences. These are exciting times for the AV industry—our long and important time in the spotlight. The personal computer was great; the Internet still is, but you gotta be careful out there. Now’s the time for pervasive digital signage, immersive audio, augmented reality, video collaboration, huge screens, talking to handheld screens, esports, and engaging video projection on, well, anything. More and new customers are awakening to the possibilities of AV solutions precisely because AV is for experiencing; and in so many markets today, the experience is currency.
    We’ve still got a few more opportunities this year to bring the message to markets that could be investing more in AV to reach their goals. Want to be part of the story? Reach out. The more voices the better.

  • From Integrator to Content Creation

    Consistent, Compelling Content

    During Digital Signage Expo (DSE) 2018, I moderated a panel discussion on taking your commercial integrator firm and launching a digital signage division. With me were Will Amos from Diversified, Lance Hutchinson of Alpha Video, and Tom Milner from Service and Support. These three have developed groups and helped other integrators deploy digital signage divisions.
    The main areas to consider when introducing a digital signage component to your audiovisual shop are infrastructure, technicians, and content.
    Infrastructure
    This is the backbone on which the entire digital signage system relies. It includes the mounting, connection points, networking, and signal distribution. Infrastructure also encompasses the various types of displays within a system. Not all of these are simple monitors either. There are things like the Hypervsn by Kino-mo. This is not a screen but a set of blades the spin. Within those blades are LEDs. As they spin they create an image based on the software connected. Having an understanding of unique display devices as well as the rest of the supporting cast is important.
    Technicians
    Digital Signage, from an installation standpoint, is fairly similar to most of your other audiovisual jobs. The differences come in the deployment and software setup. We are not presenting a simple powerpoint, connecting a video conferencing call, or controlling a projector. The displays and media players need to be connected and networked together. The software the drives the content on a timer or event-based situation need to be able to communicate with those media players. They are small differences but important ones.
    Content Creation
    The most consistent feedback our panel received from the audience of over 100 was that the biggest hurdle for integrators getting into the digital signage vertical was content creation. It’s as if the AV dealer would install these beautiful displays, media players, and sound and then hand the keys over to the client and say “good luck”. Each of the panelists had different solutions as did some of the audience members. I’ll break down the solutions into two camps; do it for them and hire it out.
    There are several audiovisual firms who have created their own, in-house, content creation groups. This allows the AV team to work directly with their co-workers on getting the most out of a system. The benefits of having a team within your organization include being able to pop by their desk, it’s easier to keep them in the loop of changes, and a more cohesive team.
    Some opt to subcontract out the work to a variety of content creators like Show+Tell. These teams are able to come in and bring on additional staff as a project is needed. Communication can be a challenge but not an insurmountable one with subcontractors. You can also opt to bring a sub into your space to overcome some of those issues.
    Just like with any sort of technology design and implementation, finding out from the client what they are trying to accomplish with a digital signage installation is the first step. From there you can meet with your team, whether in-house or subs, and form a plan of attack. Either direction you can successfully deploy and support your clients’ wildest imaginations and continue to create compelling content for their digital signage systems.
    To learn more about how to create consistent, compelling content register for our webinar, November 12 at 1 pm ET by clicking here.

  • NYDSW 2018 Schedule

    For the fourth year, AVNation is heading into the heart of New York City for New York Digital Signage Week (NYDSW).  And you can follow along, either in person or by checking back for our daily coverage starting this week.
    New York Digital Signage Week is one of my favorite events because of the federated nature of the week. This isn’t one show being put on by one organization. It is several organizations who work in the digital signage industry gathering together in New York for one week. There are so many events to choose from that there are times you’ll have to make very hard choices between one or the other. The ones I have attended in the past have all been worth it.
    AVNation is kicking off our live coverage on Monday at 2 pm ET with our annual live from Times Square broadcast from the offices of Daktronics. We have done this each year and it is always a great conversation. We’ll have commercial integrators, creatives, journalists, manufacturers, and digital signage owners. The discussions will range from changes in the industry to where these smart professionals see the industry headed.
    Before the week even begins, though, NEC is hosting their 25th Annual Showcase. Here NEC will bring together their various industry partners to show off what NEC is doing with projection, signage, and more. There is rumored to be a “significant announcement” during the showcase as well. That happens this Wednesday and Thursday, October 24 and 25.
    Tuesday is jam-packed with events all day. We’ll start our day at Google’s New York offices. Digital Signage Federation is hosting another Coffee and Controversy breakfast gathering. In year’s past, this event is heavily attended and the content has always been compelling; debating topics such as privacy, security, and dynamic content. On Tuesday evening, the AVIXA Women’s Council NYC Group and Women of Digital Signage are having a networking event at the Unilumen Showroom.
    Our friends at Daily DOOH put together a compelling day of presentations on Wednesday. Their Daily DOOH Investor Conference is attended by the highest executives from digital media companies from around the world. Adrian Cotterill starts the day going over the various mergers and acquisitions that have taken place in the last year and their impact on the state of the industry.
    New this year is the Experience United Social Club (XUSC) gathering in Brooklyn on Halloween. AVNation is proud to sponsor this gathering of AV, brand experience, marketing, and design professionals. Tickets for this first event is sold out, unfortunately, but keep your eyes open to what Bryan Meszaros and the team at Open Eye Global are doing to create community.
    When we began covering this week there were only events Monday through Wednesday, with the occasional one on Thursday. Now there are events Monday through Friday of next week. Daktronics, Barco, LG, SEGD, DPAA, BrightSign, and many others are hosting a number of events. For the full list you can go to the NYDSW 2018 page.
    So, follow along as we head to New York and bring you as many of the events as we can get around to for New York Digital Signage Week 2018.
    AVNation’s coverage of New York Digital Signage week is brought to you by Daktronics.

  • Last Train to Belgium

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    Touring Barco’s Corporate HQ

    On September 28th I was honored to host the broadcast of the 20th Annual AV Magazine AV Awards. After that Friday I figured hanging around in Europe for a few more days would be a good idea; get some culture, see the sights, grab a pint or two at an English pub, take a train through the English Channel. You know, normal tourist stuff.
    After contacting a few of the people I know at Barco to make sure it would be alright to stop in I grabbed a train from St. Pancras station in London. An hour and a half later I found myself in a little French town on the France and Belgium border. A short car ride later and there I was in Kortrijk. This sleepy burg is the world headquarters of Barco.
     
     
     
    Upon arriving at the corporate campus you get the sense of just how big Barco, the company, really is. The building is massive and beautiful. As you walk into the space the atrium gives the sense of openness. It is highlighted by a couple of Barco displays showcasing their LED technology by showing off various pitches.
    I was lead through various experiences with the help of Inge Govaerts and Lisebet Soenens from the barco team. We began at the entertainment experience. This room highlights not only Barco’s large format projectors but also projection mapping technology. This may seem elementary for someone within the audiovisual industry but for a visiting potential client the mapping shows off the angles and curves that are possible. The entire system was powered by Medialon, the show control platform Barco purchased two years ago.
     
     
    The command and control center showed off a simulated highway command room. Simulated because they are not allowed to show live camera feed in public in Belgium. The display highlighted Barco’s ability to send content from a local workstation up to a large display system. The room also contained an extensive desktop system. To call this a simple KVM switch would be doing it a disservice. This system took the PC and transported the video as well as mouse and keyboard control down a network cable. It then was smart enough to realize the user had multiple displays controlling multiple computers.
    Of course, Barco makes projectors and they have their own movie theatre. In plush dark seats, the cinema room showcases three various Barco cinema projectors. The room includes an impressive surround sound system, 3D system, and a conferencing system that allows the company to do product launches. In fact, the theatre was used as the stage for the launch of Unisee last year.
    One aspect of Barco that I did not know much about was their medical display division. In this room, a carousel platform transformed the room from operating theatre to a diagnosis center to a research facility. The high contrast and consistent color is important for medical teams to diagnose disease. The displays also offer consistent color off axis for multiple medical staff to view the same information at once.
    After the tour of experiences we took a tour of the factory floor called “The Engine”. For a company like Barco, The Engine is not only appropriate but also a nice tribute to the engines that drive the various displays. It is much like a typical high-tech AV factory except for the brightness. The large windows allow for plenty of natural light in for the workers.
     
     
     
     
     
    Finally, I was able to meet up with Barco CEO, Jan De Witte. De Witte was a wonder to talk with for a few minutes about the industry, Barco, and some of their up and coming products. He also is pretty adept at taking a selfie.
    This facility is two years old but it looks and feels brand new. Barco is still consolidating their disparate other campuses into this sprawling facility. The company has plenty of conference rooms, displays, research and development, and ClickShares of course throughout the building. If you get the chance to be in southern Belgium, or even Europe, and you have the time, I’d suggest stopping by the small hamlet of Kortrijk and visiting the Barco global headquarters.
     
     

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