AV News February 2021

The direct channel to the industry

February 2021 www.avnews.co.uk

PSCo named LED distributor for Barco reveals untapped potential in virtual education Sharp/NEC PSCo has announced an agreement with long-term partner Sharp NEC Display Solutions (“Sharp/NEC”), to become the distributor and accredited technical and service partner of LED products in the UK and Ireland. Sharp/NEC is a leading global provider of professional and commercial visual technology and digital signage solutions. PSCo began distributing NEC products in 2010, and with this announcement, PSCo will extend its offering by providing the full indoor and outdoor LED range, with a particular focus on the popular indoor fine pitch FE and FA range. The FE/ FA series is available in five key pixel pitch sizes ranging from their flagship 0.9mm model, with 1.2/1.5/1.9/ 2.5mm SMD options available, and in convenient bundled solutions sized up to 220”. The NEC LED range has been engineered using high grade diodes and quality components, ensuring the product lives up to its reputation for

delivering excellent image quality, durability and reliability. The LED displays are also backed by class-leading safety standards, including a metal chassis that supports efficient heat dissipation and full fire-retardancy – critical for use in public spaces. For

business-critical applications, the FA series also supports full power and data redundancy for fail-safe operation. PSCo has undergone extensive practical and hands-on training of the NEC LED portfolio ready for launch, achieving accredited LED partner status. This enables PSCo to offer channel partners manufacturer certified pre- and post-sales technical support. Whilst the NEC LED bundle solutions are inclusive of all the elements needed for installation, PSCo offer a range of complimentary products including mounts, controllers and video processing solutions, should they be required. As the UK’s only specialist distributor of LED displays, PSCo can give customers a unique single-supplier supply and support service, guaranteeing customers receive validated systems that work first time. From technical advice and hands-on demonstrations to training and onsite assistance, PSCo ensures the highest lev-

el of service at every step of the way. Sharp/NEC customers will also benefit from PSCo’s extended warranty options, backed by an in-house team of LED specialists and technicians based at Innovation House, Midwich Group’s new state-of-the-art experience,

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Given the explosive demand for high-grade LED and the rapid evolution of Sharp/NEC’s LED range, this is a natural next step, which will see us extend and enhance our leading portfolio of LED technologies with the addition of the FE / FA Series, to give our customers an even greater choice. training and event centre in Bracknell. Mark Taylor, Solutions Sales Manager, Sharp/NEC Display Solutions, comments: “Ensuring our customers enjoy the best possible experience is our top priority. Our LED solutions deliver all the quality and reliability that we are renowned for, now perfectly packaged for the wider market, so it is vitally important that the installation process mirrors our customer-first approach. We have long partnered with Midwich across multiple technologies, so we are delighted to harness PSCo’s LED expertise and service excellence to further strengthen our LED offering. PSCo has a proven track record in accurately qualifying projects and correctly specifying LED, alongside providing industry leading support services, meaning our channel partners and end customers will not only get a high-quality LED solution, but also a great buying experience and superior technical support.”

97% of organisations are now using virtual classrooms to support learning and development, with over half (53%) reporting that they have proved to be their most successful learning platforms during the COVID-19 crisis. This data is part of new research conducted by Fosway Group, Europe’s #1 HR industry analyst, in partnership with

95% of learning leaders believe L&D has changed forever because of the pandemic. Key headlines from this new research include: • A 5x increase in using virtual classrooms for high value programmes like leadership development since the start of COVID-19 • An explosion in the use of

of virtual classrooms for external training delivery • 95% of learners are satisfied with their virtual learning experiences •Group exercises, live collaboration and levels of interactivity are key influencers of success with virtual classrooms With the shift to remote working, the explosion in virtual

97% of organisations are now using virtual classrooms to support learning and development, with over half (53%) reporting that they have proved to be their most successful learning platforms during the COVID-19 crisis. Continued on page 3 Barco, a global provider of net- virtual classrooms for coaching worked visualisation solutions. and mentoring, with a 19x inIt follows Fosway research ear- crease lier in 2020 which showed that • A 400% increase in the use

AV News Awards 2021 – winners announced! This year’s AV News’ Awards feature both emerging technologies and suppliers relatively new to the market. For example, the astonishing work on the recreation of an underground city by the Polish Projekt Multimedia is a fine example of virtual reality and projection

mapping to create a truly memorable visitor experience. Other examples of winning entries include digital signage projects that truly integrate with ecommerce operations and remote education solutions that provide economic assistance during the pandemic.

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Congratulations also due to the Winners od the individual Awards – for a full list of Winners please go to avnews.co.uk and follow the navigation to the Award Winners announcement video.

Headline News

Nureva receives Frost & Sullivan 2020 Global Technology Innovation Leadership Award Nureva has announced that it has received Frost & Sullivan’s 2020 Global Technology Innovation Leadership Award. Each year, Frost & Sullivan presents the award to the company that has demonstrated uniqueness in developing and leveraging new technologies that deliver significant customer value. The prestigious award recognizes Nureva’s Microphone Mist technology as a high value innovation in audio conferencing.

learning spaces. The product line includes the HDL200 for small rooms, HDL300 for midsize rooms and Dual HDL300 for large rooms, featuring easy DIY installation. The Global Technology Innovation Leadership Award is part of Frost & Sullivan Best Practices Awards that recognize companies in a variety of regional and global markets that have accomplished an innovative or disruptive breakthrough in

“Our rigorous selection process highlighted the extent of Nureva’s technology leadership, and we are thrilled to honour the company with this award,” said Roopam Jain, senior director ICT, Frost & Sullivan. “We see Nureva as a forward-thinking company that has the potential to disrupt the meeting-room audio experience with products powered by its Microphone Mist technology.” "We are honoured to be recog-

NowSignage extended license uplift to NEC & BrightSign bundle NowSignage announces the launch of a ‘special offer’ that allows unlimited promotional NowSignage licenses to be attached to the sale of the newly available NEC and BrightSign bundle, to provide a digital signage solution that is quick and easy for NEC customers to get up and running. This campaign will provide the option for integrators across the EMEA region to purchase a 2or 3-year NowSignage license for the price of just 1 year. There are unlimited NowSignage licenses available to all NEC customers who purchase

with NowSignage, which allows for remote app updates and full digital signage control through the NowSignage CMS. On purchase of the NEC and BrightSign bundle, integrators will be issued with a NowSignage account and the option to activate a ‘special offer’ license pack. The license packs are based on a project basis and come in two forms:

the NEC and BrightSign bundle, but the promotion only runs for a 3 month period from 1st February 2021 until 30th April 2021. The offer leverages the BrightSign HO523 OPS unit due to its compatibility

2. For projects over 10 screens: NowSignage will provide 3 year licenses for the price of 1 year! Tom Ross, Commercial Director at NowSignage, said: “At NowSignage we regularly work in alignment with our trusted

NowSignage announces the launch of a ‘special offer’ that allows unlimited promotional NowSignage licenses to be attached to the sale of the newly available NEC and BrightSign bundle

Pioneer Group, one of the UK's leading systems integrators and accredited Google retailer has unveiled a new e-commerce website at: https:// shop.pioneergroup.co.uk/ The site brings the Pioneer Group’s expert knowledge to an online shopping experience. The webstore will offer an ever-changing selection of Google Meet and Google Meet accredited products bringing customers a simple way to buy Google Meet Solutions at great value. “We are thrilled to be launching our webstore, which allows customers to shop for Google Meet and Google Meet accredited hardware anytime,” said Mark Childerhouse Sales Director, Pioneer Group. “This site will feature a unique assortment of hardware brands such as ASUS, Lenovo and Logitech as well as Google Meet licenses. The webstore will offer great value to our customers and it will enable faster ordering and simple returns for those customers looking to purchase these solutions.” Experts in digital transformation since 2011, Pioneer have been taking a connected approach to AV solutions, electrical contracting and network infrastructure across stadia,

hospitality, retail, public sector and corporate settings for many years. Their client list is vast, and includes household names, bluechip enterprises, and public sector organisations, including the MOD. They are proud to work with world-famous sports clubs, installing and managing solutions for some of the UK's

largest stadia, as well as internationally renowned restaurant chains and stores. Their specialism in corporate communications and meeting room design has led to their accreditation as a Google Partner and official re-seller of the Google Meet video collaboration hardware.

1. For projects less than 10 screens: NowSignage will provide 2 year licenses for the price of 1 year!

and approved solutions partners, so when the opportunity arose to work with NEC and BrightSign, we were keen to put forward an offer that truly delivers an end-to-end digital signage solution to the market. We are genuinely excited to be providing this short term bundle offer and will proactively support the channel with its uptake, training and delivery”. To take advantage of this offering by NowSignage leveraging the NEC and BrightSign hardware, please contact sales@ nowsignage.com.

The Nureva product line includes the HDL200 for small rooms, HDL300 for mid-size rooms and Dual HDL300 for large rooms, featuring easy DIY installation. Nureva’s advanced audio systems leverage the technology to provide consistent full-room microphone pickup, continuous autocalibration and intelligent sound targeting to eliminate unwanted sounds, like HVAC, making them an ideal match for today’s hybrid meeting and

areas such as leadership, technological innovation, customer service and strategic product development. Industry analysts compare market participants and measure performance through in-depth interviews, analysis and extensive secondary research.

nized by Frost & Sullivan with this prestigious award,” said Nancy Knowlton, Nureva’s CEO. “It is very gratifying to be acknowledged for our focus on creating innovations that solve tough problems and deliver real-world value to our customers.”

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Barco reveals untapped potential in virtual education classroom solutions was inevitable. But the research digs beyond initial crisis adoption to understand if these solutions are truly effective for learning, as well as having the capabilities required for high value people development. For example, the research shows that 70% of organisations are us-

said, “Virtual classrooms have been a staple in corporate learning for a long time, but as with so many aspects of digital transformation, it’s taken the COVID-19 crisis to create a tipping point in their adoption. Early in the pandemic, there was a sense that any learning done was better than nothing.

ing Microsoft Teams as virtual classroom, but only 10% rate it as effective for learning. L&D leaders also state that creating a differentiated experience from normal virtual meetings is critical. Designing experiences that include high levels of interaction are necessary to make virtual learning work. David Wilson, CEO of Fosway

That meant it had to be virtual or digital. But as time goes on, organisations must go beyond lowest common denominator solutions and have to also deliver against strategic people initiatives such as leadership and team development.” He continues, “Given the ongoing need for extended home working and limited business

travel, all companies need to maximise the untapped potential that virtual classrooms can provide. It’s not enough to just lift and shift face-to-face sessions into a virtual environment. It’s critical to design the experiences and harness the full collaborative and interactive capabilities that some of the solutions on the market have to offer.” Ellen Van de Woestijne, Marketing Director of Barco said, “Supporting organisations through the COVID-19 crisis has been our number one concern and understanding how learning priorities and business challenges are evolving now is key to that. It is clear that many L&D teams won’t simply be reverting back to the old faceto-face model even after the pandemic is over. So, we are delighted to collaborate with Fosway on this research and hopefully highlight key areas of importance and opportunity into 2021.” This research was carried out between August and October 2020, with initial results based on input from 136 enterprise organisations.

Pioneer Group opens online store

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Business news

PPDS strengthens distribution with EARPRO for Iberia PPDS has announced a new partnership with the Midwich Group owned Spanish distributor EARPRO, bringing its full range of Philips’ digital signage and LED solutions to even more Pro AV/IT customers across the Iberian Peninsula. The partnership strengthens the manufacturer’s global strategy in bringing market leading products with peace-of-mind regional support to customers across the globe, whether single or multiple international locations. The addition of Philips professional displays brings enhanced value for its ever-growing account base, with the opportunity to source digital signage and LED, together with EARPRO’s traditional core portfolio. EARPRO is one of Iberia’s biggest and most important value-added AV distributors, serving the Spanish, Portuguese and Andorran markets since 1988. With premises, including a showroom, training rooms and offices) in Barcelona and Madrid, as well as in Lisbon, EARPRO offers an extensive range of AV products and services across digital signage, projectors, LED displays, lighting, brackets, video control and audio, as well as support from its engineering department, repairs and logistics. Focusing on vertical markets that include public venues, corporate, educational, public sector and hospitality for its SYSTEMS stream, broadcast, theatres, rental AV and touring for its LIVE stream, and MI and audio pro shops and e-tailers

for its RETAIL stream, a key focus for EARPRO will be around the latest range of digital signage solutions products in the PPDS portfolio. These include the Philips T-Line interactive display for education, the Philips C-Line collaborative display for corporate and the Philips B-Line range, as well as its ever-expanding LED range, such as the new ‘unlimited’ L-Line 7000 series, unveiled in December 2020. EARPRO has more than 15 years’ specialist experience in LED display distribution – making it a vital partner in PPDS’ ambitious growth plans in this ever-evolving space, with corporate and retail identified as key market opportunity areas.

After a short leave of absence from the front line, three well known industry figures have joined forces to form a new Business Consultancy primarily focussed on press, PR, marketing and sales for the global professional AV, IT & CE sectors. The new business called, Re-Sauce, has been founded by Gordon Dutch (former shareholder/Exec VP & MD of Peerless-AV); Lee Baker (former Midwich Group Commercial Director); and Ian Sempers (former owner of Medium UK). Dutch takes on the role of CEO within the new business, Baker Chairman and Sempers Non-Exec and FD. Gordon Dutch explained the

reasons behind forming this business. “Over the past year, our industry and the world has changed almost beyond recognition. The shows we all attended for years have either been cancelled or delayed. Meetings and networking events have currently all been replaced by some form of Virtual Launch, Zoom or Teams call. All AV, CE & IT businesses have had to review their business models, from fixed costs through to how they market and sell. This new business, Re-Sauce, will have a solid focus on business consultancy, ‘digital’ marketing services, as well as the more traditional forms of press & PR.” Lee Baker & Ian Sempers add-

True partnership Midwich acquired EARPRO in 2017 as part of its own continued international expansion. The latest agreement further enhances and extends PPDS’ relationship with the Midwich Group, which plays an integral role in the manufacturer’s strategy to provide a global reach with local support to customers. PPDS’ newly launched specialist International Key Account Management (IKAM) project team provides a single point of contact for customers with multiple national and international locations, such as retail groups and corporations, when completing large scale installations. César Sanz, Sales Director Iberia, at PPDS, commented:

“The partnership with EARPRO is a fantastic addition to our distribution network here in Iberia. “2021 will again be another hugely important and significant year for PPDS, with major product launches at the end of 2020, such as our L-Line 7000 LED series, our C-Line and T-Line range for corporate and education among others gaining some serious market traction, as well as a whole host of new products set to be unveiled. We’re delighted that EARPRO will be joining us on this journey.” Franck Racape, Vice President, EMEA, at PPDS, added: This partnership with EARPRO is a fantastic addition to our already extensive distribution network and further enhances our incredible and rewarding relationship with the Midwich Group.” Pere Castro, EARPRO’s General Manager, concluded: “We are pleased to have added Philips professional display products from PPDS into our portfolio because we will be able to enhance our offering to the market with visual media. Philips professional display solutions come with new technological solutions like interactivity, high brightness and LED, all of which have real potential for Spain and Portugal, especially for AV/IT System integrators. Beyond the strategic partnership with PPDS and the Midwich Group there is a well-connected relationship between our local teams here in Iberia.”

Re-Sauce: not so new kids on the block! ed, “When Gordon approached us both about becoming involved in Re-Sauce, we were really excited by the proposition. Between us, we have a huge amount of contacts, business experience in building, running, selling and floating businesses globally. We all enjoyed a fantastic relationship when Gordon ran Peerless-AV and so we are really looking forward to working together again.” For more information on what Re-Sauce can do for you check out their exciting new website and corporate video at www. re-sauce.net or contact them directly via hello@re-sauce.net

Re-Sauce has been founded by Gordon Dutch (former shareholder/Exec VP & MD of Peerless-AV); Lee Baker (former Midwich Group Commercial Director); and Ian Sempers (former owner of Medium UK).

Midwich acquired EARPRO in 2017 as part of its own continued international expansion. Exertis has announced a distribution partnership with Fitbit. Exertis will rapidly enable and equip the channel with the full range of Fitbit products, and will drive Fitbit into alternative consumer channels, such as corporate wellbeing, salary sacrifice and gift-with-purchase markets. Fitbit’s diverse line of innovative and popular products include the health smartwatch Fitbit Sense, the Fitbit Versa family of smartwatches, Fitbit Charge 4, Fitbit Inspire 2 and Fitbit Ace 2 activity trackers. The Fitbit platform delivers personalised experiences, insights and guidance through leading software and interactive tools including the paid subscription

service Fitbit Premium. Alongside these products and services, Fitbit Health Solutions develops health and wellness solutions designed to help increase employee engagement, improve health outcomes and drive positive results for employers in enhancing employee wellbeing. Caroline Hope, Exertis Consumer Commercial Director: “We’re really excited by the opportunity that Fitbit presents to Exertis. Health and wellbeing are more important than ever as businesses look at new initiatives to offer benefits to their employees. We’re looking forward to enabling the channel within this dynamic growth area.”

Exertis to distribute Triangle Hi-Fi Exertis has boosted its premium audio offering by becoming distributor to French audio specialists, Triangle Hi-Fi, focusing on the manufacturer’s highly regarded Borea range of speakers. Celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, Triangle’s philosophy is built around dynamic and vivid sound performance. The Borea loudspeaker range delivers a class-leading vocal and midrange performance combined with punchy and controlled bass. The cabinets

and driver membranes are inspired by previous generations of successful Triangle products, and the Borea range is already the subject of not one, but two 5-star reviews from market-leading audio reviews website, Whathifi.com. Richard Booth, Commercial Brand Manager, Premium Audio, Exertis, said: “We’re thrilled to be appointed distributor for Triangle, and we are looking forward to establishing the brand as a major player in the hi-fi speaker market. We believe Triangle’s

dynamic, precise sound and elegant design will make this range extremely appealing to the UK audio market.” Hugo Decelle, CEO, Triangle, said: “We are excited to begin this partnership with Exertis. Its premium audio team has a proven track record building market share for high-quality audio brands, and we look forward to building this partnership together, and bringing the excellent sound quality and design of Triangle loudspeakers to UK consumers.”

ViewSonic has launched a worldwide and yearlong colourPro campaign - “A Year of Colours”, starting from February 1st to November 30th, 2021. Each month participants are invited to post their photographs to the colourPro Instagram account using the hashtag #MyVisionPrecisely. The campaign aims to create a digital hub for creators to showcase their work andbecome part of a larger community of photographers, designers and artists. Moreover, ViewSonic willevaluate the art-

work and announce a winner on every 15th to give out a colourPro VP2785-2K professional display. “Our once serene and sane lives have been disrupted by the pandemic for far too long, with theannouncement of our very first yearlong campaign, ‘A Year of colours’, we hope to shed a ray of sunshine through this big dreary cloud and paint this brand-new year with beautiful colours,” said Oscar Lin, Head of the Monitor Business Unit at ViewSonic. “Our purpose is to encourage people from all over the world

tocombine their imagination with the beauty of colours and shape our Instagram into a hub of positivity energy and inspiration. We are looking forward to seeing unique artwork by creators from all over the world.” This year, the colourPro Instagram account will be colour coordinated by focusing on one colour and building the feed around it each month. All colours have been chosen for a specific reason, such as holidays or seasons associated with

ViewSonic announces “A Year of Colours”

Continued on page 7

AV News February 2021 P5

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Opinion

Teaching and learning: keeping pace with Covid The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown as social distancing measures were implemented by the Government and health officials took the education sector by surprise. The speed at which the virus took hold meant many HE institutions simply weren’t prepared adequately enough to meet the new health regulations on social distancing and to deliver academic to student learning within a safe environment. Rob Smith, Senior Director, System Sales, Shure explains how audio technology van deliver a superior videoconferencing experience. The pressure on the education sector was immense, with a need to reorganise and reopen, quickly and effectively, on a national and international level. Running parallel to this was also the need for technology that could not only communicate lessons via online modules and virtual collaboration tools but offered a superior videoconferencing solution away from the immediate choice of utilising social media platforms as a means of delivering learning, which were simply not up to standard. The response was a patchwork of solutions to ‘just get the job done’ in the short-term without much focus on the student experience. This soon led to the realisation that these shortterm fixes were being detrimental to the learning journey, with both academics and students tired and frustrated at AV systems that were inadequate for purpose. Faculty heads and administrators needed to re-think strategy and many took the opportunity through the summer months to migrate lectures online ahead of the classrooms reopening and lessons taking place again. In some instances, HE institutions had to start from scratch, investing in new AV systems fit for purpose, redesigning classroom layouts and thinking about AV systems that not only offered better audio clarity within the classroom, but also for students collaborating remotely and working to online modules. Classrooms in the most part are designed to provide line of sight to the teacher from all seating positions, however, AV equipment was usually not part of the design considerations. Along with the room acoustics, this is one of the many initial challenges that an integrator has to deal with when first scoping a project. Zoom, MS Teams and a host of other video conferencing platforms were also now an essential tool in order to keep lessons on track, platforms that just 12 months earlier had been the reserve of the corporate world but were now being utilised by HE institutions on a global scale.

The convergence between AV and IT departments has been well documented. However, there was now a renewed focus as both sets of professionals worked together to provide the efficient, flexible AV solutions needed to offer students the best possible experience for them to progress with their learning journey, designing and creating larger classrooms and lecture theatre environments with smaller groups of students. By drawing on their shared experiences and knowledge, and working alongside specialist AV integrators, AV systems were created to meet and exceed requirements. This enables an inclusive high-end audio experience, effortlessly connecting both faculty and students with each other and their classes with high-quality audio, for both domestic and international students. The plus side to this investment also meant cutting-edge videoconferencing technology could now be implemented within the HE environment. Lecture capture is now offered to both faculty and students as a means of referencing lessons and coursework. Voice lift, a relatively new technology that provides natural and consistent speech across a given space from near to far-end participant, has been embraced by the HE sector for providing faculty with a means of conducting lessons without the fatigue of having to raise voices or strain to engage with students in open sessions. It also provides a way for the remote students to accurately hear the questions and discussion points made by students in the classroom. There is, of course, a need for understanding and effective operation of this new technology. Shure has been working alongside our partners to provide assistance and support for the audio needs of new learning styles to ensure that both academics and students are not inhibited by this new technology. We appreciate that collaboration and discussion is an essential part of the learning experience and want to make sure that our customers have

the best support possible, so that in turn they can support the needs and requirements of the teachers and students. Recent innovation within the Higher Education sector has been, and continues to be, both amazing and encouraging, with our partners adapting these new technologies to provide the sector with the best learning environments possible. This network of fantastic talent, along with the dedication and perseverance of professionals within the AV means that we have seen the integration of exciting new solutions that have enhanced the remote learning experience, as well as giving all students - whether learning in the classroom environment or learning remotely from their homes - the feeling of being connected. As a manufacturer, it is important for Shure to provide our customers with the tools needed to meet and exceed the audio challenges they face on a daily basis, to listen to their ongoing needs and requirements and to design and create innovative solutions for environments of all types. By doing this, and utilising the Shure Ecosystem of products, from microphone to DSP to loudspeaker, we can continue to support our customers as they in turn continue to service the HE sector post-pandemic, offering both faculty and students the best possible AV systems and solutions for now and the foreseeable future. As a manufacturer, it is important for Shure to provide our customers with the tools needed to meet and exceed the audio challenges they face on a daily basis.

Continued from page 1

ViewSonic announces “A Year of Colours” the month. The submissions of March’s colour, “Red”, is open from February 1st all the way till the end of the month. ViewSonic will announce the winner on March 15th. At the end of 2021, audiences’ favourite artwork will be revealed publicly as well. To show examples of how to participate in the campaign,

low”, which is associated with optimism and vivacity. The colourPro series of professional monitors combine the art and science of amazing colours. They are designed for photographers, graphic designers, video editors, and creators. During this campaign, ViewSonic has invited 12 incredibly artistic influencers all over the world to

• How to Enter: 1) Follow the official colourPro Instagram account on Instagram. 2) Post a photo related to the monthly colour with a public Instagram account. 3) Tag the official colourPro Instagram account on the photo. 4) Hashtag "#MyVisionPrecisely" and located country (e.g.,

January and February are represented as trial run months. Renee Robyn, a renowned photographer and digital artist from the United States, is January’s honoured guest. She is frequently featured on colourPro’s Instagram stories, and her artwork related to the January colour, “colourPro Blue”, is also presented on colourPro’s Instagram account; while the February colour resonates with one of Pantone’s 2021 colours of the year, “Illuminating Yel-

create stunning, colour-accurate, true-to-life images. These influencers will also share their insights and perspectives on the meaning of colours. Come and be a part of the colour palette. To view more of the latest submissions, please visit the official colourPro Instagram account. “A Year of colours” Campaign Details:

#USA, #Japan) in the post caption. • Winner Selection: All entries will be judged by their overall impact, originality, creativity, colour, and tone. The winning artwork will be announced on Instagram on the 15th of each month. • Prize: A colourPro VP27852K professional display to one winner each month.

• Entry Period: February 1st, 2021 to November 30th, 2021.

Handy AV refreshes brand Handy AV has continually evolved their service offering over the past two decades, from delivering digital signage and interactive screens for the education sector, through to creating in-store video walls with remotely managed content for global luxury brands. This year, Handy AV has continued to evolve, launching their solutions for digitally-enabled workspaces for fast-growing industry leaders. To mark 2020, which has been a milestone in Handy AV’s journey, welcoming new clients and diverse projects, the brand has received a modern makeover reflecting the new creative-led technology direction the company now provides. The tagline, ‘Inspiration meets Technology’ highlights Handy AV’s full-service offering, combining inspirational ideas with the latest technology solutions. The new logo design includes subtle up and down arrows, which represents digital commands, alluding to the new digital approach, and also the letters A and V, referencing the heritage of the Handy AV brand. Owner of Handy AV, Aubrey Wright says; “We decided to remove the ‘screen’ visual ele-

The Handy AV rebrand encompasses the visual identity, digital presence and a new website which focuses on their core areas of business, Work (workplaces and office space), Shop (retail and public places) and Learn (education environments).

ments from Handy AV’s brand as we do so much more than just screens. We provide full, end-to-end solutions for real business challenges, which I hope the new brand identity will reflect. The new visual identity is a welcome evolution of our legacy brand.” The Handy AV rebrand encompasses the visual identity, digital presence and a new website which focuses on their core areas of business, Work (workplaces and office space), Shop (retail and public places) and Learn (education environments). CTO of Handy AV, Ben Oram says; “The refreshed visual identity reflects our shift towards our new business ser-

vices model, providing not only end-solutions but consultancy and project development to build the most suitable and sustainable solution, whatever the challenge brought to us. The new positioning will allow us to grow with confidence and represent our services more succinctly and effectively.”

AV News February 2021 P7

Technology News

AI powered dialogue Next generation Lutron HomeWorks isolation AI powered dialogue isolation Sometimes, you need to unscramble the egg of a master track or soundtrack, whether it’s to create a new immersive version, to extract stems for creative or UGC projects, to swap in a new musical moment, or simply to get the vuvuzelas out. Audio separation software and services provider Audionamix has done all this, leading the industry in AIbacked sound isolation technology since 2003. The L.A.- and Paris-based audio separation pros began their success story two decades ago. They started with nothing more than a seemingly impossible

Their top-of-the-line audio separation tech is reserved for major film studios, television networks, and music labels via the Audionamix Professional Services division. The Professional Services team takes on unique audio challenges with a fully individualized approach, offering custom solutions for rightsholders that are uniquely tailored to each project. “We are always adjusting our AI and services based on the industry’s needs,” said Stephen Oliver, Senior Engineer of the L.A. Professional Services team. “Early on, we’d met with studios who were like, ‘Can you please take this music out?’

HomeWorks by Lutron is the premier lighting and shading control solution for luxury homes around the world – and has been for decades. The next generation has arrived. Lutron is pleased to announce the European launch of the HomeWorks QSX processor. This next-generation HomeWorks system makes HomeWorks easier to design, install, activate, program, and service. “The new HomeWorks platform sums up the ‘Lutron Dif-

ference.’ It’s a game-changing addition to our international portfolio of products and solutions,” says Nate Hagemeier, Senior Sales Director Europe and Africa at Lutron. Features include: • Increased processing power and memory to manage larger, more complex projects and support future capabilities • Compatibility with all existing HomeWorks wired QS and wireless RF devices • Always up to date – your cus-

tomers will have the latest capabilities, device support, and security updates •Securely connects to third-party products with builtin Connect Bridge technology •Streamlines upgrades from existing HomeWorks QS systems by carrying databases forward •Backup and restore project databases from the cloud – helping to ensure you never lose a project file •High-wattage LED+ DIN module with RTISS-ICM withstands

the most severe electrical stresses: LED in-rush, bulb blowout, and short circuit “We’ve made our largest ever innovation investment in HomeWorks,” says Hagemeier. “Lutron is setting the stage for the next decade of integrator success with this new line-up of products and with a new range of keypads coming soon to Europe. There’s never been a better time to be part of the Lutron family and grow your business with Lutron.”

Datapath launches Aetria Audionamix’s vision is to be not only the global leader in customised unmixing, but also the proprietor of products that are accessible and affordable. They have achieved this with award-winning software, XTRAX STEMS and IDC: Instant Dialogue Cleaner. problem: How do you separate a fully mastered audio file into individual sounds, turning a mono or stereo recording into manifold stems? “Audionamix started as a research-only company in Paris, obsessed with the idea of how you unbake the cake — unmix the pieces,” said Ellie McNeil, General Manager of the L.A. office. “At the time, it was seen as the Holy Grail of the audio world. The research was a scientific endeavour -- a practically impossible feat.” Years of building and improving the tech gave rise to real-world uses in film and television. Audionamix’s first true test came on an international stage — the 2010 Men’s World Cup in South Africa, where the buzzing drone of thousands of vuvuzelas often drowned out the voices of the broadcasters on television. Audionamix licensed its tech to remove the distracting sound from CANAL+ coverage of the matches that summer. Since those early days, the utility of isolating and removing stems has exploded in just about every entertainment medium. Need to remove songs with expired licenses from old TV shows or mute the vocals for a master-based Karaoke catalogue? What about isolate dialogue for an upmix or remove dialogue for international dubbing? Audionamix has created technology that can handle these seemingly impossible tasks in mere minutes.

and the team in Paris found a way.” Audionamix’s vision is to be not only the global leader in customised unmixing, but also the proprietor of products that are accessible and affordable. They have achieved this with award-winning software, XTRAX STEMS and IDC: Instant Dialogue Cleaner. They are now expanding the accessibility and flexibility of their Professional Services division, offering a new On-Demand Web App, API, and unlimited, on-site Enterprise license for the highest level of IP security. These products and expertise provide an invaluable service to entertainment and media companies all over the world. “What makes Audionamix unique is the quality of our proprietary tech, our intuitive products, and our white glove Professional Services team that reserves state-of-the-art solutions for our industry clientele,” said McNeil.

P12AV P8 AVNews NewsFebruary November 2021 2019

Datapath has announced the world’s first fully integrated platform purposely designed for control room environments. Aetria from Datapath brings all the elements of control room design, management, control and monitoring into a single solution, allowing integrators and end users to design systems to meet a wide set of requirements, including con-

velopment that have driven Aetria’s ethos, Bjorn Krylander, Managing Director of Datapath, said: “Today’s control rooms are highly complex, with ever-increasing demands for sources, data and secure multipoint sharing. Our systems are trusted in mission-critical environments at the highest levels of government and we have used that extensive experience

tions provide for more secure environments depending on requirements. Datapath’s award-winning VSN controllers are fully supported and with Aetria they are easier than ever to manage. Aetria can also work in harmony with established third-party hardware, such as AMX and Crestron, via its application programming interface (API).

Datapath has announced the world’s first fully integrated platform purposely designed for control room environments nectivity, video walls, workstations and source management, ranging from small to very large installations. Aetria has been designed to make content sharing easy for operators, plus easy to control, manage and secure for administrators. It manages the underlying technology enabling users to focus on their primary objectives. Explaining the years of de-

to bring simple and secure ‘any source/any screen’ management to control rooms.” With Aetria, Datapath is also introducing several workstation options, depending on end-user requirements and connectivity preferences. The comprehensive Aetria Workstation solution offers almost unlimited connectivity and flexibility of source viewing, sharing and control, whilst alternative solu-

Bjorn Krylander adds: “The move to AV-over-IP fundamentally changes how control rooms and other big AV visualisation solutions can be built. Aetria is an ambitious solution that integrates both the delivery process and the operations and management of complex AV environments.”

Technology News

Technology news

Panasonic announces SQ1H high-bright series Panasonic has announced March 2021 availability for its new ultra-bright 4K professional displays, the SQ1H Series, with two large format, slim and stylish display sizes: 75” and 86 IPS panel models. With incredible 1500 cd/m² and 1200cd/ m² brightness, the displays are ideal for retail windows or the latest generation of smart retail applications. In addition, they can be used in corporate environments with bright sunlight areas like atriums and lobbies or open glass wall meeting rooms where regular displays would be difficult to see. When around the clock operation is required, the key requirements for a professional display are low total cost of ownership, power consumption efficiency and flexibility. The SQ1H Series is equipped with brightness sensors to automatically adjust the backlight levels according to lighting conditions, with an option of three settings – strong, moderate and low. The displays also have a long life mode, which can adjust backlight brightness to extend product life. The displays are packed with all the premium features of Panasonic’s existing SQ1 range to

Panasonic has announced March 2021 availability for its new ultra-bright 4K professional displays, the SQ1H Series provide the ultimate in viewing quality, versatility and functionality. This includes HDR and BT.2020 emulation, as well as 12 segment colour management, to deliver visually captivating, rich colour 4K images in the widest range of contrasts to grab the attention of passers-by.

A host of display and connectivity options ensure content can be quickly and conveniently shared via a range of future-proofed methods, including 4K USB media player functionality and PiP capability. The displays also include an Intel® SDM slot bringing intelligence and interoperabil-

you need in one sleek device so you look and sound your best. •Poly Studio P21 Personal Meeting Display – Video conferencing display that includes everything you need for a premium video conferencing experience, including a 21” display, camera, and audio — all in one device. Dynamic ambient lighting adjusts to illuminate and improve your appearance and overall video quality. USB connectivity frees Poly Studio P21 to work with any PC or Mac running your video apps. •Poly Studio P5 Kit – For collaboration confidence, Poly Studio P5 Kits bring a readyto-work, out-of-the-box ex-

perience bundling the new P5 camera with an award-winning Poly headset or the portable Poly Sync intelligent speakerphone, to optimise your workfrom-anywhere set-up. “We’re in a new era of work that has put home set-ups in the spotlight. Work is no longer a place, it’s what you do and how you do it, and presenting your best self from your home environment can make all the difference in how you stand out and command the virtual room,” said Tom Puorro, executive vice president and general manager of global products at Poly. “The new Poly Studio P Series brings the freedom to work wherever you want, with pro-grade audio and video de-

ity. It can be used for a variety of different business functions, including as a built-in PC for digital signage, a 12G-SDI terminal board for broadcast and events, and as a receiver for use with Panasonic’s new Wireless Presentation System, called PressIT.

New Poly P Series for home workers Poly has announced the Poly Studio P Series of professional-grade personal video conferencing equipment designed to up the game of today’s remote worker. The webcams, video bars, speakerphones and an allin-one video conferencing monitor deliver the professional edge to look and sound your best, wherever you choose to work. Developed with the work-fromhome and remote worker’s success and convenience in mind, the Poly Studio P Series applies Poly’s renowned professional audio and video expertise, from the company that put the first headset on the moon, to command a conversation with total confidence. Fine-tuned camera optics and microphones ensure you are seen and heard with exceptional clarity, while brilliant colours and automatic low-light compensation deliver broadcast-quality video from personal and shared spaces. The Series includes: •Poly Studio P5 Webcam – Personal webcam with camera optics optimised for video conferencing, with 1080p resolution, 4x digital zoom and directional microphone. It comes with a built-in privacy shutter and integrated USB connectivity for headsets, for easy audio plugand-play connectivity. •Poly Studio P15 Personal Video Bar – Personal video bar with powerful 4K clarity, automatic camera framing, and a powerful integrated speaker and microphone array with advanced NoiseBlock AI technology to block outside noise. Everything

vices that allow you to bring your best self to work and smash every conversation, call and collaboration.” The Poly Studio P Series products are available for pre-order now for purchase in April 2021, on Poly.co.uk and with select retailers in the UK and Ireland. The Poly Studio P15 is available for pre-order and is Zoom and Microsoft Teams certified.

Poly has announced the Poly Studio P Series of professional-grade personal video conferencing equipment designed to up the game of today’s remote worker.

Wireless HDMI+USB has arrived! “As you may have heard, many suppliers are running low on stock at the moment; this is going to get worse as the year goes on. We’re doing all we can to support you and your AV installations and have worked hard to ensure Vision has plenty of stock. But do plan ahead and, should your normal supplier run short, why not give us a try? We think you’ll be really impressed! Creating good user experiences means making things as easy and intuitive as possible for your users,” says Stuart Lockhart of Vision. “With that in mind, check out our new TC-WIRELESS. It lets users to share their content on a large display without thinking. Users can share content by… •Connecting the HDMI Tx dongle to their PC •Or connecting their iPhone or iPad with Airplay

•Or connecting their Android device with Chromecast Uniquely this product also supports wireless USB, so you can connect an interactive touch panel to a PC wirelessly. (This is a beta feature so remember to test before a roll-out.)” This product also gives installers and integrators full control over settings. The Wi-Fi channel and name can be changed, and personal screen savers set. For your next video distribution project take a look at our solution - designed to make your life as easy as possible. The Vision TC-MATRIX is a system of transmitters and receivers which can be configured with or without a PC, so you can be up and running in no time. It can send video over CAT6 cable 1:1 or patch it into a network to setup a scaleable, controllable system. Crestron and AMX drivers make it easy to integrate.

Application news PSV Eindhoven hospitality with Philips display installations PPDS is delighted to announce a range of its advanced, Android-powered Philips signage displays have been selected and installed to create one of football’s most luxurious suites inside Dutch footballing giant PSV Eindhoven’s 35,000 seat stadium, bringing game-changing matchday entertainment and year-round flexible meeting room solutions. The ‘Jan Heintze Kick Box’, named after the club’s European cup-winning legend who is also a Danish national team star (86 caps), is one of sport’s most luxurious match-day hospitality venues. Capable of housing up to 34 people it is complete with its own private bar, kitchen, buffet and perfect views of the pitch. The club wanted not only to provide a best-in-class visual solution for matchday entertainment services, but also to utilise the room for non-matchdays. Providing an elite-level professional communication system for meetings and events to local businesses was key, as demand for equipped flexible work offices and spaces continues to grow. According to figures, demand for flexible office workspaces has increased by 50% in the past five years. There are more than 31,000 flexible office now available for hire – with stadiums playing an increasing role.

Game changing Designed, operated and used by Panduit, a leading global provider of innovative networked solutions, in collaboration with PPDS eight advanced smart HD displays were installed. Supporting Philips, the club’s official sponsor, all of the Philips displays were installed to create a premium, inclusive and versatile meeting

room and function room experience. Philips recently extended its sponsorship of the club – which was founded in 1913 as Philips Sport Vereniging – by a further ten years, expiring 2031. It is the longest known sporting sponsorship of any professional sports team, totalling 118 years. The installation inside the Jan Heintze Kick Box, includes 3x Philips 32” Q-Line displays, 4 x Philips 49” P-Line displays and, designed as the room’s centrepiece, a Philips 50” Q-Line display. A custom AV over IP solution by partner, Atlona, enables easy wireless presentation, with content able to be cast and streamed from their Windows, Apple, Android or Linux devices instantly for increased efficiency. Using the PPDS CMND platform, TVs can be easily managed and updated by staff, either in the room or remotely, while custom branding and content on displays, as well as promotions and sponsored content can be created and deployed instantly. A state-of-the-art sound system was also integrated to seamlessly work with the display system for a holistic premium audio-visual experience. The entire system was also future-proofed with Li-Fi integration by Signify for optimised reliability. Roeland Scholten, Sales Director Benelux & IKAM EMEA at PPDS:, said: “The result of this custom solution transformed the box from an empty and unused space when no games were on into an in-demand and profitable space.” “We achieved perfect versatility with our Philips displays,” added Peter Dillen, Strategic Account Manager EMEA, Panduit.

AV News February 2021 P11

AV News Awards 2021 Winners Welcome and congratulations to the winners of the 2021 AV News Awards The 2021 Awards Programme attracted more entries than ever, and, as usual, the overall quality has been outstanding. Thank you to al those companies and individuals who have taken the time to enter. Following our usual practice, the winners of the solution, project and company categories have been selected from the finalists, published last month. The winners of the individual and personal categories will announced below and on the avnews.co.uk web site. Category winners will have the option of collecting their trophies at a special reception staged at Fire de Barcelona in June 2021. Alternatively, we can arrange delivery by courier in the UK.

Individual Awards AV Marketing Professional of the Year 2021 AV Sales Professional of the Year 2021

Winner: Kevin Cheng, ViewSonic

Winner: Jon Knight Ascentae

Kevin has been working in the IT/tech industry for over ten years across Europe with a successful track record of developing and executing creative marketing activities. After managing back-toback global events in Q1 2020 before the lockdown, Kevin and the global team immediately experiment new ways of marketing ViewSonic products and solutions to fulfil the rapidly changing new norm during this pandemic year. The hard work has paid off reflected by some record-breaking results for projectors and monitors. It was a challenging but fruitful year for Kevin, which earnt him a promotion in August 2020 as the UK Marketing Director. Contributed to ViewSonic Europe’s record-breaking performance in 2020 across all product lines Recently got promoted to Marketing Director in August 2020 Constantly experimenting new ways of marketing our products and solutions in these difficult ever-changing times Project managed 2 back-to-back major events in Q1 2020 with record-breaking success in terms of ROI – BETT and ISE Building a new look UK marketing team to further grow our business in 2021, implementing new tools and approaches

Jon goes well beyond the role of stocking market-leading brands, he provides an interest in our client projects and provides reassuring support to ensure that we are successful in delivering these projects on time and snag free. Jon understands how business is done, the journey we take with our customers and the effort required to be successful. I have confidence that Jon will always respond quickly to an email or voice message, often out of normal working hours…. this type of approach is not taught, it’s about attitude. He is a positive and motivated individual, and a pleasure to work with. “The majority of our business we do with our suppliers is within the distribution channel, and usually with trusted and reliable key individuals within these organisations. We regard the personal support we receive from suppliers as equally important to the products and brands they sell…it is the glue.” It is very evident that Jon Knight cares as much about our partner’s business as his own. The service he has provided Smart Presentations Ltd, particularly during last year, has been fantastic. At a time when many distribution partners were complacent and in a dreary state of lockdown, Jon clearly stood out as a supplier of choice based on his proactive support. “He spoke honestly and openly with us about both the challenges and opportunities that existed around COVID-19, and really stepped up to face this. I am sure he did the same with the manufacturers he represents. It is also rare to find a supplier that seeks feedback on how well they are doing on service levels.”

AV Support Professional of the Year 2021 Winner: Chris Mellowship BenQ Chris has been instrumental in establishing a transformational training initiative that has resulted in increased sales with existing customers and conversation of new leads who have benefitted from the scheme. Chris’ strategy is to create loyal customers by maximising the end-user’s knowledge and demonstrating how BenQ’s hardware and software solutions are an integral part of their digital workflow, creating a programme that organisations can invest in. With a product management background and an unparalleled understanding of end-user requirements, Chris is an influential advisor to BenQ’s R&D team, dispensing advice to ensure new features are relevant to the UK market. • In response to the Covid 19 pandemic, Chris reacted quickly to move the training online, so clients could continue to access much-needed support services through a new virtual platform. • Chris designed and hosted engaging technical webinars and online demos that reacted to the emerging use cases in 2020 for hybrid working and blended learning solutions, presenting an up to date set of materials that people could instantly put into practice. • Due to the positive impact Chris’ training and support initiatives have had on the UK business, he has now been asked by subsidiaries across to the globe to replicate the approach in their markets, particularly for IFP and collaboration devices.

P12 AV News February 2021

• Chris is an incredible leader whose patience and level-headedness makes him the best person to support customers who may be struggling with technical issues. His training programmes have created an army of super users who are now loyal brand ambassadors for BenQ, as well as frequent customers. • Chris mentors junior members of the sales team, sharing his unique and extensive understanding of the industry to equip them with the knowledge they need to solve customer challenges and build long lasting, genuine relationships, leading to more repeat business. Royce Lye, Managing Director, BenQ UK & Ireland commented: “Chris Mellowship is the glue to our sales team. His sheer product knowledge, industry understanding, and personal approach, has made him such a valuable member of the BenQ team.”

Outstanding Achievement in AV 2021 Winner: Yuval Kramer Kramer Electronics A musical virtuoso from an early age, Yuval has worked as a sound engineer and audio innovator. He is now the entrepreneur leading the audio revolution in the AV industry. Since joining Kramer in 2013, Yuval has made it his mission to re-address the balance between visual and audio by bringing the focus on audio to the fore and establishing Kramer’s award-winning line of products. Audio features in every Kramer development, and the manufacturer has launched more than 200 pure audio products including innovations in IP based DSP, designed from the ground up based on Yuval’s extensive end-user experiences. uval’s leadership has seen Kramer repositioned as an audio authority in the Pro AV landscape. Kramer’s audio line includes patent pending and ground-breaking products, including the KN-DSP100 world first IP based DSP, which allows signals to be routed, managed and processed alongside thousands of video encoders and decoders, remotely over a powerful network from anywhere in the world. Born deaf, Yuval gained his hearing at the age of 24 but was al-

AV News Awards

ready well on the way to becoming a world class musician. He released his debut album and began touring the world with his bands. Now VP of AVSM at Kramer Electronics, Yuval has transformed the company’s offering based on this experience of what the professional audio industry was missing. Yuval has led the development of more than 70 products in the last seven years that have positioned Kramer as an audio authority in the Pro AV landscape Kramer now has more than 200 pure audio products that include DA, mixers, audio embedders – embedders, Dante, amplifiers, and speakers. The focus on audio solutions at Kramer has resulted in strong growth in sales and increased market share in the Pro AV industry globally.

Technology, Project, and Organisation Awards AV Project of the Year (Education) 2021 Winner: Projekt Multimedia Underground City “Osówka” Gloomy, cold, empty hallways got filled with multimedia stations that, like a time machine, take the visitors back to the days of World War II. Old information boards, which at this point had their ink long melted, were replaced with stylish light boxes, a scale model with 3D mapping and beautifully illuminated display cabinets. The haphazardly piled artifacts were exhibited on modular podiums illuminated with spotlights. Instead of grotesque mannequins, the tourists visiting the tunnels of Osówka meet holograms of concentration camp inmates, forced laborers and German soldiers. That way they learn the struggle of hard, slave labor of building Hitler’s quarters, while also exploring the mysteries of the facility’s unclear purpose, which still hides a lot of secrets. All of that turns visiting the facility into a fascinating, reflection-provoking tale of the difficult topic of war and holocaust. Projectors in extreme conditions: the investor demanded a 7-year warranty for the entire exhibition from the contractor. It was quite a challenge because the conditions in the facility are not conducive to electronics: high humidity constant at the level of 90% and a low temperature of approximately 8 degrees Celsius. The underground climate makes it necessary to protect each device against moisture. The brand that offered IP5X tightness, a

7-year warranty, and displaying of an amazing quality images with laser projectors in a humid and cold environment was Optoma. Two projector models were chosen during the implementation of this investment: Optoma ZU510Te and Optoma ZU500TST. In total, 8 devices of this brand were used in the entire facility. Holography: holographic figures are the guides through the history of the creation of the Riese. We have created three such quarters in the Underground City “Osówka”. In the first one, visitors are greeted by a hologram of the famous Polish actor- Adam Ferency. The virtual figure of an actual size is displayed on a holographic fabric that is stretched over a 300 cm x 188 cm hand-made frame using the short focus Optoma ZU500TST projector with WUXGA resolution. Additionally, while the virtual figure of the actor tells tourists about the history, archival videos from World Wat II are being displayed on the 65’’ Iiyama LE6540 UHS monitor, with subtitles in two language versions. The backlight connected to the control system is responsible for eliminating the effect of double image reflection. The light turns

on in the moment when projection starts and turns off after it ends. In the second quarter, the holograms of prisoners dressed in the striped uniforms present the tragic story of the concentration camp prisoners building the Riese complex. There is also a movie about the martyrdom of prisoners displayed on the holographic fabric. The scenography is complemented by a replica of the rock shelter- a metal trolley running on the rails used at the Riese complex. The backlight of the rock shelter turns on automatically when the hologram is being displayed and turns off automatically when the movie starts playing. The projection is displayed with a short focal Optoma ZU500TST projector with a WUXGA resolution on a holographic fabric that is stretched over a 300 cm x 188 cm frame of own production. The third quarter imitates realistic workers working on a stage design scaffolding, which faithfully reproduces the original scaffolding from the period of World War II. An Optoma ZU500TST with a WUXGA resolution was used to display the image. The projection area of 300 cm x 188 cm without the fabric was projected directly on the rocks by means of mapping. Each of the holographic positions is managed by an IntelNuc i5 computer with an original control system. A set of Work Pro Neo 5IP waterproof speakers and the SoundTube SA202 amplifier are responsible for the sound. All devices are in covers. Mapping: to show the scale of the Nazi’s venture, a model of the topography of the area was made, with additional space for displaying translations into foreign languages, on which historical maps are displayed by using mapping, including the locations of the particular objects and plans of underground corridors. It was projected by the Optoma ZU500TST show throw projector with WUXGA resolution. It is entirely managed by the IntelNuc i5 computer with an original control system. A set of the Work Pro Neo 5IP waterproof speakers and the SoundTube SA202 amplifier are responsible for the sound. Showcases in extreme conditions: three display cases finished with weathering steel (corten steel) panels were placed on the tour route. The air dehumidifier system is responsible for the right conditions for the exhibits. Cabinet humidity switch HYW 090 measures the air humidity inside the showcase. If the humidity exceeds the set value, the Dehumidifer for Enclosures PSE 30 L activates, draining the moisture outside of the showcase, leaving an inside atmosphere friendly for the exhibits. This system also eliminates the problem of evaporation inside the showcases.

Underwater lighting: tourists can choose from several sightseeing routes. One of them is the water crossing. Visitors overcome this route on an old tin boat and sail on it into the ‘dry’ part of the corridors. On this route, we installed the PXM company’s underwater lightning based on a DMX controller which allows to turn on 7 different effects. Specially prepared, illuminated graphics with an imitation of a sunken truck and a sunken ship with boxes full of gold are additional attractions.

AV Project of the Year (Commercial 2021) Winner: DigiComm / BrightSign At The Top’, Burj Khalifa, Dubai ‘At The Top’ is a spectacular attraction where visitors to the Burj Khalifa in Dubai can experience a glass floor cracking beneath their feet 456m above the street on the 125th floor of the building. DigiComm and BrightSign created an interactive simulation using motion sensors, floor mounted OLED screens and amazing CGI images to offer brave visitors an unforgettable experience at the world-famous skyscraper. By synching sensors with visual and audio effects within the BrightSign player, the attraction gives the appearance of glass cracking at the exact time a person’s foot lands on a given area of the screen. The screens display a highly realistic visual animation of the city 456m below, which changes according to the time of day and season, scheduled, and controlled by the BrightSign players, linked to 15 Nexmosphere XDW-M44 motion sensors. Because the bridge wasn’t made from clear glass, the “view” of the city below had to be designed to accurately represent the time of day, weather and other environmental factors using 3,000 still images from the top of the Burj Khalifa stitched together with animations added with CGI. The Nexmosphere sensors capture visitors’ movements and trigger the BrightSign players to generate the sound and visual effect of cracking glass, combining high resolution CGI graphics with synchronized audio. The motion sensors track the activity of around 10,000 visitors per day. The BrightSign players are deployed and left to run 24-hours a day with minimal management.

P13 AV News February 2021

Diary AV News andAwards column

AV Project of the Year (Live Events) 2021

interact:

Winner: Sparq (part of the Saville Group) CIPR National Conference

1. Sturdy rubber edge with appealing colours. Each colour has its own purpose.

Sparq, part of the Saville Group, are the dynamic technical event production specialist. No matter what the size or scale of the show, they work in close collaboration with clients to create stunning live and digital event experiences. Successfully pivoting to an entirely on-line offering at short notice due to the COVID-19 pandemic, their seamless 360 technical event production service starts from the concept of the event journey and ends with an extraordinary delivery. This successful reengineering was made possible by quickly expanding and restructuring the existing digital offering built on over ten years of experience delivering events across the globe. Virtual event ran on a bespoke platform – Fusion – a new virtual events platform that blends gaming technology with 360 event production. Sparq can replicate an existing venue or create something completely out of this world, with 3D developers and modelers immersing delegates in a fully interactive, digital world. The Fusion team work to create, unique, extraordinary experiences built with limitless reality at their heart. 300 international attendees – CIPR saw over 300 delegates tune in from across the globe, including Mauritius, Nigeria, and Saudi Arabia. The event was held across three- days allowing the attendees to login and view the content either live or on demand. Live International Speakers – The event heard from 26 high profile speakers, seamlessly brought into the platform from their own homes from across the world including Australia and the USA. Bespoke environment – CIPR wanted to create a fully immersive and interactive environment unique to them and that’s exactly what was delivered. As well as easy access to valuable content and data, their environment showcased the ability to cater for viewer wellbeing and raised engagement by incorporating a virtual Escape Room, Wellness Area, and relaxing Aquarium. Live social media feed – Showcased in the exhibition zone, attendees were encouraged to tweet live from the event using the chosen event hashtag to feature their conversations live on the Twitter rotunda featured in the centre, generating a massive buzz that was perfect for the event narrative.

2. Implementation of soft textile that invites touch. 3. Interactive touchbar with control functions (CTOUCH button – Mute button – Volume slider) This design system helps teams build high-quality touch experiences for large, interactive displays, as opposed to traditional ‘not-allowed-to-touch’ TVs. That way, we stimulate engagement by design from three perspectives: from a far distance, from an intimate distance and into the digital space. Innovation - World's first implementation of textiles on touchscreens in IFPD market, with functionality by design. Engagement - stimulates engagement and interactivity. Design - amazing design with intentional colour choices. Functional - slide bar and menu buttons all integrated Character - fits into variety of meeting rooms and markets

Digital Signage Innovation of the Year 2021 Winner: Saturn AO Project

AV Display Innovation of the Year 2021 Winner: CTOUCH CTOUCHABLE design Almost all large format displays are similar in shape and size, like traditional TVs. Anyone who has been near or grown up with TVs has learned to not touch them. CTOUCH’ patent-pending 'CTOUCHABLE' design invites the user to touch the screen and

P14 AV News February 2021

AO prides itself on being customer-focussed, progressive and challenging the norm. The company wanted to create a pilot of five physical stores that would complement its online offering and introduce the brand to those who wouldn’t normally buy white goods online. The stores needed to create a good first impression and support the positive and friendly nature of the AO brand. It was important that they not look or feel vastly dissimilar to AO’s online shopping experience. They also needed to showcase AO’s full offering without the stores feeling overloaded or cramped. AO knew what the store concept and layout should be, that they wanted to use digital signage to bring it to life and bridge the gap between the online and offline AO shopping experience, but not how they should do it. “We considered the customer’s buying experience, how the offline store could enhance it, how it could be personalised, and

developed a number of ideas for digital touchpoints within the store that evolved other tried-and-tested technical applications. We identified that when shopping for a TV it is important to be able to compare the different models’ sound and picture quality directly, and that some features would be more important than others, depending on what people liked to watch. We created an application that enables up to 21 different TV screens and sound bars to be synchronised together and used like a TV wall, or to be operated individually. AO staff can use a standard tablet device to switch between using the TV display as an exciting centrepiece to brand the store, or showcasing the picture and sound of individual TVs and soundbars.” “To give shoppers a more personalised experience, we coupled this with a suite of AO-branded content that they could pick from to see how well each model would perform when showing the sort of content they liked to watch – i.e. films, cartoons, football games, and video games - and to experience the benefits of viewing it with a sound bar. We looked at how to make it more fun to shop for smaller electrical items like coffee machines and originally recommended a ‘lift and learn’ solution to show customers relevant product information on a screen when they picked up an item. However, when the coronavirus pandemic hit, we knew it had to be a contactless solution and developed ‘wave and learn’ instead, which uses customers’ hand movements to learn about a product. Shoppers navigate and select the product information they want to read by waving in the direction of a specific colour-coded motion sensor, thereby avoiding the potential for coronavirus contamination.” To make the digital signage work harder and create a unique shopping experience, we used motion sensors throughout the store to change the content shown on screens, depending on the customers’ proximity to them. When customers are furthest from the screen, they are shown attention- grabbing branded messages to introduce the AO brand (“Come and say hello!”), showcase attractive offers, and display opening times. Mid-distance shoppers are shown offers related to the section of the store they are standing in. When customers stand directly in front of a screen, the content changes to ask what type of electrical goods they are interested in, then (using touchscreen) walks them through the buying considerations and shows them suitable products based on their requirements. The AO stores experienced a disproportionate surge in sound bar sales, which have traditionally been hard to sell due to shoppers not appreciating the value of them. Screens at the store’s exit, which invite shoppers for feedback (a recommendation from Saturn), found that 90% of customers loved the AO in-store shopping experience.

AV News Awards

Collaboration Innovation of the Year 2021 Winner: Barco Clickshare Conference

Free and accessible on any browser, EZWrite Live provides access to BenQ’s cutting-edge education solutions without the demand for any specific hardware setup or the purchase of expensive software licenses, allowing disadvantaged school systems to navigate the disruption due to Covid-19 more easily. EZWrite Live transforms remote learning through one intuitive platform.

Simple, easy, wireless - that’s how ClickShare Conference shares apps on the room display and connects them to the camera and speakers in the room for better hybrid meetings. ClickShare Conference allows users to enjoy seamless wireless conferencing from their laptop: it works wirelessly with existing video conferencing systems and USB peripherals – microphones, soundbars and cameras – without the hassle of having to use cables or adapters. This makes hybrid meetings as intuitive and straightforward as face-toface meetings. Meanwhile, remote participants get the best possible ‘almost in the room’ experience, with high quality audio/video interaction for engaging and interactive virtual meetings.

• EZWrite Live allows teachers and students to collaborate from any location, on any device, in real-time. Sharing the same screen, they can annotate in tandem on the same documents, ensuring those learning from home have the same great experience as those in the classroom.

• Enables users to deploy any conferencing platform (UC) to set up a conferencing session in any meeting room, local or remote, and invite employees, guests and remote joiners.

• Students at all curriculum levels can use their own device to collaborate with the class, without needing to move from their seats or touch the same hardware as someone else. This is great for creating a Covid safe classroom whilst increasing interactivity and engagement.

• Triple agnostic: you can set up meetings from your own laptop, using your preferred conferencing software, and connecting to any hardware in a meeting room of your choice. • It takes less than seven seconds to wirelessly connect to a meeting room’s hardware and does not require cables or the installation of additional software and drivers to begin a session. • The technology is enterprise-grade, so it is highly secure, connected and cloud managed. Barco is the first manufacturer to have obtained ISO 27001 Certification for a technology of this nature, demonstrating its commitment to the highest international security standards.

• All materials are saved in the cloud so teachers can easily access them from any classroom device. This allows teachers to access files from where ever they are and send documents, homework and communications to their students all in one place, streamlining the education process.

• With EZWrite’s Floating Tool, teachers can capture shots of anything on the screen, including content from apps, websites and videos, import the content into EZWrite for further discussion and annotate on a new page. • Teachers can record lectures including the use of third-party apps and audio, making sure that students don’t miss anything and have materials always accessible to watch back.

• The solution is accompanied by a ClickShare Conferencing Button and Collaboration App to deliver wireless connection and additional functionality and features.

Presentation Innovation of the Year 2021

Education Technology Innovation of the Year 2021 Winner: BenQ EZWrite Live The Covid-19 pandemic thrust nearly one billion students into remote learning. Released in May 2020, BenQ’s EZWrite Live is a free, cloud-based interactive whiteboard and lecture broadcasting software that streamlines classroom discussions and makes it more intuitive than ever for teachers and students to bring the classroom online.

The user simply presses a button on the transmitter to display the PC screen. PressIT takes the guess work out of dealing with uncooperative, unreliable and complicated technology. PressIT reduces downtime and disruptions resulting in more efficient and productive meetings. Smart Installation: A simple ‘plug-n-play’ set-up for a consistent, intuitive user-experience. Images can be displayed from a device, PC or mobile with two types of receivers available to suit the environment of the user. The STB receiver type can be used with any pro displays and projectors. Simply connect an HDMI cable. The Intel® SDM standard type receiver attaches to expansion slots on the rear of the SQ1/SQE1 Panasonic display. High-Quality Images. Hardware processing enables image compression and decompression for Full-HD 1080p resolution. Wireless transmission is IEEE802.11ac compliant for dependable, high performance content streaming. Presentations containing video content are smooth without lag time and choppy buffering for effective, efficient meetings. Plus Low latency image with less than 300ms. Flexibility for any size meeting or class room. Up to 4 simultaneous display sources, and up to 32 Transmitter simultaneous connections. Touch back functionality: When used with an interactive display, you can control your pc directly from the screen. Manage or edit your presentation while standing. Lock mode functionality: Take a full control of presentation. Prevents interruption during seminars and presentations. Exceptional performance value: The starter kit includes: Kit Receiver STB box x1, Transmitters HDMI/USB-A x2, Case x1. PressIT delivers the high performance and reliable wireless presentation solution that you would expect from a technology leader like Panasonic at an affordable price point while meeting high security standard requirements.

Reseller / Integrator of the Year 2021

Winner:Panasonic for PressIT

Winner:Visavvi

Launched in October 2020, the wireless presentation system, PressIT, is designed to make collaboration quick and simple in any meeting room. It can display content from up to four devices simultaneously, allowing users to present on screen or via a projector at the touch of a button with smooth audio and Full HD clarity. PressIT works with any PC, tablet or smartphone using Android, Windows or iOS operating systems. Connect the receiver to any display screen or projector, and a small transmitter to the display devices, then press the button to present. Intuitive operation: There is no special software installation necessary for the PC. The presenter's PC can also be switched by simply pressing a button, with no need to reconnect the cable.

In a year dominated by the constrictive impacts of a global pandemic, Visavvi has continued its growth and leadership within the industry, addressing the communication needs of businesses and individuals alike during a time of unprecedented strain and stress. A reputation for extensive industry experience and insight, coupled with innovative thinking and the strategic partnership support from global manufacturers, saw many critical sectors including corporate, legal, health, education, MOD and central government approach Visavvi for support services, solutions and to get the job done! Visavvi’s long standing financial and operational security has been a positive asset in attracting these clients. Global expansion–Visavvi ha continued to expand its global oper-

AV News February 2021 P15

AV News Awards

ations to support an expanding portfolio of enterprise clients. Spearheaded by a new Head of Global Strategy Elliott Moores, Visavvi have created a unique 20 country network with 8 partners who have all been inducted into delivering the same high standard of workplace technology deployment. This achievement was further bolstered by acquiring the ultimate industry credential as a member of the renowned PSNI Global Alliance, following an approach from PSNI to be their largest UK partner. This well-deserved accreditation provides Visavvi with access to over 188 global offices across 49 countries. Agility–Visavvi has remained highly agile during the pandemic, quickly responding and reviewing it’s critical logistic and business operations to align with the demands of a repeatedly and rapidly changing marketplace. Successfully negotiating the challenges of near total disruption has seen the brand retain its position as the UK’s largest independently owned AV integrator in a time of peer acquisition. As many businesses struggled to deploy remote working technology to their staff, Visavvi were able to expand logistics to enable pre-packaged work from home technology bundles to be sent direct to end users’ homes, reducing the burden on organisations who were forced to close their own business operations Visavvi responded by providing inventive solutions to help clients achieve their needs. The flagship in house videoconferencing platform Convene was robustly updated at speed to provide extensive new levels of capacity – a rise of 250% to clients along with flexible and scalable trials, short term contracts and

upgrades for both new and existing clients. Free capacity upgrades were offered to NHS clients to help expand their COVID response meeting capability. As many organisations saw their budgets slashed, Visavvi responded by introducing a comprehensive AVaaS offering ahead of time, to ensure clients had a clear route to access the required video collaboration tech they needed immediately, as part of a sustainable solution. And to ensure all this technology continued to perform under gruelling conditions, the remote monitoring and service offering was given a total revamp and a new bespoke in-house platform called Vantage introduced Visavvi retained a primary focus on expanding marketing activities to ensure that both colleagues, clients and partners were reliably informed of current solutions and services to help combat the pandemic. Quick to adopt a “not time to sell but a time to help” initiative meant focussing on supporting clients with viable options to meet their new normal communication and collaboration needs. The power of internal marketing was not overlooked and as a business, a significant effort was focussed on managing staff morale and mental wellbeing, especially for those team members WFH or who were on furlough. Support and partnerships – Visavvi demonstrated the power of developing trusted partner relationships with both clients, suppliers and colleagues. The deep relationships developed with manufacturing and distribution partners enabled Visavvi to support its sister event brand Sparq to fulfil one of the key projects of the year that has enabled the Scottish legal system to address the rapidly expanding backlog of court cases. In an inspired initiative driven by a partnership between Sparq,

P16 AV News February 2020

ODEON and the Scottish Courts and Tribunal service, Visavvi were able to procure over £1 million worth of technology to support the use of remote jurors during court proceedings. This included the supply of XXX poly codecs, over XX PZT camera’s and all driven through the use of Visavvi’s own Convene videoconferencing platform. Visavvi were also pivotal in the UK Governments trade negotiations with the EU for the BEIS. Specifying, installing and supporting over 50 video communication rooms with Poly X50 videoconferencing systems allowed these crucial meetings to take place over video when face to face meetings were not possible.

erated on the fly. The capabilities of xR are utilised in ways far beyond initial blue sky thinking, powering nearly 100 ground-breaking productions since its launch earlier this year. This includes broadcast productions like the 2020 MTV Video Music Awards, America’s Got Talent and the US Open, live music performances from artists like Katy Perry, Billie Eilish and Alicia Keys, corporate events for enterprise businesses like SAP and Under Armour, on set virtual production for the Mandalorian and Avatar sequels.

Manufacturer/ Developer of the Year 2021 Winner: Disguise One

Editor’s Choice Award 2021 Winner: TIG

Officially launched six months ago as a response to the halt on live events around the world, disguise’s xR technology brings to life compelling visual experiences in virtual production, allowing brands and artists to connect with remote audiences like never before. xR empowers the world’s leading brands, artists and production houses to blend virtual and physical worlds together using Augmented Reality (AR) and Mixed Reality (MR). Combining disguise’s 3D visualisation-based software and high-performance robust hardware, xR seamlessly integrates an array of technologies including camera tracking and real-time content engines to extend a small studio space into an unlimited virtual world. xR has the unique benefit of creating a limitless environment, even if constrained to a small studio space or with socially distanced restrictions in place. The screens within the space only need to be as large as the performance area. The virtual set extension places the actors in virtual environments larger than the space available, opening up worlds of opportunity and creating more compelling content to increase audience engagement. The workplace may be smaller, but the end result displays an endless space of limitless opportunities. disguise xR lets you deliver a virtual environment, which is visible both on screen and on set, making visualisation a constant part of the experience. This allows designers to make better-informed creative decisions earlier in the process, and communicate ideas

To succeed in business, you need to be passionate, connected and real – at TIG, we work hard to push the boundaries of technological integration for Smart Spaces and we create amazing experiences. Smart Spaces connect people and technology in new ways: at work, at home and for relaxation. Smart Spaces add real value and are created by a combination of people, technology and the passion we bring to you and your business. Our service knows no boundaries, whether physical or imaginative. Our team is focused on understanding your needs and creating the perfect Smart Space solution just for you. Headed by Robin van Meeuwen and with over 30 years’ experience selling Crestron in Europe, the TIG team has a vast wealth of expertise in the Smart Spaces arena. A hugely experienced team of 140 staff in 12 offices across EMEA will deliver the best sales support on every level and for every market where technology is required. We work only with certified system integrators - the best in the business – who can turn your vision into a reality. Together with our people, they can provide the ultimate tailored Smart Space solution that delivers exactly the features and functionality you want. We can help consultants craft designs and specifications to create the most amazing Smart Spaces utilising the best AV solutions. Full technical specifications, with use cases and supporting documents, are all available from our team of experts – every step of the way throughout a project. Our experienced team helps clients all over the world get the most out of their Smart Spaces.

and final work in a clear, compelling manner. By using LED screens or projection surfaces in the space, xR allows presenters to be absorbed into the virtual environment where they can see the entire set and even objects added into it, giving directors the opportunity to capture raw emotion. The integration of disguise’s camera calibration feature allows for calibration of the camera and lens in a matter of minutes, rather than days. Pre-visualising camera shots, without having to build the stage first, enables better coordination between set and camera departments, and virtual environments can be created and it-

Diaryevents Live and column

Live events: route map to recovery The PLASA initiated #WeMakeEvents was created a year ago to coordinate the industry response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Recently, the organisation gave evidence to a DCMS Select Committee inquiry into the future of UK festivals, represented by the leader of the campaign’s political group Duncan Bell who detailed the ongoing challenges faced by the live events and entertainment industry. At almost the same time, the organisers of the Glastonbury festival announced cancellation for the second successive year.

On Tuesday 2 February, #WeMakeEvents gave evidence during a DCMS Select Committee inquiry into the future of UK festivals, represented by the leader of the campaign’s political group Duncan Bell who detailed the ongoing challenges faced by the live events and entertainment industry. When asked if there is a problem with people leaving the industry due to COVID-19 Duncan answered that: “Freelancers have been forced to find work elsewhere. In a recent survey of 2,800 people over 30% of freelancers said they have had to leave the industry, and 20% say they hope to come back but are very unsure whether they are able to because of the lack of certainty.” One of the central aims of #WeMakeEvents is to get government-backed cancellation insurance for events, and following a question on the financial processing Duncan explained: “In many cases there will be payments in the planning stage but the majority of funds will not be paid until the event has gone ahead…It’s one of the reason the insurance discussion is such an important discussion for us.” “Conversations have been going on for some time and we have put forward various schemes. We think the urgent requirement and benefit of the insurance is to bring certainty to being able to plan and book equipment, making it the first link in the chain, not the last.” The problem of course is that insurance is all about assessing risk- not the certainty that the pandemic will continue until an efficacious vaccine is truly ubiquitous. Consequently, a road map still has yet to be presented by government on how and when the events industry is likely to re-open. Duncan commented: “We need the clarity and engagement. It’s not about a definitive date, it’s about a plan of what the picture could look like – how do we think a safer event could happen, how does insurance allow that to happen, how does rapid testing fit in to that process?” “One of the points that is missed in many conversations is that unlike certain sectors we have not been forced to close legally and therefore many support systems aren’t triggered. Many businesses in our sector have been operating on 5-6 percent income over the past 10-11 months.”

Lost earnings In addition to the huge loss of earnings throughout 2021, Duncan also raised crucial points regarding Brexit and the future potential for loss of work: “There is a fear that technicians and crew will come in from the EU because of their passport status…We will see UK companies being less favourable and staff will be sourced from the EU and therefore will only have one country to work out for their work permit.” Later in the inquiry, Duncan got to the crux of why the events industry has struggled to receive adequate government support: “One of our biggest frustrations is that we represent the hidden bit – we are invisible and go out of our way to be invisible. People go to the theatre or a festival and take for granted that it happens magically. People are not aware of the thousands involved over a period of time, in many cases for festivals it’s a year-long process.” Following the inquiry, the BBC reported on the future of festivals, quoting Duncan and his fellow witnesses: tour manager Tre Stead, Notting Hill Carnival chief executive Matthew Phillip, and Wild Rumpus director Rowan Cannon. Moreover, this crucial evidence will be evaluated and considered by top-tier government officials when developing safety procedures for live events in the future. Meanwhile the debate rages over the precise nature of the risks to attendees. Rowan Can-

bury have been cancelled, smaller-scale shows could go ahead with the right measures in place. “The idea that the festivals can't go ahead and be socially-distanced is inaccurate,” she told the House of Commons Culture Select Committee, which is examining the live music sector. Cannon urged MPs to consider the diversity of the UK's festival scene, which includes everything from boutique, location-specific events to “80,000 20-year-olds in a field”. She noted that the two festivals she organises - Just So in Cheshire and Timber in South Derbyshire - could easily protect their audiences amid

100 acres,” she explained. “We can absolutely adapt our programming, put infrastructure in place, [and] change the way that we do things, to enable something to happen with social distancing in place.”

Scale and format One of the primary issues for the live events sector is the diversity in scale and format of events, which ranges form theatre and cinema at one enc of the spectrum, through museums and galleries, to sports and festivals at the other. During the pandemic, we have seen considerable technologi-

An xR live stream was to bring a fresh way of broadcasting a show by Alok - one of the most prominent icons in the Brazilian electronic music scene. - to his large fanbase. non, director of festival organisers Wild Rumpus, said that while large events like Glaston-

P18 AV News February 2020

the pandemic. “They're both a capacity of around 5,000. They both have vast sites of about

cal innovation in conferencing and streaming. Formats have either been adapted or recreat-

ed. Take for instance, drive-in cinema and music experiences, which have undergone something of a resurgence. The Tupelo Music Hall in Derry, New Hampshire. for example, transformed their business operations and parking lot into the “Tupelo Drive-In Experience”, producing some of the first live concerts in the United States with the new social distancing requirements. The music venue’s debut shows in mid-May 2020 were powered by a LEOPARD system provided by Meyer Sound rental partner, UltraSound, showcasing one of the early innovations that explores new ways to deliver performances to a safely distanced live audience. UltraSound’s Scott Tkachuk has been working alongside Tupelo Music Hall’s owner Scott Hayward and production manager Paul Higgins since the conception of the drivein shows in March. “About a week or two after the shelterin-place order was issued, we began brainstorming. When the first phase of re-opening New Hampshire included drive-in theatres, we thought why not concerts? It had to happen,” Tkachuk said. Each “carload” is provided with two parking spots – one for the car and an adjacent space to stand or lounge in lawn chairs. The Tupelo Music Hall team implemented creative methods of enforcing safety measures, while Tkachuk worked on providing an audio solution that was right for the job. One challenge the audio team faced

when setting up the audio solutions for the drive-in experience was addressing delay issues between the sound system and the car’s radio frequency. Although patrons had the option to sit in their car’s adjacent parking space, it was imperative that the PA system align with the local radio station’s output. “We’re only about a mile from the radio station and are on the same network node, so we used a web browser extension, Cleanfeed, that transmits high quality digital audio. We managed to get the roundtrip, point-to-point audio measured to around 70 milliseconds and, naturally, matched the latency to the second row of cars,” Production manager Paul Higgins explained. “It is not possible to match exactly, but we could make it early for everyone else. So, if the radio is turned up and could make noise before the PA hits the audience, they won’t notice the latency.” With the new social distancing format, the venue’s outdoor capacity holds about 75 vehicles. The UltraSound-provided system consisted of four flown LEOPARD compact linear line array loudspeakers per side with two 900-LFC compact low-frequency control elements ground-stacked per side. Two MSL-4 reinforcement loudspeakers served as L/R side hangs. In response to a successful first weekend, the Tupelo DriveIn Experience now has events scheduled for every weekend through mid-June with more shows expected to be added. In addition to concerts, comedy performances and more are on the horizon for the summer. For those unable to attend, the venue livestreams each performance on their website. “The shows turned out fantastic and it’s really the best-sounding outdoor concert venue,” Tupelo Music Hall Owner Scott Hayward reflected. “There is something about going out and hearing live music. People were teary-eyed because it was a stress relief to sit in the sun and enjoy live music. It gave people hope and something remotely normal, so it was a big success.” As the entertainment industry adjusts to the changing landscape of live performances, Tkachuk and the UltraSound crew plans to “collaborate with production companies, promoters, and artists. The good thing is we deal with very creative people who think outside the box and we will work together

Live events

to think of solutions during this time.”

Opera in a new format with artistic integrity When the Irish National Opera first started production of Least Like the Other, they had plans to tour the show around Ireland in August 2020. While the pandemic threatened to halt the production and performances, innovation through d&b Soundscape means that the show will go on — in a form unlike anything ever seen in Opera. In March of 2020, with growing concerns about COVID-19, the show’s production team realized that they would not to be able go ahead as originally planned and like many around the world, they were forced to think of alternative ways to bring this show to audiences. “It was critical for us to continue with the production in some capacity,” commented Gavin O’Sullivan, Head of Production, Irish National Opera. “We had been working on the show for months and at a time when the entire industry is being threatened, we wanted to continue to employ our hard-working team and find a way to share this spectacular show.” For the performance to go on, health guidelines meant that the number of performers on stage would have to be dramatically reduced if audiences would ever be allowed to safely experience the opera. The production team had to find a new way to bring the sound of the live orchestra to the production, without having them in the same venue as the performers and audience. For sound designer David Sheppard, of Sound Intermedia, this was a concept he had been looking at for some time, long before COVID-19. “As a touring artist working around the world, I had reached a point where I struggled to justify touring with the ongoing climate crisis,” commented Sheppard. “I began looking at new ways of how we can bring the experience of a performance to an audience without having to tour the ensemble with us.” For Sheppard this was not simply a case of using a conventional system to pump pre-recorded tracks into the venue, they would need something much more sophisticated. “When we realized the orchestra couldn’t be in the room with us, we knew we would have to add an extraordinary dimension back into this production, to elevate it and bring it back to life,” said Sheppard. “d&b Soundscape was that lifeline.” Using Soundscape, the team was able to place the sounds of the orchestra’s instruments into different areas of the venue. d&b Soundscape is powered by the DS100 Signal

Engine, a revolutionary audio system processor based on a powerful Dante enabled signal matrix and provides unparalleled creativity through its two software modules En-Scene and En-Space. d&b En-Scene is a sound object positioning tool allowing

to each instrument and where it is coming from,” explained Sheppard. “I think if I was the audience, I would assume that orchestra was hidden in the room, that’s how immersive this solution is.” While the production is hoping to open to an audience in

Streaming for large audiences For other event organisers, streaming has provided the means of delivering cultural events to an impressive audience. An xR live stream was to bring a fresh way of broadcasting a show by Alok - one of the most prominent icons in

Tupelo Music Hall in Derry, New Hampshire transformed their business operations and parking lot into the “Tupelo Drive-In Experience”, producing some of the first live concerts in the United States with the new social distancing requirements. the individual placement and movement of up to 64 sound objects. It accurately depicts stage scenarios so that each sound object corresponds both visually and acoustically. d&b En-Space is an in-line room emulation tool which creates and modifies reverberation signatures for any space. These reverberation signatures are emulations derived from acoustic measurements of nine internationally renowned performance venues and convolved within the audio processor. Brian Irvine, composer of Least Like the Other, saw the challenge faced not as a barrier, but a new opportunity. “I'm a great believer that no matter what the restriction is, there is always a possibility for something new and adventurous,” said Irvine. “For years, I’ve tried to find new ways to connect people to Opera and make it more accessible, and with Soundscape we did just that”. Irvine and the creators of the show understood the idea of Soundscape. For them it was not about taking away an element from the production, but instead adding to it. “We needed to think about the speaker system not as something that was helping the production be heard, but instead to think of it as a theatrical device, changing how the audience could perceive the show,” commented O’Sullivan. “The first time the entire team experienced Soundscape it was this wonderful moment, the speakers disappeared and suddenly we had instruments in the room with us.” “Soundscape allows you to zone into different parts of the music because the depth and clarity of sound brings focus

Dublin, once Ireland reduces some restrictions, the team has already begun to film the show to create a fully immersive playback. While for Sheppard, the show has already achieved a great feat, transforming the minds of so many, even before its opened. “Fingers crossed, this production goes ahead in one form or another, but if anything, it’s already achieved something in opening people’s eyes to Soundscape and a new way of approaching productions in the future.”

the Brazilian electronic music scene. - to his large fanbase. Project Director Fabio Soares from OkeStudio along with TheForce invited Sao Paulo-based, full-service AV company Maxi to provide the xR workflow for the show, along with disguise workflow specialist Tito Sabatini on technical support. The special immersed Alok in dynamic, ever-changing environments featuring colourful forests of stylised mushrooms and trees, galactic particle streams, synapses, shimmering ice shards, cities that build and

dissolve. Support from disguise “was something we couldn’t live without,” Jose Augusto Martins, Executive Director at Maxi, reports. “With a big project like this and all the tech video crew learning how to use xR, disguise’s support was key. It gave us the confidence to run things properly. We wanted people to feel the energy of a real show and that was achieved. “‘Alive’ was a huge xR project, from which we learned a lot during the process of making the project a reality,” Jose adds. Maxi was the only rental company with the toolset to deliver the xR production, he notes. As the technical brief required the use of all three key render engines, Unreal, Unity and Notch, plus multiple camera switching with four tracked cameras using the Estabili tracking system, disguise was the only tool capable of delivering the brief, Tito explains. “It’s render agnostic and could handle multiple camera switching, timecode following DJ cues and more.” The team at Maxi were faced with a tight deadline to learn the pipelines for all three render engines and set up tracking for four cameras, while also helping everyone involved to understand the xR workflow and how it makes virtual production possible. “This was a huge production, and the dedication of everyone involved

made it happen,” Tito notes. “After the show, Alok’s manager and crew were very emotional, relieved and happy. Public feedback was amazing as well; people from the industry in Brazil came to congratulate us, and that was a nice feeling to have after such a bad year for the music industry.” Jose believes that xR has a bright future in the live music market, bringing presenters and artists to any environment possibly imagined. But what about live vents where the scale or format goes beyond our current technical capabilities? While the German government has initiated a £2.3 billion fund for supporting the live events sector, the UK has relied on generic measures like the furlough scheme. The problem here is that so many of those providing services in the live events and production sector are freelance or self-employed. Those affected are calling for a plan “How do we think a safe event happens? What does the insurance scheme allow? How does rapid testing fit into that process?”, argues Duncan Bell. Once those parameters are set, he suggested, organisers can arrange pilot concerts “o move towards safe events. The industry has been resilient… but that can't carry on. And for most people, that point is absolutely imminent.”

When the Irish National Opera first started production of Least Like the Other, they had plans to tour the show around Ireland in August 2020. While the pandemic threatened to halt the production and performances, innovation through d&b Soundscape means that the show will go on — in a form unlike anything ever seen in Opera.

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Peoplewatch

peoplewatch Embrionix, a subsidiary of Riedel Communications, today announced the appointment of David M. H. Workman as global OEM sales manager. Reporting to Rik Hoerée, director Americas at Riedel, Workman will collaborate with manufacturers of high-end broadcast electronics equipment to help them deliver advanced, multiformat I/O solutions to their customers. “With a rich career spanning almost four decades, David is an outstanding addition to our team,” said Hoerée. “Coupled with his demonstrated expertise in all aspects of broadcast audio/video production and distribution technologies, David’s hands-on experience in business and product development, sales and marketing, finance, and strategy will be critical as we expand our OEM business around the world.” Most recently, Workman served for almost four years as director of sales and business development for Telemetrics Inc., a manufacturer of high-end camera robotics equipment. Other prior positions include vice president, news automation systems, for Vizrt USA; senior director, segment marketing, for Grass Valley; and business development consultant for LucasFilms’ THX Ltd. Earlier in his career, Workman held product/program management and engineering positions for Microsoft Corporation, Abekas Video Systems and Grass Valley. Workman holds a degree in electronics technologies from Sierra College and has completed finance coursework in the MBA program at Mt. Saint Mary’s University. He has presented at numerous industry forums, including the SMPTE BBTB Conference, the HBO Comedy Festival, and NAB panel discussions, and he has published articles in the Electronic Engineering Times, Broadcast Engineering, and the SMPTE Motion Imaging Journal. “Embrionix SFP modules allow broadcast equipment manufacturers to offer a much wider array of IO options in their products, and even provide flexibility to configure finished goods at the last minute with any mix of SDI, fiber, IP, and even HDMI,” said Workman. “These are just some of the reasons why Embrionix modules are being used in more products today than ever before, and I am thrilled to be taking on the challenge to further advance the worldwide distribution of these innovative technologies.”

Holley says: “I have known SCHUMANN for 10 years and have been impressed to experience the robustness and agility of their product as a customer. I have watched with interest as they expanded beyond their home market and into international markets. Technology has become increasingly important right across the insurance industry, and I am delighted to be part of SCHUMANN as they lead the way into the post Covid world”. Credit and surety is a highly specialised insurance business. With its solutions, SCHUMANN offers insurance companies the opportunity to completely digitalise their processes. This enables insurance companies to position themselves securely for the future and bring their innovative products onto market quickly. Headquartered in Göttingen, SCHUMANN is a German family firm that uses modern technologies to offer innovative and reliable IT solutions to companies all round the world. Thanks to its many years of experience, customers can count on high quality and a stable, cooperative relationship based on partnership. The software solutions and expert consultancy services offered by the firm help companies to do business more efficiently and effectively. With its flexible scalable products SCHUMANN is able to provide specific solutions for individual sectors of industry for the management of (credit) risks, the associated process control and risk assessment. This enables businesses to cut costs with optimised processes and so reinforce their competitive position. For over two decades, trade and industry, providers of financial services and credit and bond insurers have relied on software solutions from SCHUMANN. Mike Holley has a strong track record of creating and growing businesses across Europe, USA and emerging markets.

David Workman Joins Embrionix as Global OEM Sales Manager

SCHUMANN has announced the appointment of Mike Holley as Strategic Advisor for the development of tech solutions for credit and political risk insurers and export credit agencies. The company's software solution offers functions from risk checking via portfolio management and accounting right up to insurance claims management. “SCHUMANN is investing further in the development of the software solutions for credit and political risk insurers, as well as surety bonds, and Mike’s tremendous expertise will help us expanding our market leadership. We are delighted to have him in our team”, says Evgeny Kulyushin, Member of the Executive Board at SCHUMANN. Mike Holley has a strong track record of creating and growing businesses across Europe, USA and emerging markets. He brings over 37 years’ experience in trade credit and political risk insurance, as well as in trade finance. He has been at the forefront of innovation in the industry and has been active in the Dutch and German markets as well as the UK and the US. He was a founder and CEO of trade credit insurer Equinox Global Limited. Mike

P20 AV News February 2020

InspiredMinds Media and the AI omnichannel Mothership have appointed technical advisors. Ex Apple Chief Chris Broad joins Global AI and Health Technology media company alongside three appointments as advisors to the board of directors. InspiredMinds the London based AI and Health Technology scaleup with a community of 200,000 users world wide has announced it is strengthening its board with a powerhouse addition of four new advisors as the media company announces the launch of an AI omnichannel for its community called Mothership. Chris Broad, former Apple Chief of Staff joins with immediate effect to assist on the transition to an ‘always on community’. Chris participated alongside Steve Jobs in the meteoric rise of technology giant Apple in three decades of captivating work since studying electronics in Southampton and an MBA from INSEAD. As Director of Sales Development and Support team he managed 80 staff as the tech giant introduced its product lines into the major retail chains and played a key role in the launch of its online store, Apple’s multi-channel sales strategy and geo-expansion. Commenting on his appointment Chris said “Inspired Minds has always had the “multi-channel" vision of blending a passionate online community with physical events. Paradoxically the global pandemic has strengthened the business as we see a business based on “large scale physical summits” move towards a truly-global, always-on community. Enabled by some brilliant innovation from the team we have seen more passion, more regular engagement and much more appreciation of the clear value delivered.”

Chris continued: “The global pandemic is a year old and Inspired Minds is a year stronger having successfully transformed into a world first AI omnichannel - a business based on “bricks and mortar physical presence” alongside a truly-global, always-on community. We have seen more engagement and vibrancy as the launch of mothership the online platform allows us to reach far more people, far more regularly with fantastic content delivered by the incredible team”. Also joining the board as advisors are three further appointments: Paul Thandi CBE is CEO of the NEC Group in Birmingham, where he has overseen the growth and recent sale to Blackstone Group. He joins InspiredMInds as advisor on investor relations and commercial growth. Paul commented “The global AI market is forecast to grow rapidly reaching around 126 billion US dollars by 2025. The overall market is a wide array of emerging technologies from natural language processing, machine learning and robotics - it will be ubiquitous in its impact to the world in which we live. InspiredMinds is leading the charge of this growth and is at the heart of the global ecosystem with established and respected partnerships with the stakeholders globally.” Paul continued “Inspired has truly embraced the power of its global and inter disciplinary community in AI and emerging technology by creating digital first products.” Renee Cummings Criminologist and AI Ethicist joins the board as advisor on Diversity and Inclusion. Renee is an internationally renowned criminologist and AI ethicist. Advocating for more diverse, equitable, and inclusive AI, she is on the frontline of ethical AI, generating real time responses to many of the unintentional consequences of AI. Commenting on her appointment Renee said “The beauty of AI is its power to radically re-code, in real time, our concept of “a seat at the table” and who’s invited to the table to have a seat. With AI, we can create a table with as many seats possible to ensure diversity, equity and inclusion are well placed, well positioned, and given priority space, at every table, wherever, AI is being designed and deployed. I am thrilled to join InspiredMinds and their global community where we can use AI to stretch our imagination and co-design a more equitable future for all.” Huguette Diakabana, WHO Digital health Technical advisor, joins the board as advisor on new and emerging communities, and youth generation. Huguette is an experienced system-level change agent with a demonstrated history of working with international organizations and governments. She is passionate about fostering collaboration and expanding access to valuable and impactful knowledge to help achieve meaningful progress, in sub-Saharan Africa. Huguette commented "InspiredMinds' commitment to elevating diverse voices in its platforms captured my attention several years ago, and it's been a privilege to see the organisation maintain that pledge through its growth. The team has managed to foster a global community of technologists, academics, practitioners, industry leaders, and learners, and contributors to share their knowledge, collaborate, and address pressing issues we must address. I'm delighted to join their efforts to spotlight AI's potential and those working to leverage it in different sectors." Commenting on the appointments, Sarah Porter CEO and Founder of Inspired-Minds, said: “We are at a pivotal moment in InspiredMinds growth, our digital community has exploded in the last twelve months and we welcome Chris, Renee, Huguette and Paul to assist us in navigating that growth. Their combined global experience will be invaluable as we continue to strengthen the InspiredMinds cause to include everyone in the creation, usage and deployment of emerging technologies.” Porter continued “We have an exciting opportunity ahead of us as we launch our Mothership AI omnichannel including an online platform to sit alongside existing international events portfolio that attracts in excess of 45,000 attendees around the world.” Vidya Gunapala, Chief Content Officer commented: “A core driver of the InspiredMinds ethos is to ensure that AI, emerging technology and healthcare is available to all, diversity and inclusion is at the heart of what we do and we are excited to be joined by likeminded advisors with such impressive experience of building collaborations with governments, the technology industry and academia to expand access to construct sustainable and inclusive solutions.” Renkus-Heinz, manufacturer of premium professional loudspeakers, have appointed Dudley McLaughlin to the position of National Sales Manager and Garrison Parkin to the position of Western Regional Sales Manager effective February 1st. The positions both cover the North American region. The promotions serve as a continued commitment to service and

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support in the United States and Canadian markets. McLaughlin has been with Renkus-Heinz since he was hired as Western Regional Sales Manager in 2018. Parkin joined the company in 2019 as Southwestern Territory Sales Manager. “Dudley and Garrison are both important members of the Renkus-Heinz family,” said Harro Heinz, Chairman and Co-Founder of Renkus-Heinz. “And while their success is well documented prior to 2020, it took commitment by everyone on our team to ensure we continued shipping product and supporting our partners over the past year. Dudley and Garrison are prime examples of that commitment. Their promotions will help us better serve our partners going into 2021 and beyond.” “There are reasons to be optimistic as we enter 2021,” McLaughlin said. “With this new team structure, we will be able to better support everyone who relies on our solutions. These moves mean dealers, integrators, consultants and end-users across North America will each have an additional point of contact with Renkus-Heinz. And we believe offering that increased level of support and collaboration will be key moving forward.” The moves come one month after the announcement of a new Director operating across Asia, Oceania and SAARC, and in the midst of multiple new product announcements from Renkus-Heinz. “We have worked diligently over the past year to ensure we are in a position to be shipping product, introducing new solutions and hiring staff,” Heinz said. “The result of that work is that we are in a very strong position to provide our partners with cutting-edge and impressive loudspeaker offerings in 2021. We are optimistic about the year ahead.”

Renkus-Heinz, manufacturer of premium professional loudspeakers, have appointed Dudley McLaughlin (pictured) to the position of National Sales Manager and Garrison Parkin to the position of Western Regional Sales Manager.

Amdocs Media, a division of Amdocs, a leading provider of software and services to communications and media companies, has today announced that it has appointed Piers Godden as Commercial Director for EMEA. Based in London, Godden will be responsible for developing new and existing partnerships with some of the world’s leading digital services providers, helping to expand Amdocs Media’s footprint across the EMEA region. Godden has over 20 years’ experience working in the media sector, developing new business, delivering company growth, inspiring and leading teams. Previously, VP Sales EMEA at Telestream, he has also held commercial management roles at companies including Arqiva, IPV and Visual Data Media Services (VDMS). Godden boasts a strong understanding of the technology and solutions that are being used today by communications, broadcast and production companies. This includes media asset management, video service assurance, content services, encoding and distribution workflows. Godden commented: “It’s very exciting to be joining Amdocs Media at a time when the demand for OTT media services has never been higher. Amdocs Media has a strong track record of helping

its customers deliver market-leading products and features. I look forward to helping the company evolve its existing relationships and bring innovations to new customers across EMEA.” Raman Abrol, GM & Chief Commercial Officer, Vubiquity & Amdocs Media, said, “We are thrilled that Piers is joining Amdocs Media to help continue our growth and market leadership. Piers’ deep knowledge of the media landscape will make him a crucial asset as we continue to spearhead transformation for our clients in the sector.”

Clarke joins Northamber Dan Clarke has joined Northamber as ‘Head of AV Sales’, as the business continues its investment in its AV Business Division. AV News caught up with Dan to find out more about what had prompted the move …. “It really was a very simple decision”, said Dan. “Northamber AV has been growing for the last couple of years under the leadership of my previous Sales Director, Peter Dosanjh, now Director of AV at Northamber and Managing Director Alex Phillips. They have been strategically adding vendors and resource throughout the pandemic, to ensure the reseller community have been able to continue to operate seamlessly. This forward thinking approach and the opportunity to be part of this growth is something I just had to be involved in. I was also impressed that Northamber recognised that many vendors and resellers had to furlough staff and Northamber therefore decided to provide additional support to the channel and actually grow their team. By providing high levels of support to their pro AV & IT reseller partners, from system design through to commissioning, the team have enabled businesses to continue and shown real differentiation from their competitors. Additionally, they went the extra mile to source and supply high quality, constrained products that have become the ‘new normal’ in this world of lockdown. For example Northamber AV has brought Edis to the UK Market to help solve the huge demand in reliable webcams and headsets to support the massive increase in video calls, triggered by the pandemic. In addition, they supported UK manufacturer One Digital Signage to increase the exposure of their non-touch hand sanitisation digital way finding/ safety information messaging displays, which is helpful in any office and retail environment or other public spaces such as hospitals for example.” “I am delighted that Dan has joined our fast growing team. Having worked with Dan previously, his channel knowledge and excellent relationships with pro AV resellers is going to increase the visibility of Northamber AV. Furthermore, his extensive experience in our industry is the ideal platform to lead our sales team to further growth,” said Peter Dosanjh. Dan, who has over 15 years’ experience in pro AV, noted that the rest of the Northamber AV team were previous colleagues or had many years’ experience in the AV industry, at reseller, distribution and vendor level, that he had come across as he rose through the ranks from a Tele Sales Agent to AV Sales Manager within some major players in the UK channel. “Joining an AV team of this calibre and knowing that we are still growing, provides all the elements we need to succeed. I’m excited to be part of this remarkable team and look forward to helping it continue to develop as a pro AV distributor. One of things I love about the strategy is that Northamber AV has vendors in place that deliver quality AV solutions for amazing value with good reseller margins. Particularly during the pandemic, this approach has been hugely beneficial to end-users that are looking to solve problems but to get real value for money from their investments. The excellent technical capabilities of the team means that IT and pro AV resellers can get the highest level of pre-sales support for both complex system designs as well as multi-vendor solutions. The team have literally hundreds of years’ experience between them, much of which is available to Northamber AV reseller partners as part of our go to market proposition. As lockdown starts to ease I’m looking forward to being able to engage more directly with our reseller partners, old and new. I’ll be bringing in industry expert sales people so that we can

increase our touch points and provide the best possible service to all our customers. Face to face meetings will enable us to increase our ability to engage up front in opportunities as well demonstrate solutions, proof of concepts and engage more directly in commissioning, installations, training and support. These solutions include connectivity and collaboration products, large format displays, digital signage, projection and Teams enabled devices to address the ‘new normal’ hybrid way of working. I’m really excited to be leading the AV Sales Team and look forward to continuing the success that Northamber AV has enjoyed to this point.”

Dan Clarke has joined Northamber as ‘Head of AV Sales’, as the business continues

P21 AV News February 2021

Diary and Events column

Visitor registration opens - it’s been worth the wait… The world’s leading exhibition for AV and systems integration makes its debut at the Fira de Barcelona Gran Vía in June. February sees online visitor registration open for Integrated Systems Europe 2021. It comes at a time of high anticipation by an industry that is keen to ‘get back to work’ in the second half of the year. As ever the primary focus for ISE 2021 will be a show floor featuring the world’s leading providers of AV technology and solutions. The spacious halls of the Fira Gran Vía will host nine dedicated Technology Zones, two making their debut. This will be complemented by four days of inspiring industry-leading content, world class keynote speakers, professional development programmes, conferences and a suite of new audio demo rooms. Throughout the show’s duration, there will also be an online hybrid accompaniment to the physical event featuring news, analysis and networking opportunities. More details on this initiative will be announced in the coming weeks. With the backdrop of the global pandemic ISE’s priority in recent months has been devising the means to deliver a safe and secure event for all exhibitors and visitors. To make this possible ISE and co-owners AVIXA and CEDIA have been working in close participation with the City of Barcelona, the venue and relevant authorities.

‘Safe Travels’ In early January this year, Fira de Barcelona announced that it has received the ‘Safe Travels’ stamp for its protocol against the transmission of COVID-19. This means that the prevention and safety protocol against COVID-19 developed by Fira de Barcelona for its venues and events has merited the internationally recognised endorsement from the World Travel Tourism Council (WTTC). The set of measures put in place has been developed in collaboration with the specialist risk management consultancy Aon and the Hospital Clínic de Barcelona. ISE has just published A Guide to Safe Visiting, an 8-page document outlining the safe practice protocols that have been put in place with the Fira Gran Vía to ensure that the visitor experience is safe and secure. The guide can be located on the ISE website. Looking confidently ahead to the show, Integrated Systems Events Managing Director Mike Blackman commented: “We are delighted that 81% of our top 100 customers are confirmed and will be bringing the latest AV technologies and innovations to Bar-

zone will showcase integrated solutions including cameras, microphones, audio consoles, production switchers, intercoms, video interfaces, processors and KVM switches • Digital Signage and DooH: This zone will showcase a broad range of technologies for advertising and information delivery solutions for the retail, transportation, healthcare, corporate, education, leisure, and hospitality sectors • Education Technology: This zone is for educational institutions, businesses, private tutors and professional development specialists. ISE will provide a shop window to the latest technology derived educational tools and solutions • NEW: Live Events: The zone will present solutions for small, temporary venues right up to major stadium events. The new area will showcase lighting and lighting control, rigging and staging within the industry, these shows have always provided a touchpoint that allows us to reconnect with the people we do business with. I am certain that all of our past and future attendees are anxious to meet again in person soon, and the research reinforces that emotion. The incalculable value of ISE to the exhibitors as a platform for engagement and thought leadership and to the attendees as a community from which to learn and grow compels us to do everything in our power to ensure that there will be a safe return of ISE in 2021 and an exciting debut in Barcelona.” Giles Sutton, joint CEO of CEDIA concludes: “In our industry, the experience is everything. Home technology products need to be touched, seen and heard if integrators are to recommend and specify them on projects for their customers. More than that, our industry is a community that benefits from meeting, talking and build relationships with others as well as the opportunity to learn from experts at in-person training.”

ISE 2021 Highlights Hola Barcelona! ISE 2021 will take place in one of Europe’s most vibrant, cultural and beautiful cities. It will benefit from the early summer month’s weather in an easy to navigate venue. This makes it an attractive destination for exhibitors and attendees. Once again, KNX will be the event’s Presenting Show Partner.

Technology Zones:

celona. Today, over 40,000 sqm of space is signed up with over 700 exhibitors confirmed. New companies are continuing to book their place on the floorplan. We know from feedback from our surveys, the industry cannot wait to get back to ISE and we look forward to welcoming them. It’s time to connect and get back to business.” Dave Labuskes, AVIXA CEO, concurs: “The annual calendar of trade shows provides a rhythm and cadence to our ever-changing and advancing industry. As individuals move in and out of roles

P22 AV News February 2021

With plenty of space and no restrictions on stand size ISE 2021 will feature nine Technology Zones, all designed to help visitors easily find the exhibitors most relevant to their interests. • Audio: Firmly established as the key destination for professionals looking to find out about the latest audio innovations, whether around signal processing and transport, immersive spatial audio or the cutting edge of loudspeaker and console design • NEW: Broadcast and Content Creation: ISE has presented solutions for broadcast and content creation for use in permanent installations and in live events for several years. The dedicated

equipment, motion tracking and holography • Residential: Highlighting the latest developments in the connected home as well as home entertainment and energy management • Smart Buildings: This zone features a wide array of integrated solutions for the control of air conditioning, lighting and shutter control, security systems, heating, ventilation, monitoring and alarming • Unified Communications: This zone delivers innovative new platforms designed to facilitate collaborative working and enhanced productivity across sites and countries • VR/AR/XR Zone: Showcasing new and established providers of these transformational, experiential solutions gaining wider use by the day

Audio Demo Rooms ISE 2021 will see the premiere of a suite of high-quality audio demo rooms, which will be operating throughout the exhibition’s duration. These will be set in the Filmax Cinema complex just 200 metres from the Fira. This location ensures the best of audio environment to hear and experience the latest audio innovations from a range of leading exhibitors in rooms that can seat up to 400 visitors.

AV News November 2020 P24

Diary and Events

Why the industry is looking forward to ISE

TNW A new initiative for ISE is a collaboration with The Next Web (TNW), a future-proof tech media company owned by the Financial Times, which focuses on sharing, inventing and advancing tech developments through a wide range of physical and online events. ISE has been working with TNW since 2020 to produce its monthly RISE Spotlight webinars. At ISE 2021 TNW will be delivering keynote speakers and cutting-edge content showcasing new technology, startups and business development.

Pavilions The Catalonia Pavilion in Hall 4 (produced by ACCIÓ, the Catalonian business development agency) will feature 30 local companies showcasing local and regional AV innovators and service companies. Plus, there will be a dedicated visitor networking programme.

ISE Conference programme ISE 2021’s conference will run from Tuesday to Friday. It will cover areas such as Digital Signage, Smart Buildings, XR and Control Rooms. New for 2021 will be three ISE additional conferences focusing on Broadcast/Content Creation, Digital Learning and Workplace Evolution. Attendees can expect a packed roster of cutting-edge content delivered by some of the world’s leading experts and thought leaders. TNW will be augmenting the conference content themes by delivering four days of keynotes and daily showcases of innovative startups. A new conference also joins the programme, the result of a new partnership: the Superyacht Technology Conference is dedicated to superyacht technology. It will run over two days and encompass 20 speakers, 400 delegates, workshops and demos, an Awards ceremony and after-party. Also making eagerly anticipated returns are the AudioForum from Connessioni, attractionsTECH hosted by blooloop, covering the visitor attractions market sector and AGORA, a conference from stadium-focused live events magazine MONDO | STADIA, which will explore the growing importance of stadiums as a key market for AV integration professionals.

During the challenging times of the past nine months the importance of ISE to the global AV and systems integration business has never been more apparent. Many exhibitors and attendees view the show as the catalyst for the business year ahead. Here’s what some of them have recently had to say about the relevance and importance of ISE 2021: “2020 has been an uncertain year for our industry and we look forward to returning to some kind of normality for 2021. We are excited to attend ISE and have the opportunity to meet our customers face-to-face again.” Michelle Downey, Marketing Director EMEA, HARMAN “Our industry is one of the largest economic sectors. In addition to commercial events, events in the business environment are essential for the success of the economy. Only in an emotional, experience-oriented environment we can succeed in developing and fostering customer relationships through face-to-face communication. Positive emotional experiences, through the use of AV technology, promote socio-cultural development and also the connection of people of different cultures and countries. The language of emotion is international. For this experience there is no digital alternative with a similar effect. Of course, health and safety come first, but an event like ISE is highly professionally organised and well planned, which means that risks can be avoided, and protective arrangements can be implemented with the highest precision. We are looking forward to ISE 2021 in Barcelona and we are 100% committed.” Eva Claudi, CEO, Lang-Iberia “So, ISE 2021 in Barcelona – I can’t wait – this is the most important and the most anticipated ISE ever. And it makes me think of two words; one is community, the AV community and two is the word critical. We have become critical to so many aspects of life – if you think of education, telemedicine, how an enterprise is being able to operate, people being able to work from home. even personal lives, looking at quiz nights, virtual dinner parties, keeping connected with friends and family over video. We’ve just become absolutely so important to how people work every day. So, when I go to ISE I’m expecting to really grasp that critical nature of our business.” Jon Sidwick, Chairman, AVIXA; MD, Collabtech “The show will give a great visibility to our business and will

make the heads of the IT departments to finally know the AV industry. When customers get inside ISE and see the volume of the show and everything that moves around it, they will realise the size of this industry, something that they cannot even imagine”. Aristeo López, General Director, Tower TBA “Since the show will be on all the (Spanish) national news programmes and that enormous visibility will generate great opportunities for Spanish AV companies.” Alberto Cáceres, CEO, Trisón

And finally Over the coming weeks new initiatives and features will be announced as we work towards the debut of ISE in Barcelona. What a journey it has been so far. Please join us… Integrated Systems Europe (ISE) 2021 will take place at the Fira de Barcelona, Gran Vía, on 1-4 June 2021. For more information, please visit www.iseurope.org.

AV Experience Zone The AV Experience Zone is a new three-day initiative produced in association with AVIXA that will see Spanish integrators and end users attend specially curated Spanish language presentations and show floor tours focusing on Corporate/Hospitality, Retail and Education.

Startup Innovation Zone New for 2021 will be a dedicated show floor feature area showcasing cutting edge startup businesses, particularly focused on the local region. This will be produced in association with TNW and ACCIÓ.

AV Career Day ISE, AVIXA and CEDIA will join forces once again to host the popular initiative that sees higher education students visit the show for a day of talks, tech tours and networking.

Inavation Awards

I navate magazine will once again be hosting its prestigious Inavation Awards ceremony on the first night of the show. Taking place for the first time at the Museu d’Art de Catalunya, it will celebrate achievements of integrators and technology managers across the breadth of the global AV industry.

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Diary and Events

Media Production & Technology Blackman gives ISE assurance despite Infocomm postponement Show postponed After carefully monitoring the progress of the vaccine roll out in the UK and abroad, and taking the government’s recent statement about the timeline for the roll out of the vaccine and the reopening of business and public events into consideration, the organisers of the Media Production & Technology Show have announced that the event has been postponed until 2022. The Media Production & Technology Show now will take place from 11-12 May 2022 back at Olympia and for the first time will be held in the National Hall. The decision to move the show a full 12-months and reschedule into May 2022 has not been taken lightly. It has made

because of continued questions about the rest of 2021 and the possibility of hosting large scale events, as well as the availability of venues and other industry events already booked into the latter part of this year. Additionally, with some form of social distancing and limitations on public gatherings likely to be in place for some time to come, the Media Production & Technology Show organisers decided that its customers and partners would need time to reasonably plan and invest in the event to maximise their attendance at the show. “The health and wellbeing of exhibitors, visitors and our staff is of utmost priority to us and we feel this is the best course

of action for all, said Charlotte Wheeler, Event Director. “It has not been an easy decision to make, and we are deeply disappointed that the show will not take place this year. Following all the hard work from the team and all of the industry support we have received, this was going to be their biggest show yet. But now more than ever it is important that the industry support each other and navigate through these difficult times.” The Media Production & Technology show team look forward to welcoming everyone back at Olympia in the National Hall on 11-12th May 2022 and delivering another exciting event for the industry.

ISE MD Mike Blackman has responded to the announcement by AVIXA that the InfoComm 2021 show is set to take place in Orlando in October 2021 “Following today’s announcement that the InfoComm 2021 show will now take place in Orlando in October 2021, we want to confirm that Integrated Systems Europe, remains scheduled to open live and online on 1-4 June 2021 in its new home at the Fira, Barcelona.” “Whilst we recognise there con-

ISE 2020; Blackman assures stakeholders about 2021. tinue to be challenges ahead, we are in touch with government and the relevant health authorities to constantly monitor the situation. None of us

can predict how the situation will look in June, but we are hopeful that by the second quarter of 2021 we will see the world return to a new ‘normal’ with vaccines being rapidly delivered in many countries around the world.” “We understand our exhibitors and partners need to make commitments that will incur cost and we do not wish to burden them unnecessarily. For this reason, if circumstances impact our ability to host an in-person event and we are forced to cancel this element of ISE, we will make this decision by 1 March.” “With the backdrop of the global pandemic, our priority in recent months has been devising the means to deliver a safe and secure event for all exhibitors and visitors and we have been working closely with the City of Barcelona, the venue and relevant authorities.” “In early January, Fira de Barcelona received the ‘Safe Travels’ stamp, an internationally recognised endorsement from the World Travel Tourism Council (WTTC), developed in collaboration with the specialist risk management consultancy Aon and the Hospital Clínic de Barcelona.” “ISE has also published A Guide to Safe Visiting, outlin-

ing the safe practice protocols that have been put in place with the Fira Gran Vía to ensure that the visitor experience is safe and secure. The guide can be located on the ISE website.” “Looking ahead to June, we can confirm that today, over 37,000 sqm of space is signed up with just under 700 exhibitors confirmed and new companies continuing to book their place on the floorplan.” “Next week sees online visitor registration open, coming at a time when we realise the industry is keen to ‘get back to work’ in the second half of the year. Feedback from our recent customer research shows that the industry is looking forward to meeting as soon as the situation allows and we are currently updating the research to measure current sentiment amongst both our exhibitors and visitors.” “In a time where many of our industry colleagues are suffering financially or have lost their jobs or businesses, we at ISE are striving to do everything we can to contribute to the industry getting back on its feet.” “I would personally like to thank all our customers, partners and colleagues within the industry which we serve and look forward to seeing you again soon.”

Stew Hume Editor, TPi Magazine

Matthew Thompson Managing Director, AVTEAMUK

The Media Production & Technology Show has announced that the event has been postponed until 2022.

RISE Spotlight: Live Events Experiences, Reinvented No sector was hit harder by the pandemic than live events – making it the sector with the greatest need to reinvent itself to attract audiences in new and compelling ways. The fourth of our RISE Spotlight events – presented in partnership with TNW and also with events technology title TPi – discussed the future of audience and fan interaction, and the tech solutions and new business models involved in shaping it.

Here’s what was the programme on Wednesday 3 February: FULL PROGRAMME Startup Nation: Tom Wilson, a Partner at Seedcamp, will talk about some of the exciting startups in the events space that are poised to help the live events industry make the digital transition. AVIXA Insights: Sean Wargo, Senior Director, Market Intelligence at AVIXA, will reveal high-level data showing how the live events industry was hit in 2020 and what the recovery is expected to look like. ISE Reporter Roundtable: Stew Hume, Editor of TPi, will chair a panel of experts who have helped live music transition into the digital world. Stew will also be On the Sofa

P24 AV News February 2021

with Wob Roberts, Chairman of the Touring Production Group as well as a Production Manager for top-level acts. Under discussion will be how COVID-19 has affected the crew workforce, and how training the next generation of crew is likely to proceed. Finally, take your pick from two interactive Watercooler Virtual Meets and become part of the live discussion: AVIXA’s Sean Wargo will talk to Matthew Thompson, Managing Director of AVTEAMUK, about how his company’s live events business has pivoted Malle Kaas, CEO of Women in Live Music, will offer her perspective on key trends in the live events sector. To stay ahead of the massive changes underway in the live events industry, don’t miss this free-to-attend event.

Here's our full speaker list: Emma Bull Artistic Director and Show Producer Ric Salmon CEO, Driift Wob Roberts Production Manager (Evanescence, Chainsmokers, Sam Smith) Malle Kaas CEO, Women in Live Events

Tom Wilson Partner, Seedcamp Robin Collings Co-director, Lost Horizon Patrick de Laiv Co-founder, TNW Sean Wargo Sr. Director, Market Intelligence, AVIXA