AV News October 2021

The direct channel to the industry

October 2021 www.avnews.co.uk Page 16

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Beacons and sensors: now essential retail technologies?

Konftel C2070 video collaboration solution

The Covid-19 pandemic has given a lot of impetus to beacons and sensors, installed as key components of AV solutions designed to generate touchless, and automatic responses or reporting.

The move to hybrid working has created a gap in the market for video collaboration solutions that suit individuals and small. decentralised workgroups.

Research values hybrid Sharp UK announces new working over a 10% pay rise partner programme Asked whether they’d prefer autonomy over where they worked or higher pay, 72% of office workers said they’d rather have the option to con-

who worked from home during periods of lockdown were keen to split their time between working remotely and at the company HQ, post-pandemic.

flexible working practices over adding 10% to their salary, indicating the high value they place on having ownership of their work schedules and com-

Even in a hybrid world, the corporate HQ still has an important part to play. Regular visits will allow for collaboration and connecting, and forward-looking businesses are already examining how office space can be reconfigured as well as scaled back. tinue working remotely than extra cash. New research from IWG shows the pandemic has had a significant effect on employees’ priorities. According to their recent survey, 72% of office workers would prefer a hybrid way of working to a full-time return to the office – even if reverting to the old Monday to Friday routine meant earning 10% more money.

Findings from the Office for National Statistics underline this shift in attitudes.

It found that 85% of adults

IWG’s Founder and CEO Mark Dixon points to the pivotal role of technology in enabling the shift. “The real catalyst,” he says, “is the digital revolution, which started in the 1970s with the launch of the first personal computers. Now, technology puts into workers’ hands all the tools they need to do their job.”

It’s no coincidence that younger workers and digital natives are particularly comfortable with hybrid working. IWG’s research showed that 84% of 18-24-year-olds would prefer

TAP INTO TEAMS MEETINGS Logitech Tap for Microsoft Teams Powered by Lenovo ThinkSmart Edition Tiny

muting habits.

Of the workers IWG surveyed, two thirds of those aged 2534 would not consider applying for a job if hybrid working wasn’t possible. Meanwhile, 83% of workers would now be more likely to apply for a position if it offered a flexible way of working. In the new world of work, firms looking to hire the brightest and best talent will need to offer a way of working that’s built on trust, individual

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Sharp UK has announced the launch of its new Technology Partner Programme. The new programme supports partner growth, rewards success, and increases opportunities for a wide range of businesses.

Structured with three tiers, as partners move through the tiers, they unlock more benefits – from sales and product training to additional tender assistance and marketing assets. The new programme reinforces Sharp’s commitment to its dealer partners and supports them in responding to post-pandemic business needs.

The new programme will provide essential support and resources for growth and increase opportunities for Sharp’s technology partners the Technology Partner Programme has been created specifically to support partner growth, reward success, and increase opportunities for a wide range of businesses.

Sharp UK’s award-winning Partner Programme has traditionally been based on hardware, though the new programme and latest additions are designed to meet the changing market demands accelerated by

Covid-19. Sharp has developed the new programme to reinforce its commitment to its dealer partners and support them in responding to post-pandemic business needs.

Details of the new programme.

There are to be three tiers, starting with Certified, moving to Premium, and then up to the highest level of the programme, Elite. As partners move through the tiers, they unlock more benefits – from sales and product training to additional tender assistance and marketing assets.

Paul Leach, Dealer Sales Director at Sharp UK, said: “Covid-19 necessitated a new way of thinking, and we knew our previous programme needed to evolve with the changing marketplace. The new programme has been designed to meet the needs of our partners and help them meet customer demand for practical, relevant, and cost-effective solutions.”

Paul continues: “We see the programme as a partnership.

We wanted to develop and create a partner programme that’s aspirational to the dealers that we partner with and ultimately

leads to a successful relationship for both sides.”

Sharp’s portfolio of technology products is vast and constantly evolving with the needs of the marketplace. Looking ahead to the future, Sharp is working towards building out the products that it sells to customers, including providing annuity subscription-based products and IT Services.

Paul Leach, Dealer Sales Director at Sharp UK, said: “Covid-19 necessitated a new way of thinking, and we knew our previous programme needed to evolve with the changing marketplace.

Konftel Launches Interactive Room Type Guide Conferencing and collaboration manufacturer Konftel has developed a special interactive room type guide to help users pinpoint the optimum set-up and understand the different dynamics of any video meeting scenario. Designed for resellers and their customers, the powerful new tool showcases Konftel’s expanded product portfolio based on collabora-

tion solutions for any room type – highlighting how video is everywhere and everywhere is video!

Chief Marketing Officer, Stefan Eriksson: “With the hybrid workplace emerging as the new norm, video meetings have become the central resource for collaboration and efficient decision making.”

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NOW G SHIPPIN

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Headline News

Fuze expands Microsoft Teams integration Fuze has announced expanded Microsoft Teams integrations to enable more seamless and efficient workflows between both Fuze and Teams users. These enhancements to the Fuze for Teams portfolio feature a new direct routing solution and expanded add-on functionality, improving the overall enterprise communications and collaboration experience across all modalities. With Fuze for Teams, customers can enhance their Teams experience through enterprise-grade security and reliability across a consistent global platform.

Across the modern workforce, many employees must navigate between a range of communications platforms throughout their workday for internal and external meetings, including Microsoft Teams. The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated this challenge for employees, as organisations now rely on a myriad of communication solutions to remain productive in a remote or hybrid work environment. Now more than ever, knowledge workers, contact centre agents, frontline workers, executives, and

end users need a solution that is secure and reliable, while being easy to use and manage.

“In a recent Frost & Sullivan survey, more than half of businesses are and will be using multi-vendor solutions in the foreseeable future,” said Elka Popova, vice president and global program director at Frost & Sullivan. "That's why integrations that deliver seamless workflows are increasingly critical. Fuze for Teams combines strength in global voice alongside strong collaboration-centric and mobile-user experiences.”

Key features of Fuze’s expanded Microsoft Teams integration include: •New Direct Routing Options: New flexible direct routing (calling) through Fuze is now available for users with any Teams license and for customers who want all communications, whether its meetings, calling, or chat, to live within the Microsoft Teams experience -- ensuring all Teams users have a voice.

•Expanded Click-to-Connect Functionality: Enables customers to use Microsoft Teams

Exertis has announced the appointment of Sam Williams as Director of Sales – B2B. Williams has been with Exertis for 15 years and has been instrumental in building high-performance teams across the business. He brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the role, having spent four successful years in B2B and ten years in retail.

Most recently, Williams has been the Director of Sales (Accessories & Own Brand) for the last 18 months. Based in Exertis’ Basingstoke office, Williams will report into Mike Buley, Chief Sales Officer. Sam Williams said, “I’m excited to have the opportunity to lead our B2B sales function. We have a great foundation to work from with an ambitious, talented and highly experienced team.

Exertis is a fast moving and dynamic business and I’m looking forward to the challenge.”

Mike Buley, Chief Sales Officer, Exertis UK&I, said: “I’d like to take this opportunity to congratulate Sam on his new role. Sam has spent the last 15 years gaining invaluable experi-

ence within the business and I wish him every success moving forwards.”

Exertis has announced the appointment of Sam Williams as Director of Sales – B2B.

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Research values hybrid working over a 10% pay rise responsibility and outcomes – not one that’s based on presenteeism.

According to Acas, employers who embrace hybrid working will find it easier to hang on to their best people. Reducing the need for employees to commute empowers them to achieve improved work-life balance, reclaiming ‘wasted’ time that can be spent with family and friends or on vital selfcare. Put simply, people who feel supported in looking after their own mental, emotional and physical health are likely to feel more loyalty towards businesses and stay with them for longer.

Giving employees the option to work from a nearby flexspace is a key way to ensure the long-term success of the hybrid model. Having a ‘third location’ to work from – neither the home nor the corporate HQ – combines the best of both worlds, removing workers from domestic distractions but also freeing them from the rat race.

Enterprises including Standard Chartered bank and Cisco have signed deals with IWG that will give staff access to its global network of flexible workspaces. Such partnerships enable firms to control their spending on property at the same time as ensuring staff are able to work from professional, wellequipped environments near home.

However, even in a hybrid world, the corporate HQ still

with Fuze Calling and Meetings without any additional cost.

•New Add-On Capabilities: Enhancements to the Fuze for Teams add-on gives Teams users voicemail access and control, an enhanced call history, expanded contact list capabilities, and access to the Fuze Contact Center agent tab -- regardless of whether a user is using Direct Routing or Clickto-Connect.

“At Fuze, we are committed to meeting users where they work, which means eliminating as many barriers as possible to efficient and productive workflows that meet all of today’s communications needs,” said Rob Scudiere, president and chief operating officer at Fuze. “These integration updates provide users with a flexible and consistent communications experience across the Fuze and Microsoft Teams platforms, while enabling users to mix-and-match Fuze for Teams solutions depending on their unique use case. This is an important step towards mormore productive and efficient communications across the enterprise.”

Exertis appoints Director of Sales

has an important part to play.

Regular visits will allow for collaboration and connecting, and forward-looking businesses are already examining how office space can be reconfigured as well as scaled back. Around the world, old-fashioned rows of desks will be replaced by areas dedicated to creativity, active work and discussion.

In IWG’s survey, 84% of 18-24-year-olds felt that collaboration was easier in an office environment, while 82% believed that having the opportunity to spend time with colleagues face-to-face would help them develop the core skills, they’ll need for career advancement.

Meanwhile, 90% agreed that working from an office was helpful for maintaining worklife boundaries, with leaving the building a clear stopping point at the end of the day.

The same can be said of working from a flexspace, with the physical departure for home a useful line in the sand for those who might otherwise allow the working day to stretch on.

Konftel Launches Interactive Room Type Guide The innovative 3D guide identifies the most appropriate products and connectivity set-up, from personal workspaces, focus and huddle rooms to large multipurpose rooms – based on an overall objective to optimize video enabled meetings, whatever the environment.

Chief Marketing Officer, Stefan Eriksson, explained: “With the hybrid workplace emerging as the new norm, video meetings have become the central resource for collaboration and efficient decision making. This means every meeting space,

whether at home or in the corporate office, needs to be equipped for instant, easy-to use and high quality video conferencing.”

“There are many complexities to achieve successful and consistent video meetings – from room lay out and connectivity to choosing the right technology that is simple and easy to use. Our innovative room guide makes it easy to identify and chose the right equipment for the right rooms. One size definitely doesn’t fit all.”

design.

Konftel C50800 Hybrid The Konftel C50800 Hybrid is a premium video collaboration solution for medium to really large meeting rooms. Delivering outstanding image and audio quality, the package combines the Konftel Cam50 PTZ conference camera and the Konftel 800 conference phone with the Konftel OCC Hub for One Cable Connection. Eriksson highlighted: “Identifying the requirements for each environment and use case is the key to finding the right solution and set-up. The end-goal – video enabled meetings, always and everywhere. Our room type guide is a simple way to navigate the work environment and find the optimal video solutions.” w He concluded: “Meeting environments are now hugely varied and continue to diversify in today’s evolving world of hybrid working, spanning both

homes and offices. Many companies recognise the need to maintain a workforce that may be much more remote in the future, where conferencing is the new norm. This means they will need to either redesign or re-equip office locations. Large conference rooms with vast glass tables, for example, make for really poor acoustics. Social distancing will need to be assessed too.

“To achieve this, the type of video conferencing equipment needs to match each individual room. The type of connectivity, lighting, field of view, audio distance and overall room design and size need to be considered. Ease of use, reliability and flexibility all have to combine together. And quality really matters. Audio clarity, picture sharpness and reduction of background noise – these are all factors which greatly influence the overall impact of any meeting.”

Konftel’s product developments include Konftel 70 video kits The new Konftel 70 is a versatile high-performance speakerphone that blends exceptional audio quality with a stylish accolade-winning design. It’s an ideal video meeting companion or can be used as a standalone or even portable solution, for huddle rooms and small/medium locations. It forms the audio centrepiece of two new video kits – the C2070 and C5070 – which are part of Konftel’s entire Climate Neutral certified portfolio.

Konftel Personal Video Kit The Konftel Personal Video Kit creates conferencing convenience – and is ideally suited to today’s growing hybrid working trends, spanning both the home and traditional office.

The complete conferencing package consists of the new Konftel Cam10 webcam and popular Konftel Ego speakerphone – delivering business class performance with high levels of usability as part of a compact and portable overall

P3 AV News October 2021

Opinion

Software options for Digital Signage (Retail solutions) Digital signage is one of the most powerful tools you can use when it comes to engaging with your customers. From directing footfall and promoting offers, to creating a more experiential and enthralling buyer experience.

One of the biggest challenges that retailers face today is the continuous growth of online purchasing. The rebuttal to this has been to create a more dynamic in-store experience that offers something on the high street that can’t be replicated online.

Over 71% of consumers feel that advertising on digital signage stands out more compared to online advertising. A perfect example of this working in the real world is Iceland's incredible 700% increase in coconut water sales after featuring a deal on their signage.

So how do we look to increase our buyer experience while getting the most from the digital signage that we have?

Having digital signage and creating a digital signage experience are two very different things. As with any good conversion strategies, content is always KEY. That means making your content engaging, eye-catching and memorable. There’s more to creating good digital signage than just good content though. When looking at your CMS (content management system) provider, you should ask yourself if they tick all the boxes for what you need today but also, for what you might want in the future.

Some of the key items to consider are: Can I schedule my content at scale?

Can you build, deliver and plan your content into the future across different stores, different languages and different stock levels? When you’re looking at your CMS of choice, ask yourself (or better yet, ask the CMS provider) how you can scale with the platform. How can you tackle items like unique product placements or differing stock levels in different regions? Some platforms may even have the capability to use your existing EPOS system to integrate (with development) your stock data to help your digital signage automate its promotional items.

forms from touch-screen experiences, wayfinding solutions or even Lift and Learn. With Lift and learn you can allow your customers to compare and contrast real life products while being informed of the product features through digital signage. Nexmosphere offers an array of different products that can be used for interaction with Signagelive.

Seasonal changes and time-sensitive content It’s a staple for almost any CMS platform out there today and with good reason. Being able to schedule your content to display when needed makes your day to day management much easier. Look for platforms that can offer you the choice between time-sensitive content (such as hours in the day), Date sensitive content (for when you’re planning for an event or season) and player location specific content.

With player location specific content, you can group your players so your global messaging can have unique assets that only appear when players exist in a specific group. This offers you the most flexibility and capabili-

How do I manage my players (Screens and other hardware)

ty when it comes to scheduling.

Digital signage can be achieved in a multitude of ways, either with on-site servers or hosted in the cloud. There are benefits to both, however, consider the reality of managing these devices. On-site servers will suffer from additional upkeep and management whereas cloud-based platforms will be more manageable for multiple locations and remote management.

In addition, Signagelive integrates with a growing number of Machine Learning (ML) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) solution that enable content to be displayed based on any data or sensor inputs to ensure customers are viewing optimal digital signage messages and promotions.

What can I do to evaluate my content performance?

Proof of Play (or PoP) gives you a much better insight into how often your content is visible and being promoted. With potentially tens or hundreds of different promotions and offers being displayed, being able to visualise the visibility of this content can offer you excellent insight into your campaigns performance. Check with your CMS provider to see if PoP is an option for you. You can take your PoP data to the next level by comparing your data with Audience analytics tools to retroactively compare your viewing audience with your PoP data.

How do I let my audience interact with my signage?

When we’re talking about experiences, there’s nothing quite like getting your audience interacting with your content. This can take many

P4 AV News October 2021

ly captivating. When looking at your CMS provider, make sure you consider what you need from the provider now and in the future as

In Summary Preparing your retail experience with digital signage can offer incredible growth in revenue.

Whether you’re looking to promote stock that needs moving or immerse your customers in a branded experience, digital signage gives you the tools you need to create something tru-

moving from platform to platform is a time-consuming and expensive initiative.

Moreover, make sure the platform you choose has the breadth of features that can allow you to make smart decisions when it comes to content control, audience experience and your management overall.

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Business News

New consultancy specialising in sales, marketing and PR

Midwich ‘Mi Insight’ proactive monitoring service for dealers

Re-Sauce has announced that they have strengthened their presence in European markets by establishing a business activity hub in Germany. The European hub is designed to provide Re-Sauce customers with top quality local content and translations, marketing, Press and PR services in multiple European languages.

Re-Sauce (www.re-sauce.net) founded by Gordon Dutch, Lee Baker and Ian Sempers only launched in February 2021, but has already made a significant impact within the Pro-AV and IT Industries, working with a number of leading brands on sales strategy, sales introductions, marketing, Press and PR. Gordon Dutch CEO stated: “We are thrilled to announce the arrival of Re-Sauce across Europe. Our intention straight from launch was for Re-Sauce to become a Global business and whilst we already had partners and contacts all over the world, it is of course much bet-

Midwich ‘Mi Insight’ proactive monitoring service for dealers Midwich Group has announced the launch of ‘Mi Insight’, a proactive 24/7 monitoring service available for dealer partners globally. Part of Midwich’s ‘Mi Services’ offering, Mi Insight proactively monitors and reports on all Audio Visual (AV) and Unified Communications & Collaboration (UC&C) equipment within a system, including the

action resolutions and improve service levels and uptime. All actions are logged and tracked giving operators full control to get things working faster. The Mi Insight dashboard displays all AV and UC systems in one place. Faults seen in one location may affect another, and Mi Insight delivers control to assess the overall service impact allowing you to can prioritise workload in the team, drill down

Gordon Dutch, Re-Sauce CEO, stated: “We are thrilled to announce the arrival of Re-Sauce across Europe. Our intention straight from launch was for Re-Sauce to become a Global business and whilst we already had partners and contacts all over the world, it is of course much better when you can bundle your activities under one European roof.” ter when you can bundle your activities under one European roof.”

The European business hub is being established in preparation of a number of new clients Re-Sauce is currently onboarding and gives Re-Sauce the ability to provide case studies and other multilingual support

all over Europe. 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 or europress@ re-sauce.net or follow them on LinkedIn: re-sauce. or Twitter: re_sauce_

New Teams learning platform from Exertis Leading technology distributor Exertis has announced its partnership with Boxlight, provider of online, self-paced professional development courses around MS Teams – designed to upskill users into effective use of the platform and allowing businesses to improve productivity.

Boxlight products are designed to help students learn more effectively and develop the essential skills they need for success. Students respond to this enhanced way of learning, and teachers find it allows them to do more in the classroom, making lessons more productive.

A specialist provider in this field, Boxlight offers CPD-certified course content that is always up-to-date, relevant and to a high standard of quality. In partnering with Boxlight, Exertis is extending its capability around MS Teams as it continues to provide full solutions for its channel partners.

Greg Bennett, Head of AV Solutions, Exertis Pro AV, said, “We’re delighted to be able to offer this value-added service to our reseller partners. The new user adoption platform provides users with a self-paced online set of modules to learn about the functions and useability of Microsoft Teams and Teams Rooms. This hugely complements our Microsoft Teams offering to the channel, along with our pre-sales consultancy team and comprehensive range of certified Microsoft Teams Room products and solutions.”

Boxlight’s technology reduces technology disruption and improves student engagement. Its content is easy-to-use, engaging, valuable, and provides ef-

provides complete visibility of an end users’ UC estate, digital signage systems, LED walls or presentation spaces, delivering unparalleled oversight over their networks. Additionally, the platform can also be white labelled to cater to different brand guidelines, meaning it is highly adaptable.”

Proactive workspaces will ensure continuity of service, one of the many reasons why Mi In-

Greg Bennett, Head of AV Solutions, Exertis Pro AV, said, “We’re delighted to be able to offer this value-added service to our reseller partners. fective solutions for the way we teach tomorrow’s leaders today.

Darren Brown, Boxlight Partner Manager comments: “We continue to drive our Professional Development self-paced courses and training solutions to suit the needs of end users.

We offer the freedom to choose when and where to complete your course. This new and exciting partnership with Exertis highlights the movement to hybrid self-development using software and technology.”

P6 AV News October 2021

This software-as-a-service model means you can enjoy Mi Insight’s proactive monitoring service for a low monthly cost. various platforms running in the Cloud such as Microsoft Teams and Zoom.

Mi Insight tackles the complexities of managing an estate of AV equipment and Unified Communications systems by providing increased visibility and control across the entire network.

The addition of hybrid working means that AV equipment is dispersed over even more locations, than pre-pandemic - Mi Insight allows dealers to see, in real time, when anything goes wrong and offering a service level agreement to identify any issues fast, regardless of where they are in the world.

Jon Dew-Stanley, Director Technical, Services and Support at Midwich commented: “We are proud to support our global network of dealers with this truly unique service. Mi Insight has been developed to give complete peace of mind to our dealers, allowing them to see in real time when anything goes wrong, ensuring it is handled quickly and appropriately. The single application

sight is an essential tool. This new addition to Mi Services will monitor all AV and UC&C systems, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It will also monitor software codecs such as Microsoft Teams and Zoom clouds in real-time, all from one single computer. Mi Insights puts your AV estate into context with full visibility of all assets and how they are operating with the additional benefit of AIOps workflow automations that act on errors as they happen in real-time.

Mi Insight lives on the AV network, securely monitoring AV and UC&C equipment, tracking status, health and usage. The cloud service collates the feedback online from each piece of equipment consolidated into a single dashboard to view and track sites anywhere in the world.

When a problem occurs on a device, Mi Insight can send automated responses to devices in a fault state to resolve the issue through runbook actions.

In real-time, the system helps

into the fault condition quickly and ensure the root cause is identified and resolved.

This software-as-a-service model means you can enjoy Mi Insight’s proactive monitoring service for a low monthly cost. Scale your subscription with your business and add, change, and remove the equipment that’s being monitored, managed, and tracked. Wherever you are in the world, the global Mi Services team will be delighted to run you through Mi Insight, as well as the complete Mi Services offering, under no obligation.

If you are a customer benefiting from Mi Support’s enhanced warranty guarantee, choosing Mi Insight as an additional benefit means your enhanced warranty can be managed 24/7 through the Mi Insight platform. For example, in the event of a product failure, the platform will automatically notify the Mi Services team and a replacement will be issued within 24 hours, meaning you don’t need to do a thing.

DHD Audio addition to Channel Partner Network DHD Audio GmbH announces a new addition to its sales and support network with the appointment of BVMEDIA SRL as a distribution partner. Based in Milan, Italy, BVMEDIA is a widely respected company offering a comprehensive range of products and services across the full spectrum of radio, television and online content creation.

“We are very pleased to wel-

come BVMEDIA to our resellers team,” comments Christoph Gottert, head of international sales at DHD. “I am confident that BVMEDIA's highly experienced and highly motivated team will improve the accessibility of our products throughout the Italian peninsula.”

“DHD's approach to audio mixing, routing and networking offers many technical and operational advantages,” adds

Roberto Zeccara, BVMEDIA ‘s senior production manager and media specialist. “DHD solutions are easy to install on any scale from a single selfop mixer up to a networked multi-studio system as well as being space-efficient both on the desktop and in the network-connected apparatus room.

“Operators find the integral TFT LCD information panels very

logical to work with, especially when having to make fast production decisions while working live to air. DHD's modular control panels and processors also make system reconfigura-

Continued on page 7

Business News Continued fro page 6

DHD Audio addition to Channel Partner Network

Flexible working more important than salary?

Flexible working has overtaken salary as the top benefit to employees (59%), highlighting that flexibility and autonomy over the working day is now more important than financial reward for most workers. This is according to a new report from Jabra; the Jabra Hybrid Ways of Working 2021 Global Report carried out amongst 5,000 knowledge workers in five countries worldwide, including the UK. The report also found that nearly three quarters of respondents DHD Audio GmbH announces a new addition to its sales and support network with the appointment of BVME- (73%) believe that in the future having an office space will be DIA SRL as a distribution partner. considered an employee benefit tion or expansion very straight“The DHD price point is im- DHD systems are increasingly as opposed to a mandatory way forward to accommodate evolvpressive compared with the replacing.” of working. 71% of the global ing workflows.” legacy audio infrastructure that workforce also see the office as a social amenity and place to collaborate, with independent working happening off-site. This shift in attitude towards flexible working and office space suggests that employers need to rethink their benefits packages and ensure that they are appropriate for In response to the new era of to medium-sized conference intuitive and immediate,” said post-pandemic working life. hybrid work needs, Bose Pro- rooms, the Lenovo ThinkSmart Martin Bodley, director and fessional has expanded the ef- Core + Controller can be com- global head of Bose Work. “Our False sense of confidence ficiency of the workplace and bined with the Videobar VB1. collaboration with Lenovo is anannounced its latest collabo- This combined solution en- other way Bose is expanding to The dominant reasons for why ration efforts with LenovoTM. sures meeting rooms are up provide more flexible options to people want to return to the ofBose Work solutions such as and running quickly with pre- customize the conference room fice are team connectivity, motivation and equipment challengthe VideobarTM VB1 all-in-one mium Bose audio and video experience.

USB conferencing device and from the Videobar VB1 and Bose collaborates with a variety es. Yet companies that did a poor the ES1 and DS4 ceiling audio seamless, comprehensive end- of industry leaders to guarantee job transitioning staff to remote solutions bring the simplicity point compute and control from interoperability and deliver the working during the pandemic or and clarity of Bose to everyday the Lenovo ThinkSmart Core + best meeting solutions possible concerns about career developconferencing. Now, these Bose Controller. for a variety of needs, ensur- ment might be the real drivers.

Work products can be coupled For larger meeting rooms, the ing the best possible UC ex- Employees are more likely to with LenovoTM ThinkSmart Lenovo ThinkSmart Core + perience. To learn more about request more days working in Core + Controller solution in Controller can be used with the Bose partner network, visit office – 3 days or more a week – if their company did not do a Microsoft Teams Rooms — either the Bose ES1 or DS4 PRO.BOSE.COM/Lenovo. good job transitioning to remote simplifying meetings with one- ceiling audio solutions. For inwork during the pandemic, with touch control. tegrated rooms, both the Bose 17% wanting to be in the office Lenovo ThinkSmart Core ES1 and DS4 solutions keep full-time, compared to 14% for features Lenovo’s first pur- microphones off the table while those who had a good experience pose-built, modular room offering clear, intelligible audio with the remote work transition. kit with a new, smaller form to help meeting participants Three in four employees are confactor and Premium ID. The focus on what matters. When cerned about hybrid working, largely due to poor communication practices and an unequal playing field, and only 20% think their organization is very prepared for hybrid, with UK employees feeling slightly more confident at 25%. More than half (52%) of the respondents also admitted that they would prefer to work from home but are concerned their career would suffer long-term.

There is also a clear divide between the C-suite and other employees when it comes to preparedness for hybrid working.

Employees were 11% more likely than the C-Suite to say that their organizations were not at all prepared for the shift to hybrid. Only 53% of employees thought that their organization is prepared for hybrid working, compared to Bose Videobar VB1 all-in-one USB conferencing device and the Lenovo ThinkSmart Core + Controller solu74% of C-suite leaders. tion in Microsoft Teams Rooms simplifies meetings with one-touch control.

Bose Expands meeting room technology with Lenovo

ThinkSmart Core compute device is powered by an 11th Gen Intel® Core vPro processor and together with the ThinkSmart Controller, a 10.1inch touch screen powered by USB-C, will be certified for Microsoft Teams Rooms.

For huddle spaces and small-

combined with the ThinkSmart Core + Controller, users will have a clean, simple one-touch interface that puts them in control.

“Bose Work solutions provide a true ease-of-conferencing experience. In-room technology needs to be transparent,

Overcoming hurdles To create a successful hybrid working model, business leaders need to move away from formal policies, which lack the human element. Instead, they should focus on creating hightrust environments that set clear

principles and guidelines but at the same time, give autonomy to employees.

For example, most employees want managers to allow team members to set their own schedule (65%), instead of holding standard 9am-to-5pm working hours (35%). A similar percentage would prefer that management allows team members to come into the office when they need to, and work from home when they need to (61%), over having predetermined ‘in office’ and ‘at home’ days each week for the team (39%). In the UK we are more convinced (78%) than the other markets (73%) that a hybrid work model is more inclusive and will make employees feel more valued than a tra-

Holger Reisinger, SVP at Jabra, said: “The world of work is going through a significant change, and we’re at a pivotal moment.

While companies were initially thrust into remote working with little to no time to prepare, the pandemic will have a permanent impact on working structures. As companies look to evolve their hybrid working strategies, the research shows that by continuing to invest in the right technology and giving employees autonomy over the working day, organizations can deliver a better working experience for employees. The companies that get it right will be the ones who don’t just listen to what employees want, but also understand why they want it,” he added.

As companies look to evolve their hybrid working strategies, the research shows that by continuing to invest in the right technology and giving employees autonomy over the working day, organizations can deliver a better working experience for em ditional 9-to-5 office structure.

Business concerns

Technology critical

A number of areas of concern remain for businesses operations: 1/ Rather than mandating a return to the office, consider enabling people to work from anywhere by providing employees with the technology to achieve this.

2/ With 75% of knowledge workers wanting to work from wherever they are in the future and valuing flexibility over salary, it might be wise to rethink benefit structures to remain competitive and keep attracting top talent.

3/ Leadership should consider what types of tasks and reasons they want employees in the office for. They should then ensure the environment is adapted to meet these needs.

4/ Companies that invest in the right formats for bringing people together, and technology to keep them connected from wherever, will benefit more than those who invest primarily in traditional physical resources.

5/ Leaders should lead by example to show hybrid working best practices. They need to demonstrate to teams that however they choose to work, it won’t disadvantage them.

Moving beyond a hybrid working model, where employees have the choice between working from home or in an office, 75% want to be able to work from anywhere in the future. As a result, the right technology is more important than fancy offices in prime locations when it comes to attracting and retaining talent.

Nine out of ten UK knowledge workers believe that technology is critical to a ‘work from anywhere’ future. More than half of employees want personal technology to take with them wherever they wish to work, while almost three in four would prefer companies to select and provide that technology to make the hybrid experience equal.

Over eight in ten (84%) employees agree that “Technology can help all employees have equal access to opportunities at work,” and they’d “rather work for a company that invests in technology to better connect the workforce in a hybrid working future” (80%). Almost half (46%) of the UK respondents also states that the right tech helps people feel included and represented in meetings. Collaboration technology needs to adapt to allow people to turn any space into a workspace – previous technology designed for the odd day ‘remote working’ is no longer fit for purpose.

P7 AV News October 2021

Review

Konftel C2070 video collaboration solution The move to hybrid working has created a gap in the market for video collaboration solutions that suit individuals and small. decentralised workgroups. The working environment for these end-users might be the home, occasional trips to the office or informal meeting spaces, which might or might not be video enabled.

Those with the necessary skill and expertise have the option of developing their own solution from hardware certified by one or more of the software platforms. But what if you just want a relatively inexpensive, decent quality and easy to use solution that is delivered in an a ready to install and use bundle – the Konftel C2070 could well be ideal!

Konftel’s C2070 is ta video communications package for small to medium meeting rooms. The bundle combines the Konftel Cam20 4K conference camera, the Konftel 70 speakerphone (for impressive OmniSound audio quality) and he Konftel OCC Hub to tie everything together. The neat thing about this is that all need n the single. orange USB cable connect the camera, the audio device and the room’s screen to a video meeting on your laptop.

OK, so we are probably not the typical user. and we did have the advantage of having used the Konftel camera fir some months before we received the complete kit. Nonetheless, we are more then used to receiving review products that as are assured “work straight out of the box”, only to spend hours fiddling with leads and connections and even a trip to our local electrical wholesaler to get something working. But not this time! As directed in the simple instruction leaflet. we had the C2070 up-and-running

in less than 20 minutes.

Solution in use While we are often asked to use a variety of collaboration platforms, usually in order to have a conversation with the people selling them, in reality Zoom and MS Teams are adequate for our, and most people’s needs.

As I have already mentioned, we were already familiar with the Konftel camera, and have been favourably impressed.

The real revelation was the audio quality The speaker and microphone unit are built into the triangular Konftel 70 voice system.

The sound quality is superb through the speaker, with performance completely belying the diminutive size of the unit.

The beamforming microphones and central placement seem to have an advantage, over similar units with a bar configuration.

Certainly we had no problems making and receiving calls from both mobiles and landlines.

Add to this, the performance

of the Konftel Cam20, a 4K digicam with an 8K zoom and has, at 123 levels, one of many wildest viewing angles around.

Image quality is impressive even when lighting conditions were far from optimal – one of the consequences of using informal meeting spaces designed for something else entirely.

So what of the last unit in the bundle? The OCC Hug connects the speakerphone and digicam via USB cable for laptop connectivity. While this the only element that has a distinctive far eastern OEM flavour to its it does its job perfectly well.

Conclusion AB Partsmaster lists the Konftel C2070 at £658.80, inc VAT. At this price, the solution should pay for itself in days or even hours, depending on how you calculate your ROI. For an accountant or a lawyer in London, reckon 2 – 4 hours - and you need have no concerns about video or audio quality.

The move to hybrid working has created a gap in the market for video collaboration solutions that suit individuals and small. decentralised workgroups.

P8 AV News October 2021

Konftel’s C2070 is ta video communications package for small to medium meeting rooms. The bundle combines the Konftel Cam20 4K conference camera, the Konftel 70 speakerphone (for impressive OmniSound audio quality) and he Konftel OCC Hub to tie everything together.

The speaker and microphone unit are built into the triangular Konftel 70 voice system. The sound quality is superb through the speaker, with performance completely belying the diminutive size of the unit.

Specifications Konftel C2070 GENERAL Product name: Konftel C2070 Item number: 951201089 SPEAKERPHONE Product name: Konftel 70 Contents: Konftel 70 (910101089), AC adapter (includes EU, US, AU and UK attachment clips), USB cable (USB 2.0 type A/ micro-B, 1.5m), Quick reference guide, Important notice document.

Technology: OmniSound® with support for HD audio, full duplex, automatic echo cancellation and noise suppression Microphone: 4 digital MEMS microphones.

Beamforming audio pick-up.

Pick-up range: 4 m Connectivity: USB 2.0 micro-B, Bluetooth 4.2 Class 1 (HFP/HSP/A2DP), NFC for easy pairing View full spec at konftel.com CAMERA Product name: Konftel

Cam20 Contents: Konftel Cam20 (931201001), 4.5m USB cable (type A/type B), remote control with two AAA batteries, Quick guide, safety declaration.

Resolution: 4K Ultra HD/30 fps Zoom: 8x digital zoom Focus: Auto Field of view: 123° Wall bracket: Included Remote control: Included Mounting: 1/4”-20 UNC CLIMATE NEUTRAL PRODUCTS Konftel is certified in line with the Climate Neutral standard.

This means that we have offset all our greenhouse gas emissions and are taking action to further reduce those emissions. When you choose a Konftel product, you keep a clear climate conscience while supporting your organization’s growing need for video collab-

oration.

NO HASSLE HUB The ingenious Konftel OCC Hub offers One Cable Connection to the conference camera, speakerphone and screen. In practice, this means the C2070 fully supports BYOC – Bring Your Own Computer, where the user can utilize their preferred collaboration service on any laptop with a USB port.

HUB Product name: Konftel OCC Hub Contents: Konftel OCC Hub (900102149), 3 m USB cable, 5 m USB cable (type A/mini B), 5 m USB cable (type A/micro-B), AC adapter (EU, US, AU, UK), Velcro® tape, Quick guide, safety declaration, Installation guide.

USB: 3.0

Evoko Naso Room booking and beyond

Complete workplace solutions

Room booking - Desk booking - Visitor management - Insight & analytics

Get in touch Evoko takes workplace management to a new level of simplicity.

A flexible and fully integrated solutions allow you to achieve complete workplace coordination.

01638 510 900 sales@anders-kern.co.uk www.anders-kern.co.uk/evoko-naso

Technology News

Logitech touch screen controllers Logitech has expanded its video collaboration portfolio with Tap IP, a network-based meeting room controller, and Tap Scheduler, a purpose-built meeting scheduling panel for any meeting space. Fully integrated with leading collaboration platforms and connected by a single Power over Ethernet (PoE) cable for clean, simple installation, Tap IP and Tap Scheduler were created to help make scheduling and joining video meetings remarkably easy as many hybrid workers return to the office.

“The current touch controller market has a Goldilocks problem: a high end that's complex, expensive, and largely proprietary; and a lower end dominated by consumer tablets that were not designed with enterprise requirements like remote device management, security, and cable management,” said Scott Wharton, general manager and vice president, Logitech Video Collaboration.

“Tap IP and Tap Controller were designed from the ground up to provide secure, enterprise-grade performance; elegant design including sleek cable retention; and compatibility with the major market service players -all at an affordable price.”

Meetings start with just one touch with Logitech Tap IP, a touch controller for Microsoft Teams Rooms on Android, Zoom Rooms, and other popu-

lar video conferencing services that - together with a Logitech conferencecam - deliver a reliable, consistent experience from room to room. Logitech Tap IP delivers the same onetouch meeting join functionality as Logitech Tap, at a lower cost and easier installation via IP-based connection to the network. With clean and secure cable management plus flexible mounting options, Tap IP can be smoothly and securely installed virtually anywhere in the meeting room. Featuring a sleek, intuitive design, Tap IP has just the right presence in the room, so teams can focus on collaboration.

Making it simple to find and claim the right meeting space in the office, Tap Scheduler’s spacious 10.1-inch touchscreen allows for easy reading of meeting information, and its built-in lighting system signals room availability from a distance. Placed just outside the meeting room, participants can use Tap Scheduler to quickly claim rooms for ad hoc meetings or book them in advance.

It is compatible with Teams, Zoom Rooms, Robin, and Meetio, a cloud-based meeting room management company recently acquired by Logitech. Designed for deployment at scale, Tap Scheduler is easy to install for virtually any collaboration space, with included mounts to help secure the panel to various surfaces, and cable man-

agement for a professional and tidy setup.

In a move that extends Logitech's video collaboration ecosystem into a complete solution of hardware, software, and services, Logitech now also offers customers a comprehensive, all-in-one service plan for Logitech video collaboration solutions, Logitech Select. Designed to help IT professionals maximize uptime of their video solutions, Select offers 24/7 solution support, next-business-day Advanced RMA and exclusive Insights and Alerts functionality in Logitech Sync, Logitech's video conferencing device management platform.

Customers with 50 or more rooms covered by Select also enjoy the benefits of onsite spares and a dedicated Customer Success Manager.

Pricing and availability Logitech Tap IP and Tap Scheduler are available Fall 2021 globally, each with an MSRP of £699. Tap IP will be compatible with Microsoft Teams Rooms on Android, Zoom Rooms Appliances, PC-based Zoom Rooms, and RingCentral Rooms. Tap Scheduler can be installed as a Teams panel, Zoom Rooms Scheduling display, Robin-powered scheduling panel, or with Meetio.

Compatibility with additional partners will be available for both devices after launch.

Making it simple to find and claim the right meeting space in the office, Tap Scheduler’s spacious 10.1-inch touchscreen allows for easy reading of meeting information, and its built-in lighting system signals room availability from a distance.

Aver Europe voice tracking for Pro AV cameras AVer Europe has announced the availability of voice tracking functionality for all AVer Pro AV auto tracking and PTZ series cameras using AVer PTZ Link software and select microphones. AVer PTZ Link is an app for Windows and Mac that delivers voice-based camera tracking technology.

By using PTZ Link and specific Shure Microflex Advance microphones including the MXA910, MXA710, MXA310

and IntelliMix P300 Digital Signal Processor, any AVer Pro AV camera can automatically switch focus between different speakers. PTZ Link features IP-based control for easy integration to both cameras and microphones, with no programming required. The software is free and can be downloaded from the AVer website.

With the PTZ Link software loaded on a computer, customers can direct the software

P10 AV News October 2021

to link up to 5 pairs of microphones and AVer PTZ cameras.

A slight time delay can also be set for the PTZ camera so that it will only pan/tilt once there is a permanent audio signal.

The system can also be programmed to default to a preset if audio is not being detected after an extended period, making automation much easier.

With automated and smooth camera panning, this solution is ideal for conferences, train-

ing courses, classrooms and lecture halls. For example, in a lecture hall with a multi-camera setup, the speaker can be tracked by an AVer Auto Tracking TR model camera while other participants are captured with a second PTZ camera when they speak using audio-based tracking.

“Shure's Microflex Ecosystem offers a complete portfolio of networked audio solutions that can be precisely tailored to your needs, for best-in-class collaboration experiences in any type of room,” said Paul Gunia, Director of Technology

Partnerships at Shure. “When paired with AVer professional PTZ cameras, our microphones can offer new innovative interactions to meetings, training, and lectures.”

“The addition of voice tracking technology to our Pro AV lineup of cameras with PTZ Link gives AVer customers the flexibility to provide immersive audio and video experiences to their own audiences,” said Andy Teoh, Director of Product Marketing and OEM Partnerships, AVer Information Inc., Americas.

“Integrating with select Shure microphones will help ensure

excellent audio quality and performance to complement our strong video solutions.”

AVer Europe has announced the availability of voice tracking functionality for all AVer Pro AV auto tracking and PTZ series cameras using AVer PTZ Link software and select microphones.

MAXHUB announces new custom LED solutions.

MAXHUB has announced the new M27 and GH31 Series custom LED displays. With rich feature sets, the ability to reproduce exquisite imagery, and easy connections and maintenance, the new MAXHUB custom LED displays are ideal solutions to a wide range of digital signage challenges.

Both the MAXHUB M27 and GH31 Series displays can form custom display panels that can be integrated into the most visually compelling architectural designs. Whether the goal is a large portrait or landscape orientation, the new MAXHUB custom LED panels are ideally suited to meet every challenge.

Key features of the M27 Series, which includes the M2712, M2715, M2719, and M2725 displays, are an ultra-lightweight design with a panel weight of 10.5lbs and a depth of 1.2 inches. These panels utilize a 16:9 aspect ratio with a large viewing angle that ensures vivid imagery, even when viewed off-axis. Of note, each module in the custom display panel stores the correction coefficients. In addition, the correction coefficients are automatically read if an individual module is replaced—thus keeping maintenance issues to a bare minimum.

The MAXHUB GH31 Series displays include the GH3112, GH3115, and GH3118 displays. These panels apply a high-level driver integrated circuit with various grey compensation mechanisms and high-precision linear current

gain, resulting in more accurate screen colour rendition.

The GH31 Series displays also include a built-in 16K SRAM for display data storage, effectively solving transmission bandwidth limitations.

Darren Lin, General Manager for MAXHUB, commented, “The new MAXHUB custom LEDs enable technology managers at a wide variety of venues such as convention centres, retail outlets or lecture/ meeting facilities to custom design a display that perfectly fits their requirements, regardless of whether one is looking for a conventional-looking display or something long and wide or thin and tall. With outstanding features such as a 3-in-1 power

supply board design that integrates the power supply, the receiving card, and hub board into a single board—reducing connection cables between components while improving product stability— the latest MAXHUB displays offer incredible versatility.”

The new MAXHUB M27 and GH31 Series custom LED displays are available for EMEA orders now through MAXHUB distributor network.

The new MAXHUB M27 and GH31 Series custom LED displays are available for EMEA orders now through MAXHUB distributor network.

Technology News

Barco’s new RGB projectors Barco has expanded its laser projection portfolio with a pair of state-of-the-art RGB projectors. Designed to enable impactful experiences in the theme park industry, the XDM and XDX exceed all expectations with stunning Rec. 2020 colours, native 4K resolution and remarkable performances.

“With the XDM and XDX projectors, we have leveraged the strengths of our market-leading cinema projectors, to bring the same advanced colour performances and Hollywood-worthy visuals to theme parks and other entertainment venues,” explains Koen Van Belle, Product Manager Entertainment at Barco.

The RGB laser light source enables a wider colour gamut, making the latest additions to the Barco portfolio ideally suited to those applications where exceptional image fidelity and extra colour punch is needed to showcase the specialized Rec. 2020 content. In addition, the projectors make full use of evolving standards around High Frame Rate (HFR) and High Dynamic Range (HDR) that become more and more popular within the content creation community. And with Barco’s patent pending Colorogenic technique, the XDM and XDX

maintain their high brightness levels even when showing Rec. 2020 content.

Built with the accumulated know-how of the demanding performance and service criteria of both the cinema and live events industry, the Barco XDM and XDX projectors keep in mind the priorities of the location-based entertainment venue owners and operators. They provide unequalled consistency and accuracy over a long period of time with minimal maintenance interventions. Thanks to the choice of high-quality components and superior chassis design, including optimized cooling, laser lifetime of up to 40,000 hours can be achieved.

Sealed optics and complete next-level modularity, even down to the individual laser plates within the light source itself, enable unrivalled projector uptime.

Just like our UDM and UDX projectors, the new portfolio members can be managed through Barco’s cloud-based Projector Management Platform with remote health condition monitoring, targeting 24/7 uptime and increasing the reliability of the installation.

The XDM and XDX are engineered with a flexibility that supports an improved ROI.

They offer a wide range of lens options including a total of fourteen high-brightness and five high-contrast variants with ratios ranging from an ultra-short throw 0.38:1 to a long throw 11:1.

When it comes to Barco’s continuous eco-conscious efforts in the manufacturing of more sustainable products, the XDM and XDX are no exception. The projectors’ durable design, smart material choices and industry-leading energy efficiency has resulted in an A-score within the Barco Eco Product label for both projectors based on the company’s ISO14021 compliant eco-scoring methodology.

Nicolas Vanden Abeele, Senior VP Entertainment Barco, concludes: “Barco projectors have been game-changers in the laser projection world enabling cinemas, event organizers and museum owners to make the impossible possible. The new XDM and XDX will continue that tradition. For planetariums, dark rides and immersive destinations of all kinds, the XDM and XDX will help create those extra-ordinary experiences and exceptional moments that keep visitors coming back for more.”

Avocor partners announces Google meet series.

Avocor has announced a global partnership with Google Workspace and the launch of two new all-in-one video conferencing and digital whiteboarding devices - the Google Meet Series One Desk 27 and Board 65 -- to create meeting equity on the desktop and in shared meeting spaces.

These two new touch-enabled video devices expand the Google Meet Series One hardware portfolio for millions of Google Workspace users. In response to the proliferation of video-driven communication, Avocor, with Google Workspace, is enabling more equitable meeting experiences through human-focused hardware for both personal and group applications that prioritize giving everyone an equal seat at the table. These Series One devices give Google Workspace customers the most effective means to

Designed with an integrated soundbar and mic array for crystal-clear video and audio with TrueVoice, Google Workspace’s revolutionary multi-channel noise cancellation technology which detects and eliminates distracting sounds like typing and paper rustling while enhancing human voices so you are heard clearly on Desk 27— even in noisy environments.

And to ensure it’s easy to use and easy to write on, Desk 27 comes with an adjustable tabletop stand and can be wall mounted.

Designed to do everything a laptop dock does, Desk 27 requires only power and Ethernet, and features a USB-C port for easy connection to a laptop, reducing cable clutter typically needed for power, video and audio. Once connected to a laptop, users can easily access all their files and apps on the

With an interactive touch display, Board 65 seamlessly connects both in-person and remote meeting attendees – enabling everyone in the room or on a call – to see, hear, and contribute to meetings, brainstorming sessions, and impromptu huddle sessions equally. Meeting participants can also quickly connect their laptops via USB-C for power, device control and instant content sharing.

Board 65 also includes features that support more efficient collaboration, including the same TrueVoice audio experience as Desk 27– for crystal clear sound. Board 65 also has an onboard digital PTZ camera that provides a wide field-of-view to perfectly auto-frame participants using Google Workspace’s continuous framing technology, support for voice-activated controls with

Avocor has announced a global partnership with Google Workspace and the launch of two new allin-one video conferencing and digital whiteboarding devices - the Google Meet Series One Desk 27 and Board 65.

Barco has expanded its laser projection portfolio with a pair of state-of-the-art RGB projectors

QNAP - enables TeamViewer remote access for NAS devices TeamViewer has expanded its support of IT-infrastructure solutions by adding remote access to QNAP’s physical network to-attached storage (NAS) devices. Users of QNAP can download the TeamViewer IoT agent for their NAS from the QNAP App Center. QNAP NAS devices are an integral part of many companies (from large enterprises to small offices) for regular backup and file sharing processes.

Through the integration of TeamViewer, QNAP NAS admins can now monitor the health of the NAS devices through the TeamViewer desktop client or the browser-based application, and connect to them when needed, ensuring a fast and reliable remote access solution with features such as masked IP address and end-to-end 256-bit ses-

sion encryption.

“Security is a high-priority aspect of QNAP NAS, and our consistent efforts towards improving accessibility and functionality while ensuring data security have led us to supporting TeamViewer on QNAP NAS. By using TeamViewer, IT teams can remotely monitor and manage their QNAP NAS devices with industry-leading connectivity and data security,” said Aseem Manmualiya, Product Manager of QNAP. “It gives us immense pride to declare that the QNAP and TeamViewer partnership will go a long way towards providing the best user experience for our QNAP NAS users.”

“We are proud that TeamViewer is now available in the QNAP App Center, as we are constantly looking for ways to make maintenance and re-

mote access of critical IT-Infrastructure like NAS devices easier. TeamViewer has always been the preferred solution for remote connectivity amongst IT-professionals, and our various integrations are a proof for our highly adoptable software”, explains Constantin Falcoianu, Director Business Development at TeamViewer.

In order to benefit from the extended remote access capabilities like faster connections, remote access to Linux Shell and the management of larger NAS fleets, users need to assign the NAS to their TeamViewer account. The TeamViewer IoT agent is working across all main QNAP NAS stations. Learn more about requirements, the set-up process, and possibilities for using TeamViewer on a QNAP device here.

collaborate for every situation and space, from the desktop to the conference room.

Hybrid work requires more immersive, interactive video-enabled devices to make meetings more inclusive for both in-office and remote teammates because 94% of organizations are now more flexible as to where and when employees work (Gartner, 2021). To address the need for a more powerful personal collaboration tool at the desktop, Avocor and Google Workspace created Series One Desk 27. This 27-inch premium all-in-one touchscreen Google Meet device is also a desk monitor, laptop docking station, and digital whiteboard which integrates Google Workspace's popular Jamboard app.

Ideal for personal workstations -- including home offices and as a powerful shared tool on rotating hot desks -- in privacy spaces and phone booths, Series One Desk 27 offers all the key features users need to see, hear, and contribute to any meeting as if they were together in the same room.

Desk 27, including everything on Google Workspace. While optimised for Google Meet, Desk 27 can also run any video meeting app while leveraging the great audio and video experience with Desk 27’s touch display, digital PTZ camera, and soundbar.

Getting a meeting started simply requires a single touch on the calendar, which can be either a user’s personal calendar or the room resource calendar, or simply say, “Hey Google, join the meeting.” Immersive, effortless, and approachable, Desk 27 is a game changer for meeting equity at the desktop.

While Desk 27 is a personal collaboration device, Board 65 is designed to bring teams together for more efficient, equitable, and intuitive collaboration.

The 65-inch Series One Board 65 can be wall-mountable in small-to-medium collaboration spaces and is ADA-compliant.

It can also be placed on an optional purpose-built stand for mobility as a shared resource or for setting up spontaneous meetings anywhere.

“Hey Google” , and native integration with the popular Google Jamboard app for immersive interactivity and whiteboarding from the display and from remote participants. Just like Desk 27, a simple tap using a finger or the included stylus on the on-screen calendar, can instantly start Google Meet.

The Series One Desk 27 and Board 65 by Avocor feature a sleek, thoughtful design that is intuitive and easy to use, including an optically bonded screen. Both devices are tilt-optimized for a natural writing angle, with anti-fingerprint glass to offer an acutely sensitive writing experience, using fingers, palms, or the included passive stylus for immersive whiteboarding where everyone can easily see and contribute.

“Creating meeting equity for teams who are both in-person and remote has never been more important to our global customers and partners, and

Continued on page 13

P11 AV News October 2021

Technology News Continued from page 1 a shared commitment to supporting meeting equity for the more than 6 million businesses that use Google Workspace is what drove us to create a strategic partnership with Google Workspace,” said Scott Hix, CEO, Avocor. “Working together to expand the Google Meet Series One family with Desk 27 and Board 65, we’re now able to offer everyone meeting equity through shared devices for team meeting spaces and a personal device for your desk-

top – elevating the ability to see, hear and participate from anywhere. By leveraging the power of Google Meet, combined with the sophistication and wide range of capabilities that Avocor has in interactive collaboration hardware, we are helping customers to connect

and succeed in the evolved modern workplace.”

“Google Workspace users logged more than 1 trillion video minutes in 2020 and the number of Google Meet video users continues to grow, so we are pleased to work with Avocor to bring exciting new hardware options to our customers,” said Dave Citron, director of product management for Google Meet and Meet hardware. “The best video and collaboration experiences bring together Google

Meet and Meet hardware—accelerating overall productivity.

We partnered with Avocor to give Google Workspace customers access to one of the best collaboration-first interactive touchscreen technologies on the market. We’re excited to introduce these new Google Meet

Series One solutions with Avocor to help Google Workspace customers to get more done.”

Both Google Meet Series One Desk 27 from Avocor (MSRP $1,999 USD) and Google Meet Series One Board 65 from Avocor (Expected MSRP $6,999 USD) are now available for customer pre-order at Avocor.com/google. General availability is expected in late Q4 2021 for Desk 27 and Q1 2022 for Board 65.

Both will be sold exclusively

by Avocor through the Google Workspace global network of authorised resellers and trusted collaboration technology leaders in the market today, providing a seamless user experience for every meeting.

Peerless-AV outdoor digital menu boards AV technology pioneer Peerless-AV has y announced an upgraded version of Outdoor Digital Menu Boards. Manufactured in the UK and designed to support leading 55" outdoor commercial display brands, Peerless-AV’s latest Outdoor Digital Menu Boards (KOF5551/2/3) offer maximum flexibility at the best value. See the product in action at Peerless-AV’s A New AV Experience Showcase and Networking event at Lord’s Cricket Ground, London, 16-17 September 2021.

The sleek, new Outdoor Digital Menu Board models can support up to three displays to enhance outdoor drive-thru efficiency. These all-weather rated, outdoor units are UL 48 certified and offer a low operating cost, modular design, and a simplified two-man installation process.

Compatible 55" outdoor digital signage display models include: •Peerless-AV Xtreme™ High Bright Outdoor Displays (XHB553) •Samsung OHF Series Displays (OH55F/OH55A) •LG XE4F-M Series High Brightness Outdoor Displays (55XE4F-M) Along with being able to choose the preferred display brand, customers can customise their solution, with a variety of options, to create an ideal digital drive-thru solution. These include: .Speaker/Microphone Kit (KOFOPT-SPK-EUK) *contact sales

· Media Storage Fan (KOF-OPTFAN-EUK) ·Internal Media Player Shelf (KOF-OPT-SHELF) “With the right technology, the drive-thru will only become more important. To meet the demands of a growing market, and addressing valuable customer feedback, we have really raised the bar with this latest upgrade to our Outdoor Digital Menu Board range,” commented Keith Dutch, Managing Director – EMEA, Peerless-AV. “The new models are more cost-effective, with flexibility in design and improved aesthetics to keep up with the look and feel of the next generation drive-thrus that offer a smooth-

er, faster, smarter customer digital ordering experience.”

The Outdoor Digital Menu Boards (KOF555-1/2/3) are now available in EMEA through Peerless-AV’s authorised distributor and reseller network. For more product details, please visit: https:// eu.peerless-av.com/products/k For more information on the full range of Peerless-AV mounts and solutions visit www.peerless-av.com. Follow the latest Peerless-AV news and updates on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and blog.

Peerless-AV’s Universal Outdoor Digital Menu Boards support leading 55" outdoor commercial display brands

P12 AV News October 2021

Christie reinvents industry workhorse Christie has announced the M 4K25 RGB pure laser projector, the smallest, lightest, and quietest all-in-one RGB pure laser projector on the market. The new M 4K25 RGB continues the original M Series legacy of reliability, ruggedness, and innovation. First introduced in 2007, the original M Series was a game-changer for the ProAV industry.

“The M Series packed a lot of features in a small package,” says Larry Paul, executive director, Technology and Custom Solutions, Christie. “Features

ser projector reinvents the series, with Christie engineering packing industry-leading features into a small, market-leading form factor weighing in at 92 lbs. RGB pure laser technology delivers twice the colour of the original M Series for vibrant, bright images that approach Rec. 2020 colour volume, a colour standard closest to what the human eye can see.

With TruLife+ electronics all the needed connections are builtin, eliminating the need for optional input cards. TruLife+

The new 25,000 lumen 4K UHD resolution M 4K25 RGB pure laser projector reinvents the series, with Christie engineering packing industry-leading features into a small, market-leading form factor weighing in at 92 lbs like the intelligent lens system and embedded Twist for blending and warping were unique at the time, plus its small size and weight, helped it to become Christie’s best-selling line of projectors and lenses.”

The new 25,000 lumen 4K UHD resolution M 4K25 RGB pure la-

also features electronic colour convergence (ECC), which allows users to correct colour convergence imperfections and individually adjust red, green, and blue via remote, so there’s no need to climb a ladder to make adjustments. Our intelligent lens system (ILS1) makes

swapping lenses easy for rental and staging, and offers motorized zoom, focus and offset via remote. Existing Christie owners can use their M, J and Crimson Series lenses, as well as the M Series rigging frame, with the M 4K25 RGB for added cost savings.

Christie’s proprietary precision pixel-shift technology, which reduces or eliminates typical artifacts found in other pixel-shifting technologies, provides UHD 4K resolution at up to 60Hz. With the optional Mirage upgrade, the M 4K25 RGB can support up to UHD 4K at a full 120 Hz for 2D and 3D stereoscopic applications, and the optional Mirage Pro upgrade can support frame rates up to 480Hz at UHD resolution.

“The new M 4K25 RGB doubles the brightness, doubles the colour volume capability, and quadruples the resolution over our legacy M Series projectors,” says Paul. “And with an unprecedented 50,000 hours of illumination performance and a field replaceable light source, we’ve gone way beyond the legacy of the M Series as an industry workhorse in terms of long life and durability.”

The original M Series projectors are trusted around the world, including at The Barbican in London, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, and China’s Dai Show Theatre, to deliver bright visuals in a reliable and rugged package.

Optoma Remote Management for AV displays Optoma, a leading manufacturer of large visual display products, and the #1 DLP brand in EMEA*, today announced its new Optoma Management Suite (OMS), an intuitive display management solution to streamline operations by monitoring, diagnosing and controlling audio visual displays via a local area network and wireless connectivity from a single platform and location.

Complimenting Optoma’s award-winning display products, OMS is the first management solution that is compatible with other displays that are connected via PJLink, enabling easy integration into existing display fleets while offering differing levels of access and control for users, ensuring devices are securely managed.

A value-added solution, OMS allows IT administrators and technicians to monitor, manage, and diagnose multiple displays simultaneously, providing seamless control across multiple devices while maximising productivity.

With an easy-to-use interface and 24/7, real-time monitoring and control, OMS enables users to check the status of display devices and make configurations to optimise performance. IT administrators and technicians can easily dispatch and broadcast emergency messages, alerts and announcements across every onsite display.

Additionally, users can also remotely program and schedule devices for usage only during pri-

mary operating hours, as well as implement immediate shutdown for emergencies, reducing energy consumption and lowering operating costs.

“As a leader in audio visual display products, it was a natural fit to develop an advanced display management suite empowering users to effectively manage and control their displays

from one central platform,” stated Brian Soto, Director of Product Management at Optoma. “With the addition of OMS, we are able to offer our customers a complete end-to-end solution to meet the ever-evolving needs of the ProAV market, as well as key segments including education, corporate, museums and leisure markets.

OMS Features • Peace of mind - Monitor, diagnose and control your audio visual displays wirelessly from one single platform and location which eliminates the need to visit the site.

• Real time monitoring and alerts - 24/7 monitoring and alerts across all devices enables you to respond to immediate issues before they escalate.

• Easy to use interface - Centralised access and management via one common interface for all users.

• Scheduling and broadcast – Distribute emergency messages and alerts to all displays across all locations, such as a classroom or company office, and create custom playlists with the built-in scheduler for future announcements.

• Energy-efficient and cost-saving - Reduce energy usage on any device by scheduling shutdown of displays after work hours or implementing immediate shutdown for emergencies.

The Optoma Management Suite solution is compatible with Optoma’s Creative Touch 3-Series and 5-Series interactive flat panels, LED displays and professional projectors including: ZK1050, ZK750, ZU860, ZU720TST, ZU720T, 606 series, 506 series, 406 series, 403 series, as well as all projector brands with PJLink. To further enhance the OMS solution, a cloud version will be available early next year.

Promethean advertorial

Building long term value into IFPDs Over the past decade, AV and IT have become increasingly converged, with traditional display peripherals, like interactive screens, evolving to become the connected hub of the modern classroom.

While the focus has traditionally been on the ‘feeds and speeds’, with the number of HDMI ports, USB connections and countless other tech specs dominating the conversation, the real sales success comes in moving away from the hardware in isolation, to examine the longer-term value-add proposition.

This is especially true when selling interactive flat panel displays (IFPDs) to schools. On the face of it, one IFPD may look broadly comparable to another when reviewing the technical specification. Schools might think that all IFPDs are equal if they conduct an evaluation based exclusively on factors such as screen size, number of touch points and WiFi capability, for example.

The same is true when deciding which IFPDs to include in a product portfolio. Unlike many other areas of AV/IT, in the IFPD market the hardware is not the ultimate differentiator.

It is the service provided by the manufacturer. This could be to generate end user demand, deliver demonstration support or offer free training. The key to competitive advantage is to partner with a manufacturer that understands the unique needs of the education market and aligns its service and support to meet these effectively.

Here are just some of the ways Promethean enables schools to realise maximum value, and maximum educational impact, over the lifetime of an ActivPanel installation.

• Free orientation training – now available virtually, on-site as well as on-demand, customers are taught about the fundamentals of using the ActivPanel, helping schools to realise value, quickly and easily.

• Continued investment – from Learn Promethean, the new portal providing access to free online training, through to the SupportDesk – Promethean continually develops its support to meet the needs of schools today.

• Regular updates – over-the-air updates mean schools benefit from the latest ActivPanel software and firmware enhancements, at no additional cost.

• Free lesson software – ActivInspire and ClassFlow are supplied free of charge with the ActivPanel, which means schools don’t face a lifetime of annual budgeting to make the most of their initial hardware investment.

• Leading warranty – a five-year ActivCare on-site warranty gives schools peace of mind that lessons will face minimal disruption in the event of any technical issues.

Building long term value For 20+ years, Promethean has been developing edtech solutions which give teachers digital tools to enhance the learning experience for students. This means over two decades have been spent developing understanding of the technology that will best meet evolving needs, but more crucially – the support that schools place a high value on.

Building on this longstanding commitment to the education market, Promethean has established an extensive pre- and post-sales service offering that gives schools confidence in making the right initial hardware investment.

When specifying the Promethean ActivPanel, schools know that manufacturer support extends far beyond technical troubleshooting at the point of installation. Choosing the ActivPanel grants access to a whole suite of value-add support that will help schools make the most of their investment in the long term.

Partnering for long term success The ActivPanel represents a strong proposition for schools looking to invest in new IFPDs, which makes it a robust sales pitch for any AV/IT resellers selling into education. However, Promethean has gone beyond this to establish a channel strategy that puts partners central to all operations.

Recognising that an ActivPanel demonstration increases conversion rates, Promethean provides comprehensive demonstration support – delivering this in collaboration with partners, or on their behalf. Building on this demonstration strategy, a demo registration process protects pricing for partners who have generated an opportunity.

Having spent the last 20+ years developing the interactive display market, Promethean is working hard to build on these foundations and help partners to achieve even greater success in the coming decades.

To learn more about the ActivPanel, please visit: www.

PrometheanWorld.com/gb/

P13 AV News October 2021

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Feature

Beacons and sensors: now essential retail technologies?

Beacons are small, wireless transmitters that use low-energy Bluetooth technology to send signals to other smart devices in the locality.

The Covid-19 pandemic has given a lot of impetus to beacons and sensors, installed as key components of AV solutions designed to generate touchless, and automatic responses or reporting. In this feature, AV News examines the elements of beacon and sensor technologies. and asks why adoption, to date at least, been so patchy?

Beacons are small, wireless transmitters that use low-energy Bluetooth technology to send signals to other smart devices in the locality. The technology is mature, relatively inexpensive and has a range of proven applications. So why have these key elements in proximity marketing been so slow to catch the imagination of retailers and marketeers?

We can make a comparison with sensors to highlight the issue: sensors have seen a comparatively rapid adoption. with the technology joining the digital signage mainstream last year, with its adoption by one of the market leaders in players.

BrightSign. At a local level, sensors have a wide range of functions. from simple motion detection through to data collection.

A motion sensor is a device that detects movement, mainly of people or objects and stimulates an appropriate response.

Earlier this year, BrightSign and Nexmosphere announced that they were to partner to create “new retail experiences” BrightSign players were to be integrated with touchless technologies, showcasing the future of interactivity.

of an installation, but also their distance from it. The AirButton sensor delivers touchless user input functionality, allowing the viewer to control their experience effectively and hygienically.

BrightSign players have also been integrated with Nexmosphere’s XC-700 controllers featuring LightMark, LED control allowing the ambient lighting to be controlled in tune with the digital signage presentation. Interfaced to Nexmosphere XC-700 series controllers with LightMark interfaces, BrightSign players can control multiple Pixel LED strips, RGBW LED strips or optical audio switching.

LightMark LED technology allows for the selection of one

lead with the incorporation of beacon technology in iPhone 7. In 2015 Google launched Eddystone, a platform-agnostic competitor to Apple’s iBeacon.

Eddystone is designed to provide location-based content to smartphones. Being compatible across platforms, it aims to en-

following up their initial interest with a store visit, there might not be a large enough ROI from the ads. Gathering as much data as possible will help direct the strategy.

Initially the biggest selling point of beacon technology, out of store marketing. hasn’t taken

off as much as people expected.

Any information that potential customers need to know can be transmitted directly to any receptive devices that are within the range of the beacon. This could be a simple alert to notify the user that they are within range of a shop. Alternatively, the alert could be something

dividual product discounts using their partner’s in-store beacons.

Proximity marketing growth With mobiles now an integral part of everyday life, proximity marketing will only continue to grow. Therefore, implementing it effectively it will add another dimension to a digital strategy.

The positional accuracy beacons can give is up for debate, but it is clear that this Bluetooth technology is an improvement on other proximity technologies like GPS and Wi-Fi. With this greater accuracy, more reliable information on how and where customers are moving throughout the store.

Combined with ecommerce stats, the beacon data can be used to adapt and improve product listings and in-store layout.

If the majority of customers are spending time browsing the homeware section at the back of the store, perhaps this area could be expanded or brought to the front. Ultimately this data could help retailers refine the customer journey, tailor future marketing campaigns and boost your in-store conversions.

Why so slow?

Beacon technology is undoubtedly an asset for brick-and-mortar stores. Retail giants, such as Urban Outfitters, Macy’s, and Target, are already on board.

The global beacon technology

battery-run sensors that send Bluetooth low energy (BLE) signals to nearby mobile devices.

The signals are picked up by the store app if installed on those devices. When the app detects the beacon, it sends location-specific information to the store’s server, such as products or the department the customer has just passed by.

This data, paired with other details in the customer’s profile, triggers specific actions, for example, sending highly personalized promotions prompting visitors to make a purchase.

Since the technology was first released by Apple in 2013. its proliferation in many industries has been ever-increasing. Beacons are placed in public transport, airports, hotels, museums, hospitals, and billboards.

Although BLE is not the only proximity solution used in retail software development, it is by far the most popular. Its short-distance range of operation has been developed into an advantage. While cell towers, Wi-Fi, and GPS can accurately detect device location up to 5 meters, beacons can detect users’ locations precisely, down to centimetres. They use little energy and work well indoors.

By now, there are quite a few platforms that give developers all the tools and resources they

courage developers to work with beacon technology.

Now, by connecting the signals of a beacon to a Google Ads account, users can gain a lot of useful insight into offline activity and may even help track in-store visits. This means that when Google search ads are served, it may be possible to attribute the number of online users that walk into appropriate stores.

more complex, like sending messages about discounts, loyalty programs, and competitions. Brands can also push in-

market is predicted to grow from $1.17 billion in 2018 to $10.2 billion in 2024.

Beacons are small wireless

need to build their own beacon-based solutions tailored to retail IoT use cases. Google launched its own beacon tech-

Bricks and mortar reinvigorated This is significance of the announcement is that BrightSign is the global market leader in digital signage media players.

BrightSign players were to be integrated with Nexmosphere technology as a solution to help tempt customers back into bricks and mortar retail stores as they reopen. The solutions, demonstrated online and at ISE 2021, enable customer interactivity with touchless technology using sensors to deliver engaging, memorable and hygienic shopping experiences.

To enable touchless navigation of digital content on screen, the new Nexmosphere XT-EF650 AirGesture sensor has been integrated with BrightSign players to register hand swipes. In addition, the AirButton feature detects when a customer’s hand enters or leaves the sensor’s detection field. Installation is simplified with various sizes available, adjustable sensitivity and auto-calibration. Capacitive sensing technology allows the sensor to be placed behind or below any non-metal surface.

Another product integrated with BrightSign players is the Nexmosphere XY-240 presence sensor featuring AirButton functionality. This Time-of-Flight sensor registers not only the presence of a customer in front

of many pre-programmed animation patterns with flexibility to adapt these to suit an installation. The X-Talk interface allows for easy connection with a range of sensors, buttons or other components to create an interactive experience with no additional setup required.

Beacon applications Given the mainstream interest in sensor applications, why is the use of beacons seeming to lag behind? There is nothing inherently complex or difficult about the structure if a beacon. Mott contain a CPU, radio, and batteries, and it work by repeatedly broadcasting an identifier. The identifier is picked up by a suitable device, often a mobile phone. and flags a location in the local environment. The identifier is a unique ID number which the smartphone recognises as unique to the beacon. Once connected, the beacon will automatically carry out whatever function it has been programmed to perform.

It is important to recognise that the technology is not all that new: Apple claimed a

P16 AV News October 2021

Emerging retail applications Traditionally, it has been a marketer’s nightmare to understand how their online marketing efforts are linked to offline activity in stores. By tracking key interaction points of users that have clicked on digital ads, retailers can understand how effective digital ads are at driving customers and sales to stores.

By installing beacons in stores, attribution modelling is automatically improved. By logging actual store visits associated with searched ads, beacon technology can help build understanding of the impact and effectiveness of ads. If ads are driving lots of visits to the stores, further investment can be justified. However, if few users are

Feature

Retail and the AI alternative nology, Google Beacon Platform, and the open-source Eddystone, which solved many beacon development and implementation problems. It changed a ‘onebeacon-one-action’ formula to ‘one-beacon-multiple-actions’.

Plus, thanks to the compatibility of Eddystone with Android, iOS, and other BLE platforms, as well as different types of broadcast packets and APIs, many beacon manufacturers develop devices around the Eddystone functionality.

Roller-coaster ride Fir reasons we will explain, beacons have enjoyed a roller-coaster popularity in retail.

When the technology was all the rage, many stores prioritized its application. However, the hype soon subsided: As businesses rushed to try new beacon technology, many failed to deploy it efficiently or understand how to properly use the data they generated. As a result, customers didn’t get how beacons can be helpful and switched to other sources of information, which led to a low ROI for some od the early adopters.

Consequently, beacons haven’t started a retail revolution.

However, with the world shifting to being ‘mobile-first’, beacon technology now plays a significant role for brick-and-mortar customer experience. Shoppers rely heavily on the notifications

partment stores can ne overwhelming for shoppers. They can’t find what they came for, wander aimlessly among the aisles, and end up buying something they don’t really need, potentially increasing product return rates. Beacons can solve this logistical issue by guiding customers around the shopping premises. For this, customers could just open the store app and immediately see where they are located, search for a particular item’s location, and ask for a direction.

Leveraging proximity marketing One of the major beacon use cases is sending promotional notifications to passing-by customers to prompt them to visit the store and make a purchase.

Such notifications can be general and serve as an ad, or be highly personalized, relying on the customer’s previous shopping history and matching it to the current visit. For example, if a customer has some items in their online shopping cart, the beacon can send a notification about a personal discount for one of the items.

The same tactic works for in-store shoppers. Beacons can trigger notifications about promotions when a customer passes by a particular department or product section. Beacons can also be used to notify passers-by about in-store events, such as food sampling

PPDS has collaborated with industry leaders to bring AI-driven Philips digital signage and analytics solutions to retail market for more targeted shopping experiences. Through a partnership between PPDS, Intel, Advantech and Navori Labs state-of-the-art digital display and camera technology with the latest intelligent software analytic innovations to breathe new life into the retail shopping experience.

PPDS has announced a new collaboration with leading hardware and computer vision software providers, Intel, Advantech and Navori Labs, for the creation of the PPDS Intelligent Signage Solution for Retail. Bringing a bundled, trusted and proven solution to system integrators and retailers for easy installation and straightforward integration into stores.

Continuing PPDS’ Total Solutions strategy – and its ongoing efforts to support the retail market through world-first innovations – the PPDS Intelligent Signage Solution for Retail is a revolutionary AI-powered digital signage solution that combines Philips digital signage with intelligent context-aware software and camera technologies. Delivering unparalleled data-driven insights to high street retailers for enhanced, more targeted customer experiences resulting in greater return on investment.

Designed to take the customer’s omnichannel strategy to the next level and to create an experience unachievable online, the solution enables retailers to make smarter, more informed business decisions, using advanced analytics based on the store’s activities throughout the day, week, month or even year.

Artificial intelligence / Personal shopper coming from their devices, and retailers are starting to use beacons as a bridge between the offline and online realms.

Now, beacons provide businesses with the unique ways to learn more about their customers and engage with them on a whole different level. As a link between mobile devices, applications, and back-office systems, beacons can play a pivotal role in retail business intelligence.

Beacons let their adopters gather data on: • Areas of the store that receive the most and least foot traffic • Employees’ movements on the sales floor and in the stock rooms • Levels of shopper engagement with various categories/items of merchandise • Details about first-time and repeat customers • Resource utilisation in-store and throughout the supply chain Large supermarkets and de-

or a makeup tutorial. People are more likely to visit such an event when they are nearby rather than when learning about it at home.

Downsides This all sounds good but there are still some challenges to be resolved in beacon technology. Beacon signals are easily reflected or absorbed depending on the surrounding materials or proximity of other beacons.

This can turn some parts of the store into blind spots. As a result, beacons can push irrelevant notifications. One more issue is the timing of notifications. Due to fluctuations in Bluetooth signal strength as well as intermittent work of cell phone antennas and beacon signals, some notifications can come with a delay, which kills their relevance and the overall concept of continuous experience.

Compatible with PPDS’s Philips P-Line* 24/7 digital signage range for indoor environments (42”-55”) and connected with the store’s choice of on-board ethernet or wi-fi, the solution harnesses Advantech’s integrated DS-200

SDM-L Smart Display Module computer platform, powered

by Intel vPro technology that can be used to manage the unit remotely. These are brought together with the award-winning Aquaji smart AI-computer vision driven software platform for marketing analytics, and QL CMS software used to manage the display contents, both from Navori Labs.

Available as a cloud-based solution (SaaS) or as an on-premises version hosted on your own hardware, the plug and play ‘Navori Aquaji’ soft-

graphic, or group, ie. sports fans are historically more prevalent. The solution is GDPR friendly, 100 per cent anonymous and doesn’t perform facial recognition. No images or video are ever stored on the system.

Other benefits of the PPDS Intelligent Signage Solution for Retail include: • Know your customers: Measure footfall counts excluding staff and classify each guest based on their attributes (gender and age range).

• Time in store and waiting

“There has never been a more important time for retailers to attract customers back to the high street and to seize every sales opportunity. Every store is different and every customer is different, so the marketing that works for one person may not for another. Take into account age and gender, and you’re almost certainly alienating a high percentage of the people entering a store. With our advanced Philips digital signage and our industry-leading partnerships with Intel, Advantech and Navori Labs, we’re reducing the

Available as a cloud-based solution (SaaS) or as an on-premises version hosted on your own hardware, the plug and play ‘Navori Aquaji’ software analyses video feeds from embedded or IP-based cameras strategically placed around the store

ware analyses video feeds from embedded or IP-based cameras strategically placed around the store. These produce anonymous marketing data and comparable metrics based on foot-traffic and people’s physical features* (up to 98 per cent accuracy) – including gender – which are delivered on an intuitive and fully featured dashboard assessable on any computer.

The information can be used to deliver unique, bespoke, targeted content and marketing to help drive sales. Alternatively, content can be easily created and scheduled, based on the data analytics, such as during times where a specific demo-

time: Determine the time spent in line and time spent before receiving service. This data is used for queue optimisation.

• Attention span: Calculate each shopper’s field of vision in relation to any monitored area or digital signage screen for audience assessment and proof-of-performance analytics.

• Proactive: Anticipate foot traffic and demand based on comparable data over time.

• Staff where and when you need them: Optimise staffing levels to meet peak hour demand.

• Store design: Manage shelf layout to ensure an easy flow to the right marketplace and product.

Instant results

Information can be used to deliver unique, bespoke, targeted content and marketing to help drive sales. Alternatively, content can be easily created and scheduled, based on the data analytics, such as during times where a specific demographic, or group.

The tried and tested Navori Aquaji platform comes with an impressive success record for retailers, with one store reporting a 42 per cent increase in impulse product selling, thanks to a triggered targeted customer promotional offer.

Another retailer reported up to a 26 per cent increase in entrance traffic due to the presence of in-store displays, using targeted marketing, while a department store improved customer satisfaction, reducing its waiting time by 35 per cent on weekend peak hours by implanting extra ambulatory cashiers.

Chris Colpaert, General Manager at PPDS, commented:

4

odds of failure and increasing sales opportunities for retailers, while making the experience for customers a smarter and more tailored one.”

He continued: “This solution will bring retailers the tools to improve their customers’ journey and experience by analysing the data and implementing the right content to the right person at the right moment and in the right place. This is a game-changer for the retail industry, whether you’re a single small corner shop or an international retailer.”

Tim de Ruiter, International Business Manager, PPDS, concluded: “This solution is a revolution for retailers, allowing them to manage content confidently, knowing that it’s timely, on target and accurate. By selecting the gender and age frame, the retailer can be sure that only one group will see a specific promotion.

“Helping our retail end customers to make their jobs as hassle-free as possible helps our system integrators to differentiate their own service. So, helping them to track whether content receives attention, and to be able to adjust it within the timeframe of the promotion to make it more attractive, is a real bonus. The data helps them to make the right decisions and they can clearly see the impact of their decisions with the results. It’s a virtuous loop.”

P17 AV News October 2021

Application News

5-star Swiss Alps hotel upgrades guest rooms with 127 Philips PPDS has announced that its dedicated range of advanced Philips MediaSuite professional TVs for hospitality has been selected and installed inside all 112 guest rooms at the spectacular, recently reopened 5-Star Grand Hotel Kronkenhof in Switzerland. First opened back in 1848, the Grand Hotel Kronenhof is one of Switzerland’s most iconic and luxurious hotels, carefully balancing modern comfort with holistic wellbeing and outstanding architecture, all set within a natural paradise at the heat of the Swiss Alps.

Part of a major restoration program, reinforcing its commitment to providing unparalleled luxury throughout the hotel, the owners turned to PPDS to bring its guests – which have previously included a number of leading celebrities, such as the

(allowing guest to effortlessly enjoy their own content on the big screen), as well as access to thousands of apps via the Google Play store.

This new entertainment upgrade has also been futureproofed to enable fast content and software updates via the exclusive PPDS CMND platform, allowing new features to be quickly added without additional costs, as well as creating personalised messaging for guests and feedback opportunities via the TV. The TVs can also be upgraded to the latest Android software (when available), adding all the latest features, capabilities, and security patches, ensuring a modern and consistent experience in every room without the added expense.

Davide Longo, Sales Manager for Philips Pro TV and Philips

Manager, Grand Hotel Kronenhof, commented: “The Swisscom and PPDS team were able to develop a complete interactive solution for us. The integration of Netflix and other multimedia apps are a real improvement for our Multimedia System. The support of different media (RF and IP) give us the possibility to deploy a new solution on top of our existing RF infrastructure.”

Philips MediaSuite benefits for the Grand Hotel Kronenhof include: •Easy updates: Content and software updates can be easily made by the hotel staff and Swisscom via CMND, saving time and money.

•Android: Built-in Android platform opens up an exciting world of possibilities with easy access to apps, content, and games.

•Property Management System

Prestigious Russian theatre chooses Digital Projection Despite being situated thousands of miles east of Russia’s more well-known cultural centres like Moscow and St. Petersburg, the city of Irkutsk has a long theatre tradition all its own. Chief among its many fine theatres is the Irkutsk Academic Drama Theatre of N.P.

resolution.”

Although the Irkutsk Academic Drama Theatre has a tradition of high technical excellence, the venue’s management decided that the best way to nurture a new generation of theatregoers was to employ more modern means of communication

without quality loss,” said Alex Gnatyuk.

“This was done to ensure the audience would be fully immersed in the action taking place on the stage. Delivery difficulties and work restrictions due to COVID-19 also added to the complexity of this project,

The Insight Dual Laser 4K projector is able to create additional figures and crowd scenes using a braided silver net as a projection surface, though this is not yet a common occurrence at the theatre given how difficult it is to create holographic content. [Picture courtesy of Light Power Design]

late Sir Sean Connery, as well Signage Displays in Switzer- integration: Guest room TVs are Working with Swisscom and PPDS to deliver a full RF and IP upgrade with hybrid Wi-Fi connectivity across the entire premises, 127 Philips MediaSuite TVs were installed (ranging from 43”- 55”), bringing unrivalled entertainment choice to every guest room. as royal family members – an advanced, connected TV entertainment solution that is befitting of its high-end reputation.

Working with Swisscom and PPDS to deliver a full RF and IP upgrade with hybrid Wi-Fi connectivity across the entire premises, 127 Philips MediaSuite TVs were installed (ranging from 43”- 55”), bringing unrivalled entertainment choice to every guest room, including linear and nonlinear TV and radio channels, integrated Netflix, Chromecast built-in

land at PPDS, commented: “PPDS is now synonymous with bringing dedicated, high quality and highly innovative solutions designed and built exclusively for the hospitality industry and we’re thrilled that guests staying in this iconic hotel are able to enjoy the full benefits Philips MediaSuite to further enhance their experience. With Philips MediaSuite, guests have the freedom to enjoy their content whenever, and however they choose.”

Marc Eichenberger, General

connected to the hotel’s Property Management System for complete control and transparency of costs and hotel information.

•Custom connectivity: Philips MediaSuite and CMND allow staff to create and deploy custom messaging including guest, hotel, and city information with ease.

•Home comfort: Chromecast built-in and integrated Netflix bring home comfort to the luxurious setting of each hotel room.

Barco has announced that Walmart is piloting virtual classroom technology as part of the retailer’s commitment to offer impactful, high-quality training to its workforce.

Powered by the Barco virtual training and LED video wall technology, together with technology solutions provider and integrator Diversified, the virtual classroom supports Walmart in its pledge to invest in the careers of its associates, support their development and promote from within.

“Over the last year and a half, remote collaboration capabili-

ties have proved more critical than ever,” says Pat Wheelon, Diversified's Director of Strategic Accounts. “When Walmart displayed an interest in our virtual learning offerings, we immediately turned to the capabilities of Barco's weConnect solution.”

Barco weConnect is a powerful software solution that enables engaging and interactive training, online and onsite.

Walmart plans to pilot and test this technology as part of its Walmart Academy’s immersive training program that teaches retail skills and soft skills like

leadership, communication and change management. Academy training classes have traditionally taken place in physical classrooms located in stores or distribution centres, but this new technology will provide a convenient alternative.

Andy Trainor, Vice President, Walmart U.S. Learning, states: “We’re excited to pilot this technology as a virtual complement to the in-person training we provide our store associates.

The platform offers the same interactive experience our associates are used to getting in our Academy classrooms but

Okhlopkov - the oldest theatre in Eastern Siberia and the cultural hub of the region.

Founded in 1850 and currently celebrating 170 years as a cultural institution, the theatre recently worked with Light Power Design (LPD) to upgrade its technical offering, including a state-of-the-art automated lighting rig from Elation Professional, an Adaptive Systems audio package from EAW, and a pair of native 4K laser projectors from Digital Projection.

“LPD have used Digital Projection for many years and have always been more than happy with the result,” said Digital Projection’s business development manager for Russia & CIS, Alex Gnatyuk. “When they received a request to upgrade the theatre in Irkutsk, they asked us to bring something new and interesting on the projection technology front, particularly in regards to native 4K

with its audience. When the executive director from LPD, Mikhail Morozov, began batting around ideas involving holograms, Alex Gnatyuk suggested that the Insight Dual Laser was the perfect fit for such an ambitious project. “We were the only manufacturer of native 4K DLP projectors with acceptable price on the Russian market,” Alex Gnatyuk said. “We provided them with a Titan Laser 37000 WUXGA and an Insight Dual Laser 4K, as well as seven lenses for different purposes.”

The Insight Dual Laser 4K projector is able to create additional figures and crowd scenes using a braided silver net as a projection surface, though this is not yet a common occurrence at the theatre given how difficult it is to create holographic content. The main problem at the launch of the project was to ensure the operability of the entire system with 4K content

but other than these small hurdles, the whole process went very smoothly. LPD is highly qualified company with great specialists on hand and, as always, they were more than happy with the quality of technology provided.”

LPD’s Mikhail Morozov added: “We were looking for the best possible solution for the theatre, as well as ensuring the best possible image, light, and sound quality. To do so, we needed to make sure that all of the equipment was reliable, first and foremost. Digital Projection, with their projectors' built-in IP60 sealed optics and five-year warranty, have become the best choice when creating the most reliable system that will delight theatregoers for many years.”

enables them to attend training from their home store so they can spend less time traveling and more time developing and offering stellar customer service.”

Barco weConnect can bring Walmart associates from anywhere and put them all together in a front-row learning experience, entirely online or in a hybrid mode with participants both remote and on-site. The instructor trains every person in the audience effectively, monitors responses and offers support whenever necessary. The trainees engage in real-time

with both their trainer and other participants that can connect from continents away, all while enjoying the meaningful collaboration typically found in a standard physical classroom.

Additionally, Barco virtual training creates an engaging environment with features such as polls, quizzes, enhanced breakout rooms and multiple content streams. Carmen Dominguez, Business Development Manager for Learning Experiences at Barco, states: “Barco is delighted to have teamed up with Walmart and leveraged our ground-breaking technol-

ogy to help achieve its vision of upskilling its workforce. We applaud organizations that prioritize the development of their employees. Through our virtual classroom, weConnect, Walmart associates and their trainers will enjoy a collaborative and interactive experience that will help prepare them for the future of retail.”

Walmart invests in virtual classroom technology

P20 AV News September 2021

Application News

Christie laser projector and Avante Garde fashion show Pandoras Box light up Ishmael using in Taipei Fashion Week Christie has announced its continued collaboration with Dead Puppet Society, an Australian based production house and design company with international reach, by providing projection and content management support for its latest visual-theatre performance, Ishmael.

Based on Herman Melville’s timeless novel Moby Dick, Ishmael made its long-awaited

an entirely new level. Not only does the projector provide astounding visuals that augment the storytelling process, the displayed content also blended seamlessly with live performers, miniaturised landscapes and models to tell this fascinating story about personal redemption and the grace of humanity, with hope and humour.”

David Morton, Creative Director

The 80-minute performance, staged daily from September 3-18, 2021, represents a significant industry collaboration between Dead Puppet Society, QPAC and Brisbane Festival, in association with Screen Queensland. world premiere on September 3 2021 in the Cremorne Theatre at Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC) as part of the annual Brisbane Festival. It features a talented Queensland cast and creatives, state-ofthe art technology, brilliant puppetry and an outstanding original score to deliver an inspirational, thought-provoking and enthralling experience to audiences. Among the highlights are stunning projections made possible using a Christie GS Series 1DLP laser projector, with content management and processing accomplished by the versatile and powerful Christie Pandoras Box Version 8.

“One of the key elements of Ishmael is the creation of a realistic realm that’s not only captivating to watch, but also for how the story is told,” said Nicholas Paine, Executive Producer, Dead Puppet Society, and Creative Producer of Ishmael. “We are absolutely delighted that Christie has supplied us with its GS Series laser projector and Pandoras Box Version 8, which have elevated our show to

of Dead Puppet Society, and Director of Ishmael, added, “The throw distance that we have between our 7-metre screen and the Christie GS Series projector is ridiculously narrow.

But the moment we turned it on, we were blown away by the enormous, phenomenal images that it produces. And what’s so amazing about Christie Pandoras Box Version 8 is that in addition to its impressive content ingestion functionality, there is also Z-depth compositing that allows us to compose animation content both behind and in front of the live feed of models and animation with zero latency.

The level of visual integration that it enables us to achieve is just awesome.”

Greg Spence, Senior Business Development Manager for Australia and New Zealand, Enterprise, Christie, commented, “We are very pleased to once again collaborate with Dead Puppet Society to bring dazzling projections using one of our most capable and dependable 1DLP laser projectors to the epic tale of Ishmael to audi-

Vivitek has announced that digital projectors and digital signage solutions procured through Reasound, a Cookstown-based authorised reseller, are playing a key role in creating a truly thrilling and immersive visitor experience at the Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, in Armagh, Northern Ireland. Officially opened on 1 May 1968 and classified as part of Ireland’s education authority, over the years the Armagh Observatory and Planetarium has evolved and expanded, updating its exhibits and displays regularly in order to meet the demands of its inquisitive and ever-growing visitors.

Technology has always been at the heart of the visitor experience at the Armagh Observatory and Planetarium. It was an early adopter of video projectors in order to create special effects,

until they were replaced by computer-controlled laserdisc players in the 1980s. Not only was this a great success with visitors, but their use resulted in a landmark for the venue; it was the first planetarium in the world to project video on to its dome.

Contributing to a positive visitor experience, are three Vivitek DU8090s. Lamp-free and eco-friendly, the DU8090Z features a WUXGA resolution, 8000 ANSI Lumens brightness and 10,000:1 contrast ratio for a clear and bright projection. The projector is equipped with a laser light source which offers up to 20,000 hours of operation which makes it the perfect solution for large venues that need power, flexibility and a durable solution.

The projectors' legendary reliability was a key attraction and made them ideally suited to the environment, as they are left to

ences in Queensland. We’re also excited to equip the production team with our latest Pandoras Box Version 8 software license, which comes with the entire suite of features under one software license to create truly outstanding audio-visual experiences for this highly anticipated show.”

The professional-grade Christie GS Series laser projectors deliver premium performance and reliability in high-usage environments and eliminates the need for lamp and filter replacements by providing 20,000 hours of low-cost operation. Featuring brightness options of up to 10,875 lumens, advanced colour reproduction, wireless connectivity, a small footprint, quiet operation and a full suite of lenses, the GS Series is ideal for theatre as well as boardrooms, conference rooms, education, houses of worship and other similar venues.

Christie Pandoras Box Version 8 is the ideal software solution for real-time video processing and show control. Packed with professional features in a high-performance and budget-friendly platform, users can access the entire suite that includes NDI, SDVoE, Dante (Digital Audio Network Through Ethernet), and Notch with just a single license.

Pandoras Box Version 8 offers the high-level media processing performance required for fixed installations, live events, theatres, and other entertainment environments.

Ishmael is set in a not-too-distant future where the earth’s oceans have been recast as the vastness of space and the titular character as a young climate refugee grasping at the chance to build a new life for herself.

To survive their voyage to the outer solar system aboard the MV Pequod, Ishmael and the obsessive Captain Ahab must navigate the immensity of space and its endless possibilities and terrors.

The 1990s was an era of freedom, boldness and adventure with bright colours and style – people dared to experiment.

JUST IN XX’s philosophy when it came to technology echoed this, and he collaborated with Calibre UK for LED Fusion A130-15 LED displays to be positioned on each side of the

media and the audience in attendance,” added Chou.

“This was the first-ever fashion show in Taiwan that used traditional stage elements combined with audio and visual elements to bring the 1990s theme to life. To support our use of a lot of colourful, bold clothing and makeup, we positioned Calibre

tion technology. Justin Chou noted that the colours on Calibre LEDFusion were very accurate: “In this show, the makeup and hairstyling used multiple colours such as yellow, peach, and red. The Calibre LED Fusion showed us a true colour experiment and the visual effect was so amazing.

The fashion show and stage play performance were held on the main stage with a rotating circular stage main stage for the show.

Justin Chou held two different shows at Taipei Fashion Week Fall Winter Season on March and May 2021. Themed around fashion sustainability, Taipei Fashion Week was organised by the Taiwan Ministry of Culture and Ministry of Education and was supported by fashion brands including Loreal Professional as well as Vogue, GQ, Elle, Marie Claire, Bazar and Cosmopolitan.

“In the fast-paced world of fashion, there’s no room for compromise,” said Justin Chou. “We rely on lighting and video to play a powerful role in the creative design and to help tell the story of each of the garments. For this project the main stage needed to look amazing, from so many different angles to meet the demands of photographers, television broadcast, social

LED Fusion displays on each side of the main stage to create a stunning effect that faithfully represented vibrant colours.

It created a high-impact and a ‘fashion drama show’ with engaging sound and light effects, best presenting the finer details of clothing.”

The fashion show and stage play performance were held on the main stage with a rotating circular stage. Because of the small form factor and quick and easy setup, the LED Fusion was easily transported into the tight confines of the venue construction staff. During build-up, the team was impressed with how easy, quickly and efficiently LED Fusion was to set up and deploy – all under an hour.

Calibre LED Fusion has a contrast ratio of 5,000:1 and produces images near to 100% of the Rec709 colour space with Calibre’s precise colour calibra-

“In addition to the colour performance, the 130-inch large screen also allows the audience who even in the back row could appreciate the finer details of the hand-sewn techniques of the designer.” Justin Chou is regularly invited to New York, Shanghai and Paris Fashion week. More recently, Justin Chou created a sustainable collection for Taiwanese Olympic athletes to wear during the opening ceremony of the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. He used fabrics from domestic functional textile manufacturers including materials from plastic bottles, industrial waste and non-toxic repurposed fabrics.

operate for eight hours a day, seven days a week, projecting content that shows space, the

fortlessly and consistently.

Also on site, is a Vivitek DU8190Z projector.

The

universe, planets as well as educational power points and even live feeds from cameras. Here, advanced cooling design ensures that the projectors are able to endure their daily operations, ef-

DU8190Z uses DLP technology with BrilliantColor for vibrant and rich picture quality, while the 10,000 ANSI lumens of brightness, WUXGA resolution, and 10,000:1 contrast ratio ensures

clear, crisp and bright projection.

Meanwhile, its long-lasting laser light source delivers constant brightness levels and colour performance for up to 20,000 hours of operation. Commenting on their use, Ciaran Magee, ICT Manager, Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, said: “It’s important that Armagh Observatory and Planetarium conveys the thrill and excitement of space.

We’re dependant on technology to help us achieve that, and Vivitek’s solutions are instrumental in creating an immersive environment that helps captivate our visitors.

Completing the set of Vivitek solutions, are a number of NovoDS Digital Signage solutions.

NovoDS Cloud is Vivitek’s exceptionally easy to use digital signage solution. The content displayed on the NovoDS Cloud can be changed and updated

remotely, making it simple to update content. At Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, the NovoDS solutions are arranged in a matrix format, while one is located in the café, advising visitors of the day’s specials, and of any offers.

The flexibility means that the five NovoDS digital signage solutions can be easily outputted to any of the 25 plus screens and projectors connected to the AV Matrix, so as to bring stunning affects to an exhibit or to display information or video. With NovoDS, the digital signage content can incorporate text, photos, audio, video, and web content in fully customisable configurations for a variety of environments, making ideally suited to Armagh Observatory and Planetarium. .

Universe explained at Armagh Observatory and Planetarium

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P21 AV News October 2021

Review

Logitech Scribe ‘Hybrid working’ is a phrase that not only describes the locations in which many of us work today, but, even before the pandemic, it describes the mix of digital and analogue resources that we all using in the course of a working day. Logitech’s latest product is a tool for bringing the most common analogue resource, the hand annotated whiteboard into the digital domain.

Logitech is now famous for its range of web cams and collaborative peripherals creating a more equitable meeting experience for remote participants. The company is now developing devices that fill the gaps in the digital landscape. The latest offering is the Logitech Scribe an AI-powered whiteboard camera. Logitech Scribe is compatible with leading collaboration platforms like Microsoft Teams and Zoom. The device broadcasts whiteboard content into video meetings with incredible clarity, virtually transporting everyone into the same room.

From meeting rooms to classrooms, Logitech Scribe comes at a crucial time when hybrid work and learning has become more pervasive. Logitech Scribe makes brainstorming, teaching, and team meetings equally accessible and productive for all participants through its simpleto-use design. Levelling the playing field for distributed teams, Scribe gives everyone — in-room or remote — a perfect view of the board. IT fills the gap in provision by digitising content created onthe-fly. like annotations on a diagram, for example.

Enhanced integrations with Microsoft Teams Rooms and Zoom Rooms make the experience effortless. In-room participants can begin sharing whiteboard content into video meetings by simply pressing the wireless button included with Scribe, or tapping the meeting room touch controller, like Logitech Tap. The wireless button currently works with Zoom Rooms, and support for Teams Rooms will come later this year. Scribe also works as a USB content camera with virtually any video conferencing application, providing the flexibility to use Scribe in meeting rooms, classrooms, or even home offices.

High quality video and audio “We’ve obsessively worked toward solving the problems of providing high-quality audio and video collaboration in both meeting rooms and remote desktops, but there remains a gap in integrating non-digital content like whiteboards, or Post-its into virtual meetings,” said Scott Wharton, general manager and vice president, Logitech Video Collaboration. “Logitech Scribe works because it takes advantage of what people already know how to do: pick up a marker and draw on a whiteboard. Now, we’re able

to elevate non-digital collaborative content for everyone to see in high fidelity, while being extremely easy to use and share, thanks to its compatibility with today's most popular cloud services like Teams and Zoom.”

It doesn’t stop there!

Not only does Scribe deal with the problem of analogue content in a digital world, it also takes care of another fundamental issue in the whiteboard – the presenter! Capturing dry erase surfaces up to six by four feet, Logitech Scribe is a dedicated whiteboard camera that gives virtual meeting participants a clear, real-time view of the whiteboard. Using built-in artificial intelligence, Scribe can render the presenter transparent, so remote users can see the whiteboard with nothing in

content is easier to read. Scribe even has the ability to detect other non-digital content like Post-its, a favourite tool for collaboration sessions. Whether viewing from a laptop at home or on the meeting room display, Scribe makes sure everyone has the best seat at the table.

Elegant and thoughtful With a clean, wall-mounted design and thoughtful cable management, Scribe elegantly blends into any modern office or classroom. Plus, it comes with everything you need to quickly get it up and running. Together with the whiteboard content camera, Scribe includes a wireless share button, mounting components, power supply, and category cables for deployment at scale.

With Scribe, Logitech is expand-

Scribe brings the ‘in-room collaboration’ feeling to global conferencing through a sleek and modern whiteboard device. Scribe’s high-definition imaging and plug-and-play connectivity make for an effective and easy to install tool that is essential within the hybrid collaboration industry.

The wireless button currently works with Zoom Rooms, and support for Teams Rooms will come later this year. Scribe also works as a USB content camera with virtually any video conferencing application, providing the flexibility to use Scribe in meeting rooms, classrooms, or even home offices.

Scribe works with all whiteboard surfaces, capturing up to 2m W (6’) by 1.2m H (4’), and any set of dry erase markers the way.

Perhaps less of a problem. but nonetheless desirable, Scribe automatically enhances the colour of marker pens so the

ing what it does best: creating collaborative tools that make it easier for people to interact with the digital world in more natural

and meaningful ways. “With the almost immediate corporate change from in-office to working from home, this past year has required us to make

a lot of adjustments. Logitech may have seen these same issues, but they didn’t stop working and created a great product,” said Will Cool, video conference standards and operations at PayPal. “Scribe brings the ‘in-room collaboration’ feeling to global conferencing through a sleek and modern whiteboard device.

Scribe’s high-definition imaging and plug-and-play connectivity make for an effective and easy to install tool that is essential within the hybrid collaboration industry.”

Continued Ehrika Gladden, vice president of the global video collaboration commercial organization at Logitech: “Whether your mission includes creativity, design, development, or teaching we’ve gotten a glimpse of what the tech-enabled collaboration of the future can look like with Scribe.”

Conclusion Once again, Logitech has come up with a clever, and yet simple idea that is well executed and superbly packaged. The company is well known for its standard of presentation, and Scribe is no different. Opening the boxes you could be forgiven for being slightly daunted by the number of components and the associated documentation but working through the instructions is straightforward and it takes around half an hour

to complete the installation.

Typical Logitech touches include the provision of a spit level in the mounting bracket and the very neat cable management to keep the meeting room environment tidy. Depending on your digital workflow you might need a Scribe in every meeting room or perhaps only those spaces used for brainstorming or training – anywhere, in fact, where content destined for sharing is created on-the-fly.

Pricing and availability Logitech Scribe is now available in select markets with MSRP starting at $1,199. It is currently compatible with Teams Rooms on Windows and Zoom Rooms. Zoom Rooms Appliances support will be available after launch. For virtually any video conferencing service, Scribe can also operate as a standalone USB content camera when connected to a computer or laptop.

Not only does Scribe deal with the problem of analogue content in a digital world, it also takes care of another fundamental issue in the whiteboard – the presenter! Scribe can render the presenter transparent, so remote users can see the whiteboard with nothing in the way.

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P23 AV News October 2021 P24

Peoplewatch

Peoplewatch MAXHUB has announced the appointment of Victor Planas, who joins the growing MAXHUB EMEA team as Country Manager, UCC in Spain and Portugal. Planas has a proven track record in Unified Communications and leading high performing teams as well as driving growth across IT and Pro AV industries. Previous roles include Country Manager for Spain and Portugal at Logitech, responsible for launching and driving the Unified Communications division in the region. Previously he has managed Lifesize Communications and Creative Labs business for South Europe during a 10-year tenure.

Speaking about the appointment, Darren Lin, General Manager at MAXHUB commented; “We are delighted to welcome Victor to the EMEA MAXHUB team, he brings with him a wealth of experience in the UC space and will be central in the development of the MAXHUB brand and reseller engagement in this important territory.”

Planas will lead MAXHUB to become the preferred UC brand of choice and a market leader for Unified Communications across the Iberia market, extending his knowledge into Europe. His responsibilities will include building a team within the region as well as managing the MAXHUB UC business, building a network of reseller partners within IT, Pro AV and other markets.

MAXHUB has announced the appointment of Victor Planas, who joins the growing MAXHUB EMEA team as Country Manager, UCC in Spain and Portugal.

Multimedia systems integrator, equipment specialist and service provider CJP Broadcast has announced a new addition to its technical support team with the appointment of Rees Williams as broadcast engineer. He joins the company after four years with event presentation company Universal Live where he was a technical project manager specialising in audiovisual operations.

“Rees is a very welcome addition to our team,” comments CJP Broadcast founder and managing director Chris Phillips. “His experience across the events sector and the wider media business

“CJP Broadcast is a forward-thinking company which understands the ways in which media technology can be applied across many areas of modern life, not least the broadcast mainstream,” Rees Williams adds. “I am delighted to be working alongside talented and experienced colleagues with an evident commitment to delivering powerful solutions within sensible budgets.”

After graduating from Birmingham City University with a BSc in Sound Engineering and Production, Rees Williams established an audio engineering and stage event consultancy in 2008, providing technical support on increasingly ambitious projects before joining the technical support staff of Miami-based Celebrity Cruises where he supervised the operation and maintenance of shipboard audiovisual entertainment equipment. He progressed in January 2017 to Universal Live, working alongside the sales and accounts departments to create bespoke audiovisual proposals for large bookings and hybrid events as well as managing relevant equipment hire accounts.

Maverick AV Solutions, a specialist business of Tech Data and global leader in AV distribution, has announced the appointment of Tesse Van Veldhuyzen as Maverick International Business Manager. With 7 years of experience in the AV industry she joins Maverick in a new role in its Pan-European team, leading international sales and roll outs alongside our partner global integrators. She will work across all of the 15 Maverick countries and its manufacturing brands to facilitate installations which span international borders.

Tesse joins the team from Integrated Systems Europe where, as International Sales Manager, she was responsible for developing multi-level partnerships, structuring year on year sales and growing an international client base. Her network includes 200 leading industry businesses including market leaders Samsung, Philips, and Logitech.

Tesse’s experience also includes working with non-profit organisations throughout her career with a standout moment being her position as the project manager for the renowned TEDxAmsterdamWomen. Running this event, Tesse demonstrated her strong advocacy for women’s achievement and success within business, not only from donating her time to the position but also running a very successful event that was broadcast globally.

Tesse Van Veldhuyzen, Business Development Director comments: “Maverick is uniquely placed within Tech Data and the AV industry, with their ability to handle both the complex ecosystem that is solutions and the demand for them to be deployed internationally.

I’m looking forward to be joining the European team, building new Skylab, a Manchester and London-based specialist firm for sports organisations across the globe has confirmed three key appointments in their efforts to move in a bold, new direction. Following their merger with industry leading performance analysis firm, Insight Analysis (now Skylab: Elite Performance Analysis, a division of Skylab) and mobile app development agency, Cuhu, Skylab are primed to provide bespoke software and performance analysis services to elite sporting clients, leveraging the skills,

relationships and managing current partnerships.”

Joel Chimoindes, Vice President. Maverick Europe comments: “Tesse brings experience, skills and a can-do attitude and will be a fantastic addition to Team Maverick. With the focus of creating standardisation for global businesses across their offices, her role is a natural progression to help our global partners to make these happen more seamlessly. She brings great technology knowledge as well as a high service level which will be vital to build this new role.” Tesse will be based in the Netherlands and working globally across all of Maverick's territories.

Maverick AV Solutions, a specialist business of Tech Data and global leader in AV distribution, has announced the appointment of Tesse Van Veldhuyzen as Maverick International Business Manager. drive and connections of their new appointees.

Skylab has enhanced its senior management team with the appointment of Zak Saucede in the role of Head of Analysis and Data Solutions for Skylab: Elite Performance Analysis. In their marketing and new business teams, Raza Khan takes up the role of Marketing Manager and Ciaran Skinner has been named as Busi Continued on page 30

Rees Williams (on left) with CJP Broadcast technical manager James Ruddock) outside the company's Ross-on-Wye headquarters. blends very well with our activity in project management and integration, equipment distribution, technical support and video production. He has already performed sterling work in the completion phase of our recent 4K-UHD virtual studio for the University of Sunderland.”

(Left to right) Raza Khan (Marketing Manager), Ciaran Skinner (Business Development Manager), Zak Saucede (Head of Analysis and Data Solutions)

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P25 AV News October 2021

Peoplewatch

Peoplewatch

Continued from page 29

ness Development Manager. With them, all three bring extensive industry experience and will help drive progress towards Skylab’s long-term goals in both digital and sports performance analysis industries.

Highly experienced Performance Analyst Zak Saucede joins Skylab’s Senior Management Team from the Lawn Tennis Association, British Canoe Slalom and Mavericks Netball. Having designed and developed the tagging panel system used by the Lawn Tennis Association to propel Jamie Murray and Joe Salisbury to Masters and Grand Slam glory, Zak’s title-winning experience and desire to create practical, observable changes in sport, makes him the perfect fit for Skylab.

Jonathan Hobbs, General Manager, Skylab: Elite Performance Analysis said, “We are pleased to welcome Zak to Skylab: Elite Performance Analysis as a crucial member of our senior management team. Zak brings with him a wealth of experience across multiple sports and the ability to apply his knowledge to our clients' performance analysis planning. Zak was the stand-out candidate amongst a very strong field, and we are delighted that he chose to join our organisation.”

Zak Saucede, Head of Analysis and Data Solutions, Skylab: Elite Performance Analysis: “I want to make a genuine impact with our work at Skylab, regardless of the client’s challenges or the size of the project. I am interested in projects where I can combine automation and develop products with software developers. I love the creative and technical side to this area of work, whereby a developer can create something bespoke from the ideas that we, as analysts, have thought about and needed in our line of work for a long time.”

Within Skylab’s marketing and new business teams, Raza and Ciaran bring over a decade of combined experience. Raza’s varied marketing background across BT, EE, Shell, Disney and PureGym will push Skylab’s marketing in a provocative, disruptive, new direction in the hopes of attracting top-level clients. Ciaran, an industry expert, whose ability to build key relationships played key roles in Wales’ 2016 European Championship success and Toronto FC’s first ever MLS Cup win, will look to use his client experience to build Skylab’s client base across sports and technology.

Chloe Waddington Head of Business, Skylab, said: “With Ciaran’s vast experience of the sports space and his core relationships across elite sport, including the Premier League, international Football, and more, Skylab is in prime position to capture significance. Raza’s award-winning experience will drive the marketing across both divisions in a bold, innovative direction. His creativity and ability to execute game-changing, disruptive campaigns will be vital in attracting leading organisations across sports and technology.”

Skylab is part of the Inc & Co Group, a business group that has a wide range of business, including data analytics firm for charities and not for profits, Wood for Trees.

dio. Stuart’s background has always been sales based, until 2014 when he progressed into sales management. In 2016, he joined the board at POLAR, heading up the integrated solutions team, leading a sales team selling AVoverIP, Audio solutions, Video distribution, control and Unified Communications.

The Senior Sales Manager role is a strategic step forward for Audiologic and will see a holistic approach to the sales function. Andy Lewis, Managing Director, Audiologic, comments: “We are genuinely excited for Stuart to join us, he brings a wealth of industry experience which will drive the sales function. Stuart will oversee the responsibility for the entire sales function. The role is a very strategic and focussed one, which will drive Audiologic through its next growth phase. We would like to take the opportunity to congratulate Dave Smith on his retirement and say a huge thank you for his 7 years of service.”

Stuart Leader concludes: “I have observed the accelerated growth of Audiologic over the last few years and have had great admiration for what the Company has achieved. I’m delighted to be joining such a well-established and strong team and I look forward to contributing and playing my part in the building and development of the business in the future.”

Oliver Zimmermann has been appointed to serve as director of manufacturing for Riedel Communications. A physicist, supply chain expert, and change management specialist with more than a decade of experience in the manufacturing business, most recently in data and telecommunications, Zimmermann will focus on Riedel's supply chain and production processes to enable even greater efficiency and agility.

“Oliver has always recognized the human being as the source of all improvement, considering every employee and every team an integral part of the overall organization,” said Thomas Riedel, CEO at Riedel Communications. “This mindset makes him just the right person to guide the Riedel manufacturing division through contin-

circumstances and inevitable challenges. This is a credit to the enormous motivation of individual Riedel employees, who are used to working in a very goal-oriented manner and with a high level of problem-solving competence. Going forward, we can build on these strengths by improving the interweaving of processes and people, as well as by gleaning more targeted lessons from each project we undertake. I look forward to the challenge.”

Bradford-based Pro Audio Systems has announced the recruitment of Chris Beardwell to the post of Video and Lighting Sales. For more than thirty years, Pro Audio Systems has supplied professional audio for sales, hire and installation, offering bespoke system design and comprehensive technical support to a wide variety of clients. In a response to consistent customer demand, the company recently began to expand its operations in the direction of the video and lighting sectors - Chris joins to oversee this development.

His role will be to develop existing and new relationships with manufacturers, to enable Pro Audio Systems to supply video and lighting products alongside its extensive audio inventory. Chris will also look to drive sales and deliver turnkey audio/visual solutions for a variety of different customer applications.

Having taken an early interest in technical lighting and AV, Chris worked alongside school and amateur dramatics groups before deciding to pursue a professional path in the industry. Having graduated with a BA (Hons) in Media Production from Lincoln University, he joined Luminar Leisure (now Rekom U.K.) as a Lighting Technician at ‘Liquid’, ‘Envy’ and ‘Trinity’ nightclubs. Chris gained valuable experience utilising moving light technology and control systems from Robe and Martin Professional, before moving to be-

Audiologic has announced that after almost ten years at POLAR, well known industry figure, Stuart Leader, joins the team as Senior Sales Manager. Stuart started in the AV industry back in the late 90’s working on internal sales for a distributor local to where he was living at the time, selling projectors.

Audiologic, the award-winning provider of professional audio solutions, has announced that after almost ten years at POLAR, well known industry figure, Stuart Leader, joins the team as Senior Sales Manager.

His career began mainly in the displays, video and control side of the industry, working for distributors and manufacturers. Stuart then moved into the audio industry in 2012 joining POLAR au-

P26 AV News October 2021

Oliver Zimmermann has been appointed to serve as director of manufacturing for Riedel Communications.

Bradford-based Pro Audio Systems has announced the recruitment of Chris Beardwell to the post of Video and Lighting Sales

uous development as a learning organization — an approach we believe to be vital in a volatile world undergoing an exponential pace of change.”

Zimmermann earned a doctorate in physics from Ruhr University Bochum and since then has leveraged his knowledge of models and processes to analyse systems, derive meaningful measures, and refine internal structures to help manufacturing organizations become more efficient. A supply chain expert and change management specialist, Zimmermann applies state-of-the-art management models and optimization tools, such as digitization and artificial intelligence, to drive improvement.

He most recently served as director of operations for Telegärtner Karl Gärtner GmbH, with process responsibility for the supply chain of purchasing, logistics, warehousing, production, work scheduling, and industrial engineering. Zimmermann implemented agile and lean management methods and digitized and optimized the production and supply chain with tools such as SAP S/4HANA. In earlier management roles with Poligrat GmbH and Steinert Elektromagnetbau GmbH, Zimmermann likewise led digitization and process optimization initiatives to transform sales, production, and administration.

“Through a holistic end-to-end approach, I strive to build highly integrative, collaborative supply chain networks with the capacity to enhance both adaptability and learning capabilities,” said Zimmermann. “As an organization, Riedel has always managed to complete major projects successfully despite constantly changing

come Head Lighting Technician/Operator at Wolverhampton super-club ‘Faces’. As well as broadening his scope using products from SGM and Madrix, Chris also assimilated valuable audio skills, maintaining the venue’s sound system and associated DJ equipment.

In 2014, in search of a fresh challenge, Chris joined AC Entertainment Technologies as a Technical Video Sales Executive, using his technical knowledge and experience from the ‘shop floor’ to develop and grow the company’s Video department. During his seven years at the company, Chris developed strong relationships with suppliers and customers, providing sales, technical and after-sales support - including product demonstrations and technical training sessions - and was involved at every stage in the sales process from specifying to shipping. His in-depth knowledge and experience of video projection, LED screens, media servers and control systems, will be invaluable to Pro Audio Systems as the company broadens its offering in this area.

Medialogy Broadcast has announced a new addition to its sales team with the appointment of Etukudo Etebom Akpan as technical sales manager for West Africa. Based in Lagos, Nigeria. He will represent the company in the 15 countries which collectively form the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

“We are very pleased to welcome Etukudo into the company,” comments Medialogy Broadcast's sales director Ananth Sam. “He brings nearly 20 years of broadcast-related experience including

Peoplewatch Review

Peoplewatch technical and project management roles with some of Nigeria's leading media organisations. A popular and highly respected figure within the West African broadcast industry, he is an ideal colleague to represent Medialogy Broadcast and the expanding product range which we offer.”

“Ananth Sam has taken a sustained interest in the African broadcast and telco sectors over the years and has a good understanding of this region's development potential,” Etukudo Etebom Akpan adds. “I look forward to working with the Medialogy Broadcast team as we introduce its product range to potential customers looking to modernise their infrastructure.”

Graduating with a BSc degree in Physics and Electronics from the University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Etukudo Etebom Akpan began his career in 2002 as an engineer at Minaj Broadcast International. In 2006 he progressed to Hi-Media Ltd, advancing from senior broadcast engineer to technical manager. Subsequent roles included six years as a Lagos-based broadcast engineering consultant and two years with broadcast service provider Econet Media. He joins Medialogy Broadcast from Nigerian creative content development specialist Plume & Partner Limited where he was active as a technical consultant.

Medialogy Broadcast has announced a new addition to its sales team with the appointment of Etukudo Etebom Akpan as technical sales manager for West Africa.

fresh new challenge, did not hesitate: “It’s so rare in our industry to get the chance to be involved in developing a new brand from its inception. I’m passionate about commercial audio so I honestly consider this to be something of a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Everything I’ve seen and understood about the launch of Optimal Audio indicates that the company has got its approach to commercial audio right from day one by addressing exactly what the market needs. I’m looking forward to forging close relationships with our distributor network across the region, and I’m excited about helping to build Optimal Audio into a strong and progressive brand.”

Bradley Watson, Sales Director at Optimal Audio adds: “We’re delighted to have secured Raf’s services. He joins us with a proven record of success and a clear enthusiasm for the task at hand. For an emerging brand like ours, Raf’s knowledge and experience of sales and management in the commercial audio sector is exactly what we need to help establish Optimal Audio as a market leader.”

ZetaDisplay AB strengthens its group marketing function to accelerate further growth with the appointment of Robert Bryhn as CMO. “The newly created role of a CMO will have a clear focus on supporting ZetaDisplay’s offering and market position in a complex international market environment. Robert’s assignment will be to create conditions for growth, communicate new innovations and support the team in reaching and engaging with new markets globally.” says Per Mandorf, President & CEO at ZetaDisplay.

Robert Bryhn, 50, has a long and solid experience from managerial positions within leading international advertising agencies with a focus on digital media (Country Manager McCann, Managing Director Ogilvy, Nordic Director Saatchi Saatchi). Robert has also worked with Digital Signage/DOOH media for several years and has a deep understanding of both the industry and its driving forces.

Robert Bryhn, CMO at ZetaDisplay explains: “This is a pivotal time for the Digital Signage industry as our customers navigate the post pandemic world in search for effective ways to communicate during an ongoing radical shift in customer and audience behaviour. I am really excited about joining ZetaDisplay group management to help propel a continued journey of growth from

(acquired by Yamaha), where he delivered breakthrough results. In his role as general manager of Poly’s video business, Tim helped develop Poly’s award-winning enterprise and consumer products along with key business partnerships with leading UCaaS players like Microsoft and Zoom.

Nureva continues to expand its market presence, with a focus on making it remarkably easy for customers to enable collaboration in their meeting and learning spaces without the complexity and cost of traditional solutions. This focus is fuelled by the development of patented Microphone Mist technology, which fills a space with thousands of virtual microphones so that everyone can be heard without complicated microphone hardware and software setups.

Over the past several months, Tim has contributed to Nureva as a consultant on the evolving vision of the core technology and its applications. Now, as a full-fledged member of the executive team, he will play a deeper role in envisioning and creating products that break the mould of traditional approaches to enabling collaboration.

“Few organizations are truly innovating in the market today, so I am very excited to join Nureva, a company with a culture of technology and industry leadership,” said Tim. “Nureva products are in tremendous demand, and I look forward to working with the team to build on the many successes they have created.”

“We are delighted to welcome Tim to the team,” said Nancy Knowlton, Nureva’s CEO. “He complements and elevates our team, bringing an industry-insider view that accelerates our ability to deliver breakthrough technology-enabled collaboration.”

Nureva Inc has announced the appointment of Tim Root as its VP, strategy.

Recently launched U.K. manufacturer Optimal Audio has announced the appointment of Raf Willems as Head of Sales and Channel Marketing EMEA. Raf’s twenty-year career in the industry began in residential audio sales in his native Belgium, before a move into the commercial audio sector with Apart Audio where he progressed through a variety of roles to become Sales and Marketing Director. Following Biamp’s acquisition of Apart, Raf became Head of Business Development for Europe with additional responsibility for managing Biamp’s Retail and Hospitality team.

When the opportunity to join Optimal Audio arose, Raf, seeking a

Recently launched U.K. manufacturer Optimal Audio has announced the appointment of Raf Willems as Head of Sales and Channel Marketing EMEA.

ZetaDisplay AB strengthens its group marketing function to accelerate further growth with the appointment of Robert Bryhn as CMO. a European leader to a global leader. Together with all passionate ZetaDisplay colleagues I expect to further explore how we can help our customers evolve and consolidate their approaches, improve their messaging solutions and ultimately make the ZetaDisplay brand stand out in an increasingly digital world.”

Throughout the pandemic, Digital Signage has played a vital role in helping to keep people safe. This has further accelerated digital transformation within major industries including retail, transportation and healthcare. ZetaDisplay is at the forefront of innovation within the industry, delivering full turnkey solutions that span hardware expertise, proprietary software development and concept design, reacting to and understanding the evolving needs of the market and providing the tools to streamline activities and nurture growth.

Nureva Inc has announced the appointment of Tim Root as its VP, strategy. In this newly created role, Tim will focus on leveraging Nureva’s unique, patented technologies to further develop and implement the company’s long-term vision for its platform and products. Tim brings deep technical knowledge across all current audio and video platforms and products, as well as a proven ability to deliver new innovations and opportunities. His deep understanding of the collaboration market, with a track record of emerging customer needs, and his extensive network of relationships throughout the industry uniquely equip Tim to advance Nureva’s product and go-to-market strategies.

Tim has held similar leadership positions at Poly and Revolabs

Exertis,a leading distributor of technology products, has today announced the appointment of Sam Williams as Director of Sales – B2B. Williams has been with Exertis for 15 years and has been instrumental in building high-performance teams across the business.

He brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the role, having spent four successful years in B2B and ten years in retail. Most recently, Williams has been the Director of Sales (Accessories & Own Brand) for the last 18 months. Based in Exertis’ Basingstoke office, Williams will report into Mike Buley, Chief Sales Officer.

Sam Williams said, “I’m excited to have the opportunity to lead our B2B sales function. We have a great foundation to work from with an ambitious, talented and highly experienced team. Exertis is a fast moving and dynamic business and I’m looking forward to the challenge.”

Mike Buley, Chief Sales Officer, Exertis UK&I, said, “I’d like to take this opportunity to congratulate Sam on his new role. Sam has spent the last 15 years gaining invaluable experience within the business and I wish him every success moving forwards.”

Exertis Appoints Director of Sales – B2B

4

P27 AV News October 2021

Events

ISE community supports Jeroen Pit House Construction is underway for a new children’s transitional care unit in Amsterdam, showcasing how the AV community has come together to support the project with donations of product, time and services. In a joint venture between ISE, its co-owners CEDIA and AVIXA, and generous contributors from the industry, The Jeroen Pit House will be furnished with a state-of-the-art entertainment space for chronically ill children and their families to enjoy.

The Jeroen Pit House, which is being built within the grounds of the Emma Children’s Hospital, will make the difficult transition from hospital to home easier, safer and steadier for chronically ill children and their families. Over 30 AV brands have committed to providing services and product for free to develop the media space, which will include a sensory room and home cinema.

Woelf & AVEX have generously contributed design, product management and installation services.

Other big-hearted contributors include: ACT, Antratek, Apart, Arcam, Attero Tech, Audac, Audinate, Audipack, AVEX, Barco, Belden, Biamp, Bose, Chief, Cisco, Crestron, GenericAV, Intronics,

Show report

Kenwell, Kramer AV, Logitech, Middle Atlantic, Monitor Audio, Nedis, Pakedge (SnapOne), Philips, Procab, Projecta, SCP, Sennheiser, Sony, StarTech, TU, and tvONE. “Thanks to the ongoing generosity from industry contributors, we have brought together the best in technology, design and installation expertise to create a hi-tech entertainment space within the transitional care unit. The project will provide, amongst other things, an area of escapism for chronically ill children and their families to spend time together and prepare for life at home,” said Mike Blackman, Managing Director, Integrated Systems Events.

ISE’s support for the development of The Jeroen Pit House project forms part of its legacy to the city of Amsterdam, the home of ISE for 15 years before its move to Barcelona in 2021. The initial brief was to deliver a state-of-the-art media space, but thanks to the ongoing generosity of AV contributors, this has evolved to include technology within all eight apartments, a dedicated cinema and presentation room, the communal area as well as the initial media space. CEDIA award-winning residential inte-

grator Woelf in Belgium, along with commercial integration expert AVEX in the Netherlands, have been working together with the project team to design and prepare for a sophisticated system installation that reflects the unique needs of The Jeroen Pit House.

Preparations have been underway for over three years and, after some understandable setbacks related to the pandemic, the building is now scheduled for completion in early spring 2022. Despite the turbulence of the past 16 months, AV contributors have been undeterred in their commitment to the project: “At Sony, we continue to be avid supporters of ISE, AVIXA and CEDIA and are honoured to be part of this very important project for a city that has a strong legacy in the tech world.

By donating some of our flagship products, such as BRAVIA screens and laser projectors, we are proud to be among AV partners contributing towards the efforts to provide children with this much needed home from home at The Jeroen Pit House,” said Damien Weissenburger, Head of Sony Professional Displays and Solutions.

Jan Martens, Integration Specialist at Woelf, commented:

“The support from the AV industry has been heart-warming.

The quality of the contributions means that we have had the scope to look beyond the orig-

team to realize the Jeroen Pit Huis; so valuable to work for a facility which will be so helpful for the chronically ill children and their family,” added Albert

they were very keen to contribute in this project. With the great enthusiasm in the team and all effort spend by everyone we are confident to make

Preparations for The Jeroen Pit House project have been underway for over three years and, after some understandable setbacks related to the pandemic, the building is now scheduled for completion in early spring 2022. inal media area and plan for a wider, more sophisticated integration to meet the needs of The Jeroen Pit House for many years to come. It’s incredibly humbling to have the opportunity to give back in this way.”

“We at AVEX are so proud and happy to work together in the

Bosman, Assistant Director, AVEX International. “For the whole design and installation of the audio- and visual installation we focus on reliability and ease-to-use which is of course very important in this environment. All suppliers involved responded spontaneously that

the required communication possible for the doctors and hospital and let these patients enjoy their favourite movies and music.”

award-winning CarbonBlack from LANG. Anika Lauth, Deputy Managing Director for LANG UK, comments, “This was our first time exhibiting at PLASA and it certainly won’t be the last. We had great conversations and you could feel the excitement of the industry coming back to life. We were thrilled to be awarded for CarbonBlack. Here’s to next year and a revived industry, new faces and new innovations to come.” Apt-GB also made its PLASA Show debut. Company founder Graham Gosden, adds, “PLASA was a great success and the Apt-GB >Teleprompter.

Video range went down a treat.

We were also delighted to get a commendation for the SMVA.” PLASA Show 2021 heralded the return of the vibrant live sector. Exhibitors and visitors alike were eager to get back to business and grow their network, but this year with a renewed approach. Farah Minhas, Exhibitions & Events Manager for Audio-Technica, comments, “There was a real sense of excitement and positivity at PLASA Show this year.

We realise there are still a lot of

challenges ahead, but our attitude reflects that of an industry approaching the future with a fresh perspective.”

Andrew Mckinlay, Marketing Director for Avolites, adds, “Whilst we embraced and rejoiced at the chance to be at a show, we collectively felt the need to reimagine what a trade show is. Let’s take this opportunity to look forward and build the trade show of the future.

One where PLASA becomes known again as the leading showcase of our industry across the region and world.”

PLASA Show enthuses the live sector PLASA Show returned to Olympia London from 5-7 September, receiving high acclaim and marking a return to normality following the 18-month closure of the live sector. As the first entertainment technology trade show in two years, there was a level of risk involved. However PLASA Show 2021, along with the ABTT Theatre Show which co-located for one year, succeeded in reuniting the industry for three high spirited and productive days in Olympia’s Grand Hall.

Although the number of attendees was reduced, they remained top quality and similar to previous years: 2/10 were company owners or directors and half were specifiers or final decision makers. Theatre and touring were most prominent with one third of those attending working in production or venues. Anticipation was high as the doors opened, with a steady stream of visitors keen to check out the next generation of products and catch up with colleagues. Lee House, Marketing Manager for Ambersphere, comments, “When the doors opened on Sunday it was great to see so many people coming through them.

This show certainly exceeded all expectations we had. Yes, the show floor was smaller this year, but the atmosphere was bigger than ever.”

Nick Boggon, Marketing Manager for Sound Technology, addsed: “We probably weren’t alone going into the show not knowing what to expect, but

those concerns didn’t last long.

Understandably stands were smaller than previous years but it still felt like the PLASA Show. There was networking of course, but also a genuine desire to see new products and technology trends.”

The ABTT Theatre Show Hub – which featured theatre-specialised brands and associations – cantered around the AAPTLE Lounge where meetings looked at emerging industry issues. Robin Townley, CEO of the ABTT, comments, “Locating traditional ABTT exhibitors within the Theatre Show Hub offered a great sense of community and it was tremendous to see so many members of the Alliance of Associations & Professionals in Theatre and Live Events making use of the AAPTLE Lounge. The three days proved to be fantastically successful in providing an opportunity for suppliers, service providers and practitioners to get back face to face and resume the essential art of conversation.”

The people of the industry were just as high priority as the products this year, with areas of the show dedicated to offering guidance. The #WeMakeEvents Hub featured several charities and initiatives including Backup, Acting for Others, #MakeitBlue, Music Support, Stagehand, The Back Lounge, Theatrical Guild, Tour Production Group and We Need Crew.

Promoting wellbeing further, Backup launched their Mental Health First Aid course at the

P28 AV News October 2021

show, and Mig Burgess, creator of the Blackout Installation of 2019, returned to present findings of a survey looking at mental health in the industry.

The show’s headline sponsor Robe dazzled attendees with its recently launched T2 alongside previews of the T11 and the TE – Transferable Engine. Theresa Gibson, Head of Marketing for Robe, commented: “The commitment Robe showed to PLASA as headline sponsor of this year’s show was well and truly equalled in delivering a great event and uniting the industry again. All our staff spoke with high quality visitors and relished the opportunity to establish connection again face to face.”

Avolites celebrated its 45th anniversary at the show with company’s new flagship Diamond 9 console taking centre stage. Astera debuted three on the Ambersphere Solutions stand, picking up a prestigious PLASA Award for Innovation for PixelBrick. Elsewhere, Artistic Licence launched candlePower octo at the show, displayed alongside the new Commissioner multi. Wayne Howell of Artistic Licence says, “We were absolutely delighted to have exhibited at such a successful show. There was a real sense of “we’re in this together” and everyone was excited to be back.

This was probably the busiest trade show we’ve done in five years.”

Meanwhile, DiGiCo revealed SD12T software, KLANG presented the KLANG:konductor,

Yamaha’s Rivage PM5 and PM3 made their trade show debuts, NEXO released the new epS Series, Shure focused on its Axient Digital ADX5D, and Sennheiser displayed its new Evolution Wireless Digital.

Kevin Gwyther-Brown, Business Development Manager for Sennheiser, said: “The quality of visitors was very high. From the moment the doors opened on Sunday, the positive atmosphere did not stop until the show finished on Tuesday. As a manufacturer that has recently launched a new product, we could not have wished for a better platform to show it off.”

Across the show floor, several specialist brands were offered accessories and staging solutions. Area Four Industries UK celebrated its 20th anniversary at the show while debuting EXE Technology products. Glen Brown, UK Sales & Marketing Director for Area Four, says, “PLASA 2021 was a great surprise with an extremely positive vibe and proved how resilient our industry is.”

Additional new products included the Evolve Chair from Audience Systems, Bioglitter from Flints Theatrical Chandlers, the Liberty Switch System from Harlequin, and three new seats from Race Furniture. Plus, Rigging Team made their PLASA Show debut.

New AV technology could also be seen at every turn, including the EB-PU1000 series from Epson, Ruby LED panels from ROE Visual, Teleprompter.Video from Apt-GB and the

Future dates PLASA Show returns to Olympia London from 4-6 September 2022 www.plasashow.com PLASA Focus Leeds returns to the Royal Armouries from 10-11 May 2022 www.plasaleeds.com