AV News September 2023

September 2023 www.avnewsonline.com

The direct channel to the industry

The most sustainable touchscreens for your office

The hidden business costs of outdated technology

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Investing in sustainable office equipment is essential for a modern working environment.

Almost nine in 10 UK businesses continue to struggle with basic tasks each day because of a failure to update their technology systems.

Pro AV Industry is Forecast to Add Hybrid working poses a risk to Nearly $100 Billion in Revenue high-trust organisations Over Next Five Years, According to New Research from AVIXA FAIRFAX, VA – August 29, 2023 – The pro AV industry is forecast to add nearly $100 billion in revenue over the next five years, reaching $402 billion in 2028, according to AVIXA’s 2023 Industry Outlook and Trends Analysis (IOTA). With pandemic

product trends, solution categories, and vertical markets.

“This year’s update to the pro AV industry forecasts shows a return to a rate of growth that would have been considered more normal before the pandemic,” says Sean Wargo, Vice President of Market Intelligence, AVIXA. “However, looking below

2022 did slightly better than initially expected, this came at the cost of 2023 growth because recovery was pulled forward from 2023 into 2022. On net, 2023 revenue totals reflect offsetting impacts of elevated demand and deflation in some core categories.

APAC economies are experi-

recovery largely in the past, the industry is poised for healthy growth through 2028, even if year-over-year percentages slowly decline.

AVIXA’s 2023 Industry Outlook and Trends Analysis (IOTA) presents data and analysis about the size of the pro AV industry with a global perspective – plus regional and vertical breakouts. The research covers

the surface, one can still see a varied landscape of opportunity.

Immersive experiences across the venue and events market is a particular one to watch.”

Pro AV revenue will grow from $307 billion in 2023 to $402 billion in 2028 – a 5.6% compound annual growth rate. The near term shows a mix of demand growth and deflation as supply issues improve. While

encing higher growth each year, contributing to its position as the largest region for pro AV spending. Most notable is the return of live events, reviving the rental and staging market. Digital signage is expanding faster in APAC, with a 7.2% growth rate as the consumer base grows.

The Americas were stronger Continued on page 3

Over a quarter (27%) of AV professionals believe that customer trust in their organisation has been weakened by the shift to remote work, with security

the public sectors, revealed that communication via open Wi-Fi networks (89%) was the top security concern with hybrid work.

This was closely followed by un-

being full remote. By comparison only 3% of high-trust organisations’ employees work fully from their respective offices, with just a quarter (25%) who

concerns topping the list when it comes to issues with hybrid working. That’s according to a new ‘Trusted Connections 2023’ study from AV solutions provider Kinly. The research, which surveyed 150 UK-based AV professionals working across ‘high trust’ industries like banking, finance, healthcare, energy, and

authorised saving or copying of documents (88%) and webcam hacking (87%).

Despite the clear concern around the security of high trust organisations’ communications technology, the study also found that well over half (59%) of high trust organisations’ employees do the majority of their work remotely, with one in ten (12%)

are hybrid working stating that they spend the majority of their time in the office.

As organisations working in high trust sectors are often handling extremely sensitive personal data, it is of paramount importance that the technology they

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Headline News continued from page 1

Pro AV Industry is Forecast to Add Nearly Three new directors at Midwich $100 Billion in Revenue in 2022 as in-person surged back but are expected to see lower 2023 growth. The return to in-person is a mixed story in the Americas. On the corporate side, U.S. companies have settled into a hybrid mode, driving less growth in conferencing solutions for offices. Though pro AV is seeing the tail end of the growth from return to in-person, the venues and events industry is now spending in the region, leading growth. While the rise of software is a global phenomenon, it is the most pronounced in the Americas, where growth is nearly 12%.

EMEA experienced the lowest growth in 2022 due to the Russia/Ukraine War. Inflation is higher, and so is propping up growth slightly in 2023. EMEA is an events-based market, more than the rest of the world. The live events market is fully benefiting from audience return

in EMEA, growing by 7.69%.

Though overall growth is lower in the region, many core segments relating to events are seeing higher growth in EMEA. Sustainable energy is also a source for pro AV spending growth.

Corporate remains the largest revenue source of pro AV revenue, but more growth comes from media/entertainment and venues. These top markets remain dominated by spending on back-end technology. Content management hardware is crucial to the efforts of corporate, media and entertainment, and venues to reach and engage their employees and customers with content. While the cloud has become an important part of spending, on-premise hardware is still utilized for localized handling of content.

As travelers these days can attest, transportation hubs have been receiving a facelift. Digital

signage is at the core of this, with many more displays being installed to direct and inform travelers. At the same time, security and surveillance systems are also advancing, driving additional AV spending.

Across many parts of the globe, investments are being made to transition to sustainable sources of energy and to improve grids.

This also trickles down into the AV industry, most often in the form of control rooms for monitoring. While not a huge market for AV, it is one to watch for upside as the top-level investments increase.

To learn more about the 2023 Industry Outlook and Trends Analysis (IOTA), visit www.avixa. org/IOTA. Watch: Sean Wargo and Peter Hansen from AVIXA’s market intelligence team chat about the state of distribution in the AV market in 2023.

Midwich Ltd announced that Kane Barker, Katie Ford, and Aaron Lawther have been promoted to directors. Effective immediately, Kane will become Divisional Director, Katie will become Channel Marketing Director, and Aaron will become Director – Internal Sales. All three have been with Midwich for a combined service of more than 36 years and are positioned to further unite the three business areas to support the company in its future growth.

Kane Barker, Divisional Director of Midwich Ltd, said: “When I joined the company 17 years ago, I never would have imagined how far my career would develop. The business is constantly evolving and offering exciting new opportunities to work with our vendor partners, colleagues, and businesses across the Midwich Group to grow together as well as giving me the privilege of working alongside fantastic team members.”

Katie Ford, Channel Marketing Director of Midwich Ltd, said: “I am honoured to be given this opportunity, and this success should be credited down to the wider team who are, without a doubt, the best marketing team in the industry. Over the last six years, they have gone from strength to strength to deliver real value to our vendor partners and customers, and I cannot wait to see what else we achieve together.”

Aaron Lawther, Director – Internal Sales of Midwich Ltd, said: “Since joining Midwich more than 13 years ago, I have worked in various roles covering the sales floor and commercial aspects of the business. During that time, I’ve had the luxury of working alongside some brilliant mentors who have helped support me in my career and, as a result, have helped me to achieve this opportunity today.

We have an incredible team here at Midwich, one I’m truly

proud to be a part of.”

Mark Lowe, Midwich UK&I Managing Director, added: “I am very proud of what we have achieved over the years, and it has always been my belief that the development of our people is behind our success. It is very important to me therefore, that we afford our team an abundance of opportunities to develop and progress wherever possible. This includes the chance to undertake new roles across our global businesses. This is something that I have experienced and have benefitted from. I am thrilled that we continue to offer the same opportunities to others. To be able to announce that Kane, Katie, and Aaron have been appointed directors of Midwich Ltd is fantastic news and is testament to their hard work and dedication.

I wish them all the success in their new roles.” This follows the recent announcement of HHB and Pulse Cinemas joining the Midwich Group.

Hybrid working poses a risk to high-trust organisations use to communicate with internal stakeholders and clients/ customers alike is as secure as possible. And with hybrid work now the norm, security concerns like communication via unsecured home devices (87%), unauthorised recording or saving of calls (86%), use of unreliable remote network connections (85%) and ‘Video bombing’ – joining or overhearing calls by mistake– (81%) need to be a thing of the past. The good news is that technology can help. In fact, three quarters (73%) of the AV professionals surveyed believe they should be just as capable of building trusted relationships with customers –without in-person contact– as long as they have the right technol-

ogy in place.

Speaking about the new research, Kinly’s UK region Managing Director, Taj Ghere said: “There’s no question that hybrid work is here to stay. Apart from industries that require the physical enforcement presence of employees, such as healthcare, firefighting, law, retail, etc., the vast majority of sectors have already adopted a hybrid work model and so technology needs to adapt to this. Nowhere is this more important than in ‘high trust’ sectors. For those dealing with the most sensitive of information – lawyers, bankers, healthcare workers – the importance of AV technology cannot be underestimated. It is not enough to fit a plug and play

system, a bespoke approach is needed to ensure communications are as secure as possible.

“The findings of our Trusted Connections report emphasise the need for these industries to collaborate with specialist AV partners, who can lead them towards the optimal blend of technology to enhance security, boost efficiency, and above all, foster trust.”

Midwich Ltd has announced that Kane Barker, Katie Ford, and Aaron Lawther have been promoted to directors.

PPDS launches ‘world’s first ‘zero emission’ digital art exhibition PPDS has announced the launch of the MUSE Digital Art Award, a new world-first, environment-inspired international competition connecting artistic visionaries with industry-leading sustainable technology. Aligned with PPDS’ ambitions to empower more energy-efficient and eco-friendly business, leisure and learning environments through sustainable technology, this exciting new cultural initiative invites artists to help imagine and inspire ‘The Energy for Tomorrow’. The MUSE Digital Art Award will reward 20 finalists with a money-can’t-buy opportunity to present their work at the world’s first ‘zero emission’ art exhibition, hosted by PPDS, inside a prestigious international institution in Milan, Italy in November. PPDS is working closely with several art schools, colleges and universities in Italy to encourage participation, of which three will be guaranteed as finalists with the top student artist scooping their own Philips

Tableaux display.

The initiative, which was born through a collaboration between Luca Guariniello, Marketing

Manager Italy at PPDS, and Julia Rajacic, Art Curator, has received patronage from MNAD (National Museum of Digital Art), an autonomous museum estab-

P2 AV News September 2023

lished by the Italian Minister of Culture with the aim of uniting generations and communicating through art the possibility of be-

coming digitally aware citizens.

Luca Guariniello commented: “In front of the major challenges resulting from the global social and environmental crisis, it has

become urgent to find new ways of seeing and doing – finding the energy for tomorrow. Communi-

ties facing significant uncertainty need to be more innovative. In this context, the role of creativity together with technology is key in shaping truly innovative fu-

ture scenarios and experimenting with promising solutions.

With MUSE, we’re continuing to break new ground, using our multi-awarding zero-power Philips Tableaux displays to deliver the first zero-emission digital art exhibition here in Italy, bringing together the world’s most artistic minds to help in-

spire us all to do more and safeguard the futures of generations to come.”

Julia Rajacic added: “This initiative represents an opportunity for visual artists to approach

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Headline News continued from page 2

PPDS launches ‘world’s first ‘zero emission’ digital art exhibition a brand-new media and the participants will be the first in all history to create artworks that will then be exhibited on a power-free display. Our goal is to inspire a new generation of artists looking to integrate eco-sustainable guidelines within the creative process, from the studio practice to the exhibition.”

Conducted under strict guidelines, all submissions for the MUSE Digital Art Award must be designed for presentation (in portrait or landscape) on a 25” (16 x 9) Philips Tableaux display and submitted by 20 October 2023. Entries will be individually reviewed by an expert panel of judges, comprising digital art specialists, museum directors, art curators, critics, and renowned international artists, who will be revealed in the coming weeks.

Hailed as the world’s most energy-efficient digital signage series to date, the Philips Tableaux range can deliver 24/7 vivid static content remotely to any environment and are capable of running entirely unplugged and without using a single kilowatt of electricity. On 7 November the 20 finalists will be confirmed and announced for the

exhibition in Milan, with entries prepared and wirelessly delivered onto 20 x individual Philips Tableaux displays installed at the event. Three winners will be determined via the MUSE panel of judges together with votes from visitors attending the exhibition collected via the MUSE Instagram page. Each of these winners will receive their own Philips Tableaux display, and the first-place professional artist will also win €3,000.

All finalists are invited to attend the exhibition either in person or remotely for those unable or living outside of local areas to minimise unnecessary travel. Known globally for its abundance of cultural and artistic heritage, Milan was the standout choice as the host city for the inaugural MUSE Digital Art Award. Following this year’s event, a carbon footprint report will also be produced and published, taking into consideration staff transportation, material packaging, shipping, energy consumption and printing, and carbon will be offset, all completed by local Italian sustainability company, Ustainable.

Ron Cottaar, Marketing Director at PPDS, commented: “With MUSE, we’re inviting artists from

around the world to share their visions to imagine a better future for the world of tomorrow and inspire us in our transformational journey as individuals, communities, and organisations. While participation is open to artists from all around the world, each year, a country will be designated to host the final exhibition.

For the first edition of MUSE, Italy, was the standout choice as the hosting country to pilot this initiative.” Stefan van Sabben, Global CSR and Sustainability Manager at PPDS, concluded: “At PPDS, we believe actions speak louder than words, and as a business, we have placed sustainability as a top priority.

It goes far beyond box ticking, credentials and certifications, instead permeating everything we do, visible through our groundbreaking sustainable hardware and software solutions, as well as behind the scenes in our factories and offices. At the same time, we want our solutions to help inspire change on a local and international scale, and for our industry. MUSE is a wonderful opportunity to amplify this message.”

Lightware launches its first ProAV certified e-learning platform Lightware Visual Engineering, the leading European AV manufacturer for the professional integrated systems market, announces the launch of Lightware Academy, its new free certified e-learning resource for students and professionals at every level who have a thirst in specialising in the AV market, and gaining or advancing their knowledge of the entire industry.

Based on Lightware’s core principles of openness and knowledge-sharing, Lightware Academy is open to everyone -customers or not- and provides industry-leading content curated by a breadth of seasoned professionals in the area.

Participants can enrol in more than 10 courses, organised into three core categories: Traditional AV: Focused on the use of hardware components, such as audio and video cables, switchers, and matrixes, to transmit and switch audio and video signals between devices.

AV-over-IP: It involves the processes behind sending audio, video, and other signals over LAN or WAN networks, the Inter-

net, or both.

Room Automation and AV Integration: To cover the seamless integration of Lightware products with industry-leading 3rd party devices from network switchers to USB webcams, audio systems and other AV or IT infrastructures.

Each course includes immersive learning experiences, on-demand videos accessible anytime and anywhere, and downloadable materials in PDF and PPT. There are three levels, based on the proficiency and needs of every participant: EXPLORER - Level 1: Includes typical life situations, problems and solutions.

ASSOCIATE - Level 2: Involves a deeper technological understanding.

EXPERT - Level 3: Covers technical specifications, troubleshooting and system design.

Upon completion, professionals can validate their knowledge with a comprehensive quiz and receive a prestigious certificate as a testament to their achievement.

"Lightware's commitment to

delivering exceptional learning and facilitating open knowledge sharing has always been at the forefront of our mission. Now, with the power of technology and e-learning, we are making this content accessible to everyone. Lightware Academy embarks students on a transformative journey through the ProAV world, to explore everything beyond our solutions and devices and gain in-depth knowledge of the entire industry," said Gergely Vida, CEO at Lightware Visual Engineering.

The last quarter of 2023 will bring more courses to Levels 1 and 2, while next year will focus on the development of Level 3 sessions. The roadmap also includes the provision of subtitles in various languages and the launch of a dedicated smartphone/tablet app for the Academy.

For more information on Lightware, please visit lightware.com.

Keep up with the latest news from Lightware on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn.

Vestel’s small screens deliver big value With the commercial display market awash with screens 43" and larger, the small-screen choice for retailers, hotel foyers, leisure facilities and healthcare signage has been limited.

Vestel has filled that void with the launch of the EL32+; a 32" small-screen FHD display with system-on-chip technology, 24/7 operation and Vestel’s signature value and long-term reliability. “Customers looking for small screen displays for simple signage or more complex use in smaller premises often repur-

pose TV screens for the role,” comments Tim Matthews, Senior Product Manager at Vestel.

“That is fraught with issues as TVs require a separate CMS system, won’t have useful features such as signal failover, and will ultimately suffer screen burn or similar issues with extended usage.”

“The new EL32+ marries our robust, high-brightness always-on capable screen technology with a high-speed Android systemon-chip and packs this into a compact full-HD 32" format,”

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adds Tim. This contemporary screen with a narrow bezel and shallow mounting depth offers 450 cd/ m2 brightness, automatic pixel shifting to reduce the chance of screen burn even if on 24/7, and a host of content inputs including network, USB, and HDMI 2.0. USB Autoplay simplifies photo and video content display and the SoC software includes no-signal detection that can be set to automatically show your default banner or search for other content.

Is ‘Working From Home’ (WFH) coming to an end?

Three years on from the first Covid lockdowns, is the on-going conflict between working from home and returning to the office, coming to an amicable end? Global video manufacturer Boom Collaboration feels peace might conferencing be on the horizon, as a clearer and more consistent picture begins to emerge finally.

Texas-based Boom Collaboration was founded by Fredrik Hörnkvist and Holli Hulett in 2020, ironically right in the middle of the pandemic! The company initially saw an explosion in demand for USB home working

to be working remotely, while four out of ten balance working from home with going to the office. Three-quarters would leave their job if they were no longer able to work from home for some of the week, according to

mance video technology offers a compelling alternative.”

She continued: “One of the main arguments I used to hear from friends is, what is the point of being in the office if my colleagues are not there so I end

Over a quarter (27%) of AV professionals believe that customer trust in their organisation has been weakened by the shift to remote work, with security concerns topping the list when it comes to issues with hybrid working. devices but is now witnessing a 40% rise in office video bars plus a 32% growth in high performance PTZ cameras and expandable audio devices, this year.

“Through these interesting, challenging and evolving times, from lockdowns to hybrid working, conferencing has been at the fulcrum of dramatic changes in daily and working life; how people interact and communicate, almost from anywhere,” Hulett explained. “In many ways there’s no going back to how we were before in an increasingly AI-driven world.”

She says the impact on the office property market has been particularly hardest hit with the true costs yet to fully emerge.

“There are widespread reports of a $500 billion ‘office real estate apocalypse’ where the effect of remote working in the US is even worse than expected,” she highlighted. “But what is in little doubt is how offices around the world have had to restructure to the ‘new normal’ creating more huddle room facilities to accommodate more video meetings.”

Hörnkvist, who recently visited the UK, noted: “We know these trends are mirrored around the world with one in five Londoners estimated

one recent study.” But, he feels ‘it’s a lot more complicated argument than just wanting to work from home’.

“There’s still a ton of companies pushing hybrid and in person.

Maybe the real estate crash will not be that bad. Time will tell. Some companies at first were looking to go full remote but now they have requested staff to come back. Some went full time whilst others prefer hybrid. Some will never go back.

It’s kind of a mixed bag. The key is to be flexible to maintain their culture and retain a happy workforce.”

Going fully remote can be difficult to achieve, according to Hulett. “Even here at Boom we are a relatively small team dispersed across many miles but we all value getting together in person on a regular basis when we can. There’s a balance.

“Face-to-face meetings and direct human interaction on a regular basis matter and add value in so many ways. There’s social interaction as well as business benefits. However much some people want to work from home in terms of a work life balance, they still need to be face-to-face regularly, rather than just being isolated. Obviously high-perfor-

up on a video call anyway that I could have made from home?

Regular patterns of behaviour are being formed with people in the office with key colleagues when they need to be, and working remotely too. This can boost business productivity and smooth any friction between departments.”

Hulett concluded: “Over recent years there seems to have been a constant battle between the office or hybrid work. But it doesn’t need to be that way.

There’s a benefit to both and that’s certainly the view of many of our customers around the world. Our portfolio is built with tomorrow’s meetings in mind.

We offer future proof solutions with solid components and technology to stand the test of time. From all-in-one-systems to multiple video camera mixing controllers and full room solutions. We recognise quality makes a huge difference. It really matters. That’s why we went straight into 4K picture resolution for example. 4K is the future. It’s about continually raising the game and raising the bar. Our flexible technology covers all bases. Wherever people are working the latest video conferencing technology can help.

The quad-core SoC allows the user to access both offline local and cloud-based content and incorporates a comprehensive Scheduler enabling time-based content management and power-on/off times. For solution providers/integrators creating bespoke HTML5-based or Android content management systems, the SoC system includes APIs for CMS development and allows

the end-user to access the huge range of control and status commands available within the displays system “Vestel is Europe’s largest display manufacturer,” adds Tim. “Our economies of manufacturing scale mean lower entry price points for professional display technologies across our range. Businesses from the smallest independent retailers to large corporates can

benefit from the performance, convenience, and reliability of our professional displays without having to compromise on their signage by using TVs.” The EL32+ 32" FHD, joins Vestel’s growing portfolio of cutting-edge open-source SoC digital signage displays and will be available from Vestel resellers and distributors from September.

The battle is over. There’s no war. Peace is being restored.”

Business News

PPDS partners with AV and UC distributor Avientek PPDS has announced the latest phase of its growth and expansion strategy in the Middle East, with a new partnership with AV and UC distributor Avientek. Avientek was founded in Dubai in 2016 and is now present in more than 20 countries,

PPDS Wave. With Philips professional displays now the preferred display brand of choice for Avientek, PPDS also brings seamless compatibility with many of the distributor’s industry-leading third-party partners, including Crestron, Logitech,

tor. We chose PPDS and Philips professional displays for their innovation, reliability, seamless integration, picture quality, durability, long-term performance, customer satisfaction, and competitive advantage. We are delighted and excited by the op-

PPDS Studio opens in New Delhi PPDS has announced the latest phase of its accelerated investment and expansion strategy in India, with the opening of its ‘state-of-the-art’ PPDS Studio in New Delhi. Extending its network of PPDS Studios into India for the first time, the new facility

of PPDS Wave, the company’s evolutionary cloud-based remote display management ecosystem designed to release the full power and intelligence of Philips professional displays.

Available now in India, the Wave ecosystem brings a fresh, fu-

Our PPDS Studio will play a crucial role in achieving our ambitions, an exciting stage in our Make in India journey.”

Martijn van der Woude, VP of Global Marketing and Business Development at PPDS, added: “At PPDS, we are fully commit-

Avientek was founded in Dubai in 2016 and is now present in more than 20 countries, including India including India. Avientek will introduce, promote, and distribute PPDS’ entire suite of highly innovative and multi-awardwinning solutions as the display brand of choice in the Middle East.

Aligned in their efforts to bring world-leading solutions to key market verticals, including Hospitality, Corporate, Retail, Media, Transportation, Control Rooms, Government, Broadcasting, Education, Industrial and Healthcare. Available solutions from PPDS will include digital signage, ePaper, interactive displays, direct view LED, and business and hospitality TVs, as well as solutions including the recently launched and evolutionary new cloud-based device management platform,

and Wolfvision.

The two companies will work closely together to ensure partners and customers receive the highest level of service, with PPDS’ highly trained global team, including its Key Account Directors, on hand to provide expert knowledge, support, and technical training to ensure opportunities in the market are maximised, and projects are completed with quality and confidence. VM Manu, Director at Avientek, commented: “Avientek is a distributor of AV and UC products and has been operating in the market for the past seven years. Working with PPDS, Philips professional displays are the right fit for our product lineup, which meets the display demands of the AV sec-

portunities ahead as a result of this partnership with PPDS, and my team and our partners and thrilled to have them on board.”

Wim De Geest, Executive Director MEA, PPDS, added: “Avientek is a growing and internationally recognised market leader for delivering quality and innovative display solutions to the channel. As we continue to expand and strengthen on a global scale, it’s important we form partnerships with organisations that are strategically aligned with our efforts in bringing outstanding, long-term value to customers and doing business in the right areas. “Together with Avientek, we look forward to a long and successful working relationship, bringing the power of Philips professional displays to an even wider audience.”

Exertis launches B2B recycling portal Exertis has bolstered its sustainability initiatives with the launch of a new channel-focused tradein portal aimed at resellers, which can be found at https:// recycle.exertis.co.uk/. The selfserve portal allows customers to build a quote for the recycling of multiple devices simply and straightforwardly and covers various categories such as handsets, tablets, and laptops.

Once received, all traded-in devices are fully data-wiped using Blackbelt Smartphone Defence – a failsafe mechanism that prevents any device from leaving the facility with data on it. There is the option to provide individual data wipe certificates if required.

Exertis has a proven track record in the recycling of devices via its company MTR, which for more than a decade has hosted a trade-in website for end users, meaning more categories of customers are now targeted by Exertis’ recycling efforts.

MTR operates as a stand-alone,

autonomous business division focused on delivering best-inclass, market-leading trade-in solutions. Devices received by MTR have their useful life extended via the secondary device market, with only a small fraction requiring disposal. These are dealt with in an environmentally

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Exertis has bolstered its sustainability initiatives with the launch of a new channel-focused trade-in portal aimed at resellers, which can be found at https://recycle.exertis. co.uk/. continued on page 8

PPDS has announce the latest phase of its accelerated investment and expansion strategy in India, with the opening of its ‘state-of-the-art’ PPDS Studio in New Delhi.

– in New Delhi’s National Capital Region, Gurugram – is part of a deepening commitment from PPDS to supporting existing, new, and prospective local partners and customers on the transformational benefits and capabilities available through its innovative portfolio of professional display solutions.

Already successfully launched in cities in France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, North America, Spain, Sweden, and the UK, PPDS Studios provide unprecedented access to the global manufacturer’s team of professionals, together with an unparalleled opportunity to discover, learn, and experience the power of its products and solutions, for more inspired co-creation and better-informed buying decisions. Tailored to meet the unique needs of the Indian market, the new PPDS Studio in Gurugram has been designed to showcase solutions supporting a diverse range of industry sectors, including corporate, education, healthcare, food and beverage, retail, transportation, and hospitality.

Solutions on show in the PPDS Studio at the opening, which will evolve as new solutions become available and to match demand, include: digital signage (Philips D-Line, Philips Q-Line), videowalls (Philips X-Line), interactive displays (Philips E-Line, Philips T-Line), direct view LED (Philips L-Line), Professional TVs (Philips MediaSuite with Chromecast built-in), and the groundbreaking new, multiaward winning ‘zero power’ Philips Tableaux Advanced Colour ePaper (ACeP) signage display.

PPDS teams will also be available to discuss and demonstrate the latest features and benefits

ture-proofed, and efficiency-focused approach to remotely controlling and managing display fleets of any size. Wave brings extensive sustainable opportunities, such as reducing power consumption (lowering energy costs) without compromising performance, while helping to extend product lifetimes for reduced electronic waste.

Asia Pacific remains one of the world’s fastest-growing markets for AV, with forecasts for digital signage alone showing growth from $14.3 billion in 2022 to approximately $20.1 billion in 2027*.

In India specifically, the adoption of technologies by businesses has been accelerated across all sectors, including healthcare, education, sports, and entertainment, with AVIXA valuing the pro AV market here at around $7.7 billion**. This figure will grow steeply as India’s digital ecosystem expands, with PPDS positioned to support businesses at every step of their journey. Commenting on the PPDS Studio opening, Atul Jasra, India Business Head at PPDS, said: “We are extremely proud to have opened India’s first PPDS Studio. The Studio is a hub for all that we do, gathering the latest advancements from PPDS and selected third-party partners under one roof, and offering industry-specific solutions that elevate productivity and enrich visual experiences. This is not a showroom; it is an experience centre where partners and customers can come together and bring their ambitions to life ahead of installation. The Indian market is growing and we, at PPDS, are perfectly positioned to seize new opportunities and bring true change to the schools and businesses in this region.

ted to supporting our partners and customers in India. Opening this new PPDS Studio in New Delhi, together with our continuing ‘local for local’ manufacturing promise that will see the launch of additional production facilities in India in the coming months, is a part of our ‘Make in India’ promise and another major step in our strategy to help bring true, transformational changes, via our extensive portfolio of professional solutions, to end customers everywhere. At PPDS, we continue to gain a reputation for delivering exceptional customer service backed by the extensive knowledge and experience of our teams, and our technical is trained by industry leaders, bringing the best levels of support – before, during and after installation. While we are a global business, we team pride ourselves on offering a local service, and the PPDS Studio in Gurugram delivers even further on that promise.”

Atul concluded: “Today, we celebrate yet another milestone in India. We will continue to innovate and deliver cutting-edge display solutions for our customers and partners. We cannot wait to welcome our customers, colleagues and friends to see our incredible new PPDS Studio and experience our solutions for themselves.”

Opinion

The hidden business costs of outdated technology Almost nine in 10 UK businesses continue to struggle with basic tasks each day because of a failure to update their technology systems.

It may seem more affordable to keep existing technologies and only invest in upgrading them when the systems or software becomes broken.

But many business leaders are unaware of the impact old legacy systems can have on finances and outputs.

Cloud technology experts at TelephoneSystems.Cloud have named the hidden costs businesses are unknowingly incurring by keeping their old tech in place, rather than upgrading to modern systems.

Business leaders that fail to understand how legacy systems can hinder growth, risk falling behind competitors who have moved more quickly to update systems.

Newer technology is usually faster and more efficient while offering greater transparency and collaboration resulting in stronger internal and external business relationships.

Staff retention is often higher if a business embraces integrated technologies that enable more progressive working practices with more employees wanting to have the opportunity to work remotely.

A recent study has shown that more than one third of UK workers would quit their job if they were asked to work full time in the office.

For businesses with old, legacy systems which are not compatible with remote working are running the risk of losing key employees.

for their working wants and needs “It’s becoming more and more essential to make the upgrade to newer technologies as soon as possible. Replacing older, slower, and inefficient systems may seem like a big change, but in the long run, modern technology is the one of the most important things to help your business grow and survive.”

Here are TelephoneSystems.Cloud five hidden costs for failing to upgrade to newer technologies:

Increased costs Old technology could be adding hundreds on to energy bills each year - as the legacy systems do not have effective power-saving modes and aren’t as efficient as newer technology is. Making the investment into more modern devices may be more costly in the short term, but after replacing offices once filled with old technology, newer versions can make a dramatic difference in energy costs.

Newer technology is also much less likely to break down compared to the years-old devices. This means a reduced cost spent on trying to fix old tech, where replacement parts were much less readily available and cost more than parts for newer systems cost.

Losing customers Old, slow technology can cause clients to leave your business in a manner of ways. In the digital age, customers are now looking for solid communications, efficient services and high quality work.

If a business is operating on legacy systems, the slow technology can quickly cause clients to feel as though they aren’t receiving the best service from your company. They may take their money to a competitor. Inefficient technology that is dated and slow can hold back business and quickly annoy customers who expect the best service.

Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash Inefficient, older systems also increase the likelihood of security breaches, as the technology is not compatible with the latest updates to help prevent advanced cyber attacks.Juliet Moran founder of TelephoneSystems.Cloud said that UK companies need to upgrade their systems as soon as possible, else seriously risk falling further behind.

She said: “Many business owners may think that keeping their old technology around is a smart idea especially when budgets are tight.

“It means business leaders don’t need to invest in newer systems that existing employees may be unfamiliar with.

Juliet Moran, founder of TelephoneSystems.Cloud “However, these older systems are actually having a negative impact on business outputs, and not making the switch to newer technologies is the wrong choice for many companies.

“Older technologies are usually much more costly to run compared to newer systems - so making the upgrades is going to save on energy bills, and hardware fixes that were previously expensive on the less readily available legacy tech.

“Failing to have modern devices and systems also runs the risk of losing both customers and employees. Clients want to have the reliability, security, and efficient services that older technology can not deliver on - they’ll likely take their money to your competitors who have made the upgrade.

“And one of the benefits staff members now want is the ability to work remotely. Unfortunately, older systems are significantly less compatible than newer ones. Employees may be more likely to leave your company if you cannot provide them with the right technology

Having to say goodbye to staff members The pandemic has shown to all businesses that many staff members are capable of efficiently working remotely. A recent study has shown that more than a third of UK workers would quit their jobs if they were asked to return to the office full time, and not have the opportunity to work remotely. Businesses running on old systems risk losing their current employees who wish to have the option to work remotely.

Juliet Moran, founder of TelephoneSystems.Cloud software, cybersecurity attacks are more likely to occur. No matter the type or size of business, no one is truly safe from hackers. Yet, those who haven’t invested in modern systems are left even more vulnerable from cyber attacks - as their legacy technology is unable to fill the gaps in online security.

Having the latest version of technology will allow businesses to be best equipped with the most up-to-date hardware and software protection from security breaches. Old systems are unable to offer the best protection to any threats.

Lost opportunities to scale up UK companies who fail to upgrade their technology cannot be as agile and competitive with other similar businesses. Having legacy systems often comes with difficulties in working as efficiently as customers would expect, and therefore some clients may not even engage in discussions with you, as they see it as a waste of time.

For businesses to have any chance of becoming as successful, they must be prepared and ready to scale up. Part of this involves having the right equipment and digital systems to manage day-to-day tasks which often come as standard from many of your competitors.

To find out more about the benefits of upgrading technologies for your business, visit https://telephonesystems.cloud/.

Photo by Windows on Unsplash

It is obvious that employees now want the ability to work from home, and businesses must adapt in order to allow this transition to remote working. However, old technology can seriously prevent employees from being able to take their work away from their desk in the office. Legacy systems were not designed with remote working capabilities, so often do not have the right structures to allow staff members to work from home.

Security breach risks If one's business technology has not been upgraded enough, or cannot operate with modern

P7 AV News September 2023

Business News

PPDS partners with Grassfish to deliver Exertis launches B2B recycling portal ‘outstanding’ retail experiences continued from page 6

friendly manner and are compliant with the WEEE directive.

Tim Griffin, Exertis IT CEO, said: “Sustainability is a core part of the values we hold as a business. The importance of sustainability in the secondary sales market is more important than ever before, and the market for

traded-in handsets is a circular economy that is growing yearon-year. For Exertis to provide another sustainable option to our customers, as part of the everyday interactions they have with us, is a great opportunity for us.”

PPDS has revealed its latest solution evolution with Grassfish – Europe’s leading In-store Ex-

environments – for which the Philips Tableaux is a display pioneer. Roland Grassberger,

platform. PPDS is committed to supporting the retail channel, bringing innovative hardware

by a leading display manufacturer – Tableaux displays deliver vivid content while running un-

Dalet and Telstra Broadcast Services strategic partnership Dalet and Telstra Broadcast Services (TBS have entered a strategic partnership that combines Dalet’s best-in-market media workflow solutions with TBS’s state-of-the-art infrastructure and operations teams to accelerate the digital transformation of media workflows across the Asia Pacific region. The strategic partnership offers customers premium cloud-first production platforms and services with endto-end playout and streaming solutions underpinned by Dalet Flex.

“In today’s changing environment, where the needs of media organisations are in constant evolution, collaborating with partners such as Telstra Broadcast Services is a key enabler to success,” states Ren Middleton, VP Of sales Asia Pacific, Dalet.

“Our customers tell us that agil-

ity is key to their business, so onboarding the right technology quickly enables them to accelerate their time to market. Partnering with TBS will enable us to deliver solutions to our joint customers with the velocity and efficiency they expect.”

Dalet’s media workflow solutions, which are available as a subscription, enable customers to monetize archival content, automate supply chains and packaging, compliance editorial and delivery. Dalet Flex’s award-winning MAM and orchestration engine eliminates siloed productions that hinder collaboration and automates intelligent workflows that solve operational challenges, enabling media companies to achieve their business goals

High Res and Brompton Technology celebrate collaboration This year marks the seventh anniversary of the successful collaborative relationship between award-winning independent design practice, High Res, and specialist manufacturer of LED video processing products for the film, broadcast and live events industries, Brompton Technology. Building on over 25 years of experience, Dublin-based High Res specialises in visionary creative, multidisciplinary implementation and practical solutions in Virtual Production and Design. Its team, headed by the company’s founder, Emmy Award-Winning Lighting Designer and Technical Creative Director, Peter Canning, uses new and innovative technologies such as industry

‘gold standard’ Brompton LED processing to realise ambitious briefs and to help bring client stories to life.

From major spectacle broadcast events to international touring theatre shows, High Res has cemented its place as an award-winning, independent design practice. The company’s move into Virtual Production circa 2016 includes world recognised productions such as Netflix’s ‘Nightflyers series; Apple TV’s ‘Foundation Season 1 and Prime Video’s ‘Modern Love’ Season 2, as well as more recent productions including John Carney’s ‘Flora and Son’,

continued on page 10

P8 AV News September 2023

PPDS has revealed its latest solution evolution with Grassfish – Europe’s leading In-store Experience Management platform provider – delivering an exciting range of experience-enhancing features and opportunities for retailers on Philips Tableaux ePaper displays. perience Management platform provider – delivering an exciting range of experience-enhancing features and opportunities for retailers on Philips Tableaux ePaper displays. The solution sees the multi-award-winning ‘zero power’ Philips Tableaux Series join other Philips Android SoC retail signage displays from PPDS, in becoming fully compatible and certified to run using the Grassfish IXM platform. The solution adds new capabilities and opportunities for retailers – including cost and energy savings. An installation at a major international airport is already underway, with more details to be announced shortly.

More than just a partnership, PPDS, and Grassfish are strategically aligned in their efforts to deliver outstanding experiences for retail customers using the power of digital displays, while at the same time, creating more sustainable and eco-friendly

Global Head of IXM Platform at Grassfish, commented: “High stability and green capabilities are both musts for future-orientated projects. This is something we as a business demand from ourselves and our partners.

PPDS has demonstrated its commitment, not only to leading sustainability for the industry but to delivering solutions that can make a difference for retailers and their customers.

We’re very happy to have certified the Philips Tableaux for use on our platform, delivering more impactful and sustainable opportunities to new and existing customers around the world.”

Commenting on this latest solution for the Philips Tableaux range, Tim de Ruiter, Global Business Development and Partnerships Director at PPDS added: “We’re thrilled that our Philips Tableaux Series has been approved to seamlessly integrate with the Grassfish

and dedicated software solutions to market that make a difference and fill the gaps where other solutions may be either unsuitable or not cost-effective.”

He continued: “The Philips Tableaux Series has truly caught the imagination of the retail market and approval with Grassfish is another major step forward in our ambitions. We’re excited about the opportunities ahead, delivering new digital content opportunities and, equally, helping businesses further enhance their climate credentials.”

Launched to great fanfare in EMEA at ISE 2023, in Asia Pacific at InfoComm Asia, and in North America at InfoComm 2023, Philips Tableaux ePaper displays have opened an exciting new era of digital signage, with the innovative series delivering full-size, full colour, energy-efficient and eco-friendly opportunities. Now a multiaward-winning solution – the first of its kind brought to market

plugged and using zero power (24/7 indefinitely) between content updates and using super low power – just 0.0025 kWh – to change the image.

Roland Grassberger concluded: “Through the power of Grassfish IXM, Philips Tableaux displays can now be effortlessly connected to digital ecosystems, including Product Information Management (PIM), Digital Asset Management (DAM), and Customer Relationship Management (CRM). This synergy enables the creation of next-level, dynamic and personalised instore brand journeys, while also reducing a store’s power consumption for a more sustainable retail digital experience. What is more, Philips Tableaux can now be seamlessly used alongside DOOH and SSP networks, leveraging the full potential of both technologies and enabling businesses to extend their reach and impact through unified advertising campaigns.”

Barco Fredrikstad relocates Barco has announced its Fredrikstad offices relocation to a brand-new, state-of-theart building. With a rich history in the area and a talented local workforce, this move represents a commitment to their ongoing mission of pushing the boundaries of technology while creating a great place to work. The new local headquarters, situated at the entrance to Fredrikstad city centre, pairs a modern design with high energy efficiency tailored to Barco's operational needs and sustainability goals.

Offering a breathtaking view of the Seut River, a branch of Nor-

way's longest river, Glomma, the location perfectly captures the city's natural beauty.

Barco's new Norwegian headquarters will house its second-largest projection research and development site, making it the largest R&D facility for IX (Immersive Experience) activities. The building has been purposely built to accommodate high-tech research, testing, and service operations, bringing together various engineering disciplines, including optics, mechanics, thermal, electronics, software, and test and validation.

It is equipped with cutting-edge

Barco has announced its Fredrikstad offices relocation to a brandnew, state-of-the-art building. continued on page 10

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Business News Technology News Continued from page 8

Barco Fredrikstad relocates facilities such as an electromagnetic compatibility chamber, climate chamber, shaker, and other modern testing equipment, guaranteeing that Barco's flagship projectors meet the most stringent requirements.

The new Norwegian headquarters employs over 60 highly skilled visioneers, and the company remains dedicated to attracting top talent. Barco's commitment to hiring globally while employing locally will bring

additional skilled competence to Fredrikstad, fostering economic growth and creating exciting career opportunities within the community. Thor Gjerløw, Site Manager at Barco Fredrikstad stated: “Our new headquarters in Fredrikstad represents our commitment to innovation and our dedication to providing our team with the best resources to make a lasting impact in the industry and the area, all while

Continued from page 8

High Res and Brompton Technology celebrate collaboration Sony Picture’s ‘The Pope’s Exorcist’, ‘Anansi Boys’ for Prime Video and the Liam Neeson feature, ‘Retribution’. For all of these, High Res has utilised Brompton’s Tessera LED processing, which has been a loyal companion to the company’s multifaceted spectrum of client work.

“We were first introduced to Brompton processing when working on broadcast shows such as ‘The Voice’ over 10 years ago with their original M2 processor, but we had worked with a number of the Brompton team in their previous roles at groundbreaking companies like Element Labs and Projected Image Digital,” says Canning. “What struck us the most was how similar both High Res and Brompton were in their ap-

proach to their clients, and their devotion to innovation and products of quality. Our teams have jointly presented new workflows directly to DPs, DITs, Production Designers, Art Directors, VFX producers and supervisors during the testing phases of productions, and Brompton’s deep knowledge and understanding of the Virtual Production pipeline is fundamental in creating confidence in the workflows.”

With a team of creatives, designers, project managers, producers and programmers, Canning notes how important Brompton’s renowned 24/7 customer service and support has been invaluable to High Res. “We know that wherever we are in the world, and no matter what time of the day it is, we can always count on their expert support. This definitely offers a level of comfort when working on

high pressure, fast-paced film and TV productions, where time is of the essence and no two creative briefs are the same,” he says.

With the film industry being one of the most demanding environments for LED screens, having a reliable processing system offers a great deal of flexibility onset, according to Canning. “With Brompton HDR technology, Livegrade integration, and the evolving feature set of their Tessera software, we have a proven workflow that delivers the exact colour reproduction our clients are looking for, offering a new level of visual storytelling. Our approach to Virtual Production has come from our in-camera lighting experience, and thus the colour science pipeline and brightness control is extremely

important to us,” he adds. “And with recent product launches such as the new G1 receiver card and TrueLight, Brompton have expanded their offerings to DPs and DITs.” “We are delighted and honoured to be celebrating seven years of successful collaboration with High Res,” concludes Rob Fowler, Director of Business Development at Brompton.

“Investing in strong, long-term business relationships with our customers has always been our key objective, one we have been passionately following for over 10 years. We hope that our ongoing pursuit to deliver cutting-edge LED video processing solutions and new Tessera features will continue enabling companies like High Res to deliver their clients’ creative visions.”

P10 AV News September 2023

Lightware partners with Tico ZhiSheng to accelerate the Chinese market Lightware Visual Engineering has announced that it has entered into a partnership with Tico ZhiSheng Information Technology Co., Ltd to further accelerate the company’s expanding business operations in China. Tico ZhiSheng was established in 1994 and has grown impressively since, cementing a reputation across China as a leading product supplier and service provider of audio and video product system solutions, with a proven track record in integrating design consulting, equipment supply, after-sales debugging, and after-sales service. It has developed five national sales and service centres, with headquarters in Beijing and Foshan, branches in Shanghai and Guangzhou, and a joint branch and technology exchange centre in Chengdu.

The geographically proximate service model, combined with rigorous scientific project management, full professional services, and an efficient marketing mechanism, makes Tico Zhisheng the ideal company for Lightware to form a strategic partnership with, following the ending of its deal with its previous distributor, Lightware China/

Beijing Laiwei Visual Technology. “We are pleased to become a partner of Lightware in the Chinese market, responsible for the sales and promotion of Lightware's complete solutions,” comments Tico ZhiSheng general manager, Wang Yu Lin. “As a pioneer in signal management, they possess distinctive technological features and excellent product design, and they have always been committed to providing more forward-looking audiovisual transmission application solutions. Our collaboration with Lightware fully reflects our strong alignment with the vision of delivering the best audiovisual experience to industry users. With our product lineup being further enhanced, we will bring more creative audiovisual solutions to the market and customers.”

“We are excited to be partnering with the team at Tico ZhiSheng as we look to accelerate our expansion into the Chinese market,” comments Sam Ng, Regional Director for Greater China at Lightware Visual Engineering.

“The company has built an enviable reputation in the AV indus-

AMETEK SurgeX announces Modulit Solutions as disti AMETEK SurgeX, a brand of AMETEK Power Quality Solutions and a leader in power protection, diagnostic intelligence, remote monitoring and cloud solutions, together with its EMEA Master Distributor PureLink GmbH, have appointed Modulit Solutions as its distribution partner for Central and Eastern Europe. Modulit will distribute a variety of SurgeX products in the regions, including SQUID, which provides AC/DC power protection, boxed network control, and analytical software in one chassis. SurgeX partner PureLink will continue to operate as a European master distributor.

“We’re delighted to have secured the services of Modulit, as we seek to enhance our presence across Europe,” says Justin Peyton, Director of Sales EMEA & APAC, AMETEK SurgeX. “We believe Modulit is a perfect fit for SurgeX with its strong AV/IT distribution experience and local market knowledge. We are especially excited to promote our new SurgeX CONNECT cloudbased software and firmware in the region, which enables integrators to easily manage compatible SurgeX devices, diagnose power quality issues, and monitor installations remotely from a centralized hub.”

Modulit Solutions has more than 3,000 active customers from across more than 27 European countries, including Poland, Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania. Its offering is catered to Pro AV installers and system integrators, including office solutions and a full range of AV equipment from

more than a dozen handpicked brands from Europe, USA, and Southeast Asia. It also provides consultations on system design and project implementation as well as logistic services across Europe.

“We have always been committed to providing customers with the most comprehensive range of professional AV solutions and office ergonomics. Therefore, adding SurgeX to our portfolio is a logical step for us,” says Benjaminas Kujavskis, CEO of Modulit Solutions. “SurgeX is a global leader in power protection and power management solutions. Its unmatched power splitters and power distribution sequencers, surge protectors and power conditioners, UPS backup solutions and more will become an integral part of the Power section of Modulit’s extensive product catalogue.”

try over nearly three decades of operation, and we look forward to leaning into its expertise,

knowledge, and excellence to further our ambitious program in the country.”

Sam Ng, Regional Director for Greater China at Lightware Visual Engineering: “The company has built an enviable reputation in the AV industry over nearly three decades of operation, and we look forward to leaning into its expertise, knowledge, and excellence.”

Snap One to distribute LEA Professional in North America As the demand for products continues to increase, LEA Professional, a manufacturer of innovative, high-quality, professional-grade amplifiers with cloud and IoT-based technologies, partners with United States technology distributor, Snap One. The collaboration will expand sales opportunities for the LEA Professional product portfolio and growth opportunities for both and provide additional customer support for LEA customers in the US. The LEA Professional product portfolio will provide high-quality amplifiers for Snap One’s outdoor residential and commercial audio systems, including Episode Radiance. The product portfolio provides multiple ways to connect to the amplifiers remotely, meaning Partners can provide service for their customers without being on-site.

“Demand for cloud-enabled solutions as well as remote monitoring and management capabilities that underpin service contracts and facilitate recurring revenue models continue to increase, LEA Professional’s technology is optimally positioned to succeed and uniquely qualified to complement the Snap One lineup,” explained Andras Baldassi, Senior Business Development Manager at Snap One. “Through this collaboration, we look forward to introducing more customers to LEA Professional’s category-leading amplifiers and helping ensure our partners have access to the industry’s most innovative solutions.”

LEA Professional offers unmatched stability, surpassing other solutions in the market through its Connect Series of IoT-enabled amplifiers. The Connect Series allows users to harness the cloud for remote

control, monitoring, and configuration from a PC, tablet, or smartphone. Suited for commercial installations of any size, its cloud capabilities offer customers greater visibility into their audio systems, and allow customers and integrators to manage the system from afar, simplifying troubleshooting, managing updates, and eliminating the need for on-site maintenance.

“Snap One is a proven innovator and performer in terms of business process and contractor care,” Scott Robbins, Vice President of Sales at LEA Professional shared. “The solid connection to the home and business AV markets, coupled with LEA Professional’s award-winning technology, provides mutual growth opportunities for both organizations. Similar to LEA Professional, as the demand for innovative audio technologies continues to grow, Snap One’s commitment to high-quality customer service will help us better serve customers.”

Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, Snap One was founded in 2005 by dedicated integrators with the goal of delivering the best technology solutions to their customers. From whole-home entertainment to commercial-grade infrastructure, Snap One offers countless solutions for connected homes and businesses. Representing nearly 50 trusted brands across technology categories like audio, video, surveillance, control, networking, conferencing, and remote management, Snap One represents smart solutions that provide exceptional experiences to its partners and customers.

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The most sustainable touchscreens for your office Investing in sustainable office equipment is essential for a modern working environment. Going green is not something just for hippies anymore, it is on the mind of the younger generations in the workforce. Sustainability needs to be woven into the fabric of the company, through all layers: policy, CSR, supply chain and most importantly for this article: office operations. That's where our interactive displays enter the story. We've rounded up what exactly makes our corporate solutions the most sustainable on the market.

CTOUCH Canvas: no OS, no worries!

CTOUCH Canvas is the most secure interactive display in our product portfolio. How? Well, Canvas is like the Scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz: brainless, having no Operating System, this interactive display requires either an external device (i.e., your laptop) or an OPS. What it does not require is firmware updates or upgrades. As long as the hooked-up device works, Canvas works. A touchscreen that's always up-to-date and works up to 10 years & beyond, how green is that?!

Consider Canvas an extension of your own device, with the added benefit of the power of touch of course.

A lack of Operating System is not only sustainable, but also about as secure as an interactive display can possibly get. Nothing is saved on the display (brainless!) so nothing can be stolen. Data breach risk?

Zero. Security officers happy? 100%. Don't believe just us: Canvas' security baseline is independently audited by Grant Thornto

Any other green features? Yes! You can change the settings to let the Canvas automatically turn itself off if no source is detected in X minutes (you decide how long is acceptable in your meeting rooms) The screen is set to eco-mode by default, lowering energy consumption and costs significantly. On average, Canvas is on average 45% more energy efficient than similar models on the market.

screen sizes is only 3mm. Neo's packaging has significantly reduced in size by taking away unnecessary cardboard and such.

Neo itself is packaged in foil instead of plastic. All this added up allows us to transport more Neos per container compared to the Laser Sky / Nova resulting in roughly 30% less CO2 emitted.

The ocean's fishes are very happy with that.

Aside from weight loss, the packaging also received a makeover: the accessory box is no longer fully printed. It looked nice, but cardboard just screams sustainability.

88% of the materials used are recyclable Discover the Canvas’ CO2 impact in its Sustainability Passport

Now, Neo's sustainability features in practice: Smart on/off! Turns on when you need it, turns the back light off when you don't. This saves a surprisingly significant amount of kWh and €€€.

Eco-mode is on by default, so even if you're too lazy to ever dive into the settings menu, you'll still be saving loads of energy and money.

On average, Neo has 41% lower energy consumption than competitors. You're welcome.

You can make sure Neo turns off automatically if it does not detect a source within X minutes. (You do need to dive into the setting for this one, sorry.)

What it does not have is a literal green feature. Sorry reader, the CTOUCHABLE design is only available in Regal Orange, Electric Blue and Midnight Grey (as long as stock lasts).

Discover the CTOUCH Canvas, the safest solution for large corporations.

CTOUCH Neo: easy to go green

Every quarter year the latest Android security patches are integrated in the firmware update, to ensure Neo stays safe and secure to use for a whopping 10 years (or even longer, we’re not fortune tellers).

If Android is no longer supported, the OS is upgradeable via a module or main board upgrade.

Want to know more?

Check out Neo's sustainability passport to gain insight into its CO2 impact during its entire life cycle.

Meet CTOUCH Neo, the easiest-to-use solution for SME

Want more sustainability?

“But I want more sustainability! I want to be better than Captain Planet! I breathe SDGs!!” Don’t worry darling; we’ve got you covered.

Sustainable superhero, meet CTOUCH Heartbeat. CTOUCH Heartbeat As-A-Service programme is a solution that lets you maximise the value of your touchscreens for far longer than you think! Sign up your interactive touchscreens for CTOUCH Heartbeat and receive up to 10 years warranty and a lifetime of functionality, security, and firmware updates. Oh, and? We plant a tree for every touchscreen in the programme.

Discover CTOUCH Heartbeat As-A-Service Programme

Neo's the newest addition to our corporate portfolio, and as the new kid on the block is a bit of a show-off with just how sustainable it is.

Starting with the material: the glass panel of the 55”, 65” and 75”

https://ctouch.eu/uk/newshub/the-most-sustainable-touchscreensfor-your-office

P11 AV News September 2023

Technology News

PSCo launches Absen 2.5mm LED floor

Vivitek introduces D2000 Series of portable projectors

Trade-only display specialist PSCo has announced the introduction of the Absen MR2.5, the highest resolution LED floor display on the market. The high impact floor display is exclusively available from PSCo in the UK for trade-only rental and purchase. The MR series LED floor panel is available in 2.5mm pixel pitch and uses a GOB SMD packaging process resulting in deep blacks with a non-reflective surface. Specified with Brompton R2 processing, the wide colour gamut and high-contrast performance of the MR2.5 produce impressive in-camera performance versus other LED floor technologies.

The Absen MR floor can be combined with Absen PL2.5 Pro Brompton LED walls to create seamless floor-to-wall 2.5mm displays running from the same Brompton controllers.

These products are perfectly suited to xR stages and virtual studios, as well as eye-catching corporate and live events. The product adopts a two-in-one design featuring an aluminium chassis cabinet and a separate optional carbon-fibre subfloor frame, allowing the option to install a thinner and lighter LED floor solution resulting in increased versality for a wide range of applications where the floor can be built without adding sub-frames at the bottom. The MR2.5 adopts a high-strength frame design with a maximum load-bearing capacity of 2500kg/, which ensures safety

Vivitek has announced the D2000 Series of high impact, high value portable projectors.

Ideally suited to the needs of small and medium-sized meeting rooms, the DW2650Z and the DH2661Z deliver a brilliant image, multiple I/O ports and a long-life light source. This makes them exceptional value for organisations seeking a durable and feature-packed projector that’s light to carry at only 4.8kg, simple to set up and easy for anyone to use.

Both the DW2650Z and the DH2661Z feature DLP DarkChip3 and BrilliantColor technologies for optimal black levels and vibrant colourful images, combined with manual zoom and focus for easy adjustment and positioning flexibility. The DW2650Z and the DH2661Z offer 4,200 and 4,000 lumens respectively, while the DW2650Z has native WXGA resolution with a maximum WUXGA resolution and the DH2661Z has native Full HD resolution. On the DH2661Z, the High Dynamic Range (HDR10) delivers enriched brightness and vibrancy for precise natural colours. On both projectors, high performance sound quality is assured thanks to a built-in 10W audio speaker, with multiple audio-in and audio-out.

With more customers investing in solutions that are sustainable

and durability through challenging on-stage activities. The surface of MR is covered with a matte finish which is easy to clean and features a scratch-resistant layer, creating a long-lasting and high-impact visual staging effect.

Tom Allott, Asset Manager at PSCo comments: “As a trade-only supplier of the latest display innovations, we have been blown away by the MR2.5 LED floor which has been carefully developed by Absen over the last few years to deliver impressive performance and several technical advantages versus other solutions on the market.

The MR2.5 can add a serious 'wow' factor to live events with this particular product being configured with Brompton Technology processing, it is capable of delivering incredible results from trade show and corporate use all the way up to very demanding on-camera applications in virtual studios.”

The product is available for trade-only rental from this month and is on display at Innovation House in Bracknell, along with a full array of rental display products including Absen LED, new Barco projection, Epson projection, Brompton LED processing, and more Trade-only display specialist PSCo has announced the introduction of the Absen MR2.5, the highest resolution LED floor display on the market.

and long lasting, both projectors offer low cost of ownership and

Portable and lightweight at only 4.8kg (10.5lbs), the projectors

slot, and security bar – ensures the projectors remain in place at

maintenance, with the D2000 series featuring a lamp-less design that delivers up to 30,000 hours of usage. Aiding the projectors’ longevity is the airtight sealed engine and filter-less design for improved performance for added resistance against dust and fibres, and with less than 0.5W of power used in stand-by mode, they’re environmentally friendly, too. Quick on/off for immediate power on or shut down, ensures that the projectors are quick to respond to user’s demands.

are easy to move from one location to another, while their compact footprint makes them easy to place. Set up has been simplified through a full suite of display connectivity inputs and outputs, while on the DH2661Z any distorted or trapezoid image issues are easily corrected with HV keystone, and 4-corner adjustment. Both models have an intuitive multiple language OSD (On-screen Display) menu.

Once in situ, comprehensive anti-theft security features – including a Kensington security

all times.

Commenting on the introduction of the D2000 Series, Holger Graeff, General Manager, Vivitek EMEA, said: “Value matters more now than ever to small to medium businesses, but we don’t believe it should compromise performance, features or sustainability credentials. That’s why we’re confident that the D2000 Series will be well received by end users who seek a powerful, fully featured portable projector that meets not just their needs, but their budget, too.” The D2000 Series is available immediately. The DW2650Z is £699 excluding VAT, and the DH2661Z is £999 excluding VAT. The warranty for both is three years.

Vivitek has announced the D2000 Series of high impact, high value portable projectors

LG’S new ‘Lifestyle Screen’ LG Electronics (LG) has announced the global rollout of its latest Lifestyle Screen, the unique LG StanbyME Go (model 27LX5). The innovative new model boasts a 27-inch touch display and a 20W four-channel speaker system cleverly integrated into a stylish and sturdy carrying case. Building on the portability and versatility of the original StanbyME, the 27LX5 lets users enjoy memorable entertainment experiences wher-

ever they go. Perfect for watching movies, playing games and more, the StanbyME Go can be used indoors or out; its carrying case and built-in battery enable take-anywhere convenience, superior screen protection and up to 3 hours of use without connection to an external power outlet.

In addition to the new Lifestyle Screen’s large display and robust speakers, the case includes safe storage for the prod-

P12 AV News September 2023

uct’s streamlined remote control and power cable. StanbyME Go complements its portability with versatile adjustability that supports a range of different uses and personal preferences. Users can tilt the screen to achieve the best viewing angle, rotate it 90 degrees from landscape to portrait and back, adjust its height by up to 18 centimetres, or put it in Table mode. When set to Table mode, the StanbyME Go’s screen lies flat in the lower part

of the case, allowing users to play digital board games including chess and ‘Hidden Catch,’ or switch on the virtual record player for a fun, nostalgic listening experience. Conveniently, LG’s Lifestyle Screen automatically turns on when its case is opened and turns off when it is closed.

The StanbyME Go also offers proven durability, as evidenced by its successful completion of 11 tests compliant with the U.S. military’s rigorous MIL-

STD-810G standard. The tests demonstrate that the 27LX5 can handle a wide variety of environmental factors, including low pressure, high temperature, low temperature, dust and salt spray, and provides protection against accidental drops, vibration and shock. For maximum viewing immersion, the built-in speakers of StanbyME Go automatically optimises audio output to the front of the screen. Viewing experiences are further enhanced

through support for Dolby’s advanced video and sound technologies, Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos. Equipped with LG’s proprietary webOS smart TV platform, StanbyME Go lets users effortlessly connect to their iOS or Android devices. Moreover, voice recognition makes it pos-

Continued on page 13

Technology News continued from page 12

LG’S new ‘Lifestyle Screen’ sible to do app launching, adjust sound and search for content completely hands-free – an especially helpful feature for those who like to cook, clean or take on other tasks or activities while they watch.

LG’s Lifestyle Screen products are revolutionising the user and viewing experience, presenting new ways to enjoy content and new lifestyle value for today’s consumers. LG StanbyME Go is set to launch globally, starting in the U.S. this month, with plans for global rollout to key markets in Europe including Italy,

France, UK, Spain, Germany from next month.

LG Electronics (LG) has announced the global rollout of its latest Lifestyle Screen, the unique LG StanbyME Go (model 27LX5). The innovative new model boasts a 27-inch touch display and a 20W four-channel speaker system cleverly integrated into a stylish and sturdy carrying case.

New Ninja Series from Atomos Atomos has announced the latest generation of its hugely successful Ninja line of camera-mounted monitor-recorders: Ninja and Ninja Ultra. The original Ninja rocked the world

performance optimized for AtomOS 11, it delivers a host of new features too, including EL Zone exposure referenced colourised image, ARRI False Colour, and new scheduled playback &

as will be supported very soon.

Ninja Ultra’s new 4K camera to cloud mode lets you record and upload much higher quality bitrate H.265 video with higher framerates. H.265 files are half

Atomos has announced the latest generation of its hugely successful Ninja line of camera-mounted monitor-recorders: Ninja and Ninja Ultra. when it was introduced in 2010, combining an HD disk recorder with a touchscreen monitor you could hold in your hand. It captured pristine, uncompressed video direct from the first generation of DSLRs straight onto a removable SSD. The latest Ninja base model handles video sources up to nine times that resolution, has a 5-inch HDR screen, records ProRes RAW, and connects to almost every camera in the world. Little wonder “Atomos” is now in the vocabulary of almost every filmmaker.

A key component of both new Ninja models is the completely overhauled operating system, AtomOS 11. Cleaner, fresher and faster, thanks to hardware

recording tools. Both models sport a distinctive ‘camo’ colour polycarbonate body and now include more codecs as standard: 6K ProRes RAW, ProRes, DNxHD as well as H.265, which was previously available as a paid option.

While the Ninja is targeted primarily at owners of DSLR and mirrorless cameras, Ninja Ultra is built to get the most out of camera to cloud technology and leans into cinematic workflows with Atomos Connect. It can record full-quality files to ProRes RAW up to 4K 60p while at the same time recording HD 60p to H.265, and supports automatic matching filenames, timecode and record from ARRI, Canon and RED cameras. More camer-

the size of H.264 media. They’re small enough for camera to cloud workflows but more than good enough for immediate use on social media, sports reporting or news gathering. Adding an Atomos Connect expansion module to either a Ninja or a Ninja Ultra enables Atomos RemoteView - a brand new technology that lets you share live views from your Atomos screen with other Atomos monitors, as well as with iPads, Macs and Apple TVs wirelessly. You can monitor what’s happening onset and look through any connected camera taking the shot, from anywhere in the world. RemoteView is a total game-changer for remote production, offering many new features never

seen before.

For Ninja Ultra only, the Atomos Connect module provides a lower latency, higher throughput and more stable connection with Wi-Fi 6E. Once again, Atomos is leading the way by incorporating this cutting-edge Wi-Fi standard into its cloud-enabled products. Both Ninjas are backwards-compatible with their predecessors, Ninja V and Ninja V+, so all Atomos and third-party accessories can be used with the new products.

“While we continue to innovate, we continue to listen to our customers too,” said Trevor Elbourne, CEO of Atomos. “Ninja remains the go-to ProRes monitor-recorder for individual content creators and freelancers, but with even more functionality.

If cloud connectivity is not your priority right now, that’s no problem at all - you can just add that option further down the road as your business dictates. Ninja Ultra, on the other hand, has been tuned for cinematic workflows as well as the cloud, although we strongly recommend that it’s paired with the Atomos Connect module to maximize its potential for studios and broadcast facilities. The addition of dual recording in 4Kp60 ProRes RAW and H.265 has been the most requested feature since we introduced cloud-enabled products last year.”

Both Ninja and Ninja Ultra will be shipping from early September 2023, priced at $599/€599 and $799/€799 respectively, excluding local sales taxes. You can see them both at IBC, Amsterdam on the Atomos booth (11.D25).

VuWall shows innovative video wall control technology VuWall will share its latest command and control (C2) solutions in collaboration with the InfraGard National Members Alliance — an FBI-affiliated nonprofit organization — in booth 1819 at the Global Security Exchange (GSX) 2023, Sept. 1113 in Dallas. In partnership with Swan Island Networks, Advancis, RockDove Solutions, Parker Group, Ardian Group, Tresco and Building Intelligence, VuWall will demonstrate its PAK KVM, TRx centralized management platform, PAK video wall and KVM nodes, VuStream 350 IP KVM encoder.

“A well-designed and efficient

ment. GSX attendees will see how its new PAK KVM feature allows operators to control remote IP sources using a keyboard and mouse on their personal video wall, local displays, or the main video wall. With TRx, users can configure, manage, and distribute virtually any source type to any display with an easyto-use drag-and-drop interface.

TRx ensures interoperability in a multi-brand AV-over-IP infrastructure and enables users to easily create customized control panels to run on any browser, tablet, or mobile device without any programming using its built-

command center demands interoperable, flexible, and secure visualization solutions,” said Fadhl Al-Bayaty, Vice President of Product Management at VuWall. “At GSX 2023, VuWall will demonstrate the latest video wall technology with powerful KVM features for control room collaboration. This technology not only improves operator efficiency and streamlines workflows but also anticipates the evolving criteria of the C2 market and assists security professionals in addressing project demands.”

The award-winning VuWall TRx is a unique platform that combines AV-over-IP distribution, advanced control of multiple video walls, and KVM manage-

in control panel designer. The new TRx KVM capabilities are ideal for multiroom visualization, situational awareness, control rooms, and remote operator environments.

VuWall's new VuStream 350 IP KVM encoder appliance securely delivers high-quality video with up to 4K performance over standard Gigabit Ethernet at low bitrates and ultra-low latency. VuStream 350 transmits HDMI video and audio, as well as a keyboard and mouse, on an encrypted AES-256 signal. It is fully compatible with VuWall's TRx centralized management software, ControlVu PoE touch panels, and PAK video wall and KVM processing nodes.

P13 AV News September 2023

Review

Boom UNO compact conferencing solution Boom Uno: tech specs

Fast-growing video conferencing manufacturer Boom Collaboration, has launched a compact, lightweight, and therefore portable all-in-one device which further blurs the lines between home and office work. We tried one in practice and were both surprised and impressed by the professional capabilities of this consumer-appropriate device.

Boom is relatively new to the AV / UC market and clearly intent on making inroads into the burgeoning market for solutions that suit both the office and home markets. While we work in an office environment, we travel a great deal. We are constantly on the lookout for solutions that deliver quality and don’t add too much to the baggage that already challenges airline luggage allowances. Add together the laptops, video, still image, audio and 3D camera rigs plus members of our team that verge on being fashion victims and you can see that weight / space saving bits of kit always appeal.

ous manufacturers, we can say that this one is genuinely different.

The compact stylish device has ‘plug-and-play’ functionality via one USB cable – a major factor when it comes to genuine portability.

The device is available in black and white colour variants, and is compatible with Zoom, Teams, Webex, Google Meet and all the major meeting apps. Set up is easy and the quick start guide included with the product was easy to follow. A status light on the device is complemented by full duplex HD audio, a vertically adjustable lens and touch keypad with volume and mute controls.

Not surprisingly, when were offered the chance to review this new product from Boom, we jumped at it. The Boom UNO is described as “a complete conferencing system” that combines a 120° wide angle full HD camera with a 360° omnidirectional microphone and built-in speaker. Having seen many ‘video bar’ type of products from numer-

In operation One or two of our team members asked: “Why do you need a dedicated conferencing device when you already have these capabilities built into your laptops?!”. True, but the functionality built into our laptops is not terribly good and we feel a certain obligation to use decent quality video and audio because of who we are! Nor worries, here the video performance was exemplary and while we had some ground loop effects on the audio, it didn’t take long to fix it using the unit’s built in noise cancellation tool.

Size is definitely another positive. The Boom Uno measures 18.1cm tall and is 6.2cm wide and deep. Features include: 120° wide angle full HD camera, 360° omnidirectional microphone, Boom UNO built-in speaker. The upright format of the Boom Uno takes up very little real estate on the user’s desktop – another real plus for a unit designed for hybrid use. For the small weight premium and the entirely reasonable cost we can see the Boom Uno being a regular addition to our travelling kit.

Background Boom Collaboration was born in 2020 by founders Fredrik Hörnkvist and Holli Hulett. In a bid to disrupt the sector and stand out from the crowd – creating high performance, high value advanced products.

The ambitious Texas-based business has quickly developed an extensive conferencing portfolio and operates in 20 countries, with plans for major expansion to 30 more this year including the UK and central Europe. “There’s little doubt hybrid work is here to stay and for many organisations it’s already embedded as an integral part of modern working cultures,” Hörnkvist explained.

“From our own research and experience we estimate around 55% of businesses globally have work from home policies, with this number growing in a post pandemic world. In addition, 30% of all employees are full-time remote workers while over 60% work from home occasionally. The right equipment can boost productivity while saving corporations money - creating true meeting equity for all participants. For us, demand for flexible portable products that are suitable for home as well as office life continue to accelerate.

The Boom UNO ticks every box.”

Hulett added: “The Boom UNO gives users all the tools they need for effective collaboration in a simple user-friendly package. Enjoy video calls in full HD combined with a powerful speakerphone with omni-directional pickup, full-duplex and advanced echo cancellation and noise suppression. It’s very easy to use and pop in a bag to transport between the home and office, or wherever people are working.”

Conclusion The features and functionality of the Boom Uno, can be found in a number of similarly innovative plug-and-play devices, but we are not aware of any that rival the Boom offering that offer all of these attributes in such a stylish and affordable package. Whether for use in the home, the office or on the road, the visually distinctive Boom Uno combines an HD conferencing camera, omnidirectional speakerphone, live video in a plug-and-play design suitable for one-to-one calls and sessions in a huddle room environment.

We tested the Boom Uno with Zoom – still our preferred conferencing software – which worked fine but other reviewers have tried the Uno with a full suite of conferencing tools (including MS Teams and Webex) with no reports of problems.

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Full HD 1080p video at 30fps Wide angle 120-degree field of view Full duplex HD audio Omnidirectional microphone CMOS sensor Dynamic noise reduction Plug-and-play functionality (USB 2.0) Echo cancellation Whether for use in the home, the office or on the road, the visually distinctive Boom Uno combines an HD conferencing camera, omnidirectional speakerphone, live video in a plug-and-play design suitable for one-to-one calls and sessions in a huddle room environment.

One or two of our team members asked: “Why do you need a dedicated conferencing device when you already have these capabilities built into your laptops?!”. True. The functionality built into our laptops is not great. We feel an obligation to use decent quality video and audio because of who we are!

Application News Manufacturing

Christie RGB pure laser projection at Palmaz Vineyards Christie has been asked to deploy some of its its projection solutions to illuminate the ceiling of Palmaz Vineyards’ fermenting room. Six M 4K25 RGB pure laser projectors display real-time data from each of the 24 fermentation tanks.

Palmaz Vineyards spans 600 acres and features an 18-story winemaking facility that has been built into Napa’s Mount George, with over five city blocks of tunnels that have been dug underground.

At the heart of the winery is the fermentation dome that houses 24 fermenting tanks on a carousel. The grapes from the vineyards are transported here to be fermented into wine during a delicate and intensive 60-day process. “It’s a complicated process - the fermentation is exothermic which produces heat, so the temperature is constantly adjusted. It’s a complex equation. But this is something that any first-year enology grad student can do. So why work with the very best winemakers as we do? Because of the other things that you can’t put numbers to,” says Christian Palmaz, COO, Palmaz Vineyards.

Palmaz wanted to strike a balance between the creativity needed to develop their award-winning wines, and the data to inform the process of fermentation. They created a software system called Fermentation Intelligence Logic Control System (FILCS) which takes mil-

lions of calculations per second from inside each tank. Instead of limiting this robust amount of data to an app on a tablet or desktop, Palmaz Vineyards de-

for them [the winemakers] and we wanted to make it handsfree. We didn’t want them living on a screen; it’s isolating. We had the idea to put all of that

tor and wondered how they got this perfect curved and blended image. I walked around to the front of the simulator, and lo and behold I see six or seven Chris-

clarity, brightness, and durability. We used the original M Series for over a decade and then upgraded to the M 4K25 RGBs for even more brightness.

Christie has been asked to deploy some of its its projection solutions to illuminate the ceiling of Palmaz Vineyards’ fermenting room.

Six M 4K25 RGB pure laser projectors display real-time data from each of the 24 fermentation tanks. cided to make this information available to its team of winemakers via projections on the ceiling of the fermenting room to enable a collaborative process. “We wanted something that worked

information on the surface of the dome. That’s when I started looking into projection technology,” says Palmaz. “I happen to be a pilot, and during my annual training, I was in a flight simula-

tie projectors,” says Palmaz. “I called Christie the next day, and we got to work.”

Palmaz originally installed Christie M Series projectors.

“We needed a huge amount of

each tank can identify which winemaker is in front of the tank and display customised data on the domed ceiling. “Colour is really important,” says Palmaz.

“Because of our thermographic displays, colour means something to us. Seeing the dynamic colour effect – as the temperatures change when pump-overs occur – it’s like varying shades of bathwater. You’re talking about a 5–6-degree change in temperature in the tank. But the range of colour [that the projectors display] helps to visualise slight variations in temperature.”

“It’s something we noticed with the newer projectors, they have such a wide colour gamut and better colour accuracy. It translates to us having a better understanding of the temperature and how it’s distributed inside the tank,” says Palmaz. “Over the last decade, Christie has invested significantly in the development of RGB pure laser illumination systems that deliver more than twice the colour of a typical laser phosphor projector,” says Joel St-Denis, director of product management, Christie. “In third-party research conducted in 2016, we found that 78% of survey respondents indicated ‘colour fidelity’ as one of the most important factors when buying a projector.”

They are incredibly bright.” The increased brightness of the projectors also allows the Vineyard to run the room with more lighting, ensuring a safer work environment. RFID sensors on

Sport

Datapath and Watchfire help Houston Astros knock it out of the park Datapath has announced that its award-winning VSN video wall controller series has been selected by Watchfire to power a spectacular digital ‘halo ring’ inside the new team store for Major League Baseball’s Houston Astros. Located on the site of the Texan team’s 41,000-capacity Minute Maid Park stadium (known locally as ‘The Juice Box’) the new center field Astros Team Store is part of a major upgrade and expansion of its retail footprint, with shop floor space quadrupling in size to approximately 8,000 square feet compared to last season (2022).

Open six days a week, and a central destination for tens of thousands of fans before, during and after games, plus other special events, the owners wanted to utilize the latest advancements in digital display technologies, to introduce new sales, branding, and marketing opportunities, while creating a more immersive visitor experience through a variety of informative and entertainment content.

As part of their ambitions, the

Astros teamed up with Illinois-based Watchfire – responsible for some of the world’s most iconic installations, including the 1,320-foot, 49 million-plus LED canopy for Fremont Street Experience in Las Vegas – to manufacture an awe-inspiring double-sided LED

4P18 AV News September 2023

‘halo ring’ for Minute Maid Park.

With an outer surface of 9984 pixels wide x 624 pixels high and an inner surface of 9152 x 624, this incredible structure provides 360-degree views from all areas of the shop floor. The Halo Ring requires four customised zones to display a variety

of ever-changing and adaptable content to meet the various needs and requirements of the occasion.

After gaining a deep understanding of the extensive needs and requirements for the halo ring – both with the present and the future in mind – Datapath was

the standout partner of choice for Watchfire to achieve the client’s high ambitions. With flexibility and reliability paramount to the project, the ultra-quiet and more compact Datapath VSNMicro 600 wall controller, a go-to solution for a variety of mission-critical environments,

including government applications, together with Datapath’s advanced WallControl 10 management software, was selected.

The VSNMicro 600 is used to receive content from a BrightSign media player, which is then processed and distributed onto the inner and outer walls of the innovative canvas. With multiple sources required, Datapath used four of the six available PCI slots available on the VSNMicro 600 (allowing for further expansion), installing audio, video, graphics and capture card drivers. These included a highly scalable Image2K graphics card, used to deliver 4K at 60fps with two outputs to the Halo Ring’s surface.

Two Datapath VisionSC-HD4 audio video capture cards were also included, providing 8 x HD inputs, with a single VisionSC-UHD2 input card – offering the highest resolution video, detail and colour accuracy – adding two HDMI 2.0 capture channels with HDCP2.2 support at 4K/60fps.

Combining seamlessly with Wallboard’s enterprise-grade, cloud-based drag-and-drop dig-

Application News Sport ital signage CMS, the VSNMicro 600 has been able to achieve the Houston Astro store’s fourzone objectives, bringing extensive opportunities to seamlessly deliver scheduled or ad-hoc content from a variety of different sources, presented in fully customized layout designs. The four zones outlined in the project brief include: Zone 1 – Full Display Takeover Utilizing animations or digital signage still graphics to take over the full display

Zone 2 – Non-Gamedays / Special Events Utilising two spaces each on the inner and out ring to display digital s Zone 3 Non-Gamedays / PreGame / Special Events Utilising content zones and 16:9 video sources to display digital signage and TV channels.

Zone 4 – Gameday Look Utilising content zones and 16:9 video sources, as well as a quad box (up to four video sources within a 16x9 zone) look to

display digital signage and TV channels to create an immersive in-game experience.

Today, fans entering the store are now greeted with a hive of digital activity, with content including – but far from limited to – exclusive in-house media for such as club information, live interviews and team news, plus live sports feeds, highlight reels, and of course, the latest in-store offers and promotions. The Datapath team also provided detailed training to Houston Astro’s

AV/IT management team, covering the specific components installed and ensuring users are confident in their ability to maintain and operate the system.

“The Astros always aim to put on a show for fans and Datapath was an important part of bringing our vision to life,” said Kyle Dines, vice president of sports and indoor at Watchfire. “From initial planning conversations to final development, the Datapath team assisted in providing the optimal pieces to guarantee

Opening Day 2023 was a complete success.”

Eric Wooton, Datapath’s Snr Sales Manager for Central US, spoke of his pride in seeing the project completed and in action for the first time. “The flexibility of our VSNMicro controllers allows for a multitude of applications, from Control Rooms to University Campuses and I am always excited to see it used in new and exciting ways. To witness this stunning project from the amazing and creative

team at Watchfire is a feast for the senses and we are proud of the part Datapath has played in bringing this spectacle to life.”

Kit list VSNMicro 600 WallControl 10 Standard VisionSC-UHD2 VisionSC-HD4+ x 2 Image2K

Education

Kramer future proof AVoIP solutions for education Kramer has announced a range of future proof AVoIP solutions to revolutionise the teaching and learning experiences for students inside all 25 classrooms at the spectacular new €24m Akvarelli school in Finland. Located in Forssa, a small Finnish municipality with a population of around 16,500, Akvarelli is an exciting new, multi-purpose learning centre, supporting over 600 students aged 3-16, from pre-school to secondary education, plus a range of other extra-curricular leisure activities.

Replacing a tired and outdated existing site, construction on the new centre began in 2018, with all aspects of the design centred heavily around creating more stimulating learning spaces and experiences.

With the education sector and teaching of future generations being one of the most rewarding ways in which today's technology is utilized, the Akvarelli AV/ IT team required a best-in-class solution to meet the challenges of education and teaching both today and in the future. Key requirements include usability, consistency across all 25 classrooms, and flexibility for teachers. Key requirements for the project included: Creating flexible learning spaces Give educators the flexibility to move around the classroom as they teach Provide teachers with a stressfree, unified experience so they can focus on teaching rather than operating technology Ensure seamless and consistent user experiences in all classrooms with AV equipment To deliver on its ambitions, the Akvarelli team turned to Advania – a leading Nordic AV/IT system integration specialist – with Kramer’s advanced range of AvoIP solutions, together with the company’s local support, becoming the outstanding choice to ensure the ambitious and highly complex project’s success.

At first, Forssa was looking at a solution with a standard HDMI connection to accommodate the many projectors and smartboards the former school building already had. However, with a bigger school in the Akvarelli centre, additional smartboards would have been required, and after interviewing the teachers,

it became clear the benefits of these dated tools were not being utilised. As a result, an AVoIP solution was chosen as the new direction. Niko Sutinen, IT Manager for the Forssa Municipality commented: “We wanted to create flexible classrooms in which teachers would be able to move around, while also delivering a stress-free environment for teachers; to have the same setup and solution in every classroom with the same functions, so their time is spent teaching, not working complicated technology.”

After extensive testing, trials and demonstrations – including teachers – in the existing school building, the final solutions included Kramer’s scalable and flexible KC-Brainware-25 hardware platform for controlling almost any device over ethernet (on the network) in all 25 classrooms. Used by some of the world’s leading organisations, Kramer BRAINware is an enterprise−class, user−friendly, software application that enables users to execute all actions straight from a computer, such as scalers, video displays, audio amplifiers, Blu-ray players, sensors, screens, shades, door locks, and lights. In addition, 100 x Kramer KDS-6 devices – one of Kramer’s (and the industry’s) most advanced AvoIP streaming solutions carrying 4K@60Hz video and audio – have been used in the project, with one KDS-EN6 encoder and two KDS-DEC6 decoders installed in each of the 25 classrooms.

To ensure maximum usability, and remove all complexity of the technology, 25 x Kramer KT-107 wall and desk mountable touch panels have been installed in each classroom. Supporting wired PoE and advanced Wi-Fi connectivity, the 7” multi-touch 1280x800 resolution panels, provide tutors seamless onetouch near-zero latency (10 milliseconds) access to all connected devices available in the room. With Kramer’s cloud-based K-Touch Control software, tutors can even securely mirror the control panel’s interface directly on an existing iOS or Android auxiliary device, such as a smartphone or tablet,

in technology have the potential to derail a student’s ability to learn – even harming their future potential prospects – while causing unnecessary stress and complications to the tutor. That’s simply not acceptable. With our flexible solutions, together with our unwavering commitment to supporting our partners with teams on the ground, clients can always trust Kramer to deliver on their ambitions, no matter how simple or complex they may be.

We are delighted to have helped provide Akravelli with the latest education technology with a seamless, smooth transition and look forward to further, similar projects in the future.”

adding even greater flexibility and freedom in how and where they choose to present during a class.

The set-up – including panels and all technology – is mirrored and consistent in every classroom, so tutors are always competent and comfortable using the technology, helping to eliminate possible confusion or delays. Such is its versatility, Kramer’s AV solution is used for multiple purposes beyond classroom lessons at Akvarelli, with the school’s administrators using the displays for each morning’s 10-minute ‘opening ceremony’ to make announcements and share messages. For security purposes, the system can also send out warnings via a silent alarm, which can be immediately pinpointed to an exact location. “It is a huge step to change solutions for the teachers, so it needs to be done right,” said Niko Sutinen. “Now, with AvoIP, the teachers can present everywhere in the classroom and are not dependent on any connection. You can open up the classrooms. Be a few steps ahead of other schools. And ultimately help Akvarelli become a stimulating learning environment that meets the challenges of education - today and in the future.”

Working closely together, Kramer and Advania were able to overcome several obstacles to ensure the project’s success, including completion in half the originally allocated time, as a result of delays to the build-

ing’s construction. A hurdle that wouldn’t have been cleared without the availability of Kramer’s Finnish-speaking team on the ground, which proved invaluable. More schools in Forssa are now evaluating the solution for possible wider future rollouts. Janne Kankonnen, key account manager at Kramer

Finland, at Kramer, concluded: “We’re incredibly proud to have played such an important role in supporting current and future generations of students at this incredible new multi-purpose education centre. When it comes to teaching and learning, it has to be right. Failures

Kramer has announced a range of future proof AVoIP solutions to revolutionise the teaching and learning experiences for students inside all 25 classrooms at the spectacular new €24m Akvarelli school in Finland.

Events

ENTRA Culture and Convention Center excels with WSDG Located in the heart of Switzerland’s picturesque ‘City of Roses’ on the banks of Lake Zurich, the ENTRA residential and commercial complex has rapidly established itself as a center of bustling social and commercial activity. One of the chief features of the complex is its state-ofthe-art events venue. The foundation of the complex’s design encompasses a modular space that can be configured to serve a versatile array of community programming needs including live music performances, corporate events, and cultural events. high quality acoustics and sound reinforcement, the ENTRA leadership turned to global acoustic architectural consulting and A/V systems design firm WSDG (Walters-Storyk Design Group).

The 1050-capacity events space was designed by architecture

office Bucher Partner with general contracting by Methabau and AV systems integration by Event AG. The goal of modular versatility was paramount given the wide variety of events that ENTRA's management wanted to be capable of hosting. “It was our desire to establish an event space that would meet the highest technical, acoustic, and visual standards,” explained Martin Céréda, ENTRA’s Head of Production. “Our concept for the space was to have state-of-theart acoustic and electroacoustic systems tuned and permanently installed to achieve a ‘ready to play’ setting for the high density of events we have planned.”

The WSDG design team, led

by WSDG Director of Acoustics Gabriel Hauser, was tasked with fine tuning room acoustics and electroacoustics for the new space. They immediately set to

work addressing the challenge of designing a package that could accommodate the complex array of venue configurations and corresponding event types. These use cases included: utilizing the space as a live music venue that made full use of the expansive room with its large stage and; live speaking engagements where the stage could be lowered to floor level or repurposed as seating for the audience. Furthermore a combination of speaking and music events wher “It quickly became clear that the hall would be used for contemporary music performances just as much as for live speaking engagements -- two types of events that have very different needs from a room acoustics and continued on page20

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Application News Continued from page 19

Concerts

Events sound reinforcement perspective," said Hauser. “"Therefore we worked to design a spatial and electro-acoustic infrastructure that could meet both of these needs and more, while also choosing technical support systems with robustness and longevity to ensure that they will be able to hold up throughout all of these frequent changes.

We were able to put together a package for ENTRA that was truly the best of both worlds, in some cases quite spaces literally.”

The WSDG design team recommended a reorientation of the stage and reshaping of the balcony to redirect sound listening experience for the audience.

The team also installed a slotted Helmholtz Resonator behind the stage for improved low frequency control. The resulting stage sound is very controlled with a low reverberation time.

The acoustic treatments for the space were developed in close collaboration with Bucher Partner to seamlessly integrate them into the walls and ceiling of the room. Five different absorber materials with complimentary, frequency-specific behaviour were utilized in the walls and ceiling to create the desired effect, with acoustic curtains

also available to reconfigure the room as needed. “The array of acoustic treatments we utilized ultimately were quite complex in order to properly support how the venue can be reconfigured for different events,” said Hauser. “Despite that, they were carefully designed to fit into the architecture of the space so that they complement how it looks without being distracting to patrons.”

For sound reinforcement two separate line array systems were chosen for maximum versatility -- one for use during live musical performances, and another for speaking events. The main system consists of six L’Acoustics K3 line arrays supplemented by a trio of Kara II front fills also and four KS21i 21" subwoofers per side. The speech system that needs to cover the stage area utilized a pair of Tannoy Q-Flex line arrays on the back wall with different beam-steering settings depending on the room setting. Both have access to a supplementary bank of mobile L'Acoustics X8 loudspeakers for near fills at the edge of the stage.

Combined, the system has the capability of meeting the needs of any event in the venue. “This was one of the first event spaces to make use of the then new

L-Acoustics K3 systems and we are extremely happy with the result: a tight sounding system with great room interaction and very high speech intelligibility”.

With a rapidly growing calendar boasting over 200 events per year, the ENTRA venue is already living up to its promise as a fresh and exciting events venue for the surrounding community.

ENTRA's management sees this influx as merely the beginning of what the new space is capable of. “The new systems allow our customers to focus completely on the events being held and we are able to achieve maximum utilization of the space with a minimum of conversion time,” stated Céréda. “We are very pleased with the results, and with the room acoustics implemented by WSDG, we are setting new standards for event locations of this size on a national level.”

“We're incredibly proud to be on the front line of participating in the creation of forward-thinking event spaces such as this,” said WSDG General Manager, Europe, Dirk Noy. “ENTRA is a very high quality complex and

Concerts

Innlights sets K-Pop standards in La Défense Arena Music Bank is a weekly music show broadcast by South Korean television station KBS. The show is one of the most popular music shows in South Korea and features live performances

by K-Pop artists and groups.

Music Bank is also known for its elaborate sets and choreography, offering fans a chance to see their favourite K-pop stars and experience their music live.

The show is broadcast not only in South Korea but also internationally and has helped increase the popularity of K-pop around the world with international festivals.

After a ten-year absence, Music Bank came back to Paris at La Défense Arena and thrilled K-Pop fans with a tremen-

dous line-up. Thomas Klem, Managing Director of Innlights Displaysolutions, whose crew

implemented the LED walls including feed and signal management, was also enthusiastic: “We installed and started up a good 850 square meters of LEDs in the hall in just 16 hours with our 13-strong technical team. This made the project the largest single project in our company's history to date.” This achievement was only possible because Innlights had already added a further 2,000 square meters of InnScreen X5 and Y5 LED modules to its rental park last year and supplied the Sonne Mond Sterne festival with them from a standing start at the time. Now in Paris, Innlights was ordered by Twisted Talent Entertainment to install a centre screen measuring 7 x 12 me-

ters, 2 IMAGS with live images to the left and right of the stage, each measuring 8 x 6 metres, 4 side screens, each measuring 6

4 P20 AV News September 2023

x 12 metres, and a center circle measuring 32 metres in circumference at a height of 4 metres, as well as LED stage cladding measuring an additional 100 square metres on the B-stage in front of the stage.

Innlights implemented the signal management for all LED walls with Barco E2 Gen2 and was also responsible for the system statics and the power supply of the entire media technology.

Thomas Klem's summary is correspondingly positive: “An enormous dimension, everything worked great and we are already looking forward to being able to implement further festivals and concerts with our newly created Live Event and Show Unit.”

DMI-KLANG heats up IEM mixes for Burna Boy With more than 19 million monthly listeners on Spotify, not to mention over 300 million streams of his song “Last Last” alone, Nigeria’s Burna Boy—née Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu—is by all counts a major international success. In July, the Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter and record producer became the first African artist to headline a US stadium concert when he drew more than 40,000 fans to New York’s Citi Field to celebrate his 32nd birthday. But that wasn’t an isolated incident; he’s packing massive venues around the world on his latest Stadium Tour, sonically reinforced by Solotech, who is supplying a DiGiCo Quantum338 and two Quantum7 mixing consoles, one of which is loaded with a DMIKLANG module for immersive in-ear monitor mixing.

Burna Boy doesn’t do anything on a small scale, evidenced by the swarm of musicians and singers that surround him onstage. “Burna’s core band is called the Outsiders; it includes a drummer, bassist, guitarist, two keyboardists, and a saxophonist, and I mix each of their IEMs,” says Duriel Mensah, who pilots a KLANG card-equipped Quantum7. “I’m also mixing ears for the brass section—trumpet, trombone, and tenor sax—plus the front wedges and side-fills onstage. Joshua Adeyosoye, our other monitor engineer for Burna Boy is on another Quantum7. He’s responsible for mixing our three backing vocalists, a ten-piece choir, a very diverse percussion section that can have eight to ten people playing talking drums, omeles, marching band elements, and any additional guests that might join us for a particular show. It’s a very busy stage and Joshua and I work closely to keep everyone out there happy. It’s also a crazy amount of channels—there are approximately 120 lines coming off the stage—which is why we needed the Quantum7s.”

Although Mensah has been Burna Boy’s monitor engineer since 2019, when he mixed the artist and his band for a big show at SSE Arena Wembley, 2023’s Stadium Tour marks the first time that he has ever used KLANG’s immersive IEM mixing platform, and he’s been delighted with the results.

“The integration between KLANG and DiGiCo is flawless,” he enthuses. “If I’m in someone’s mix—let’s say drums, for instance—and I want to bring the click up, I can do it through KLANG:app as well on the touchscreen, and it effects the fader on the console. It triggers a send on fader mode on my DiGiCo and I can see those changes happening. Also, on the DiGiCo, if I’m on the channel, I can click and see exactly where in the immersive field it’s panned to. That seamless integration of being able to move back and forth is just fantastic.

And if the guys on stage tell me they need just a touch more of something, or want to move

something around, I can very quickly do that for them on the touchscreen monitor using the KLANG:app. I love how everything works together so smoothly. It makes my job easier. I can just focus on what Burna and the band need without having to think about it too much.”

Mensah credits Burna Boy’s longtime front-of-house engineer and production manager, Temidayo Oladehin, for his initial spark of interest in KLANG. “I must have first read about KLANG on an email, because I subscribe to just about anything subscribable when it comes to sound,” laughs Oladehin, who is mixing the show on a Quantum338. “I’m always trying to stay on top of what’s new. But one of the things that really drew me to KLANG was the information about how it gives you this perceived loudness of almost an extra 6dB. That was something that I found very appealing. If we can get people to hear themselves louder without having a negative impact on their hearing, that’s a great thing.”

“I immediately wanted to take it out with us, but I didn’t want to try it out on the road,” Oladehin continues. “I wanted to wait until we could take it into rehearsals to properly evaluate it and not worry about adding a learning curve to our shows, which are already complex. When I told our band members that Duriel and I were planning to switch them over to KLANG mixes at some point, one of them in particular said that he really didn’t want to use it. But once we actually got the DMI-KLANG into rehearsals for our stadium run, I think he was actually the first one that told us how much he liked it!”

Mensah appreciates that the KLANG system can easily cater to what Burna Boy and each band member want to hear in their in-ears. “A lot of our band guys are studio-based, so they’re used to producing music and want things to feel nice and wide and even in their ears,” he says. “Our drummer, who is also our musical director, is a good example. He likes the brass to be panned out from left to right across the front of his mix, and everything be present and full.

Some of the other elements, like choir tracks or click, I’ll tuck just behind his head a bit in the mix so they can be heard but aren’t a distraction, because as the MD, he needs to hear everything, including his own drums. I put his toms on the outer ring of the 3D tab, which gives just a little bit of a push imaging-wise. The toms literally feel like they’re sitting on top of my head when I listen to his mix, and the way that they pan is amazing. Everything feels very polished and produced in his mix, as if you’re listening to a spatial audio studio recording.”

Other band members prefer a different arrangement, he continues: “Our first keyboard player, Michael, wants to hear everything according to its relation to him on stage. He sits at stage right, next to the guitar, so

guitar is panned just a bit to his left. And all of the horns are on stage left, so I’ll pan them even further that direction. I give the keyboardist a stereo field of his own mix so it’s nice and even, but then I place live elements of the band in the sonic field as to how he sees them on stage, because that’s how he likes to hear them.”

Mensah points out that KLANG has also been well received by Burna Boy himself. “We run a pair of ambience mics, especially for Burna’s mix, to keep him connected to the crowd and space,” he says. “It’s been a journey to get him on in-ears over the past few years; he’s indicated that they don’t always feel natural, and he’s been prone to popping one or both of them out. But when we added the KLANG system in rehearsals, as soon as we threw up the ambience mics in his ears, we found that he'd leave his IEMs in all day, which was a great sign.

It meant that everything just felt ‘real’ and he was enjoying himself. That was achieved with KLANG.” Oladehin reveals a detail to Mensah about how things are going with the latest gear addition: “Duriel will be hearing this for the first time, but I recently did a review with the band, and coming from where we’ve been, the guys are very, very happy with their in-ear mixes,” he announces. “The impression that KLANG has made on the guys is amazing and it’s something that we always want to take on the road. They’ve been giving it such great reviews that we’re planning to soon add a second DMI-KLANG card to Joshua’s console so the rest of the performers onstage can be just as happy with what they’re hearing as well.”

Having just wrapped up the 2023 Stadium Tour with a final performance in Detroit, Michigan on August 19, Burna Boy is releasing a new album on August 25, which will be supported with a US tour this October and November. For details on details on Burna Boy’s upcoming shows, visit www.onaspaceship. com. Solotech can be found online at www.solotech.com.

Reader offer

Understanding your client's perspective: the art of winning with value Author Patrick Alexander introduces his innovative guide that presents the art of winning, not as a game of luck, but as a skill that can be learned, improved, and utilized. ‘The Secret of Value Based Convincing Winning’ offers s step-by-step approach to winning using inherent value. The book explores how to leverage this value in every individual, team, or organization. As we have seen in previous AV News articles where we talked about the ‘What, How and Why’ as the most important elements of the ‘Belief System’.

One of the most critical dimensions this book highlights is the ability to empathize and understand your client's perspective. Winning is not about talking or sending proposals alone; it's about immersing oneself in the client's world, understanding their worries, challenges, aspirations, and needs. This dimension is at the heart of value-based winning. Knowing your client, even when they are not entirely sure about their own needs, is the key to crafting a winning proposal.

This skill is particularly challenging for experts, those who have amassed significant knowledge in their respective fields. It's all too easy to get ahead, to offer solutions to problems the client isn't fully aware of yet. The challenge lies in striking a balance between demonstrating your expertise and remaining attuned to the client's current level of understanding and needs.

The methodology this book provides for developing this skill is encapsulated in four perspectives: outside thinking, outside-in thinking, inside thinking, and inside-out thinking: 1)Outside Thinking: This step requires you to fully inhabit the world of the client, to view their challenges and needs with an unbiased and empathetic lens. It involves listening more than speaking, observing more than demonstrating, and understanding more than advising.

2)Outside-In Thinking: With your insights from the outside thinking, now it's time to motivate yourself or your team to act on these insights. How can you or your organization grow with this opportunity?

3)Inside Thinking: This step involves understanding your own skills, knowledge, and capabilities in-depth. What unique value do you bring to the table? How can these skills and abilities be used most effectively in this specific situation?

4)Inside-Out Thinking: Finally, it's about demonstrating to the client how your unique skills and capabilities make you the best fit for addressing their needs. This involves conveying your understanding of their needs, showing how you're uniquely qualified to meet these needs, and motivating the client to choose you.

Photo by Daria Nepriakhina on Unsplash

May the best (wo)man win!

guide you step-by-step closer to winning.

During our lives and careers we WIN and LOOSE many times:

Once you start to see how the value based winning process works, you will get better and more effective every time you are in the winning and convincing process.

•Will I get the main part in the school musical?

•Will I be selected for university?

•Will I get the job out of 100 applicants?

•Will my organization win the 10-year contract of a hundred million?

Winning is often associated with luck, but what if I told you that you can learn to win! Not by cheating or having the lowest price or demands? But winning by making use of your Value: Value Based Winning.

To use this methodology effectively, start with outside-thinking. Know what is in it for you or your organisation to get yourself motivated.

Winning is hard, no motivation is no win. This is done in Outside-In thinking. Then, reflect on your skills and pick the ones that are valuable in this opportunity. Finally, craft a compelling narrative that makes it clear why you are the best choice (Inside-Out).

The power of this methodology lies in its emphasis on empathy, understanding, and alignment. It's not about overpowering the competition with flashy presentations or aggressive marketing. Instead, it's about demonstrating that you understand the client's needs better than anyone else and that you have the exact skills and capabilities to meet these needs.

So, the next time you find yourself aiming to win, whether it's a proposal, a project, or a contest, remember to apply these perspectives.

See the world from your client's viewpoint, align their needs with your capabilities, and communicate your value effectively. This is the secret to winning with value, the secret to transforming from a participant to a champion.

People and experts are often not fully aware of their value and how it relates to the ‘world’ - to their environment. The book, ‘The secret of Value Based convincing Winning’ is a compact book of 74 pages, with a step-to-step approach. It explains simplified and codified winning, making use of the value that is inside of every person, team or organization. It gives guidance on how to first learn to think like the client and learn what value the client truly seeks. The book explains the use of the different dimensions of showing value: The WHAT, the HOW, the WHY and the BELIEF-SYSTEM. What differentiates this approach is the addition and insight of the different BELIEF-SYSTEMS. BELIEF-SYSTEMS are a very relevant part of the winning process, however often kept invisible during the winning process. The comparison to the roots of the tree highlights how the belief system plays an important role in winning a project. Everyone initially focusses on the fruits of the tree (the project tender), however, the roots of the tree are often the most relevant part to address (why a tender was issued, not just the specifications).

The book contains several industry and personal examples to grasp the idea of value based winning, whereby the book focusses on the discover-phase: Match and see the different (potential) values.

The value-based-winning-matrix can be used as a fill-in exercise to

About the author Patrick Alexander, the author of the book ‘The secret of Value Based convincing Winning’ is an expert in winning and shaping the winning process. During his career he won and lost multiple times. As an inventor, he participated in a national contest with 2000 others and tackled several stages before winning this contest. During the last 10 years as a proposal architect, he worked with dozens of teams in making complex and winning proposals and tenders, contributing millions of Euros per year to his company’s revenue. Patrick’s mission is: Let people, teams and organizations with the highest value win. Let those win, who most deserve it!

More information on http://www.valuebasedwinning.com.

The book can be ordered via the website and https://www.amazon. co.uk

4

P21 AV News September 2023

Application News Advertorial

Logitech announces new hardware and software solutions to enhance hybrid meetings and optimise office space Logitech has announced hardware and software products designed to support and enhance the hybrid working experience in the office, including. The Rally Bar Huddle is an all-in-one video bar designed specifically for small rooms. The new Logi Dock Flex’s multiservice capability allows IT teams to choose Microsoft Teams, Zoom Workspace Reservation, or Logitech’s own desk booking service, with an additional choice of booking platforms to come.

Rally Bar Huddle Logitech International has announced Rally Bar Huddle, a premium all-in-one appliance-based video bar for huddle and small rooms, and the newest addition to Logitech’s family of conference cameras.

Designed to deliver equitable video conferencing meetings with ease, Rally Bar Huddle is quick to set up, simple to manage, and easy to integrate with Tap IP through CollabOS. As companies redesign their office spaces to create more collaboration areas for their hybrid workforce, huddle rooms have become more popular. According to research firm Futuresource, 68%* of companies plan to invest in AV technology for small meeting rooms and huddle spaces. “Huddle rooms are popping up faster than companies can video-enable them,” said Scott Wharton, general manager of Logitech B2B. “We designed Rally Bar Huddle from the ground up to have the optimal AI functionality for modern equitable meetings while coming in at a price point that is affordable for every single huddle room out there."

Rally Bar Huddle is designed for rooms for up to six people to ensure every participant is seen and heard clearly. Built-in AI video intelligence and 4K image quality welcome remote participants to the conversation. The redesigned ported-audio system makes Rally Bar Huddle two times louder than Logitech MeetUp. Advanced sound pickup via six beamforming mics and AI-based noise suppression creates a natural meeting experience for remote employees.

Ongoing software improvements make Rally Bar Huddle smarter through regular updates that add advanced features like RightSight 2. With RightSight 2, teams get access to AI features such as: Speaker View, which detects and shows the active speaker while also showing the entire room; and Grid View, which gives each participant equal representation by detecting faces and zooming in on each person to give them their own frame; plus integrations with Zoom Rooms Smart Gallery, Microsoft IntelliFrame and others.

Rally Bar Huddle can be deployed three ways. It works with both a dedicated Windows or ChromeOS computer; in BYOD mode; or runs supported video conferencing applications on the device in appliance mode without an external computer. Rally Bar Huddle works with leading video conferencing platforms, including Micro-

supporting responsible management of the world’s forests. All Logitech products are certified carbon neutral and use renewable energy where possible in their manufacturing. The carbon footprint of all Logitech products, including Rally Bar Huddle have been reduced to zero by supporting forestry, renewables and climate-impacted communities.

Rally Bar Huddle will be available globally in July 2023 through authorised sellers and logitech.com with a suggested retail price of $1699. RightSight 2 features will be available in Fall 2023. *Futuresource Conferencing in Small Meeting Rooms and Huddle Spaces Report (Dec 2022)

Logi Dock Flex In a further but related announcement, Logitech International has introduced a desk booking service that delivers a better hotdesking experience for employees and a greater ability to manage shared desks across multiple locations. The service runs on Logi Dock Flex, a fully featured managed docking station built for shared desks in flexible work environments. The move to a hybrid work model has given companies the opportunity to reassess and optimise their office space. But the hybrid evolution has also introduced the challenges of motivating employees back to the office, and the need for data and insights to understand space configuration and continued investment.

“Businesses know they have to earn the commute to get hybrid work employees into the office. The answer is not to add more foosball tables, but to instead offer a way for employees to plan their in-office days together,” said Scott Wharton, general manager of Logitech B2B. “We took a multidimensional approach to building Logi Dock Flex that not only solves desk booking and management issues but promotes social collaboration and gives IT and workplace managers data on how the tech and space are being used.”

soft Teams, Zoom, and Google Meet. IT teams can take Rally Bar Huddle out of the box and have the meeting room up and running in minutes. After setup, IT teams can monitor room health, deploy updates, and modify settings through single, cloud-based Logitech Sync. And with Sync Insights, teams can assess how meeting spaces are used over time.

Organisations can customise Rally Bar Huddle for specialty settings or to best suit their decor. An off-white fabric cover provides an alternative to the default graphite, and the easy-clean cover helps keep the video bar clean in healthcare and education environments. The paper packaging for Rally Bar Huddle comes from FSC-certified forests and other controlled sources. By choosing this product, you are

their own background photo and away message, and join meetings with one touch through calendar integrations with the Logi Tune app.

For ad-hoc booking, the interactive panel signals whether the desk is available or not.

IT teams can quickly install and deploy Logi Dock Flex at scale with secure cable management for clutter-free desk areas. Through Logitech Sync, IT can monitor and manage Logi Dock Flex remotely to adjust booking settings, manage equipment, and customise according to the company’s hybrid policies. Logi Dock Flex’s multiservice capability allows IT teams to choose Microsoft Teams, Zoom Workspace Reservation, or Logitech’s own desk booking service, with an additional choice of booking platforms to come. Logitech desk booking service is managed through Logitech Sync and can be deployed with either Logi Dock Flex or by using QR codes to work stand-alone, not requiring any purchase of Logitech hardware. For Facilities Managers, real-time insights and analytics on space usage help them understand how flexible office and return-to-office policies are performing. Workplace management data like desk utilisation, peak occupancy rates, and user behaviours take the guesswork out of usage and space planning.

Logitech is committed to creating a more equitable and climate positive world by actively working to reduce our carbon impact. That’s why Logi Dock Flex will partially be made using lower impact materials like post-consumer recycled plastics and low-carbon aluminium when possible, and will be shipped in responsibly sourced packaging. Logi Dock Flex, offered in off-white, will be available globally in Fall 2023 through authorised sellers and on logitech.com with a suggested retail price of $699 USD. Logitech’s desk booking service is available for free and can be requested today through the Sync management portal. Premium features like usage insights, alerts, and floor plan maps are free during the public beta through July 1, 2024. *Network effects: How to rebuild social capital and improve corporate performance, McKinsey 2022.

A McKinsey Social Capital survey* found that employees overall report feeling less connected to people within their company networks.

Through Logitech’s desk booking service, employees can plan days in the office with their teams, book a desk through Logi Tune and notify their teammates in-app. Once on-site, they simply plug into Logi Dock Flex with a single USB cable and quickly get to work.

With an 8-inch display, three USB ports in the front and three more in the back, Logi Dock Flex supports dual display, network connection and up to 100 watts of power, allowing for both secure, standard-issue device connections, as well as for employees to bring their own device. Employees can personalise their workstation with

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P23 AV News September 2023

Peoplewatch

Peoplewatch ZetaDisplay Germany, formally known as Nordland Systems GmbH, has appointed Stefan Hoffman as Country Director and Geschäftsführer. Former Head of Marketing Devices and Services at Google, Hoffman brings with him a vast experience of international markets and a strong track record of successful business growth in high performance territories.

Hoffmann has over 20 years of international marketing, sales and management experience in the CPG and digital industries, transforming business and marketing models to a digital first approach. In his role at Google, he spearheaded key German activities of Google’s Hardware business including Pixel Phones and Nest Smart Home solutions. Prior to that, Hoffmann has held leadership roles in the CPG industry and sales positions for global brands including Unilever, Wella and Colgate.

Per Mandorf, Group CEO at ZetaDisplay comments: “We’re very excited to welcome Stefan Hoffman as the new Country Director and Geschäftsführer for our ZetaDisplay business in Germany. His professional skills, leadership abilities and open personality will greatly contribute to our continued growth and development in in the DACH region. “I would also like to thank our departing Geschäftsführer, Andreas Pankow, for strong contribution to our successful business in Germany – we wish him all the best in the future.” Stefan Hoffmann, Country Director and Geschäftsführer at ZetaDisplay Germany says: “In my new role at ZetaDisplay I’m looking forward to working with so many talented and passionate people across the group. Together with my new German colleagues we will continue to grow and develop both the business and the team.”

ZetaDisplay Germany, formally known as Nordland Systems GmbH, has appointed Stefan Hoffman as Country Director and Geschäftsführer.

Backup Tech has announced well-known industry figure, Koy Neminathan, as a new trustee of the organisation and head of its Ambassador Programme. Koy, who is Business Development Director at Elation Professional and PLASA Manufacturer’s representative, is no stranger to the demands and pressures of the live entertainment industry. Following the events of the COVID-19 pandemic, he saw the very real challenges the industry faced, and vowed to put the needs of others before himself.

“I felt like helping others was what had to be done, it was such an important thing for me,” says Koy. “You’ve got to help those who can’t always help themselves and, particularly during the pandemic, I felt it was imperative to do what I could to support our industry at a time where people were struggling in so many ways and mental health became a massive issue - people were suffering in silence.

That’s what led me to think about joining Backup.”

During the pandemic, Koy worked with the #WeMakeEvents campaign, an initiative that was set up to raise awareness of the lack of support for freelancers and companies within the entertainment

4P24 AV News September 2023

industry, by helping coordinate the campaign across 40 countries and continues to work for the good of the industry today. Discussions surrounding his potential involvement with Backup began back in March 2023, when fellow Backup trustee, Paul Robson, approached him looking for a fresh, young mind to join the organisation. “I’ve always respected the charity and the individuals behind it, so I thought, why not? Let’s take a leap and do something different!” says Koy. Backup warmly welcomes Koy onboard, and the team is already benefitting from new ideas and innovations he brings to the organisation. “I wanted to bring a fresh perspective to the table about what we can do to raise more money and help more people,” Koy adds. “It’s not just about adding different events, but about how we get more of the industry understanding what Backup does, how to get more contributions, and highlight the good the charity is doing.”

“Koy is a fantastic addition to Backup,” concludes Backup Chair, Piers Shepperd. “He’s already adding a new approach and having him dedicated to the Ambassador Programme will help us continue the work we do to help the industry.”

engineers, etc., who are trying to do something that hasn’t been done before,” Bobel concludes. “The audio industry craves innovation but requires extensive education to embrace this new era of technology and sound. HOLOPLOT provides the much-needed inspiration and also serves as an invaluable source of knowledge for the industry's transition into this exciting space. I vividly remember the first time I experienced HOLOPLOT’s X1 Matrix Array and realised that this technology addresses every drawback of any other loudspeaker product. In that moment, I knew it would revolutionise the way sound is controlled and delivered, creating truly immersive audio landscapes. This is precisely what fuels my excitement about joining the company and contributing to its continued growth in the US.” HOLOPLOT has announced the expansion of its US presence with the appointment of James Bobel as Sales Manager for North America.

Backup Tech has announced well-known industry figure, Koy Neminathan, as a new trustee of the organisation and head of its Ambassador Programme

HOLOPLOT has announced the expansion of its US presence with the appointment of James Bobel as Sales Manager for North America. With decades of sales and technical experience and a proven track record of building trusted relationships in the commercial AV integration market, Bobel will be responsible for fostering relationships with US customers across all business sectors and identifying new markets which can benefit from HOLOPLOT’s innovative X1 and X2 Matrix Array product series’, as well as upcoming products in the company’s pipeline. “I’ve worked in the Professional Audio industry over the past two decades for integrators, and manufacturers. I have a genuine appreciation and passion for technology, and the opportunity to join HOLOPLOT was impossible to pass up.”

“Once I had ventured into the music business, I knew I’d discovered my true calling,” shares Bobel. “I’ve been a musician all my life, but I never thought I could build a career out of it. It was serendipitous that I found my way into the industry, and it felt like I belonged there. Transitioning into the audio field was a natural progression, aligning perfectly with my passion for music, entertainment, and performance.” Growing up in the 70s, Bobel was eagerly anticipating the possibilities that foretold technology would bring in the 80s and beyond. “I envisioned a life surrounded by robots, computers, and laser beams. That didn’t happen, but when I came across HOLOPLOT, I knew I’d finally found the future of audio I’d been yearning for all my life. The company has embarked on a daring mission to revolutionise the audio landscape in a world that often resists rapid change, and this challenge truly captivated me,” he adds.

Something Bobel finds particularly inspiring about working at HOLOPLOT is being part of the “you never thought it could happen” team. “What gets me up in the morning is working with designers,

Celerway has announced the appointment of technology stalwart Marianne Styrman as Chief Operating Officer. Styrman, who brings almost 30 years of technology experience as a founder of start-ups and leadership positions at large international technology corporations, will be responsible for Celerway’s operations and management strategy as it continues its growth and innovation across the international market. Reporting into Celerway co-Founder and CEO Audun Fosselie Hansen, Styrman’s appointment comes as the company looks to continue to develop its advanced connectivity platforms, allowing businesses to operate beyond the edge and capitalise on the transformative benefits of high-speed, low-latency 5G. Styrman was most recently the CEO of Last Mile Solutions, launching the company from a tech start-up to a high-performing business in the loT connectivity space. She was also the CEO of Movilisto and Moustik Holding AG, two telecommunications companies that pioneered SMS services. Styrman’s previous experience also includes Texas Instruments as Director of Marketing for Wireless Solutions and Director of loT Solutions at Webstep ASA. Marianne is also currently a Non-Executive Director for Camfil and Radiocrafts, supporting both as an advisor.

Marianne Styrman, Chief Operating Officer at Celerway, commented: “This is an incredibly exciting time to be joining Celerway and I’m thrilled to help the company go from strength-to-strength. With a focus on the integration of hardware and software at scale, it feels like the perfect fit; to me, Celerway embodies the perfect blend of innovation and drive, allied with an impressive track record of connectivity excellence by offering unbeatable levels of security, latency, extensibility and reliability not seen in any other edge solutions. The connectivity industry is thriving and I'm looking forward to supporting the team as we continue to be important partners for enterprises internationally.”

Audun Fosselie Hansen, Co-founder and CEO of Celerway, said: “Having someone of Marianne’s technology pedigree in our leadership team is invaluable. She brings a wealth of international experience within the connectivity industry and will be a key driver for our growth and innovation strategy.” Celerway delivers disruptive, lead-

Peoplewatch

Peoplewatch ing-edge, and secured mobile connectivity solutions with unmatched performance to workforces and organisations operating in the field.

A standout from its portfolio includes an ultra-compact platform which brings true mobility with built-in high-computing capabilities for ultra-fast, secure access to an organisation’s resources. With all devices configured and managed through the cloud, Celerway simplifies procurement, deployment, management and maintenance for IT teams.

Celerway has announced the appointment of technology stalwart Marianne Styrman as Chief Operating Officer.

accomplishments within the M&E industry including starting off at a young age working for iconic industry figures like Martin Scorsese and Lorne Michaels. She rose through the ranks at Technicolor and Deluxe, where she managed global client accounts for entertainment giants such as Paramount and Disney. The digital media evolution led her overseas in Poland, where she orchestrated the seamless merger of multiple subtitling and dubbing studios as Senior Vice President of Global Operations at SDI Media (now part of Iyuno).

With a passion for media technology, Baca steered global sales and marketing for Sony New Media Solutions, securing transformative distribution technology deals. After identifying Rightsline as an innovative solution for Sony’s technology platform, Baca joined the company where she oversaw global revenue operations before moving to Atelier Creative Technologies earlier this year. As an advocate for diversity and inclusion, Baca's presence on the Fabric Board amplifies the company's commitment to fostering an environment of varied perspectives and experiences. Reflecting on her new role, Baca shares, “My goal as a board member will be focused on providing support and guidance for the go to market and revenue strategies of Fabric. Having been through a similar growth process with Rightsline, as well as leaning on my past experiences with global sales and operations at Sony and SDI Iyuno, I bring a meaningful voice of experience to the board. I also believe that having a diverse board is important and as a woman working in leadership in tech, this is an extremely important initiative that Fabric continues to embrace with multiple appointments to senior positions filled by impressive women in the industry.”

Bluefin International has added a well-known and well-reputed industry professional to their commercial sales team in the new role of Senior Director of Business Development. Known as a top performer

Fabric has appointed Kira Baca, Chief Revenue Officer at Atelier Creative Technologies, to its Board of Directors. With a career spanning over 25 years in the Media and Entertainment (M&E) services and technology sector, Baca has carved a notable path within the industry. Starting her career with Technicolor Creative Services, she ascended to the position of Vice President of Business Development at Deluxe Digital Studios. She is currently serving as the Chief Revenue Officer at Atelier Creative Technologies, which she moved to after several years as Chief Revenue Officer of Rightsline.

Rob Delf, CEO of Fabric said: “Kira’s wealth of experience and insight makes her a natural fit for Fabric's board. Her extensive tenure in the M&E landscape positions her as a valuable advisor to Fabric's leadership team, contributing her strategic acumen to guide the company's growth trajectory.” Baca's career includes multiple

She’s got a solid track record for being a top sales achiever. She’s also very involved in the industry with the Women in AV/IT (WAVIT) organization and has been a well-known volunteer for many years.

That combination was exactly what we were looking for when developing this role - someone that’s connected and customer-centric.

Look for Susan at several of our upcoming events like CEDIA/Commercial Integrator Expo in Denver, as well as the Total Tech Summit, and DSE later this year.”

POLAR has announced the expansion of its team with the appointment of Duncan Peberdy to the post of Business Development Manager, Integrated Solutions. Duncan has wide-ranging experience of both the IT and AV worlds acquired through a variety of roles with resellers, distributors and manufacturers. His recent roles include Senior Lead for Digital Learning at Jisc and Territory Manager for Europe at T1V, both of which have seen him deliver groundbreaking work in the area of digital transformation. Duncan’s flair for innovation has been at the forefront of helping organisations in the corporate and education sectors embrace new ways of working and learning. He is the author of a number of books on the subject of digital technology.

During his time with T1V, Duncan forged a close relationship with POLAR, the exclusive UK distributor for ThinkHub and T1V Story, so his introduction to the company’s Integrated Solutions division will bring great benefits according to Head of Integrated Solutions, Will Turney: “We’re very pleased to welcome Duncan to the team.

His experience, expertise and personality will strengthen us in many areas. His in-depth understanding of the changing face of Pro AV is exactly what we need during this period where our brand portfolio is expanding to include new and exciting UC solutions.”

Managing Director, John Midgley adds: “Duncan’s understanding of digital technology and its application in work and education settings is second to none. As companies and campuses embrace digital transformations to remain relevant to their customers, students and colleagues, our portfolio can supply all their needs. Duncan’s experience and expertise will help our customers craft solutions that are tailored to meet the precise needs of end users across a broad spectrum of applications. His passion for sharing knowledge shines through in all of his work, and we’re delighted that he has joined the POLAR a team.”

Duncan Peberdy looks forward to his new role: “Joining the POLAR Integrated Solutions division feels like an entirely natural next step for me. POLAR’s extensive portfolio can support the widest possible range of applications, so I’m looking forward to taking on every conceivable type of challenge to help our customers deliver the benefits that advances in digital technology can bring.”

POLAR has announced the expansion of its team with the appointment of Duncan Peberdy to the post of Business Development Manager, Integrated Solutions.

Bluefin has strengthened its commercial sales team with industry professional, Susan Wilhite.1

Fabric has appointed Kira Baca, Chief Revenue Officer at Atelier Creative Technologies, to its Board of Directors.

in the industry, Susan Wilhite will focus on cultivating key relationships with channel partners and will help to establish Bluefin as the go-to digital signage resource in the commercial AV space.

Bluefin specializes in custom signage displays for consumer-focused branding and engagement. Recently, Bluefin has expanded their offering to help ProAV integrators and distributors address the long lead times with which the industry is struggling. Inventory of commonly requested signage configurations is now available in their Cumming, GA warehouse for immediate delivery. Additionally, “light-custom” that the company refers to as tailored options are available should requirements arise that the stocked products won’t fit. The addition of Susan is opportune as the company rolls out this problem-solving approach to AV integrators.

“I love this industry, and truly love helping people solve problems with innovative solutions - that’s always been my main objective throughout my career. My goal is to continue Bluefin’s growth by being customer-focused and identify opportunities where Bluefin’s products can impact a brand’s recognition and messaging. I’ll be heading to Atlanta next week for our Global Sales Meeting and can’t wait to meet and collaborate with the team,” says Susan Wilhite, Senior Director of Business Development.

From Bluefin CEO, Frank Pisano, “Susan is a perfect fit for Bluefin!

4

P25 AV News September 2023

Peoplewatch

Peoplewatch Kramer has announced the appointment of highly experienced and multi-talented AV/IT professional, Marco Widmann, as its new Area Sales Manager for Central Germany, tasked with driving the company’s ‘AVoIP revolution’ in the DACH market. As one of the AV industry’s most expansive talents, Marco – a father of three – adds significant, knowledge and experience to Kramer’s expanding team, having worked at and delivered success to some of the world’s leading and most established AV companies during an illustrious career.

This includes almost four years as Channel Marketing Manager and Key Account Manager at Samsung Electronics, playing an instrumental role in delivering record sales growth – a proud track record Marco aims to repeat with Kramer.

Based in Frankfurt, multi-lingual Marco becomes the latest high-profile addition to Kramer’s DACH management team in recent weeks, with Gerrit Lipgens – to whom he will report– recently joining as Country Manager. More than just an appointment, Marco represents the continued evolution of Kramer’s DACH and wider European strategy, adding enhanced strength and resources to existing regional sales and management teams, while providing more localized, relationship-driven support and offerings to its valued partners and customers.

Among his responsibilities as Area Sales Manager, include extending and solidifying relationships with new and existing partners, identifying new sales and opportunities across all market verticals, generating new leads and converting sales, while driving greater understanding and awareness of Kramer’s innovative and highly advanced range of multi-award-winning engagement technology and software solutions. Part of a company-wide focus, and having identified significant opportunities in the DACH market, Marco – a qualified football referee, and coach for young children in his spare time – will look to further drive awareness and the outstanding benefits of its “unrivalled” suite of AVoIP hardware and soft-

Gerrit added: “Kramer is a company on the rise and to ensure business is done in the right way, it’s important that we have the right people. With Marco’s extensive experience in AV, IT and even marketing, we have that. His achievements to date make him one of the industry’s most accomplished talents and we’re delighted to have him on board for this important role.” He continued: “As an industry leader, Kramer is not only reacting to market trends and customer needs but also leading them. We’re prolific in supporting customers in transitioning to AvoIP, with an evolving, highly innovative and multi-award-winning range of solutions. It’s time more partners and customers in our region can reap the value and benefits these provide, whatever business they’re in. Kramer is the destination for AVoIP.” Marco concluded: “I feel like all roads in my AV career have come to this, and I have never been more excited nor enthusiastic.

We have some incredible opportunities in the DACH market and I’m proud to be joining Kramer on its journey and helping to fulfil its undoubted potential.”

UK-based music tech start-up Digit Music is pleased to announce the appointment of Wai Hang Cyril Leung as App Developer. With a focus on producing award-winning music hardware and software, Digit Music is set to revolutionise the music production and performance landscape with their latest creation, CMPSR. This is a groundbreaking MIDI controller and the accompanying App. Cyril joins the company with an impressive track record, boasting 18 years of experience in mobile application development in software agencies in Hong Kong, and serving large and small organisations across a range of industry sectors, including financial, government and IT. This appointment has been made possible through the generous funding received from the Inclusive Innovation Award 2022/2023,

Lightware Visual Engineering has announced the appointment of Ping-Sum (Sam) Ng as Regional Director for Greater China Office.

In his new role, Sam will oversee Lightware’s expanding business operations in China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau, and ensure the company continues its impressive momentum of growth in the region.

Digit Music’s new App Developer. Wai Hang Cyril Leung.

Kramer has announced the appointment of highly experienced and multi-talented AV/IT professional, Marco Widmann, as its new Area Sales Manager for Central Germany, tasked with driving the company’s ‘AVoIP revolution’ in the DACH market. ware solutions. According to forecasts, the global AV-over-IP market size was valued at $4782.49 million in 2022 rising to $76850.48 million by 2028*, presenting significant opportunities for Kramer and its partners. Used and trusted by organisations around the world, and across a growing number of market verticals – from corporate buildings to university campuses, and even fishing vessels – Kramer has become a leading brand of choice in providing high quality, secure and reliable capture, management and distribution of audio and video signals over an IP network, whether in single or multiple locations anywhere on the planet. Kramer customers now have a full suite of AVoIP solutions, suitable for projects of any size and scale, including AV Streamers, Audio Over IP, Network Switches, and Management Software. This includes the readily available lineup of KDS-7 products, plus the new (available from October) state-of-theart KDS-100. Launched at InfoComm 2023, the KDS-100 boasts exceptional scalability and offers a 4K60 AVoIP streaming solution based on open standards.

Discussing his appointment, Marco said: “I am proud and excited to be joining Kramer and be part of its exciting new journey in the DACH market. The company has undergone some significant and positive transformations in recent years and is in a fantastic and enviable position to combine its truly world-leading solutions, with never-before-seen levels of support to its partners. Kramer is driving the AV over IP revolution, and today, I’m confident in saying we offer the most extensive product range, found anywhere in the current market. The opportunities as a business, for our partners and end customers, have never been greater.”

4P26 AV News September 2023

Lightware Visual Engineering has announced the appointment of Ping-Sum (Sam) Ng as Regional Director for Greater China Office.

With an extensive background spanning over two decades in the AV industry, he joins Lightware following a highly successful career with other leading brands in the AV industry - including AMX, Extron, and Biamp. With roles as Regional Sales Manager and Business Development Manager, he fostered direct partnerships with system integrators, clients, and consultants across priority Asian markets such as China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Korea, and Macau, solidifying his stature as a leader in the field. “I firmly believe that my vast industry knowledge and expertise will be instrumental in driving Lightware’s growth and success in the Greater China region,” he comments. “I am excited to contribute to the company’s vision and look forward to leading our team towards achieving new milestones and expanding our presence in this dynamic market.”

“We are delighted to have Sam onboard as we continue to expand into China and the surrounding territories,” comments Tamás Rapcsák - Global Sales Director at Lightware. “It is a demanding market with many complexities, and we believe his twenty years of experience at the top of the AV industry in the region will give us the firm footing we need to continue to pursue our growth plans.”

granted by Innovate UK. This prestigious award acknowledged Digit Music's exceptional contributions to inclusive innovation and its unwavering commitment to promoting equal opportunity and accessibility in the field of music education. The Inclusive Innovation Award 2022/2023 grant has played a pivotal role in empowering Digit Music to expand its team and bring on board a seasoned professional like Cyril as the new App Developer.

Commenting on his new role, Cyril states: “I am thrilled to be part of Digit Music's mission to revolutionise the way people interact with and enjoy music. In my role as App Developer, I will spearhead the implementation of the CMPSR app, including design system architecture, ensuring a seamless user experience while integrating with a wide array of music hardware and software to cater to the diverse needs of Digit Music's user base.” In the current stage of CMPSR app development, Cyril will focus on bringing the unique user experience of physical CMPSR onto mobile phones and tablets, supporting popular music production software including Garageband and BandLab. Users will be able to connect to the application and create music with their own device, import sound samples of their favourite instruments, and collaborate with other musicians through various MIDI systems.

Moving forward, the subsequent development stage will concentrate on enhancing accessibility functions. This includes providing more ways to interact with the instrument, offering tutorials tailored to users' skill levels, and enabling them to effortlessly record, save, and playback their musical creations. Si Tew, founder of Digit Music, shared his enthusiasm, saying: “We have numerous exciting features planned for the CMPSR application, aiming to provide users with an advanced musical experience. We warmly welcome Cyril to our team and are confident that his expertise will elevate the application and ecosystem to new heights.”

Cyril concludes: “I am excited to be joining Digit Music as an App Developer using my experience with cutting-edge technology to make music more accessible and enjoyable for all users. I look forward to contributing to the success of CMPSR and empowering musicians worldwide.

Peoplewatch

Peoplewatch RealWear, the pioneer and leader of industrial extended reality (XR) wearables, has announced the appointment of Dr. Chris Parkinson as RealWear’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Dr. Parkinson, co-founder, and former CTO of RealWear, is the visionary mind behind the HMT-1 flagship headset that started the RealWear story in 2016. The HMT-1 was RealWear’s first industrial head-mounted tablet computer on the market and catapulted RealWear into the spotlight for delivering an Extended Reality (XR) solution that worked for frontline teams who required the use of both hands to do their work and whose operations demanded 100% equipment uptime.

Dr. Parkinson brings a wealth of knowledge, experience, and passion to his new role as CEO. As the primary inventor of the RealWear HMT-1 headset and the driving force behind its hands-free user ex-

RealWear, the pioneer and leader of industrial extended reality (XR) wearables, has announced the appointment of Dr. Chris Parkinson perience, Dr. Parkinson has been at the forefront of revolutionising the way frontline professionals interact with technology. His specialty lies in developing hands-free computing built on high-accuracy, noise-robust speech recognition, and gesture-controlled user experiences.

Before co-founding RealWear, Dr. Parkinson led the technology development of the groundbreaking “Golden-i” series of head-mounted computers, which laid the foundation for RealWear HMT-1 as well as today’s flagship product. This transformative work for Kopin Corporation covered 9 years of research and development and resulted in more than 100 patents around head-worn computing and 5 generations of headset devices. In 2015, he embarked on his entrepreneurial journey, forming the company that eventually became RealWear, to realise his ambitions of introducing ruggedised handsfree computing to the world.

Dr. Parkinson holds a bachelor’s degree (with honours) in Chemistry from the University of Manchester, UK, and a PhD in Computational Chemistry and Moleculars, also from the University of Manchester.

Moving to the USA in 1996, he has remained a prominent figure in the Northwest, currently residing in the Tri-Cities area in Washington state In a statement regarding his new position, Dr. Parkinson said, “I am deeply honoured and excited to have been appointed as the CEO of RealWear. Our mission is clear: to empower frontline professionals with cutting-edge XR wearables and artificial intelligence (AI)-driven solutions that enhance their productivity and overall work experience. It is essential to provide them with the same or even better level of technological support that has been enjoyed by knowledge workers for years.”

Dr. Parkinson’s vision for RealWear centres around a commitment to delivering solutions, not just hardware, that effortlessly integrate into the everyday routines of frontline professionals in manufacturing, automotive and healthcare. With an unwavering focus on company growth and innovation, he is determined to continue enhancing RealWear’s product offerings and expanding the company’s reach in various industries. “Two of my biggest priorities will be incorporating AI and sustainability into everything that we do,” continued Dr. Parkinson. “We will do this through our own engineering teams and through our many incredible partners who are participating in our growing App Marketplace.”

Under Dr. Parkinson’s leadership, RealWear is poised to strengthen its position as an industry partner and deliver XR wearable solutions that are tailored to the specific needs of frontline professionals, promoting safer, more efficient, and more productive work environments. Dr. Parkinson succeeds Mr. Andrew Chrostowski, who has retired from his position. The board of directors expresses its heartfelt appreciation to Chrostowski for his exceptional leadership and dedication.

Parks Associates, a leading market research and consulting company specializing in emerging consumer technology products and services has announced the appointment of Eric Sorensen as the new director of the Streaming Video Tracker. With over 20 years of experience in the technology and media industries, and an extensive background in developing live streaming and digital media strategies, Sorensen brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to Parks Associates. Eric has a proven track record in analysing market trends and consumer behaviour in the rapidly evolving streaming landscape. Sorensen will be responsible for overseeing and spearheading Parks Associates' research initiatives focused on the streaming industry, including insights into consumer preferences, content consumption, business models and service growth. “We are thrilled to welcome Eric Sorensen to our team,” said Elizabeth Parks, President and CMO of Parks Associates. “His incredible expertise, especially the great understanding of sports rights, brings valuable perspectives to our clients and partners to help understand the disruption in advertising, video viewing, and streaming services.”

The research service, delivered for almost a decade, features extensive information on the streaming video market in North America, including business model tracking, quarterly subscriber estimates of 400+ services, analysis on platform usage and trends, viewer data for AVOD (Advertising Video on Demand) and FAST (Free Advertising Streaming Television) services, and historical data trends dating back to 2014.

Before joining Parks Associates, Sorensen held several key positions at ESPN, Red Seat Ventures, and The Houston Astros. His insights have been featured in numerous industry publications and have helped industry leaders shape their strategies.

“I am honoured to join Parks Associates,” Sorensen said. “Given the dynamic nature of the industry, the data gathered in the Streaming Video Tracker is invaluable to any company that operates in this space. I'm excited to see our research and Future of Video conferences continue to aid streaming providers and ecosystem players.” Eric also plays a key role in Parks Associates annual executive As Clear-Com continues to grow worldwide, the company is delighted to announce the appointments of several key members to its U.S. team: Jeremy Thelen and Greg Wolf join as Applications Engineers and JP Torres joins as Senior Product Training Specialist. JP assumes the role formerly occupied by Frank Linton, who has accepted a new position within Clear-Com as Product Manager for Military, Aerospace and Government.

Both Jeremy and Greg join Clear-Com from Game Creek Video, where they were Mobile Unit Engineers and EIC (Engineers in Charge) and worked on some of the largest sports broadcasts in the country, including “NFL on CBS” and multiple Super Bowl championships, “Final Four,” the Masters golf tournament, the PGA Championships, and more. They bring a wealth of technical expertise, especially in IP networking which has become a growing customer need.“The systems we are installing are becoming more and more complex, especially in the world of networking,” says Applications Engineering Manager, Justin Emge. “When you consider the requirements for proper networks when transporting AES67 audio, you can never get enough of a brain trust to support those systems and the customer.

Jeremy and Greg bring to the table significant knowledge and expe-

Parks Associates, a leading market research and consulting company specializing in emerging consumer technology products and services has announced the appointment of Eric Sorensen as the conference. The 6th annual Future of Video will be held November 14-16 in Marina del Rey, California and virtual sessions are hosted throughout the year, including the upcoming session on Sept 14. The conference, sponsored by Adeia and FPT Software, brings together leaders to share insights on trends in the streaming and video content industries. rience that will take an already successful Applications Engineering team and elevate it above the rest.”

JP joins the company after 13 years at Sony Electronics, where he worked as a promotional Video Producer and Senior Audio Content Trainer for consumer products in North America. He brings nearly 20 years of experience in video production and audio content management, including design expertise which he will use to develop content for product training. “JP’s combination of skills in both training delivery and video design made him the perfect candidate for this role,” says Gavin MacDonald, Senior Director of Global Service and Support. “We put significant energy and time into developing high-value training content for our customers, and I look forward to seeing how much more JP can elevate our video, webinar and in person training content.”

The 34-year-old is working alongside Partner Account Managers, Solution Consultants, Support Engineers, Marketing, and other Evolve IP teams to resolve queries and provide the highest levels of customer support. His objective is to ensure the Evolve IP product set is the preferred voice, contact centre and collaboration technology solution of choice.

As Clear-Com continues to grow worldwide, the company is delighted to announce the appointments of several key members to its U.S.

4

P27 AV News September 2023

Diary and Events

ISE commemorates two decades

Integrated Systems Europe (ISE), the world's premier global exhibition for professional audio-visual (proAV) and systems integration, has announced that the 2024 edition of the show will mark its 20th birthday. Since its inception in Geneva in 2004, ISE has grown into an industry-defining event, bringing together professionals, innovators, and thought leaders from around the world. The journey from its humble beginnings to becoming the definitive event in the pro AV and integrated systems industry has been a remarkable story of yearon-year growth. During this time, ISE has served as a catalyst for groundbreaking technological advances, fostered meaningful connections and dialogue, and propelled the systems integration industry to new heights.

ISE 2024 promises to be another highlight in the history of the event. All valued participants and partners are invited to join ISE in commemorating this historic milestone for the show.

Renowned for its rich cultural heritage, stunning architecture, and innovative spirit, Barcelona will serve as an ideal backdrop for the next phase of innovation and growth in the pro AV and integrated systems realm. “Over the last 20 years, ISE has been at the forefront of audiovisual innovation, industry trends, and global collaboration,” said Mike Blackman, Managing Director, Integrated Systems Events. “Our new branding, which we introduce today, reflects not only the evolution of our event but also our commitment to continuously push boundaries and shape the future of the industry. As we step into this significant milestone of 20 years of ISE, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to our community for its unwavering support, trust, and contributions that have been pivotal to the success of ISE. Together, we will continue to shape the future of pro AV and systems integration.”

With the largest-ever show floor set across 65,000m², and with already more than 115 new ex-

ISE has grown into an industry-defining event, bringing together professionals, innovators, and thought leaders from around the world.

Sony shows connected solutions for creativity

hibitors confirmed, ISE 2024 will offer a dynamic platform for manufacturers, integrators, distributors, end-users, and industry enthusiasts to engage in a comprehensive showcase of cutting-edge products, solutions, and thought leadership.

Attendees can look forward to immersive demonstrations, insightful panel discussions, and unparalleled networking opportunities. Stay tuned for upcoming information about celebrations, features and news about ISE 2024, where innovation knows no bounds and new possibilities await.

Registration for ISE 2024 will open on 1 October 2023, visit www.iseurope.org.

Reasons why you need to be at IBC! IBC’s organisers have identified the following reasons why they believe you should attend the show this year: •Innovation Stag: The Innovation Stage brings you a concentrated dose of insights and innovative projects. Be at the forefront of next-gen tech innovation with our IBC Accelerator programme and sessions from leading edge exhibitors such as ZEASN, Xytech and Imagine Communications.

•Game On: IBC2023 is set to host an extensive gaming and esports offering with a full day of sessions on the Showcase Theatre, a dedicated zone on the showfloor and focused tech tours, as the worlds of film, TV and gaming continue to converge.

•Go Premium: The ultimate pass offering a programme of networking activities including breakfasts, content-led roundtables and access to an exclusive Lounge where you can have meaningful conversations and open up new relationships to help you grow and develop your business.

•4.Tech Magic! Don’t miss the Show Keynote: This year’s free to attend showstopping keynote will be delivered by, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory’s, Creative Technologist, Marco Tempest who will give us a glimpse of a delightful, augmented future right now.

•Accelerator Programme: If you are thinking about the future, the Accelerator Zone in Hall 3 is where you need to be! The pro-

gramme consists of 8 projects exploring some of the hottest topics in the industry!

•Technical Papers: Discover original, novel research on solutions to real-world problems.

The successful Technical Papers will be presented as part of the IBC2023 conference programme.

•Partnership Pavilion: IABM, SMPTE, SCTE, IET, RTS and IEEE are the six leading international bodies behind IBC. Meet them at the Partnership Pavilion and look out for dedicated content sessions taking place across IBC. •IBC Tech ZoneNew to IBC this year is the specially curated IBC Tech Zone, powered by EBU, with the very latest innovative technologies, industry standards and future product solutions on display. Discover the latest ideas, innovations and concept technologies from international industry and academia.

•Content Everywhere: Visit Hall 5 for a showcase of the very latest emerging technologies for multi-platform delivery, OTT and the monetisation of content.

This year, there will be two Content Theatres and an exclusive networking area.

•The Beach: Next to the RAI you will find the Beach - a large complex, which is home to the restaurant and various rooms for events. From enjoying a craft beer on the terrace to an industry networking event in one of its private areas, the Beach is the ideal venue for all your IBC event requirements.

P28 AV News September 2023

•BC Exhibition: Meet over 1,250 exhibitors from over 170 countries who will be showcasing their latest products and services. ARRI, Blackmagic Design, Bridge Technologies, Canon Europe, plus LG leading a contingent of companies from the Asia Pacific region.

•IBC Conference: The IBC Conference is one of the world’s most important gatherings for media thought leaders and takes place on Friday 15 and Saturday 16 September. Take advantage of keynote presentations, in-depth research, strategic interviews and panel discussions.

•Owner Programme: Each year at the show, IABM, SMPTE, SCTE, IET, RTS and IEEE deliver a multitude of sessions covering a wide variety of topics from the latest industry standards and strategies for business transformation, to defining future networks and building new broadcast infrastructures.

•Showcase Theatre: Hear top brands Accenture, Zixi, Wondershare, Microsoft, Google and AWS share their latest thinking and views on what’s shaping the future of media in the Showcase Theatre in Hall 12.

•Changemaker Programme: The free-to-attend Changemaker programme, on Sunday 17 and Monday 18 September in the Forum puts a spotlight on People and Purpose. Trailblazing organisations, initiatives, and individuals changing the culture of our industry take to the stage.

•Partner Programme: Another feature of our free-to-attend

IBC 2023 taking place in Amsterdam IBC 2023, taking place in Amsterdam, Netherlands from September 15th - 18th, Sony will showcase innovative solutions for the Media Industry under the theme of Creativity Connected.

It rests on long-term commit-

media production, sharing and distribution.

•Imaging, with colour science, flexibility and ease of operation at the heart of Sony’s cameras and lenses, in particular its Cinema Line range, including CineAlta

meeting many of our long-term partners, friends and customers” said Olivier Bovis, Head of Media Solutions, “but also to showcase our most recent announcements. We know that

At IBC 2023, taking place in Amsterdam, Netherlands from September 15th - 18th, Sony will showcase innovative solutions for the Media Industry under the theme of Creativity Connected

ment to customers around core technologies allowing them to be ever more creative and efficient, bearing in mind an environmentally responsible strategy. Sony’s complete ecosystem of solutions, products and services reflect four strategic areas of focus which are shaping the media industry, namely: •Networked Live, an evolving platform enabling the optimization of people, locations, and processing for each and every live production environment, whether they be on the ground or in the cloud.

• Creators’ Cloud, Sony’s cloud platform dedicated to efficient

cameras and reference monitors, and the added benefit of SDK-based remote control.

•Virtual Production, for film production that combines the Virtual Production Toolset software with Crystal LED displays for high brightness and contrast 3D set background images and rich colour reproduction, and the VENICE camera series, for soft and delicate depictions, smooth skin tones, and beautiful colour reproduction. Sony will be sharing more about its Virtual Production solutions at the IBC Innovation Stage on Saturday 16th September at 10 am.

“We look forward not only to

content programme, the Partner Programme includes seminars from organisations such as European Digital Cinema Forum

(EDCF) and MovieLabs, and covers topics such as content delivery, sustainability in broadcasting and the future of the me-

value creation, remote and distributed production, platforms and workflows efficiencies are the cornerstones of any broadcaster or media industry business in the next few years and we will be shaping the future with them to bring production at any scale, anywhere.”

As Sony believes that every member of the media industry has a responsibility to behave ethically and reduce their environmental impact, its booth will highlight the latest initiatives from Sony in this regard. Find out more at pro.sony/ibc.

dia industry.

Tempted? You can register at:. ibc.org/registration.

LG shares its vision for a sustainable life LG Electronics (LG) invited consumers from around the globe to experience its latest innovations at IFA 2023 in Berlin, Germany.

Under the theme of Sustainable Life, Joy for All, the company introduced the LG Sustainable Village and an evolved ecosystem of efficient, convenient and sustainable products and solutions designed to help create a better life for people and the planet. During IFA 2023, visitors to LG’s booth in Hall 18 at Messe Berlin can discover the advanced, eco-minded features and functions of the company’s newest offerings and learn about its comprehensive vision for a sustainable life.

Those unable to attend IFA in person can still explore LG’s innovation showcase by checking

out the LG Booth video, which will be uploaded to the LG Global YouTube channel (https:// www.youtube. com/@LGGlobal) from the opening day.