CEDIA Communicates Magazine - Quarter 3 2021 - Americas/Asia Pacific

Q3 2021

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CONTENTS

AM CEDIA: 8 ISandy Howard

Crum 18 Poppy Meet the Keynote Speaker for Expo 2021

A Q&A with the brains behind AVD Australia

at a Glance 32 Getting to Know Indy 22 Education Everything about Expo’s host city CEDIA’s in-person & online offerings for Expo

KA Theater 12 The A look at the CEDIA 2020 Global winner

Location, Location 46 Location, What to know if you’re building a showroom

for Best Home Cinema

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A Trip to the Kitchen Results of a recent smart appliance survey

CEDIA Certified 44 Get An update from the Certification

Courses 56 Calibration Remote work best practices — for your clients AND you

Basics 58 Videoconferencing Understanding the platforms and pitfalls

department CEDIA COMMUNICATES

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LIVE AND IN-PERSON A NOTE FROM CEDIA’S INTERIM CO-CEOS Expo week is fast approaching and with it the excitement of seeing old friends, interacting with exhibitors and new products, experiencing speakers, and all the rest of Expo in person.

In just a few short weeks we will all be able to walk the floors of the Indiana Convention Center and take in CEDIA Expo in the way we remember: face to face, in person. That means that classroom training is back, too, and our education volunteers are likely as excited as we are as we take these steps into the “new normal.”

CEDIA Talks are returning, along with the socializing and networking we’ve all missed so much.

One development to note: During the pandemic we learned, as an association, how to most effectively present virtual courses.

As a result, online offerings remain a part of this year’s Expo for learners around the globe.

CONTACT 8475 Nightfall Lane, Fishers, Indiana 46037 USA Email: info@cedia.org Telephone: +1 800.669.5329 Unit 2, Phoenix Park, St Neots Cambridgeshire, PE19 8EP, UK Email: info@cedia.co.uk Telephone: +44 (0)1480 213744 www.cedia.net

SOCIAL

FRONT COVER Visit Indy visitindy.com

COPYRIGHT All material in Communicates is the copyright of CEDIA and any reproduction of said material would require written permission from the association. Although every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of content published, CEDIA cannot accept responsibility for any factual errors that may occur. CEDIA cannot accept responsibility for the veracity of claims made by contributors.

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There’s another aspect of Expo that’s really special this year: Since the show is in Indy — just a short drive from CEDIA HQ — that means that you’ll have the added resource of a “staff full of insiders.” The CEDIA crew is full of civic pride and will be happy to make recommendations when it comes to food, drink, and entertainment in the Circle City. A good number of those suggestions appear in the pages that follow.

In the meantime, CEDIA’s other work continues. One partnership we’re especially excited about: PowerHouse Alliance members will offer CEDIA’s industry-leading training in their 55-plus locations across the United States. This initiative will be fully implemented by the end of 2021. It’s the first of many opportunities that we’re exploring to make in-person training more accessible across the globe.

We’re also approaching wrapping up all the work on the second of our two new CEDIA Certifications, the Integrated Systems Technician certification, or IST. This joins our Cabling and Infrastructure Technician (CIT) certification (a prerequisite to the IST) as an update that best reflects the current role and duties of the technology integrator.

We’re excited to tell you more about all our ongoing initiatives throughout this issue, and can’t wait to get back to engaging with our members live and in-person as events return around the world.

All our best,

Kory Dickerson Giles Sutton CEDIA Interim Co-CEOs

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NEWS IN BRIEF PowerHouse Alliance and CEDIA Partner to Expand In-Person Training Availability and Accessibility The PowerHouse Alliance and CEDIA have partnered to expand the availability of CEDIA’s industry-leading in-person training programs.

As one of the first CEDIA Education Partners in the industry the PowerHouse Alliance 11 distributor members are committed to hosting in-person CEDIA Training courses at over 55 locations across the United States beginning in Q4 of 2021.

“It is a common cry throughout the channel: dealers want access to CEDIA’s hands-on foundational courses to support both newly hired employees as well as technicians who want to advance their career,” says Giles Sutton, CEDIA co-interim CEO. Dennis Holzer, Executive Director of The PowerHouse Alliance adds, “Every PowerHouse location will have at least one CEDIA-certified instructor, offering dealers the peace-of-mind that their new hires are learning the right protocols and standards of work to be successful on the job.”

CEDIA and PowerHouse Alliance have a shared goal of hosting at least one training in every PowerHouse Alliance member location each quarter. Training programs are slated to begin in October of 2021 and will start with the foundational courses that prepare individuals to sit for the CEDIA Cabling & Infrastructure Technician Certification with more advanced trainings that lead to CEDIA Integrated Systems Technician Certification planned in 2022.

Individuals can sign up to be notified of when training will be at a PowerHouse location near them here.

To learn more about the PowerHouse Alliance or any of its member distributors, please visit powerhousealliance.com/.

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CEDIA Propel Accelerates as Zuma Joins BusinessBuilding Lineup CEDIA Propel, a program that connects CEDIA members with access to emerging trends, new technology brands, and innovative products, has added Zuma to a growing list of partners focused on advancing home technology integration businesses. Zuma, a newly-launched company creating an immersive, high-performance sound and light experience, add additional avenues for CEDIA members looking to diversify their business and skills, and create opportunities with cuttingedge offerings.

With CEDIA Propel, CEDIA members can access preferred pricing on Zuma’s products. Zuma has created an ultracompact, high performance loudspeaker with a low energy LED light, all housed within a stylish, simple to install, ceiling light fixture. It is a virtually invisible, wireless, and clutter free audio experience that combines circadian rhythm, mood lighting, and wellbeing for users and can also be voice-controlled with Alexa.

Zuma is first launching in the United Kingdom market and additional markets are planned in due course.

"We are thrilled that Zuma is joining Propel," Zuma Managing Director Stuart Collingwood. "As a new brand with innovative new products, Propel offers a fantastic way to introduce ourselves to CEDIA members and their customers.

Zuma provides an exciting addition to members' portfolios as well as opening up new audiences who wish to seamlessly enjoy immersive sound, light, and wellbeing experiences in their homes."

Zuma joins Autoslide, Amazon, Bryte, and Immersive Gym in CEDIA Propel. Find out more about accessing this unique member benefit at CEDIA.net/Propel.

CEDIA To Become Grow with Google Education Partner, Will Offer Free Business Courses

CEDIA is offering prospective and current members free access to Grow with Google courses in a range of subjects to complement its industry-leading curriculum. Accessed via CEDIA Academy online, the curated collection of courses from Google explores topics such as the "Fundamentals of Online Marketing," "Design Thinking for the Entrepreneur," "Attract More Customers Online Using Digital Tools and the Black-Owned Business Attribute," and more. The first 10 topics were posted in May, with new topics posted at the beginning of each month following.

Access to Grow with Google content is free and accessible through CEDIA.net/GrowwithGoogle. Initial Grow with Google subject matter available in CEDIA Academy is optimized for U.S. and Canada learners. For information about CEDIA membership and its benefits, visit CEDIA.net/membership or contact member@cedia.org.

The CEDIA Designer: Enhanced Features from Your Feedback The team behind The CEDIA Designer has delivered big advancements within the home cinema and media room design and planning software. Now the free-to-CEDIA-members Media Room Level, can also access 3D renderings.

Additionally, all 3D renderings and CAD drawings created in the time-saving, technically-accurate tool now include inroom speakers, drop-down screens, and projectors.

TCD is the first design software built by home cinema and media room designers for home cinema and media room designers, allowing integrators to create detailed plans for a dedicated cinema or media room in minutes, not days. New manufacturing partners are being added regularly to the TCD lineup, allowing users to save time and money while showing off the capabilities, look, and feel of projects of all sizes and budgets. TheCEDIADesigner.org has more information on the program and details on pricing.

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NEWS IN BRIEF

CEDIA Takes Pulse of Industry with Fresh Market Sizing Study One of CEDIA’s marquee research initiatives is underway and your input is vital. The “Integrated Home Market Analysis 2021” survey, powered by CEDIA, will provide data points for a report released later this year that sheds light on all aspects of the home technology industry and the top trends on the horizon that could impact your business.

This year’s edition of the survey is more streamlined than ever, focusing on gathering information related to the topics most relevant to our industry and associated trades, including the market size in volume and value, industry

New CEDIA White Paper Touches on Timely Topic

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workforce figures, growth metrics per category, and trends focusing on where the industry is heading.

Individuals who offer their expertise will receive access to the full report upon its completion. This report and all previous size and scope reports are free for all CEDIA members, a $1,000 value. As an added bonus for providing insight, participants will be entered into a drawing to receive entry into a drawing offering many prizes. To find out more about participation and see past studies, go to CEDIA.net/marketintelligence.

CEDIA’s Technology and Standards team have compiled a white paper of particular relevance to integrators as more residential clients see the need for robust, reliable IT infrastructure at home. “Time Sensitive Networking” comprehensively details uses and scope of the ever-evolving technology. It also provides insight into system design and implementation requirements. The key mission is to help integrators better understand what it takes to achieve predictable and reliable performance.

The white paper, available for free to CEDIA members, explores real-time, real-world applications like audio/visual media streaming and automation systems and even touches on systems such as aeronautic and self-driving car technology. “Time Sensitive Networking” details a key, in-demand component that pieces on standards for wired ethernet and wireless networking don’t always emphasize: timelines.

From deterministic networking and Audio-Video Bridging (AVB) to Audioover-Ethernet (AoE) to Dante Audio and AV Networking, this white paper dives deep into the subject matter, and as with all CEDIA white papers, it offers insight into leading-edge industry best practices while breaking down practical applications through a deeply-researched process that taps into the experience and knowledge of respected experts from throughout the world. You can connect to all current CEDIA white papers at CEDIA.net/whitepapers.

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“There's a huge amount of education that needs to occur at that level: architects, clients, builders, and interior designers.”

SANDY HOWARD

I AM C 8

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Sandy Howard A Q&A with the Managing Director of the CEDIAAward-winning firm AVD Australia, Sandy Howard – also a recipient of the CEDIA Lifetime Achievement Award in 2000 How did you become interested in residential technology to begin with, Sandy?

The AVD Australia Mission Statement

If it exists, we know about it If it doesn’t exist, we find a way If it needs to exist, we engineer it

I worked in retail audio back in the very early ‘80s. I had a partner back then. We looked at what was going on globally with multi-room audio. From 1985 to ‘87, we were developing our own product called the AVD system 2000, which was predominantly a push-button multi-room system with what we called “local functions” — in other words, window coverings and those sorts of things. So we ended up making our own circuit boards and going into production and that was quite successful. Eventually we decided to go full time with that concept and that's when AVD was born.

That would put the birth of AVD in line with the founding of CEDIA, roughly. What was it like then?

I remember CEDIA for me started as a thought process only. We were one of the founding members back in those early days.

And I think as we progressed forward, we could see some opportunities to extend beyond audio and video. CEDIA helped

inform that transition. For us, even back then the concept of educating the industry as to what was available was very important to us.

There were a number of players, both from the manufacturing perspective, as well as the sort of retail environment that noted that CEDIA was a burgeoning organization coming out of the U.S. At that point we were trying to identify a roadmap — obviously driving membership at that stage was critical.

What do you think about the Australian market that might be different compared to say EMEA or the Americas?

Oh, look, we're far more advanced.

(LAUGHS) Look: We're 25 million people here. I think what we would describe as big projects are thin on the ground. I think the effort that needs to be made to bring parties to the table, not just from a client perspective, but also from architects, interior designers, clients, the education at that level of something that we as a business focus on dramatically. And I think it's in that area of education for the market, generally, not just the integrators, but the

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“We spend probably 20% of our time in research development, both from a software and hardware perspective.”

SANDY HOWARD

zoom, from a plan-based controlled environment, which gives the user an experience like you just cannot get out of a single platform.

What is Practical WOW?

It’s a broadsheet format newspaper that contains a little fun, a bit of a stab at our industry and what we consider the market should be looking at and doing when considering anything integrated. We sat back one day and said, “Let’s put something together that tells a story — in fact, several stories but not in a way that anyone would expect.” There are several very good analogies such as the butcher story (find it here: www.avd.com.au/practical-wow) that is so true of what occurs in our industry. That’s why education of our market is so important. Take a read, I hope you find it informative and amusing at the same time. It’s designed to put a smile on your face.

Did you have mentors as you were coming up?

market in general, that's critically important.

Part of what we're doing with Paul (Skelton, CEDIA’s regional development consultant for Australia and New Zealand) is helping to rewrite some of the Continuing Professional Development series works (CPDs) for architects, and so on.

That’s important: We need a lot of education from the contractor perspective and the integrator perspective. There's a huge amount of education that needs to occur at that level: architects, clients, builders, and interior designers.

Do you have a guiding principle beyond the mission statement?

We spend probably 20% of our time in research development, both from a software and hardware perspective. Now we have software engineers here that are continually hammering manufacturers to ensure that their code is stable enough to be able to be integrated.

There's a number of players in the marketplace that would say IoT plays a major part within our industry these days. Whereas I probably say it doesn't. It's a bit like back in the old days of VHS and Beta. Two companies hammer and target each other, was it necessary? Probably not. Was one better than the other? Probably not. If there was true IoT, then you'd have true open protocol communications between those companies.

We look at the best of each of those organizations.

We do not believe that there's a company that provides a one-stop shop for every part of an integrative environment. One of the projects that we're working on in fact, is a hybrid between Savant and Crestron. We've got a Crestron backend and a Savant front end for the very reason that we can apply the Apple iOS principles, as in pinch and

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Probably more from a family perspective, not an industry perspective. But no, I really had no mentors, per se. Though I do play a part in mentoring a number of people now within our industry and associated to our industry. As you could imagine, being in business for 33 years, we have had a lot of people come and go here. And part of the process internally is to mentor. And I think if we look at some of the people that are out in the marketplace now and undertaking their own businesses — some in competition, some are not — we’re enormously proud of that, and enormously proud of those people.

What is the one piece of advice you would give to somebody who's starting out, either at your firm or on their own?

Work hard, educate yourself. Things don't occur overnight. If you dedicate your time and your efforts within the field that you want to put yourself in, hard work is the way to go. If in doubt, ask questions of those that know better.

How do you relax? What's your downtime like when you're not at AVD?

My wife and I have a couple of houses that we go and work on the weekend. One’s up the beach and we love to get up there on weekends and spend some time.

For me, I consider myself enormously lucky to be as passionate as I still am within this industry. To the benefit of the business, to an extent, but to the detriment in terms of personal time.

I also take the dog walking at five o'clock every morning. That's my way of relaxing. I'm out of the house before anybody's risen.

linkedin.com/in/howardsandy

PROJECT PROFILE

BIG SCREEN, BIG SOUND, BIG WIN A LOOK AT THE AUDIO IMAGES KA THEATER, WINNER OF THE 2020 CEDIA GLOBAL AWARD FOR BEST HOME CINEMA – AND MORE

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Audio Images is on quite a run.

The Southern-California-based integrator has taken Global CEDIA Awards for the last three years, winning top honors for media rooms that they entered in 2018 and 2019, and Best Home Cinema accolades for this stunner.

The project – a remodel of an existing theater after the home had been damaged by a flood – was referred to Audio Images by the general contractor, and included a pretty big challenge: One wall was essentially dedicated to a hidden bank vault.

Audio Images’ Mark Ontiveros explains, “The homeowner had already contracted the bank door vault as well as a motorized ‘van door’ that was to slide in front of the bank vault door to allow access to it, so we had to work with those vendors (especially the maker of the motorized sliding door apparatus), and the acoustical engineering company, as well as the finish carpenter and the wall fabric contractor to achieve the end results that we got. It was by far the

“The terminations were at least a week’s work for two techs.”

Mark Ontiveros

AUDIO IMAGES audioimages.tv CEDIA Member since 1995

most difficult aspect of the room. We still achieved proper speaker placement as well as acoustic treatment placement.”

Those results were accomplished with the help of legendary audio expert Anthony Grimani of PMI Engineering– complete with Grimani Systems Delta Active DSP speakers across the front.

The shell of the space was a bit too long, according to Ontiveros. “The footprint of the room stayed basically the same, except the screen wall got pushed closer to the viewers so as to allow for the room’s air conditioning unit and existing home runs for all of the wiring that existed previously. That unit backs up to a new sound-isolated wall that is located behind the front LCR speakers and the screen, and can be disassembled in a relatively short time frame for annual service of the unit. The soffits that existed around the room were also modified in order to gain some feeling of additional height and open up the room.”

It’s Quiet

The noise floor is excellent: NC 20, so essentially silent when everything’s shut down. When the 11.4.4 system’s fired up, however, the results are best described as “startling” – especially when it comes to Grimani’s tuning of the bass in this room. Ontiveros notes that a showing of Saving Private Ryan, for example, delivers a kind of “shock and awe” experience that left the client speechless. As for keeping that sound in, Ontiveros says, “The room is located in the bottom level of the home, adjoining the garage and a hallway as well as concrete on the side of the left wall where the bank vault door is. We had to use a mixed bag of sound isolation types, but in the end, the resilient structures of the walls, ceilings, and even the floor build-up keeps the room isolated from CEDIA COMMUNICATES

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“This is a great example of a referencegrade theater — documentation and racks are first rate.” the CEDIA judging panel

the rest of the house very well.” A mix of diffusion and absorption treatments, plus turning the riser for the chairs into a bass trap (or Helmholtz radiator) rounds out the audio solutions.

The display package overcomes any issues that might have been presented by the interior designer’s choice of fairly light-colored walls. “We went with a Barco due to its overall brightness and picture quality, but the model we chose specifically was due to its 120Hz refresh rate for video gaming,” says Ontiveros.

The deets were laid out in Audio Images’ awards entry: “The video system comprises an acoustically transparent 138-inch-wide, wall-to-wall screen that spans the entire available width of the room at a 1.78:1 ratio, along with a Barco Wodan HDX-4K projector. Full-field calibrated white output comes in at an eye-popping 173 Foot Lamberts, with 1,400:1 contrast ratio. Properly sized riser platforms ensure unobstructed sight lines and comfortable viewing at all seats for everyone’s enjoyment.”

A Win for the Racks

Originally, all the gear had been placed in another location (essentially now at the front of the theatre) prior to the flood damage, but the homeowners wanted to reclaim that space for a hallway to an addition to the home. “The area for the racks and the power systems was a nobrainer, as there used to be some storage cabinets in the garage that were not really getting used for anything serious,” notes Ontiveros.

Folding glass doors that front the space and the ability to simply slide the racks in and out for service and upgrades make the equipment space special, but Ontiveros notes that, “The piece de resistance was the blue LED lighting that glows in the space.” The Audio Images

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team matched that light to the color used in the branding of the company that the client owns.

An award-winning rack setup is labor intensive, of course. “The amount of time is over the top, something like 400-plus hours -- relocating the home’s existing AV head literally took a mile of wire just to do the extensions, and the terminations were at least a week’s work for two techs,” says Ontiveros.

The final piece of the puzzle? “The power is horrible in that particular area of the county, so it was super critical that we add the RoseWater SB20 for power conditioning, surge suppression and backup system to the mix, and that is just for the ‘technical power loads.’

“The ‘dirty power’ — or loads that have motors (such as a refrigerator, the small wine cellar chiller, a garage freezer, and so on) — were put on a separate UPS from SurgeX. We also put everything on a series of smart relays to allow us to do remote reboots and other power management to keep everything running all of the time, even in a power outage.”

The judges were beside themselves.

Comments included: “This is exceptional work – this is a great example of a reference-grade theater — documentation and racks are first rate — power management is superb — I’ll take it!”

CEDIA EXPO. LIVE LIFE CONNECTED.

CEDIA EXPO 2021 WELCOME TO INDIANAPOLIS The name of the figure pictured here is “Victory.” She stands atop the Soldiers and Sailors Monument, a limestone memorial to Indiana’s fallen servicemen and women.

Victory faces south, welcoming home Hoosiers loyal to the Union as they returned from the U.S. Civil War. It’s one of the defining features of Indianapolis – a photogenic marvel that serves as the center of the city that dubs itself the “Crossroads of America.” The Monument, its steps, and the circle around it serve as a gathering place, sometimes an open-air market or festival site, and even the backdrop for events like Super Bowl XLVI and a 2018 episode of NBC’s “American Ninja Warrior.”

The grid and spokes of streets that radiate from Monument Circle lead to some of the best breweries, restaurants, museums, and shopping and entertainment options in the American Midwest. Indy’s an easily navigable city, as you’ll learn in the following pages, and that makes it a perfect host for CEDIA Expo 2021.

AND WHAT AN EXPO THIS WILL BE. After an all-virtual experience in 2020, the show marks a return to live events. Finally: face-to-face, hands-on education; an ability to see and hear the latest in residential tech in person; and at long last, the chance to drink and dine with the friends we haven’t seen (Zoom meetings notwithstanding) since we met in Denver in 2019.

For those who’ve never been to Indy, here’s a big plus for you: This is CEDIA’s home town in the Americas. That means that the CEDIA staff will be exceptionally well suited to answer any questions you might have regarding the city – in addition to helping you navigate the education and exhibition options in the Indy Convention Center.

One thing you’ll learn quickly about Indianapolis: It’s the very epitome of what’s called “Hoosier hospitality.” As former Mayor Charles A. Bookwalter famously said, “I am, myself, a citizen of no mean city.” It’s a quote you can find on the cornerstone of the old Indianapolis City Hall, laid in 1909.

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From analyzing Tolstoy to gauging audience reaction based on CO2 levels, Dolby’s in-house neuroscientist thinks a lot about the precise delivery of a creator’s intent In Leo Tolstoy’s expansive essay “What Is Art?”, the novelist makes the case for expanding what had been the traditional definition — by quite a bit.

We are accustomed to understand art to be only what we hear and see in theaters, concerts, and exhibitions, together with buildings, statues, poems, novels… But all this is but the smallest part of the art by which we communicate with each other in life. All human life is filled with works of art of every kind — from cradlesong, jest, mimicry, the ornamentation of houses, dress, and utensils, up to church services, buildings, monuments, and triumphal processions. It is all artistic activity.

It’s a work that Poppy Crum, Chief Scientist at Dolby Laboratories and keynote speaker at CEDIA Expo 2021, has shared with her team at Dolby.

“You don't normally think of Leo Tolstoy as writing essays, but it's an interesting one because in it the way he defines art is very dependent on how the user experiences it,” says Crum. “And it creates this interesting

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dialogue — if you're focused in thinking about creative intent and what it means to actually support and translate creative intent and the ideas, well, that translation, that parity has to exist from intent of the creator to the user.”

“To evoke in oneself a feeling one has once experienced, and having evoked it in oneself, then by means of movements, lines, colors, sounds, or forms expressed in words, so to transmit that feeling that others may experience the same feeling — this is the activity of art,” writes Tolstoy, and this informs something that really excites Crum: Using technology to ensure that a creator’s intent is transmitted to the end user without a glitch, as seamlessly and precisely as possible.

“The thing that's really changed is that the philosophical musing from Leo Tolstoy is now a reality that we can understand, we can know what someone's actually experiencing on the other side,” Crum explains. “That's the way the world has changed, so now the question is: What do

“What does it mean to close the loop when you have creative intent? It’s not just bits and pixels.”

Poppy Crum

we do with that? We get to reevaluate areas where creative intent might not be achieved, things like in a headphone where we have to introduce new solutions that technologically weren't possible before but are today to help us really elevate the experience that we can provide with regard to creative intent.”

CLOSING THE LOOP It’s these kinds of questions that connect a neuroscientist working at Dolby with a Russian writer who died before the invention of the “talking motion picture.” Once you’ve decided you want to share a feeling – encased in narrative or not — and create a fantastic piece of music or a deeply emotive movie, it’s up to Crum and company to find ways to help perfectly deliver that vision to an audience.

It’s also a driving force for those perfecting the various ways content gets delivered — keeping the lofty aspirations of a sublime experience at the forefront is key when Crum and her team are trying to figure out how human brains process light and sound in the patterns we call “art.”

Crum’s Expo keynote is titled “The Future of Storytelling.” Meaning? “Well, there's a lot of different ways that storytelling can change. Let's use the Tolstoy example: What does it mean to close the loop when you have creative intent? It's not just bits and pixels. If part of the metadata is capturing the sentiment of a storyline and somewhere in that metadata we know what the intent of an experience is, what do we do in that environment that can modulate the experience someone's having? How can we leverage that in the transmission of the creative intent?”

Confused? Crum clears it up: “We worked with a director in our cinema and we had tubes on the ground. Those tubes are capturing carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide's heavier than air so you can pick up on the real time density of CO2 in the environment.

CO2 correlates with changes in emotion and sentiment and feeling of the audience.” By understanding the correlation between the levels of CO2 an audience is expelling and various emotional states — fear, panic, relief — Crum’s work can help a director actually CEDIA COMMUNICATES

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measure the real-time impact of the choices the creator’s made.

The film in question for the CO2 experiment was a rock-climbing documentary about a daredevil named Alex Honnold. “You can look at the traces of CO2 and know where Alex summits, where he abandons his climb, you can see the love story, the interaction happening with his partner in that film, you can identify where he injures himself, just in the traces of CO2. When you start thinking about that, that's the creative intent, the story, the journey that the creator wants that audience to go on and it's in the volume, in the chemical composition of the air in that space being shared, being exchanged.”

“The thing that's really changed is that the philosophical musing from Leo Tolstoy is now a reality that we can understand, we can know what someone's actually experiencing on the other side.”

Poppy Crum

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THE PERSONAL EXPERIENCE And once we have all the available data — and we’re talking gathering stats well beyond CO2 fluctuations — what can the content creator do with that info? “Those type of signatures we give off are measurable, but they can also be leveraged in different ways; it's the dynamics of these different signatures that are part of how we interact with our content. So we start thinking, ‘How should my content react? How is that part of my experience?’

“How do you create a more intimate personalized experience for an individual in a shared environment, in a home theater, in a cinema with audio that is unique to me and in a space where you have a number of people consuming the same content — but in fact need to be consuming slightly different content?

Because to have translation of creative intent, we're all very unique. For example: If I can't hear dialogue, I'm not experiencing the creative intent of the content solely by trying to read captions, I'm disconnected from it.”

And this will ultimately lead to those “new ways of storytelling” that Crum will dive into during that Expo keynote: “How we bridge that to the individual and shared experiences, how we interact with the human body in a much closer, more intimate way within ambient experiences that are really powerful — experiences you can't recreate over a pair of headphones — is an important part of what that future looks like.

You get new tools, you get new ways of creating content, of interacting with it, of interacting with a human.”

But what will really push the tech to its full potential in this regard isn’t the team at Dolby Labs, according to Crum. “I think whenever we introduce new technologies, it's a more conservative introduction of that technology and then artists really push the limits of it and figure out new ways to use it that influence the evolution of those technologies in the industry.”

HIGHEST PERFORMANCE

OUTDOOR AU D IO & L I G HT I N G

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Come see—and hear!—what all the excitement is about.

CEDIA EXPO Inside Booth #3929

DESTINATION BACKYARD WITH COASTAL SOURCE + SÉURA An immersive outdoor oasis with demos, refreshments, games, and giveaways!

Find us at the intersection of S. Capitol Ave. & W. Georgia St.

Learn more about the good times we have planned at CEDIA Expo!

Coastal Source Outdoor Audio | Lighting at coastalsource.com

COURSE TITLE

CLASS TYPE

AUDIO Acoustic Toolbox for Theater Design Ask the Expert: Audio and Acoustics Audio Set-Up y Calibración - Primera Parte Audio Set-Up y Calibración - Segunda Parte Home Recording Studio Acoustics and Design Home Theater Audio and Acoustics, Part I Home Theater Audio and Acoustics, Part II Home Theater Audio and Acoustics, Part III Immersive Audio: Unified 3D Speaker Layouts for Multiple Listeners Invisible Acoustics – Aesthetically Acceptable/Acoustically Imperative Outdoor Audio/Video Design & Implementation RP22 Workshop

Technical Technical Technical Technical Technical Technical Technical Technical Technical Technical Technical Technical

CLIENT EXPERIENCE Creating Sonic Connoisseurs Enhancing the Client Journey Through Workflow Processes Integrating Custom Voice Control for the Whole Home Selling on Service Use Your Existing Portfolio to Develop a Smart Home Wellness Strategy

DOCUMENTATION

Design Documentation Early and Next Stage Documentation

Business Business Business Technical Business Technical Business

FINANCE 25 Ways to Increase Profits Better Job Costing and Labor Controls to Increase Profits

Business Business

HOME CINEMA Advanced Home Cinema Design Workshop Cybersecurity para Técnicos Diseño de Salas de Cine en Casa El camino al CEDIA Designer “TCD”

HUMAN RESOURCES

“Topgrading”: How Dealers Can Immediately Improve Hiring & Employee Retention Find, Hire, and Keep Your Next Rockstar HR, When You Don't Have An HR Department The Employee Lifecycle Workshop

Technical Technical Technical Technical Business Business Business Business

LIGHTING & SHADES Fundamentals of Lighting Design and Working With a Lighting Designer Human-Centric Lighting Protección Solar Dinámica The Future of Architectural Lighting

Technical Technical Technical Technical

NETWORKING Ask the Expert: Network Performance and Configuration Distributing AV Using the Dante Ecosystem Professional Home Offices with Remote IT Management User Experience Panel: Grace in Design WFH / WTF - Working From Home, What's The Future?

Technical Technical Technical Technical Technical

OPERATIONS Como Mantener Una Empresa de Integración con Éxito Cybersecurity Panel: Cybersecurity and Privacy in the Smart Home Juggling it All Working With Family

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Technical Technical Business Business

IN-PERSON

ON-DEMAND

COURSE TITLE PROJECT MANAGEMENT Advanced Documentation Completing a Project: The Last 5% From Technician to Manager Project Management Trials and Tribulations The Art of Managing a Multi-System Project Workshop The Cybersecurity Industry is at a Turning Point

RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT Content Services and Technologies Update Future Technologies: The Inside Scoop from Silicon Valley Smart Living through Inclusionary Design and Integration Spatial Computing - Living in the Augmented World Technology Council Trends Workshop

SALES & MARKETING Ask the Expert: Tools for Actively Getting More Referrals Becoming Cinema Sommelier Building Business Value Through Recurring Revenue Charging for Design Dominate Your Local Market With SEO How to Market to Trade Partners Maximizing ROI With Facebook Ads Maximizing ROI With Google Ads Selling High Performance Solutions and The Luxury Market Stand Out from the Competition: Branding 101 Wash Rinse, Repeat - Sales Website Audit Workshop

STRATEGIC PLANNING Ask the Expert: The Importance of Direct Accounts & Regional Distribution to Your Growing Business How To Conduct A SWOT Analysis How To Develop Business Processes That Work Starting a Low Voltage Company and What to Expect!

Creating a High-Performance Culture Wash, Rinse, Repeat - Design

SYSTEMS ENGINEERING Advanced Surveillance Systems Design Thinking Introduction to Conference Room and Presentation Technologies Locating and Fixing Grounding Issues that Cause "Ground Loop" Noise and Digital Misbehavior Need To Build Your Client a Home Recording Studio? Start Like a Pro! Platform Wars: Understanding the Playground Where Smart Home Protocols Face Both Opportunities & Challenges Power Quality and Conditioning Retrofit Installation Troubleshooting, Repair, and Preventive Maintenance Wellness in the Home - A Technology Insight

VIDEO Ask the Expert: Video Performance and Distribution ATSC 3.0: It's Really There. REALLY! AV-over-IP: What, Why & How Challenges of HDR Video and Projection Deathmatch: Video Transport Technologies Decoding the Video Display Landscape HDMI 2.1 Update 2021 The Future of Video Resolutions - A Look at 8K Verifying HDMI Distribution Systems Workshop Video Technologies Roundup

CLASS TYPE

IN-PERSON

ON-DEMAND

Technical Business Technical Business Technical Business Technical Business Technical Business Business Business Business Technical Business Technical Business Business Business Technical Business Technical Business Business Business Business Business Business Business Business Business Business Business Business Business Business Business Business Business Business Business Business Business Business Business Business Technical Business Technical Business Technical Business Technical Business Technical Business Technical Business Technical Technical Technical Technical Technical Technical Technical Technical Technical Technical Technical Technical Technical Technical Technical Technical Technical Technical Technical Technical Technical Technical Technical Technical Technical Technical Technical Technical Technical Technical Technical Technical Technical Technical Technical

CEDIA COMMUNICATES

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CEDIA EXPO. LIVE LIFE CONNECTED.

CEDIA TALKS

CEDIA Talks have returned to Expo, this year presented on the Smart Stage.

Grow Your Business 10X with an Abundance Mindset Wednesday, September 1, 10:30-11 A.M. Opportunity abounds when you embrace the exponential growth of the digitized world.

With an abundance mindset you set your sights on 10X growth and blow right past your competition. Many CEDIA businesses are mired in the woes of pricing, discounts, product availability, shortage of talent, shortage of capital, crippling service calls, and pervasive pessimism. In other worlds, some think we live in a world of SCARCITY. Rich Green will get you juiced with optimism, and a compelling vision for a new way to grow your business far beyond expectations. Reinventing your business with an abundance mindset will attract new talent, energize your staff and open doors to customers you never knew existed. Explore how your business will change with an abundance mindset!

Presented by Rich Green, Rich Green Design ABOUT THE PRESENTER Rich Green has been an active professional in the audio/video design and installation industry since 1978. His system-integration company, Rich Green Design, serves the ambitious homeowners and businesses of Silicon Valley. His clients have included Steve Jobs, Larry Ellison, Tony Fadell, Jim Clark, Gordon Getty, Rush Limbaugh, Michael Tilson Thomas, and Luciano Pavarotti.

Understanding Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E Wednesday, September 1, 1-1:30 P.M. Wi-Fi 6 is the most advanced wireless networking technology available, and it is a permeating technology for 2021. With significant increases in efficiency, battery usage, multiple client access, and a nice increase in data throughput, Wi-Fi 6 is the go-to wireless technology of today. The newly announced Wi-Fi 6E is an enhancement that will provide greater options to avoid interference and potentially maximize Wi-Fi 6 data rates. Join us as we discuss why all new designs should be based upon Wi-Fi 6, how to ensure the infrastructure will support Wi-Fi 6E (when it becomes available), and why most client devices will experience the exact same performance on both Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E. Presented by Nathan Holmes, Access Networks/SnapAV ABOUT THE PRESENTER Nathan Holmes, a longtime industry veteran, is the Senior Manager of Training for Access Networks/SnapAV. With over 20 years of experience, Holmes has been on both the AV integration and manufacturer side of the business and has managed some of the most highly awarded companies in the residential integration industry bringing a deep knowledge from both perspectives. He is also a well-respected member of the CEDIA Technology Council and has been heavily involved with CEDIA education initiatives for over 15 years.

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CEDIA COMMUNICATES

All You Need is Comfort | Why Comfort is Replacing Excitement as the Only Feeling You Need to Sell Wednesday, September 1, 10:30-11 A.M. Why comfort? It's far from exciting. In fact, it's the polar opposite. So why do people spend so much money on it? Big, comfortable dwellings. Automatic circadian lighting. Expensive, comfortable furniture, clothing, automobiles, seacraft, aircraft. Complete control of their every environment from home to work to play, via devices in their pocket, on their wrist, or even within earshot. The ability to check in on the safety and well-being of their loved ones (and themselves), at any moment, from any place, and feeling that even though they can do this, they don't need to. In this CEDIA Talk, we will be taking a deep dive into comfort, along with its different forms, why people are buying it like there's no tomorrow, and why you should be selling it.

Presented by Pete Trauth, Nirvana Home Entertainment, Inc ABOUT THE PRESENTER Pete Trauth grew up in the Chicago suburbs with music in his soul and imagination in his DNA. He’s Founder and CEO at Nirvana Home Entertainment, Inc, a home integration firm in Los Angeles, CA., est. 2008.

CEDIA ESC, ESC-T, ESC-N, ESC-D, CIT | CEDIA New Volunteer of the Year 2020 Taking to a dual mission of helping new integrators establish a foothold in our niche community and fully exploiting his own fascination with the future of technology, Pete serves as Vice Chair of CEDIA’s Certification Commission, while concurrently holding seats on both CEDIA’s Technology Advisory Council and Discovery Working Group. Early in the Covid-19 pandemic, Pete created the SDSF/SBSF (Social Distancing Solutions Forum and Small Business Solutions Forum) to gather with integrators and manufacturers from around the world and formulate strategic ideas to help small businesses in the technology industry.

Ongoing End Game: To make at least a billion lives simpler and more enjoyable.

Holistic Design | Beyond Problem Solving Thursday, September 2, 1-1:30 P.M. Design is for solving problems. Holistic user experiences reflect empathy for all users of the systems. From inclusive design practice and intergenerational living, through sustainability and spirituality, holistic design is much more about people, than it is about technology.

Currently, projects all too often move from sales to specification without the incorporation of discovery, or non-linear design. This talk will discuss a future where our industry's product centricity will give way to a human centric holistic design approach.

Presented by Peter Aylett, HTE Acoustic Interior Design ABOUT THE PRESENTER Peter is a partner at HTE Acoustic Interior Design which manufactures complete bespoke turnkey fit-out systems for performance cinemas that combine acoustics, interior design, and room build.

In demand as a speaker and lecturer in human-centric residential technology and private cinema experiences, in recent years he has led workshops, courses and inspirational seminars across Europe, China, Africa, Australia, New Zealand, India, America, and the Middle East.

CEDIA COMMUNICATES

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CEDIA EXPO. LIVE LIFE CONNECTED. 26

CEDIA TALKS

CEDIA COMMUNICATES

A visual reflection on previous CEDIA Talks…

An Integrator-Only Brand Promoting Experiences of Light

Designed with custom integration in mind to elevate the human experience of light while connecting on a deeper level in the space. Our ATMOSPHERE line of Natural Tunable White Luminaires mimics the natural light of the Sun with a CCT range of 2700K to 6500K.

AISPIRE.COM

SALES@AISPIRE.COM

Catering to the needs of the modern technologist and integrator.

CEDIA EXPO. LIVE LIFE CONNECTED.

CEDIA EXPO 2021 Three days.

300-plus brands.

One amazing reunion.

Your first opportunity in over a year to reunite with 15,000 connected technology pros to share valuable insights and seek solutions — in person. Discover the smart home’s hottest connected products and explore new streams of revenue. Gain valuable education through both CEDIA and exhibiton-led product training.

#CEDIAExpo CEDIAExpo.com/register

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CEDIA COMMUNICATES

Join us September 1-3, 2021 at the Indiana Convention Center for the exciting features in the pages that follow.

Innovation hub

New for 2021! The Innovation Hub, in partnership with the IMCCA, the preeminent voice of the unified communications and collaboration industry, will feature brands and programming focused on emerging industry trends such as work from home, resimercial, design+connection, outdoor living, security and lighting.

“Residential systems integrators, designers, distributors, architects, home builders and contractors are ramping up their knowledge and services, incorporating WFH and commercial solutions into home office technology solutions to meet the market’s new demands for how homeowners and businesses connect, collaborate and learn in today’s environment,” said Carol Zelkin, Executive Director, IMCCA. IMCCA will also host a showcase Model Home Office on the show floor demonstrating best-practice set-ups to achieve ideal professional home offices. This is your chance to see and hear from brands that are taking the residential technology industry to new limits.

Smart Stage Back by popular demand, the Smart Stage will showcase three full days of inspiring and educational talks from connected technology experts sharing insights into what the future holds for the custom integration industry. Take a deep dive into multiple trending topics such as the latest in resimercial: light commercial, outdoor lighting, work from home, home theaters, design/build, and wellness.

CEDIA COMMUNICATES

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CEDIA EXPO. LIVE LIFE CONNECTED.

Launch Pad Visit the Launchpad, previously known as Innovation Alley, to find the newest products and services hitting the market that will help boost your business. Meet with companies never before seen at CEDIA Expo such as Orro, PerListen, Monitoreal, Autoslide, and many more.

And, back for a second year, TechStarter aims to elevate these up-and-coming exhibitors within the Launchpad.

This “Shark Tank” style program gives five brands the opportunity to pitch their business and technology strategies to three VIP industry veterans, participate in a panel discussion on the CEDIA Expo Smart Stage, and receive interview time with members of the media. A $2,500 cash grand prize will be awarded to the top overall brand.

The TechStarter panel discussion will take place Thursday, September 2 on the CEDIA Expo Smart Stage.

Design + Connection Program The Design + Connection series continues at this year’s Expo in continued collaboration and support from the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) as the event where kitchen and bath design and remodeling professionals connect with technology integrators to learn, network, and collaborate.

“Having programming and events dedicated to technology and design integration will continue to spark needed conversations between the two professional groups,” says Suzie Williford, NKBA’s executive vice president of industry relations and CSO. “Kitchen and bath designers are looking for products that will move the needle on technology integration in smart residential spaces”.

The Design + Connection program will include guided booth tours, sponsored by SnapAV/Control 4. This integral part of this initiative will take place on the show floor Thursday, September 2. There will also be panel discussions on the Smart Stage, and a networking event to help foster relationships and conversations between technology and design professionals.

Register now and remember Expo Only Hall passes are always FREE for CEDIA members: CEDIAExpo.com/register

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CEDIA COMMUNICATES

The Power of National Distribution with a Local Touch

PowerHouse Alliance Members are dedicated to providing: Over 250 of the top Residential & Lite Commercial AV, Home Automation, Security and Networking / IT product lines Local personalized sales with product training in every market 50+ convenient one-stop solution warehouse locations nationwide Will-call pickup / Same-day & Next-day delivery

Bringing You Tomorrow’s Technology Today!

21st Century Distributing 529 Dynamic Drive Garner, NC 27529 800-849-0647 www.21stcenturydist.com

AlarMax Distributors 381 Mansfield Avenue, Suite 205 Pittsburgh, PA 15220 800-425-2760 www.alarmax.com

Audio America 15132 Park of Commerce Blvd.

Jupiter, FL 33478 800-432-8532 www.audioamerica.com

Audio America Midwest 3085 Commercial Ave Northbrook, IL v60062 847-656-8900 www.goced.com

Davis Distribution 52 Quaker State Road Newell, WV 26050 800-746-5331 www.davisdistribution.com

ECD 4747 Westpark Drive Houston, TX 77027 800-392-5156 www.ecdcom.com

KOA CCTV 7306 Coldwater Canyon Ave, Unit 1 North Hollywood, CA 91605 866-606-5229 www.koacctv.com

Mountain West 2889 South 900 West Salt Lake City, UT 84119 801-487-5694 www.mwd1.com

Pioneer Music Company 14915 West 106th Lenexa, KS 66215 800-362-0315 www.pmcav.com

Pro Audio Associates 14 Everberg Road Woburn, MA 01801 800-356-6004 www.proaudioinc.com

Sierra Select 4320 Roseville Road North Highlands, CA 95660 800-793-7334 www.sierraselect.com

Ui Supplies 465 N. Franklin Turnpike Ramsey, NJ 07446 855-326-8958 www.uisupplies.com

Visit www.PowerhouseAlliance.com to locate a Distributor near you! **Vendors: Experience the Power of National Distribution by contacting Dennis Holzer dholzer@powerhousealliance.com or (412) 973-7974.

CEDIA EXPO. LIVE LIFE CONNECTED.

Downtown Indy – just a 20-minute drive from CEDIA HQ in Fishers, Indiana — is easy to navigate: It’s a big grid with a circle in the middle — literally, Monument Circle — with several spokes radiating out from that midpoint.

On the southwest corner of the Downtown area called “Mile Square,” you’ll find the Convention Center, which is just north of Lucas Oil Stadium (home of the NFL’s Colts).

Beyond that square, the city’s broken up into several “Cultural Districts.” The Districts we’re going to focus on beyond Downtown include Massachusetts Avenue (“Mass Ave” to the locals), which is just Northeast of the Square, and Fletcher Place/Fountain Square to the Southeast.

Now that we’ve got our bearings, let’s start with …

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FOOD, GLORIOUS FOOD DOWNTOWN The area around Monument Circle has a lot of options, but a quick walk (or bike or Uber/Lyft ride) yields some marvelous stuff.

City Market – Multiple food stands, very close to the circle.

King Dough – It’s a little further out from “right downtown,” but worth the trip. This shop serves up fantastic pizza in a funky little spot to the East of the Square.

Livery – This lively spot in an old, old building feature Latin dishes with a modern vibe.

Napolese – Artisanal pizza on Meridian St.

CITY MARKET

Patachou – Incredible breakfast dishes by the folks who brought you Napolese.

Shapiro’s Delicatessen – Legit, high-piled deli sandwiches (seriously, this stuff is LA/NYC quality).

MASS AVE

St. Elmo Steakhouse – The legendary steakhouse with the infamously hot shrimp cocktail sauce (HORSERADISH, BABY). Buy a bottle to go, too.

The Garage (at the Bottleworks) – This hall is new collection of food stands in an amazing Art Deco building.

Tinker Street – We thought this terrific place was gone for good, but it literally JUST reopened.

Absolutely worth the trip.

Love Handle – Delicious breakfast eats.

LIVERY

Rathskeller – Legit German food (UND BIER!) in a building designed by author Kurt Vonnegut’s granddad.

Salt on Mass – Seafood, a little more upscale than the next place mentioned.

Slapfish – A casual seafood joint.

Yats – A great, wildly inexpensive lunch stop for all manner of Cajun/Creole stews; order extra bread to soak up the sauces and gravies.

BLUEBEARD

FLETCHER PLACE/ FOUNTAIN SQUARE Bluebeard – Adventurous fare in a Kurt-Vonnegut-themed restaurant.

The menu is always interesting.

Want more info? Check out our local mag Indianapolis Monthly – their dining guides are excellent.

CEDIA COMMUNICATES

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CEDIA EXPO. LIVE LIFE CONNECTED.

POTENT POTABLES The area around Monument Circle has a lot of options, but a quick walk (or bike or Uber/Lyft ride) yields some marvelous stuff.

DOWNTOWN Brew Link (downtown Indy location) – A brewery that definitely takes some risks with their stuff.

Metazoa – One of the CEDIA marketing department’s faves; a portion of the profits go to wildlife preservation.

Nicky Blaine’s – Martinis and cigars. ‘Nuff said.

Platt 99 (Alexander Hotel) – Cool interior, great views, excellent cocktails.

PLATT 99

RAD Brewing – Not far from King dough, with a nice outdoor space.

St. Joseph’s – A church converted into an excellent micro-brewery. Most of the church-y interior remains, too.

Sun King (flagship location) – Sun King is all over the state now, but here’s the original location. An Indiana staple.

Tomlinson Tap Room – This City Market brewery (on the second-floor balcony) pours a collection of Indiana’s best beers and ales.

Taxman (City Way Location) – Walt Zerbe’s a fan of this one; they’re widely respected.

West Fork Whiskey – A distillery that’s a bit north of Downtown (though not terribly far).

MASS AVE Chatham Tap – A lot of UK beers and SOCCER, SOCCER, SOCCER always on the telly.

Goodfella’s Pizza (Mass Ave) back bar – Although it’s in a pizza shop, it’s quiet and intimate, with a speakeasy vibe.

FLETCHER PLACE/ FOUNTAIN SQUARE Chilly Water Brewing – Award-inning goodness with live music now and then.

SUN KING

Fountain Square Brewery – Funky, unassuming, always tasty.

ST. JOSEPH'S

Inferno Room – An absolutely groovy tiki bar with small plates to match. The tropical drinks are on point.

Tappers – A bar with retro arcade games!

Upland (Fountain Square location) – This Bloomington-based brewery’s offerings include sours that have been recognized worldwide as top-shelf.

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SPORTS DESTINATIONS MOTOR SPEEDWAY

Indianapolis Indians Victory Field is an absolute jewel, it’s right by the Convention Center, and the Indians (The Pittsburgh Pirates AAA affiliate) have a home stand vs. the Iowa Cubs during the entire run of Expo.

Indianapolis Motor Speedway This is absolutely worth a visit although no events are scheduled for September. The home of the largest one-day sporting event in the world — the Indy 500 — it has a terrific museum, and just seeing the scale of the place is pretty incredible. The town of Speedway, just west of Indy proper, has a newly upgraded Main Street that include Daredevil Brewing and Big Woods Brewing (the pizza at the latter is excellent).

The Indianapolis Colts …don’t have a game during Expo, and the Indy Eleven (soccer) have a match on September 4 if you’re still in town.

OTHER SIGHTS INDY’S CHILDREN’S MUSEUM

White River State Park is packed with features: The Canal Walk starts here and the Park includes the Indiana State Museum, IMAX Theater, and the Eiteljorg Museum of Western and Native American Art (the Grand Canyon painting there is a jaw-dropper). Cross the bridge to get to the Indianapolis Zoo (and its “Butterfly Kaleidoscope”) and the White River Promenade. There’s even an outdoor music venue there.

EITELJORG MUSEUM

Did you bring the kids? Indy’s Children’s Museum is one of — if not THE best — children’s museums in the country. (One word: DINOSAURS.)

CEDIA COMMUNICATES

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Things To Do In Indy 1

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INDIANAPOLIS ZOO & WHITE RIVER GARDENS Pet sharks in the nation’s largest shark touch tank, suit up for an in-water dolphin experience, or interact with birds at the “Flights of Fancy” exhibit. This TripAdvisor Top 10 Zoo is triple-accredited as a zoo, aquarium and botanical garden.

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EITELJORG MUSEUM

5

CENTRAL CANAL

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RHYTHM! DISCOVERY CENTER

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INDIANAPOLIS MUSEUM OF ART

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Home to the one of the finest collections of American Indians and Western art in the world and the only one in the Midwest. It is renowned for immersing visitors in the art, history and culture of the American West and indigenous peoples of North America.

Explore White River State Park’s Central Canal in a Venetian-style gondola, surrey, cruiser bike, Segway, pedalboat, or on foot. Take in an impressive collection of public art, war memorials, and vast urban green space as you pass numerous museums and cafes.

The iconic 2.5-mile oval is host to the world’s largest single-day sporting event, the Indy 500, and captures the rich 100-year old history of the “Racing Capital of the World.”

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CHILDREN’S MUSEUM

6

INDIANA STATE MUSEUM & IMAX THEATER

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VICTORY FIELD

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MONUMENTS & MEMORIALS

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Beat on drums and learn how rhythm and percussion are a part of our daily lives at this museum for kids of all ages. Explore a wide variety of instruments and artifacts from around the world.

This world-renowned museum features a collection of 54,000 works spanning 5,000 years and sits on 152 acres of beautiful gardens and grounds, including a 100-acre sculpture park and the historic Lilly House and Gardens.

INDIANAPOLIS MOTOR SPEEDWAY & HALL OF FAME MUSEUM

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The world’s largest children’s museum is right here in Indy and provides a one-of-a-kind experience which has made it one of the most respected and loved in the nation. Discover the stories and science behind more than 120,000 artifacts on five levels.

Uncover Indiana’s secrets through hands-on exhibits exploring the state’s diverse history at this world-class institution constructed from Indiana limestone, steel and glass. Captivate your imagination on the towering IMAX screen.

Take your family and friends out to the ballpark for some fun at Victory Field, named Best Minor League Ballpark in America by Sports Illustrated. Enjoy excellent views of downtown from the stands or a picnic on the outfield lawn.

Aside from Washington, D.C., Indy is home to more monuments and memorials than any other U.S. city. Experience an eagle-eye view of the city from atop the Soldiers & Sailors Monument or visit the Indiana War Memorial Plaza.

For what to see, do, and eat, go to VisitIndy.com | FOLLOW US: @VisitIndy 36

CEDIA COMMUNICATES

Indy Safely Welcomes You Indy’s hospitality community is ready to welcome you back safely. In partnership with the Indiana Restaurant & Lodging Association and health officials across the state, Indy businesses have adopted the Hoosier Hospitality Promise to keep you safe and healthy during your visit. This promise includes safe sanitation practices, employee health checks, and social distancing compliance to name a few. In addition to following the Hoosier Hospitality Promise, here are more examples of safety measures in place:

INDIANA CONVENTION CENTER • Hospital-grade filtration systems • Contactless faucets and restroom facilities • Increased hand sanitizing stations

• Regular cleaning using the Clorox 360 cleaning process • Employees required to wear PPE

INDIANAPOLIS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT • IND Cares campaign to communicate safety measures and best practices for traveling • Increased hand sanitizing stations

• Increased cleaning frequencies using hospital-grade disinfectant • Employees required to wear PPE

INDY HOTELS • All spaces disinfected regularly using EPA-approved chemicals • Increased hand sanitizing stations

• Social distancing in public space • Employees required to wear PPE

INDY RESTAURANTS • Dining tables reconfigured for social distancing • Single-use menus or washed between each use

•

Employees required to wear PPE

Why Indy?

DRIVING IS EASY Indy is within a day’s drive of more than half of the nation’s population, making it one of America’s most drivable cities.

WALKING IS EASY With 4,700 rooms connected to the Indiana Convention Center and 7,100 rooms in the downtown core, you can safely walk to your meeting destination without having to use a transportation service.

SOCIAL DISTANCING IS EASY White River State Park offers 250 acres of green space, attractions, and special event venues, all within walking distance of downtown hotels. Additionally, the 8-mile Cultural Trail is a safe, healthy, and convenient way to explore Indy’s six thriving cultural districts.

For more details on Indy’s promise, go to VisitIndy.com.

CEDIA COMMUNICATES

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WHITE RIVER

STATE PARK: THE LARGEST URBAN

STATE PARK IN THE COUNTRY

Active in Indy RUNNING & BIKING For many it is a morning routine that keeps them healthy. For others, it’s a way of life that drives them to compete. Whatever your motivation, Indianapolis has an experience that will keep you moving during your visit to the city. Exploring on foot or by bicycle not only keeps you on pace for fitness goals, it is also the best way to connect and uncover the places and spaces you might otherwise miss. The city was recently named a ‘Top 15 Biking City’ by Bicycling Magazine and earned the ‘National Runner Friendly City of the Year Award’ by the Road Runners Club of America.

TRAIL DISTANCES Monon Trail Fall Creek Trail Indianapolis Cultural Trail

10.6 8 5.2

White River Wapahani Trail

4.7

Canal Walk

1.5

Named “the biggest and boldest step by any American city” by Project for Public Spaces, this internationally-acclaimed 8-mile biking and walking trail connects neighborhoods to downtown. The trail includes lush landscaping, storm-water bioswells, and an amazing collection of public art.

For more information, go to VisitIndy.com CEDIA COMMUNICATES

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Central Canal Towpath

INDIANAPOLIS CULTURAL TRAIL

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miles

330

Steps to the top of the Soldiers & Sailors Monument for an eagle-eye view of Indianapolis.

INDY PARKS Get outside and enjoy fresh air at these must-see parks.

WHITE RIVER STATE PARK As America’s only cultural urban state park, White River State Park’s 250 acres offer a unique blend of green space and cultural attractions. It is home to the scenic Central Canal.

EAGLE CREEK One of the nation’s largest city parks, Eagle Creek Park covers over 3,900 acres. The park’s trails beckon to hikers and birders, its 1,400-acre lake welcomes fishermen and sailors.

FORT HARRISON STATE PARK

HIT THE LINKS If the links are calling, you are covered with a selection of courses including two featured on the state’s Pete Dye Golf Trail.

BRICKYARD CROSSING Located on the grounds of the world-famous Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the course features four holes inside the oval. The Brickyard is ranked as one of America’s Top 100 public courses by Golf Digest.

This former military-base-turned park offers walking and hiking trails, picnic sites, fishing access, a Pete Dye-designed golf course, and two national historic districts.

THE FORT GOLF COURSE HOLLIDAY PARK Widely known for the mythical ruins, this park features one of the city’s best, hard-to-leave playgrounds and two miles of picturesque trails that lead to the banks of the White River.

This incredible course is unusually hilly for central Indiana. The Fort offers breathtaking views that are sure to delight any golfer.

INDIANA PACERS BIKESHARE

THE CENTRAL CANAL

ANNUAL RACES

Access to two wheels is easy with 525 bikes with 51 stations along the Indianapolis Cultural Trail, Monon Trail and other greenways. Check out, ride, and return to any station!

This picturesque waterway runs 1.5 miles and is ideal for an afternoon run or an evening stroll. Bikes, surreys, pedal boats, and kayaks are available to rent.

Competitors travel to Indy to test themselves at spring’s 500 Festival Mini Marathon and fall’s Monumental Marathon. The Indy Crit lures bikers to race on city streets.

For more information, go to VisitIndy.com CEDIA COMMUNICATES

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Smart Water Design + Connection

Wellness

Lighting

Security

Outdoor Resimercial

See the latest in emerging trends.

Registration opens June 9, 2021 Expo: Sept 1-3, 2021 Conference: Aug 31 - sept 2, 2021 Indianapolis, in www.cediaexpo.com

Scan to sign up for the latest show news

THE SMART APPLIANCE SURVEY

Not many integrators are specifying connected kitchen goodies – but the numbers indicate that’s about to change

CEDIA’s Giles Sutton (interim co-CEO) and Ian Bryant (senior director of strategic partnerships), along with BSH’s Sheldon Lam (digital partnerships manager) and the trade publication CE Pro (billed as “the leading trade publication for professionals involved in the custom electronics business”) recently undertook a survey to find out how many integrators were specifying smart appliances in the kitchen.

The quick answer: Not many, but there’s a lot of room (and enthusiasm) for growth.

Of all those who responded, 38% said that they hadn’t done a single project that included smart appliances in the past year. A mere 3% said they’d included some kind of device in this category in every job they undertook. Those numbers belie the potential here – as these kinds of devices, from microwaves to laundry centers, come to include more connectivity and machine-learning features, adoption is likely to rise.

Consider:

44

%

of the respondents see themselves specifying smart appliances at some point in the future

59

%

of integrators already feel comfortable talking to clients about the value of smart appliances, and,

Outreach from the big manufacturers could help here: around 20% of those polled had any contact with appliance manufacturers on these devices, even though integrators see themselves as becoming the primary specifier of smart appliances (followed only by the interior designer on a project). Hindrances to broader adoption include concerns about profit margins, access to marketing materials that support the products, and the interoperability of different brands – “Will fridge X and microwave Y work and play well with control system Z?” (That last point was top of mind among the integrators surveyed.)

The types of appliances likely to be specified are pretty intuitive: Refrigerators were the most common answer, which makes sense given the features available here – built-in tablets, temperature controls, and the potential for the “live-lookin” when the end-user’s at the store and wondering if they’re out of almond milk.

Laundry centers, with their evolving abilities to do a load of wash that practically does everything but fold the clothes, are a close second. As far as brand awareness, the top dogs were Samsung, Bosch, LG, and Sub-Zero/Wolf, in that order.

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80

%

of integrators want to learn more about the potential for smart appliances.

As these devices come to include more connectivity and machinelearning features, adoption is likely to rise.

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CEDIA CERTIFICATION UPDATE CEDIA has successfully rolled out the Cabling and Infrastructure Technician (CIT) Certification and now turns its attention to the new Integrated Systems Technician (IST) Certification as well.

U

nder the direction of the Certification Commission, CEDIA is continuing the revamping and restructuring of all certification exams and pathways. These updated certifications are designed to raise the credibility of the industry as a whole and to give integrators a way to be examined and recognized for their specific skillsets and commitment to professionalism.

Created by the industry and for the industry, these certifications are something residential integrators will be able to claim as their own.

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This is apparent in CEDIA’s work with the more than 500 people who participated in some portion of the CIT’s development, including completing the Job Task Analysis Survey, sitting for the Beta Exam, or being a part of the Exam Committee.

The CEDIA Cabling and Infrastructure Technician (CIT) Certification successfully launched in January 2021 and gave early-career technicians a perfect starting point in the industry.

This certification has recently been submitted to ANSI/ANAB for accreditation under the global ISO/ IEC 17024 standard and is now in its application stage. Accreditation is a process performed by a third-party entity to ensure that a certification program is meeting the highest standards

of quality and that the exam is fair, valid, and reliable.

For CEDIA, 2021 will be another big year for its certification program.

Continuing from the successful CIT launch, the association is now in development of the next certification, the Integrated Systems Technician (IST). The CEDIA IST will provide the next successive step in the overall certification pathway. As a prerequisite, those wishing to sit the IST exam must hold an active CIT; however, holding an active ESC-T will also satisfy this requirement. On top of this prerequisite, a new CEDIA Certification Code of Conduct agreement has also been put in place for both the CIT and IST, as well as a one-year work experience requirement for the IST. These are just some of the

There are currently over 20 volunteers working on the Integrated Systems Technician exam.

changes stemming from the revamping and restructuring of the CEDIA Certification Program.

The Integrated Systems Technician (IST) exam is currently in development and will begin beta testing in September of 2021. There are currently over 20 volunteers working on the Integrated Systems Technician exam. Just like the CIT set the foundation for early-career technicians, the IST will become the premier certification for experienced technicians wanting to show that they have a broad base of essential technical knowledge. The IST is comprehensive and intends to cover over 120 knowledge and skill areas from the six overarching

2021 will be an exciting and groundbreaking year for CEDIA Certification.

knowledge domains consisting of: Project Processes, Infrastructure, Equipment Installation, Communication Systems, Integrated Systems, and System Verification and Testing. The final IST exam will become the gold standard for integrators and will include 150 questions, making it longer than any of CEDIA’s previous certifications.

Once launched, the IST will replace the ESC-T as CEDIA’s core technician certification. The IST Beta Exam will be available September at this year’s CEDIA Expo in Indianapolis, IN, USA. For those not for able to sit the exam at Expo, the IST Beta will also be available via remote proctoring or live at Kryterion testing centers worldwide.

Additional info regarding the IST including prerequisites, study materials, and beta exam sign up can be found at cedia.net/certification or by contacting the CEDIA Certification team directly at certification@cedia.org.

In addition to the recent CIT launch and the upcoming IST launch, CEDIA’s Networking Specialist certification

is also in the early stages of revision.

A committee of key stakeholders including integrators, educators, and manufacturers is performing an indepth Job Task Analysis to update the comprehensive list of knowledge and skills most needed for competent job performance. This summer, an industrywide survey will be conducted to validate that framework and to update the exam blueprint. The Networking Specialist serves as an advanced certification and covers residential networking infrastructure, design, configuration, and security. The Networking Specialist is intended for those with at least two years of experience.

With the CIT completed and in the process of accreditation, the IST in development towards its beta launch, and the Networking Specialist being revamped, 2021 will be an exciting and ground-breaking year for CEDIA Certification and all those who hold certifications or have participated in the development process.

To learn more: cedia.net/certification CEDIA COMMUNICATES

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CHALLENGE & SOLUTION

SHOWROOM LOCATION – AND TYPE

Ed Wenck Content Director, CEDIA

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A

recent post on the CEDIA Community message board asks: “Showroom location — location — location! Does it really matter?” Member Hannes De Wett posts, “Is it worth while paying three times more in rent per square meter for a retail showroom in a commercial center (like a mall) with high density foot traffic or are you better off paying less on the outskirts of a retail zone? In short, do customers come to the product or do you also have the walk-in customers making the extra rent worthwhile?”

While there’s no “one size fits all” answer, a definite trend among integrators is a move away from a “kick-the-tires/ just browsing” retail space to a dedicated experience center.

That’s evidenced by the finalists and winners of the Showroom category in the CEDIA Awards over the last several years.

Wired Life’s Adam Begley, whose Melbourne Experience Center picked up top honors in the Asia Pacific region in 2020, says. “Essentially we're smack bang in the hub of pretty much most of Melbourne's five-star architect firms. We even share the same building with a really high-end architect next door.”

Once Wired Life had picked a sweet spot, Begley went out during a recent event and met all the architectural firms that were literally with walking distance of his showroom.

Image courtesy of Cinegration Wired Life Top image courtesy of Wired Life Bottom images courtesy of Cinegration

Both Cinegration and Wired Life have seen better-than-expected ROI on their spaces.

Two CEDIA-Award-winning integration firms offer their advice on where to put a showroom – and how to use it effectively

“That was really effective to start getting some of those clients in the door, and we've actually managed to get a lot of customers out of that.”

Given the geography of Colorado’s ski slopes and the sprawling nature of Cinegration’s client base, that firm had some different challenges. Shelby Schwartz, part of the team who designed the company’s 2020 CEDIA-Award-winning Arvada Experience Center, explains, “For us, it was kind of tricky because we do a lot of work in the mountains up in Breckenridge — but then all along the front range, too. We had to find a central location that our front range clients can easily get to, and that our Breckenridge clients might be willing to come down to as well. We considered building our own space.

We looked at some solutions that resembled a warehousehybrid showroom. And ultimately, we decided to put our experience center in conjunction with our current office, which is located right at the base of the mountains. It's worked out really well for us because our salesmen are in their offices all the time.”

Putting the Experience in the Center

Once the physical space was determined, then the question of CEDIA COMMUNICATES

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“We created a demo button that tells the story of ‘a day in the life.’ ” Eric Fischer, Cinegration

CINEGRATION cinegration.com CEDIA Member Since 2013

Image courtesy of Cinegration Images courtesy of Wired Life

WIRED LIFE wiredlife.com.au CEDIA Member Since 2019

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what the client would actually experience was paramount. Cinegration’s Eric Fisher says, “We created a demo button that tells the story of ‘a day in the life’ — it's about a two-to-three-minute demo that gives an overview of everything we do, from changing the color temperature of the lighting to turning on and off the TVs, playing music, and opening and closing shades. It creates a nice story to break the ice when people come in. When people start experiencing the solutions they can really envision it in their home versus just seeing it on a piece of paper on a proposal.”

It’s the same for Begley, who used the small footprint of his showroom to create a faux “luxury apartment.” “I constantly get asked: What do I do?” he says. “Sure, I can give someone my whole elevator pitch about automation and what it does, but it’s vastly more effective to demonstrate to the client exactly how they might utilize the technology we design and install in their own home. And that's a huge benefit.”

Both Cinegration and Wired Life have seen better-than-expected ROI on their spaces, too. “If I had to give advice to other integrators out there, I would definitely say, make the jump, build that showroom,” advises Begley. Beyond our success, it's about educating the public about what's out there. And that can only help other integrators, and the design and build community, too.”

TWO-MINUTE TECH READ

Here come the Pros The big tech companies are embracing the need for trained professionals to install and maintain their products Ian Bryant CEDIA Senior Director of Strategic Partnerships

A

nyone who has been paying attention to the home technology space has probably noticed quite a few of the major players in the direct to consumer “IoT” market are developing “pro” programs.

As a former integrator now working for an industry association that’s definitely stirred up some mixed emotions and has me asking questions. But as I’ve started speaking with these companies and looking at the bigger picture I see opportunities — lots of opportunities.

Let’s first ask the question, “Why are these programs forming?”

The smart home technology space is gaining tremendous momentum, According to Parks Associates’ latest research, the number of U.S. consumers that now own at least one smart home device has doubled (17% in Q4 2015 to 34% in Q4 2020) over the last five years. The number of “Power Users,” which Parks defines as those that own between five and nine such devices, has also grown significantly, doubling in just the last two years.

Do It with Me vs. Do It for Me

As the average household increases the amount of “smart devices” we’ve seen two new types of smart home tech consumers

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emerge thanks to the broader availability of these devices.

The first group falls into a DIY category.

Sometimes called the “Do It with Me” group, they feel completely comfortable setting up a smart speaker, thermostat, or smart bulbs.

Digital natives are prepared to tackle setups as they’re very familiar with smart phone apps and the process of connecting devices to their WIFI. However, these smart home consumers can get overwhelmed as they add additional products to their eco-systems. There can be a break in continuity of the overall smart home experience the barrage of apps and general product maintenance can get overwhelming for the average homeowner.

The second group is one that CEDIA has often referred to as the “Do it for Me” consumer. These smart home consumers don’t want to set up even a single device.

They’ll happily pay an expert, not unlike hiring a plumber to install a new faucet or an electrician to install a new ceiling fan.

To answer this demand, the “pro” programs were created, which is an easy way to make integrators available to complete what most CEDIA members would consider a simple install for the general consumer.

When consumers have an easy way to access the service they need through the “pro” programs, it can make the whole process less intimidating. There’s a lot of anecdotal evidence of even one of these simple installs

The companies with these Pro programs are offering referral services to those that qualify.

leading to a larger project, and even the golden ticket: more referrals. More products sold and installed professionally means more happy customers. The more devices in the home, the more work will be created for all.

The Players

These pro programs are made up of tech individuals and integration companies. The individual tech contractor is not a new concept for the industry. Security, satellite, cable, and internet service providers have all used individual contractors over the years.

The direct-to-consumer technology market is just a new venue for them. If you were around the industry in the late ‘90s to early 2000s, you’ll remember the huge satellite boom, which created a lot of quick installation work for tech individuals and integrators alike. The “Do It for Me” and “Do It with Me” opportunities emerging as a result of the direct-to-consumer products that have gained mass attention and adoption will fuel the next wave of integration demand.

With the support of some of the biggest tech companies in the space, the services tech pros provide are that much closer to being recognized by the average consumer as a trade — something that has long been a pain point for our

industry. Long gone are the days of the “AV dude” or “that person that installed my TV”. Integrators are now the people you call for all technology installations and system designs in the home.

Companies with these pro programs are offering referral services to those that qualify. Some companies are offering to sell the products as well, making for an easy upsell on a jobsite.

When an integrator’s installing a smart thermostat, the technician might interest the customer in smart speaker or a smart doorbell. If the customer doesn’t have an adequate wireless network, there’s an opportunity to speak with them about upgrading. The opportunities for those participating is vast.

CEDIA is recognizing the trend from the big brands, and is actively working to partner with their pro programs.

There is room for everyone at the table.

Some companies may find value in subcontracting to these professionals — others may see this as a new staff recruitment pipeline. CEDIA is committed to helping grow the industry, and for our part not only are we working with the big companies, we will continue to support the tech individuals who want to upskill and explore a deeper career in our industry.

CEDIA COMMUNICATES

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EDUCATION UPDATE

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT THROUGH LOCAL PARTNERSHIPS How CEDIA is expanding its educational footprint around the globe 52

CEDIA COMMUNICATES

Tommy Tabor CEDIA’s Director of Workforce Development

A skilled workforce is the lifeblood of any industry, not to mention the companies that operate within them. According to the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE), “Associations are essential providers of professional education and credentials, and they must play a leading role in workforce training and development.” So, how exactly can CEDIA — a global industry association with member companies in 78 countries and a staff of less than 50 mostly located in the American Midwest — facilitate meaningful workforce development-related experiences for everyone from students with no work experience to industry veterans?

The answer is that it can’t, at least not by itself, and not in an industry where most workers are or will need to become skilled tradespeople capable of installing, programming, maintaining, and continually updating complex integrated systems.

For folks to truly understand the systems integration industry, especially the local industry where they live; what it’s like to wear various hats in the industry; and grow their career in the industry, they need immersive hands-on learning and mentoring experiences provided by individuals who know the industry (the more local the better) inside and out. Consequently, the only scalable way for CEDIA to tackle workforce development at a level needed to impact the entire industry is through local partnerships.

A partnership in its most basic form is a group of people working together to accomplish a common goal. However, a common requirement for all successful partnerships is that they be mutually beneficial. According to “thought leaders” from multiple industries, the following are few benefits that entities from all sectors can receive from successful partnerships: • Increased Opportunities for Free or Lowcost Media Attention/Coverage: Various groups working together can be exciting/ newsworthy, especially to local news organizations!

• More Brand Awareness and Loyalty: More media attention/coverage plus networking with individuals and groups not traditionally viewed as core constituency groups is bound to create future “I’ve heard of them” moments.

• Enhanced Credibility: Partnering with well-known and well-respected entities at different levels (local, state, national, international, and so on) can help validate each partner’s efforts and validate credibility in a different way.

• Increased Demand/Sales for/of Services, Programs, or Products: More people in the know means more potential clients/ customers.

• Enhanced Employee and Potential Employee Relations: Business-minded folks from various industries interacting with mission-driven folks from different types of organizations (and vice versa) is bound to create meaningful interaction and thoughtful learning moments.

• More Volunteer Engagement Opportunities: Relationships developed via initial partnerships will surely lead to discussions on how the existing partnerships can be sustained and advanced.

Here are some recent wins for CEDIA in this universe: Education Partner Program (Formerly ATP — and CESIT before that): The Education Partner Program allows CEDIA to partner with a variety of institutions to bring CEDIA training that leads to industry-recognized credentials to local audiences.

CEDIA is currently working with the following Industry Education Partners to skillup existing industry members: • Eleven distributor members of the PowerHouse Alliance are committed to hosting in-person CEDIA Training courses at over 55 locations across the United States beginning in Q4 of 2021.

Training programs are slated to begin in October of 2021 and will start with the foundational courses that prepare individuals to sit for the CEDIA Cabling & Infrastructure Technician Certification with more advanced trainings that lead to CEDIA Integrated Systems Technician Certification planned in 2022.

CEDIA is currently working with the following Community Education Partners whose skills training programs lead to CEDIA credentials: • Orange Technical College – Orlando, Florida: Orange Technical College is Central Florida's premier technical education provider. CEDIA educational programming that leads to credentials is offered as part of Orange Technical College’s Electronic Systems Integration and Automation program, which is approved by the Florida Department of Education for use at publicly funded educational institutions in the State of Florida.

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• Pinellas Technical College – Clearwater, Florida: Pinellas Technical College is Tampa Bay’s premier technical education provider.

CEDIA educational programming that leads to credentials is offered as part of Pinellas Technical College’s Electronic Systems Integration and Automation program, which is approved by the Florida Department of Education for use at publicly funded educational institutions in the State of Florida.

• AV Technology Institute – Detroit, Michigan: AV Technology Institute is licensed by the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity to deliver private post-secondary technical education programs. CEDIA educational programming that leads to credentials is offered as part of AV Technology’s low voltage electronic installation, repair, and integration program.

Community Ambassador Program

The Community Ambassador Program will empower and equip CEDIA members to become community ambassadors who will be deployed to promote industry education and career pathways in local communities. Members of CEDIA’s Workforce Development Working Group (WDWG) will serve as the first set of community ambassadors with many more to be added. In addition to promoting industry career pathways in local communities, ambassadors will be tasked with executing student engagement activities at industry events like ISE, Expo, and Tech Summits. CEDIA members across the globe are already “unofficially” acting as ambassadors and this program will help them better connect CEDIA to local communities.

UK Smart Home Apprenticeship

The UK Smart Home Apprenticeship Program is a government program that provides funding to employers to hire apprentices and educational providers to deliver training at apprentice employer sites.

CEDIA has developed a partnership with a training provider (Skills4Stem) in Bedford, England, in a similar manner to how we are partnering with education groups in the Education Partner Program.

UK Kickstart Scheme

The UK Kickstart Scheme is a government program that provides funding to employers to create new job placements for 16- to 24-yearolds on Universal Credit who are at risk of longterm unemployment. CEDIA is working to make our members aware of this program and the financial incentives that they can receive from it.

For more on how to partner with CEDIA on any or all of the above initiatives, please contact Tommy Tabor, CEDIA’s Director of Workforce Development at ttabor@cedia.org.

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A common requirement for all successful partnerships is that they be mutually beneficial.

Introducing a New Reference…

The GoldenEar Invisa HTR 8000

The GoldenEar Invisa HTR (Home Theater Reference) 8000 is a no-holds-barred ceiling-mounted L/C/R that shares essential DNA with our critically acclaimed Triton Reference Towers. And while the HTR 8000’s appearance is understated and unobtrusive, its large, enveloping sound simply cannot be ignored.

For superior frequency response and remarkable clarity, we’ve combined our High Velocity Folded Ribbon tweeter with an 8" high-definition, cast-basket bass/ midrange driver. Further, our FocusField™ Technology uses drivers mounted at precisely calculated angles to create palpable, well-focused images across an expansive soundstage. The overall result is a large, open presentation with precise three-dimensional imaging that doesn’t just come from the ceiling but convincingly fills the entire room—virtually any room—with realistic sound.

And the HTR 8000 is extremely versatile. Equally suited to sophisticated home theaters and audiophile music systems, it’s the perfect choice for side- or rearsurround speakers in 5.1-channel or 7.1-channel systems and makes an ideal height-channel speaker for Dolby Atmos/DTS:X systems. Its thoughtful design features a magnetically attached micro-perforated grille that covers all mounting hardware, allowing the speaker to seamlessly blend into most any environment.

Sit back, relax, and enjoy. We invite you to experience the new Reference.

INDUSTRY Q&A

CALIBRATION

COURSES AT CEDIA HQ In May of 2021, CEDIA offered a hybrid online/in-person education course called the “Home Cinema Audio Calibration School with HAA Certification Bundle.” The elements included a Level I Home Cinema Design Certification (online) and three days of face-to-face training at CEDIA HQ including a Level II Integrator Certification and Level III Advanced Integrator Certification, all with help of the Home Acoustics Alliance. The HAA has been an industry leader in education on the topics of audio and acoustics for over 18 years. We had a chance to chat with a few of the attendees on the final day.

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Ron Taylor Allure High-End Design, Austin, Texas

Andy Forrester LMC Home Entertainment Ltd, Tempe, AZ

David Hutter Hutter Home Theater, Tacoma, WA

rtaylor@taylco.com

andy@lmche.com

david@hutterhometheater.com

CEDIA COMMUNICATES

What brought you to this particular course?

“You can't afford not to get CEDIA education.”

Taylor: I'm expanding my business. I do a lot of network design and communications for corporations, as well as a few smart home installations.

I wanted to expand into high-end sound systems and home theater design installation. I've known about Gerry (Lemay of the HAA) for a long time. I wanted to be able to learn from the best and get some certification and standing for my company from CEDIA, which is the baseline for the AV industry, as far as I'm concerned.

Forrester: When I started reading the HAA Level I course, I thought it was something that everyone that enters the industry should use, from the installers to the salesman.

Hutter: I've been a long-time CEDIA member and I've taken classes for the last 15 years. I bought new calibration equipment this year.

And this is actually the third time that I've been through this class — I needed to level-set a lot of things that I forgot and reacquaint myself with the newer tools that we're going through and using in this course.

David Hutter

Any big takeaways or revelations?

Taylor: The real-time analyzation of the room is something that I realized I was very weak in, and this class really gave me some skills in analyzing different frequencies and determining how to move them around. I wasn't aware that you could manipulate the frequencies in certain positions in the room as well as you could until I got through that portion of the class. That was pretty amazing.

Forrester: I came in to help me refine my techniques for setting up rooms, to make things faster, to know what was going on when I was seeing something in a measurement, how to interpret it differently or more effectively, to be able to create more advanced strategies to make things work.

If someone was considering availing themselves of CEDIA’s educational offerings, what would you say to them? And what are some of your experiences that draw you to come back?

Hutter: You can't afford not to get CEDIA education — it’s going to show you the things that not only are currently happening, but what's coming out in the next few years. A great example: The courses that Michael Heiss has been teaching at Expo for years. That's always been one of my favorite classes because I can think about those new technologies and how I'm going to incorporate them into what I do as an integrator. And I believe that if you are being paid for a service, it's your responsibility to perform whatever that is to the highest degree possible. If I'm selling theater systems, I really should be adjusting the speakers for the best possible scenario for what they're willing to pay for.

And what about this course in particular?

“This class really gave me some skills in analyzing different frequencies and determining how to move them around.”

Ron Taylor

Taylor: I’ve been in a thousand courses over my 21 years of networking, and it's usually sitting in a class just hearing the information all day — death by PowerPoint. And then you've got to go home and figure out how to physically apply the skills, getting the equipment that they talked about in the class — for us to get all the theory and all the mind-meld information online, and then come here and jump right into the workshops and start manipulating and learn how to use equipment? That was perfect. I was telling the instructors and the staff here that this was way more than I expected.

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Ed Wenck Content Director, CEDIA

THE CEDIA PODCAST:

Videoconferencing: Platforms and Pitfalls

D

avid Danto, Director of Emerging Technology for the Interactive Multimedia and Collaborative Communications Alliance (imcca.org), has a pretty interesting take on the pandemic: “When it came to unified communications, we finally had the ‘flush test.’

“Everybody went home and

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flushed their toilets at exactly the same time to see if the plumbing exploded.”

From GoToMeeting to Teams to Zoom, workers around the world went home and logged in. The big players, as we’ve heard over and over, passed that “flush test.” But among them, were there clear winners?

Short answer: Not really, since everybody has their favorite. “When you speak about things like hardware

Want to learn more?

Check out this and all past podcasts at cedia.net/podcast

“When it comes to unified communication, collaboration companies that were not agile enough to move to the cloud really struggled.”

David Danto, imcca.org

versus software or manufacturer A versus manufacturer B, I've learned these things are like religions,” says Danto.

“You’re never going to convert anybody — they like what they like, and there are pluses and minuses to all of them.”

Having said that, Danto does point out that there was one clear path to success: “Clearly the pandemic proved that being in the cloud and being on software-based applications and cloud-based applications is the winner. When it comes to unified communication, collaboration companies that were not agile enough to move to the cloud really struggled — the infrastructure couldn't support it.”

As Danto digs into the sudden (and staggering) growth of these platforms as the world settled into the “new abnormal” that was 2020 (“All of them charted like hockey sticks,” he notes), it became clear that firms that had traditionally been “cloud-averse” had changed their minds. “Business like financial services were always resistant,” says Danto. “Now they're on Microsoft Teams and Zoom without thinking about it. There are still some sectors that are cloud averse: Government and healthcare need more secure platforms than the rest of us use.”

A Change in Content Creation

Steven Rissi, CEDIA’s senior director of technical education, has a background in installing (and servicing) these systems, both in the commercial and residential fields — and knows what to look out for as the lines between the two get fuzzy. “The client expectation is actually one of the most difficult

things to manage, because oftentimes, they go out on the web and they're like, ‘Oh, look, Zoom is free — and I can have my own account.’ But they don't realize all of the limitations that restrict the free version of that account.”

Clients need to understand things such as time limitations and license upgrades for a certain number of users, notes Rissi — things they’re often not aware of.

And, he adds, “If you want it to integrate with a room-based system, that's going to be another license upgrade.

“And of course, when it comes to the clients, educating them on how to use the software and how to use the various systems is, is huge.”

in terms of the quality in terms of the machine learning and the systems.”

Another reality, according to Danto: You really can't necessarily pick a brand. “Yes, your organization can say we are a Microsoft Teams organization, because it's very functional for us — then you discover your number one client has a different platform and you can't not be on that platform.”

“I highly recommend that any integration firm through and do usability testing across the board on any of these software platforms that you think you might want to recommend or support with your clients — make sure you know them inside out,” says Rissi. “Stay

“The client expectation is actually one of the most difficult things to manage” Steven Rissi, CEDIA Margins have changed in this segment, too. “When you wanted to build a video conference system or a collaboration room or something at an organization, you were talking 50, 60, $70,000; you were talking shutting the room down for a week,” says Danto. You can now get a really excellent hardwarebased room system, for something like two grand. If you're building a boardroom, sure, you still have a lot of integration costs, but the drop-in systems have gotten really, really good

on top of any their firmware updates, software updates, user interface, and any other changes so that you can be the proper representative to the client.

And this goes directly in line with having an ongoing support service.

“You can help with changes. You can go back and make updates. But also be really clear in the contract that you are not accepting the final responsibility when it comes to the software.”

Meaning: “Don't leave yourself on the hook if Zoom has an outage.”

CEDIA COMMUNICATES

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THE LAST 5% WISDOM FROM OUR MEMBERS (AND SOME OTHERS, TOO) “The toughest part of a job? Sometimes it’s the last 5%.” – Anon.

Standards are at the core of everything. I am such a believer in that our experiences are so dependent on being able to describe and create standards that allow for the interoperability in consistency of experience or predictability of experience.

2021 CEDIA Expo Keynote speaker Poppy Crum from her appearance on the CEDIA Podcast

There’s a lot of people who’ve gone hard and fast on social media pages and presences. To me, though, that’s kind of like being in the busy nightclub. You’re always one half-scroll away from another thing that might attract attention.

CEDIA volunteer and owner of Presto Web Design Geoff Meads on the limitations of social media from the CEDIA Podcast “How to Fix Your Website”

We treat all of our projects as if they are going to be judged by the awards committee. That is what the client is paying for when they hire us, so we shouldn’t do things any differently, especially when it comes to media room and home cinemas.

Audio Images Mark Ontiveros on the business philosophy that’s netted his firm three Global CEDIA Awards over the last three years

What we have going forward is “work-life blend.” It’s OK for me to be part of my work and for work to be part of me as long as we have management that supports me and lets me be the adult, lets me prioritize my day between my family and personal commitments and taking time off to have fun. If I’ve hit all my goals, who cares when they were met?

David Danto, Director of Emerging Technology, imcca.org, on the CEDIA Podcast Resimercial Tech — Videoconferencing

If someone orders something once, it’s custom; if they order it twice, it gets the radar going; and if they order it three times it makes the catalog.

Mike Cleary of James Loudspeaker/Sonance from the CEDIA Podcast “Form v. Function in Audio Gear”

I don’t know what it is about Hoosiers, but wherever you go there is always a Hoosier doing something very important there.

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CEDIA COMMUNICATES

Author Kurt Vonnegut, Jr., native of Indianapolis, host city for CEDIA Expo 2021

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