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“Control rooms are often first to utilise new AV technologies, and robustness and reliability are key in today's world”
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From ultra-high-resolution displays to the most sophisticated security platforms, control rooms are often first to utilise new AV technologies, and in an increasingly precarious world, robustness and reliability are key. In this edition's cover story, we take a long hard look at control rooms and their role in advancing AV technology. We also discuss the rise and rise of IP-based networking in our AVoIP feature.
Away from these pages, you can also check out our not unrelated article investigating AI and data centres, a deep dive into the current outlook for AI applications. This looks at the extent to which an understanding is emerging about the long-term power consumption and data centre requirements of AI, along with the related environmental impact; the technical advances, including more efficient cooling and operational practices; and, finally, the rather complicated geopolitical context that could throw all manner of ‘spanners in the works’ over the next few years. If you’re reading our print edition and want to look at this article online, pop onto our website and search for ‘data centres’.
Also in this edition of Installation, we preview InfoComm 2025, highlighting all of key the sessions and events attendees will want to see, with conferencing and collaboration dominating. There are over 40 sessions on the conference programme, as well as more than 200 manufacturers and developers exhibiting products and technology in these areas.
Part one of our special report into the use of AV in transport hubs looks at how key decision-makers globally are racing to upgrade digital signage and audio systems to improve the passenger experience. You can read part two, addressing the key challenges faced by designers of transport tech installations, in our July/August edition, available from July 25th.
Elsewhere in this issue, we interview T.J. Smith, EAW’s president and general manager, and LEA Professional sales director EMEA, Jeff Gorton. Plus, there are thought leadership articles from Pierre Gillet, VP of international sales at BrightSign, and Steve Wingo, technical application engineer at Sennheiser – along with our usual look at the best installs.
In this issue... 6
AN ADVENTURER FROM THE MIDWEST
T.J. SMITH, EAW’S PRESIDENT AND GENERAL MANAGER, INTERVIEWED!
FEATURES
6 COVER STORY Control rooms: Mission-critical AV
From ultra-high-resolution displays to the most sophisticated security platforms, control rooms have often been keen to utilise new AV tech. But in an increasingly precarious world, David Davies discovers that robustness and reliability are more highly prized than ever
14 Missing pieces: Taking control of AVoIP
Now the fundamentals of IP networking have been established and accepted, a greater focus on network control & management is emerging – with the broadcast/pro AV convergence on course to be a major beneficiary, writes Ken Dunn
24 InfoComm: Focus on conferencing & collaboration
AV professionals from North America and around the world will be heading to Orlando for June’s InfoComm show. Installation looks at what’s in store at this key event in the AV calendar and highlights the sessions and events attendees will want to see
32 Transport hubs emerge as innovative testbeds
In part one of a two-part feature, David W. Smith looks at how decision-makers at travel hubs globally are racing to upgrade digital signage and audio systems to improve the passenger experience
COVER STORY
MISSION-CRITICAL IN TRICKY TIMES HOW CONTROL ROOMS ARE SETTING THE AV TONE
TAKING CONTROL OF AVOIP WHY NETWORK CONTROL & MANAGEMENT MATTER
INFOCOMM 2025: PREVIEW CONFERENCING & COLLABORATION TAKE CENTRE STAGE
INNOVATIVE TESTBEDS: TRANSPORT HUBS THE RACE IS ON WORLDWIDE TO UPGRADE SIGNAGE & AUDIO KIT
REGULARS
20 Interview: An adventurous spirit from the Midwest
T.J. Smith, EAW’s president and general manager, has always been prepared to take calculated risks to further his career, including moving his family to China, writes David W. Smith
30 Insight: AV for the modern workplace
Modularity is driving many of the changes in modern, more flexible office spaces, says Steve Wingo, technical application engineer, Sennheiser
31 Insight: High-res digital signage and sustainability
Pierre Gillet, VP of international sales at BrightSign, on surging demand for high-res signage, and the need to be sustainable
38 The best installations in focus
Including SNA Displays ’ huge video facade in New York, Hive’s immersive Tutankhamun show, and more
42 Q&A: Inside track
LEA Professional sales director EMEA, Jeff Gorton, talks about being born into an ‘AV’ family, the future of the industry, and competing as an offshore sailor
MISSION-CRITICAL: CONTROL ROOMS AND THEIR ROLE IN ADVANCING AV
From ultra-high-resolution displays to the most sophisticated security platforms, control rooms have often been keen to utilise new AV technologies. But in an increasingly precarious world, David Davies discovers that robustness and reliability are more highly prized than ever
In the same way that if you want to see what’s on the horizon in broadcast it’s long been said that you should look closely at sports production, it has often been suggested that reviewing the control rooms market will give you a pretty good idea of upcoming technologies in pro AV. With growing convergence between broadcast and AV, such specific parallels may ultimately become less applicable, but for now at least they hold true.
Indeed, a review of the control rooms market in 2025 – and Installationspoke to ten companies drawn from the full spectrum of pro AV for this article – confirms that it continues to be an enthusiastic audience for new innovations in, for example, AVoIP, display technologies, and control & monitoring solutions. However, there are also many references to terms such as ‘proven track record’, ‘security’, ‘reliability’, ‘consistency’ and ‘performance’. This comes as little surprise given both the mission-critical nature of many of these environments – especially those related to defence, policing and utilities – and the multiplying risk factors in a world that feels more unstable every day.
In this article, we’ll look at the demand for new control room projects (and upgrades) in 2025; the technologies that are spreading most rapidly in this market, and why; some of the most innovative solutions to be introduced recently; and what are likely to be some of the next big things in control room AV.
First things first: the overwhelming consensus is that the control rooms market is in good shape globally. In many territories, modernisation of existing facilities is a
critical market driver, with control room customers looking to extend their use of IP and enhance their video distribution and playback infrastructures, among other key priorities.
STRONG DEMAND
David Isola, director of global product marketing at network and system integration services and solutions provider Black Box, says: “Our primary focus for the year is control rooms, most significantly in government, transportation, and media & entertainment. However, we are seeing strong demand in other verticals such as industrial and healthcare.”
Joel Mulpeter – senior director, product marketing at Crestron – remarks of control rooms: “They’re definitely a high-impact space for us: there’s a lot of mixed technology in there, and Crestron manufactures solutions for many of those needs. AVoIP is a big part of it, as are our control and even conferencing products. We see a lot of demand for our products in what one might call ‘command and control’ centres in use with organisations whose people need to make real-time decisions on data that must be delivered to them with zero or near-zero latency. Those would include security firms, government deployments, and so on.”
Describing control rooms as a “highly significant market” for Guntermann & Drunck (G&D), EVP sales and product management Jochen Bauer comments: “We experience particularly strong demand in three key areas: energy, transportation (rail, traffic, air traffic
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control) and public safety. In these sectors, we are observing a continuing trend towards the modernisation and digitalisation of mission-critical environments, which makes our KVM solutions particularly relevant. The increasing complexity of operations and the need for real-time situational awareness are further driving demand in these areas. In addition, we are observing growing interest from sectors such as utilities and emergency services. Control rooms play a central role here in ensuring operational continuity and public safety.”
NEW PROJECTS
Public safety in all its manifestations is a major source of new projects. In particular, given what certainly appears to be the end of the post-WWII global order and the arrival of something far less predictable, it’s to be expected that defence remains a bedrock of the control rooms market.
Stephen Wair, business segment lead – control rooms, Sharp NEC Display Solutions Europe, comments: “With the evolving global security landscape, there is growing investment from European governments in defence-related control rooms.”
Defence and security – along with utilities, transportation, public safety & emergency services, and telecommunications – are among the high-demand industries cited by Vytas Kasniunas, vice-president strategic partnerships at Utelogy Corporation, who notes: “The market is experiencing steady growth as digital transformation, cyber risk management and infrastructure modernisation efforts expand the scope and capabilities of control rooms.”
Meanwhile, Gordon Anderson, CTS – national manager at AV management products company
Lightware Visual Engineering, notes the expansion of control room technology into new areas such as retail. “The application of control room solutions is expanding beyond these traditional sectors [like emergency services, transportation and defence],” he says, adding: “We are seeing increased adoption in retail environments, where control rooms are being used to combat rising instances of retail crime and improve loss prevention through centralised surveillance and AI-driven analytics.”
Chris Scheck, head of marketing content at Lawo, adds: “Even corporate installs, concert arenas and sports venues have discovered the importance of control rooms for a maximum entertainment value of the events they host. Plus, a lot of events are covered live, and the ability to share controlled video and audio feeds with broadcasters is increasingly seen as a necessity.”
RELIABLE & ROBUST
So if the overall level of demand is not in any doubt, what are the areas in which customers are concentrating their investments? Rather than adopting emerging technologies, Wair says of control room customers: “Instead, they are quick to adopt technologies that are proven to be reliable and robust. Risk of failure is not acceptable in these environments, so any solution must demonstrate reliability and long-term performance before being widely implemented.”
Lightware’s Anderson suggests that where early adoption takes place, it is often driven by the opportunity to “enhance operational efficiency”, adding: “The pace of adoption can vary depending on several factors, including the specific needs of the industry, the scale of the control room, and budget constraints. Control room operators need solutions that are tested, stable, and
Image Credit: Getty Images
Defenceisa growingareafor controlrooms
meet compliance and security standards.”
Not surprisingly, future-proofing is a frequently cited objective. Catherine Koutsaris, product marketing manager at Matrox Video, comments: “Control room designers make sure that whatever technology they choose will future-proof them. If the control room site changes, they want to adjust their installation as the needs evolve. They don’t want to retrain their operators, rewire, reinstall, redeploy every time they upgrade their technology. Down time in a control room can be costly from both a financial and staffing point of view.”
PIXEL COUNTS
In terms of display solution specification, Wair outlines several key drivers, including colour reproduction and uniformity. “For example, at a quick glance, the same shade of blue must consistently represent the same feature on every screen for avoidance of doubt when under pressure; is it a river or a motorway? Using the same display vendor across the entire system ensures precise colour calibration. Space availability also influences the choice of display technology; for example, modular lED solutions can be designed to fill the available space, even around corners or curves, giving the flexibility to fit unconventional spaces and maximise the visual estate.”
In terms of video formats and resolutions, there are signs that control rooms are taking a lead from broadcast. Peter Fitton, solutions architect at Ross Video, observes: “Control rooms are often among the first to embrace new video technology. They need the clearest, fastest and most reliable visuals, so it makes sense. Right now, the push is towards higher resolutions (think 8K), HDR for better detail, and even uncompressed video formats. It’s all about ensuring
every pixel counts when lives or big decisions are on the line.”
“The demand for higher resolutions, uncompressed video formats, and large-scale AV systems is growing,” says Anderson, particularly as more control rooms move towards higher fidelity solutions to support real-time, mission-critical decision-making. "4K and 8K displays, for example, are becoming more prevalent as they offer enhanced clarity and detail, which is crucial for tasks that require precision and situational awareness. Equally important is the infrastructure that supports these systems, with high-bandwidth solutions, such as fibre optics, being key to ensuring smooth and uninterrupted video transmission.”
Koutsaris says that the desktop content Matrox is seeing is primarily FHD (also known as Full HD or 1080p) or 4K60. “Occasionally, extra-wide monitors are used but are less common,” she says. “Video walls can vary from a small 4K video wall to an extra-large one above 16K resolution, but the main driver determining resolution is the content source (typically 1080p or 4K).”
Compression is application-dependant, and in fact it’s not uncommon to find multiple formats in a single deployment. Koutsaris adds: “For example, you might see a ‘high-value’ seat where an operator needs all the content details delivered in full uncompressed quality. Behind him might be a supervisor who monitors all the feeds at a higher level, where visually lossless compression at lower bandwidths is acceptable. Both users can view the same content simultaneously, but at different qualities according to their needs.”
It should come as no surprise to discover that the upgrading of network infrastructures is a top priority for many control rooms. Now that so many aspects of IP are established and standardised, AVoIP is common in many
such environments, not least as it makes scaling and remote monitoring and management so much easier. It also supports the operation of back-up facilities, which –as one would expect – are prevalent in this market.
For Sharp NEC, Wair notes: “The shift towards network-based control systems supports the implementation of disaster recovery sites (DRS). Unlike traditional hardware-based systems, which are often limited to a single physical location, and therefore subject to the same disastrous eventuality, networked solutions allow control operations to be mirrored at a remote site, ensuring continuity in the event of a disruption.”
Increasing streaming and display capacity appears to be a pretty universal requirement. For Atlona, director of marketing Garth Lobban notes that the new iteration of its OmniStream AVoIP platform, version 2.0, adds multiviewer capabilities that allow a single display to show up to four video streams at once, “making it ideal for operator desks or monitoring stations where multiple data or camera feeds need to be viewed simultaneously”. Most importantly, he goes on to say, this is a firmwarebased update available at no cost, which means customers with existing OmniStream systems can access the added functionality without replacing their current hardware.
Atlona’s Velocity Control-over-IP system delivers centralised, scalable management of AV endpoints and display arrays, “ensuring reliable operation and streamlined workflows across large, mission-critical control environments,” according to Lobban.
Meanwhile, the seamless interoperability of all solutions across complex control room environments is continuing to become more crucial. Koutsaris says: “At Matrox we take it to the next level by championing the adoption of open standards such as IPMX, which is based on ST 2110 and NMOS. This opens the possibility of interoperability with other third-party manufacturers to make a more complete workflow that is easier to deploy, use and maintain.”
With modernisation of the underlying network and connectivity infrastructure increasingly well-advanced, it’s likely that the next phase of control room development will embrace increased virtualisation, including via the use of cloud-based platforms. There are also indications that the remarkable recent trajectory of real-time graphics in broadcast will be mirrored in this market, while – rather cautiously, one suspects – there will be more use of AI for specific tasks like predictive analysis.
EXCITING CHANGES
This market is “on the edge of some pretty exciting changes", says Fitton, who highlights Ross Video’s own virtual studio technology – “tailored to enhance control room environments with dynamic on-screen visuals and seamless real-time graphics” – as well as increased voice command capabilities. “AR and VR are popping up, especially for training and situational simulations. And sustainability is finally stepping into the spotlight, with greener, more energy-efficient tech leading the charge.”
For Crestron, Mulpeter also alludes to innovations in graphics, highlighting its DGE-1000 digital graphics engine that allows an HD touch screen display to be transformed into an advanced Crestron controller, with CH5 and Crestron Construct software enabling the creation of a “custom graphical environment for controlling audio, video, lighting, shades, HVAC, security and other amenities”.
More generally – and in line with other contributors to this article – he expects further innovations around security. “We’ll likely see more cloud monitoring solutions pop up, but for now I expect to see ‘more of the same, but better’. I expect to see more security features, more zero-latency solutions, AVoIP devices with more features, and so on.”
Increased activity around specific security regulations is also anticipated. For G&D, Bauer points to the introduction of the SecureCert security feature for its KVM-over-IP systems: “SecureCert is designed to help customers meet the highest security standards, ensuring compliance with important regulations such as FIPS 140-3, Common Criteria, and DoDIN APL. This feature significantly simplifies the implementation of comprehensive security standards for our customers while simultaneously enhancing system security. It enables institutions to meet the growing demands for the highest levels of security and provides maximum protection against cyberattacks.”
Elsewhere, Mair anticipates a greater integral of external networks, including via the use of 5G to support the real-time transmission of high-bandwidth data and video streams from remote locations: “This will allow control rooms to monitor and respond to events far beyond their immediate infrastructure, using live data from mobile and remote sources, enabling, for instance,
monitoring of volcano activity. The result is greater flexibility, faster decision-making, and enhanced situational awareness.”
For Black Box, Isola predicts: “The next big thing will be the technologies that are out there, but not yet adopted into a control room environment: cloud-based infrastructure; cloud-based connected control rooms; AI-enhanced monitoring and automation; VR; more virtualised environments; and advanced humanmachine interfaces.”
In the elaborate and security-heightened context of control rooms, the division between human and artificial operators will have to be drawn with exacting precision. However, the broader history of the sector reveals that it has often proven its ability to adopt new tech in a way that further facilitates its mission-critical responsibilities. Whilst the arrival of a more unstable world in which critical infrastructure is increasingly seen as fair game for cybercriminals and state actors alike could hardly be described as welcome, the upside is that pro AV’s ability to stay one step ahead with robust and secure systems will be more highly prized – and crucial – than ever.
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An installation deployingNETGEAR's AVoIP switches utilised to run IT networks
MISSING PIECES: TAKING CONTROL OF AVOIP
Now that the fundamentals of IP networking have been established and accepted, a greater focus on network control & management is emerging –with the broadcast/pro AV convergence on course to be a major beneficiary, writes Ken Dunn
Over the past ten years, in particular, IP-based networking has become a default standard in pro AV as well as in broadcast. Thanks to technologies such as Dante, NDI and the ST 2110 standards suite, there are now plenty of tried-andtrusted approaches to moving audio, video and data over IP.
But despite these obvious advances, there has been a continued suggestion for some time that we might still be missing one or two pieces of the puzzle. In particular, end-users and integrators have wondered how best to control, monitor and manage IP networks so that they are secure, flexible, and as conducive as possible to stress-free operation.
Fortunately, there are several major initiatives –some already having recent fruition – that address these issues and, in effect, promise to close the circle for even then most demanding of IP-based operations. In this article, we’ll look at recent developments in NMOS and IPMX with the associations involved in defining – and refining –
them, and consider the impact they might have on the IP installations of the future.
CONTROL PLANE
Networked Media Open Specifications (NMOS) –which provides discovery, registration, connection and device management capabilities within ST 2110, and is also part of IPMX is the family name for specifications produced by the Advanced Media Workflow Association (AMWA) related to networked media for professional applications. In light of NMOS’ recent announcement of a “full control plane solution", Installation asked Cristian Recoseanu – a leading developer for NMOS for many years, as well as development tech lead at broadcast automation, playout and management solutions company Pebble – if it would be fair to say that control and connection/ device management were areas perceived as being not fully covered by previous standards projects?
“I think that whenever a very interesting product or feature is created, the almost immediate question is:
‘That’s incredible, now how can I make it actually do exactly what I need it to do for my use case?’, he says.
“We can identify this pattern in transport technologies as well, where data plane is always associated with a counterpart control plane model to support this necessary adaptability and customisation required in real deployments and operational uses. ST 2110 went through the same process and, on its journey to make the transition to IP networked environments using standard and interoperable means, it inevitably reached the point where the question around control plane became loud and relevant.
“Carrying on using proprietary fragmented solutions in the control plane had the potential to undermine the philosophy and approaches taken in the data plane, so the emergence of the AMWA NMOS space was both timely and an extremely good fit with what had been developed in the data plane side – only now creating a control plane based on open and freeto-use interoperable specifications, using technologies underpinning the internet.”
URGENT REQUIREMENTS
The most urgent requirements of emerging IP streams were addressed with two specifications: IS-04 Discovery & Registration, allowing a means to advertise and discover media entities and signalling a shift from “static and fixed configuration to more dynamic and reactive workflows”; and IS-05: Device
Connection Management, which enables the ability to configure stream emitting and consuming devices, and facilitate connections between them over an IP network. More recently, the NMOS control plane solution has grown the ecosystem with specifications such as IS-12 Control Protocol, BCP-008-01: Receiver Status and BCP-008-02: Sender Status.
Recoseanu explains: “These establish interoperable standard best practices in the areas of device parameter control and monitoring in a way which leverages all the existing layers while enabling strong synergies by reusing existing technologies and shared models in addressing a wide variety of use cases. If we boil it down, from a user perspective you can discover media nodes, establish stream connections between them and, as of now, control their various processing functions and monitor any of their relevant status parameters which may indicate health issues impacting your workflows.”
Considering how the control plane innovations might impact upon pro AV, Recoseanu notes that “an expansion in the form of IPMX”, with IPMX devices being native NMOS devices and able to be discovered and connected in the same way as ST 2110 NMOS devices. He adds: “Furthermore, I see the IPMX space fully embracing the NMOS control layer and imbuing devices with abilities to control them and monitor them, fully leveraging the ecosystem and its relevant pieces and synergies.”
Moreover, there are already a number of activities looking in-depth at use cases, some of which seem destined to support the broadcast/pro AV convergence that has been much-discussed in recent years. One example noted by Recoseanu is how IPMX devices can advertise stream issues caused by HDCP through the monitoring patterns that have already been established.
“All of this will create a convergence of broadcast and pro AV devices which can interoperate and give end users unprecedented freedom and flexibility in choosing the best of breed devices for their workflows at different cost levels,” says Recoseanu. “NMOS control has been extremely well-received by vendors, end users and integrators and, with the expansion of IPMX and the advent of Media Exchange Layer (MXL), interest in open, free-to-use interoperable solutions in this space will only continue to grow as demands and requirements from future dynamic media facilities start to trickle down to the most appropriate layer.”
SIMPLIFYING SI
Created by AIMS (the Alliance for IP Media Solutions), IPMX builds upon existing work from other organisations – such as VSF, ST 2110 from SMPTE, and NMOS from AMWA – to provide a set of open standards and specifications geared towards the requirements of the pro AV market. Enabling the carriage of compressed and uncompressed video, audio and data over IP networks, IPMX also offers provisions for control, copy protection, connection management and security that are deemed more
applicable to pro AV customers and environments.
Asked to outline the main control/management capabilities included in IPMX not in ST 2110, Andrew Starks – marketing work group chair at AIMS, as well as director of product marketing at AIMS – responds: “ST 2110 does not define a control or management layer. The JT-NM TR-1001-1 architecture fills this gap by recommending the use of AMWA NMOS APIs, and IPMX follows that model – while introducing stricter and broader requirements tailored to pro AV.”
More specifically, IPMX mandates support for the aforementioned NMOS IS-04 (discovery and registration) and IS-05 and IS-11 (connection management), and mandates support for both mDNS for ad hoc deployments and DNS-SD for managed systems. These requirements – defined in VSF TR-10-8 – support “essential day-to-day functionality and simplify system integration – key expectations in pro AV environments”.
Kramer's AVoIP tech was recentlydeployedat TavastiaClub,inFinland
Above: Vanco's EVO-IP HDMI-over-IP system
NMOS Device Control & Monitoring
The NMOS conformance strategy
Below:
An installation of the Extron NAV AVoIP matrix solution
Identification Data (EDID)-style connection management addressed through IS-11: “Unlike ST 2110 workflows – where receivers must precisely match the source format – pro AV environments require dynamic negotiation between sources and displays. IS-11 supports this by effectively tunnelling EDID information, allowing controllers to ensure that sources send formats compatible with connected displays.”
LIVE PRODUCTION
The inclusion of IS-11 may also benefit workflows in live production. For example, in systems depending solely on IS-05, stream management is out of scope. But with IS-11, operators can define and enforce the house format, adding an extra layer of control when required.
such as IS-12 (system parameters) exist and are fully compatible with IPMX-compliant devices. For instance, IS-12 furnishes users with a standardised way to expose and control system-level settings including network configuration and hostname.
“While not currently required by IPMX, it represents an important step toward broader interoperability,” says Starks. “Devices that do support it provide a standardised way to manage system-level parameters such as network settings and hostnames, which can be especially useful in installed environments where consistent configuration across devices is critical.” He adds that device configuration is another active area of investigation, with “several candidate approaches under discussion”.
In terms of specific AV applications to which these control and management capabilities are particularly relevant, Starks pinpoints an extensive range, including conference rooms and corporate AV systems: “In these environments, IT staff expect systems to auto-discover devices and ‘just work’ with minimal set-up. IPMX’s use of mDNS enables plugand-play installation for ad-hoc rooms, while DNS-SD supports enterprise-level systems with centralised management. IS-11 ensures that laptops and other sources automatically send formats compatible with connected displays or projectors, eliminating user frustration and support calls.”
Other applications include digital signage networks involving one-to-many distribution across mixed displays – with IS-11 allowing “a controller to manage format compatibility across multiple endpoints
dynamically” – and higher education and campuswide AV: “Universities often deploy distributed AV systems across multiple buildings with diverse device types and inconsistent network environments. The ability for IPMX devices to operate in both registry and ad hoc modes (via NMOS + mDNS/DNS-SD) allows flexible deployment based on infrastructure maturity.”
NO CONTRADICTION
There is surely no danger of contradiction when Starks concludes: “This is not a trivial space – parameter control across best-effort networks, with a mix of hardware and software from different vendors, is a genuinely hard challenge. There’s a reason no single
solution has gained universal traction yet. For IPMX, we’re taking a deliberate approach. We want to ensure that whatever mechanism we standardise is capable, future-proof, and practical for the real-world complexity of pro AV systems.”
In short, this area remains a work in progress, as one would expect. But the steady and methodical approach that has characterised the story of AVoIP for the past decade has surely proven to be the correct one – over and over again. It’s unlikely that, back in the early 2010s, many observers have predicted the scale or speed of adoption that has taken place through pro AV, broadcast and beyond. That is testament to an extraordinary amount of hard work by many people across the industry – but also to the recognition that open standards are integral to delivering universal improvements. With that now firmly established, the experience of system integrators and end users will only be improved further with the developments that reach fruition in the next few years.
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Above: An onion diagramof NMOS control protocols
Left: An Extron AVoIP deployment
An adventurous spirit from the Midwest
Supported by his wife Michele, T.J. Smith, EAW’s president and general manager, has always been prepared to take calculated risks to further his career, including moving his family to China, writes David W. Smith
Growing up in Ohio as a pro audio obsessed teen, Timothy Smith, better known as T.J. Smith, was so crazy about Eastern Acoustic Works’ (EAW) audio equipment that he had a car bumper sticker dedicated to his favourite brand. Many years later, in early 2016, when the call came through asking him to take over as EAW’s president and general manager, he could hardly turn it down.
At the time Smith was employed by Harman Professional in Salt Lake City, Utah. The call came from Mark Graham, now owner of Symmetrix. At the time, Graham was CEO of LOUD Technologies, which then owned EAW. “He reached out and asked me to lead EAW. And he said something amazing that I didn’t understand – ’I think you can help us sell it’. I’d never seen myself as a seller of companies, but I was such a huge fan of EAW, I said ‘absolutely, yes’.”
EAST COAST
Smith, a Midwesterner at heart, had never imagined living on the East Coast. But his wife Michele, as always, was up for the adventure. The initial offer was for two years, then the family could return to the Midwest. But when the new owners, Italy’s RCF Group, took over in 2018, they wanted him to stay and rebuild the company. “I couldn’t argue with that. So here we are on the East Coast nine years later,” he says.
EAW has flourished under RCF after a period of fits and starts, he says. Previous owners focused on extracting profits at the expense of investing in the future. “It was understandable, but it doesn’t build brands. Now we have ownership that naturally wants to make money, but also pours funds into the future of the brand,” Smith points out. “A great example is our amazing, fully owned Mexican factory, which opened a year ago and is running prototypes of new products in conjunction with
production at EAW’s HQ in Franklin, Massachusetts.”
Smith’s destiny was determined at the age of 13 when he began operating pro audio equipment at his church in Ohio. He mixed the sound for a local group and “caught the bug”, going on to study engineering at Oral Roberts University, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, from 1995 to 2000, as a means of getting into pro audio. Sure enough, his first job was as an amplifier design engineer at Crown Audio. A short time later, Crown was acquired by Harman, where Smith stayed for 15 years, moving from engineering to business management roles. Recognising his leadership qualities, Harman paid for his MBA at Indiana University South Bend from 2004 to 2007.
Smith has only worked for two companies – Harman and EAW – but he has been prepared to zigzag around to develop his career. The most intrepid move came in 2009 when he was asked to become senior director of Harman’s China Business Unit, in Shenzhen. With three children in tow, the family uprooted to the other side of the world in a spirit of adventure.
“Everyone’s path in pro audio could be different, but I’m always surprised by the number of people who reject opportunities due to uncertainty. Many people are not prepared to move out of their comfort zone – they shrink back and say ‘I’m happy where I am’ – but I think I have what is called a ‘pioneering personality’, so I am willing to take calculated risks,” he adds.
Having said that, Smith says he would not have taken those risks without his wife Michele who has always made sacrifices to support him. “With every opportunity, the answer could be yes, because I had someone at home that said, ‘all right, let's go’,” he explains. “She was ready for the adventure of raising her three children in Shenzhen in China, and then just moving all over the place.”
The family stayed more than four years in China before returning to the US in 2013. This time they landed in Salt Lake City, where Smith took over as senior director of Harman’s global signal processing business unit, which included the dbx, BSS, Lexicon and DigiTech brands. The role lasted until 2016 when the surprise call came from EAW.
During his nine years with EAW, pro audio has changed priorities, and Smith now believes the days of articulated, passive line arrays are numbered. “One of the pinch points in the industry is everyone wanting great sound, but not wanting to see it, or give much room to it. They want less space on the truck devoted to audio. The systems have to get smaller and be easily concealed. So, I think the articulated line array, which came up in the early 2000s, is in its sunset period,” he says.
Smith believes that EAW’s ADAPTive systems provide an optimal solution to new industry priorities. These integrated systems, he explains, create a single acoustic source by utilising small and closely spaced sources. In this way, according to Smith, ADAPTive systems conform to the rules of line arrays better than any popular line array on the market today.
“As a result of the discipline employed in the acoustics of ADAPTive systems they sound better, take up less space and can do things no other pro audio loudspeaker system can. ADAPTive is beyond beam forming,” says Smith, adding: “We have this great acoustics platform, and we are continuing to mature that into the software and the network audio distribution infrastructure that supports modern deployments. If we can continue to do that, we will reap the benefits of being a first mover in that space.”
IMMERSIVE AUDIO
A striking example of an ADAPTive installation, Smith says, was in the Faith Community Church, a contemporary-style worship congregation based in Tucson, Arizona. With the help of Michael Garrison Associates, EAW provided a 360-degree immersive system using 19 ADAPTive AC6 column loudspeakers to create a 360-degree immersive design.
Smith comments: “It’s so rewarding to see the tech solving problems. The church had a low ceiling. It was shallow and wide, so the geometry suggested it needed a point source system, but it falls off for every doubling of the distance. So people on the edges and corners wouldn't hear the speaker at the opposite side at the same level. But the ADAPTive tech allowed us to create the same acoustic experience underneath that speaker as the person on the other side of the room 20 metres away. The church says everybody feels like they're in a room with other people, not as though they're being performed at.”
For those not ready to make the technological leap to ADAPTive installations, EAW continues to design more traditional loudspeaker products. Recently, it released the NT206L loudspeaker, a dual 6.5in line array with an adjustable horn flare. It is the second in the NT line.
“As a wooden self-powered system, it is lighter and louder than its passive (externally amplified) competition,” says Smith. “So you have this small, self-contained system that is compatible with the fact we're getting less space in the truck
and less space on the stage. Excitingly, it was previewed from our new Mexican facility.”
As the leader of EAW, Smith has built many of the aspects of the new standalone company, including implementing an SAP Business One planning system and establishing HR processes. His leadership style is governed by two rules. The first is that “victory goes to him that doesn’t lose his shit!”. Smith expands: “It's the idea that things are going to go wrong. And as a leader, your job is to be calm. Nobody's going to follow you if you're as freaked out as they are. They need to see somebody who is working on the problem, even if it's dire. Don't pretend the problem doesn't exist. But definitely be a steady hand.”
Smith’s second rule, which actually has two parts, came from a former mentor at Harman, Blake Augsburger. He advised Smith to 'take care of your people and execute'. “So, make sure people feel respected and would be missed if they weren't here. But at the same time, you have to show them a way to success,” Smith says.
‘MIDWESTERN GUY’’
In his nine years living on the East Coast, Smith has come to accept that he will always be a “Midwestern guy” at heart and never feel completely at home. Nevertheless, there are many positive aspects. “It isn't a bad place at all. There's great history here and there are plenty of outdoors camping and hiking, which we did a lot of when the three boys were younger. The biggest negative is ageing parents being far away,” he says.
Smith has been married to Michele for 25 years. They tied the knot as soon as they graduated. The three boys, so young when the family uprooted to China, have grown up a lot. They are 17, 20 and 22. And the 17-year-old now drives a car: “On some level, he may as well not live at home! So Michele and I are turning a page as a family to being alone again.”
Recently, Smith picked up a hobby of using 1950s film cameras to make family videos. The old-fashioned technology offers a pleasing contrast to the high-tech world of EAW. “Basically I love anything without a battery,” he explains. “I picked it up in a flea market. It had a wind-up action and I thought that was cool. When I hit the shutter button, it made a whirring, clicking sound and I was hooked. The price tag was $15. It makes jittery, flashy black and white films that are so much fun to watch.”
Another passion is live music. But in this context, it is Smith’s love of pro audio that shines through. “I like being in that environment where a band is playing, and there's a room full of people and creatives are doing their thing,” he enthuses. “But the technology – hooking it all up, watching everything work together to create a functioning system, so there’s this canvas that the creatives are playing on – that is truly fulfilling for me. I love it.”
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AV professionals from North America and around the world will be heading to Orlando for June's InfoComm show. Installation previews this key event in the AV calendar, highlighting the sessions and events attendees will want to see
This year's InfoComm, the North American pro AV technology expo that also attracts international exhibitors and visitors, takes place from June 7-13 (with the exhibition from June 11-13) at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. Event organiser AVIXA (Audiovisual and Integrated Experience Association, in case you were unsure!) is hoping for an attendance of 40,000, which would build substantially on the 30,271 verified attendees, from 125 countries, who visited Las Vegas for the 2024 outing. It would also mark a return to pre-pandemic attendance levels.
Of the visitors to last year’s show, 71 percent were from the pro AV channel and 29 percent were end users, with international attendance accounting for 23 percent. Of course, also present in the West and Central Halls of the Las Vegas Convention Center in 2024 were 833 companies taking up 407,00 sqft of exhibition space. AVIXA is anticipating over 900 exhibitors in Orlando, more than 150 of which will be first timers. In total,
InfoComm exhibits will occupy 410,000 sqft of the 2.1million sqft of the Orange County Convention Center, which houses two exhibition spaces – the West Building and the North-South Building – of 92,000sqft each.
END USERS
When InfoComm is held in Orlando, AVIXA has found that it attracts more end users from the education, houses of worship, retail, hospitality and enterprise sectors. The focus and theme for this year’s show, relevant to all in different ways, is "conferencing and collaboration" – the subject of over 40 sessions on the conference programme, with more than 200 manufacturers and developers exhibiting products and tech in these areas. Expert input will be provided by representatives from Google (Meet), Microsoft (Teams) and Zoom. According to AVIXA's annual Industry Outlook and Trends Analysis (IOTA) report, conferencing and collaboration are now the areas attracting the biggest spending in the AV market.
Sean Wargo, vice president of market insight at AVIXA, says this sector now makes up the bulk of revenues for integrators as businesses upgrade offices to facilitate hybrid working. "In North America alone, collaboration solutions are expected to produce $24.8bn in spending," he says. "Visitors can expect to see a wide variety of hardware and services in this area of the show this year."
This commercial significance does not, however, mean conferencing is the AV market seeing the most rapid growth. That accolade belongs to performance and entertainment, which the IOTA report predicts will experience an 8.4 percent rise in revenue this year. "It is the story of recovery in experiences following the pandemic, with consumers attending concerts, museums, sporting events and themed attractions in large numbers," Wargo explains. "This in turn has sparked increased investment in technology to support it, which will be reflected at InfoComm 2025."
BUSINESS DIRECTION
The current and possible direction of AV business will be revealed on Tuesday June 10th at AVIXA's Market Insights Lunch: State of the AV Industry. This will present new research, including forecasts of industry size and growth, from the 2025 edition of the IOTA survey. "Our team will provide key highlights from recent end-user demand surveys that reveal quarterly purchase intentions for pro AV products and services," Wargo says. "We'll also examine macro-economic trends, such as tariffs, inflation and interest rates, impacting the pro AV landscape."
Where the AV sector and the technology that enables it might be going in coming years will be discussed at the session 2030 Vision: The Future of AV on Thursday June 12th. Hosted by AVIXA chief executive David Labuskes,
this will see three "pro AV visionaries" – Brad Hintze, executive vice president of marketing at Crestron; Eric Hutto, chief executive of systems integrator Diversified; and Christine Schyvinck, president and chief executive at Shure – discuss what they view as the innovative and developing technologies that could radically change the AV market. "I'm thrilled to welcome this panel of industry leaders to the stage, where they’ll inspire attendees with their perspectives on what's on the horizon for the everevolving world of pro AV," Labuskes comments.
Brad Hintze adds that hybrid working has played a strong part in driving an increase in the adoption of technology, creating potential for more user feedback. "There is still a lot of opportunity for our industry to drive even better experiences and a big part of that will be a migration away from user-driven systems to more autonomous environments that can react intuitively based on data," he says. "Industry advancements over the next several years will help these AV systems adapt to the environment and anticipate the users' needs based on previous trends of how the space has been used."
AI FOCUS
Artificial intelligence (AI) was a major theme and talking point at InfoComm 2024 and while it is not the sole focus, its presence will be felt this year, including during the 2030 Vision discussion. "We will be discussing how technological advancements like AI are impacting the industry," says Christine Schyvinck. "We'll also touch on the challenges within the industry, including adaptability with so many changes happening around the world."
Schyvinck calls this a transformative time for technology in the AV industry, adding that end users are looking for benefits such as improved flexibility and
An AV demo suite at last year'sshow
Thethemeofmanyof the discussions at year'sshowwill be"conferencingand collaboration"
networking. "Spaces are more multi-dimensional and having the right ecosystem is essential," she explains. "From microphones to DSPs to loudspeakers, networked audio solutions that can be precisely tailored for specific needs will be even more important. AI will play a bigger role in this, not just improving how products operate but how companies operate as well, in areas such as customer service, data management and operations."
SPOTLIGHT STAGE
The possibilities for the AV industry will be examined further during sessions held on the Spotlight Stage, a new feature described as a "dedicated hub for exploring the fastest-growing solution areas in pro AV, including broadcast AV and digital signage". This area will comprise both the session stage and a networking lounge, with the aim being to provide a forum for "in-depth conversations between attendees and solution providers".
Sessions include: Technology Democratisation and Industry Convergence – IABM and AVIXA In Conversation (11am, June 11th); Automated Production and Skills Augmentation: How to Empower Solo Operators with Media Technology and AI (1130am, June 11th), featuring
Jeremy Morris, senior pre-sales consultant at Vizrt and Dave Hoffman, business development manager for the Americas with Blackmagic Design; The State of Modern Work: Navigating AI, Hybrid Culture, and Industry Shifts in AV (1030am, June 12th), presented by Crestron; Making Retail More Immersive with AR, VR and XR (4pm, June 12th), with Mattia Miglio, director of business development for North America at Alibaba.com and Robin Raskin of the Virtual Events Group; Mastering Digital Signage Deployment: Navigating Supply Chain and Logistics for Seamless Execution (1145am, June 12th), featuring Tony Green, VP of business development with Snap Install and Kristin Roubie, director of business development at Elo; and HETMA: Recruiting and Retaining AV Talent (1230pm, June 13th), with Erin Maher-Moran, IT manager for classroom tech at John Hopkins University, Elizabeth Burnham, training and QA/ QC coordinator with Pershing Technologies, George Chacko, senior director of academic and classroom technologies at Pace University and Ryan Gray, director of tech engagement & strategy, Yavapai College. HETMA (Higher Education Technology Managers Alliance) will also be staging its own Higher Education
Summit, a two-day workshop (June 9-10) made up of panels and interactive breakout sessions looking at the trends and innovations in AV for this sector. Subjects for discussion include: Ethics and Accessibility, Security and Zero Trust and Successful Capital Planning. Speakers include: Kameesha Jones, AV project manager at Florida International University, Joe Way, executive director of digital spaces at UCLA, Kevin Schornhorst, director of SLED for AVI-SPL and Andy Vogel, instructional designer at Ohio State University. Those attending the summit also get a free ticket to the Higher Ed AV Awards, which take place on the evening of June 9th.
GETTING TECHNICAL
There will be a further educational focus as part of the InfoComm Workshops and Education Sessions. The technical workshops will examine important current subjects such as hitting green targets through the SAVe Sustainability in AV scheme, creating effective streaming networks and building successful esports facilities. The education sessions will concentrate on AI, including how it can be used as part of the production process as well as for digital signage and what impact it has had on the modern meeting room.
The growing influence of AI will also feature in the Conferencing and Collaboration Education Track, which runs from June 10-12. Sessions include Beyond the Meeting Room: AI's Expanding Role in the Workplace (June 10th). This is set to look at how the technology is changing not only meeting rooms but also the office experience itself. Among those taking part are: Craig Durr, founder and chief analyst of The Collab Collective, John Stearns, head of Zoom Spaces at Zoom, and Ilya Bukshteyn, corporate vice president, Microsoft Teams calling, devices and premium experiences.
Also on the schedule is Shaping the Future Workplace: The Role of AV in Modern Office Design, with representatives from Capital Group, Studio Other, Workshape, Wielding Workplace and Jabra; Enterprise Teams Integration: Successes and Lessons Learned, presented by Chris Bischoff, senior manager of infrastructure engineering at environmental services provider Republic Services; and Accuracy in Transcription Matters: Hit the Bullseye with Zoom and Shure, focusing on the part good quality audio plays in producing precise AI transcripts.
A feature of last year's InfoComm was the show floor tours led by Jane Hammersley of collaboration specialist Blue Touch Paper. These will take place again in Orlando, with two tours, on June 11th and June 12th, focusing on seven companies Hammersley sees as making great steps forward in innovation and technology for conferencing and collaboration.
Below, Hammersley comments on each of the seven companies, explaining her choices:
Q-SYS: "I love how their infrastructure and ecosystem is enabling conferencing and collaboration systems to
work seamlessly," says Hammersley. "They do a lot in the background to make the user experience super easy."
Yealink: "A very interesting vendor that is agile, flexible and doing well in the SMB space. The product line includes headsets and videobars and really talks to the whole of the collaboration space, from a remote worker right through to a full interactive conferencing solution."
Cisco: "An interesting choice for me as I tend to look for smaller vendors with different takes on conferencing and collaboration. Cisco is an enterprise wide, end-to-end ecosystem network that was focused entirely on its Webex platform, but now they're also running Teams, which has changed their world dramatically."
Igloo Vision: "This is an immersive 360 conference room. I've seen mountains of data being assimilated in this immersive space, which is just very exciting."
NetSpeek: "It's an AI-driven tool for device management and proactive maintenance. It proactively manages, monitors and heals devices by pinging them the day before they are needed. And if it finds a device that's not working, it analyses the fault and produces the right documentation so it can be fixed."
Shure: "In meetings now, transcription and translation of audio is becoming almost more important than video because we need to ensure that actions are attributed to the right people. Shure is the latest vendor to join the Microsoft Certification and MTR (Microsoft Teams Rooms) Environment, but they've done it from a completely different viewpoint. They've said we're going
Attendees to InfoComm 2025 can witness demos of the most innovative AV productsandsolutions
More broadcast tech will be on show as the sector'sconvergence with AV accelerates
to use their 100-year history in sound to drive a better meeting experience through the audio."
Salamander: "They are all about how products look aesthetically and work in the meeting and conference environment. They have furniture, brackets and mounts that allow express installation for collaboration rooms that you can set up in less than an hour."
AROUND ORLANDO
Tours are also taking place away from the Convention Center, visiting AV installations in and around Orlando, with the opportunity to talk to the technical teams behind them. Perhaps the highest profile of these is "Drawn to Life", which brings together Disney animation and the visual style of Cirque du Soleil. After seeing the full performance, visitors will be taken on a behind-thescenes tour, which will take in the seventh-floor catwalk, production/stage management/video control room and the band area.
There is a Disney connection to the tour of the Dr Phillips Center for the Performing Arts. The multi-venue show and event building houses not only the 2,800-seat Walt Disney Theater but also the 1,700-seat Steinmetz Hall and the 300-seat Alexis and Jim Pugh Theater. For those involved in house of worship projects, there will be an in-depth tour of Lifebridge Church, looking at the audio, video, lighting and rigging aspects of the installation.
On the education side, attendees will have the chance to visit the University of Central Florida (UCF), including the student union to see the Charge on Chamber 107seat hybrid meeting space. The tour will then move on to an ongoing classroom installation where UCF's in-house AV team will talk through the installation of a Crestroncontrolled multimedia system.
AVIXA WOMEN
Pro audio vendors are settopresenttheir latest solutions for live music at InfoComm
A popular fixture in any InfoComm calendar is the AVIXA Women’s Breakfast, which this year will take place on the morning of June 12th. The keynote speaker for this event is Noelle Russell, founder and chief AI officer at the AI Leadership Institute. She will talk about the unique challenges faced by women in their professional lives and how obstacles can be overcome with a mixture of "grace and determination".
As ever there will be more to see and do at InfoComm 2025 once the show gets going, but this should have given a good outline of the events, themes and trends that are in store.
InfoComm 2025: Education and Session programme June 7-13; Exhibition June 11-13.
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AV for the modern workplace
Modularity is driving many of the changes in flexible office spaces, says Steve Wingo, technical application engineer, Sennheiser
The modern workplace has undergone significant changes in recent years, creating a massive shift in culture, space planning, and technologies, all of which influence emerging workplace trends. One key factor driving this transformation is modularity. Some workspaces have taken the concept of flexibility to new heights.
Offices are being designed with just a few meeting rooms with doors. Cabinetry is mounted on wheels, and partition walls between areas are entirely mobile, allowing teams to create personalised workspaces anywhere in the building. These types of work environments give us a glimpse into the future, where the limitations of how employees use their workspaces are virtually eliminated through modular design.
RETHINKING MEETINGS
In terms of current workplace trends, hybrid and remote work models are here to stay, especially in industries that have embraced these changes. This shift requires businesses to rethink how meetings are conducted, ensuring that collaboration is effective, regardless of where participants are located. One of the critical aspects of this is ensuring a unified and equitable experience for everyone, particularly in virtual meetings.
For instance, camera technology has evolved significantly, with many modern systems offering tiling features that allow all participants to be equally sized on screen. This equitable sizing is crucial for creating a level playing field in virtual settings, where no participant appears larger than another, which can be distracting.
Moreover, advanced technology now uses AI to enhance the virtual meeting experience further. AI ensures that not only are participants equally sized on the screen, but it also
tracks movement within a room. If someone moves while on camera, the AI adjusts the framing to ensure the person remains centred and properly in view. This seamless adjustment makes the virtual experience feel more natural, improving interaction and engagement for remote attendees.
From my perspective, I believe that audio plays a critical role in this tech evolution. While poor video quality can be tolerable in some situations, bad audio quality can have a much more significant impact. Communication is primarily verbal in meetings, and if audio is unclear or choppy, it can lead to misunderstandings, lost time, and even lost business. Clear, reliable audio is therefore essential for productive and efficient communication, and it is a top priority for us.
As we continue to advance in the world of hybrid and remote work, the workplace is becoming a more flexible and technologically integrated environment. This evolution is an exciting opportunity to design spaces and experiences that empower employees and teams to collaborate seamlessly from anywhere. It has become critical for organisations to future-proof their offices by implementing innovative audio solutions that support this new era of work. Whether in-person or remote, high-quality audio will remain a crucial component of effective comms in the modern workplace.
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Deploying sustainable highresolution DS Solutions
Pierre
Gillet, VP of international sales, at BrightSign on the surging demand for high-resolution signage, and the need to be environmentally responsible
The demand for high-resolution digital signage (DS) is surging. 4K is well and truly here, and 8K displays will continue offering unprecedented visual clarity and engagement opportunities. This trend is expected to accelerate, with a projected growth rate of 42 percent over the next seven years. However, businesses and venues must balance consumer needs with environmental and economic responsibilities.
Businesses in sectors such as retail, transport, and corporate are under pressure to consider their environmental footprint and adhere to internal CSR guidelines. At the same time, they need increasingly engaging and immersive visuals that resonate with their target audience – whether this is changing buying behaviours, instilling brand identities and messaging, or streamlining wayfinding.
Therefore, a high-performing, reliable DS solution that perfectly blends high-resolution visuals must balance performance, efficiency, and sustainability while minimising hardware and maximising ROI.
INFRASTRUCTURE OVERLOAD
Deploying high-resolution displays can present infrastructure challenges due to high data and power demands, especially on adapted computer hardware. Unlike digital media players, most computers are not built for single application signage which increases hardware costs, energy use and maintenance. Unlike lower-cost, portable streaming media players, digital media players with built-in features provide superior reliability and sustainable performance. With venues often deploying multiple screens throughout their spaces, the cumulative impact of excessive
infrastructure becomes a pressing concern for maintaining reliability, security and reducing the sustainable impact of deployments.
A DS solution that receives complete life cycle support and on-demand updates that remain consistent across hardware generations, can deliver unmatched longevity. By working closely with partners and vendors, businesses can reduce technical overheads with remote re-provisioning and management – providing flexibility should requirements change. This reduces downtime, ensuring devices stay up to date without manual intervention.
CMS PARTNERS
For organisations looking for the most sustainable DS deployment, they should consider working with a CMS partner. They can play a crucial role in reducing the environmental impact of DS by implementing advanced device management strategies that go beyond hardware. Features like automated power scheduling, brightness control and content caching can significantly improve efficiency and enable businesses to manage all displays across a network, optimise energy use and content delivery.
As technology evolves, the DS industry must continue to prioritise sustainability without compromising performance. The adoption of DS players enables businesses to create visually compelling, energy-efficient signage networks.
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International
replacedageingflight informationdisplays with 378 new LG LCD screens,in2024
INNOVATIVE
TRANSPORTATION EMERGES AS ONE OF AV’S HOTTEST SECTORS
In part one of a two-part feature, David W. Smith looks at how key decision-makers across travel hubs globally are racing to upgrade digital signage and audio systems to improve the passenger experience
Transport hubs, with airports at the forefront, are becoming ‘innovative testbeds’ for datadriven, connected and customer-centric displays. The speed of change is dizzying as technological advances, allied to public demand for a better experience, drive global trends. The integration of technology with infrastructure, operations and customer flows is deeper than ever. And it’s not just the use of displays that is evolving. Audio is becoming a vital part of transport hub technology advances too.
Sean Wargo, vice president of market insight, AVIXA, says: “The biggest trend is the increasing adoption of digital signage in transportation, putting this market near the top of the list of buying segments for signage, along with retail and hospitality. Think about any transportation hub these days – signage is a key component of the traveller experience, with wayfinding, travel information, advertising, and QSR interactions. Signage has even allowed branding and artistic installations to improve the travel experience.”
TRULY GLOBAL
Previously restricted to larger hubs in wealthier cities, the move to creating connected, customer-centric digital signage in transportation is now truly global, according to Mikael Varga, sales manager, ZetaDisplay. He says: “From India’s bustling railway stations, where AI-powered displays deliver real-time
updates and targeted content to millions daily, to Bangkok’s ultra-modern MRT and airport terminals, where high-res LED walls enhance wayfinding and retail, digital signage is accelerating worldwide.”
The dynamism in the sector is inspiring transport hubs to double as “innovative testbeds” for datadriven displays, Varga argues. “At Oslo Central Station and aboard Flytoget, Norway’s Airport Express Train, ZetaDisplays intelligent signage platforms help communicate time-sensitive updates to thousands of passengers daily,” he says. “This ensures smooth transitions and maintains Flytoget’s top-tier customer satisfaction ratings. Similarly, on Hurtigruten’s coastal ferry fleet, our screens not only inform but immerse travellers in Norway’s dramatic landscapes.”
Varga says the goal in every project now is to achieve a deeper integration of technology with infrastructure, operations and customer flows. An example is the installation of more than 250 screens for Arlanda Express, Sweden’s airport rail link. He explains: “Our Engage CMS platform forms the brain of these systems. It facilitates real-time updates, integrates with live departure data, and ensures each piece of content is relevant to the location, audience, and time of day. At Oslo Airport’s Tanum bookshop, our bespoke integration between Engage and the departure boards allows dynamic promotions of travel guides matched to flight destinations.”
GLOBALCOM
One integrated solution for mass communication, zoned paging and public address, and life safety for airports, rail, and transit hubs worldwide. Most time in field and trusted by 87% of airports domestically and 68% globally.
The type of transportation strongly impacts the AV technology deployed, according to Craig Sholder, director of sales for the west coast and transportation sector, SNA Displays. Airports are at the forefront of the revolution, he says, embracing advanced video walls, multilingual dynamic signage, biometric checkins, and immersive technology. Plus, adjacent services, such as onsite rentals using LED video walls to attract customers, mirror developments in the wider retail world. “For example, car rental company SIXT upgraded its in-person customer service experience at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport with an SNA Displays’ 43ft video wall that spans the length of its customer service counter to immerse guests in content and messaging,” he adds.
RUGGED HARDWARE
For train and metro stations, the emphasis is more on installing rugged AV hardware for high traffic environments. These hubs integrate LED video displays with scheduling systems and accessibility enhancements like audio loops and real-time voice announcements. “Busy and distracted commuters rely on dynamic, eye-catching digital signage to provide important information,” Sholder observes. “For example, as part of an extensive revitalisation project to New York’s Penn Station, Amtrak added a 37ft LED video screen from SNA Displays to enhance wayfinding and improve communication.”
Finally, bus depots or ferry terminals are adopting large-format digital, but the speed of change is somewhat slower because of budgetary and spatial limitations. Sholder comments: “The LED video at Nassau Cruise Port in the Bahamas is a perfect example of digital signage that incorporates
wayfinding and community-messaging while also serving a critical role for the local economy.”
Under pressure to match, or surpass, rival hubs, decision-makers are clamouring to stay abreast of the latest technology. Pierre Gillet, vice president of international sales at BrightSign, says: “Decision makers at large transport hubs are desperate to keep up-to-date. Dynamic digital signage contributes to the look and feel of hubs, as well as ease of navigation and overall reputation. As a result, transport hubs of all sizes are evaluating how they can implement digital signage at all levels, with smaller hubs looking at new greenfield deployments as the value of digital signage becomes increasingly hard to ignore.”
Transportation companies also recognise the benefits for advertising. By capitalising on high-traffic environments, revenue can be generated by promoting ancillary services and leveraging passenger dwell time. Gillet adds: “Digital signage allows for dynamic and targeted advertising, enabling operators to sell advertising space to a wide range of businesses looking to reach a captive audience. Programmatic advertising capabilities further enhance revenue generation by ensuring advertisements are relevant to the location, time of day, and demographics.”
A similar state of flux characterises the evolution of audio solutions in transportation centres from basic analogue to flexible and scalable digital systems. Matt Czyzewski, executive vice president, AtlasIED, says the company's GLOBALCOM platform is in demand because it has been designed to facilitate networkable digital communication. An example is at Newark Airport’s new Terminal A, which features immersive multimedia and real-time paging through more than 2,300 loudspeakers.
Below: SharpePaper displaysused as outdoor signage
“Transport hubs are often expanded or renovated , requiring scalable AV infrastructure. Interoperability is another requirement as systems must integrate with fire alarms, security systems, and other building management tools,” Czyzewski comments. “At Newark Terminal A, the GLOBALCOM platform facilitates intelligent audio distribution, emergency integration, and automated sound levelling. The deployment included over 120 digital paging stations and 48 smart amplifiers with backup channels.”
Just as in the case of digital signage, the type of audio installation depends on the mode of transportation. Shannon Humphrey, president of loudspeaker provider SoundTube Entertainment, says airports require clear announcements over large, acoustically complex areas, while metro systems need more rugged, vandal-proof solutions. Despite these differences, much of the technology is the same for both. “Audio technology has shifted from analogue systems to digital, networked solutions like Danteenabled PoE speakers, improving audio clarity, zoning flexibility, and remote management,” Humphrey adds.
INCLUSIVE AUDIO
Compelled by a desire to be inclusive as well as by regulatory pressures, transport hubs are paying more attention to the quality of assistive audio. Ampetronics | Listen Technologies, a provider of hearing loop and
assistive listening solutions, is seeing rising demand, says Jonathon Hoskin, technical sales engineer. He believes transport environments are moving from passive infrastructure to interactive, digitally inclusive spaces. It means more focus on deploying usecontrolled access to personalised information, as well as on integration with smart mobility platforms.
To fulfill all these needs, Hoskin says Ampetronic is deploying Auri, an assistive listening system that uses Auracast broadcast audio technology. “Auracast is a natural next step – moving from traditional broadcasting to targeted ‘narrowcasting’, he says. “It empowers passengers to access the audio they need, when and how they need it, using familiar devices. We believe it will soon become a standard accessibility feature, just as hearing loops have been for decades.”
Some of the keenest observers of technology developments are, of course, the integrators who face pressure to modernise hubs. Their solutions are often innovative and bespoke. Belgian integrator TVV Sound Project, for example, was tasked with updating the public address system at Liège train station with “the latest technologies”. The solution was to deploy the Dante protocol and loudspeaker systems from Active Audio and APG, which are controlled with beamsteering technology via Powersoft amplifiers.
Edo Dijkstra, CEO, TVV Sound Project, says: “The installation market for transportation is evolving
toward specialised techniques, both digitally and aesthetically. Standard installation methods are less acceptable. This trend ensures installations are not only functional, but also innovative and aligned with technological developments. Digital technologies are becoming more important, such as new Class D amplifiers and Dante audio. They offer higher quality and efficiency, as well as improved system control.”
IP INTEGRATIONS
When hubs upgrade technology, an important evaluation criteria is the ability to integrate with other systems. Matt Czyzewski, at AtlasIED, says the company’s GLOBALCOM platform uses IP-based architecture to create a coordinated and intelligent environment. “At Newark Terminal A, the GLOBALCOM system was integrated with the fire alarm system so that only authorised communication points remain active during an emergency while regular paging is suppressed. This coordination helps prevent confusion and ensures that safety protocols are followed in real-time,” Czyzewski explains.
In a similar vein, Dan Verbsky, senior transportation account manager at LG, says the company’s digital display solutions are designed for integration with third-party CMS platforms and smart systems. “A prime example is our work at Portland International Airport (PDX), where we modernised the flight information display system ,while eliminating the complexity of external media players and reducing the
risk of network vulnerabilities. SITA’s display engine was optimised for LG’s webOS, enabling direct delivery of content over Ethernet with no additional devices needed,” he explains.
Modern AV solutions need to be interoperable with building management systems (BMS) for centralised control of lighting, HVAC, as well as smart rooms and conference room management, according to Craig Sholder, at SNA Displays. The IoT allows sensors to trigger AV alerts, for example, to steer passengers away from crowded areas, or signal poor air quality, while mobile apps and wearables create omnichannel communication. Sholder: “The goal is a holistic, datadriven ecosystem rather than siloed AV components.”
Given the speed of change and the desire for interoperability, modular systems are in demand as components can be swapped out more readily. Simon Hayes, director of transportation, Sharp NEC Display Solutions, says the company’s modular hardware is designed to be compatible with any airport infrastructure or CMS. “The modular design of our large format displays is appreciated for its future-proof capabilities, which allow the integration of the most appropriate computing technology and are upgradable without replacing entire displays,” he says.
Clearly, all this new tech requires major financial commitments, which may be undermined by wider economic factors. Overall the travel sector has surged back since Covid, and even exceeds pre-pandemic levels. But AVIXA's Sean Wargo cautions that tariffs
The Moment Vault LED feature atOrlandoInternationalAirport
and other costs can act as headwinds to investments: “The biggest threat would be a recession or consumer retrenchment that undercuts travel as a whole, thereby putting a limit on resources."
Most manufacturers, however, remain positive about the market. Shannon Humphrey, president of SoundTube Entertainment, describes it as generally strong, despite tariff issues and supply-chain challenges. “Rising costs of materials and shipping have required proactive measures,” he says. “We've responded by sourcing materials strategically, prioritising US-made products to reduce tariff impacts, and managing inventory flexibly. This approach helps us stay competitive without sacrificing quality or availability.”
The most optimistic appraisal comes from Neil Hahn, vice president of Hahn Integrated Systems, consultants on the US$3bn upgrade to Terminal C at Orlando International Airport. Hahn believes that –relative to other sectors of AV – transport provides regular, lucrative work, but is often neglected by contractors and designers. “A lot of the AV industry doesn't know transportation is a very steady market, as there’s always a need for upgrades of facilities at airports and train stations,” he says. “A lot of them are always chasing nothing but stadiums or boardrooms, and how many of those are built a year? Just compare how many airports are having work done. Industrial AV is a good field with a different set of requirements for 24/7 operations.”
With so much momentum in transport AV, most commentators are excited about the possibility for further, rapid innovation. Sean Wargo at AVIXA believes technologies will continue to become smarter, meaning more responsive to the traveller.
AI is clearly the buzzword of the moment and preoccupying minds. Dan Verbsky at LG is excited about integrating DVLED with AI-driven content management and data analytics: “Predictive smart AV systems will soon adjust content based on crowd density, time of day, or service changes. System-onchip platforms continue to evolve, allowing for realtime content streaming, AI-based audience analytics, and remote management.”
CREATIVE DESIGNS
Verbsky expects to see a growing trend of DVLED creatively embedded into spaces’ architecture. “I think we’ll see curved models that wrap around columns, floor-mounted panels that passengers can walk on, and custom-shaped displays that can represent local geography or culture – creating truly immersive experiences. We expect these technologies will define the next generation of passenger environments.”
With transportation under regulatory pressure to reduce emissions, Simon Hayes at Sharp NEC expects two energy-efficient innovations to have a long-term impact. Both Flip-Chip SMD technology and ePaper not only reduce operating costs, but also support the transition towards more sustainability, he says. “ePaper is an ideal replacement for paper posters or static content that changes regularly at check-in desks and gate information displays,” he says. “And the third generation of our LED-FE Series utilises Flip-Chip SMD technology, reducing energy consumption and heat emission by 60 percent.”
Below: LGdisplaysat Portland International Airport(PDX)
“This implies AI in things like interactive displays that can react and respond to customers. It may even be in the form of more automated traveller assistance to augment traveller assistance personnel. More automation likely means even more displays which clearly presents opportunities for AV,” he says.
Craig Sholder at SNA Displays anticipates greater software centrality, such as in content management, analytics, AI-driven scheduling, and user feedback loops, and more emphasis on interoperability and open standards to avoid vendor lock-in. Sholder also predicts more multilingual, accessible AV tools to support diverse populations and tourism.
Shannon Humphrey expects the transport AV market to continue evolving toward fully integrated, networked systems compatible with IoT ecosystems: “Trends will likely include increased use of networked audio and AI-driven audio technologies, a greater emphasis on energy efficiency and sustainability, and improved security features. Technical requirements will expand to include detailed data analytics, real-time monitoring, and predictive maintenance, driven by ongoing digital advancements and higher passenger expectations.”
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INSTALL INSIGHTS
Installation content writer David W. Smith rounds up the best of the latest installations, including SNA Displays’ huge video facade in New York, Hive’s immersive Tutankhamun show, Groupe Novelty’s record-breaking floor projection... and loads more
SNA Displays installs huge video facade in Manhattan
SNA Displays installed a multi-screen video façade with an area of more than 10,000sqft in the 37-story office tower at 5 Times Square, in New York City, US. The centrepiece of the LED spectacular is an 83ft-tall display which wraps around the corner at 7th and 42nd.
SNA Displays manufactured custom elements to give the main screen a characteristic peak, mimicking the shape of the 5 Times Square skyscraper. At
65ft wide, the corner-wrapping display alone contains more than 7.8m pixels (3,150 x 2,480) and 5,000sqft of display canvas. Facing 7th Ave, the digital spectacular’s second-largest screen is approximately 36ft high x 69ft wide (1,380 x 2,640 pixels) .
The other two LED screens face 42nd Ave, measuring approximately 34ft x 48ft (1,290 x 1,840) and 34ft x 34ft (1,290 x 1,280).
Extron empowers learning across Kenyon College’s new West Quad
Kenyon College, a liberal arts college in Gambier, Ohio, US, recently expanded to include three multi-story buildings as part of its new West Quad. It now offers presentation equipment in over 100 classrooms, as well as other learning and meeting spaces. Designed by NV5 and deployed by Radiant Technology, the West Quad incorporates a range of Extron products and technologies, including high-performance AV switching systems, consisting of DTP and IP Link Pro control, and NAV Pro AV over IP systems for linking within and between spaces.
Other AV systems include one or more computers, at least one video projection system or large screen display, and AV connectivity available on walls and furniture. Many rooms are equipped with additional sources, such as an optical media player, a document camera, webcams, one or more Smart Pen displays, and Apple TV with screen casting. Certain rooms also provide lecture capture and streaming capabilities.
SUPERIOR SYSTEM
Extron’s NAV Pro AV over IP system was selected because it provided superior system flexibility, signal integrity, and video scalability in a high-performance solution. Within each room and space, NAV encoders and scaling decoders run through local switches, with the decoders distributing content at the native resolution for each display device. Learning space configurations change regularly, which is why NAV endpoints are installed throughout. Connection points are provided on walls and floors and within furniture. The auditorium, seminar rooms, and presentation venues have the same flexibility using more standard products and connection options. The NAV system facilitates overflow by routing signals between rooms.
A range of other Extron equipment is deployed to provide complete AV systems. In some spaces, Extron DTP CrossPoint presentation matrix switchers provide switching within the room while connecting to the NAV system for complete routing flexibility. DMP Plus Series DSP processors are paired with XPA Series power amplifiers for enhanced audio reproduction.
Hive powers Tutankhamun: The Immersive Exhibition, in London
Tutankhamun: The Immersive Exhibition opened at ExCeL London in March 2025, inviting visitors to step inside the story of the boy king in a spectacular reimagining of Ancient Egypt. Produced by FKP Scorpio Entertainment, created by Madrid Artes Digitales (MAD), and “powered” by Hive’s Beeblade Pluto media servers, the 26,000sqft experience blends archaeology, storytelling and immersive technology. At the heart of the show is a towering 8m-high, 360-degree projection-mapped environment – an engineering feat designed to transport audiences to a richly detailed ancient world. This central immersive space, known as the “black box,” was designed and installed by Belgian multimedia specialists Painting with Light (PWL), with projection powered by Epson and media playback delivered by Hive’s high-performance Beeblade system.
INTERNATIONAL SHOWINGS
The London run is the latest in a string of international showings for the exhibition, and is also the first time the new, modular black box format has been deployed –designed specifically for ease of repeat use as the experience tours new markets.
PWL built a full-scale immersive theatre powered by 44 Epson projectors featuring spatial audio and projection mapping. Hive’s Beeblade Pluto media servers served as the backbone of the experience. The projection canvas covered more than 1,200sqm, with content playing across ultra-wide resolutions and 30fps frame rates.
VIOSO calibrated all 44 projectors onsite in just two days. Its camerabased solution was integrated with Hive’s playback system.
World record for largest video mapping floor projection claimed
The largest bird park in Europe, Parc des Oiseaux, in France, recently hosted Les Nuits du Parc, an immersive night-time trail boasting the world’s largest video mapping floor projection overseen by Groupe Novelty, the leading provider of technical event services in Europe. The trail ran from November 2024 to March 2025.
Novelty AURA, with the help of sister companies Alabama Média and Teamagine, mobilised Groupe Novelty’s technical expertise to design an audiovisual and lighting show tailored to the many challenges presented by the site: complex topography, rigorous climatic conditions and strict respect for local wildlife. Located 30km north of Lyon as the crow flies, the Parc des Oiseaux welcomes 280,000 visitors a year between April and October. Les Nuits du Parc was commissioned to extend the Parc’s appeal into the winter months.
VISITOR SPOTLIGHT
Accompanying the visitors were more than 100 spotlights, as well as interactive light objects created by Lyon-based designers Pitaya and Drôme-based lighting designer Tilt, all controlled by DMX512. Over 40 discreet, IP65 JBL ‘mushroom’ speakers were scattered throughout the park to ensure continuity. The content was managed by Modulo Pi servers.
The night-time path was designed as an immersive stroll for visitors through the park with various displays to enjoy. Technology deployed included projectors from Panasonic and Barco, as well as a d&b E12 audio system rigged above a stage.
Renkus-Heinz speakers take ‘pole position’ at Portland Airport
Renkus-Heinz’s Iconyx Compact ICC12/3 loudspeakers have been installed in Portland International Airport (PDX), in Oregon, in the US, as part of a major multi-phase modernisation project. The speakers, central to the PDX Next initiative, had to be installed on custom-designed “integrated technology poles” because of the architecture of the building.
The installation of the Renkus-Heinz speakers was part of the project’s first phase. There were no conventional walls or ceilings to house traditional sound systems. Therefore, the sub-contractor PAE collaborated with global engineering consultancy Arup to custom-design the integrated technology poles, which are modular structures that house multiple technologies.
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Pioneer PRO AUDIO system boosts audio at Media City’s Content Studio
Media City’s new Content Studio and co-working space at White Tower in Salford, UK, offers a blank canvas for influencers, photographers, producers, film makers, and other creatives, and it recently received a boost with the installation of a Pioneer PRO AUDIO system from the company’s CM-Series of commercial audio products.
The system was delivered by Salford-based specialists Hollowsphere AV, with a brief to facilitate background music and performances. The audio was installed near the service equipment in the ceiling and comprised 13 x P4in Pioneer PRO AUDIO CM-S54T and 5 x CM-S56T 6in surface mount speakers, and an CM-510ST-K subwoofer. A Powersoft Quattrocanali 1204 DSP amplifier (4-channel 1200W) powers the system which is controlled by a wall-mounted Powersoft WM Touch Panel.
INFiLED develops bespoke LED cube for Genève-Servette Hockey Club
INFiLED has partnered with Swiss AV integration specialist Lemanvisio to design and deliver a customengineered, 96sqm LED video cube for ice hockey champion team Genève-Servette Hockey Club. The display brings immersive, high-resolution visuals to Patinoire des Vernets, home of the Club. The installation posed challenges, including environmental factors such as humidity, and also the structural demands of suspending a centre-hung display above ice. INFiLED designed a bespoke solution with curved cabinet corners to eliminate visual interruptions.
Atlona OmniStream helps to ‘modernise’ learning at Stralsund University
An Atlona OmniStream networked AV system is at the heart of a major upgrade to the learning infrastructure at Stralsund University, in Northern Germany, which specialises in technical subjects like engineering and computer science. The integrator, IBB Elektronik, also chose an array of technology from Biamp, Panasonic, Netgear and Wacom for the installation. The two Wacom Cintiq Pro pen displays contribute to the dynamic learning experience in each classroom.
Martin Audio adds loudspeaker wow factor to Goan nightclub
GOYA, a premier lounge and nightclub in Goa’s tourist hotspot of Vagator Beach has been fitted out with Martin Audio TORUS T1215, 12in passive constant curvature array loudspeakers, complemented by Martin Audio’s CDD15B and CDD12B coaxial differential dispersion on-wall speakers.
Powering the Martin Audio setup is the Martin Audio iK42, a four-channel 20,000W Class D amplifier, along with the DX 0.6 2-in/6-out dedicated system controller.
INSIDE TRACK
LEA
Professional sales director EMEA, Jeff Gorton, talks about being born into an ‘AV’ family, the future of the industry, and competing as an offshore sailor
Where are you from, and where do you currently reside?
I was born and raised in the UK, and I now live in Kent close enough to London for business, but far enough out to enjoy some peace, space and woodlands for my kids to climb trees.
What do you enjoy doing in your free time? Any favourite sports or hobbies?
I’m a competitive offshore sailor and a proud member of the Royal Ocean Racing Club. I’ve even competed in the Rolex Fastnet Race. When I’m not out on the water, I enjoy the occasional round of golf (though I don’t play as often as I’d like), and I cycle regularly to stay fit (not as often as I probably should!)
How did you get into the AV industry, and what was your journey to your current role?
It all started with my father, who launched an AV integration business out of my bedroom, which I had to share with my brother! Watching the exciting projects his company delivered sparked my passion for technology. I began my own journey in AV installation, pulling cables and working on university and corporate sector projects.
From there, I moved into corporate account management and then into international business development. I’ve had the privilege of leading sales teams, negotiating distribution deals across continents, and presenting strategies to C-level executives. It’s been a journey built on learning, strong relationships, and a genuine love for the AV industry.
What are your thoughts on the future of the AV industry, what potential challenges or pinch points do you foresee and how is your company addressing them?
The industry is evolving rapidly, particularly with the integration of IT and networked audio solutions. One of the biggest challenges is ensuring that end users and integrators stay educated as systems become increasingly software-defined. There are also ongoing pinch points around global supply chain consistency and pricing pressures caused by the current turbulent markets. At LEA, we are heavily investing in training, support, and partner enablement to keep our distributors and integrators engaged and equipped with available products. Our focus on integrated platforms positions us to navigate and lead through the industry's transformation effectively.
What excites you most about working in AV every day?
No two days (or projects) are the same; one day it’s a corporate HQ, the next it’s a university or a high-end hospitality venue. The mix of technology, creativity, and global collaboration keeps things exciting. And there’s nothing quite like seeing a system you helped get specified or sold come to life on-site.
If you had to predict one major shift in the AV industry over the next decade, what would it be?
A major shift will be the move toward fully integrated AV-over-IP ecosystems that blend seamlessly with IT infrastructure and are managed remotely via the cloud. We're already heading in that direction, but within ten years, I believe traditional hardware racks will largely give way to software-first platforms.
What’s the most valuable leadership lesson you’ve learned during your career in AV?
Lead by example; your team will reflect your energy and enthusiasm. Business can be stressful, but it should also involve fun and a sense of shared purpose. I’m fortunate now to be working alongside some of the top business minds in the AV industry, and I’m still learning and adapting every day. One lesson that’s really stuck with me: honesty in tough conversations earns far more respect than avoiding them. And when it comes to task management, let your team choose their responsibilities; it creates greater ownership and accountability than assigning tasks they might not be invested in.
What advice would you give to someone looking to build a successful career in pro AV?
Have a genuine passion for AV. Enjoying the tech makes it far easier to learn and grow. Be curious, listen, ask questions, and say yes to challenges, whether it’s manning a trade show stand, tackling a complex install, or presenting to clients. This industry is tight-knit and global, so build relationships and understand both the tech and the people who drive it.
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