RISE Magazine 2023 - Technology Edition

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Welcome

ISE: Welcome to ISE 2023 5

AVIXA: Opportunities await at ISE 2023 6

CEDIA 2023: A.C.E. in action 7

Insights

In this section we break down recent developments and what to expect in our Technology Zones, followed by commentary from the show’s co-owning associations, our Presenting Show Partner, and our Special Interest Groups

Introduction & Contents 17

Audio: Hearing is believing 19

Digital Signage & DooH: Explore the digital future 20

Lighting & Staging: Putting on a show 23

Multi-Technology: The technology melting pot 25

Technology News

The show’s Platinum Sponsors share some ISE 2023 talking points; and we preview some innovative new products from the show floor

Introduction & Contents 39

Sponsor news 40

Voices of ISE 42 Product innovations 43

Sponsors & Partners 48

Content Production & Distribution at ISE

Exploring this new area of focus for the show, we talk to BK Johannessen of Epic Games about the background to his Opening Keynote, and discuss market trends and key exhibitors in this area

Introduction & Contents 9

Opening Keynote 10

Get the picture 14

Residential & Smart Building: Solutions for working and living 27

Unified Communications & EdTech: Technology that works for you 29

AVIXA: ISE — a reflection of the industry 30

CEDIA supports the industry 32

CEDIA: The new global strategy 33

KNX: Open and secure 34

Special Interest Groups 37

Ruddock

Soundscape provides industry-leading creative and technical tools for sound designers, engineers, and artists that result in exceptional audience experiences. It’s the outcome of combining advanced loudspeaker design with innovative technology. For over 40 years.

Wel to ISE 2023

It only seems a few weeks ago that we were welcoming you all to ISE 2022, our rescheduled show that took place successfully in May. It was fantastic to be able to host the world’s AV industry at the Fira Gran Via and even better when we realised that our arduous work, backed by your support, had delivered a momentous event. ISE was back!

As ever with ISE, the challenge now is: how can we improve on that for the next show?

I am confident that we will deliver a truly compelling event, a unique ‘immersive experience’ for you and the AV community.

First and foremost, we are hosting over 900 of the world’s leading technology suppliers and solutions providers for the commercial and residential AV and systems integration industry. ISE has always been a launchpad for new products and the 2023 edition is yet again set to be a first-quarter catalyst for the industry. Whatever aspect of AV interests you, you will find it at ISE, in one of the halls or in one of the seven dedicated Technology Zones.

New for 2023 is the Content Production and Distribution Zone in Hall 6. These technologies have growing relevance for the AV market as end-users and vendors increasingly seek to create and distribute high-quality video content for commercial and informational use. We reinforce this point with our choice of keynote speaker for 2023. BK Johannessen, Unreal Engine Business Director for Broadcast and Live Events at Epic Games, will explore how the games industry is driving content creation in the systems integration ecosystem. Our conference and content programme features a dedicated Content Production & Distribution Summit, and there will be Show Floor Tours taking in major exhibitors’ stands across all the halls.

Also new for 2023 are the Audio Demo Rooms in Hall 8.0. These dedicated spaces allow our audio exhibitors to present their sound systems to maximum aural effect and to demonstrate the role that sound plays in bringing AV experiences to life.

Speaking of our conference and content programme, this has been revamped for 2023. Programmed by AVIXA, there are four days of thought leadership conferences covering a range of topics, from smart buildings, education and control rooms through to live events, digital signage and content production. In addition, we have free-to-attend content in the form of Spanish and English language Tech Talks. Our other co-owner CEDIA will be presenting a full education programme throughout ISE 2023; in addition it will host daily content on its dedicated CEDIA Stage in Hall 2.

Seasoned attendees know that ISE is a great place for meeting and networking. For 2023 we have created Congress Square, a large show floor feature positioned between the halls, which allows us to group several exciting initiatives together. These include the Discovery Zone, Catalonia Pavilion, Barcelona City Council, Influencer Lounge, Impact Lounge, International Media Showcase and a large area for visitor networking. This truly is the ‘beating heart’ of ISE.

Please join me and the rest of the world’s AV community at ISE 2023.

Mike Blackman, Managing Director, Integrated Systems Events

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Opportunities await at ISE 2023

Each year as I gather my thoughts to welcome so many of the community, both new and longtime attendees to ISE, I cannot help but reminisce of the many shows of the past. From our days in Amsterdam to the 2021 roadshow with its first peek at the Fira Barcelona Gran Via, to the triumph of ISE 2022 and our grand entrance to the city of Barcelona. Each carries a significant place in my heart. It is with these memories top of mind, that I get ready to welcome you to ISE 2023, where we will have the opportunity to not only reminisce but to also make new connections, enhance our knowledge and careers and, most importantly, to kick off another year of commerce for our industry.

It has been a year of getting back to business –navigating an ongoing and continually changing hybrid work environment, handling supply chain and workforce challenges, but also reconvening in-person. While it has been a year filled with obstacles, it has also been one to celebrate as we begin to come back into the world with aplomb and perhaps a new-found appreciation and stamina for how AV helps us to experience the world around us.

ISE 2023 will provide us with an opportunity to discover the newest innovations that fuel our industry and the chance to truly hear, see, and touch the technologies that are both our present and our future. The show will provide an opportunity to learn about trending topics and strengthen our technical knowledge and career development as well as grow our professional relationships.

AVIXA is excited to present multiple education opportunities at the show for AV professionals of all levels to enhance their knowledge. We will bring an in-person AVIXA Xchange activation to the AV community for peers and thought leaders to engage in lively discussions. We will also host several member events, such as our regional breakfasts and AVIXA Women’s Council and AVIXA Diversity Council events.

I am certain that this will be an event to remember, and hope that none of us will take this in-person time together for granted. I believe that each of us will approach the city and each other with not only excitement and anticipation but with a deep appreciation for the human connection that shows like ISE provide — the chance to meet your digital peers from around the world, reinforce relationships with longtime friends and colleagues, and gain new perspectives on paths forward. Enjoy these moments!

I am blessed to lead AVIXA and, in partnership with CEDIA, present you with Integrated Systems Europe 2023. Together we are inspired by this amazing community and all that it has to offer.

David Labuskes, CTS, Chief Executive Officer, AVIXA

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CEDIA 2023: A.C.E. in action

For many in the industry, the new year and ISE are practically synonymous. As the world’s largest annual AV and systems integration exhibition, it really sets the tone for the year.

On a personal level, ISE feels something like an anniversary. When I first joined CEDIA a year ago, ISE was my first major industry event. It was there that I truly got a sense of this community and the capabilities of residential technology that I never imagined possible.

Much has changed since I last stepped foot in the Fira de Barcelona. I’m proud to say that CEDIA now has a diverse executive leadership team with global representation and a variety of skillsets. The same goes for our board of directors. Following a global membership vote, CEDIA has named three new board members of varied roles within the industry to ensure everyone is represented at the table.

Moving into 2023, CEDIA is well positioned to uphold our core pillars of Advocacy, Connection, and Education.

Over the past year, our advocacy work has led us to some important victories all over the world. In Europe specifically, CEDIA joined Policy Connect as an associate member of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Assistive Technology. This appointment allowed CEDIA to be at the forefront of discussions and oversee the development of the new Smart Homes for Independent Living report.

CEDIA continues to connect the professionals who connect our homes around the world both online and in person through industry events, awards ceremonies, workforce development initiatives, volunteer efforts, and more. One of my personal highlights from 2022 was that all three CEDIA Award ceremonies were hosted in person for the first time in two years. It was there that we had the

opportunity to recognise some outstanding individuals who are truly making a difference in our industry, including award-winning integrators, the Lifetime Achievement recipient, CEDIA Fellow, and Volunteers of the Year.

For our education offerings, we’re pleased to bring ISE attendees two opportunities to earn internationally accredited certifications from CEDIA. Attendees can demonstrate their commitment to maturing our workforce by registering for the Cabling and Infrastructure Technician (CIT) and Integrated Systems Technician (IST) examinations. These globally accredited certifications demonstrate to other trades, customers, and lawmakers that the custom integration industry is a clearly defined profession with rigorous, widely accepted criteria for competency. Registrants will be offered flexible options for scheduling and taking the exam.

I’m looking forward to attending my second ISE, this time with a bit more knowledge and history behind me, but always with an open mind. If you see me on the show floor, please introduce yourself if we haven’t yet had the pleasure to meet. I also invite you to visit the CEDIA booth (2H600) to meet some incredible members of the CEDIA team and find out more about our year-round programmes and initiatives.

We value your insight and support as we continue to develop as an association and set our sights on being the beacon for the smart home industry in 2023.

Daryl Friedman, Global President & CEO, CEDIA

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World premiere! Product launch Jan 31st

A higher level of flexibility

Don’t miss our world premiere product launch Jan 31st at ISE 2023. Let’s address the challenges of hybrid work. Less friction, more focus.

Visit us in Hall 2 Booth R640 from 31 Jan to find out more. humly.com

A new focus for ISE

Over recent years, content production and distribution solutions have evolved — making it affordable for many types of businesses and enterprises to produce their own highquality video for promotional or informational use.

Managing this content — capturing, transporting, storing, converting, displaying and streaming it — requires investment in AV solutions and the involvement of AV professionals.

It’s for this reason that ISE is increasing its focus on content production and distribution. A new Technology Zone in Hall 6 will complement more than 70 exhibitors across the ISE 2023 show floor. Our Opening Keynote will discuss how tools from the world of gaming have massive potential for AV content production. And a new Content

Get real

We spoke to ISE 2023 keynote speaker BK Johannessen to find out more about Unreal Engine — the 3D computer graphics game engine developed by Epic Games — its relevance to the ISE audience and what to expect from his keynote address

What is Unreal Engine?

Unreal Engine is a super high-performance, real-time 3D rendering engine — it essentially renders very good images very fast. One of its key benefits, as is always the case with games, is you can introduce interactivity allowing people the ability to interact with large environments. This interactivity has led us to see adoption way beyond the games industry. Importantly for us it’s not only a render engine, but also a full creative ecosystem that deals with content creation and the various assets that go into that process. Unreal Engine includes full access to the complete C++ source code, so if there was something you couldn’t do, you could always just add to it or change it. With Unreal Engine, it’s important for us that it doesn’t only do one thing, but is instead multifaceted, covering a breadth of applications with a variety of tools.

Why is Unreal Engine relevant to the systems integration marketplace?

It has great relevance to the marketplace because of its broad range of applications, ranging from broadcast to live events and fixed installations. It’s also used within film production, architecture and automotive, so it touches a range of different markets but it’s essentially the same technology. All of these industries are coming to terms with the fact that real time has a lot of benefits to offer them.

What are some notable examples of non-game applications of Unreal Engine?

Notable examples include the recent midterm elections in the US where several of the major networks were heavily utilising Unreal Engine for many of the visualisations and augmented reality. It really is an amazing storytelling tool. We see similar examples in live sports, which have a lot of data, and large esports tournaments, recently demonstrated at The International 2022, a largerthan-life tournament for the popular game Dota 2, featuring millions of viewers. We also have fixed installations including the Al Wasl Dome, which featured at the World Expo 2020 in Dubai. It’s pretty large with around 256 projectors, introducing real time content in an enormous environment. We have digital twins like the model of the city of Helsinki and true to life simulators that can train fighter pilots and even NASA’s astronauts.

What were the developments that led to Unreal Engine being able to create photorealistic environments?

We’ve always focused essentially on high quality and that has led the way for everything that we do. In the latest iteration of our product, which is Unreal Engine 5, we’ve gone one step further and introduced two technologies that really revolutionise real-time rendering. One is called Nanite, which is a virtualised micropolygon geometry system that allows you to have super high-definition models. And the other is Lumen, which is a global illumination method that allows you to create more realistic lighting environments, yet still operate in real time.

Unreal Engine has great relevance to the systems integration marketplace because of its broad range of applications

BK Johannessen is Unreal Engine Business Director for Broadcast and Live Events at Epic Games

How do you see the content, production and distribution space developing over the next few years?

Obviously, distribution has changed quite dramatically, especially when it comes to linear content. For sure that’s a trend that will keep going, but I think we will see an enormous change when it comes to the content production side, which is an area we’re heavily focused on.

It’s one thing to have amazing render technology, but we also need to be able to create high-quality content, which is expensive and takes a lot of time. For this reason, we’re focused on creating a marketplace where creators can actually sell their work and others can buy the assets that fit their needs. I think we’ll see a lot of changes when it comes to the creation side of content, where again, real time offers so many benefits, including collaboration and faster iteration times. It’s exciting times going forward.

Among the ISE audience, who would you see as potential users of Unreal Engine?

ISE is an amazing venue for Unreal Engine and for Epic Games because it covers so many different verticals, all of which have relevance. There is a need for real time — it benefits every industry, whether or not you are using advantages such as introducing interactivity in an experience. You can also benefit within a traditional content production pipeline where real time offers much faster rendering times, and much more opportunity to iterate and collaborate. We see applications happening organically across the board where different industries are being drawn towards real-time solutions because they offer so many benefits and costsaving opportunities, and the quality is there.

What do users need to get started with Unreal Engine?

It helps if you are somewhat knowledgeable about other 3D softwares and have some experience with real time, but it’s not a must. Unreal Engine is a free product to be used for creating linear content — anyone can download the full product via unrealengine.com. In addition, there are tons of training materials available: there are online courses from both Epic Games and third parties, most of which are free. There are great opportunities to spread the knowledge. In addition one of the really awesome things with Unreal Engine is the community of passionate users, not afraid to share their knowledge and very happy to engage with others who want to learn.

Finally, what can attendees expect from your keynote address?

I hope to put on a good show! I’ll be giving examples and inspiration from different industries that have adopted Unreal Engine. I’ll also share some success stories and dig a little deeper into why real time offers benefits and what those benefits are. I’ll also be discussing optimising content creation and what kind of resources are available out there.

BK’s keynote ‘All Paths Lead to Real Time’, takes place at 17:15 on Tuesday 31 January in Conference Suite CC4.1.

Real-time rendering benefits every industry, whether or not you are introducing interactivity

Unreal Engine is used by American TV networks for virtual sets, visualisations and augmented reality (Picture: Fox Sports)

Get the picture

events and concerts to marketing and corporate presentations are all taking a virtual leaf out of the Hollywood playbook to deliver eye-catching and awe-inspiring visuals. 3D media servers, game engines, content switching and camera tracking technology together generate perspective camera shots and virtual backgrounds that bring depth and photorealism to interactive environments. Throw in the advances in augmented reality (AR) and real-time mixed reality workflows and you can take live events to the next level.

Let’s not forget audio; as well as binaural recording or 360-degree immersive audio capture and playback for events, installations and VR, we’re seeing Next Generation Audio (NGA) formats offering personalisation and the ability to adjust levels relative to other ambient sounds.

Find ways to create, store and distribute content, deliver new experiences and entertain, advertise and inform

As audiences return to events, customers return to the high street and consumers get back to something like a normal life, there is an insatiable demand for content on digital signage, live stages, videowalls, experiential art and advertising, and virtual and VR experiences. Luckily content creation and production solutions abound at ISE, including monitors and media servers, VR headsets and virtual sets, cameras and tracking equipment, video switchers and networking solutions, as well as audio equipment such as speakers and consoles. At ISE you can find ways to create, store and distribute audio and video content, deliver new experiences and entertain, advertise and inform using AV technology.

Production of enhanced content is set to benefit companies, customers and fans across a range of sectors, including corporate, education, retail, entertainment, sports and venues.

High-end media servers are offering uncompressed playback of 4K lossless video content at higher colour depths and frame rates than ever. They offer real-time rendering capability — where assets are rendered on the fly — as well as automatic camera calibration technology and the ability to integrate 3D objects into a project workflow. There are also servers with multi-user functionality, that allows several operators to work on the same content file simultaneously, with adjustments carried out in real time. And, with the acceleration of remote production techniques during Covid, media server operators no longer even need to be geographically close to the event in progress.

Cameras continue to be capable of capturing higher dynamic range and a wider colour gamut, while screen technology has evolved to provide affordable monitoring to suit. AV technology and expertise is being brought to bear in new virtual workflows. Productions ranging from live

As for delivery, corporates, education, entertainment and events alike are taking advantage of better compression, edge computing solutions and low-latency codecs on networks to deliver much higher quality and interactive content over greater distances with no lag. And the latest generation of switchers must perform well at the sharp end: handling the I/O for live audiences, including scaling a wide range of diverse sources, while simultaneously streaming to web platforms.

Where to find content production and distribution technology at

ISE 2023

The Content Production and Distribution Zone is in Hall 6, but this is complemented by over 70 exhibitors spread across the halls of the Fira. You can find LED screens for virtual production and events from Alfalite (stand 6H310) and explore the Metaverse via touchscreen technology from Ameria (6F400, and CS100 in Congress Square). Next-generation web-based, serverless and scalable digital signage from Waapiti (6K120) will be on show and contactless and multisensorial interactive AV solutions from Waves System (6G730). In Hall 3, Sony is offering AV solutions ranging from cameras to cloud-based workflow and from monitors to media asset management. 3D production software for live events and experiences as well as powerful media server hardware is available from disguise in Hall 5. Meanwhile, integrating LED, audio, projection and media server technology, Creative Technology (also in Hall 5) offers everything from LED screens and audio solutions at live music concerts and festivals, to stunning projection at one-off spectaculars.

All brand names, product names, and trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Certain trademarks, registered trademarks, and trade names may be used in this document to refer to either the entities claiming the marks and names or their products. Crestron disclaims any proprietary interest in the marks and names of others. Crestron is not responsible for errors in typography or photography. ©2022 Crestron Electronics, Inc.

STUDIO SOUND

For nearly a century, Shure has set the standard for audio excellence and what we’ve done on stages and in studios works for the workplace too. From startups to global enterprises, we’ve got solutions that bring more simplicity, clarity, and coverage to conferencing so that teams find their groove and businesses hit their high notes.

We look forward to meeting you again at ISE 2023.

On

Hearing is believing

Audio is key to a total integrated AV experience whatever the setting. That’s why the ISE Audio Zone is packed with solutions for every market sector for all sizes of project and any type of application. ISE 2023 covers the entire audio signal chain from microphones to loudspeakers and everything in between.

As audiences have returned to theatres, music venues and houses of worship, this has driven fantastic recovery for installed live sound equipment. Attracting back in-person attendees requires a venue operator to continually raise the bar on the quality and engagement of their experiences. This translates to more and more opportunity for pro AV as venues seek to differentiate and attract with their experiences. Chief among them at install venues is the desire for immersive sound systems using beamforming or spatial audio techniques. These systems go way beyond the 22.2 channels of

In order to integrate and run such complex sound systems, the industry is turning to a new generation of networked AV. The demand as ever is for stable, reliable performance. Many large audio brands are aligning with open technologies that establish such high-quality standards. One networking solution gaining a lot of traction is Milan, an application layer built onto the AVB network protocol that adds a framework of interoperability for professional AV devices. However, Milan is far from the only networking protocol; it’s also a latecomer in contrast to established industry AV-over-IP standards Dante, AES3 and AES50, not to mention broadcast IP standard SMPTE 2110. Visiting ISE 2023 will help you to evaluate the options and decide which one is right for your next application.

Where to find audio technology at ISE 2023

Visit the Audio Zone in Hall 7 at ISE 2023 and discover the latest technologies including immersive audio, networking and DSP and take the chance to experience dozens of different audio products in live demonstration. Grab the opportunity to learn from the experts at top audio manufacturers and discover what’s next on the audio product horizon. For those seeking information on Dante, head to Audinate; for those keen for updates on Milan, the leading players include d&b audiotechnik, L-Acoustics and (in Hall 5) Meyer Sound.

Dolby Atmos and construct a 3D sound field using one or more arrays of loudspeakers.

Head to Hall 7 to get hands on with the latest in audio technology The Main Hall at performing arts space Cartuja Center CITE in Seville is now equipped with more than 300 Meyer Sound loudspeakers

Explore the digital future

Although ISE encompasses a huge breadth of audiovisual technologies, it is also one of the largest digital signage exhibitions in the world. Attendees looking for solutions in this area should make the Digital Signage & DooH Zone in Hall 6 their first port of call, closely followed by Hall 3, where the big names in display technology take their place within the Multi-Technology Zone.

Already one of the largest solution areas in the pro AV industry, the digital signage sector is forecast to reach a value of $44.7 billion in 2026, up from $35 billion in 2022, according to AVIXA. Digitised promotion of products and

services continues to be a major driver of digital signage installations; however, the ability of digital signage to educate, inform and entertain means the technology is visible in multiple market sectors, from retail, transport and education to corporate, hospitality and the public sector.

With energy prices and environmental awareness both rising, solutions that minimise the carbon footprint of signage throughout its life are increasingly in demand. Low power consumption, the ability to remotely monitor solutions, longer product lifecycles and more efficient manufacturing processes are all areas under the spotlight.

Software can simplify and optimise management of a digital signage network, pushing content to the right screens at the right time to encourage more interactions and engagement, serving ads, enabling programmatic selling and more. Fed with information from sensors, software can also help with delivering personalised content, a major trend in the sector. The next step is integrating mobile phones into digital signage strategies, allowing users to interact with content via their phones, receive tailored content, and use QR codes for frictionless buying experiences.

This could also feed into the recent growth in demand for touchless technology, such as voiceactivated screens. Already popular pre-pandemic, it is now recognised to offer benefits beyond hygiene, improving customer engagement and streamlining processes, particularly in corporate environments.

Where to find digital signage & DooH technology at ISE 2023

The Digital Signage & DooH Zone in Hall 6 at ISE 2023 is home to the full gamut of digital signage technology. It’s here you’ll find software companies including Ameria, which specialises in the digitisation of public space, alongside Broadsign, Navori Labs, Telelogos and Zebrix; media players from Yodeck, as part of its cloud-based DS system, as well as from market leader Brightsign; and displays from manufacturers including Alfalite, Dicolor and LEDECA.

In addition, Hall 3 (part of the Multi-Technology Zone) is where you’ll find the biggest digital signage display manufacturers. They include Sharp/NEC, which offers display solutions with fully embedded media players; Samsung, whose array of product offerings includes smart LED and interactive displays; LG, which manufactures video walls as well as transparent, high-brightness and touchless displays; and Philips, which is known for its curved displays as well as professional TVs for sectors such as hospitality and corporate.

An unusual format in portrait was achieved using dvLED video wall technology from Sharp/NEC when fashion brand Walbusch updated its store

The TeamConnect Intelligent Speaker is the ultimate audio solution optimized for mid-sized Microsoft Teams rooms for up to 10 people. It is designed specifically to give teams a whole new way to collaborate in hybrid meetings: smart, focused, inclusive and as if everyone is in one place. sennheiser.com/tcisp

Putting on a show

At ISE 2023, you’ll find performance, entertainment and live events solutions concentrated in the Lighting & Staging Technology Zone in Hall 7. Covering sectors such as entertainment, sport and business, companies here aim to put the audiovisual experience first and foremost. It’s not just major stadium concerts either: solutions are on hand for small temporary venues and pop-up installations.`

With live events getting bigger and more spectacular, you’ll see advances in lighting quality and colour fidelity, as well as enhanced control and distribution methods. Exciting technologies such as motion tracking, video mapping and holography are presented alongside the essentials of rigging and staging which provide the foundation for the whole live experience.

It’s likely to be a big draw. According to AVIXA’s 2022 Industry Outlook and Trends Analysis (IOTA), it’s expected that $2.2 billion will be spent on

There are rapidly developing technologies in this zone, including trusses made of specialised high-strength steel alloys, ideal for huge ground supports and roof systems with high loads. There have also been great advances in lighting technology, concentrated in the field of LED for both illumination and effects. Colour mixing in the light engine of LEDs has replaced the need for colour wheels, while tuneable white lighting technology offers the ability to control a light source’s colour temperature output.

Fine pixel-pitch LED screens are increasingly used in live events and experiential installations. Holograms, delivered via local networks or the cloud, are popping up in installations and live events to entertain, inform and even interact with the audience. Additionally, many companies are releasing programmable fixtures that offer full-colour control.

The time-tested DMX control protocol is being enhanced and superseded by Remote Device Management (RDM), the IP-based distribution protocols Art-NET and Streaming-ACN, and wireless DMX (W-DMX). The goal is to provide more flexible, seamless and speedier integration between lighting and staging components and scalable, simplified interfaces for complex interconnected systems.

Where to find lighting & staging technology at ISE 2023

Big names in this sector are exhibiting at ISE 2023, particularly in the Lighting & Staging Zone in Hall 7. Adam Hall Group contains 30 event-oriented brands, offering everything from flight cases to LED lighting, from audio and sound technology to stands and stage systems; ARRI is well known for its vast range of lighting fixtures and accessories; MA Lighting is an international leader in computer-controlled lighting consoles and networking components; Elation Professional Europe is known for its IP65-rated outdoor moving heads, luminaires, controllable LED lights and lighting control products and speciality effects; Area Four is an expert in rigging and staging; and Equipson specialises in audio systems and speakers but also delivers design and control for AV installations through its Work brand.

ISE 2023 will showcase tools and technologies for everything from the biggest stadium concerts to temporary venues and pop-up installations

Production/show designer Travis Shirley used Elation Professional’s new

Photo credit: 2022 Todd Kaplan; Bad Bunny ‘World’s Hottest Tour’; Production/Show Designer: Travis Shirley

AV technology is engaging and immersing people across a wide range of verticals

The technology melting pot

Professional AV has never been about a single technology or a point product business. The reason pro AV exists as an industry, and the absolute driver of its continuing expansion, is its integration of different, evolving audiovisual and networking technologies into outstanding creative and practical solutions.

Anyone wanting to appreciate the sheer scope of the AV industry’s innovation should head straight to the Multi-Technology Zone which lies at the heart of ISE (Halls 3 and 5). In particular, Hall 3 is the location of many of ISE’s flagship exhibitor brands.

The clearest examples of the broad range of technologies in AV projects lie in visitor attractions and live event venues. Many of these are combining cinematic techniques, interactive content and theatrical design to give visitors a sensory experience of fantasy or photoreal environments with a depth of immersion they cannot enjoy at home.

The ability to engage in-presence audiences and remote guests in an interactive way

is also crucial to AV going forward. That goes for the AV/IT team in the office as much as the live event producer.

An overlapping technology which will increasingly tap into data points gathered from our sensor-laden Internet of Things is artificial intelligence. AI is set to play a bigger role in our workspaces and our creativity, meaning that design skills and our ability to ‘collaborate’ with AI tools are going to be increasingly valuable.

Multi-dimensional formats also point to the future of out-of-home visuals which hitherto have been displayed in 2D on LED screens or projection mapped onto architecture.

Related use of technologies such as game engines and powerful processors are fuelling virtual, augmented and mixed reality experiences. Extended Reality (XR), which is the catch-all for VR, AR and MR experiences, is playing a fundamental role in shaping our future real-life realities from digital learning and museum tours to CAD design and digital twins for industrial research and engineering.

What to see in the MultiTechnology Zone at ISE 2023

Key vendors in the Multi-Technology Zone include manufacturers with a broad range of technologies such as Crestron, LANG and Kramer; makers of displays and/or projectors that serve multiple verticals, including Samsung, LG, Epson, Sharp/ NEC, Panasonic, Absen and Christie; and broad-based audio companies including Harman, Shure and Biamp.

Solutions for working and living

ISE has long been positioned as a leading voice in residential solutions and home automation, with the backing of joint-partner CEDIA; and as a prominent player in smart building, thanks to the long-running Smart Building Conference. The combined Residential & Smart Building Zone in Hall 2 will represent ISE’s strongest-ever offering in this fast-moving area of AV technology.

Consumer demand for connected systems and services in the home is increasing by the day and has been accelerating as a result of the global pandemic. The last couple of years have seen a real expansion in the trend for technologies to facilitate working from home. Robust and secure WiFi-connected spaces that can serve as the home office, home entertainment and home security system are in demand.

The seismic shift for many organisations from on-site working to remote working has also catalysed strategic investments that make more

Homeowners in Devon, UK, created an impressive entertainment space controlled by a URC system integrating LED lighting control from Rako

There has been a huge increase in consumer demand for connected systems and services in the home in recent years

90 million meeting rooms worldwide, only 7.8% were video-enabled. That is quickly changing, with hybrid work becoming more dominant. Adding videoconferencing and collaboration technology to every size of space is now a requirement.

The next big development for home automation is the deployment of Matter — the emerging common protocol that will enable devices from participating manufacturers to talk to one another. Matter, which is managed by the Connectivity Standards Alliance and backed by a who’s who of home automation solutions providers, should help solve interoperability issues and further enable selection of best-ofbreed products for specific tasks rather than needing to stay in-brand. Expect the first products supporting the protocol at ISE 2023.

In order to cut the carbon footprint of buildings, limit rising energy costs and reverse the negative effect on the environment, advanced building monitoring and control systems is also a fast-growing tech trend embedded in Smart Building design.

Where to find residential & smart building technology at ISE 2023

Some of the major names present in the Residential & Smart Building Zone in Hall 2 at ISE 2023 include Presenting Show Partner KNX, which is joined on its stand by other KNX Partner companies; controls manufacturers including Basalte, Rako, RTI and Savant; and remote monitoring and management platform developer Snap One. Lighting supplier Lutron is well-placed to help advise on requirements for networking sensors that inform the lighting controller about the presence of inhabitants. Also returning is Jung, which delivers sustainable design, engineering and consultancy solutions.

CONFERENCES AT ISE 2023

Technology that works for you

As there is significant overlap in the end-user base for unified communications and education technology, ISE combines these two solution sets in a single Technology Zone, located in Hall 2.

Across the education and learning sector — whether in classrooms, professional training centres or enabling remote learning — professionals recognise the positive impact of education technology on enhancing student outcomes and making learning spaces more inclusive. Unified communications (UC) tools are used not just in education but also across numerous other markets, most notably corporate where their ability to enable effective remote working and offer equity among dispersed teams is particularly valuable.

Higher education has been leading the way in terms of technology investments in recent years, but significant growth is forecast in the primary and even pre-school sector as the adoption of game-based learning encourages investment, with touch devices and apps leading the way.

In addition AI, IoT, AR and VR technologies are ones to watch as they become integrated into more edtech solutions to deliver interactive learning experiences, such as virtual field trips.

Unified communications devices saw rapid adoption across education as a response to the pandemic. However, their usefulness has extended beyond this, speeding up communication with colleagues, pupils and parents, enabling remote learning and the recording of lessons, and powering collaboration.

In the world of UC, after the frantic investments of 2020, the focus now is on delivering a user experience that is more tailored to team and department needs. Whereas video was initially the focus, audio devices that enable everyone to be heard, whether that’s home headsets and audio bars or complete in-room solutions, are increasingly in demand. Again AI, machine learning and IoT devices are enhancing this offering, with the power to recognise user needs and preferences and deliver a consistent experience wherever someone may be working.

Many companies are now focusing on investing in UC tools to deliver a more tailored user experience

Where to find unified communications and education technology at ISE 2023

The unified communications and edtech sectors have players of all sizes offering everything from single apps to whole-room solutions. Big names in the Unified Communications & Education Technology Zone include Zoom and Microsoft, whose ubiquitous platforms are relied on around the world, and Clevertouch, which offers interactive screens, digital signage and a range of apps and software for the classroom. In addition, Jabra and Poly develop solutions to enable better collaboration by offering high-quality audio and video tools. Elsewhere manufacturers in the Multi-Technology Zone in Hall 3, including Shure and Sennheiser, have developed innovative microphone solutions that offer high-quality, consistent sound in meeting rooms and teaching spaces with minimal input from users required.

ISE: A reflection of the industry

By Sean Wargo, Senior Director of Market Intelligence, AVIXA

We stand on the threshold of a resumed Integrated Systems Europe (ISE), now situated in its new home in Barcelona. Just making that statement alone has a relieving sound to it, as it exists as another sign of the waning of the pandemic and the resumption of those activities we still value. This also makes ISE a further reflection of the industry it represents, beyond just the brands and products held within its halls, since a resumption of the in-person show is exactly the primary trend boosting the pro AV industry at large. To be sure, challenges and caveats remain, but just as ISE is recovering, pro AV is well on its way to resumption of true growth, whether globally or in Europe specifically. Let’s take a look at this recovery from the lens of market intelligence from the Audiovisual and Integrated Experience Association (AVIXA).

For starters, global industry revenues have posted two solid years of growth after the massive declines brought about by the pandemic-induced recession, which disproportionately impacted any industry reliant on in-person consumer engagement. The peak growth came in 2021 and moderated a bit in 2022, pushing revenues above the previous records set in 2019. This means each year from

2022 on will represent a new record as pro AV grows. The reason? While investments in hybrid working modes and content distribution have helped, the largest contributions come from a return to shopping, travelling, learning and being entertained outside of the home. All of this began to resume by late 2021 and gathered momentum throughout 2022, even with some ebb and flow along the way. And, while Europe has lagged a bit, new peaks will be set in 2023 and beyond.

Challenges ahead?

The question now is whether 2023 remains a growth environment across and within the regions. Inflation, supply chain challenges, rising interest rates, labour shortages, and war all contribute to a rising risk of a global recession as consumers and businesses pull back in spending. These concerns are perhaps felt most keenly in Europe where war in Ukraine has a carry-over effect into neighbouring countries, and currencies are impacted by outside market forces. Within this context one might wonder about the impact to pro AV, since declines in economic indicators like gross domestic product (GDP) can often indicate declines in technology spending too.

Global industry revenues have posted two solid years of growth after the massive declines brought about by the pandemic-induced recession

Sean

Wargo, Senior Director of Market Intelligence, AVIXA

The total pro AV industry reached a peak of $259B in 2019 before declining 17%.

Growth was better in 2021 than forecasted last year, reaching 11%.

Despite headwinds, this year continues the same, creating a record year.

Overall growth moderates through 2027 staying at a GDP busting 5.9% CAGR.

$259.0

$214.5 $238.0 $262.9

While headwinds remain, the resumption of in-person activities across the core markets serves as a dominant driver of growth, as evidenced on the trade show floor

Fortunately, available data indicates the pro AV industry will outperform the overall economy, exceeding GDP growth estimates. Thus, while next year’s growth is forecasted to be lower, the tailwinds of a return to in-person will prevail, leading to further gains in industry revenues. AVIXA’s Industry Outlook and Trends Analysis (IOTA) forecasts over 8% growth for pro AV revenue at both the European and global levels in 2023. Other indicators, like AVIXA’s quarterly demand study (MOAR) also show strength in end-user purchase intent. What we have to thank in this situation is strong and lingering demand for many of the core AV products and services. So much so, in fact, that the industry has arguably struggled to keep up over the past two years. Supply of product made this challenging, but so too did capacity at the integrator/provider level after staffing reductions during the pandemic and tight labour markets since. This sets up a scenario in which pro AV is experiencing an overhang of demand into 2023, even as some economies are impacted by the recession. The below provides a bit more on how this is playing out in the solution areas, each of which attendees will see highlighted at this year’s ISE.

Conferencing and collaboration

The first of them is conferencing and collaboration, the single largest solution area in Europe. Thanks to its role in helping companies stay operational during full remote periods, it was also the only solution that continued to see increasing investment through the pandemic. AVIXA estimates the European market will generate $12.6 billion in 2022. Growth is expected to slow during the coming years as investments shift back to supporting more in-person engagement, but it remains the largest spending area through the next five years. While a significant portion of the investment is in back-end systems, cloud-based services and software licensing, buyers will also be looking to improve upon the AV components integrated into workspaces that now must support hybrid and flexible modes.

Though collaboration dominates spending, other areas are poised for more significant growth. Two related areas

rise to the top of the list here. The first are live events, which faced the worst of the pandemic impacts as all manner of spectator activities halted, causing a 55% decline to related pro AV revenues in 2020. The steep decline set up a situation where the recovery would also generate sharp increases, as is happening now. Industry forecasts show live events growing at an average of 9.7% in Europe from 2022-2027.

Performance and entertainment Similarly, performance and entertainment solutions, or the fixed installation ally to live events, are also expected to rebound well now that stadiums, museums and other attractions are once again open for business. Growth estimates here are also above the industry average for Europe at 7.8%. The gains in these two areas translate into similar improvements in the underlying traditional AV categories that support entertainment, whether in a temporary or permanent fixture. This includes large displays, speakers, lighting, staging and other related product areas. Expect to see more of these at the show.

The last area, also with a heavy display component, that relies on in-person activity is digital signage. With the two core markets for signage (hospitality and retail) seeing returning traffic, signage is once again expected to grow. AVIXA’s IOTA shows digital signage revenues improving by 6% over five years, hitting $8.1 billion for the European market in 2023. Large-format displays, video walls and content management systems are all a part of the story here and so are likely candidates for presence at ISE this year.

Ultimately, each of the above are indications of the renewed vibrancy of the pro AV industry overall, as is reflected at ISE. While headwinds remain, the resumption of in-person activities across the core markets serves as a dominant driver of growth, as evidenced on the trade show floor. Here’s to a successful event for all who are involved, as they begin to reap the benefits of an industry returning to growth!

AVIXA is on Stands 3Q400 and 3R400.

CEDIA supports the industry through advocacy, connection and education

By Daryl Friedman, Global President & CEO, CEDIA

The home technology industry is resilient.

Having made it through the global pandemic, we then found ourselves faced with new challenges — supply chain issues and workforce shortages to name a few. But talking to CEDIA members, businesses in our industry continue to thrive, with integrators designing and installing outstanding projects all around the world, and suppliers continuing to develop new technologies that are transforming the way in which we live and work.

Over the past 12 months, we have repositioned the value of CEDIA to our community and have established our three pillars — advocacy, connection and education.

Looking ahead to ISE 2023 in Barcelona, we are excited to bring the community together and showcase how we are serving the industry and providing value to our members. Some examples include:

Advocacy

With many integrators admitting that the biggest issue facing their business is staff recruitment and retention, addressing the labour shortage is a key focus for CEDIA in 2023. We are launching a suite of services to bring more young people into this exciting field, and a new student affiliation with CEDIA that will give them access to information about the industry. We will connect members with their local college or technical school and provide them with a toolkit and video to help attract young people to the field.

At ISE, we will be focusing on this issue in our education course entitled, Recruitment Challenges: Thinking Outside the Box. This session will be run by Mina Machacek, who has 20+ years’ experience in the AV recruitment industry. Her in-depth knowledge, experience and capacity to problem solve sets her apart as both a recruitment leader and business entrepreneur.

Connection

CEDIA aims to bring the industry together at every opportunity throughout the whole year and our Tech Summit programme is a fantastic way to do so. These events provide a practical business development and a valuable networking platform for all involved in the industry across the region. We will be hosting three events in the UK in spring and summer 2023 in London, Leeds and Edinburgh.

CEDIA has a global membership of over 30,000

Businesses in our industry continue to thrive, with integrators designing and installing outstanding projects all around the world

home technology professionals. Events such as ISE provide the perfect platform for the wider community to come together to network and do business. We want to ensure our members have this opportunity while in Barcelona, so we are bringing back the Connection Hour, which will be hosted on the CEDIA stand every day from 17:00. We will also be hosting a member’s VIP reception. This event will allow members to relax at the end of a long day and enjoy networking with likeminded individuals.

Education Education remains at the forefront of what CEDIA does. As well as running regular face-toface courses at our HQ in the UK, we provide our global membership with access to hundreds of hours of self-paced education via the online CEDIA Academy. This ensures that no matter where our members are located, they have direct access to the same training courses. Thanks to our volunteers and subject matter experts, we are able to ensure our education covers the most relevant and up to date topics.

During the week of ISE, we will be hosting our in-person CEDIA Education Conference, which will be delivered by subject matter experts from across the globe. The programme will run between Tuesday 31 January and Thursday 2 February and will include over 30 education sessions that focus on Business Skills, Design Skills, Technical Skills and Emerging Tech.

More information can be found about our refocused value proposition at the refreshed cedia.net website.

Connection Hour will be hosted on the CEDIA stand every day from 17:00

The new global strategy for CEDIA

By

a valuable business sector, offering a viable career path that many people can take. Our new global development programme will be built on a clear core framework that takes into account key factors to enable this growth. These include:

• Regional Pricing: from 1 January 2023, all countries recognised as an emerging market by the World Bank will have their membership dues reduced to 50%. CEDIA’s online education and resources will also reflect this discount and, in addition, the price for certification exams will also be lower.

• Tiering System: we will introduce a tiering system to offer increased benefits and local customisation driven by membership growth, with members working alongside CEDIA to grow the market regionally.

Countries recognised as an emerging market by the World Bank will have their CEDIA membership dues reduced to 50% in 2023

The CEDIA Executive Leadership Team and Board of Directors has completed a new strategic plan.

One key priority within this plan is global development and engagement in emerging markets, and we’re delighted to share more insight into our plans to work with the industry and expand its reach in the years ahead.

With the aim of developing a stronger global presence, CEDIA will invest in key countries and regions where there are significant opportunities and support its members within these local markets.

The team behind this new approach have focused on differentiating its two fundamental aspects, Global Engagement and Global Development.

In Global Engagement, we recognise the importance of the interaction with new and existing members in various markets to help raise CEDIA’s profile, encourage engagement with our programmes and build membership.

In parallel, we are also committed to Global Development where CEDIA will commit to investment into territories where there is an opportunity for significant growth and a more established and consistent presence.

Ultimately, both Global Engagement and Global Development work together in a targeted way to support professionalism in the market, positioning the home technology industry as

• Ambassador Programme: we will create an Ambassador Programme, working closely with trade suppliers and international sales representatives to open the lines of communication among the industry and build professionalism.

• Trade Supplier Alignment: we will align closely with CEDIA Trade Suppliers to identify and invest in the markets that are important to our global manufacturers, allowing us to support our trade suppliers at events that they are hosting within these countries.

• License Agreements: we will offer partnership opportunities through licensing of CEDIA content. This will enable us to promote the CEDIA education programme to a wider global audience.

• Partnerships: we will also look for deep, longterm relationships in specific territories with partners who can support our three pillars – Advocacy, Connection and Education. The professional home technology market is growing internationally, bringing customers the solutions they are looking for and bringing our industry significant business opportunities.

With the new Global Strategy in place, CEDIA is positioned to support that growth and help our members take advantage of those opportunities. We’re excited about the future of our industry in emerging markets and the potential this affords. For more information on our global development strategy, please get in touch with me at wgriffiths@cedia.org or find me at ISE 2023.

Let’s work together to grow the industry.

CEDIA is on Stand 2H600.

We’re excited about the future of our industry in emerging markets and the potential this affords

Wendy Griffiths, Vice President of Membership & Global Development, CEDIA

Open and secure

KNX returns as ISE’s Presenting Show Partner for the fourth year, delivering the worldwide standard for home and building control automation. We spoke to Casto Cañavate, Marketing Manager at KNX Association, about KNX’s open technology and why this does not conflict with the highest levels of system security

What do we mean by ‘open’ and ‘proprietary’ technologies?

Depending on the technology chosen, a smart home or building system can be described as open or proprietary. It is true that proprietary technologies, normally linked to a specific brand, are generally cheaper, offer the necessary portfolio (not vast, but big enough), can adapt to changes, and so on. However, there is a big disadvantage: users are tied to the system. If there is a problem, the user will need to replace the full system with another one.

A good example of this is what happened when Insteon (a brand of SmartLabs) shut off its servers in April 2022. Users could not work with their servers any more and thus their Insteon systems became obsolete and impossible to change.

By contrast, KNX is an ‘open and secure’ technology. To guarantee this principle, we must ensure that we apply the appropriate criteria and the tools that KNX Association and the ETS tool make available to us.

What are some of the main advantages that KNX brings to integrators and their customers by being open?

The main advantage is interoperability, which brings limitless possibilities for users.

Let’s take an example in smart homes. When a user considers starting a smart home, they might buy a smart device — most likely a smart speaker. Then their interest grows and maybe they get a smart plug, and then maybe a smart thermostat… Please keep in mind, each of these products needs to be set up, which is easy to do one at a time. But where is the limit? At some point, the user will be overwhelmed by the amount of different devices and apps installed and will not want to add any more devices.

Here is where the integrator comes into play. KNX System Integrators can create a system that will really work in one ecosystem. All products and solutions can be integrated into the same open system. In KNX, we go one step further than interoperability: interworking. We guarantee

KNX Secure offers a double protection — encrypting all transferred data and protecting user data against unauthorised access and manipulation

that not only do products not conflict with each other in an installation, they also work together.

Isn’t system security handled more easily under proprietary systems?

Over time, companies offering proprietary systems tend to forget to invest in features such as security. They do it once, but it becomes hard for them to find the resources to update their protocol; so aspects such as security in their products might get compromised. However, this is not the case for organisations that develop open systems and make their latest version available to the members. At KNX we have specific Working Groups that are tasked with meeting all the necessary security requirements — guaranteeing that KNX offers maximum protection by offering the double protection of KNX IP Secure and KNX Data Secure.

What are the key cybersecurity features of KNX? Our technology follows all necessary security regulations. KNX Secure technology is standardised according to EN 50090-3-4. This means that KNX successfully blocks hacker attacks on the digital infrastructure of networked buildings, thus minimising the risk of digital break-ins.

Moreover, KNX Secure meets the highest encryption standards (according to ISO 180333, such as AES 128 CCM encryption) in order to achieve the highest level of data protection.

KNX Secure guarantees maximum security by offering a double protection:

• KNX IP Secure extends the IP protocol in such a way that all transferred telegrams and data are completely encrypted

• KNX Data Secure protects user data against unauthorised access and manipulation by means of encryption and authentication.

What are some precautions that KNX system designers should take to minimise the impact of cyberattacks?

In addition to the methods offered with KNX Secure technology, there are several other possibilities for creating safe access to a KNX installation:

• Configure a VPN connection on the installation router. This is the best option but can sometimes be complex for regular integrators

• Use KNX IP gateways that allow the configuration of VPN secure services such as OpenVPN, ZeroTier etc

• Use KNX IP access devices with encrypted communication

• Use KNX TP devices with IP (nonKNX standard) cloud connection

• For medium to large installations, use a BMS platform with a KNX native driver that enables the secure integration and monitoring of massive KNX installations.

These methods, in combination with the use of KNX IP Secure and KNX Data Secure devices in the facilities, will prevent any additional threat scenario that may arise.

What are some day-to-day precautions that end-users should take?

It is not only important to make sure you use a KNX Secure system. Regardless of the size of the system, the user also needs to follow these steps to make sure the installation and the devices are properly secured:

• Fix all devices so that they cannot be removed, to avoid unauthorised tampering

• Install devices in cabinets with limited access

• When mounting devices outside, place them at sufficient height so that others cannot reach them

• Use special anti-theft screws to make it more difficult to unmount products

• Use binary inputs to control switches, to prevent one person from having direct access to the network

• Try to use a dedicated network. If it is wired, do not leave cable loosely hanging or easily accessible — make sure it is hidden.

With so many ways to secure a KNX System and an installation, there really isn’t an excuse for leaving KNX projects, whether past, present or future, open to attacks.

To learn more about KNX Secure, visit: https://secure.knx.org

KNX at ISE 2023

KNX will be on Stand 2L400 in the Residential & Smart Building Zone. As well as representatives of the KNX Association, there will be more than 10 KNX Member companies exhibiting their products and solutions. Special areas of focus for this year include the latest innovations on KNX IoT, and the new products and solutions already available on the market. Additionally to this, KNX will also be offering professional support thanks to industry experts clarifying all the steps to become a better KNXpert. Get a free entry ticket at https://knxatISE.knx.org

Each component of an open system can be upgraded or replaced independently of the others

A tailored approach to the ISE experience

AV-Solution Partner, AV User Group and SCHOMS will be hosting Special Interest Group visits at ISE 2023. Each will be inviting senior executives to visit the show and to participate in an organised ‘ISE experience’ with the aim of helping end-user technology buyers to meet technology vendors and solution partners

AV-Solution Partner is the leading association of AV systems integrators in the DACH region. It offers integrated solutions in all areas of audiovisual media technology — from comprehensive advice, conception and planning of demanding projects, to professional implementation, service, maintenance and support. As part of its AV-Symposium at ISE, it will be offering guided tours, networking opportunities and a tour behind the scenes of Casa Batlló.

Participants in the event will include architects, interior designers, project developers, builders, facility managers, AV/IT managers and users from companies, public institutions and education.

The organisation’s Claus Lohse said: “We plan to bring 165 guests to ISE 2023, including employees of well-known colleges and universities, as well as those of major clients and SMEs. ISE is

an important source of information about new AV media technology products and solutions, but also the ideal place for networking.”

UK-based AV User Group, an end user community of over 1,400 AV/technology professionals from multiple markets, will also be taking part this year, hosting its vendor speed pitches at the show. Around 39 vendors are each expected to deliver 5-minute presentations on Monday 30 January — the day before the official start of ISE 2023.

AV User Group Chairman Owen Ellis said: “ISE attracts a global audience and it is always great to have the opportunity to find out more about the new technologies coming through. That’s one reason why our event on the Monday is so useful as it gives you a very good sense of what the big launches of the show are going to be.”

In addition to the speed pitch event, AVUG members will also be invited to a traditional preshow dinner. “It provides a really nice opportunity to catch up and network before the show gets underway the next morning,” said Ellis.

SCHOMS, the professional body for senior managers working within UK higher education, will also be organising events around ISE 2023, bringing a group of UK and Ireland university specialists focused on the technology within learning and teaching spaces to the show.

Ellis, AV User Group

The organisation’s members lead and manage a diverse set of educational, technological, media and institutional development and support services, making ISE an ideal opportunity to explore and evaluate emerging technologies while promoting best practice and collaboration.

The AV User Group’s speed pitches will be held in Barcelona

Claus Lohse, AV-Symposium

It is always great to have the opportunity to find out more about the new technologies coming through

Owen

Leading the way

With nearly 1000 companies exhibiting at ISE 2023, we can only offer a small taster of them here. Our Platinum Sponsors select some talking points and solutions that they will be focusing on at the show; exhibitors talk about why they’re looking forward to the event; and we preview some innovations from the show floor.

Sponsor news

Crestron

Create

Sightline solution

As more and more offices and universities permanently adopt hybrid models, the term ‘meeting equity’ has gained significant traction. And rightfully so. Simply put:

• Equality has to do with giving everyone the exact same resources.

• Equity involves distributing resources based on the needs of the recipients.

Creating true meeting equity is the philosophy behind the AI tracking technology that drives the Crestron Sightline experience. Utilising the 1 Beyond Automate VX switching solution coupled with multiple cameras, the system’s algorithm cuts between speakers and frames them automatically, following the natural ebb and flow of meeting conversations without camera operators. By keying on individual speakers, the camera, display and audio solutions, working in concert, increase engagement and lessen fatigue.

As Crestron has been helping customers navigate the journey towards hybrid work, it’s become clear that videoconferencing in larger spaces just doesn’t allow remote participants to fully engage, thereby creating meeting inequity. By applying some of the concepts learned from film and broadcast productions, Crestron has been able to develop a solution that ensures every collaborator — in-person or remote — has an experience that is tailored to them.

Simply put, Sightline makes hybrid meetings ‘human’ again. See Sightline in action at ISE 2023.

Stand: 3H100 and 3H200

Jabra

Transforming collaboration and the hybrid working experience

At ISE, Jabra is showcasing how professional audio and intelligent video collaboration solutions provide more immersive and engaging experiences. Jabra is presenting its newest video technology and room systems, including the PanaCast 50 intelligent video bar and PanaCast 20 personal video conferencing camera, alongside the new Jabra Evolve2 series of professional headsets.

Hybrid working and virtual meetings continue to be the standard for the way we work and connect to one another. Despite this, 37% of employees say they often feel left out of the conversation in hybrid meetings, Jabra’s research shows.

So how can businesses ensure that everyone can participate equally in virtual meetings and create a digital environment where everyone can collaborate?

Professional audio and intelligent video collaboration technologies are transforming the way we communicate, increasing inclusion and productivity. In fact, 61% of employees say they feel more included and present in meetings when everyone attending has their camera turned on, according to Jabra. And 70% say that standardised professional video cameras would help everyone participate equally in hybrid meetings.

Stand: 2P600

Five of ISE’s Platinum sponsors share their thoughts on the trends and technologies they think will be talking points at ISE 2023, including hybrid working and learning, meeting equity and fire protection

true meeting equity with the Crestron

LANG AG

media FIRE PROTECT — The smallest fire extinguisher in the world

Humly

A new, uniquely flexible tool for the hybrid workplace receives world premiere at ISE 2023

Whether in shopping malls, airports or other public areas, technology such as LC, OLED displays or even LED products are increasingly used. To reduce the safety risk caused by short circuits, overloads or high temperatures, the world’s smallest fire extinguisher strikes fires directly at the point of origin.

What’s behind it?

A suitable self-extinguishing device, called AMFE, is installed in the equipment. In case of a fire, an automatic mains disconnection ensures that no further electrically induced ignition can occur. In addition, the glass ampoule (AMFE) breaks when the set temperature threshold is exceeded, so that the fire can be extinguished within seconds by the extinguishing agent released abruptly from the ampoule.

Why LANG AG?

LANG AG is a certified partner of the JOB Group and uses exactly this function in AV equipment such as LED cabinets or public displays to optimise the fire protection requirements.

Stand: 3H600

Shure

Several years ago, many corporations and higher education institutions started to offer hybrid and hyflex learning opportunities to accommodate their employees and students. However, in 2020, this all changed when everyone was required to go fully remote. As a result, educational providers now offer new options with improved class flexibility.

Uninterrupted, high-quality education is to be the priority for hyflex learning. In this constantly evolving format, how can institutions select the right audio equipment so students can focus on learning? And how can IT managers create an environment that enables communication, while investing wisely?

This can be addressed by investing in powerful AV systems where high-quality audio plays an essential role. Audio solutions like the Stem Ecosystem and Microflex Ecosystem portfolios, developed by Shure, can help IT managers,

The acceleration of hybrid work has forever changed the modern workplace. Many organisations have more questions than answers. A ground-breaking product launch from Humly is designed to be the solution to many of the hybrid challenges.

Humly is about to launch what it claims to be its most revolutionary product ever at ISE 2023. That puts expectations quite high, given the success of the Humly Room Display that won lots of design awards and the hearts of many customers.

“We can’t reveal any information about the product until 31 January. But what we can say is that ISE is the perfect platform for us to announce our most important product so far,” said Anders Karlsson, CEO of Humly.

The acceleration of hybrid work during the pandemic has forever changed the modern workplace. Many organisations have more questions than answers at the moment. Humly’s ambition is that its new product will hold some of the answers that many people long for.

Stand: 2R650

integrators and audio professionals in the education space create ideal environments for hybrid and hyflex learning.

The key to accommodating hybrid and hyflex models is to select microphones and audio systems that are user-friendly, flexible and scalable to multiple different use-cases. This way, students participating from home, and professors teaching both students in person and remote can have the same opportunity to interact regardless of their physical location.

Stand: 3N250

High-quality audio enables effective communication

It’s great to be back

A selection of exhibitors recall their highlights from ISE 2022, discuss the power of in-person events and share what’s in store for 2023

We had a great experience at ISE last year, and it was fantastic to meet so many customers and sales partners again over the four days, after two years without in-person events. The show was a big success for us, and we have generated numerous large projects as a direct result of our solutions being on show in Barcelona.

We see ISE as a great way to raise our profile in the European markets and to make connections that deliver real business benefits for Avocor and our partners. Avocor enjoyed a great ISE last year and we’ll be back in 2023 with an even bigger footprint, and some exciting new product announcements.

Hix, Founder & CEO, Avocor

ISE is a must-attend show for us and we were very pleased to be back in person at ISE 2022 earlier this year. We had a great time, with a very busy booth and we made many connections with clients and new contacts. We are really looking forward to being back in the thriving Hall 5 at ISE 2023, where we will be announcing a raft of innovations across our portfolio.

Farquhar, Senior Vice President, VITEC

For Absen, ISE is a united place for the European team where we get to work as a team in person, meet new and existing customers in one place, show them new innovations, share information and grow the business further.

ISE is the perfect showcase to show our news as a European manufacturer of LED screens and to be able to meet with all our sales channel and rental service partners, as well as allowing us to find new customers. The last edition was an unforgettable experience, record customer visits to our booth and receiving excellent feedback on our LED screens.

In today’s world of online communication, there is still a significant value in experiencing products firsthand. ISE attendees can take advantage of talking to technical specialists in person instead of online, and salespeople have the opportunity to discuss additional ways our customers can grow their business for greater success.

Hans Vereecken, Sales Manager EMEA, BOSE Professional

Christian Loacker, Global Sales and Marketing Director, WolfVision

Scott

Colin

Jessica Golding, European Brand & Marketing Director, Absen

Luis Garrido, Executive Director, Alfalite

New products

ISE 2023 will provide an opportunity for attendees to get hands on with a wide range of technology. Here we highlight a selection of the innovative tools and solutions you’ll find on show at the Fira

ACCENTA Music & P.O.S.

KIOSK IQ — intelligent monitoring: small, clever and efficient

KIOSK IQ is a cloud solution for the complete administration of DS networks and devices. Device and environmental data are stored and accessible with user-friendly dashboards, allowing users to fully manage and control outdoor and indoor systems. With 24/7 monitoring, cloud alarm rules with escalation management allow immediate notifications via email or SMS to alert technicians and to react to problems before they escalate, for example, rebooting screens or players remotely.

KIOSK IQ is equipped with LAN/WLAN and optionally with an LTE modem. Users can check the state of their devices, optimise the performance and provide greener signage. The easy-toinstall KIOSK IQ-box with temperature, humidity, light and motion sensors controls heating and ventilation components, players and screens. It can be retrofitted into existing installations and guarantees perfect maintenance and experience management. The financial benefits are over 50% cost savings on maintenance, optimal energy efficiency and higher device lifetimes.

Stand: 6H800

Voyager mobile cart — move with style

Voyager combines a compact, stylish design with robust components that provide a rigid experience using touchpanels and displays up to 86in. Built-in cable management and a unique small device storage system create quick and attractive AV installations. Voyager is designed to support flexible conferencing, collaboration and digital signage applications.

Voyager features manual height adjustment, accommodating multiple heights and display sizes up to 86in and 79kg. Displays and touchpanels can be mounted in portrait or landscape orientation. Chief’s rotation accessory is an option to allow continuous rotation adjustment from landscape to portrait orientation for use with displays such as MS Surface Hub and Samsung Flip 2.

Chief

Cue

touchONE-solution: a new era of smart space management

The touchONE-solution is a complete software solution and an integral part of the touchONE workspace management ecosystem. It consists of three apps.

Let’s start with touchONE-navigation — intuitive indoor navigation that can function as a standalone app or as a part of touchONE-assist — a planning and reservation front-end app. Both are available as web browser apps and progressive web apps for iOS or Android mobile platforms. touchONEassist offers many functions for quick search and reservation of various resources. Finally, the frontend app touchONE-admin serves as the ecosystem’s central administration, statistics and analytics tool.

The whole touchONE-solution is available as a cloud platform (SaaS). It can be licensed on a subscription basis and centrally hosted, all with high security, flexibility and guaranteed user-friendliness.

Stand: 3E175

Forum Collaboration Suite: the perfect space to collaborate

The ForumDisplay Collaboration Suite, designed for workspaces when hybrid collaboration is necessary in either open or closed spaces, is expanding. The Forum Display Stand — with a free-standing or floor-to-wall mounted version in dark or light design — now supports dual displays, single displays up to 86in as well as ultra-wide 21:9 display formats.

Forum products continue to include innovative AV integration features such as Leverlock (toolless AV device mounting) and a properly sized display shroud that is outfitted with acoustic fabric to keep the noise levels and audio reverberation to a minimum to ensure the highest quality audio experience for both inperson and remote audiences in open spaces.

The Forum Angle and Arc Tables are a perfect accompaniment to the Forum Display Stand for flexible hybrid videoconferencing scenarios.

Stand: 3N500

Middle Atlantic

IntelliSHOT-M auto-tracking camera — certified for Microsoft Teams

The IntelliSHOT-M is a professional autotracking camera certified for Microsoft Teams. Advanced IntelliFrame technology makes the IntelliSHOT-M camera ideal for auto-tracking presenters in boardrooms or perfectly framing a group of coworkers in larger conference rooms. Pro-AV integrators can adjust the experience based on the room conditions and user’s preferences. The IntelliSHOT-M camera provides a consistent, repeatable and high-quality Microsoft Teams experience from Vaddio. Vaddio’s IntelliSHOT-M ePTZ camera allows AV integrators to adjust the autoframing experience for speed, sensitivity, image size and more. IntelliFrame uses a combination of exceptionally sensitive motion detection and sophisticated algorithms to deliver smooth, accurate and reliable participant framing — without using facial recognition.

Stand: 3N500

Vaddio

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We are your first choice for advanced audio technology that makes collaboration and learning easier. Stop by Hall 3, Booth 3C600, to discover the newest member of the TeamConnect family. sennheiser.com/teamconnect