AVTE Oct/Nov 2018

AV Technology Europe

September / October 2018 avtechnologyeurope.com

REVOLUTION AT UNIVERSITY OF NORTHAMPTON SPECIAL: PROJECTORS FOR CLASSROOMS INTERVIEW: AV USER GROUP GOES WEST INTERVIEW: ISE GOES SOUTH THE LATEST TECH AI IN B2B

"THE BENCHMARK FOR STADIUM EXPERIENCES" September / October 2018

EARNING ITS SPURS: 62,000 SEATS, 1,800 DISPLAYS AND 4,000 SPEAKERS. WE SPOKE TO THE AV TEAMS BEHIND TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR'S BRAND NEW MULTIPURPOSE, STATE-OF-THE-ART STADIUM

WELCOME

Michael Garwood, Editor

OLE, OLE, OLE, OLE

H

ello and welcome to our anniversary issue of AVTE. A year old already, can you believe it?

It seems like only yesterday I first stood (slightly shaking) in front of a room full of (then) strangers at the AV User Group’s September meeting to officially unveil and launch our debut issue.

12-months on we’re still here, still going strong and I thank you for all your continued support.

Hola Barcelona A lot has happened since we were last here, with arguably the biggest story over the summer being the decision taken by ISE to relocate the show from the RAI, to Barcelona’s Gran Via from 2021.

The move has been almost universally met with positivity and it’s really not hard to see why. Yes, we all love Amsterdam, but removing nostalgia or affinity to the Dutch capital (or the RAI), it’s become clear its current housing is no longer a fit-for-purpose venue for (to quote ISE MD Mike Blackman in our ISE special, page 13), the “beast” the show has become.

However, as they say, there’s no room for sentiment in business – and room is something the RAI definitely doesn’t have. In our interview, Blackman notes he expects ISE’s attendance to near 100,000 by the time it docks in Catalonia. That’s 20,000 more than this year.

With the RAI already at breaking point, and exhibitors being turned away, something had to give. Moving to a larger venue, not only makes sense financially (more space + more exhibitors = more money), but also in allowing for a greater experience, both in terms of value and indeed comfort.

September / October 2018

Unlike the RAI, which has been extended to meet demand for decades, the Gran Via is a modern purpose built venue, one which is quadruple the size and extremely easy to navigate, even with crowds north of 100k. It even has its own rail station inside. If Blackman doesn’t have you convinced by the end of the interview, then nothing will. He’s even willing to put on extra flights to make sure you get there!

Earning its spurs But that’s not all. As you can see from our front cover, we’ve been closely following the developments of Tottenham Hotspur’s brand new £1bln multipurpose stadium and how the use of AV will provide (as it claims) the best fan experience of any stadium on the planet. We spoke to some of the leading brands behind its plans, including LG, Harman and Daktronics.

Speaking of new buildings. The University of Northampton is also opening its brand new Waterside Campus this month (September). We took a visit to see how AV technology is being used to create an entirely new method of teaching and learning. Projectors, interactive whiteboards, lecterns and large theatres are all things of the past in this fascinating new site.

In addition, we also spoke to AV User Group chairman Owen Ellis to discuss international expansion, the Science Museum’s new corporate venue (opening 2019), plus all our usual sections, including an extensive Tech Guide, a classroom projector special, plus a range of features showcasing projection mapping, special effects and AI. All this and much more. I hope you enjoy. michael.garwood@futurenet.com

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CONTENTS

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CONTENT Editor: Michael Garwood michael.garwood@futurenet.com +44 (0)20 7354 6022 Deputy Editor: Duncan Proctor duncan.proctor@futurenet.com +44 (0)20 7354 6036 Contributors: Ian McMurray

September/October 2018

INVENTORY Features

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Hola Barcelona

Content Director James McKeown james.mkeown@futurenet.com +44 (0)20 7354 6015

ISE’s MD Mike Blackman provides a detailed account on why the world’s biggest AV trade show needs a new home

Designer: Marc Miller marc.miller@futurenet.com +44 (0)207 354 6005

ADVERTISING SALES Sales manager: Gurpreet Purewal gurpreet.purewal@@futurenet.com +44 (0)20 7354 6029

SUBSCRIBER CUSTOMER SERVICE

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ARCHIVES

A masterclass in AV

Digital editions of the magazine are available to view on ISSUU.com Recent back issues of the printed edition may be available please contact lwilkie@nbmedia.com for more information.

The University of Northampton’s brand new Campus is using AV to re-write the rules for teaching and learning

INTERNATIONAL AV Technology Europe and its content are available for licensing and syndication re-use. Contact the International department to discuss partnership opportunities and permissions International Licensing Director Matt Ellis, matt.ellis@futurenet.com

MANAGEMENT Managing Director/Senior Vice President Christine Shaw Chief Revenue Officer Luke Edson Chief Content Officer Joe Territo Chief Marketing Officer Wendy Lissau Head of Production US & UK Mark Constance

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September/October 2018

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AV USER GROUP Exclusive: The AVUG arrives in San Jose next month (Oct), as Chairman Owen Ellis reveals membership numbers and global demand have reached unprecedented levels

IN-FOCUS: SMART WORKING Our latest In-Focus series takes a look at how smart AV technologies can help improve staff productivity and businesses run more efficiently

Regulars

6 Industry Insights

WHITE HART GAIN 1,800 displays and more 4,000 speakers.

We look at how Tottenham Hotspur’s new £1bln stadium will be in a league of its own for fan experience on and off the pitch

NEED TO KNOW: AI B2B SPECIAL Is your business taking advantage of the possibilities and benefits of AI? We look at what exactly AI currently means for businesses and why it’s time to get on board

38 Head to Head 68 Meet Your Integrator

34 Tech Guide 74 Brief Encounter 5

INSIGHT

A SMART APPROACH TO SMART WORKPLACES Investing for the future to safeguard your future

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rganisations around the world are some guidelines that can support companies on working tirelessly to understand their way to creating a smart workplace, which are and adapt to emerging technologies, tightly connected to these pillars. These are taken new cultural preferences and from the Economy of People report, a study run changing workforce dynamics, all

by Ricoh UK and Ireland and Oxford Economics. of which have created challenging productivity and performance issues amongst workforces. Over Culture the last 10 years, there has been a seismic shift in Culture is extremely effective at improving the way people work, which has put a lot of business performance and aspects such as employee satisfaction, well-being pressure on companies to modernise and digitally and motivation. Focus more on transform. So, how to ensure that “The way people the organisation’s ethics, values the operating models used are and overall purpose. work sits at the agile, competitive and fit for the Don’t forget about younger workers (Generations Y & Z) future? How to create a smart heart of every who are in search of organisations workplace? A deep understanding organisation of people and their ability to drive that are more aligned with their own personal values - they are the the economy through the way – from small to future of the workforce. they work is the key, as the large public or workplace is only as smart as it’s Remember that creativity needs to be nurtured. Executives believe empowered users. private – across culture is the most important The way people work sits at the every sector” heart of every organisation – from catalyst of generating creative ideas. However, when compared small to large, public to private – across every industry and sector. to employees, it becomes clear The alignment between cultural, physical and that the path to performance and creativity technological workplace strategies, all based on a requires a balanced mix of workplace attributes to common ground between employees and successfully generate creative thinking. employers, is a crucial part of any company’s modernisation process. By focusing on people first, Investment is vital organisations can implement changes around three Make consistent investments in office pillars: culture, workspace and technology, environment, however large or small. This can creating a truly productive environment – a smart directly influence employee performance, workplace - where employees will unlock their productivity and even attitude towards work. Even potential and enhance their creativity. There are small improvements could make a big difference Oscar Mellegers, Head of Marketing EMEA, Communication Services at Ricoh

6 www.avtechnologyeurope.com

INSIGHT

Flexibility Don’t underestimate the importance of personal workspace and operating procedures. Employees clearly value atmospheres that are structured, organised and complete with personal space to allow them to both perform and be productive.

Closely evaluate employee demographics to understand their unique needs.

Flexible working is more complex than simply working from home. Employees believe they could be more productive when working remotely but need the right tools and technology to do so.

Results will follow, and they will fundamentally change an organisation. The vast majority of executives who were asked to estimate the impact of an optimal office environment on the productivity of their organisation said they would see an increase up to 10 per cent, making it vital to unlocking GDP. Technology Focus on core technologies, such as infrastructure and digitisation, which have become the hallmarks of successful digital transformation strategies.

Remember about different priorities in different sectors. For example, employees at financial services firms report significantly more opportunity to unlock productivity through use of business applications and workplace productivity

September / October 2018

tools, whilst employees at many different business and professional services firms believe more strongly in the need to digitise information and create digital workflows.

Explore opportunities to further enhance productivity and service offering through Artificial Intelligence (AI). 41 per cent of European employees are seeking a reduction in repetitive tasks and more than a third (36 per cent) call for the automation of admin tasks (findings from Ricoh-commissioned research in December 2017, where we spoke to 3,500 employees on the topic of a digital workplace). Think about multiple areas where a form of AI is making a big impact in the workplace: for example, AI chatbot salesmen, AI customer contact centres or AI collaboration tools, i.e., interactive whiteboards.

It might sound complicated, but the strategy is in fact quite simple: in order to create a smart workplace companies, consultants or solution providers need to begin with employees and their needs in terms of technology and workspace. Start with developing a deep understanding of how people work and what they need – thus you will get information necessary to enhance workspaces, design and implement new processes and build bespoke technology solutions. This will empower employees and move the organisation towards a smarter workplace ensuring it is fit for the future.

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INSIGHT

IS IT TIME TO SMARTEN UP YOUR MEETING ROOM? Intelligent tech could save your business money and boost your staff productivity

T

oday there is a lot to read about the new workplace environment within the enterprise by giving employees the tools and environment they need (and crave) to work in a more collaborative and efficient

manner.

But delivering the infrastructure isn’t enough.

Many meetings still lack the level of productivity desired, which creates frustration, which then leads to inefficiency and huge hidden costs.

Just consider this: an average meeting room accommodates six people and is used for around six hours a day. If every meeting has a 10 minute delay because of technology not working, doing as it should, or simply too confusing, leaving people sitting around idol. At an average cost of 100 euros per hour per employee, that could give you a loss of 120,000 euros per room per year.

Reasons for these delays are often caused by limited room scheduling functionality and AV equipment. All of these can easily be overcome. Let’s take a look...

Room scheduling Many scheduling softwares only provide the number of participants and location but ignore the in-room technology.

If you need to do a video call but the scheduling software doesn’t provide you the info of available technology in that room, you might end up in a room without this function.

Office spaces can be large and sometimes difficult to navigate. During the course of a day, workers go from meeting to meeting. Sometimes the meeting spaces are spread out across multiple floors and buildings.

As enterprises are more and more opting for flex desks and promote homework, it is not unthinkable that you

don’t know all rooms in the building. Lacking familiarity with a building or campus enhances their stress level, as they try to find their way. By the time they arrive — if they make it on time — they’re in a frustrated state. This can cause significant negatively impact their effectiveness In-room technology I think we all have experienced this: Having trouble to get your laptop image on the display in the room. Not having the correct adaptor, finding the displays remote and figuring out how to switch it to the correct input, etc.. are just two of the many issues people have with in-room technology. Besides the wasted cost, delays and frustration it causes that meeting organizers avoid more than half of the available rooms and thus inefficient IoT can help us with this: Proximity beacons can give us GPS-like navigation to locate the room you need to be in smartphones can detect these beacons and besides allowing you to find your way, also might offer in-room control of the equipment in the room you are located.

It can even go further and by walking in the room, the display is powered on and provide you info on how to present in the room or make your remote video call.

Voice control of engines like Amazon Alexa are also becoming more and more common in the enterprise to help people book rooms, startup a room and control the technology.

There are many examples where IoT can help us in our work life but also for facility this brings in many benefits.

Having data pushed on the network by all devices creates a more accurate overview of what is going on in the building and with the actual equipment. Allowing

Stijn Ooms is technical director, Crestron EMEA

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www.avtechnologyeurope.com

INSIGHT

inventory management, remote monitoring, better investments and predictive maintenance.

Avoiding people to book rooms with a broken display for example.

A basic room booking software might give you data of the room usage but not the in-room equipment usage. By combining both, you can make sure employees are using the right meeting room for the right meeting type. For example: No internal meetings in video conference rooms.

“Having data pushed on the network by all devices creates a more accurate overview of what is going on in the building and with the actual equipment ”

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September / October 2018

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INTERVIEW: AV USER GROUP INTERNATIONAL EXPANSION

1996 - London 2012 - New York 2016 - Hong Kong 2018 - San Jose

A LAND OF OPPORTUNITY As the AV User Group touches down in San Jose for the first time, its chairman Owen Ellis reveals demand for the group has reaches unprecedented levels with countries all over the world wanting a piece of the action

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ccording to AVIXA, the Bay area of West California is now the biggest in the US for audiovisual technology sales – surpassing that even of New York.

For the AV User Group – a not for profit organisation formed in 1996 to help AV end user professionals network and share best practice advice – expanding to the Golden State wasn’t so much a question of if, but when.

“Ever since we launched in New York (2012) the demand for a group on the West Coast has never gone away,” explained AV User Group chairman Owen Ellis – who is now approaching his first year as a full-time employee at the group.

Next month (October 18), Ellis, after nearly a year of planning, will be inside Google’s San Jose head office to officially launch the AV User Group in the region for the first time – and demand is high.

Rising demand At the time of writing, numbers for the AV User > Above:membership Xxxxxxxx Group (in total)xxxxxxxxxxxxxx have smashed past the 1,300 barrier – xxxxxxxxxxxxxx double that compared to September, 2017. Of that figure, xxxxxxxxxxxxxx 350 of those (representing around 250 different organisations) are located in the Bay Area.

“We’ve had some incredible interest since we announced

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our plans to launch in San Jose,” said Ellis. “It’s a very wide demographic, ranging from education to large corporate organisations. It’s a really good mix and a much higher number than we originally expected.”

Industry support Demand, according to Ellis, has been fuelled by the “incredible” support from the industry, many (if not all) that have worked with the AV User Group in its other regions (London, New York, Hong Kong) and value its importance.

So much so, Ellis claims he could have sold the first event twice over, such was the interest. Shure, Logitech, Biamp, AVIXA, QSC, and Barco are all confirmed sponsors and will be presenting at the first event.

Extron, Tripleplay, Silicon Core, Mersive, Evertz, Dolby, Atlona, Electrosonic, AVMI, Diversified & L3AV are all sponsors for the post event networking drinks.

> Hosts: Google HQ

www.avtechnologyeurope.com

INTERVIEW: AV USER GROUP

> Great expectations: Chairman, Owen Ellis

Ellis also revealed the next schedule meeting (next Spring) is already booked up (no venue announcement yet), with Crestron, Lightware, Sennheiser, NEC, Avocor and Avidex (local S.I.) all set to present. It also has a strong “first refusal” waiting list made up of Mersive, Atlona, Altia Systems/Panacast, Ashton Bentley & Starleaf should any drop out.

Overcoming obstacles “It has gone incredibly well, so far,” said Ellis. “San Jose has been a real success story in the sense it was the first time I’ve opened a location that I’ve never worked in before. When we opened in New York and Hong Kong, they were two locations that we ran the Morgan Stanley multimedia business from.

So, I was used to travelling to both locations to manage my team. I knew the industry and had contacts there, so it was fairly easy to build. I didn’t have that luxury with San Jose and yet from the day we opened in New York, I’ve been asked when we are opening up on the West Coast.

He continued: “The Bay Area is number one for AV sales in the US, so it was obviously the right target, it was just a case of building it. We were heavily dependent on our existing membership and sponsorship base, but I was amazed at the level of

September/October 2018

support we received from our sponsors and how keen they were to introduce their clients to us. It took me by surprise as I expected it to be a lot harder work. Knowing we have 350 members on the database, I’d be disappointed if we didn’t have 10 per cent of those at the first event.”

By around 2020, Ellis said he hopes to be able to offer US members the same level of support (i.e. accommodation) offered to those in the UK, in attending major trade show events. In the UK, that support is provided in getting members to ISE (Amsterdam, Barcelona 2021), whilst in the US, that would be its equivalent, InfoComm (Orlando 2019 /Vegas 2020).

“I’d hope in the next couple of years we’ll be able to start doing that for both US locations, so by 2020 we will hopefully have sufficient revenue to offer support in getting members to the shows.”

More locations?

Demand for the AV User Group is not however restricted to the US, Ellis revealed. In recent months, fuelled by its sponsors and activities in the market (including partnering with AVIXA at ISE), requests from end users all over the world have been received. France (Paris), Australia (Sydney), Canada (Toronto) and New Zealand are just some of the options, whilst interest from India has also been discussed, but to a lesser extent.

However, Ellis and the board are keen to ensure the value and reputation of the group is not tarnished by adopting a land grab rollout strategy.

Groups, like in London in the early days, may begin life as simply networking opportunities amongst AV professionals, with potential sponsorship further down the line.

He continued: “When I sat down with the original management committee, one of my personal desires was to make something like the AV User Group available to as many end users in our industry as possible around the world over a period of time,” explained Ellis. “We’ve had some strong interest and it’s been exciting having discussions with the board about how go about that and grow the group further and scale. We’re very proud of what we’ve achieved and conscious that we don’t want to water that down. We’re also keen to protect the reputation we have built, but equally we don’t want to make it difficult for new locations to get started by setting a ridiculous criteria We’ve not got that nailed down yet, but we’re close.”

He concluded: “We always thought it would be us deciding where we should go, but that’s been flipped on its side as people are reaching out to us. It’s a very exciting time for all of us.”

For more information visit: www.avusergroup.com

“One of my personal desires was to make something like the AV User Group available to as many end users around the world as possible”

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ISE SPECIAL: INTERVIEW

September / October 2018

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ISE SPECIAL: ISEINTERVIEW PREVIEW

“WE’LL MISS AMSTERDAM, BUT ISE’S FUTURE IS IN BARCELONA”

IN NUMBERS: THE GRAN VIA •The Gran Via has a surface area: 240.000 m² of floor space • It can comfortably hold crowds in excess of 110,000 people • It’s one of the largest and most modern venues in Europe • It has eight halls, all of which can be accessed via a single corridor – like a spine • Located five miles from Barcelona airport

In a revealing and honest interview, ISE founder and MD, Mike Blackman discusses the reasons behind its “historic” decision to relocate the show to Barcelona from 2021

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n case you (somehow) haven’t heard, ISE is moving.

From 2021, the world’s biggest AV trade show will – after 14 years – wave a fond final farewell to the RAI Amsterdam, relocating 1,000 miles south to the warmer climates (even in February) of Barcelona.

Welcoming the show with its open arms (and its estimated 470 million euro cash injection to the local economy), will be the Gran Via. With 200,000sqm of space (almost four times that of the RAI), the Gran Via is one of Europe’s largest purpose built exhibition centres, capable of accommodating north of 110,000 visitors and 2,400 plus exhibitors inside its eight giant hangar-like halls.

“We’re at the beginning of a bigger and better journey,”

• Parking places: 4.580 • It has two helipads • 45 permanent restaurants • The venue has its own train station inside the building

beamed the show’s founder and MD, Mike Blackman as we chatted in his 22nd floor hotel room overlooking Barcelona F.C’s Camp Nou stadium. “It’s been a long journey since our first show in 2004, and now we’re at the beginning of a brand new one.”

The move has been well received by the AV industry, many of which have joined ISE on its (said) journey since it began life in front of just 120 exhibitors and 3,500 visitors in its one and only visit to Geneva before going Dutch.

Since then, ISE – to borrow a quote from Blackman – has evolved into a “beast” of a show, with its latest instalment again smashing all records before it, attracting close to 81,000 visitors and 1,300 exhibitors.

“The industry will benefit from a location that boasts enough space to cater for the industry’s growth” Ruben Rengel, Absen September / October 2018

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ISE SPECIAL: INTERVIEW

“The tremendous media buzz around ISE’s relocation to Barcelona in 2021 demonstrates just how important the show has become to the audio-visual industry” Arlonna Seymour, Christie Digital

Hall 1: Gross surface 14.000 m2

Hall 2: Gross surface 32.000 m2

Hall 3: Gross surface 32.000 m2

Hall 4: Gross surface 20.000 m2

Blackman continued: “When I was headhunted and asked to take a look at the opportunity of launching ISE, I thought it was interesting and had the potential to grow. But I could have never imagined it would grow this big and this fast into the beast that it is today. It’s gone way beyond mine and everyone’s expectations.”

A growing industry Things are not about to slow down anytime soon, which ultimately has forced ISE’s hand into buying a one-way-ticket to Spain, following ISE 2020.

The AV industry continues to grow at pace, playing a greater and more intrinsic role for businesses and consumers alike.

According to figures published by ISE’s parent company AVIXA, the AV industry worldwide generated $178 billion in 2016. Through to 2022, it is expected that global AV revenues will increase 4.7 per cent annually, creating an additional $52 billion in value during the remainder of the forecast period.

“We’re lucky because we’re in an industry that’s ever evolving,” said Blackman. “The channel probably won’t increase that much, but for the buyers, that’s where we’ll continue to see a rise.”

With the industry growing and more and more companies investing in AV technologies, the knock on impact for ISE is as fruitful as it is problematic – at least in the short-term.

Each year, attendance numbers continue to rise

IN SHORT: New floor plan for ISE 2021 ISE is working on creating a brand new floor plan for when the annual trade show leaves to its bigger home in Barcelona in 2021.

Blackman acknowledges the challenges faced by many people visiting the RAI in finding exhibitors relevant to them due to its current scattered and inconsistent approach currently in place. “We will be re-jigging the floor plan, we will make it more advantageous for exhibitors and attendees.”

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“Sadly the show has outgrown not only the RAI. We’ve had a cap on stand space in recent years and haven’t been able to grow our presence in the way that we’d hoped” Lucy Meredith, Panasonic

by around six per cent, a trajectory which could see numbers reach 100,000 by 2021. In addition, demand for space from existing, new and prospective exhibitors shows no sign of abating and remains a constant battle.

To put it simply, the RAI has become a victim of ISE’s success, with demand now outgrowing supply.

“AV is key to experiences,” said Blackman.

“More and more companies are putting collaboration rooms in their offices. More and more companies are using video conferencing. More and more retailers are getting involved in using AV as part of how they sell and present their products. VR is being used in car showrooms. It’s [AV] touching more and more of these companies. It’s not the fact we’re trying to grab more people, it’s more that people are getting more and more interested in what we have to offer.” www.avtechnologyeurope.com

ISE SPECIAL: INTERVIEW

“As the show is growing year in year out, having Barcelona as the new host city is a great choice” Petra van Meeuwen, Crestron EMEA

“It was obvious that the RAI couldn’t keep up with the show’s rapid growth, the set-up and strike logistics were becoming very difficult” Tom Back, Alcons Audio

IN SHORT: Chartered flights to Barcelona ISE will look at providing chartered flights for attendees and exhibitors located in areas where demand for flights to Barcelona is high, but supply is low.

ISE plans to speak with airlines around Europe where flights are scarce or likely to sell out quickly, potentially leaving people unable to attend or pay sky-high prices.

“If the airlines can’t help us and we think there aren’t enough seats flying from, say, London to Barcelona, then we will negotiate charters,” says Blackman. “We’re not going into competition with the airliners, but at the end of the day, we want people to be able to get here and for a reasonable price.”

Huge growth potential He continued: “We’re seeing 5-6 per cent growth every year. We’re on 81,000 at the moment, so by 2019 we’ll probably be looking at 85,000, by 2020 that will be around 90,000 and by 2021, we’ll be between 95,000 and 100,000. That’s conservative.

“If we look at the floor space, based on our expectations, my honest belief based on where the industry is going and what’s happening and where we see potential growth, I believe within 10-years, we can double the size of the show. We’re at 55,000 net square metres right now and we believe we can double the size of the show within 10-years.

“It’s like buying your first house. At first, everything is perfect, you have plenty of room and everything you think you could ever want or need.

Then you start a family and suddenly you need a bigger backyard. ISE needs a bigger yard.”

September / October 2018

Efforts to remain at the RAI were made. But even the addition of Hall 15 – the country’s largest temporary pavilion – in February (2018) adding 11,500sqm of extra space (taking totals above 55,000sqm) during this year’s show, failed to alleviate the problem of demand.

Blackman revealed as a result of Hall 15, it allowed exhibitors with stands covering less than 200sqm, the option of taking an additional 30sqm, should they wish. Unfortunately (depending which way you look at it), many of them did so, resulting in a number of smaller stands (10-12m2) being forced out – something ISE hadn’t foreseen.

As a direct consequence, ISE had to turn down 144 different companies that wanted to exhibit – a gut-wrenching and frustrating prospect for any business having to do.

“When we decided to put on the big pavilion [Hall 15] at the front of the RAI, it filled up straight away,” explained Blackman. “That really caught us off-guard, because we felt we still had space to grow. Sadly, we were faced with a situation that meant we couldn’t accommodate everyone and those smaller stands at the bottom of the list no longer had a space to exhibit. It’s terrible to think you’re turning business away. We’ve helped to rectify that by taking another pavilion for ISE 2019,

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ISE SPECIAL: INTERVIEW

“The growth of the show combined with a limited floor space meant that eventually exhibitors’ requirements couldn’t be met” Francesco Fanicchi, Powersoft

“ I think the move is an excellent idea. It enables further expo expansion for our industry and a fresh impetus for a new visitor experience” Graeme Massey, Jacobs Massey

$230bln Value of AV market by 2022

IN SHORT: Free public transport in Barcelona Visitors to ISE 2021 in Barcelona will each be given access to free travel for the duration of the show on the city’s Metro rail network.

The deal was made as part of the negotiation phase between ISE, the Gran Via and the city – saving every visitor at least €30 each.

“We negotiated the package and these are significant things to help ensure everything runs to the best it can be.”

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which will accommodate some, but not all of them. It’s a constant firefight.”

It was this predicament that proved to be a defining moment for ISE and its stay in Amsterdam, with the decision to leave decided in April, just a couple of months following the conclusion of ISE 2018.

The RAI was informed in May. However, it wasn’t a total surprise.

Blackman revealed that discussions around its future at the RAI had already been ongoing for three-years, with the pair exploring opportunities to accommodate its needs.

Conversations typically centred around what the RAI is doing (guaranteed), what it could be doing (expects) and what it would like to do (ambitions).

“Ultimately, for us to be able to grow and reach the level and potential we truly believe the show can achieve, we needed a bigger venue,” he said almost apologetically, such is his fondness of the city and his relationship with the RAI. Not taken lightly “We didn’t take the decision [to leave] lightly,” he explained. “The RAI and Amsterdam have always been good to us.

They [the RAI] were honest and realistic with us and we looked at how we could influence certain things that we needed to happen to keep us there. We had to be fair and realistic with them. We couldn’t just come in with demands of build this and build that or we go. www.avtechnologyeurope.com

ISE SPECIAL: INTERVIEW

“I have always found the RAI difficult to navigate and increasingly so as numbers at ISE have increased” Kevin McLoughlin, Royal Society of Medicine “Ultimately, we matched what they could provide over the next 10-years against what we believe will happen to the show during the same period. What we saw immediately was that the gap between what we needed and what the RAI could provide was getting further apart. We went back to them and asked how realistic some of their proposals for expansion were. They were honest and told us that they couldn’t make any promises. At that point, we explained that we had to work on our plan-b” Negotiations Plan-b first kicked into gear around 18-months ago, with ISE holding discussions and conducting surveys with selected exhibitors and attendees to get a consensus on their feelings towards the show remaining at the RAI and a possible move away During this time, Blackman also began visiting other venues in “all leading cities” across Europe to find a suitable replacement and accommodate its long term plans, should the RAI not be an option.

Whilst space was a primary need, there were also a long list of others requirements to factor in before a final decision could be made. These included securing the availability and reasonable pricing for hotels, transportation both to Barcelona and getting to and from the show, amongst others.

All things considered, the Gran Via was the outstanding choice.

“We looked at all the major European capitals to see what they had to offer in terms of their facilities, infrastructure, accommodation and all those sorts of things” Blackman explained. “After we’d decided Barcelona was the place we wanted to go we had to first make sure the total package was right for everyone. That needed to be agreed before we signed anything – otherwise we wouldn’t be in a strong negotiating position.”

He continued: “The hotels were a key part of that, because we didn’t want the news to come out that we’re coming to Barcelona and all the hotels saying (rubbing his hands), great, we want 500 euros a night during that week. We worked closely with the venue and the mayor and everything is in place. It’s going to be a great venue for us.”

Wrapping up our chat, Blackman admitted he has

September / October 2018

“A change of venue is always good, can spark interest from people who have maybe thought they had seen it all” Chris Moore, BenQ Europe

IN SHORT: Going out in style The final two remaining ISE shows in Amsterdam (2019 and 2020) will be the best it’s ever hosted at the RAI, with Blackman insisting there will be no let up in quality for exhibitors and attendees alike.

“Our exhibitors and attendees can plan ahead with confidence, safe in the knowledge that we can and will deliver exemplary events here in Amsterdam for the next two years and then in Barcelona for ISE’s long term future.”

plenty of sympathy for those at the RAI who have, in many ways, joined ISE on its growth journey.

With ISE being the largest trade show held in the city, the void being left will be difficult (impossible?) to fill, both financially for the venue and the city.

He revealed ISE could have made its exit at the end of next year’s show (2019), but has opted for an additional year (2020), increasing the chances for the RAI to secure a replacement.

“It’s like a rental contract with a house,” Blackman explained. “You don’t want to leave someone in the lurch, so we’ve given them time to go out to the market with a free slot in 2021. We’ll be doing other things there in the future too, so we want to maintain a good working relationship.”

He concluded: “The RAI have been and remains a great partners for us. It’s a great city and it’s really embraced ISE over the years. I’ll always remember speaking to a taxi driver who told me that the busiest time of year for him was during ISE. He joked that the rest of the year, they [fellow drivers] eat hamburgers, but during ISE, they eat steak. It shows the impact we have on the city and the people within it. It wasn’t just a show in February, it was ISE. The whole city has embraced us. In the build up to a show, you see restaurants and bars displaying signs saying ‘ISE builder special’ Our leaving will create quite a vacuum. But we have to do what’s right. The ambition now is to replicate

Hall 5: Gross surface 17.000 m2

Hall 6: Gross surface 20.000 m2

Hall 7: Gross surface 17.000 m2

Hall 8: Gross surface 13.800 m2

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AV IN ENTERTAINMENT: TOTTENHAM

‘THE BENCHMARK FOR STADIUM EXPERIENCES’ Dissecting a stadium: How Premier League football team Tottenham Hotspur’s new stadium is using AV technology to earn its Spurs as the greatest stadium on the planet for entertainment

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ere’s a pub quiz question you’re almost certainly never likely to hear at your local pub.

What do current Premier League sides; Arsenal, Leicester City, Manchester City, West Ham, Southampton, Cardiff City and Brighton and Hove Albion all have in common?

The answer: they’re all football teams that have built and moved into brand new stadiums since the turn of the century with an aim of improving the match day experience for fans. I told you.

Joining that ever growing list – as many football fans (or indeed anyone that reads/listens to the news will know) – is Tottenham Hotspur, or Spurs to the more seasoned football fan.

Trademarked as the New White Hart Lane, the billion pound stadium will (once completed ) have a capacity of more than 62,000 and has been described by the club as providing a “new benchmark” for stadium experiences.

“We are creating, what we believe, will be the finest stadium anywhere in the world for spectators, visitors and the wider community, delivering a major new landmark for Tottenham and London,” said the club in a statement.

In addition to football, the multipurpose stadium be home to NFL American football and become as rival London concert venue to the likes of Wembley Stadium/ Arena, the O2 and West Ham’s London Stadium.

Whilst the club cannot always guarantee the finest performances on the pitch, the experience off it however is something that can be controlled. This is of course, through the use of audio visual technology, of which the club has made significant levels of investment in, elevating it above its rivals along the way.

“We’re driving innovation and using modern technology to enhance the fan experience, with

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connectivity across the whole venue and flexibility to cater for future demands and developments,” the club adds. “We know that the ‘game day’ experience for many begins long before the match starts and we also want to be able to enhance that experience.”

Tactics Fundamental to it achieving its goal in providing a match winning experience for supporters, is through the deployment of displays, audible audio (stadium bowl and concourse areas) and entertaining and useful content. All of which follow the fan from the second they approach the stadium to the moment they enter.

To achieve this, the club has turned to four key AV suppliers; LG (non pitch facing displays), Harman (audio), Daktronics (pitch facing and exterior jumbo screens) and Tripleplay (content management platform).

Displays One of the most visible elements of the club’s AV investment is the installation of more than 1,800 digital displays placed throughout the stadium’s concourse and premium (prawn sandwich) areas – understood to be more than in any other football stadium in Britain.

These displays will be used as digital signage, menu boards and for providing pre and post match entertainment, such as match highlights, live coverage of other Premier League matches taking place (post and pre only). There will also be a number of video walls placed throughout the stadium.

All non pitch facing displays at the stadium have been supplied by LG (a former club sponsors of London rivals Fulham) and include a mix of OLED, UHD models. LG displays are common place in football, having agreed supply deals with the likes of Wembley Stadium and England’s St Georges Park training facility.

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AV IN ENTERTAINMENT: TOTTENHAM

In addition to Tottenham’s stadium, LG is also supplying OLED TV’s inside the club’s new Lodge facility outside its Enfield training ground that provides lodging for players.

platform for the new stadium including EPOS integration for digital menu boards, live match day feeds with low latency encoders,” Tripleplay’s CEO Steve Rickless told AVTE.

Content London neighbour Tripleplay, who’s technology was recently used at the Russia World Cup – including the final – has been selected to provide the end-to-end video platform and deliver all communication and data services through a site-wide IP network.

The firm, which already has a relationship with the club, using its technology at Tottenham’s training ground and offices known as Lilly White House, has become a household name (within AV and IT teams) in sporting venues all over the world, spanning three continents in racing, football, rugby, ice-hockey, NFL and tennis.

In the UK, Tripleplay is now present in around 70 per cent of Premier League clubs including; Manchester City (900 displays), Chelsea, Southampton, Brighton and Bournemouth, whilst also manages content at Wimbledon (2,000 displays) and Twickenham (700).

“We are delivering the entire IPTV and digital signage

New tactics Tottenham is also understood to be using Tripleplay’s platform to help improve the experience for supporters (and maximise spending potential) when buying food and drink before, during and, key to its strategy, after the match.

Using similar methods to that found at other stadiums, such as Twickenham, Tripleplay’s platform can be used to monitor transactions and queues at food and beverage kiosks. To help enhance sales potential, digital displays can then direct supporters to a quieter kiosk, where queueing times are lower and the risk of missing kick off (including half time) is significantly reduced or removed.

‘Through our extensive array of integration partners we can offer some very clever queue management and offer generation,’ Tripleplay notes. ‘Partnering with companies like Triple Jump Technologies you can monitor till activities to find hot and cold spots around

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AV IN ENTERTAINMENT: TOTTENHAM

LET THERE BE LIGHT A total of 324 floodlights from supplier Musco Lighting will be mounted on the underside of the stadium’s roof in clusters of six for night matches or in low light. The optically advanced LED system will require only 450kW of power, which is around 50 per cent less energy consumption than a traditional metal halide flood lighting system.Jeff Rogers, VP of sales, Musco Lighting said: “Our system will offer an enhanced entertainment experience for the fans, with superior light quality and visibility, and it will also help the Club in its efforts to reduce its environmental footprint.”

a venue, pointing ticket holders to other areas of the arena with shorter queues, triggering on screen messaging through the Tripleplay platform.

The club is also keen to help maximise revenue opportunities by keeping supporters inside the stadium for longer periods, rather than them simply leaving after the final whistle. To help achieve this, the club is including a dedicated stage area, hosting post match entertainment, including live music, Q&A’s with former players (legends), DJ sets, highlights of any live matches taking place.

Bigger is better Whilst LG displays dominate the stadium’s interior, it’s the four giant ‘jumbo’ screens from Daktronics, which will hang from its 600 tonne roof, which will dominate the inside of the stadium seating areas.

Covering more than 1,000 square metres in total, the four LED screens are the largest ever deployed in any stadium in Western Europe and some of the biggest in the world.

Two additional screens in the North Stand, will each measure 190.7 square metres, while two LED video displays will feature on the South West and South East façades, fitted on the exterior of the stadium, each measuring 178.9 square metres.

Every main display will feature 13HD pixel layouts to bring excellent image clarity and contrast for everyone that visits the stadium.

The stadium bowl will also include three tiers of digital ribbon – a first for any European stadium.

The upper and middle tier ribbons will run from the East to West Stands through the North Stand measuring 387 metres and 348 metres long, respectively, while the

suite-tier ribbon will be split into two runs along the East and West Stands, measuring 122 metres in length on the East stand and 105 metres long on the West.

Matthew Collecott, director of operations, Tottenham Hotspur said: “We have pushed them [Daktronics] to deliver something that will truly set us apart and these installations will play a significant role as part of our commitment to setting a new standard in fan experience in sports and entertainment.”

Audio The final piece of the AV jigsaw, is providing fans with a ‘state of the art’ audio system, helping to ensure audio is audible (be it music or voice/ad announcements) wherever they may be in the stadium at any time.

To a achieve this, the club has teamed up with Harman Professional Solutions, who have supplied a range of its “leading” audio products including amplifiers, subwoofers and JBL Professional loudspeakers.

Solution includes 156 JBL VLA-C2100 loudspeakers, 54 JBL VLA-C125 subwoofers, 196 JBL AWC82 all-weather loudspeakers, 140 Crown DriveCore Install amplifiers, and more than 3,500 JBL Control Contractor speakers installed across the facility. Audio will be mixed on a Soundcraft Vi2000 digital console and monitored via JBL LSR 305 reference monitors.

Daniel Levy, chairman of Tottenham Hotspur concludes: “It will be our new home for generations and we want it to be exceptional. We can’t wait to welcome you.”

The new stadium is expected to be ready to host/stage live events later this year.

Exclusive interview with LG and Harman, page 25

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AV IN ENTERTAINMENT: INTERVIEW

FOUNDATIONS FOR SUCCESS

Picture from: Sam Marks

Chris Smith, vice president and general manager EMEA at Harman Professional Solutions and his namesake Chris Smith, senior manager at LG, talk to AVTE about their work and involvement on the new White Hart Lane stadium When did you first become involved in the project?

CS (Harman): In 2017, Harman’s UK distributor Sound Technology responded to the tender specification produced by consultants Vanguardia. The spec called for a wide variety of loudspeakers to cover the different areas within the stadium, both within the bowl and for the hospitality, concourse and back-of-house areas.

CS (LG): When Tottenham Hotspur was looking to upgrade its stadium’s signage in 2015, we pitched them LG’s latest innovations and our bespoke stadium offerings. It’s been a partnership for the last few years and we are in the middle of a major display installation.

Tell us about your technology being used in the stadium.

CS: First and foremost the PAVA system is critical to fan safety therefore audio quality and speech intelligibility are paramount. Each loudspeaker used within the stadium was chosen to best match the acoustic environment it is placed within and the Dante signal path ensures there is no degradation to the audio signal as it is distributed throughout the site. From the beginning it was the clubs aim to enhance the fan experience through the seamless integration of AV technology, audio of course plays a large part in achieving this.

By using a single system to deliver paging, production audio and emergency announcements, Tottenham invested in a single set of high quality loudspeakers which meet all these requirements. Coverage within the stadium is exceptional with around 4,000 loudspeakers deployed in total, separated into over 250 zones.

“The PVA system is critical to fan safety. Audio and speech intelligibility are paramount”

Why were you chosen?

CS: New build stadia don’t come around very often, so we were in competition with a number of leading audio brands. Ultimately through the tender process HARMAN provided an excellent technical and commercial proposition. Key to our success was our broad product portfolio which met the loudspeaker requirements of the many different areas within the venue whilst guaranteeing consistently good audio performance.

How involved were you with the decision making and design on what technology was to be deployed?

CS: The intensive pace of the project required a dynamic approach to the evolving needs of the club. The HARMAN and Sound Technology applications teams supported integrator SSE audio group through design and delivery with consultant Vanguardia overseeing the process.

CS: We showcased the entire LG range at our showroom and

September / October 2018

began specifying what might be possible, since then we have worked with designers and consultants and helped support technically to advise on the application of the products.

Specifically, what products have you chosen?

CS: Tottenham Hotspur is the first installation of the new JBL VLA-Compact loudspeaker system. Built upon the technology of its larger siblings, from the very successful VLA series, the VLA-Compact is an installation specific line-array loudspeaker system providing concert quality sound at the medium throw distances typical in European stadia.

Along with the bowl, JBL loudspeakers are used throughout the venue, including within the many high-spec hospitality spaces, the press conference room and concourse areas both

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AV IN ENTERTAINMENT: INTERVIEW

CS: We are starting to build up a reputation in football communities having previously worked with Manchester City, Wembley Stadium and Ashton Gate Stadium in Bristol which boasts the largest video wall in any sports bar in Britain.

We are also currently working with the FA, to specify development to the Wembley Stadium digital signage solutions.

Across these projects we specified products for different areas such as hospitality, changing rooms, pitch-side, retail areas and in concourses.

internal and external. Powering these loudspeakers are Crown DCi amplifiers all connected over Dante. Using the DCi series allows for monitoring of all amplifiers and loudspeaker circuits over IP which is essential in a life safety system.

CS: The displays selected suit stadium applications due to their high performance and market leading reliability. The OLED displays are one of a kind and due to their picture quality and ability be flexed into concave applications. The digital signage screens feature IPS which gives a wide viewing angle and great colour reproduction, which means that wherever the screens are approached from, the audience member does not miss a minute of the action on screen.”

How would you describe the new stadium from an AV perspective and as a venue?

CS: The new stadium is truly impressive from an AV standpoint. The club, lead by chairman Daniel Levy and PAVA & AV consultants Vanguardia have aspired to create a fully connected stadium utilising IP connectivity throughout. Using Dante audio-over-IP technology both the PAVA and AV systems provide new levels of integration and a seamless user experience. Each AV zone, which can broadly be defined as an individual hospitality space such as a restaurant, box or loge and individual concourse areas can have its own separate audio feed with audio following video or being routed separately.

“The new stadium is truly impressive from an AV standpoint”

What about maintenance and longevity?

CS: HARMAN Professional have been providing loudspeakers and amplifiers into the large venue and hospitality market for decades with a reputation for audio quality and reliability. The VLA-Compact loudspeakers as used within the stadium bowl are fully incorporate a weatherised fibreglass enclosure which is IP55 rated and perfectly suited to outdoor installation in the prevailing conditions. Furthermore the monitoring and integration capabilities of the complete system enable integrator SSE a clear picture of system health at all times.

Who did you work with for the installation?

CS: SSE audio group CS: We have worked with Tottenham Hotspur, AV designers Vangardia and AV Integrators AVI-SPL.

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Given Tottenham’s desire for a multi-purpose arena, how did this impact your decision making?

CS: Modern stadia are far more than the seats and tribunes that surround the pitch. Clubs and Architects are designing mutli-use destinations which maximise the potential use of the space within the stadium to maximise revenue streams. HARMAN are perfectly positioned to offer the solution for audio, video, control and lighting for these venues whether it be in the stadium bowl, within hospitality spaces, hotel rooms, conference suites or the clubs offices.

CS: We are working with stadium clients to create a full smart stadium experience for fans. From when they enter the stadium and are greeted by statement LED screens through to their food and beverage experience, which features digital menu boards, to gamification and a two-way interactive experience with displays during the match. Tottenham Hotspur will be multifunctioning venue so its displays need to be flexible to suit a variety of applications.

Where does this stadium rank in terms of venues you’ve worked with?

CS: It has been a pleasure working with a customer such as Tottenham with such a clear vision of how technology can enhance the sport entertainment experience and how to utilise a stadium both on and off match days.

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IN FOCUS: SMART BUILDINGS

JUST HOW SMART IS YOUR BUSINESS? There’s a quiet revolution taking place in office buildings around the world. Ian McMurray finds out how the combination of sensors and abundant connectivity are transforming our working lives.

C

an you adjust the temperature your refrigerator is running at from your car?

Are you able to turn off the lounge lights simply by saying “Alexa: turn off the lounge lights?” If someone’s at your door but you’re on holiday – can you tell them you’re not at home? Do your rooms know if someone’s in them? If the answers to those questions are “yes” – it seems you’ve embraced the Internet of Things (IoT). You’ve taken at least a few steps towards having a smart home.

But what about where you work? How smart is that building? If the IoT can be transformative to

September / October 2018

your home in terms of convenience, productivity, security, lower cost of ownership and increased environmental friendliness – think how those benefits would be multiplied in a building that’s home to not just a few people – but perhaps hundreds or thousands.

“Imagine if every asset of your building – such as fans, doors, furniture, coffee machines, windows and AV equipment – contained a tiny embedded sensor that gathers simple data to determine the actual behaviour of those assets,” says Stijn Ooms, technology director at Crestron. “Envisage a system in your building that could capture this data and

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IN FOCUS: SMART BUILDINGS

send real-time notifications, detailed analytics and buildings represent. Now the concept of smart summary reports. Imagine being able to analyse the buildings has become more mainstream, more collected data to adjust performance and signal tenants are demanding integrated technology, which intervention when needed – a system that provides is forcing the market to move forward, as asset the ability to assess structural improvements, make owners and operators know they must innovate if educated predictions, optimise operations and they wish to stay competitive.” manage your building – and all building related “Digital transformation is redefining business processes – in a truly sustainable way.” across all industries, increasingly enabled by the “A future proof system is one that understands the Internet of Things,” adds Rob Sheppard of the performance of a building, its assets and its users Internet of Things Group at Intel . “A foundation of and improves its usage in order to IT infrastructure, data and analytics create a more sustainable, energy offers customers new insights, helps saving, pleasant and satisfying direct decision making, and creates coexistence,” he continues. “A new opportunities to use core assets system that empowers users to make in different ways. This extends to “The smart real-time decisions and educated the intelligent buildings space, buildings market where we see leading edge predictions about the ongoing performance and health of a looking at how has come on leaps companies building.” buildings, and the information they and bounds in the generate, can add business value in If that sounds like a utopian vision of life in an office in the future – it’s the greater context of the enterprise past decade” really not. Smart buildings – perhaps and other systems within it.” not quite as smart yet as the ones Ooms describes – are very much Technology drivers with us and continues to grow at The technology drivers behind this pace. Some forcasts suggest its value transformation are straightforward. will be worth more than $31.7 billion by 2022.

The development of a broadening range of intelligent sensors of all types, capable of gathering and Leaps and bounds transmitting copious quantities of data, together “The smart buildings market has come on in leaps with ubiquitous connectivity are creating knowledge, and bounds in the past decade,” believes Mike understanding – and actionable information about Brooman of master systems integrator Vanti. what’s going on within a building.

“Increasing numbers of organisations are That ubiquitous connectivity is, of course, a key understanding the benefits of occupying a space that enabler – but in the world of smart buildings, it too uses technology to improve their users’ experience, is developing, so says Simon Ward, director of sales, and property developers and investors are similarly UK and Ireland at Distech Controls. beginning to appreciate the added value that smart “Currently, a lot of the elements that we use to operate a commercial building work in isolation from each other, inhibiting their potential,” he explains. “The challenge to date has been communication, since these devices do not easily Smart buildings... ‘talk’ to each other. Disparate systems for HVAC, • Use a range of sensors to measure and control heat, light, occupancy, … lighting, sunblinds and security have traditionally • Are enabled by the IoT or corporate network and Big Data used many different proprietary communication • Enable predictive maintenance to maximise uptime protocols that have made the process of delivering a • Save energy, minimise emissions, reduce running costs truly integrated Building Management System (BMS) • Use technology for security, surveillance, access control tedious, challenging and costly. However, this is • Permit space usage optimisation starting to change.”

• Increase efficiency by creating a more comfortable workspace “Communication between devices is becoming • Improve the quality of facility services easier, with more products operating via IP.” • Deliver long term lower cost of ownership Neil Bilton, head of key accounts at Panasonic • Have been described as the ‘killer app’ of the IoT UK, picks up the story.

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IN FOCUS: SMART BUILDINGS

New solutions “New wireless interface solutions are being introduced to the industry that enable direct serial communication between building management systems and room controllers,” he says. “This integration allows building owners and managers to view all of their core building systems - including HVAC equipment, lighting, security, power and electrical distribution – any time and anywhere via a single interface and delivers actionable insights to reduce energy consumption and drive savings.”

“ABB products are based on proven KNX technology, the world’s first open standard for the control of all types of intelligent buildings, from homes through to commercial and public buildings,” notes Oliver Iltisberger, managing director of the industrial digitalisation company’s building products business. “ABB’s KNX products offer the complete spectrum of applications for buildings - from lighting and blind control to the heating, ventilation, energy management, security and surveillance.” [See inset] Saving money was traditionally the focus and justification for developing smart buildings. Now, we’re seeing the horizon broaden.

“Many metrics can be impacted by smart buildings,” explains Sean Wargo, senior director, market intelligence at AVIXA, the trade association representing the professional audiovisual and information communications industries worldwide.

“Not just cost savings, but employee productivity, employee or guest satisfaction, repeat visitors are all possibilities. Ultimately, these are just individual ways of measuring the improved experience that comes from a well-executed smart building.”

Making sense of data At the heart of smart buildings is making sense of data – huge amounts of it, which is why it’s called Big Data. Today, that’s, in effect, a ‘manual’ process: someone, somewhere looks at it and takes appropriate action.

“Big data is key to understanding how smart buildings are performing,” says Iltisberger. “What we’ve done is to take that big data and turn it into easy to use, bite-size intelligence for facilities and building managers. So, they can easily see from their app if there’s been a security breach, if the heating system isn’t working in a specific meeting room or if the lights have been left on, before it becomes a major issue.”

That’s about to change, though – big time.

“The next generation of smart buildings - what we think of as intelligent buildings – will use

September / October 2018

technologies such as AI and machine learning to think for themselves,” says Brooman. “The next decade should see technology advancing to the stage where intelligent buildings can truly look after themselves – self-optimising, self-regulating, offering personalised experiences, and engaging in predictive maintenance so that as much value is derived from the space as possible.”

Intrinsically linked She’s not alone in her view.

“Big data, machine learning and AI are intrinsically linked,” notes Wargo. “The data part is the raw material generated by a smart building. With the plethora of connected technologies, the system as a whole is generating massive amounts of data as users interact with the building. This is where AI and machine learning come into play. AI helps us to make sense of all the data by revealing patterns in usage that can feedback into improved designs and implementations. It also helps users to interact with the system by responding to demands in a smart way, increasingly through voice interfaces. Machine learning is then the automated response to the patterns revealed in the data.”

Historically, smart buildings have focused on saving energy, reducing costs and minimising carbon footprint – as Iltisberger points out.

“Smarter buildings enable commercial and industrial operators to improve energy efficiency to save both costs and meet the stringent standards enforced by international legislation,” he says.

“Indeed, smarter buildings in which all functionality is automated, all systems are connected and can be remotely monitored, have the power to not only reduce energy consumption and associated costs by

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IN FOCUS: SMART BUILDING

Smart buildings by numbers • An average of 30 per cent of the energy used in commercial buildings is wasted – US Environmental Protection Agency • Smart buildings can help reduce operating costs by 30 per cent – Gartner • In smart buildings, employees are 16 per cent more productive – UCLA study • European smart building technology market will grow from $83.5 billion in 2017 to $111.9 billion by 2026 – Navigant Research • Smart buildings could save the UK economy £135bln/year through increased productivity and reduced healthcare costs – University of Reading

up to 50 percent - they can also make us safer, make our lives easier and enhance the enjoyment of the end user.”

“But,” he goes on, “increasingly, people expect tailored, individual solutions - and smarter buildings fulfil this need, enabling spaces to respond to the requirements of different occupants in different areas of the building. More importantly, we know that happy employees deliver far higher levels of engagement and productivity. That’s why the working environment is so important to how people feel.”

Growing focus And there’s the shift that’s becoming increasingly apparent. All the reasons why smart buildings have become a phenomenon are still valid and a key justification for making the investment – but, increasingly, they’re being supplemented by a growing focus on creating buildings that make employees’ lives easier and more comfortable – and thus more productive.

“There’s often a temptation to reduce the benefits of smart buildings to very tangible, quantitative data, which tends to be provided by things like space efficiency, reduction in CO2 emissions or energy usage and the cost savings as a result of this,” notes

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Brooman. “Our approach always starts with the people who’ll be using the space - how will it benefit them and help them to achieve what they’re trying to achieve? We look at the user experience of the various different residents, visitors, and occupants and map this out so we can understand where technology can reduce friction and help them.”

“This can result in something as simple as an access card that, when they enter the building, calls the lift for them and knows which floor they want to go to, but could also allow them to open a locker or book a hot desk,” he continues. “We make meeting rooms and audiovisual systems easy to use so time isn’t wasted setting them up during a meeting, and we use technology to create more flexible spaces - so if someone needs to concentrate, they can simply move to a quieter zone that will give them the ability to focus. Creating environments that support people and help them get stuff done also has a significant impact on their personal well-being, which results in less absenteeism as well as greater productivity.”

Individual needs According to Mary Ann de Lares Norris, VP EMEA at Oblong Industries, one of the defining elements in a smart building is to approach its physical structure, not from an organisational hierarchy point of view, but from the point of view of the specific needs of individuals working in it.

“The kinds of work the modern workplace needs to support ranges from individual, contemplative work to group teaming to immersive client pitch spaces. Change is happening at all levels of organisations: traditional boardrooms are being replaced by smarter, more flexible workspaces and employees previously housed in individual cubicles are now ‘hoteling’ either in their office or, increasingly, offsite. This new generation of employees need the right tools in which to engage with essential information, in a newly energised way, to enable them to get work done better and faster.”

The AV industry has seen the impact of this with the rise of the huddle room – and the development of a new generation of solutions – such as Oblong’s Mezzanine 200 Series - designed for these less formal, ad hoc spaces.

Implicit in Blagburn’s earlier remarks, however, are user frustration with getting meeting rooms to work as they should – even though they’re far more intuitive than they’ve ever been. She has an ally in Intel’s Shephard.

“How much time is lost every year trying to get connected to room projectors – finding the right

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IN FOCUS: SMART

dongle, fixing screen resolutions and so on?” he asks. “Intel Unite has enabled over 4,000 conference rooms globally with an estimated saving of more than 50,000 productivity hours annualy.”

It’s not just the performance of the equipment itself, either.

Automation “Smart buildings have the ability to take over tasks and routines so that users no longer need to worry about them,” says Ooms. “Not only are ideal temperature, lighting intensity and colour all controlled by the buildings themselves – a truly smart building can also book rooms that are working properly and/or have all assets needed for a specific activity.”

There is, then, new thinking about what a commercial building can be, and how it can be integral to a company’s success.

“Big data, automated analytics, pervasive wireless sensing, cloud services are together radically changing the quality of information that can be collected, processed and analysed in real time to enable better services provision,” summarises Ward.

“This is combining with an increased priority being given to space utilisation and employee well-being, which is re-shaping the way building automation systems are designed and deployed. The building management system is being incorporated into a more holistic way of thinking about the building operation, which has different priorities than before.”

Intel’s Sheppard sees a similar picture.

Joining the dots “The secret to creating a smart building is to join the dots between the different systems that run a building,” he believes. “Being able to correlate data between systems is the key to delivering operational insights and business benefits. The more interconnected the systems in a building are security, energy, lighting, HVAC, elevators, conference rooms and so on - the more efficiently the building can be operated, and the more comfortable and productive the inhabitants will be.”

“Making that a reality for both new builds and as a retrofit into existing buildings needs to happen if we’re to move to a future state where buildings can more effectively automate operations by selfpredicting, self-managing and adapting to users specific needs,” he concludes.

It becomes clear that, while the original thinking behind smart buildings was very much oriented

September / October 2018

towards making them more energy-efficient – both saving money and reducing their carbon profile – that thinking has evolved. Energy-efficiency is no less important today – but security and surveillance are now an integral part of what smart building technology encompasses. Big Data is enabling substantially superior predictive maintenance – reducing not only cost, but also inconvenience.

Buildings adapt But: increasingly, smart buildings are smart because they are adapting to how people want to work. Yes: everyone wants a comfortable working environment in terms of lighting, heating and air conditioning – but they also want the building to eliminate stress from their working lives. They want meeting rooms and audiovisual equipment that ‘just work’. They want spaces that reflect how they want to work.

Ideally, they want buildings that recognise them as individuals, and adapt accordingly. The justification for investing in these ‘softer’ outcomes is increased efficiency, increased productivity – and, in a competitive market, improved employee retention.

It may sound far-fetched – a building that appears to its users as almost sentient - but it’s almost certainly coming to an office or conference room near you sooner than you might think.

www.abb.com www.avixa.org www.crestron.com www.distech-controls.com www.intel.com www.oblong.com www.panasonic.co.uk www.vanti.co.uk

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IN THE WORKS: SCIENCE MUSEUM

W

ith more than 1,400 event spaces already available for hire in London, the prospect of one more may not on its own sound altogether exciting or interesting... until you learn that it’s at the London Science Museum.

Who wouldn’t want to attend a conference or an event at one of London’s most iconic venues?” – asked the Science Museum’s business development and marketing manager, Jodie Guilford during our visit to the historic venue.

Scheduled to open in February (2019), the Museum is in the process of creating two brand new purpose built dedicated event spaces on levels four and five, which on completion will be able to host close to 1,000 people combined.

Illuminate, as it’s being called, is designed to complement the museum’s existing portfolio of event spaces (which includes galleries and other dedicated spaces) with the additional rooms offering new potential for attracting both daytime and evening business, boosting revenue opportunities.

The architectural theme, conceived by Mary Duggan Architects, is based on ‘Light and Dark’ and is formed of two contrasting spaces, with a ‘unique’ panoramic window views across the London skyline from Level 5.

“We saw there was a massive demand for daytime events and that’s one of the reasons why Illuminate was conceived,” added Guilford. “The exclusivity for daytime events that we can now offer within our award-winning venue diversifies the client base and nature of events we can accommodate. ” Cutting edge White Light, a production solution specialist operating in a range of markets such as theatre, corporate events, broadcast, concert touring, leisure, education and trade, has been selected as its exclusive production partner for the venue.

Following an extensive tender process, company – which has a long standing relationship with the museum (25-plus years) – was selected to design an AV solution that is in synergy with the brand, and will “exceed the expectations” of event organisers and guests.

The system, incorporating hardware, programming and design, is fully flexible to support the widest range of events and styles, using the latest technology applied in a user friendly format, and fully supported by its own team based on site.

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THE SCIENCE BEHIND LONDON’S NEWEST EVENT SPACE State-of-the-art AV and some of the best views in London. AVTE checks-in on the progress of what promises to be one of the most unique and alluring purpose built spaces for corporate event hosting in the UK – ‘Illuminate’ at The Science Museum

Financially invested Richard Wilson, director for White Light revealed to AVTE the firm was selected – in part – for its vision and commitment to the project, which has also included a sizeable financial investment.

“It’s a collaborative partnership,”said Wilson. “This is different to us just providing equipment. We have invested our own capital into making this project a success and see ourselves as an equal partner.”

Flexible and agile The technology selected by White Light has been installed with a “plug and play” approach. This is to

www.avtechnologyeurope.com

IN THE WORKS: SCIENCE MUSEUM

VENUE CAPACITY

KEY OFFERINGS n Video, audio and lighting that can be

n Integrated streaming setup that allows

configured in a wide range of orientations using the state-of-the-art digital distribution system

multiple cameras to live stream to major social platforms n A range of display and digital branding

n An integrated system which minimises

setup times for the most frequently used event setups and is fully upgradeable to allow for more complex system requirements

opportunities available with use of high definition projection onto edgeless screens and four large 84” LCD screens on custom stands

Level 4 Theatre: 330 Cabaret: 96 Banquet: 160 Standing: 400

Level 5 Theatre: 400 Cabaret: 168 Banquet: 400 Standing: 450

“It’s a collaborative partnership.

This is different to us just providing equipment”

help significantly reduce setup times, whilst providing greater flexibility around the different types of event being held and their requirements – maximising selling opportunities.

The event spaces will be controlled using Crestron’s NVX IP secure solution with all equipment running on a CAT 6 network. AV technology specified for the two rooms include a mix of projectors (Christie), displays / cameras (Panasonic), speakers (D&B), processing (Yamaha/ Crestron) and microphones (Shure), with a fully flexible colour-changing event lighting solution.

Content can be streamed across multiple rooms at

September/October 2018

the same time and even to other parts of the museum and the outside world as required.

“For technology, we’re only using high quality equipment,” commented Jason Larcombe, project manager at White Light. “The NVX system allows us to quickly move hardware around and because it’s already coded and designed, that hardware will automatically work. It means it does not require a lot of preprogramming to set up an event.”

Guilford concluded: “The Museum has been very forward thinking with this project, and realises the potential for generating valuable income to support the organisation.”

Artist impression: The new premium event space will open in February 2019

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TECH GUIDE: A CLOSER LOOK

YVC-200 SPEAKERPHONE AVTE spoke to Meghan Kennelly, marketing communications manager at Yamaha Unified Communications for a quick chat about the company’s new product, the YVC-200 portable speakerphone – ideal for on-the-go workers and remote employees

Hi Meghan. Tell us about the YVC -200 The YVC-200 speakerphone is the ultimate portable device for on-the-go and ad-hoc communications.

Simply connect your PC, smartphone or tablet via USB, Bluetooth or NFC. Its rechargeable battery (and carrying case!) allows for complete portability for up to 10 hours. A headset jack allows for private conferences and music listening between calls. Available in a choice of white or black, the unit blends into any home or corporate office. Its small, lightweight, and space-saving design is perfect for open workspaces, huddle rooms, home offices, and travel.

How does this compare to the previous models?

For more than 10 years, Yamaha has been the trusted solutions provider for delivering a natural and reliable conversation experience for remote communication. The YVC-200 expands our UC portfolio with a portable conferencing device designed to offer intuitive operation and deliver high-quality, comfortable audio no matter where the user is working. Bring it in your bag and take the office outside!

Why buy this over a competitor?

The YVC-200 is integrated with Yamaha’s leading sound processing technologies, including adaptive echo cancellation and Human Voice Activity Detection that focuses the unit on speech rather than background noise. It features intelligent microphones that deliver full-duplex conversation without sound dropouts, even when multiple people are speaking at once. In addition, powerful built-in speakers deliver audio that sounds true to life, so it feels as if every remote participant on the call is in the room.

When is the YVC-200 available?

Available now!

Where can readers find out more? uc.yamaha.com/ yvc-200 or follow us on social media for updates Price: 169.40 euros MSRP

September / October 2018

33

TECH GUIDE

TECH GUIDE A SELECTION OF THE LATEST AV PRODUCT RELEASES Company: B-Tech AV Mounts Product name: BT8375 curved video wall mounting kit Product type: Part of a range of off-the-shelf mounting kits for curved video wall and menu board applications.

Target market: Corporate installations, reception areas, transport hubs, retail.

What’s new: B-Tech has designed a new angled bracket which allows for simple installation of curved video walls and menu boards. Available with all required parts, the BT8375 is part of a range that includes freestanding, bolt-down and mobile (trolley) variations

Details: Universal design suitable for all video wall screens. High-end aesthetic quality with easy-to-use angle adjustment. Integrated angle guides eliminate the need to measure required angles. Integrated rail mounting guides ensure the join position is consistent throughout the installation without the need to measure. Tool-less microadjustments at 8 points for seamless screen alignment. Also available with pop-out interface arms for ultimate access convenience Available: Now Price: POA, according to size requirements

Company: BenQ Product name: LU951ST Product type: short-throw ProAV projector Target market: corporate, Museums or Public Venues What’s new? In exhibition spaces or public venues, multiple projected images capture an audience’s imagination and using BenQ’s LU951ST two projectors can be stacked to double the brightness for a single image. The short-throw projector delivers a perfect signal via HDMI output directly from projector to projector with no signal degradation. It’s is perfect for producing larger than life images in tight spaces with a 0.8 throw ratio minimising distracting shadows and glare for viewers.

Details: BenQ’s LU951ST generates intense BlueCore laserpowered 5,000 ANSI Lumen brightness and 20,000 hours of maintenance-free operation, enduring DLP picture quality with sharp WUXGA resolution to deliver impactful visual communications. It is also equipped with BenQ’s IP5X DustGuard Pro and anti-dust accumulation sensor for dust proofing and reduced flickering, abnormal colours or even shutdown.

Available: Now Price: £3,298

34 www.avtechnologyeurope.com

TECH GUIDE Company: Datapath Product name: iolite 12i Product type: Compact video wall controller.

What’s new: The iolite 12i is purposely designed to be nonobtrusive. With a small footprint and being virtually silent in operation, it is ideal for boardrooms.

Details: Datapath’s iolite 12i is rack mountable and includes twelve integrated HDMI outputs, and three 4K DisplayPort outputs. The two integrated x4 Gen.3 PCIe slots can be populated with various Datapath capture cards or SQX (IP decode) cards to meet specific needs, making it the perfect choice for smaller video

wall installations requiring a degree of flexibility and configuration Available: Now Price: £5114

Company: NEC Display Solutions Product name/model: MultiSync P754Q, 75” Product type: large format display Target market: DooH, retail, transport, control rooms What’s new:? The P754Q delivers powerful, large-screen visualisation that enables users to deliver their message with impact and seamless simplicity. The new display model provides the same readability in bright light environments, high brightness output of 650 cd/m2 and anti-reflective screen surface as the rest of the P Series family, but on a much larger scale.

September / October 2018

Details: The 75” screen provides UHD “pixel-free” viewing, and is perfect for a range of environments and applications from digital signage, public space advertising (DooH), passenger information in airports and rail stations, and in retail. Its highly colour-accurate performance makes it ideal for media / post-production applications, while the huge visual surface, reliable 24/7 operation and maintenance-free operation makes it particularly suitable for control room operations.

Available: Now Price: £8,160 excl VAT

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TECH GUIDE Company: QSC Product name/model: MP-A Series | MP-A20V, MP-A40V, MP-A80V Product type: amplifiers Target market: The MP-A Series were specifically designed for music reinforcement and paging that supports the likes of retail, restaurant, hospitality, and other commercial spaces.

What’s new? This is a brand new series of amplifiers from QSC. Details: This new series of amplifiers from QSC offer an incredible amount of flexibility while maintaining Class-D efficiency and low total cost of ownership.

Each model is housed in a 1RU chassis and includes the MP-A20V (200W x 2 channels), the MP-A40V (200W x 4 channels), and the MP-A80V (200W x 8 channels).

The QSC MP-A Series amplifiers offer the utmost in flexibility with features like FlexAmp Technology, which allows each pair of amplifier channels to deliver up to 400W total power, in any ratio. Integrators also have the flexibility to configure each channel as either low impedance, 70V or 100V, with or without a high-pass filter.

Available: Now Price: $900 to $2,300 MSRP

Company: Peerless-AV Product name/model: Rotational Wall Mount (RMI3-FLIP) Product type: Mount Target market: Corporate and education What’s new? Custom designed to support the 55” Samsung Flip interactive display (WM55H), the rotational interface on the wall mount allows users to rotate the display from landscape to portrait and holds the display at a negative tilt for a more natural angled writing surface.

Company: Rotolight Product: NEO 2 Product Type: LED lighting Target Market: Photographers and videographers of any skill level What’s new? 85 per cent brighter than its predecessor, the NEO 2 now offers high speed sync flash capabilities as well as the ‘shoot what you see’ benefits of a continuous LED all-inone. Now with a built-in Elinchrom Skyport receiver for greater control over multiple light setups.

Details: The NEO 2 outputs a powerful yet soft light output (2000 lux at 3ft) with electronically adjustable colour temperature (3150-6300K) and brightness to tailor it to the ambient lighting environment.

It also offers excellent colour accuracy for perfect skin tones.

Available: Now Price: £299 inc

Details: Ideal for collaborative spaces, the RMI3-FLIP mounts to the wall easily, offers convenient cable management access, and comes with custom fit side trims, contributing to a clean and aesthetically-pleasing finished design. A Mobile Trolley with Rotational Mount Interface (SR560-FLIP) is also available for the 55” Samsung Flip, featuring display height adjustment, an appearing design, a rigid, preassembled base, and 4” castors for safe and easy manoeuvrability from room-to-room.

Available: Now Price: €399.99 (exc VAT)

36 www.avtechnologyeurope.com

TECH GUIDE Company: Vaddio Product name/model: PrimeShot 20 Product type: PTZ camera Target market: ideal for large meeting rooms, lecture halls and houses of worship Details: The new PrimeShot 20 HDMI HD camera offers high definition performance at an outstanding value. With flexible output options like HDMI and S-video, the PrimeSHOT can replace existing standard definition pan tilt zoom cameras or be used as an initial system upgrade. PrimeSHOT 20 HDMI features 20x optical zoom, plus an easy, intuitive web-based user interface for remote configuration, management and control.

Available: Now Price: €5.238,00

Company: VuWall Product name: TRx video management system Product type: Video network management hardware and software, including encoders and decoders.

Target market: The solution is designed for presentation rooms, control rooms and complex distributions across multiple buildings in a campus.

What’s new: Known for their management software, TRx is VuWall’s next generation of Audio and Video signal management over standard IP networks. The solution combines high end quality streaming up to 4K resolution to drive unlimited numbers of inputs and outputs, and comes with a family of encoders, decoders, and video walls over IP processors.

September / October 2018

Details: H.264 compression for high-quality and low-bandwidth AV-over-IP. High End Video streaming quality up to 4:4:4 and support for 4K/UHD signals.

Supports HDMI and digital audio inputs or analogue audio inputs.

The solution is also compatible with

all SRT Alliance hardware – ensuring hassle-free installations when using other hardware.

Available: Now Price: £1550 (depending on configuration)

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HEAD TO HEAD

“TEOS CAN HELP A COMPANY SAVE TIME AND MONEY

BY CREATING A MORE EFFICIENT AND PRODUCTIVE WORKING ENVIRONMENT” Product: Sony Teos Product Summary: TEOS was inspired by customers and developed through Sony’s Innovation Centre to meet one specific need: to completely transform the corporate workplace.

The latest TEOS line-up includes TEOS Manage (complete workspace management solution), TEOS Connect (wireless content casting), TEOS Book (room booking solution), TEOS Reception (virtual reception solution), TEOS Remote (meeting room control solution), TEOS Tablets (professional corporate tablets) and TEOS Player (4K Android player).

Target Market: TEOS’ range of solutions are designed for corporate environments. They transform workspaces for employees and visitors so that working is simplified, collaboration is enhanced and facilities management is optimised. TEOS can help them [a business] save time and money by creating a more efficient and productive working environment.

Used By: The customer base is extremely varied and includes any company, small to large, with AV systems. The increasingly blurred line between IT and AV means that the typical customer for TEOS can come from a variety of backgrounds – but all share the overall goal of driving maximum efficiency.

38

SONY

Product Name: TEOS Corporate Solutions Released: October, 2017

BATTLE OF THE BRANDS CONTENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS

Sell it: TEOS makes life easy for AV and FM teams, by transforming all aspects of a workplace, from receptions and public areas, to meeting rooms and boardrooms.

With TEOS, products from a range of manufacturers can be easily identified and controlled from a single simple dashboard. Through bespoke customisation and development, Sony aims to deliver results that best meet the customer’s needs.

Additional features such as integration with radio frequency identification (RFID) badges, and a virtual reception were developed as a result of our customer requests.

Ease of use: TEOS is simple and intuitive to use. Generally, customers require little to no training. For example, with the new ‘Email to Signage’ feature, users can quickly and easily create tailored signage without the need for any specific training or knowledge For any further support, TEOS customers receive PrimeSupportPro, an industry leading support package that goes beyond a standard warranty to offer technical support, new features and firmware updates.

Device Control Compatibility: TEOS Manage incorporates LG SNMP protocols, Philips protocols, Samsung SSSP3/SSSP4 protocols and PJLink, meaning TEOS Manage is compatible with, and can control, almost the entire AV market.

Unique Selling Point (USP): With TEOS, Sony is creating the next generation of working. Today, there are good corporate solutions available, however all are very specialist, and not interconnected. Sony aims to be the first provider to cover all aspects of the workplace, and are therefore continually evolving the TEOS family to create a more efficient and productive working environment.

Ease of Installation: TEOS is easy to install and compatible with most existing AV solutions. Users can choose between a cloud-based or local deployment of TEOS, boosting flexibility.

Management: All IP devices, Sony displays, projectors and tablets, as well as other branded devices, can be centrally controlled from a single dashboard. www.avtechnologyeurope.com

BARCO

HEAD TO HEAD Ease of use: As the interface of Overture is automatically built using templates, a user can always expect to have the same experience regardless of room or device being used, drastically reducing the required learning curve and increasing ease of use.

Xxx Product Name: Overture Released: February, 2017 Choosing the best AV solution for you can be a complicated if not a sometimes confusing process – especially if your preferred integrator partner has a closer or even biased relationship with a particular brand, limiting your own visibility and knowledge of the market.

To help, AVTE is launching a new section, which gives manufacturers the opportunity to sell themselves against

a like-for-like competitor. In this first issue, the subject is ceiling speakers and content management.

In the ring for this issue is: Barco Overture vs Sony TEOS. There’s no points system and no winners or losers – just an opportunity to help provide a clearer and to the point understanding of what’s available in the current marketplace.

“OVERTURE OFFERS A COMPLETE APPLICATION TO REMOTELY MONITOR AND CONTROL ALL THEIR ROOMS AND DEVICES” Product: Barco Overture Product summary: Overture is Barco’s software-based, enterprise class AV Control and Monitoring solution that uses the company’s normal network infrastructure to manage all A/V devices. Unlike conventional systems, which use proprietary programming languages and are overwhelmingly hardware-based and distributed, Overture software only needs to be configured. Therefore the system can be set up quickly and easily. Overture is available as on premise software, as well as a cloud based SaaS solution.

Target Market: Corporate and education Used By: Larger enterprise organisations and education institutes with 30-plus rooms to be managed and controlled Sell it: Overture is both an AV Control and an AV Monitoring all-in-one solution.

It offers in-room control functionality via September/October 2018

any HTML5 capable device, be it an in room tablet, the user’s laptop, or smartphones. To the IT support team, Overture offers a complete application to remotely monitor and control all the rooms and their devices, significantly reducing troubleshooting time and in-room interventions. Thanks to Overture Alarms and Alerts, the support team will be automatically informed when certain events occur, e.g. a device that has an error condition or a projector whose lamp is about to be replaced. Based on those alerts, the support team can solve issues before they get noticed by the users or schedule pro-active maintenance.

Overture’s Behavior functionality enables smart automation to the devices, rooms or even complete sites, all without any programming. A Behavior can be set up to define what should happen when a room is powered on, or even more advanced, the behavior can be set up that the room is automatically powered on to a certain state five-minutes before a meeting.

Device Control Compatibility: To control and monitor the A/V devices, Overture is using the devices’ API (Application Programming Interface) over an IP connection. Using this approach, Overture can control and monitor practically any device. Legacy devices, that lack an IP connection, can be controlled and monitored by Overture using a converter.

Ease of Installation: Installing and maintaining Overture is not complicated. To add a device to the system, you simply connect it to the IP network and configure it with Overture’s web-based interface. All user interfaces are automatically created, using its UI templates.

Management: All user interfaces are created in HTML 5. As a result, Overture’s user interface can be displayed on any device that has proper HTML 5 support. Think of room control touch panels, room PC’s or laptops or even BYOD smartphones, enabling meeting participants to control the meeting room from their smartphone, removing the need to install an in room tablet in every single meeting room. An additional key feature is that all user interfaces are created using “responsive design”, meaning that the user interface automatically adapts to the display’s screen resolution: In some rooms it will even be possible to omit a physical control interface, as the room behavior gets fully automated through Overture’s Behavior functionality: based on presence or a meeting room schedule, devices are automatically brought to the correct state.

39

CORPORATE CONFERENCING

WATCH THE MONEY STREAM IN BY ADDING BROADCAST SERVICES AT YOUR VENUE New live video streaming service from AV recruitment specialist Jacobs Massey borne out of demand from conferencing and event venues to add greater value for their customers. We spoke to its MD Graeme Massey to find out more

A

s highlighted in the previous article, if it was a growing area and one worth pursuing as a there’s one thing the UK isn’t short of, it’s business. It’s a natural extension of what we are already conference venues. doing. We are a specialist agency and at the end of the With such numbers, standing out day, we’re talking about how we can help our existing amongst an ever growing crowd can be a clients maximise revenue from venue hire.” tough task. Size, good location, clean carpets, WiFi, He added: “Streaming is not new and people can access to high quality AV equipment, stream an event, or parts of an event, service and a good selection of tea and using their iPhone or tablet if they wish.

“Where a client That’s fine. But where a client wants to biscuits during intervals, all play a key role in the decision making. produce something as near to broadcast wants to However, according to London based quality as possible, that’s our area of produce AV recruitment specialist Jacobs Massey, expertise.” there is now an increasing demand from something as venues and their clients to be able to Full stream ahead near to stream their events live. The firm, which Dubbed internally as the ‘stream team’, has worked closely with many of the UK’s the new service has been soft launched broadcast leading venues for more than 15 years – is over the past few months with venues quality as keen to capitalise on the opportunity. around London chosen as part of a “We provide freelance AV technicians “testing” and “perfecting” phase. to venues all over the UK,” explained the company’s Examples include (but not limited to) Church House co-founder and MD, Graeme Massey. “Some of the Conference Centre, British Academy and most recently, venues have requested that certain events are recorded, the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), which which is a service we already provide. As an extension to hosted the annual AV Cultural Forum (AVCF) event (July that, some are now asking us about live streaming. I 27). This event (pictured), included two camera spoke to some of our key freelancers and we agreed that operators, a streaming producer and a vision mixer.

40

www.avtechnologyeurope.com

CORPORATE CONFERENCING

September / October 2018

41

CORPORATE CONFERENCING

Jacobs Massey’s crew is made up of (in total) around 15 freelancers, all equipped with various skill sets to provide a “professional” service.

Massey explained this method, rather than employing a permanent team, allows for greater flexibility and minimises financial risk. All equipment is hired rather than purchased based on the requirements of each individual job, which again helps to keep costs and overheads to a minimum – benefiting the customer.

Although live streaming is growing, it’s still relatively young in terms of a pricing structure. We’ve factored in the crew times, the equipment hire and obviously our operating margin. The advantage we have is, our team is entirely flexible. We can receive a request and put a team together in less than 24 hours. We’re not carrying a huge overhead.”

The streaming service it offers can see events broadcast over numerous platforms, such as YouTube and Facebook, or something more secure, such as a private network – viewable on work computers and/or displays/ signage at, for example, a company’s offices.

“It all depends on the client’s needs and preferences,” said Richard Smith, technical director at Jacobs Massey.

“Obviously, the bigger the corporate company, the more critical security becomes. We can facilitate those needs, whatever they may be.”

Jacobs Massey provides pre and post production services, such as professionally editing recorded content and adding any company branding.

It also, as demonstrated at the recent AVCF event, provides additional post-event recorded services, such as interviewing visitors and exhibitors in attendance for feedback and testimonial purposes.

“It’s all about adding value for the venue and the client,” added Massey. “When we talk about pricing, it all depends on what the client is looking to achieve and who’s going to actually watch. That will always dictate budget. How many cameras we use, whether we do a live Q&A or an email Q&A. It’s layering up what the client requires.”

He concluded: “We’re really happy with the way things have started and the plan now is to have conversations with our clients, both locally and nationally. This is a natural extension to our business and the way clients book our streaming service is exactly the same way they would book an AV technician.

“They haven’t got to go outside of our online infrastructure, it’s not something they have to read or learn about. It’s just an additional booking. If they are uncertain, they can speak to us and we’d be more than happy to explain the opportunities it presents.”

For more information visit: www.jacobsmassey.co.uk

“We’re using an agency model that meets our clients needs on a tap-on, tap-off basis as and when they need it”

The price is right “We find that the freelance model works best as it allows us to be cost effective in terms of the client,” explained Massey. “We are using an agency model that meets the client/venues requirements on a tap-on, tap-off basis as and when they need it. It makes us very competitive from a price perspective. It’s a very different space to someone using a smartphone.”

He continued: “We did our research and looked at what other companies that offer live streaming charge.

“We’re really happy with the way things have started and the plan now is to have conversations with our clients, both locally and nationally”

42 www.avtechnologyeurope.com

EYE ON EDUCATION

A FRESHER APPROACH TO TEACHING AND LEARNING The brand new University of Northampton Waterside Campus opens its doors for the first time this month, with students and tutors alike set to experience a new “revolutionary” approach to the way information is communicated and absorbed in this “once in a career” opportunity

T

he smell of fresh paint, clean carpets, boxes, workmen in high-vis and hard hats, plus the odd loose wire and empty bracket on the wall are all things you would expect from a brand new purpose built university campus preparing to open its doors to 15,000-plus students for the first time.

But for the University of Northampton (UoN), that’s where all expectations and assumptions end, for this is not your typical educational environment. Six-years in the making and at a cost of more than £330 million, Northampton, a town famed for its shoe making, successful rugby team and, erm, Alan Carr, is now home to a university like no other in the UK, perhaps even – as suggested – the world.

Out with the old Traditional large lecture theatres, projectors, lecterns, interactive whiteboards, PC’s, control panels? Not here.

“This truly is a university for the 21st century,” beamed Andrew Taylor, AV lead at the UoN. “There’s no other university in the world that’s doing what we’re doing on this scale.”

Rob Howe, head of learning technology and media added: “This truly is a once in a career opportunity.”

With the UoN being built from the ground-up, the IT/ AV teams were involved from the beginning (2012),

September / October 2018

working side-by-side with the architects on the original design before the first spade broke ground.

“I was involved in the initial specifications for the tender process and the eventual selection of some of the key teaching room software,” explained Howe, entering his 25th year at the UoN and also former student.

“We’re in an enviable where we’ve been able to build a campus and factor in all the lessons we have learnt over many years of what we liked, didn’t like and what works best.”

Taylor adds: “The AV and the IT were not an afterthought once the builders were finished. Having a blank canvas has allowed us to specify so much of the infrastructure that we wouldn’t normally get a say in.

Cable routes, wall construction etc. This all means we don’t have the traditional issues associated with a big build, which normally means having to compromise our designs to fit buildings. We’ve been able to mould them around us. It’s allowed us to specify technologies and standards which should make, maintenance and refresh a lot easier in the long run.

He added: “We’re in a privileged position where everything here is brand new and had the opportunity to rewrite the rules on how students are taught.”

Revolution Walking around the campus, with the almost ironic smell

43

EYE ON EDUCATION

The UoN features three video walls, each again using NEC displays and controlled using NEC HiperWall software – located in each of the three main buildings.

Video walls are all found in large open spaces and can be used as digital signage, but also as part of holding live events for students, such as talks and other forms of entertainment.

Again, the use and location of video walls were determined as part of the buildings design. For example, the video wall in the Creative Hub building, can be viewed from the first, second and third floor, creating a “Globe Theatre” like balcony viewing area.––

of freshly brewed beer in the air drifting from its neighbours Carlsberg, Taylor and Howe’s comments are hard to dismiss as typical PR. It feels different.

Passing through the main entrance (Senate Building), it was immediately evident the UoN has adopted a fresh – dare we say – revolutionary approach to how a university or indeed any educational facility is expected to function and operate.

With three main buildings in total (The Learning Hub, The Creative Hub), the university comprises of 116 ‘teaching spaces’ – not all of which are door open and shut rooms. It also has just a single lecture theatre, tiny compared to some, with just 80 seats.

The UoN has very much adopted a less is more approach to learning environments.

No boundaries So, instead of multiple 200,300, 400-plus lecture theatres, students and tutors gather in smaller ‘spaces’ – some of which don’t even have an entrance (i.e. not an actual room) and can even house simultaneous lectures, which appear almost sporadically and unassumingly around the campus. It seems anywhere with a display and space for seating can be a place for learning, teaching and working.

These smaller spaces, both Howe and Taylor explained, are designed to help encourage collaboration between students and tutors alike, something they believe will help stimulate learning and provide a more engaging learning environment.

“We looked at what students wanted and in what environment they are able to best learn in,” explained Howe as we passed a teaching area dubbed the ‘Owls Nest’ – an open are filled with tables, chairs and a display on the wall. “In my opinion, the best place to learn is not inside an enormous packed out theatre, said Taylor. “The new campus allows and encourages staff to collaborate more easily in different groups. More teaching will now happen in smaller, more personalised groups and technology will be used to allow material to be delivered more efficiently,” (more on that shortly).

Taylor, now in his tenth year at the UoN continued: “We didn’t want to think of them as rooms anymore.

We wanted to think of them as spaces. Yes we still have rooms, but equally we have a lot of spaces, too.

“Students pay thousands of pounds a year to attend university, so we have to make sure we provide them with the best tools available and give them value for money. University is a business and the students are, as crude as it sounds, customers. They can’t afford to be bored or to nod off at the back of a lecture theatre and miss something important.”

New approach The glue bringing all this together is of course through the use of AV technology – some of which has been rushed through various R&D departments to make its debut on the site.

As mentioned previously, the university does not feature many of the traditional technologies found within learning environments – and with good reason.

With smaller spaces, the need for projectors is no

“University is a business and the students are, as crude as it sounds, customers. We can’t afford them to be bored or to nod off at the back of a lecture theatre and miss something important”

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EYE ON EDUCATION longer required (with the exception of the art and photography department). Taylor also noted how the previous campus (largely now demolished) had more than 50 different models of projector in use, many of which were lamp based with replacement bulb prices north of £300 a pop.

Whilst cost and green credentials are a factor (the site is going plastic packaging free, too), the reasoning behind the decision is however much greater.

Instead of projectors, it uses displays of various different sizes (all NEC) which hang from the walls – but students don’t necessarily need to be looking at them to follow what’s being discussed.

Using Barco’s WeConnect classroom solution, all content displayed during lectures is viewable on mobile devices (laptops, tablets, phones) owned and used by the students. Likewise, students are able to contribute directly with the lecture, sharing their own content – which, for obvious reasons, is green lit by the tutor in charge first.

More so, students are able to submit “silent questions” viewable to the tutor if there’s anything they are unclear on, prompting additional clarity without disrupting the flow or sounding out an individual.

“The use of Barco means that students are able to view the tutors display from their own device and also interact with the session (see box out, next page),” said Howe. “Students don’t want barriers. They’ve come to university to learn.”

Taylor adds: “Traditional large lecture theatres aren’t built for, nor encourage collaboration. Typically, theatres are built with everyone facing forward. If you don’t understand something, you probably won’t want or won’t have the confidence to ask for a bit of extra help. That’s not an ideal environment.”

No place to hide As a result, a key part of their strategy is to remove the traditional ‘eyes on me’ approach, with tutors now free to stand or sit wherever they choose.

Lecterns, normally housed at the front of a room or theatre – each heavily stocked with various AV controls, universal connectors, cables and equipment – are not required or present outside its one and only theatre.

Instead, tutors are each given an HP EliteBook 10301 laptop/tablet hybrid, used to control all content shown on displays, both in the room and on students devices.

“Lecterns fix the tutor at the front of the room and are sometimes used for the tutor to hide behind,” said Howe. “We wanted to provide a flexible room environment which allows the tutors to present from wherever they felt comfortable and where it was most appropriate depending on the needs of the session.

Lecterns imply lecturing and this was a concept we felt

September / October 2018

NO BLANK SCREENS ON DISPLAY A key driver for the UoN is to ensure its 100-plus NEC displays deployed around the university (outside of dedicated teaching spaces) are maximised at all times and never left blank and unused.

All displays can double up as digital signage, providing university marketing messages and general information to students and (where convenient – see picture below) a place for providing tutors and students to hold ad hoc breakout sessions.

Many are situated close to or in seating areas and can be taken over for educational purposes via a dedicated university app.

“We’re multi-using our digital signage,” said Taylor. “Certain members of staff with certain access levels will be able to login to a web page and commandeer that screen and have a breakout session right there and then. No blank screens at the UoN.”

could be done more effectively in a different way.

Taylor adds: “With nowhere to hide lots of switching equipment, we were forced to adopt an approach where we had a smaller in-room footprint and a larger back-end presence. This lead us down the networked AV over IP approach and also made us consider how we delivered control of the rooms.”

The wireless control approach has also removed the need for interactive whiteboards/displays – although the odd traditional pen and ink whiteboard can still be found after tutors threatened to riot.

“We initially were not going to put physical whiteboards in the rooms but have provided these during the transition to support tutor flexibility in their delivery of sessions,” said Howe. “Many interactive whiteboards mean the tutor faces away from their students. By putting the interactivity on the tutors device

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EYE ON EDUCATION

MULTIPLE LESSONS IN ONE SPACE chitecture and technology has come together to allow multiple lectures to take place in a single space at the same time. For example, the Creative Hub building we visited, includes a fashion studio, which is capable of teaching three groups at once. Through a combination of the room’s design, coupled with specialist sound engineers profiling the speakers of the room, all three groups can function without disturbing each other.

“You can be sat on the left-hand-side of the room playing a video to your group of students, whilst someone on the right hand side of the same room is being taught something else and the audio isn’t interfering with them. We’ve put a lot of thought in to it.”

BENEFITS OF BARCO’S WECONNECT AND BARCO OVERTURE • Wirelessly connect your laptop and present • No need to connect using cables or adapters • Aids presenting and teaching – makes sessions engaging, aids collaboration and interactivity • Fits in with the university’s move to ABL and supports being a ‘University designed for the 21st century’ • Current room PCs are slow. Using your own device to connect is far quicker.

• Display is far brighter and clearer • Equipment is more resilient - TVs are quicker and age far better • IT can provide far better, quicker remote support

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then they can directly interact with the screen from any point in the room.”

No downtime All spaces are booked out in one hour slots throughout the day, every day during term and also in holidays.

For this, the importance of ensuring rooms are in perfect working order and that turnaround times for tutors entering the room and ready, is paramount.

To ensure set-up times are kept to a minimum, the technology is consistent throughout the university, with tutors required only to wirelessly login to the room to be ready. All rooms are also preprogrammed, with displays and lights switching on and off at specific times.

However, ensuring equipment is fully functional is something the tutor cannot foresee on entering a room at 9am shortly before the first students arrive.

“If you’re paying thousands of pounds a year to be somewhere, you don’t want your time to be wasted by having to wait around or be told the class you’re attending is cancelled,” said Taylor. “Faults are inevitable, but we had to find a way to reduce the potential impact and disruption it could cause.”

To reduce risk, the university uses Barco’s Overture software, which allows the university to closely monitor every piece of IP enabled equipment across all areas 24/7, alerting staff to any problems.

“If we know there is a problem then we know we have to fix it,” said Taylor. “If a display stops working overnight, we’ll be made aware of it immediately, know exactly where it is and can look to either fix it or replace it before anyone using the space arrives. As far as the tutor is aware, there was never a problem. That’s hugely valuable to everyone.”

Always learning Whilst the finishing touches are put in place and the technology as they desire, both Howe and Taylor are under no illusion that everything they put together is gospel and, like the students, are also on a journey of learning – one which will undoubtedly see changes in the coming weeks, months and years.

“In six months time I can almost guarantee that what we have today will have changed in some form,” said Taylor, wrapping up. “We expect that and we’re prepared for that. Our goal is to ensure the students and tutors have what they need and we need to evolve as and when it’s required.”

Howe concluded: “We will continually evaluate the new campus and share our findings with the wider sector. We hope this will lead to better teaching and learning environments for our students and staff.”

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AV IN EDUCATION: SMART SPEAKERS

JOINING THE DOTS TO IMPROVE STUDENT COMMUNICATIONS Saint Louis University has installed 2,300 of Amazon’s AI powered Echo-Dot smart speakers in its student halls to provide new and faster ways for them to access information. AVTE finds out more

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he market for AI powered digital assistants has rocketed in recent months and years as mass market and largely affordable ‘smart speaker’ products become more widely available and accessible.

Indeed, some forecasts suggest user numbers for smart speakers is growing at an annual rate of around 48 per cent, with products sales set to hit a whopping 90 million by the en d of this year.

Despite what you may have seen on TV commercials, the use of digital assistants are not simply for providing spoken recipes, turning on loud music to wake a sleeping teenager or satisfy the ego of a celebrity. Their potential is vast and varied and examples of use can be found in many different environments...Including student halls of residences.

In August, Saint Louis University (SLU) in the state of Missouri, took the decision to install 2,300 customised Amazon Echo Dot devices into all of its student accommodation. The move has been designed to provide students with a new and faster way of accessing information related to university, whilst also relieving pressures on its own academic staff.

David Hakanson, VP and chief information officer at the university, spoke to AVTE to tell us more.

Hi David. When did you first start looking at introducing Amazon’s digital assistants into your student accommodation?

The process began in the spring of 2018 when we conducted a pilot program in the residence halls consisting of 20 Amazon Echo devices and 20 competitor devices.

What was your primary motivation?

When evaluating voice technology we identified this as a potential opportunity to provide students with faster access to information. Instead of searching for information online (library hours, events on campus) we believe the Alexa platform can provide that information quickly and conveniently.

What are the key benefits provided to students?

Students have more immediate access to commonly asked questions, and a highly convenient way to find out what is going on around campus at any given time.

The system helps students be more productive by providing their own virtual assistant that helps with SLU and non-SLU questions.

Specific to the University, what can students ask and how were these questions selected?

Students can ask over 130 questions. The questions were selected by checking with several administrative offices (Residence Life, Registrar’s Office, IT, etc.) as well as soliciting feedback from students. The University will be regularly updating the SLU skill based on student feedback.

This is a sizable investment when, presumably, students can simply go online and find the information?

Most of the information can be found online, but it is not always easily accessible or able to be located within a few seconds. Our goal is to help students get answers to questions in a matter of seconds rather than having to seek out the information, which can take several minutes to find.

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AV IN EDUCATION: SMART SPEAKERS

What was the process in turning SLU specific questions into something that can be verbally understood and answered?

We worked with a partner, n-Powered, that specialises in creating different Alexa skills. The partner was able to take the questions we selected and build them into a custom skill for SLU. Do you expect the introduction of the products to help benefit other areas of the university, i.e. reduce calls to the switchboard or to academics?

Yes, we plan to expand the service to other parts of the University. We have not announced which areas we will explore for future expansion.

It’s currently only available for students living on campus. Is this something that could be extended outside?

Yes, absolutely. We expect to make the SLU skill public so that our students not living on campus can access and enjoy the same information as those that do.

You’ve chosen Amazon’s Alexa enabled Echo Dot devices. Why did you choose these?

The devices were selected after conducting the pilot program in the spring. The Amazon Echo device was most favoured by students.

How long did the installation of the 2,300 Echo devices take?

The installation of the devices took approximately one week. We worked with Amazon and n-Powered to assist with streamlining the process.

Tell us about the pilot testing process and how it was received?

Students were able to volunteer for the spring pilot program. We conducted several surveys throughout the pilot program, and met with the students at the end to get an overview of their experience.

With students attending the university from all around the world, just how good and accurate is the product when receiving voice commands?

During our testing we found that the product was very effective. We will continue to seek feedback over the fall semester to understand if our international students experience any issues.

Do your students require any level of training to use the devices?

No training is necessary to use the devices. When the Amazon Echo Dots were installed in each room we also included a flyer that provides an overview of how to use the device.

What about security?

Using Amazon’s Alexa for Business program, the devices are managed centrally and not tied to any specific individual. The devices do not need to be associated with one or more students and therefore they do not recognize who is speaking. The SLU skill is also only accessing publicly available information. If individuals have any concerns with the device they are able to mute the microphone or unplug the device.

Are there any restrictions put on the devices?

Since the devices are managed centrally, students are not able to add their own accounts for music services, such as Pandora or Spotify.

“Students have a more immediate access to commonly asked questions, and a highly convenient way to find out what’s going on around the campus”

September / October

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BATTLE OF THE BRANDS: THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN

Choosing the right projector for your school classroom

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f forecast are to be believed, the global projector market is to grow at a CAGR of 9.61 per cent between 2017 and 2021.

Whilst corporate sales remain strong, sales in the primary and secondary end of the education space (depending on who you speak with) are more strained – largely due to the lowering cost and growing availability of large displays and interactive whiteboards.

But the market is far from dead. In fact, according to one sales manager of a well known manufacturer we spoke with during Tech Exposed 2018 (he requested anonymity), he claimed projectors represent a greater value for money and provide a greater RoI “Many people think projectors are an old technology and that big screens are a modern approach,” he explained. “That’s simply not the case. Interactive displays

Brand: Casio Model: XJ-V10X Lamp or laser: Laser and LED Hybrid Type: Ceiling Released: Spring 2016 Used in: Standard classrooms, for up to 35 people. 3,300 lumens is the ideal brightness for this environment.

Stand out features: The V10X’s 1.5x optical zoom makes it the perfect replacement projector, ensuring complete ease of installation for the end user. Casio’s five-year warranty gives total peace of mind, as does the lamp-free manufacturing as no bulbs have to be bought and replaced during the projector’s 20,000 hour lifetime, reducing costs considerably for IT Managers, especially those in education where budgets are often more restricted.

Perfect for: PowerPoint and document presentation Why buy over a competitor? Casio offer a complete ‘install and forget’ solution, from the moment the projector is installed to the end of its lifetime. Its laser and LED light source is a more environmentally friendly option as the energy consumption is cut by up to 40 per cent. There are no lamps to exchange, so IT and support technicians don’t have to spend time maintaining projectors across multiple classrooms.

Price: Around £633

might look great and do many great things, but if you’re only using a handful of the features, is that value for money? In many situations, projectors can provide everything needed and more, plus will probably cost a lot less money.”

So, with the average classroom size in the UK around 27 students, we decided to ask some of the leading projector manufacturers to put forward their best

Brand: BenQ Model: LH770 Lamp or laser: Laser Type: Ceiling Released: Summer, 2018 Used in: Large higher education rooms e.g. seminar halls Stand out features: with 5,000 ANSI Lumens and 1080p high resolution, BenQ’s LH770 projector is capable of projecting the best quality images. It features 95 per cent Rec.709 colour coverage, high precision lens and certified IP5X dust-proof mechanism to guarantee an ultra-high level of image quality while reducing maintenance costs. To meet the high demand for efficiency and convenience in an education environment, the laser projector can be paired up with optional wireless devices to display videos, documents or live camera sessions.

Why buy over a competitor? The LH770 boasts excellent installation flexibility with 360°, allowing projection onto ceilings, walls, floors or angled signage. It is also equipped with a big 1.5x zoom, which allows the projector to produce a 120” image from 3.7 to 5.7m. It’s also passed the dust chamber test standard JIS Class IP5X, ensuring long life with sealed laser modules and enclosed light engines to protect the DMD chip, colour wheel sensor and laser bank.

It also comes with a five year warranty.

Price: £3,298

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BATTLE OF THE BRANDS: THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN

Brand: NEC Model: M333XS Lamp or laser: Lamp Type: Short-throw Released: October 15, 2018 Used in: Mid-sized classrooms Stand out features: The design for this short throw projector provides the teacher with a greater freedom to engage with their students while presenting to them. A vast number of input terminals boost connectivity and allows advanced interactive multimedia capabilities. The projector also allows you to connect and share with up to 40 different wireless devices using the NEC Image Express Utility (Windows and MAC) as well as Wireless Image Utility (iOS and Android) software, making lessons more collaborative.

Perfect for: Collaborative working Why buy over a competitor? The interactive Multi-pen option and DisplayNote Presenter software turns this projector into the centrepiece of a modern interactive classroom.

Various innovative ECO functions such as the Ambient Light Sensor help to significantly reduce power consumption. The filter-free design with a dust-protected DLP light engine also ensures consistent, long life performance even in dusty classroom environments.

Price: £723 (excl VAT)

September / October 2018

Brand: Optoma Model: EH330UST Lamp or laser: Lamp Type: Ultra short-throw (UST) Released: July, 2018 Used in: Small to medium sized classrooms (circa 30-40 pupils) Stand out features: At 3,600 lumens, it’s ideal for classrooms with ambient light but is efficient with the expected lamp life in eco mode of 15,000 hours. It can project a 100 inch image from just over half a metre away. Having the projector installed so close to the screen avoids any shadows being cast across the image from the teacher.

Teachers can use the projector’s built-in media player to present Excel, Word, PDF or JPEG files straight from a USB stick. This saves the hassle of lugging a laptop.

With full support for Crestron, Extron, AMX, PJ-Link and Telnet LAN commands, it can be controlled remotely across a network. It also has a powerful 16W built-in speaker.

Perfect for: Presenting detailed content in bright classrooms.

Why buy over a competitor?

It’s smaller, lighter and runs quieter than almost all other UST projectors on the market. It also comes with both a wall mount and a five-year on-site warranty.

Price: £1299 (inc VAT)

Brand: Panasonic Model: PT-TW351R Lamp or laser: Laser Type: Short-throw Released: October 2016 Used in: Can be used in lecture theatres and classrooms Stand out features: The projector performs equally as well in brightlylit rooms as dark ones with its daylight view technology. It measures the surrounding illumination with a built-in light sensor and corrects the image in real-time. The model has interactive functionality meaning it can be used as part of a whiteboard and allows two users able to write simultaneously to make classes and presentations more effective.

However, there is no need to buy a specific interactive whiteboard as the PT-TW351R allows you to write directly on the projected image.

Perfect for: The projector allows the presenter to stand right in front of the screen without casting a shadow on the presentation content, making them ideal for use in education.

Why buy over a competitor? It’s easy to setup and install. Four corner keystone correction enables angled projection with you just needing to designate four points as the corner of the projected image and then this function easily carries out the rest.

Price: £800

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BATTLE OF THE BRANDS: THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN

Brand: ViewSonic Model: PS700W Lamp or laser: Lamp Type: UST Released: February Used in: The PS700W is currently used throughout the education system in classrooms of all sizes. Its 0.23 UST ratio gives it the capability to project a crisp 87-inch image from as little as 9.1cm away from a screen or surface – ensuring even the smallest classroom environments (including those located in inner cities) can benefit from modern AV technology.

Stand out features: The ViewSonic PS700W has several key features to help effective delivery of the curriculum.

These include two embedded 10W cube speakers, an on-screen presentation timer so teachers can ensure classroom activities run on schedule and the ability to wirelessly stream content onto the display – allowing teachers to easily integrate multimedia content into their lesson plans. The PS700W also has a brightness level of 3,300 lumens to ensure every student has a positive viewing experience – even in brightly lit classrooms.

Perfect for: Any educational institution – especially those with restrictive classroom space.

Why buy over a competitor? The ultra-short throw ratio of the PS700W is one of the lowest available in this price-performance range, meaning that teachers no longer have to worry about avoiding the projection beam or excess shadowing.

Price: Around £835

Brand: Digital Projection Model: The E-Vision Laser 5000 Lamp or laser: Laser Type: Versatile Released: Jan 2018 Used in: Small classrooms with a fair amount of ambient light, and a flexible layout meaning the projector can be moved around as required Stand out features: As well as being low maintenance and having a five year warranty, it is super versatile, and weighs only around 10kg, meaning it can quickly and easily be deployed to different locations. It also has a super-flexible fixed 1.15-1.90:1 lens allowing it to be used in most size classrooms. HDMI, HDBaseT and VGA inputs mean it will accept the majority of popular connections and it supports all the major room automation technologies allowing it to be seamlessly integrated into a smart classroom. Mobile High-Definition Link (MHL) connection allows content from smartphones, tablets and other portable consumer electronics devices to be mirrored.

The E-Vision laser also boasts advanced features such as 3D capability and DICOM simulation making it future proof and more capable than many other projectors in this class.

Why buy over a competitor? Five year/20,000 hour warranty gives peace of mind from a dependable and quiet solution from a compact, low-cost package.

Price: POA

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NEED TO KNOW SPECIAL: AI

NEED TO KNOW:

AI AND MACHINE LEARNING

A

s emerging technologies go, artificial intelligence has certainly taken its time in making its presence felt on the world.

Surprising as it may be (to some), the term AI has existed for almost 70 years, having first been uttered back in 1956 (the same year IBM invented the first hard drive) by computer scientist John McCarthy - AKA the ‘father of AI’.

Since then, AI has experienced a largely stop-start existence due to, in part, sporadic funding and below-par technology. In truth, the term AI has

(arguably) gained more notoriety for story-lines of killer robots hell-bent on destroying mankind rather than its practical use and business benefits. But that’s all changing.

The world is ready Thanks to breakthroughs in computing power, the advent and availability of big data, cloud hosting/storage, highly sophisticated software, complex algorithms and a big dollop of imagination, the potential of AI is now starting to be fulfilled, with the business world being the biggest benefactors.

“We are at the cusp of a new revolution, one that will ultimately transform every organisation, every industry and every public service across the world”

September / October 2018

As the late great Professor Stephen Hawkins said on AI: “The genie is out of the bottle. AI, could be the biggest event in the history of our civilisation.” (he also added “I fear that AI may replace humans altogether,” we’ll ignore that for now).

The market has reacted at pace. In recent years, billions of pounds have been invested by many of – if not all – of the world’s leading organisations into AI technologies (and companies), each of them looking to utilise some form of AI to future proof, improve and create a competitive advantage.

Intel, Microsoft, Facebook, Samsung, IBM, Google (DeepMind), Amazon, Uber, LG, Apple, Yahoo are just some of the 2,000-plus AI that have invested heavily in the field by using, building and providing intelligent machine powered services for businesses like yours.

Various estimates suggest more than $46 billion will be spent on AI services by

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NEED TO KNOW SPECIAL: AI

WHERE AI WILL HAVE THE GREATEST AND EARLIEST IMPACT • E-commerce • Customer Service (including call centres) • Healthcare (including lifestyle) • Automotive • Cybersecurity • Finance • Legal • Deliver long term lower cost of ownership • Have been described as the ‘killer app’ of the IoT

AI terminologies you Need To Know 2020 by businesses, a figure rising to above $51 billion 12-months later.

But what is AI? Before we go on (for the non-computer scientists out there), it’s perhaps worth just clarifying a few things around what AI is and, importantly, what it is not. Yes, AI can mean robotics, but the best examples of AI are purely software based rather than having a physical form.

There are hundreds, maybe thousands of often extremely technical and confusing definitions banded around online and in various publications.

Indeed, entire books have been written detailing the subject. A quick search for ‘AI definition’ on Google found 634 million results. Just ‘AI’ found more than 2.2 billion.

For a more technical and detailed description we recommend you visit your local library, or download a copy of one from the many AI authors out there – Nick Bostrom’s ‘Superintelligence: Paths, Dangers, Strategies’ is a personal favourite of mine.

For now, let’s keep it simple. So, in its most basic form, AI is the study of methods for making computers behave intelligently and being able to replicate various characteristics of humans.

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• Algorithm – is an unambiguous specification of how to solve a class of problems. Algorithms can perform calculation, data processing and automated reasoning tasks.

• Chatbot (also known as a talkbots, chatterbot, Bot, IM bot, interactive agent, or Artificial Conversational Entity) is a computer program or an AI which conducts a conversation via auditory or textual methods. Such programs are often designed to convincingly simulate how a human would behave as a conversational partner.

• Deep learning (also known as deep structured learning or hierarchical learning) is part of a broader family of machine learning methods based on learning data representations, as opposed to task-specific algorithms. Learning can be supervised, semi-supervised or unsupervised • Machine learning is a subset of AI in the field of computer science that often uses statistical techniques to give computers the ability to “learn” (i.e., progressively improve performance on a specific task) with data, without being explicitly programmed.

• A virtual assistant is a software agent that can perform tasks or services for an individual. Sometimes the term “chatbot” is used to refer to virtual assistants generally or specifically those accessed by online chat (or in some cases online chat programs that are for entertainment and not useful purposes).

• Robotics is an interdisciplinary branch of engineering and science that includes mechanical engineering, electronics engineering, computer science, and others. Robotics deals with the design, construction, operation, and use of robots, as well as computer systems for their control, sensory feedback, and information processing.

• Speech recognition is the interdisciplinary sub-field of computational linguistics that develops methodologies and technologies that enables the recognition and translation of spoken language into text by computers.

It is also known as automatic speech recognition (ASR), computer speech recognition or speech to text (STT). It incorporates knowledge and research in the linguistics, computer science, and electrical engineering fields.

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NEED TO KNOW SPECIAL: AI

These can include identifying objects, sounds, understanding languages spoken, reading and understanding content such as text and numbers.

Machine learning (ML) is another extremely important branch of AI that you’ll often hear and read about. ML uses a more cognitive approach, using algorithms that enable it (whatever form factor ‘it’ may be) to combine what it’s been programmed to do, but also the capability of learning for itself through its experiences – just like a human.

Where we are Depending on what you have seen, heard or read (fictional or not), you may have different ideas as to what AI capable of at this stage. To offer some clarity there are three simple levels to be aware of.

•Weak AI AI capable of demonstrating human intelligence to carry out specific tasks.

•Strong AI AI capable of showing self awareness, the ability to think and make decisions for itself to the same level as a human being.

•AI Super Intelligence AI showing superior levels of intelligence to human beings and fully in control of its existence.

It’s already here For now (and for the foreseeable future) only Weak AI is currently relevant, so it’s time to remove any images of a leathered up, sunglasses wearing Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Examples of weak AI have been adopted by many different business and are in use today – you just might not realise it.

In fact, it’s a fairly safe bet that you’ve already unknowingly encountered some form of AI and machine learning technology before you started reading this article, or even got out of bed.

September / October 2018

Have you ever read a news story on Facebook? Used Apple’s personal assistant, Siri? Or Google’s, Alexa?

Perhaps you’ve noticed how your emails can often now detect questions being asked of you and automatically provide you with a ready made short reply? How about your smartphone that seems to be able to predict sentences you’re about to type as you’re typing?

Or, for those that like a bit of online shopping (such as Amazon) or video streaming (Netflix), have you ever wondered how those personalised recommendations are determined? What about Facebook and its ability to not only recognise there are people in the photo you’ve posted, but can sometimes even identify them too?

They’re all using some form of AI, with the intention of bettering their customer’s experience, enhancing their financial opportunities and – unseen externally – improve their efficiency in workplace.

And you can use these too.

AI for all “We are at the cusp of a new revolution, one that will ultimately transform every organisation, every industry and every public service across the world,” commented Ralph Haupter, president,

Microsoft Asia. “I believe that 2018 is the year that this will start to become mainstream, to begin to impact many aspects of our lives in a truly ubiquitous and meaningful way.”

You may be forgiven for thinking the implementation of AI is something exclusively for the Fortune 500’s of this world... but you’d be wrong.

Today, such are the advancements and the ever growing number of companies existing purely to support businesses like yours, access to intelligent solutions are now widely available.

In essence, AI is something that can be packaged up and purchased on a monthly basis, like your broadband or phone. This model reduces significant costs associated with more bespoke in-house solutions.

It also means the complexity is significantly removed (the ‘it doesn’t matter how it works as long as it works’ approach), meaning you won’t necessarily need to go and employ a qualified and expensive computer scientist.

“You don’t need to be a mathematics genius or have a PhD in software engineering to make sense of AI for your business,” wrote Gartner analyst Whit Andrews on its website. “You don’t have to make massive investments in infrastructure and personnel in order to start applying AI’s potentially transformative technologies.

He adds: “These technologies will transform the nature of work and the workplace itself. Machines will be able to carry out more of the tasks done by humans, complement the work that humans do, and even perform some tasks that go beyond what humans can do. As a result, some occupations will decline, others will grow, and many more will change” Competitive advantage So, why should you and/or your business consider the idea of investing and implementing AI? Could it be just a fad? Will it really provide benefit for you,

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NEED TO KNOW SPECIAL: AI

your staff and your business?

The answers will be largely unique to your own company (see AI in action).

There may be some obvious areas of your business you’d like to improve upon, be it financially or operationally motivated.

The magnitude and inevitability of AI cannot be ignored nor underestimated.

Many AI experts and professionals have described the potential impact of AI on businesses as being equivalent to the invention an adoption of the personal computer and email.

Do or die?

Some suggest that AI can help boost revenues by around 20 per cent, whilst others warn that any business currently not at least thinking about adopting some form of AI could already be two years behind a rival. Further delays could even result in their demise further down the road due to losing any competitive advantage they may have had.

“More than one-third of businesses will not survive the next 10-years,” said John Chambers, the now former CEO of Cisco during a discussion on AI. “Companies should not miss the market transition or business model nor underestimate your competitor of the future — not your competitor of the past.”

Getting started The first thing to remember is what the purpose of AI actually is and identifying how it can benefit your business.

From speaking to various professionals in the field, the two core reasons can be narrowed down to the following: • Solving existing problems • Discovering and identifying new opportunities The uses of AI are therefore extremely vast and varied.

At its core, AI is fuelled by data, which can come in many different forms for many different uses. Emails, newsletters, subscriptions, views to your website, downloads, sales are just some examples of where data can be collected.

On its own, that data may not seem useful. However, contained within it could be the difference between success and failure (profit and loss). This is where AI comes into play, and is able to – in many instances – do the job of a human.

A famous quote (within AI circles) comes from Clive Huby, a British data commercialisation entrepreneur, who summed it up well in 2006.

“Data is just like crude [oil]. It’s valuable, but if unrefined it cannot really be used. It has to be changed into gas, plastic, chemicals, etc. to create a valuable entity that drives profitable activity; so data must be broken down and analysed for it to have value.”

Harvest your data However, businesses are still missing a trick, with the bulk of that potentially valuable data held in companies still not being utilised.

“If we look at the amount of data which is actually being analysed today, only 20 per cent of the data we have is searchable and being used productively,” commented IBM chairman, president and CEO Ginni Rometty during a discussion on the subject. “The other 80 per cent is held inside companies and generally not being used.”

Impact on jobs One of the more universal drivers for AI is around automation – a word often which spreads fear when discussing the risks to people’s professions. Areas administrative work (such as data

According to Oxford University, the following professions each have a 99pc probability of being replaced by computers in the future...

• Data Entry Keyers • Library Technicians • New Accounts Clerks • Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators • Tax Preparers • Cargo and Freight Agents • Watch Repairers • Insurance Underwriters • Mathematical Technicians • Sewers, Hand • Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers • Telemarketers

Meanwhile, the following jobs professions are said to be safe...

• Recreational Therapists • First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers • Emergency Management Directors • Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers • Audiologists • Occupational Therapists • Orthotists and Prosthetists • Healthcare Social Workers

“Machines will be able to carry out more of the tasks done by humans, complement the work that humans do, and even perform some tasks that go beyond what humans can do” 56

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NEED TO KNOW SPECIAL: AI

AI IN ACTION: A LOOK AT HOW AI IS BEING USED BY BUSINESSES TODAY Personal/Virtual Assistants Digital assistants have gained massmarket appeal in both business and consumer markets in recent years, with services becoming increasingly accessible and more affordable.

Using speech recognition and natural language processing, the technology is able to understand and respond to both written and spoken voice commands in a human manner and even carry out basic activities, such as managing your diary.

Customer Service One of the fastest areas of adoption for AI is in customer service.

Using natural language processing and machine learning software, so-called ‘Chat Bots’ or ‘Virtual Agents’ are increasingly being integrated into websites to be able to have online conversations with customers in multiple languages to solve their queries in a human-like manner to maximise sales An Oracle survey showed 80 per cent of businesses want to implement chatbots by 2020.

Media Monitoring AI is being used to help monitor company perception from customers on social media in real time to assess the perception of a company. The analysis from the feedback can help gain greater insight into its audience and make any changes, i.e. improvements to customer service or marketing accordingly.

Translation AI powered voice-to-text, text-to-voice and voice-to-voice technology is helping to remove language barriers. The technology has seen significant improvements to its speed, accuracy and

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languages covered in recent years making it possible to have a live conversation between to people in two different languages, with equal understanding.

Purchase Recommendations With shoppers spending more online than ever, it’s becoming increasingly vital for companies to ensure every opportunity is maximised and that customers find what they want and even things they didn’t know they wanted. AI can be used to create a digital profile of each customer, monitoring their account for buying history and items viewed to

make educated recommendations. For non buyers, it can automatically send reminders (via email or via other website advertising space) that an item is still in stock and/or any offers.

Forecasting AI technology is also being used to help retailers manage their current and future stock levels and predict increased demand by taking into account things like the weather and local events. For example, if the weather is expected to be hot, additional stock on water, meats and BBQs may be suggested (or automatically

ordered), whilst cold weather might suggest orderingr more umbrellas and waterproofs. There are some examples where AI even factors in local events, such as a festival, gaining its information online and social media.

Cyber Security With cyber attacks becoming ever more sophisticated and changing by the day, AI can be used to monitor a company’s entire network 24/7, identify anything out of the ordinary and either killing it immediately, or halting it for further inspection. AI is also able to detect unusual activity from members of staff, such as accessing information (a file or document) for the first time – again, either preventing it from being accessed or immediately alerting others.

CCTV/Surveillance AI software is now capable of viewing and analysing things for itself and responding accordingly.

For example, the use of facial recognition software on a security camera can help to identify known criminals or shoplifters in real time, alerting staff or the police.

Robotics AI robots are seeing increasing levels of adoption within customer service and teaching environments, amongst others.

Capable of identifying their surroundings (i.e. an obstacle, adult, child) robots have been used to provide additional support within hotels and hospitality responding to questions.

Hilton has trialled robots at its concierge, to provide such as directions to a local attraction, restaurant opening times and help in checking in or out.

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processing, data collection) is something widely seen as an area where AI will support and/or replace humans.

Some figures suggest almost half of all activities at work could eventually be automated, whilst PwC estimates AI powered machines could take up to 30 per cent of UK jobs by 2030. The Bank of England has estimated that 15 million jobs may be at risk.

“By the mid-2030s, up to 30 per cent of jobs could be automatable, with slightly more men being affected in the long run as autonomous vehicles and other machines replace many manual tasks where their share of employment is higher,” said a spokesperson at PwC. Bart Selman, an American professor of computer science at Cornell University, was quoted as saying: “A lot of large companies have ‘middle management’ jobs where people manage other people at a very low-level in terms of keeping track of things like vacations and sick days.

Those jobs I believe are at risk. Jobs that involve a large routine component. If you’ve made the proper investment, you can develop an AI system that can take over a good fraction of those jobs. A lot of big companies have a lot of those positions and will be looking at it.”

Examples of automation and impact (losses) on jobs can be seen all over the world today. Some of the headline

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grabbing stories have included that of a Japanese law firm called Fukoku Mutual Life. The company invested more than $1.7m building an AI platform using IBM’s ‘Watson’, which has seen more than 34 staff replaced. The annual savings for the firm are predicted to be around $1m a year.

“The next wave of economic dislocation won’t come from overseas,” said former President Obama stated in 2017 during his farewell address. “It will come from the relentless pace of automation that makes many good middle-class jobs obsolete.”

Spotting an opportunity Another major area for AI adoption is within sales. There are now examples of where AI, using natural language processing software and specific algorithms, is able to spot patterns (in data), identify new opportunities and provide a detailed level of analysis in just a few seconds.

This can vary greatly. Examples include gaining greater knowledge on customer’s viewing and buying behaviour – i.e., what they’re looking at and when they’re most likely to completed a purchase – such as pay day.

Another might be identifying the best time to send more bespoke marketing/ promotional material or a newsletter to

specific customers rather than en-mass as part of a one-size-fits-all strategy. Another could be automatically identifying cold customers (those that haven’t transacted with you for a while) or have looked at something for a long period but not bought, sending them updates, reminders or special offers to help win business.

In conclusion…

These are just a handful of examples on how and where AI is already providing significant benefits and opportunities for businesses all over the world.

It’s important to realise these are all current technologies, with this article designed to demonstrate and educate you as a business owner, what is available today, rather than stargazing into the future of what might become a reality.

The AI revolution is here and it will – if not already – play a key role in the future of the way your business runs and perform. When you decide to get on board is up to you.

We’ll leave you with this quote posted

by Gartner: “As vendors exploit AI software capabilities within business suites, enterprise applications, infrastructure support services and the customer experience, your organisation will need new or updated strategies. Ready or not, AI is coming to you.”

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DIVERSITY IN AV

STAND BY ME New mentoring program for women working in AV will provide dedicated one-to-one support to help elevate careers and create new role models for generations to come.

It’s creator Sadie Groom explains her motivation and ambitions

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n July, the Women In AV (WAVE) announced one of the biggest evolutions in its near eight-year history, with the launch a new one-to-one mentoring program to help support women working in the AV industry.

The program, announced at London’s 1 Wimpole Street in front of around 70 people, is being driven by Sadie Groom (pictured, on stage, far right), founder of tech PR firm, Bubble Agency Similar to RISE, a mentoring programme for females working in broadcast (also launched by Groom), the aim is to provide women in the AV industry with round the clock support and advice from others in the industry, as and when needed. This will range from individual (dedicated mentor) and collective monthly meetings and events, as well as communications through dedicated social media and messaging channels.

“Essentially, our purpose is to support women in the sector,” said Groom, a long-term supporter of WAVE. We want to help them with their decision making and potentially stop them from leaving the sector, something we have sadly seen too much of. We’ll have a network

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of advisors that we can tap into if required. This will range from simple advice about a current work situation to interview training and legal support if need be.”

Industry backing The program, which is being backed by AVTE and the AV User Group (amongst others), has been in the works for more than a year, with discussions becoming more paced during InfoComm (Vegas) in June this year.

As with WAVE, which hosts quarterly group meetings (a mix of networking, presentations, workshops and educational speakers), the core target audience will be those working in the AV sector. Typical roles are those working as technicians, engineers, support, conferencing coordinators, sales and marketing.

“Mentoring has always been important to me and the response to the program has been incredibly positive with many conversations taking place around being mentored, being a mentor and people wanting to get involved. The overriding message has been this is something that’s very much needed.”

She continued: “We have had a great amount of

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DIVERSITY IN AV

interest from potential mentors who range from managing directors to sales directors of manufacturers, distributors and resellers.

Groom is also keen to help women in the AV industry raise their own profiles to become, not only more confident in themselves, but to become role models for others – the knock on effect, she hopes, will drive more women towards the industry or to remain in it.

This, she explained, will be through a mix of promotion and communications via the AV press, encouragement to speak (on stage) at events and to network with others in the industry.

“For some women this can bring on nightmares,” said Groom. “However they are going to need to do it if they want to go further up the career path.”

Support / sponsorship Membership, as with WAVE, will be free with the program being funded through sponsorship – with AV recruitment specialist Jacobs Massey the first to sign up.

The AV User Group has also been “very supportive” in spreading the message on the importance of the programe through its connections.

“In today’s world, companies need to get involved in the diversity and inclusion issue – it is a real one and

they need to not only drive the issue forward but be part of the change that is happening. The sponsors will be part of the program and invited to meet with the mentees and mentors at many events throughout the programme. Their branding will be prominent throughout the marketing and it will provide a big tick in the box for any companies CSR requirements.”

Groom and the group’s leader Carrie Wooten (also program director at RISE) are currently in the process of confirming industry personnel to become dedicated mentors. The first meeting/event is planned to take place in December with follow up events taking place in February at ISE in Amsterdam.

“We’re really excited about the potential this program will have, not only for women today, but for the entire industry and for generations to come,” said Groom.

“As women, we are half of the audience of customers for these companies and that needs to be reflected in the people working in the sector. The more women we have in senior positions will encourage more women to join the sector – it’s a great one full of fun people, involving lots of travel if you want it and great technology so why wouldn’t you want to join.”

If you’re interested in joining or supporting the new mentoring program, email: wave@bubbleagency.com

“In today’s world, companies need to get involved in the diversity and inclusion issue – it is a real one and they need to not only drive the issue forward but be part of the change that is happening”

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TOP TIPS: DIGITAL SIGNAGE

TIPS ON MAXIMISING YOUR DIGITAL SIGNAGE Want to ensure you get the greatest return from your digital signage investment?

Leading designer, distributor and value added reseller of flat panel display solutions Leading Crystal Display Solutions offers its seven top-tips

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nvesting in digital signage is more than just a glamour project. Despite prices reducing in recent years, the cost of deploying screens, be it an office, event space, classroom, outdoors or wherever, can still cost a pretty-penny.

It’s therefore vitally important to have a well thought out strategy, whether your investing for the first time, or looking to get more out of your existing inventory.

Crystal Display Systems LTD (CDS), a leading designer, distributor and value-added reseller of flat panel display solutions, has worked with many companies and organisations and marketing agencies to help them get the best out of their digital signage.

In this issue’s Top Tips, the firm offers its seven fail-safe things to consider.

1. Knowing your audience If you don’t know your audience and what you are trying to communicate to them, how can you communicate effectively? What are their wants and needs and how can you meet or fulfil those needs? What are the audiences’ challenges and how can you help them meet those challenges? Do they interact with your displays? If you don’t know your audience how can you target the content and messages? Know your audience!

2. Ensure correct positioning and placement If your screens are in the wrong position for optimum viewing position or suffer from high glare (as often seen on Car parking machines) so they are just not visible, then you have a real problem and this is often underestimated or considered too late. Footfall is also important for positioning and you need to make sure your screens are where people actually go and spend time so you have a captive audience. As real estate companies say location, location, location!

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3. Brightness is important BUT so is contrast!

Obviously brightness is critical depending on the position of the display but ensuring that the colours of the contact are correct as light colours on a white background just does not work. Therefore get the brightness, contrast and colour content correct!

4. Image quality is critical Even if you have the right position, the contrast correct and the mix of colours optimised the quality of the images you are using is also a must otherwise the first impressions will be very poor if poor quality images are being used. If you show stretched, squashed or pixelated images you will not be taken seriously in today’s visually-sophisticated audiences who are now used to high quality mobile phone cameras and Instagram high resolution images etc.

5. Don’t confuse your audience or stakeholders You have a limited time to catch the audience’s attention so if it takes too long for a person to read and understand your message you lose! A cluttered busy messy screen will mean your message gets lost and people will not take notice or remember the message. So too much text on the screen, or using text in visually confusing ways will not work.

6. Customise the content to your audience and make it move!

Ensure your content is customised and tailored to your audience’s needs / challenges and requirements otherwise it will not matter how good your content looks. Content must be positioned in specific locations and aimed at a specific audience. Unique content in a unique format for people on the go with limited time is the key that is easy to see at a distance, and pulls people in!

Dynamic moving content gets noticed five times more

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TOP TIPS: DIGITAL SIGNAGE

than static as it catches the eye from a distance. If content is static you do not get the same eyeballs as video content. But confusing or video just for the sake of it defeats the object and works against number 5 and the earlier points where focus is key.

7. Ensure a call to action What happens if the viewer is interested? If you do not give them a call to action they will easily forget you and move on. Once you have them keep them and get them to take some kind of action. Then your advertising has done its job and will give you that Return On Investment. Get their attention, get your message across, and get them to take action. Job done.

For more information visit: www.crystal-display.com

September / October 2018

“If you don’t know your audience, how can you target the content and messages?

You need to know your audience!”

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AV IN ENTERTAINMENT : SFX

A BURNING DESIRE FOR A NEW ROLLERCOASTER EXPERIENCE Peter Cliff, creative director at Holovis discusses the AV techniques used to create Alton Towers’ latest thrill seeker attraction - the most immersive sensory and visually absorbing rollercoaster experience on the planet – the Wicker Man

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973 saw the release of (arguably) one of the greatest, most haunting and uncomfortable British horror films of all time – Robin Hardy’s, The Wicker Man. For those that haven’t seen it (spoilers!), the plot revolves around a policeman sent to a small Scottish island to investigate a missing girl. However, on arrival, no one seems to remember her even existing.

Turns out the island is inhabited by a mob of deeply religious folk, who each year offer a human sacrifice to their god by the way of burning them to death inside, yep, a giant wicker man. For more, visit IMDB. 45-years after its release (out of respect we’re ignoring the 2006 Nicolas Cage remake), it was something of a surprise when UK theme park, Alton Towers announced it was building a new £16 million special FX filled wooden rollercoaster (the first in the UK for 21 years), based on the less than family friendly film. But this was to be no ordinary coaster.

“Wicker Man is Alton Towers’ most ambitious project to date,” commented Francis Jackson, operations director at Alton Towers Resort ahead of the ride’s opening in March. “We’ve spent four years creating an experience that is truly spectacular by investing in the latest technologies which combine wood, fire and special effects to give riders the genuine feeling that they will be racing though flames.”

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Now, burning people to death at a family resort was of course off the table, but Alton Towers wanted riders to be tricked, even for just a few seconds, into fearing that something vaguely resembling the fate of poor old Sergent Howie was about to befall upon them. It needed to be more than just a ride. It needed to be an experience. One capable of immersing riders on a visual, audible and sensory level that they’ll remember, talk about and share with friends for years to come.

To achieve this, park owner Merlin Magic Making (MMM) called upon Leicestershire based Holovis, a firm globally renown for its abilities in designing and creating mixed reality solutions using a multitude of AV, VR and AR technologies and techniques.

Peter Cliff, creative director, Holovis spoke to AVTE to talk us through the process of building the UK’s “most immersive” rollercoaster.

Hi Peter. When did Holovis first become involved with Alton Towers for the Wicker Man rollercoaster?

We first got involved with the project a year and a half before opening. From the onset the vision was always for this to become the UK’s most immersive coaster, combining technology and storytelling in new and unique ways. Therefore we needed to be brought on early to help bring this vision to life and make the seamless integration possible.

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AV IN ENTERTAINMENT: SFX

Using RideView proved to be vital upon the discovery that the capacity in the pre-show room with the design being proposed wouldn’t hold the desired amount of people, so the teams were able to amend that to make sure theoretical throughput was met before any physical builds began, which would have escalated the redesign costs.

Walk us through the process for creating the Wicker Man rollercoaster.

We delivered the complex AV, digital, show and media set ups, including recording original audio and creating a projection mapped spectacular for the pre-show.

One of the earliest decisions we had to make was to define the voice and intention of the ride, answering questions like who is telling this story, who will the transitional character be, what’s the back-story and how do the guests become involved? The results then inform what technology will be used to tell that story.

The Wicker Man needed to have an air of dark magic around it, so we wanted something that was mystical and almost not human. We chose projection mapping as the digital medium to create that.

The process began by modelling the whole site and experience in RideView, a Holovis proprietary visualisation suite which takes place in a CAVE. This is a five-sided structure where all walls feature 3D projected content to immerse users in the scene in 1:1 scale and in real-time.

Within RideView, CAD data is translated into the intuitive and interactive scenarios and users wear 3D glasses to decipher the immersive data set.

Multidiscipline teams from designers to engineers and stakeholders used this facility to experience the creative process but in the physical space, long before they would normally be able to.

The ride is described as providing a ‘multi-sensory experience’ – what does this include?

From the moment guests enter the queue line they are immersed in surround audio and media sequences that feature throughout and into the pre-show, station loading zone, enclosed sections, exit and within the six-story tall Wicker Man structure.

To compliment the visual storytelling, a dynamic sound scape evolves at the pace of the queue flow. This tells the story through subtle audio changes, narrative voiceover and key messaging, so no matter how long or short the queue time, that narrative is being communicating with all guests.

The effects continue within the Wicker Man structure, experienced when on the coaster, which was built by Great Coasters International. As guest’s speed into the wicker head it appears to be rising in flames, an effect created using 6.2mm pixel pitch LED displays that sit within the structure featuring flame effect content, dispersed between the wooden-effect exterior. The physical effects of flames are conjured using steam generators to look like smoke, lighting effects highlighting the wood with the wash of amber and ash colours and flame risers which sporadically give it that real glow.

What did you use to achieve this?

The audio immersion is created using combinations of 500w and 800w OHM speakers that play ambient effects and vocals recorded in the Holovis Sound Studio on the company’s Demonstration Campus in the Midlands. These build from being general excited chatter at the beginning of the experience to adoring shouts of ‘it’s him’ and ‘he’s here’, in the loading station from the perspective of the ’Beornen’, once the true nature and terror or the narrative has been revealed.

5:1 surround subsonic audio makes the guests feel like they are being encircled by the ‘Beornen’ – a fictional

“We wanted something that was mystical and almost not human. We chose projection mapping as the digital medium to create that”

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AV IN ENTERTAINMENT: SFX

community who are part of the ride back-story, heard through their whisperings, whilst Infrasub speakers add a level of physically to the pre-show, vibrating the guests at sub audible levels. Triggered DMX controlled scent effects synchronise with key moments in the media and show action equipment reveals new elements to the pre-show as it progresses.

More drama and intrigue is created by the lighting; four rogue spots with moving head light profiles from Stage Electrics and 12 Chauvet colour LED dash lights.

All the SFX including pyrotechnics are synchronised with the audio and visual experiences throughout, controlled from a Medialon Show Control unit and Hippo Karst server from Green Hippo. The clever combinations and immaculate timing that synchronises the effects.

How did you achieve the realistic illusion of fire?

The flame effects are a clever combination of LED screens that sit within the structure featuring flame effect content, dispersed between the wooden exterior.

The physical effects of flames are conjured using steam generators to look like smoke, lighting effects highlighting the wood with the wash of amber and ash colours and flame risers which sporadically give it that real glow. These elements aren’t difficult to source on their own, but it the clever combinations and immaculate timing that synchronises the effects and makes them look spectacular, especially at night.

Tell us more about the use of projection mapping The pièce de résistance is the pre-show takes place in the ceremonial hall and focuses on a seamless and dramatic combination of straight up and 3D mapped projection.

Initial shadow puppetry forms the exposition of the ride’s back-story before merging to create the mapped face of the deity. As guests realise that they are about to be invited to join a ritual that will summon the Wicker

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Man, the face transforms to grow twisted wicker horns and becomes the Ramshorn skull.

The projection mapping is created using three Christie 4K projectors which are seamlessly aligned using Holovis’s proprietary PixControl software. Bespoke content for this was created in-house by the Holovis media team.

You also used augmented reality (AR) technology.

Where was this deployed?

To support the park’s marketing of the attraction, we used Augmented Reality to track a model of the coaster and show its operation and flow of guests.

How many people were involved in the project?

Holovis is fairly unique in having the full turnkey capability for attraction delivery all working together under one roof, to include art and content creation (both visual and audible), software and engineering.

This project drew on the experience form all teams whilst working alongside Merlin Magic Making to bring its vision to life. Having these diverse disciplines working together means that we can see the project as a whole throughout its evolvement, rather that just being focused on one element.

How important is the use of AV and VR today in the building of rides and adding to the experience they go on to provide?

From the onset the vision was always for this to become the UK’s most immersive coaster, combining technology and storytelling in new and unique ways.

Immersive pre and post show scenes have now become a staple of the traditional rollercoaster experience, extending the thrill of the ride from just a few minutes to something that guests will remember, talk about and share for years to come.

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MEET YOUR INTEGRATOR

MEET YOUR INTEGRATOR: PIONEER GROUP Pioneer Group’s sales director Mark Childerhouse gives AVTE readers and insight into its business and what it’s seeing in the current AV market, including what’s hot and how to avoid making costly errors in your AV decision making Tell us about the business.

Pioneer Group is an independent company, founded in 2011 to deliver a convergent service for AV, IT and infrastructure, which has stood us in brilliant stead to win complex projects with large QSR roll outs, stadium wide and corporate installations. We have a project management, operations and finance team based in Stockport and sales team based in Reading.

What is your geographic reach?

Our work is mainly in the UK but we are increasingly working with clients on projects in Europe to ensure consistency across multiple sites. We recently completed meeting room technology projects in Denmark and Germany and a variety of digital signage solutions for companies in Switzerland, Czech Republic, Amsterdam and Hong Kong.

How is business?

Business is ever evolving. In the relatively short time we have been operating, there has been some incredible innovation in the industry, which has opened new opportunities and seen us grow rapidly, often together with long term clients.

Since partnering with Manchester City to install

cutting edge mid tier and pitch side LED displays, we’ve had commissions from various stadium venues across the UK. The provision of digital signage solutions and meeting room technologies are core areas of the business which continue to thrive and we’ve had some fantastic opportunities to deliver state of the art AV installations for global brands. Our client base is growing quickly and includes blue chip companies such as Engie and infrastructure and networks. We’re working on MOD and MOJ projects nationwide, which we’re particularly proud of!

What trends are you seeing in the current market?

The pace of change is rapid with AI now coming to the fore and interactivity already being built into most projects. The way in which AV now sits on the network in corporate environments has made the rapid uptake even quicker. AV is now a board level investment and decision, which makes the investment cycles longer term and means we now have ongoing upgrade plans with our clients which is a much more effective way to work.

What’s hot in AV right now?

Programmes such as Admobilize and Quividi target age, gender and even mood to sell certain products. These

“For the end user, some of the biggest frustrations arise from understanding the benefits of using new technology and its ROI”

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MEET YOUR INTEGRATOR

give retailers highly beneficial insights, providing much more in depth knowledge into customer behaviours once in store.

Allsee’s PCAP touch screen mirror allows customers to view and interact with products. This was one of the most popular retail technologies on our stand at RDSE this year. Unusual shaped displays are also coming to the market, which are brilliant for bespoke installations like menu boards. LG’s Ultra Stretches are ideal for digital signage in unconventional spaces, especially for QSR and in retail environments, as the screens can be split into four, allowing for multiple content displays.

The key is that clients are installing products which allow feedback to improve content strategies and prove ROI on AV projects.

Any personal favourites when it comes to AV kit and equipment?

The OLED Range from LG and Epson’s LightScene EV-100 Series Projector are both brilliant products. The LightScene creates stunning experiential visuals and is fantastic in a bar setting, sensing when you put your glass down and serving up engaging and immersive

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content. OLED enables creative shapes and curves which are still so unusual that they really capture attention. We are also working with a nail brand at the moment to create an AI experience which combines screen with visualisation technology.

What are the biggest obstacles/frustrations you’re seeing in the industry?

From an industry perspective, it can be difficult to find trained and skilled staff, so there’s still plenty to be done in educating and making people aware of the opportunities available. Also, understanding the goals, limitations and capabilities in the merging of AV and IT technologies are obstacles we’re facing as an industry.

For the end user, some of the biggest frustrations arise from understanding the benefits of using new technology and its ROI. Knowing where to start can be a daunting task, as there’s a huge amount of companies to choose from. This often leads to the selected company being the cheapest and not necessarily the best for the job, so the project can’t evolve over time. This isn’t the best way to work as technology moves on at an ever growing pace.

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MEET YOUR INTEGRATOR

Has the attitude towards professional and high quality AV changed for businesses in recent years?

More advanced technology is required to cope with increasing business demands. The office landscape is one which is constantly changing and evolving. We’ve noticed our clients are now looking for more unique, bespoke solutions as opposed to standard displays on walls and are spending much more, to provide a much better ROI in the long term.

The pressure to stay on top of trends is pushing more people to invest in digital signage, especially within QSR. The creation of menu boards has become ubiquitous, which brings new innovations in being able to change menus responsively to weather and time of day, as well as special events and being able to bring local flavour to each store.

Why should end users go through an integrator rather than simply buy and install themselves?

The years of experience and expertise integrators provide are a huge benefit to end users. Why attempt a technical install yourself without the relevant experience or skill set? We can help with interoperability,

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infrastructure issues and technology challenges, as well as future proofing the installation alongside taking the original brief.

Finally, how important is it for a business – of any kind - to have/use good quality AV? It’s crucial as long as the AV solution suits the requirements of that particular business. Good quality AV should provide a solution which improves the experience for end users. We’ve seen firsthand how great AV can improve fan engagement places, such as, in stadiums and how retailers can use it to make the retail experience extend into digital engagement. More than ever before, AV should be part of a business strategy to ensure nimble communication and engagement across a number of stakeholders.

Founded: 2011 Head office: Stockport Target Market: Corporate AV, Stadia, Retail, QSR Services offered: Specialists in digital infrastructure, digital signage and integration.

www.avtechnologyeurope.com

CASE STUDY: RICOH

RICOH PROVIDES THE FUEL FOR TECH FILLED ENERGY FACILITY Ricoh kits out Copenhagen’s Copenhill Amager Ressource Center – the world’s most unique multipurpose waste management plant – with “state of the art” integrated audiovisual and print solutions

“Combining HD displays , writing tools, a video camera, microphone and video speakers, they offer an integrated solution for all meeting needs”

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isiting a combined heat and power waste-to-energy centre, may not stand out as an obvious destination to enjoy a fun afternoon or to hold an important business meeting, but for residents in Copenhagen, that prospect is now an extremely appealing proposition.

Housed on the outskirts of the Danish capital city, is the eye-catching, spectacular $670 million Amager Resource Center, also known as Amager Bakke. The facility, which opened (in part) during last year (2017), has been internationally hailed as one of the (if not, the) cleanest and most efficient waste burning and energy-generating plants on the planet. It has also been designed – as labelled by its architects (Bjarke Ingels Group) – as an “extension of the city.”

Why is that? For the facility goes way beyond any preconceived ideas or thoughts as to what an energy plant (ugly grey looking, smoke bellowing incinerators) might look like or provide.

Multipurpose In addition to treating an estimated 400,000 tonnes of municipal waste annually and supplying a minimum of 50,000 local households with electricity, the venue’s design also doubles it as a major tourist attraction, a learning hub and location for businesses to work and collaborate.

Externally, it includes a towering 85 metre sloping roof, which doubles up as an artificial ski-slope. It’s also home to the world’s tallest climbing wall and hiking slope.

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Dynamic meeting space Internally, the ’face of the plant’ is its technology fuelled resource centre (administrative hub/visitors centre), which encompasses a series of dynamic meeting spaces used by staff and visitors, which typically include schools, sports associations, youth groups and charities amongst others.

Like the rest of the building, the resource centre is designed to impress, both on a visual and technological level externally but also – crucially – internally too.

State-of-the-art-tech Amager Bakke wanted to equip the visitor centre with state-of-the-art technology to reflect and showcase the facility as well as support and facilitate the needs based on those mentioned above and widen its appeal and reputation.

An IT infrastructure, communication systems, printers, desks and AV equipment were all required.

To achieve this, Amager turned to Ricoh to provide all elements of its advanced audiovisual and print communications technology.

The Japanese tech giant, now making a major push in the UK and Europe, was selected ahead of other potential bidding partners having demonstrated its ability to provide integrated audiovisual and printing systems for a wide range of global projects.

“We needed technology that would complement the bold design concept,” commented Thorbjørn Toftum, IT business consultant, for the Amager resource centre.

www.avtechnologyeurope.com

CASE STUDY: RICOH THE TECH: Ricoh screens: n Interactive Whiteboards (that are technically interactive flat panels) D8400 x 4 And 5 other models of screens: n Philips 65 inches display x 2 n Philips 55 inches display x 8 n Philips 49 inches display x 4 for video wall n Visiosign wayfinding screen 55 inches x 1 n Visiosign wayfinding (meeting room booking) screen 10 inches x 13 And… > Spectacular: inside and out

n Barco ClickShare for wireless connection x 17 n Jabra Speak 510 phone x1 n Jabra speak 810 phone x2

Solution Ricoh’s chosen solution encompasses digital signage, audio visual control systems, projectors, interactive whiteboards, videoconferencing and multifunctional printers.

It installed displays, ranging in size from 55” to 84” in the resource centre’s reception area, administration complex and meeting rooms.

Wall-mounted panels provide simple touchscreen control of each AV environment, making it easy to select system components, such as projectors, manage data sources and adjust volume levels.

Open and secure environment Meeting rooms are equipped with Ricoh interactive whiteboards. Combining high-definition displays, writing tools, a video camera, microphone and speakers, they offer an integrated solution to all meeting needs, including video conferencing. The smart technology enables meeting attendees to share information and collaborate on projects.

Meeting notes can be emailed, saved to the Cloud, or printed from the Ricoh interactive whiteboards directly to a multifunctional printer.

To safeguard data security, the Ricoh interactive whiteboards support card-based authentication and, when meetings are concluded, all information is automatically erased.

September / October 2018

n Soundtube speaker x 19

“We needed technology that would complement the bold design concept.

Ricoh delivered, providing wall-to-wall signage and high-tech collaborative communication technology” “Ricoh delivered, providing wall-to-wall signage and high-tech collaborative communication technology,” added Thorbjørn. “Ricoh’s integrated solution offered best value for money. They were excited about the project and wanted to showcase their technology. Ricoh has proven to be an extremely flexible and supportive business partner.”

Michael Raetzel, sales manager at Ricoh Denmark concluded: “It was a pleasure to be involved in this astonishing environmental and cultural project. We are proud of our collaboration solutions that enable people to work in a more productive and flexible way, which helps keep employee engagement and motivation high”

n Conerd Audio speaker x8 n Sennheiser microphone x 2 n HDMI distributor from Crestron x 1 n Electrovoice and Dynacord amplifiers n Visiosign Room booking screens x 13 n Crestron room mnt panel x 1 n Bojle microphone x 1 n Neets Central Control room mnmt panel x 14 n Ricoh Laser Projector x3 n MFP MP C4504SP x 6 (with 2 x 550 sheet cassette coverage, Booklet Finisher for 20-shett folding and cage unit) n Equitrac Office 5 – software n USB Card Reader x 6

For more details, visit: www.ricoh-europe.com

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Q&A

BRIEF ENCOUNTER

60 SECONDS WITH: RASHID SKAF, PRESIDENT AND CEO, BIAMP

When did you first become involved with the company?

My direct involvement with Biamp began in December 2017 when Highlander Partners acquired the company and I assumed the president and CEO role. However, my awareness of Biamp began more than a decade earlier, as I’d tried to acquire the company several times during that period. When I joined and began a search to find a strong platform company in the technology sector, that I ultimately wanted to run, Biamp was the first company on our list to look at. I looked at over 150 candidates and am delighted that Biamp, my first and top choice, was the one I succeeded in closing.

How has the company evolved since the acquisition last year?

The last eight months have been dedicated to evaluating every aspect of each department with the company; listening, learning, and making sure we had the right processes and people in place in order to prepare for growth. We’ve made extensive enhancements to the company organisation, systems, and processes.

How has your portfolio evolved?

We have been a leader in digital signal processing (DSP) for decades. We are expanding from that position of strength and building from our traditional centres of product and market strength with the goal of offering increasingly complete solutions. Biamp has always listened closely to customers and we work hard to address their needs What products are proving the popular today?

Starting with our strength in DSP, we are extending from the core to offer more complete solutions. Our Beamtracking microphones are proving very

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popular. The technology in these microphones actively finds and follows people talking within the room while suppressing noise to ensure an extraordinary audio experience in the widest range of real-world scenarios. The difference our customers are hearing is that our Beamtracking microphone technology focuses on adapting to the people in the room where most technologies focus on the room and people having to adapt to it.

People don’t want to be limited on where they have to sit or stand when on a call. Our technology frees people from the meeting chair What advice would you give to businesses investing in AV? I recommend looking to how other companies have used AV effectively to solve problems similar to yours and engage integrators and equipment vendors that understand your needs and objectives.

You’ll save time and aggravation and get a outcome you’ll by happy with.

Outside of work, how do you spend your time?

I’m an American who is originally half Swedish and half Lebanese, I’m married to a Texan with my home in Dallas and I work in Portland, Oregon. My family is spread around the world, so I like to spend my time combining two things I love – family and travel. Great food, great wine, and great company.

Finally, tell us something about yourself, which might surprise people?

Well, I don’t know how much of a surprise this is going to be given where I live, but not many people know that I’m also own a ranch, we have a bunch of cows, and I enjoy seeing things grow and expand. It’s fun and adds an interesting perspective to what I do.

www.avtechnologyeurope.com

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