Introduction
First Integrated Systems Europe (ISE) Trade Show a Hit! Editorial: The Final Sayye by Gary Kayye
Could 2004 Be the Second Coming of the LCD? News: Special News Announcement:
Gary Kayye's rAVe, CEDIA Partner for New rAVe Home Edition eNewsletter 1. InFocus to Market New ASK Proxima Branding
2. MCSi Closes Some Offices, Prepares to Announce Sales of Other Offices
3. Electrosonic HDTV Server a First
4. Projection Design Packs Lots of Power Into EVO Projector
5. Altinex Announces MT105-120, MT105-121 Video Matrix Switchers
6. New Digital Class Multimedia Lectern Features Interactive Display
7. Christie Intros 50" Display Cube, New ChristieNET Products, Display Wall Controller
8 Panasonic Adds Touch Screens to Plasmas
9. Panasonic Finally Adds 16:9 HD LCD Projector to Product Line
10. Communications Specialties Announces Fiber Optic System, Amplifier
11. Cheers to ISE 2004
12. Da-Lite's New Speakers Mount Directly on the Screen Case
13. SMART introduces new ConferencePilot; Replaces Remote
14. European Screen and Mount Manufacturer Shows Home Theater Screen with Built-in AC-3 Audio
Click above for more information Introduction First Integrated Systems Europe (ISE) Trade Show a Hit! Bad Decision by Sony, InFocus, Epson, Smart Et Al. For Not Exhibiting I just returned from the first of what will, no doubt, be many ISE Shows. This first ISE show, an industry first combined ProAV and Home AV trade event tri-hosted by CEDIA, NSCA and InfoComm, was a great event. Attended by what amounted to over 3500 dealers, distributors, design consultants and manufacturers from over 60 countries, the first ISE show was held last week in Geneva, Switzerland and every single exhibitor I spoke to was satisfied with not only show attendance but attendance quality. But, where was Sony? Epson? Smart Technologies? InFocus? And, Stewart? And, what about all those other manufacturers that serve both the HomeAV and ProAV markets? They decided to sit this one out expecting a poor showing and a lame event. Well, they were wrong. I assure you next year they will be there as the word is spreading quickly about the success of this event and the satisfaction level of the exhibitors. On a completely different subject, "the giant has fallen" to quote an industry friend of mine who sent me an e-mail within minutes of my rAVe News Blast on Friday about the closing of many of the MCSi offices and the sale of others. The details are below in the News section of this issue of rAVe, but am assured that we will have more news from MCSi and what will become of the east and west coast offices in the next few days. Stay tuned as they may have fallen, but apparently they aren't dead. Finally, I want to draw your attention to a new version of rAVe that debuts this week: rAVe Home Edition. rAVe Home Edition will be the HomeAV's (home theater, home audiovisual and home automation) first eNewsletter and is in partnership and collaboration with CEDIA — http://www.cedia.org — the premiere HomeAV trade association that also sponsors the world-famous CEDIA show annually in September. We are excited about this newsletter as the timing is perfect as CEDIA show attendance has grown from 5,000 to over 20,000 in less than four years and the growth of the HomeAV market has been exponential and interesting to follow. I have been a CEDIA attendee for the past eight years and, like many ProAV geeks, have a passion for all sorts of HomeAV gadgets and technologies. I don't have a networked refrigerator, yet, but as soon as it is HD, count me in! If you're interested in HomeAV news written by home theater and HomeAV professionals and, go and subscribe at http://www.ravehome.com
Click above for more information Editorial The Final Sayye by Gary Kayye Could 2004 Be the Second Coming of the LCD? By Gary Kayye, CTS Reprinted with permission from Sound & Communications magazine. This year could be déjà vu in the ProAV market, exactly one decade later. Remember 1994? That was the year the LCD (liquid crystal display) projector trumped the CRT (cathode ray tube) projector as the primary projection display technology. Prior to 1994, well over 90% of the installed projector base was CRT. Companies like Sony, Barco, NEC, GE, Electrohome (now known as Christie Digital) and AmPro were the market leaders in projection technology churning our new projection lines ever time we had a new InfoComm show. Then came 1994. That year, the Projection Shoot-Out at InfoComm heralded the most LCD projectors ever on display at one show or in one place and marked the debut of the install-quality 700 lumen LCD projector – nearly twice as bright as the average CRT. Although it went virtually un-noticed, a company called InFocus staked a claim with LCD at a market that only knew LCD through the LCD Panel you placed on an OHP (overhead projector) in classroom applications. Later that year, Proxima, 3M and Sharp also took the plunge with an LCD projector aimed at the ProAV integrator and the average boardroom, conference room and training room that required something brighter than the average 300-lumen CRT projector. The rest is history, as most of you know, as the LCD projector is now installed in well over 80% of the corporate and educational applications for projectors. And, now, DLP (digital light processing from TI) projection threatens the LCD dominance. A story on that will appear later this year. But, could 2004 – exactly 10 years after the LCD displaced CRT in projection – mark the timeline of large-format LCD flat-panels relegating the Plasma as second-fiddle? There's no question that Plasma has its weaknesses – burn-in, weight, and brightness among three of the primary concerns of anyone who takes the plunge into the $4000-plus category of the average 42" plasma. But, is LCD ready for prime ProAV time? I'm not so sure, but the déjà vu is striking. Look who's just started shipping a new large format LCD – you got it, InFocus. Actually InFocus is somewhat of a latecomer in the market having followed Philips, NEC, Samsung, Clarity and the like to the flat-panel party, but based on history, don't count InFocus as a non-player. InFocus repositioned the sales price of the average projector ten years ago and once their supplier ramps up production, expect them to be competitive to the prices coming from Korea and China. Speaking of the Chinese, when I was in Singapore in November for the InfoComm Asia show, I noticed a few new Chinese manufacturers that claim they were soon entering the US market. Names like TCL, Norcent and Varitronix are certainly not household names now, but Chinese manufacturers are already making products or in production with products for companies like Thompson, Sony and NEC. And, more and more manufacturers in the ProAV market are turning to China to make their wares – cheaper that they could ever make them for in the USA or Europe. And, the LCD panel is one of them. Today, LCD's are averaging about 40% higher than their Plasma brethren. But, companies like Samsung and Philips predict that that gap will narrow to less than 10% by year's end. This will mean big LCD hype – you can be assured. LCD is brighter, quieter and operates on a lot less power than plasma and the video processing pitfalls of the early LCD are quickly being overcome – as everyone knows Plasma still has the best video quality for any and all flat-panel display technologies. I use plasma in my house and still wouldn't replace it with an LCD, yet. Give it a couple of years and who knows… In addition, in a year where ProAV companies are trying to continue to differentiate themselves from consumer AV retailers claiming to offer identical products and similar services as we do, the need to differentiate is growing. With Plasma available at Best Buy and Circuit City, LCD offers that differentiation – at least temporarily. And, finally, size. Although LCD doesn't match plasma right now in every available size, it soon will. By year's end, we are supposed to see a 57"-plus LCD and plenty of availability. That remains to be seen, but keep in mind that most of the Plasma market sales are still 42".
Click above for more information Kayye Consulting offers a resume posting service for readers. A number of employers have responded, asking if we can publish the employment candidates' locations. Since most of the candidates are willing to relocate, it might be a disservice both to the candidate and potential employer to focus on locations in these listings. Employers: To view all resume listings, go to http://www.kayye.com/resources/av_jobs.asp Employees: If you are a candidate interested in this resume service, write to: jobs@kayye.com
Click above for more information News Got a news tip? Send them to rAVe Editor-in-Chief Denise Harrison — dharrison@kayye.com Special News Announcement Gary Kayye's rAVe, CEDIA Partner for New rAVe Home Edition eNewsletter New eNewsletter to serve as major news source
for distributors, integrators and manufacturers
in the Home AV market To subscribe to rAVe Home, go to http://www.ravehome.com Chapel Hill, NC — January 29, 2004 — Kayye Consulting, publisher of Gary Kayye's rAVe eNewsletter for the Pro AV market — http://www.kayyerave.com — and CEDIA, the premier global trade association for design and installation of electronic systems for the home, announce a new eNewsletter targeting the burgeoning home theater and home automation market. "Gary Kayye's rAVe is now celebrating its first anniversary and the reception has been tremendous," said Gary Kayye, CTS, founder and Chief Visionary for Kayye Consulting and publisher of the eNewsletters. "Our primary business is assisting AV dealers and integrators in keeping up on technology and identifying, and taking advantage of, future trends that can positively impact their businesses. As a result, we are often called upon by manufacturers for marketing and product planning based on that close relationship with the distribution channel. Those relationships provide our consulting firm in a unique perspective of news and trends which have been the contents of Gary Kayye's rAVe. "What we hear now," continued Kayye, "is that the channel and the manufacturers in the home theater and home automation market need such a service as much, if not more, than their Pro AV counterparts. The home market is rife with unique marketing challenges. In rAVe Home Edition, we will be addressing those challenges and how to overcome them and, of course, not just report news but explain why it's important to the market, and especially to the channel." "CEDIA is very excited to be a part of rAVe Home Edition," said Brittany Nims, CEDIA director of communications. "With its large subscriber base, rAVe is a great avenue for targeting industry members involved with video, audio, display and networking products." Just as Gary Kayye's rAVe eNewsletter addresses news and issues relating to the distribution channel for Pro AV, the new rAVe Home Edition — http://www.ravehome.com — will help home theater and home automation distributors and integrators keep up on the news and understand the impact of that news on their businesses. Initial sponsors of rAVe Home Edition include partner CEDIA as well as Da-Lite Screen Company, TVOne, Crestron and LG Electronics. rAVe Home Edition will be produced by the editorial staff of Gary Kayye's rAVe and will feature editorial contributions from one of CEDIA's founders, Rob Gerhardt. Gerhardt was on the first CEDIA Board of Directors and has since served in a number of positions, including running the first CEDIA EXPO and helping to guide it to the large exhibit and conference that it is today. As a trainer, Rob has made more than 120 presentations at CEDIA, CES and more. His articles have appeared in The Wall Street Journal, Entrepreneur, Popular Science, Audio Video Interiors, Electronic House, Security Dealer and Audio Video Retailer. As a dealer, Rob has been involved in over 900 installations over a 29-year career. rAVe Home Edition will be emailed twice a month to opt-in subscribers. To subscribe, go to http://www.ravehome.com About Kayye Consulting Established in 1997, Kayye Consulting, Inc. was founded as a strategic marketing firm. Since then, Kayye Consulting ( http://www.kayye.com ) has developed a reputation as the leading provider of marketing consulting and training development services in the ProAV industry in addition to publishing the ProAV market's only AV-insider eNewsletter rAVe ( http://www.kayyerave.com ). Based in Chapel Hill, NC, Kayye Consulting is now under the leadership of Jody Thomas, CTS and Gary Kayye, CTS. Clients have included Sony, Lutron, Crestron, InFocus, NEC, Da-Lite, Sanyo, Crestron and over 35 other ProAV manufacturers and integration firms. About CEDIA CEDIA is a global trade association of companies that specialize in designing and installing electronic systems for the home. The association was founded in September 1989 and has approximately 3,100 member companies worldwide. CEDIA members are established and insured businesses with bona fide qualifications and experience in this specialized field. CEDIA is a not-for-profit organization based in Indianapolis, Ind. For more information on CEDIA, visit the association's web site at http://www.cedia.org or call 1-800-669-5329. About Da-Lite Screen Company Da-Lite Screen Company is the world's largest and oldest manufacturer of projection screens. Da-Lite provides projection screen solutions for any environment or display application. Having first invented the projection screen, Da-Lite has continued to introduce new and innovative designs to meet the ever-changing needs of the audiovisual and communications industry. More information is available at http://www.da-lite.com About TV One TV One specializes in video image conversion products and offers a complete range of Scan Converters (Down Converters), Video Scalers (Up Converters), Universal Image Processsors, Genlock-Overlay Keyers, Signal Distribution Products, DV-to-Analog Converters, Standards Converters, Digital Video Recorders, Video Archiving Solutions, LCD Monitors and Video, Audio and VGA Cables. More information is available at http://www.tvone.com About Crestron Electronics Crestron Electronics is the world's premier manufacturer of control, automation and AV distribution solutions for connected homes. Only Crestron offers Total Home Technology, the single source to manage, integrate and control all the systems and technologies that keep us comfortable, entertained and secure, including audio, video, computer, lighting, HVAC and the Internet. For more information, go to http://www.crestron.com About LG Electronics LG Electronics (Korea Stock Exchange: 6657.KS), established in 1958 as the pioneer in the Korean consumer electronics market, is a major global force in Electronics and Information & Communications products. More than 55,000 employees working in 76 overseas subsidiaries and marketing units around the world, strengthen LG Electronics' core competencies in three main business companies: Digital Appliance, Digital Display and Media, Telecommunication Equipment & Handset. LG Electronics is focused on promoting Home Network and Mobile Network businesses based on cutting-edge multimedia application technology along with Information and Communication Technology as its core business areas. For more information, visit http://www.lge.com To learn more about becoming a founding sponsor, contact advertising@kayye.com or call 919.969.7501.
1. InFocus to Market New ASK Proxima Branding
InFocus decided to combine the names of two product lines to create a more global brand name. ASK is a long-recognized name, these days more known in Europe and Asia, and Proxima is best known in the U.S. The ASK Proxima brand, says InFocus, will help integrators who do business in multiple countries to have one identifiable brand rather than two different names, at least, that's the way we read it. Customers won't be asking why the integrator specs one brand in one country and a different one in another. It's not the best name, but it's really the only choice, and a good strategy, too. For more information, go to http://www.infocus.com/company/pressroom.asp?site_lang=1&site_region=1&id=1120 or the new website: http://www.askproxima.com
2. MCSi Closes Some Offices, Prepares to Announce Sales of Other Offices MCSi closed some of its Western U.S. offices and announced the sale of some of its Midwest offices to Audiovisual, Inc. Sean Matthews, President of MCSi's Western Region, gave readers of rAVe the details about the events in the West. "Sun Capital and the company's bank group, which currently controls MCSi's assets, have not been able to reach agreement for Sun to acquire MCSi and have ceased further discussions. The bank group advised MCSi that they will no longer fund MCSi's plan of reorganization. "Because of those two events, the company must begin an immediate wind-down of its operations. "We will continue to work on a very limited number of jobs and we will look to transition other jobs to other audiovisual companies in the industry. "We will file a motion with the bankruptcy court on Monday detailing our wind-down operations, which will also include information of the sale of very specific offices to interested parties. "In the West, I closed all of the offices today out of respect to the individuals –whether they are being terminated today and/or are part of the wind-down operation — so that everyone could go home and spend time with their families and have time to think about their futures. "The offices will be open on Monday to begin the wind-down operations, which we expect to take between one and three months." And here is the official scoop on the Midwest: Audiovisual, Inc. Signs a Letter of Intent with MCSi to acquire certain Assets of the MCSi Midwest Region On February 5, 2004 Audiovisual, Inc. signed a Letter of Intent to purchase certain assets located in the Midwest Region of MCSi. Specifically, Audiovisual, Inc. is proposing to acquire certain assets of the MCSi offices in five cities; Chicago, IL, Bensenville, IL, Grand Rapids, MI, Madison, and Milwaukee, WI. This Region for Audiovisual Inc. will operate under the name AVI Midwest, LLC. Michael Vergauwen will serve as President and COO leading and directing these five offices for Audiovisual, Inc. Audiovisual, Inc. is a lead investor and will provide many operational functions for AVI Midwest, LLC. "We are pleased to expand our footprint and best practices into this geography. These markets have been strong for many years, and we are pleased to be able to serve the customers of Video Images and Midwest Visual, as they merged into MCSi" said Joe Stoebner, CEO of Audiovisual, Inc. "With Michael's leadership, we can do this." Audiovisual Inc. (dba) currently does business as AVI Systems, Audio Systems Company, and Televideo San Diego. Audiovisual, Inc. is a leading Electronic Systems Integration Company with offices in Minneapolis, MN, Kansas City, KS, Des Moines, IA, Omaha, NE, St. Louis, MO, San Diego, CA, and Bismarck, ND. For more information regarding AVI Midwest, LLC contact Jeff Stoebner at 952-949-6036 or visit our website at http://www.audiovisualinc.com End of news release. Background info: In June of 2003, MCSi filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and reorganization. In October of 2003, MCSi lenders executed a letter of intent to sell the company.
3. Electrosonic HDTV Server a First The Electrosonic HDTV server is the first HD video server that we know of for deploying HD media networks. Named the HD FrEND, it supports 1920x1080i, 1280x720p and 720×576/480p along with other formats. Remote management, content distribution and automation are done with TCP/IP interfaces. Simultaneous output of HD and SD make this a flexible product and it comes with plenty of installation options. The HD FrEND can exist anywhere on the network, and when integrated into a distributed media system like the iMediate suite, the HD FrEND can be used for retail, transportation, advertising, training, etc. For more information, go to http://www.mediasonic.com/products/HDFrEND.html
4. Projection Design Packs Lots of Power Into EVO Projector At ISE, I saw a killer DLP projector – the EVO from Projection Design. In just 6 pounds it is specified at 2600 ANSI lumens, 2000:1 contrast ratio, with XGA (1024 x 768) resolution. I especially liked the design. Projection Design doesn't yet market in the U.S. under their own brand, but stay tuned – they likely will. For more information, go to http://www.projectiondesign.com/projectors/evo_s1.htm 5. Altinex Announces MT105-120, MT105-121 Video Matrix Switchers Altinex's new MT105-120 and MT105-121 MultiTasker cards 8×8 and 8×4 matrix switcher cards allow quick connection to a PC or other VGA sources over long distances with high-quality coax cables like the CB37 Cable Series from Altinex. The MT105-120 and121 are VGA-UXGA Video Matrix Switcher Cards designed to switch 325 MHz high bandwidth RGBHV video signals. This MT105-120 card has eight fixed input and eight fixed output with15-pin HD connectors. The MT105-121 card has eight fixed inputs and four fixed outputs, also with 15-pin HD connectors. Both units are, of course, RS232 controllable, include follow or breakaway I/O switching and a host of Macro functionality for live show staging and rental events. Used in combination with the MT110-100 and MT110-101 Audio Matrix Switcher cards, you can group audio and video inputs and outputs to be switched as audio follow video or independently. For more information, go to http://www.altinex.com/Products/MultiTasker/MT105-120_MT105-121.htm
Click above for more information
6. New Digital Class Multimedia Lectern Features Interactive Display Alliance International's new Digital Class Multimedia Lectern has an LCD panel with electronic whiteboard software that lets users view, annotate and control it with a touch screen interface. A record on/off button also allows for recording of voice and notes in a compressed file format that can be posted to the web or e-mailed. The software interface is a single tool bar at the bottom of the screen. The software allows annotation over web sites, spreadsheets, PowerPoint slides – any image that appears on the screen. Since the Digital Class monitor is compatible with Crestron e-Control, AMX NetLinx and Windows based control systems, it may be used for touch screen pen control of integrated systems so there's no need to install a second monitor. The mobile lectern is made from a choice of fine woods, such as cherry or mahogany, and wood products and features fold-up wings on each side, which can be used to support papers, books or AV equipment such as a document camera. Rack railing with 14 rack spaces has been laid inside for stacking multiple AV devices. Access to the inside is through the front and back, easy to access for installers and users alike. The Digital Class Lectern is shipping. Price: $5,995. For additional information, go to http://www.alliance-intl.com/digitalclass
7. Christie Intros 50" Display Cube, New ChristieNET Products, Display Wall Controller Christie announced a few new products at ISE, including a 50" Display Cube, two new ChristieNET products and a display wall controller. The GraphXMASTER CS50-D100U is a self-contained and stackable 50" SXGA display wall cube with a pixel density of 32.8 pixels/inch. The six-segment color wheel reproduces 16.8 million colors The dual long-life 100/120W UHP lamp system allows the user to select the operating wattage of the lamps — "single lamp" or "dual lamp" mode. The dual lamp mode provides double the brightness when switching from single lamp to dual lamp operation. Operating modes can be easily switched "on the fly" as required by the user. The Christie GraphXMASTER CS50-D100U will begin shipping in March 2004. The new ChristieNET products include ChristieNET Type X CCM and ChristieNET Type X configuration software. The ChristieNET Type X CCM and the ChristieNET Type X CCM Configuration Software are for quick and easy installation of new and legacy Christie displays as well as devices from almost all manufacturers in the industry. The ChristieNET Type X CCM features an embedded web server with Java applet to control devices from anywhere on the network or over the Internet, and an SNMP v.2 agent that represents the device commands and status codes in an SNMP environment. In addition, email support via SMTP will notify administrators if the device breaches any of the customizable thresholds such as lamp timer or no communication (device missing). The ChristieNET Type X CCM is fully compatible with ChristieNET Master Display Controller. When installed with the ChristieNET Type X CCM Configuration Software, ChristieNET Type X CCM, a generic ChristieNET Connectivity Module (CCM), works with almost any RS-232 device. Installers can also request Christie personnel to program the ChristieNET Type X CCM by simply completing an online form. The new NetMASTER FRC-5100 display wall controller allows the display of more content on larger wall sizes and support for both analog and digital graphics output as well as multi-language user interface. These controllers combine multiple discrete displays into a single large, ultra high-resolution "desktop" that is used for information sharing and monitoring. The FRC-5100 enables the display of information from a wide variety of sources including SCADA systems, remote video sources, remote workstations, computer systems, etc. For more information, go to http://www.christiedigital.com
8. Panasonic Adds Touch Screens to Plasmas Panasonic Broadcast added a line of touch panel modules for its 42-inch and 50-inch plasma displays. The TY-TP42P6S is the touch panel module for the 42-inch TH-42PWD6UY and TH-42PHD6UY plasma displays, and the TY-TP50P6S is the touch panel for the 50" TH-50PHD6UY plasma display. Users can now interact directly with optical sensors on the screen using their fingers. Resolution on the TY-TP42P6S is 1833×1033 pixels, and on the TY-TP50P6S is 2201×1241 pixels. No additional screens are required and with some of the touch screens, users can use an optional touch pen instead of their fingers. For more information on Panasonic plasmas, go to http://www.panasonic.com/plasma
9. Panasonic Finally Adds 16:9 HD LCD Projector to Product Line Panasonic announced the PT-L500U, a 6.4-pound LCD projector with a very nice 1300:1 contrast ratio, sufficient 850 ANSI lumens (remember this is a home theater projector) and nice short throw lens that can project a 100" diagonal 16:9 image from only 10 feet away. Using three 1,280 x 720 widescreen HD LCD panels, the new PT-L500U includes Panasonic's new Cinema Works picture enhancement LSI circuitry which gives 10-bit digital processing and gamma correction and quadruples the number of displayable colors to more than 1 billion and over 1024 grey levels. Cinema Works is the best thing that's happened to LCD projection since micro-lens array. I am impressed with the contrast ratio that this projector provides and this will bode well for home theater aficionados who seem to be focusing on DLP's lead in contrast ratio right now. The projector's HDCP compatible DVI input directly accepts digital signals from DVD's and other HD digital sources but also provides for analog HD, component video and XGA inputs The suggested list price is $2,499. For more information, go to http://www.panasonic.com/PBDS/projection.html
10. Communications Specialties Announces Fiber Optic System, Amplifier Communication Specialties announced the Pure Digital Fiberlink 7140 Series and the Pure Digital Fiberlink 8000 Series one to four channel distribution amplifier. The Pure Digital Fiberlink 7140 Series transmits four channels of composite video with eight independent audio channels all over a single fiber. The system is especially suited for high density routing of A/V signals from room to room or building to building. The video channel features 7 MHz bandwidth and may be used to transmit video in NTSC, PAL or SECAM formats. The audio channels may be used to transmit either four stereo channels or eight completely independent mono signals. The Pure Digital Fiberlink 8000 Series is an optical distribution amplifier (D.A.) that may be configured to transmit from one to four channels of any type of signal(s) supported by the Pure Digital Fiberlink line of products. The 8000 Series D.A. receives an optical signal from any Pure Digital Fiberlink transmitter and then digitally regenerates and relaunches it without incurring any additional degradation to the original baseband video, audio or data signal(s). Depending on the configuration of the D.A., the signal is relaunched over one to four separate fibers, creating up to four identical "copies" of the original optical signal. Each 8000 Series unit may be configured to receive signals over multimode or single mode fiber at wavelengths of 850, 1310 or 1550 nm. The fiber type and wavelength for the output channels are configured separately; each may be different. Each channel may transmit to either a Pure Digital Fiberlink receiver unit or to another 8000 or 8100 Series D.A., allowing for complex distribution designs. For more information, go to http://www.commspecial.com
11. Cheers to ISE 2004 The Integrated Systems Europe at Geneva's PALEXPO made a lot of people happy. Specifically, 3,500 attendees who got to the see the latest from just about every major manufacturer among the 120 exhibitors. In fact, the exhibitors voted while at the show to do it again next year, probably in a more central European location. Attendees represented 60 countries and what made ISE unique was the mix of ProAV and residential technologies, but then, that reflects some portions of our industry as it is evolving. The reason, though, was the mix of sponsors, including InfoComm, CEDIA and NSCA. For more information about the show, go to http://www.iseurope.org/ While in Geneva, we did a short, live broadcast from the ISE show floor talking about the show, the attendance and exhibitors, and showing some of the cool products he found there. The broadcast is thanks to Sonic Foundry's Mediasite Live system that just happened to be on the show floor. It's certainly not Academy Award-level material and happened to be done on a last minute whim offer from Sonic Foundry, but if you're at all interested in ISE and the first combined ProAV/HomeAV show, it's worth watching. It's only seven minutes long. Check out the video at http://web81.bxvideo.com/MediaSiteLive30/LiveViewer/FrontEnd/View.aspx?peid=2a02eac8-3c51-48f0-b8cb-2290495c7dcf
12. Da-Lite's New Speakers Mount Directly on the Screen Case Da-Lite has new speakers that can be mounted directly on the company's Contour Electrol case. The Accessory speaker package includes a pair of Anchor 30-watt speakers, an infrared wireless remote control for volume and mute and a set of mounting brackets. This design is ideal for use in teaching and presenting environments and can reach an audience of 100 people or more. For more information, go to http://www.da-lite.com/whats_hot/index.php?wID=48
13. SMART introduces new ConferencePilot; Replaces Remote SMART's new ConferencePilot control software 1.0 allows control of videoconference functions from the computer or the SMART Board interactive whiteboard. Functions such as camera movement, zoom and audio controls can be controlled on any computer and are optimized for use with SMART Board interactive whiteboards. ConferencePilot software uses a network connection to communicate commands between the computer and the videoconferencing system. ConferencePilot software's on-screen controls can also launch complementary data-sharing applications such as SMART's Bridgit data-conferencing software and Microsoft's NetMeeting. ConferencePilot software is available as a free download from http://www.smarttech.com/conferencepilot for SMART Board interactive whiteboard and Sympodium interactive lectern customers. For those who wish to use ConferencePilot software without a SMART Board interactive whiteboard, the software is available from the SMART website for US$99. For a free 30-day evaluation of ConferencePilot software, additional information, specifications or a list of authorized resellers,go to http://www.smarttech.com/conferencepilot or call 1.888.42.SMART.
14. European Screen and Mount Manufacturer Shows Home Theater Screen with Built-in AC-3 Audio Little known SMS — http://www.sms.safebrackets.se — a Swedish-based manufacturer of plasma mounts and projector lifts, showed something that I thought was one of the most creative home theater products in over a year: a front projection screen with built-in speakers. Available in fixed screen sizes from about four feet wide up to approximately 10 feet wide, the 16:9 aspect ratio screen includes a built-in 5.1 audio system integrated with a Bremen surround sound system. OK, I know that this doesn't have much to do with the ProAV market, but it's an interesting concept and I am sure it will be emulated by the other major screen manufacturers, but it was also a very good design that SMS says is available for shipment, now. Congratulations to SMS, my pick of the ISE Product of the Show. For more information about SMS, go to http://www.sms.safebrackets.se/defaulteng.htm
Feature Article
The State of European System Integration Market
Integrated Systems Europe Business Conference 2004
By Paul Martin, editor-in-chief, TFCinfo
and contributing editor Rave The first ever Integrated Systems Europe Show (ISE) was held in Geneva, Switzerland at the PALEXPO Conference Center February 3 – 5th, 2004. ISEurope is the combined efforts of all three CEDIA, ICIA, and NSCA trade organizations, to create the premier, pan-European educational conference and tradeshow for the audiovisual and electronic systems markets…From all the indications, ISE is off to a good start. The show was preceded by the ISE Business Conference, which was held February 2nd in the regal setting of the Crown Plaza Hotel conveniently adjacent to the PALEXPO. This one-day Business Conference focused on revealing the business aspects of the European electronic systems integration industry – commercial, professional, and residential markets. The feast of knowledge was begun with a splendid gourmet lunch augmented with European wine to enhance the audience discussions. After introductions of NSCA and ICIA by Billilynne Keller, the dynamic head of CEDIA, Sam Runco, a veteran in the Home Theater Installation Markets, gave the lunch's keynote address, which through his stories and personal anecdotes provided those in the room with an understanding of what drives Runco's business and success. Peter Lloyd of UK's AV Magazine masterfully moderated the rest of the Business Conference, which consisted of more than 50 attendees, equally split between manufacturers, dealer/installers, and analysts/press. Dr. Fredrik Lehner of InterConnnection Consulting Group – a leading European Continent market research company based in Vienna – was the lead speaker for the market research group and presented the state of the Home Cinema market in Europe. Lehner augmented his research discussions with Life Cycle Analysis, revealed niche markets, and shared discussions of gender influence in Home theater buying decisions. Tony Bicknell, of DTC – also a well-known market research company, based in UK- followed with a discussion showing the unmet needs of our industry in coping with the growing trend by our customers to specify jobs which integrate AV and IT within a single project particularly for the Corporate, Educations and Public Display Applications. Bicknell concluded by proposing a marriage of AV and IT into a new type of dealer to cope with the changing times in Europe. There was a sense in the ensuing audience discussion that much could be learned from US and Asian system integrators who have faced the onslaught of IT into AV before and paved the way. In the second half of the program, three European practitioners gave their views and advice on coping in the changing European market place. David Leasch, Managing Partner for AV Media in the Czech Republic gave a glimpse of the fascinating and unique challenges of growing a system integration business in eastern Europe where the anticipated joining the EU will bring European and US companies into the region, along with their needs for new Corporate conference room as they build their local offices. David presented his view of the growth opportunities in Corporate Markets, Bank and Finance Sectors, IT and Telecommunications, Education, Command and Control, Leisure (Museum and Arena) and Residential markets. Alexander Daum, General Manager, TechSupply SA – a unique value-added distributor of home cinema and intelligent home electronics based in Switzerland – went beyond combining AV and IT and called for an integrated customer approach to create a "home of comfort" using technologies from AV, IT, security systems, and home automation. There is no dealer to turn to for such a single solution, he stated. Lastly, Graham Naylor-Smith, A/V consultant for ARUP Communications in UK provided attendees with an overview of markets in UK and Ireland, an AV market worth Euro 1.6 billion with approximately 25% going towards system integration. He shared the past strength of the public sector market, the significant growth of the residential markets and predictions for video conferencing and new building construction. Peter Lloyd summed up the speaker's contributions as follows: - The European AV industry is in transition with large growth prospects in home and commercial markets
- AV product life cycles point to various buying segments set to spend on refurbishing equipment and replacement spending in 2004 in addition to new spending by first-time embracers of home theaters.
- AV integrators will need to ask the question which path do they want to follow – high margins or high sales
- Integration is a package towards a customer-oriented solution. It embodies AV and IT hardware, programming, i.p technology, displays, services and maintenance rolled into one.
Attendees were left with a unique view of the entire European AV market (audio, video, IT, production and services) that went beyond just hardware. For those who missed this European event, you have a second chance with the next European AV business conference in May in Dusseldorf (see sidebar) and of course next year's ISE show. "When corporate buyers begin buying again in 2004 they will be buying differently than before. They will be looking at AV and IT together as solutions to their needs. Ask yourself: What is your mission as a AV system integrator and a member of this industry? How do you define the skill set that you bring to the solution". Peter Lloyd, AV Magazine
InterConnection Consulting Group with help from ICIA is conducting the 2nd Annual European Marketing Conference entitled Large Displays Worldwide -Projectors, Flat Panels & Rear Projection TVs on May 4th in Düsseldorf, Germany The business conference will present information and forecasts for Europe and Asia. Insights in distribution channels and new markets. Contact 207-783-0055 or sales@tfcinfo.com for more information or sponsor opportunities.
Feature Article
Gary Kayye's rAVe AV Hall of Fame Featuring J.Steven Emspak, Partner
Shen Milsom & Wilke, Inc.
By Denise Harrison
Editor There wasn't a lot of technology yet as systems consultant J. Steven Emspak was growing up in New York in the 1950s. But what there was fascinated him. He loved television (Black & White only), which was new to American households, but preferred adult comedy to cartoons. Music – radio and records – became and remained a passion and he eventually became a performer as well as a composer. "At the time, technology was quite straightforward," explains Emspak. "Television was there but most other technology related to audio. When you talk to people in the AV industry, you find that many came from the audio world. I was certainly one who did. "In fact, you'll also find out that many people in the industry are either musicians and audio people or audio people and musicians. The music and the technology of it just seem to go together, and they merged for me in the early 1960s and stayed that way until the early '80s – and in a manner of speaking, still today." After high school, he studied architecture at the New York Institute of Technology, but with a now long and intent interest in technology, he changed schools and majors but then was scooped up by the Army during the Viet Nam conflict, and he worked in electronics while he served. "At 18 years old, I boarded a plane in New Jersey and landed in Frankfurt, Germany, where I was given a train ticket to a small German town in the foothills of the Alps," says Emspak. "There was no such thing as culturalization — you don't know the language, you don't know the culture, you don't know anything in this strange new world, yet off you go! Nothing to do but roll up your sleeves and learn how to survive. That was my first international travel experience." Upon his return to New York, he graduated from the RCA Institute, one of the most prestigious technology schools at the time. Emspak's first job out of college was with a small but progressive audio manufacturer, GLI, in New York. "GLI was a tight little group dealing with large, high-output systems mostly finding their way into roller skating rinks and into the club scene," says Emspak, who said the discotheque market in particular fueled GLI's growth in the '70s. Emspak began as a circuit board assembler but during his ten years with the company, worked in quality control, service, sales and eventually, systems design. "During the ten years there, I watched the whole audio industry grow," says Emspak, "and I suspect it was probably around 1977 or 1978 when we discovered audio visual as a market. I remember exhibiting product and meeting all these strange AV types at NAVA." One of the more memorable events during that period was at an AVL dealer show in Atlantic City. AVL was the biggest manufacturer of control systems for multi-projector slide shows – and a major breeding ground for many in the AV industry today, and GLI was asked to provide the audio for a 52-projector slide show. "I'd never seen anything like this before, the slide display was awesome, the audio system was huge, we had a great time doing it, and opened many eyes!" says Emspak. "In fact, we saw it as putting the audio into audiovisual because from our perspective people were mostly dealing with small loudspeakers with small amplifiers and here we were dealing with 350-pound speaker cabinets and amplifiers with hundreds of watts that made people sit up straight. Fun times." In the early '80s as the audio business waned, Emspak moved out of the manufacturing of the business and into integration, where he first worked with video, then later worked in R & D for a projection and display company. "I worked for a small company that built exactly 24 modular multi-scan video projectors, something no one else was doing," says Emspak. "Half of the projectors ended up in China, and the other 12 were sold around the United States. In fact for some reason, I'm still friends with people who bought some of those projectors!! It strikes me as odd that they still talk to me. As one of my friends put it, you stand to close to those machines and you come away sterile." While the company was progressive, it suffered the way small progressive technology companies sometimes do – here today but gone tomorrow… "So with my recent knowledge of projectors, in really what was an infant industry, I moved back into integration," he says, "and joined Barsky & Associates. Working with David Barsky was remarkable. He would always push for creative solutions to things and he had wonderful connections to the point in 1985, we had the opportunity to apply video wall technology. Talk about advanced technology — that was certainly it. "First, we applied to an AT&T Infoquest Center. In reality that was in progress when I arrived at Barsky, but it provided a pathway to AT&T, and they had a desire to improve their network operations center. We designed and installed a 75-screen video wall for that, which was certainly an industry benchmark. I had the pleasure of being the lead designer for that project." In 1988, now with a family that included two young daughters, Emspak decided it was time to trade in the manic hours for a more stable position. A chance meeting with John Campanella at a jobsite would change things for a long, long time. "I had done the design on a control room for Prudential and John said they were looking for design guys and wondered if I knew anyone," says Emspak. "I said, how about me? Well once I assured him my title of vice president didn't matter, he set up a meeting with Fred Shen of Shen Milsom & Associates, Inc." Emspak still wonders to this day how he got the job. "I probably broke the cardinal rule of interviewing when I had my interview with John and Fred over lunch," he says. "I said, 'you know, I'm not a detail guy so if you're looking for a detail guy, I'm not the guy.' I guess I got the damn job anyway, though, because I'm still here!" Emspak says they late '80s was a great time in AV and joining the 9-employee firm at a time when Hubert Wilke was coming on-board (thereby changing the firm name to Shen Milsom & Wilke – and forever changing the face of the AV consulting community, says Emspak), Shen gave him a ground-floor opportunity as well as a relatively unstructured working environment that allowed him to forge his own way in the company and the industry. "The job description was what you made it, which appealed to me. You would get to work as early as you could, leaving when you realized you couldn't sit up any longer. Yes we were very busy," says Emspak. "I think probably the single most important thing I brought to Shen was my diverse experience not only with manufacturing as well as design and integration, but over the years I had done a good deal of traveling. I knew people, I was interested in people and could communicate with them and importantly, I always say 'Move to the other side, see it from their viewpoint.'" Emspak says if you talk to a CEO who asks for a picture on the wall, he doesn't know if it's rear projection and he doesn't care. "The CEO wants a picture on the wall and you make the determination of how to get it there," he explains. "He doesn't want to spend 45 minutes while you go through the technical information. You just say 'Fine, I'll get your picture on the wall and I'll do it without hiding those pictures of your family, while I'm at it.'" Now, at a consulting firm, he was bound to run into people from his past. "I remember my first project here – first, because it had this huge $80,000 number and I was so excited," he says. "I also remember it because the integrator who got the job was one of those guys who bought one of those very first 12 projectors – poor soul." Another memorable project was in 1990, just prior to the Olympics in Barcelona. The developer had plans for a 5-star hotel, says Emspak, with some rather unique high-tech features. "They were talking about control systems in all the guest rooms and getting them to all work and communicate together," says Emspak, "and they even wanted to be able to push a button to call a butler and have the butler's panel show the guest's name and room. Well, we did that, something on the order of 1,400 control panels talking back and forth, reporting failures, etc, and we were doing all this well before networked control systems were even talked about!" What Emspak especially likes about consulting is having no ties to particular manufacturers. It allows them to represent the client in a pure way, he says, as well as representing the entire team of architects, designers and integrators. "You get the best of the best – the best product for a particular application, the best integrator based on skill sets." Being a consultant also means representing, and being responsible to, the actual users and that certain functional requirements have to be met. By 1993, in only five years, Emspak became a partner in the firm. Reflecting on his most satisfying projects, he says, "There are ego-driven projects, which are like 'wow,' then there are the projects that make you feel good. "The ego one was another AT&T network operations center which became yet another benchmark," he says. "This one took three-and-a-half years to design, a year and a half to build and had 180 screens. It is a phenomenal space that works well, looks great, satisfying everyone's diverse requirements. "Then the feel-good project is one we're doing today with Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York, we're working with them as technology partners," Emspak explains. "We're designing technology systems and integration between multiple operating theaters and the various support facilities such as pathology suites and a series of related spaces, and bringing technology directly into the operative field where a lot of AV and multimedia technology didn't exist in the past. A feel-good project for me is having the opportunity to essentially provide our technical expertise in an environment that has tremendous benefit to the world, such as this project for Sloan-Kettering." When he's not working, he enjoys spending time with his family, particularly his daughters, now 17 and 21. "It's a great time in their lives," he says. "They're finally at a point where I can actually hang out with them and have intelligent discussions. I love my kids and I love doing stuff with them." He also enjoys the outdoors, construction, building and renovation projects, while music remains a big part of his life. He's been playing the guitar since 1961 and though he wouldn't divulge to us his successes in music composition, a little snooping around the Internet might just result in a link to a little band called Aerosmith, as well as something called The Steve Emspak Blues Band. But you must have heard it from "SOMEBODY" because you didn't hear it from us. Well, that's it for this edition of rAVe! Thank you for spending time with me as we muse the industry's happenings. To continue getting my newsletter, or to sign up a friend, click the link below. To send me feedback and news tips, don't reply to this newsletter – instead, write to me at gkayye@kayye.com Click here to forward Gary Kayye's rAVe to a friend Click here to subscribe A little about me: Gary Kayye, CTS, founder of Kayye Consulting. Gary Kayye, an audiovisual veteran and columnist, began the widely-read KNews, a premier industry newsletter, in the late 1990s, and created the model for and was co-founder of AV Avenue – which later became InfoComm IQ. Kayye Consulting is a company that is committed to furthering the interests and success of dealers, manufacturers, and other companies within the professional audiovisual industry. Gary Kayye's rAVe was launched in February 2003. The new rAVe Home Edition co-sponsored by CEDIA launches in February, 2004. To read more about my background, our staff, and what we do, go to http://www.kayye.com Back to top
Copyright 2004 – Kayye Consulting – All rights reserved. For reprint policies, contact Kayye Consulting, 400 Meadowmont Village Circle, Suite 425 – Chapel Hill, NC 27517 – 919/969-7501. Email dharrison@kayye.com Gary Kayye's rAVe contains the opinions of the author only and does not necessarily reflect the opinions of other persons or companies or its sponsors. |