Volume 6, Issue 10 – May 22, 2008

Introduction

Welcome to rAVe ProAV Edition – Volume 6, Issue 10

Special Announcement

Gary Kayye to Moderate 6th Annual InfoComm Manufacturer’s Forum
Kayye to return for fourth year as moderator

Special Announcement

EduComm Readying to Celebrate Five Year Anniversary
rAVe Founder Gary Kayye and New York Times Columnist David Pogue to Keynote

Feature Article Series
Angles of Reflection

Angles Of Reflection
Uniformity – Revisited
By Blake Brubaker

Association News
	InfoComm International Becomes ANSI Accredited Standards Developer NSCA Education Foundation’s Golf Tournament and Concert Set for InfoComm 08

 

 

 

Welcome to another edition of rAVe ProAV!

rAVe just received a scoop that a very cool band may be playing at the free event Tuesday night during InfoComm. Plan on attending a Gin Blossoms concert! More details to come as we uncover them.

I hope you are also planning to join me at two events. I’m excited and honored to be moderating the InfoComm Manufacturer’s Forum again, and delivering a keynote address for EduComm. You can read details below.

See you soon!
 
Enjoy the issue!

–Gary Kayye, CTS

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Special Announcement

Gary Kayye to Moderate 6th Annual InfoComm Manufacturer’s Forum
Kayye to return for fourth year as moderator

This year’s Manufacturer’s Forum is a MUST! If you attended last year, you’ll remember the participants as insightful, candid and downright funny. This year will likely live up to that reputation, too, with George Feldstein (Crestron), Gerry Remers (Christie) and Michael MacDonald (Harman). We have added Gerard Bucas, CEO of Scala and Bob Hagerty, CEO of Polycom.

The Manufacturers' Forum will be held at the Las Vegas Hilton's Ballroom A on Tuesday afternoon, June 17, 2008 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. preceding our Opening Night Reception that will also be held at the Las Vegas Hilton.

Save the date!! It’s free!

Check it out at http://www.infocommshow.org

Special Announcement

EduComm Readying to Celebrate Five Year Anniversary
rAVe Founder Gary Kayye and New York Times Columnist David Pogue to Keynote

The 2008 EduComm Conference, running alongside InfoComm June 18-20 at the Las Vegas Hilton Convention Center, will celebrate its fifth year with keynotes by Gary Kayye and David Pogue. Gary Kayye is the publisher of rAVe eNewsletters (including this one!) and David Pogue is the New York Times personal technology columnist.

The focus of the show is connecting higher education with AV and IT technology to enhance the classroom and distance learning experience. This is the only such national conference.

Gary Kayye, InfoComm Educator of the Year, will deliver his keynote Thursday, June 19th 8:30 AM – 10 AM. Gary works with dozens of colleges and universities helping them set their Future-Strategy for AV/IT integration and campus communication. Named InfoComm’s Educator of the Year in 2004 and NSCA's Instructor of the Year in 2007, Gary previously served as Chairman of InfoComm’s Projection Shoot-Out. He is a lively and fun speaker and every time he speaks, he mixes a visionary look into the future with a keen eye on how to get there.

Don’t miss this one either!

For more information or to register visit http://educommconference.com/

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Feature Article Series
Angles Of Reflection
Uniformity – Revisited
By Blake Brubaker

If you attended last year’s InfoComm trade show in Anaheim, CA there is no doubt that you saw several projector manufacturers touting that fact that they have the brightest projector on the market.  There was one such manufacturer claiming to be outputting 30,000 lumens from their large venue projector.  Obviously, these manufacturers are looking for new and more creative ways to get as much brightness out of their units as possible.  With that in mind, is there anything we need to be concerned about from a screen selection point of view? 

Uniformity – Revisited

Interestingly enough, I was recently posed a question about whether or not it was appropriate to use an extremely bright projector in a certain visual display system.  The person who asked was concerned because they were using what they considered to be a moderately sized screen.  The main focus of the question had to do with the potential of a “ hotspot” with this extremely bright projector.  My quick response to that question was to ask further questions about the project in order to help determine if we would, indeed, have a problem.  After a bit of investigation, we determined that there were no significant issues or concerns which would point to the phenomena known as “hotspotting”.  I think the one item that struck me most about this conversation was the fact that there seems to be a misunderstanding about why a hotspot exists and the fact that more light output from the projector triggers one to think that it could be present.  Let us examine those concerns a bit more closely to see if there is merit in them.
 
In order to evaluate these concerns, we must first understand how a projection screen works and, furthermore, how it is that a hotspot can exist.  One of the most basic principles we need to understand about a hotspot is that the screen itself is not the factor at fault for the hotspot’s existence.  Therefore, it must be the projector. Correct?  Well, not exactly.  The cause of a hotspot has more to do with the fact that we are using a small lens to project an image onto a large screen and can further be exaggerated by a screen which has a high gain.  Let us break this down further to examine both the screen and projector/lens portions of this display to see why this occurs.
 
There are three basic functions which a front projection screen can do with light rays that are incident to its surface.  They are: Scatter, Refract or Reflect.   A screen which scatters light has, as one of its main elements, Magnesium Carbonate (MgCO3).  It just so happens that this is also the material used as a reference point for determining gain of a projection screen.  The reason MgCO3 is used for both of these applications is its ability to scatter light incident to its surface in a fashion that is equal in all directions.  The best way to think of this is to imagine one tiny little light ray hitting the surface and then being broken into countless other smaller light rays that bounce off the screen equally in all different directions such that one cannot detect from where the incident light ray originated.  In other words, since this type of screen performs in what we call an Isotropic fashion, light incident to the surface will be bounced off equally in all directions regardless of the angle of incidence.  With that in mind, one might already come to the conclusion that a screen which scatters light could not exaggerate a hotspot.  While indeed this is true, let us look further into the other two types of surfaces.  It is worth noting at this time, that screens which scatter light are typically those exhibiting a gain of 1.0 also commonly known as Matte White.
 
A screen which is said to have Refractive characteristics is one which has some type of glass structure to it.  Do not, however, confuse this type of screen with a rigid rear projection glass screen.  That is not the type of glass we are referring to for this example.  Instead, we are talking about front projection screens which have glass beads either adhered to their front surface or imbedded into the structure of the screen itself.  These are better known as glass-beaded or High Power screen surfaces. In Figure 1 below, we see what occurs with these surfaces as light incident to their surface passes through the thousands of tiny little beads and is bent at angles dependent upon where they strike the bead.  After passing through the bead, the light ray strikes a surface similar to Matte White where it is scattered and then passed back through the beads before exiting the screen surface.  This type of screen is also referred to as a Retro-Reflective screen because it bounces the light back towards the direction in which it originated.  So, could a hotspot occur here?  Before we answer that question, let us look at the third and final type of front projection screen.
 

Figure 1
 
If a screen is said to have Reflective characteristics, then it usually has a gain higher than 1.0.  The make up of a Reflective surface is such that it has a specular material added to its surface which acts as an enormous number of tiny little mirrors.  As the light strikes these mirrors, it is reflected off of the surface and back in a fashion which coincides with the degree by which the surface is coated with these mirror-like particles.  In other words, the higher the concentration of the particles, the more reflective the surface will become.  However, as we have learned through our infancy in the audiovisual marketplace, a projection screen cannot create more light and, therefore, the added brightness one receives from a Reflective screen has an associated fee attached.  That fee is the directionality of such a surface and a narrower viewing angle.  A Reflective screen does not reflect all of the light incident to its surface equally in all directions. It is, indeed, much more directional and deliberate about the way in which it reflects the light rays incident to its surface.    To be more precise, that “way” is such that the angle of reflectance is equal but opposite the angle of incidence.  See Figure 2 below.  Imagine, if you will, the cue ball on a billiard table being put into motion such that it strikes the side bumper of the table.  When it does so, it will bounce off at an angle that is both equal but opposite to the way in which it struck the bumper.  This too is how light rays incident to a Reflective screen behave.  Some of the more commonly known reflective screens are:  Cinema Vision, Pearlescent, Video Spectra 1.5, Silver Vision and Silver Matte.
 

 
Figure 2
 
Very well then, what does the way in which a screen scatters, refracts or reflects the light incident to its surface have to do with the potential for a hotspot?  It actually has everything to do with it.  You see what we need to consider when discussing a hotspot is the fact that light coming from the projector is striking the screen surface at many different angles.  Take for instance a ceiling mounted LCD projector.  The center most light ray is striking the screen at an angle that is downward in the vertical dimension but for the most part perpendicular in the horizontal dimension.  Contrast that with the light which is emitted from the corner of the lens, specifically the upper right side of the lens as we look at the screen.  These light rays are striking the upper right hand corner of the screen nearly perpendicular in the vertical dimension.   However, the way in which it is striking the screen in the horizontal dimension is very different than the light rays emitted from the center of the lens.  Also, take into consideration that a shorter focal length lens will compound these angles.  If you bring the projector closer to the screen, the angles off to the side become increasingly harsh.
 
Alright, we now know the three characteristics of a front projection screen and the basics of how light from a lens strikes a screen surface.  Let us put the two together and see if a brighter projector automatically creates the potential for a hotspot.  Before we do, there is at least one item we must presume about the projector.  With only a few exceptions, LCD, DLP and other “digital” projectors manufactured today provide uniformity across their fields that may vary from center to edge by as little as 10%.  So, for the purposes of discussion, we will say that the projector we have chosen meets these criteria.  This may seem a bit trivial, but it is very important when determining the uniformity of your overall visual display.  If the projector itself is not uniform, then we could have severe problems with our display.  Remember the old CRT projectors?
 
If we were to place the light coming from a very bright projector onto a scattering or Matte White screen, do we have the potential for a hotspot?  The answer to this is definitely not.  Remember even if we have harsh bend angles from the light striking the screen, a scattering screen disperses the light back in a fashion that is equal in all directions.  So the potential here is non-existent.
 
Let us examine further a screen which is Refractive.  Here we have a different scenario.  Given that a Refractive screen will send the most concentrated portion of the light back towards the source, we do have the potential but not perhaps as great as one might think.  Since this type of screen is very directional in its dispersion pattern, our audience will likely be seated within the parameters of the screen and this minimizes the potential.
 
As we learned above, a Reflective screen behaves such that the angle of incidence is equal and opposite of the angle of reflection.  This then, provides a scenario where we could be off axis of the “sweet spot” of the reflection for differing portions of the screen.  Given that, we can assume that our potential for a hotspot increases slightly as we use a Reflective screen.  However, does more light from a projector infer that we will have a uniformity issue?  The quick answer to that is also no.  Remember a hotspot is not created by the brightness output of a projector. It is created by the relationship between the projector’s lens function and the screen’s directionality.  Providing that we use a long enough focal length lens (by my experience at least 1.6), we should not have any issues with uniformity regardless of the screen chosen.  If then, the display requires a short focal length lens, we now know that we must use a low gain “Scattering” screen to help minimize the potential for hotspotting.  So remember, brighter does not always mean that we will have uniformity issues.  We must make our decisions of screen selection and lens selection based on this knowledge.

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AMX Parent Company Buys Chief, Sanus

"Duchossois is quietly buying complementary AV companies. In this case, buying Chief and Sanus is a fantastic move as they are two great companies. They, with AMX, make Duchossois a company to closely watch. " — Gary Kayye, CTS

Here is the press release:

DUCHOSSOIS GROUP ACQUIRES MILESTONE AV TECHNOLOGIES, ADDING LEADING
BRANDS IN CONSUMER AND COMMERCIAL MOUNTING SOLUTIONS FOR
AUDIO-VISUAL PRODUCTS

Savage, MN — May 15, 2008 — The Duchossois Group announced today that it has acquired Milestone AV Technologies ("Milestone"), North America's leading producer of mounting solutions sold principally under the Chief and Sanus Systems brand names, from private equity investors led by Friedman Fleischer & Lowe. Terms of the all-cash acquisition were not disclosed.

"Milestone possesses all the criteria we look for in an operating platform — the most innovative and highest quality products sold into growth markets, leading brand names and, above all, an exceptional management team," stated Robert Fealy, Executive Vice President of Duchossois. "It is a great fit with our AMX, Chamberlain and Heath-Zenith businesses," he added.

"I speak for our entire team in saying that we are absolutely delighted to join the Duchossois Group of companies," said Scott Gill, Chief Executive Officer of Milestone. "We share much in common with our new sister companies, each of which is the leader in its respective markets. That Duchossois was willing to undertake this transaction in the face of uncertain economic times speaks volumes about their confidence in our ability to grow the business through the world-class products and the high levels of service we provide to our customers around the world."

Milestone was formed in 2004 through the combination of the two leading mounting solutions companies, Chief Manufacturing and Sanus Systems. The company counts among its customers the majority of Consumer Electronics retailers and is also the leading provider of mounting solutions to professional AV dealers and system integrators. The Company is headquartered in Minnesota and has approximately 400 employees worldwide. Milestone will operate as a wholly-owned affiliate of the Duchossois Group and Scott Gill will continue in his role as Chief Executive Officer of the Company.

Source: http://downloads.chiefmfg.com/MARKETING/PressReleases/Milestone_DII_press_release_FINAL_5-14-08.pdf

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New Epson Sub-$900 XGA Goes Retail

Epson’s new EX90 is billed as a projector for small and medium businesses, and the plan is to sell it via Staples and OfficeMax as well as other retail locations. The EX90 is specified at 2600 lumens, and XGA resolution, and it weighs six pound. It uses 3LCD technology.

Other features include five-second start-up, Instant Off, an AV Mute Slide, a 1.2x power zoom lens and auto keystone correction.

Estimated street price is $899, including the carrying case.

For more information, go to http://www.epson.com/cgi-bin/Store/consumer/consDetail.jsp?BV_UseBVCookie=yes&oid=63075335

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Barco Shipping 10-Megapixel Windows-Integrated Projector for Collaboration

Barco released a 10-megapixel projector with multi-windowing software and integrated Microsoft Windows. The XDC-3000 has Barco’s Control Center software, which we’ve seen in other Barco collaborative projectors. It lets the users control the projector with a mouse and keyboard. The XDC-3000 lets the user open and control up to 10 sources simultaneously, including local, connected, software and networked sources, with each window displaying in its own native resolution. The windows can be moved, resized, and overlap the windows, just as you might with Windows desktop software.

Barco says the networking capabilities and the higher resolution also make this suited to life-size videoconferencing.

Barco’s XDC-3000 is a bundle of Barco’s LX-5 10 megapixel LCoS projector and a Barco-engineered flat high-contrast screen. Barco says the system is supported by space-efficient rear-projection mechanics and quick installation.

For more information, go to http://www.barco.com/corporate/en/pressreleases/show.asp?index=2085

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Canon Bringing Own LCoS to InfoComm

Canon, which previously purchased LCoS technology from JVC, announced the company developed its own LCoS and will bring the technology for the first time to InfoComm. A scource also reported the company will continue to source from JVC for existing products.

Canon developed two types of LCOS panels: a 0.71-inch WUXGA (1,920 x 1,200 pixels) panel, (which Canon says is the world's first LCOS panel of its size to achieve such a level of resolution), and a 0.55-inch SXGA (1,400 x 1,050 pixels) panel.

The company reports that they developed all the key parts, including the AISYS optical engine for optimizing LCOS performance; the lenses, and the drive IC, which drives the panels.

Also, Canon expects the new WUXGA (1,920 x 1,200 pixels) panel to be used for both projecting HDTV resolution and also for high resolution business use.

Canon began marketing high-resolution multimedia office projectors using LCoS in 2004.

For more information, go to http://www.usa.canon.com/templatedata/pressrelease/20080520_lcos.html

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FOR-A to Demo 16-Channel Multi-Viewer, Video Writer

FOR-A Corporation of America is bringing to InfoComm the company’s MV-1610HS 16-channel, multi-viewer, the HVS-650HS switcher and the MPB-100VW Video Writer.

The MV-1610HS supports mixed input of HD-SDI, SD-SDI and analog composite signals. High-resolution video output using a DVI terminal is included as standard. Support is also provided for user-created patterns and video transfer over a LAN connection.

The HVS-650HS switcher is an HD/SD compatible switcher in a 2RU frame.

The MPB-100VW Video Writer has a telestrator that responds to a finger’s touch. The Video Writer allows a user to draw and point with a finger through an optional touch panel in real-time over HD/SD-SDI video in real-time. It has pre-programmed graphic shapes, but can also process straight line and free-hand drawings as well. The Video Writer creates an array of lines that vary in color, edge width and thickness. Drawn objects can be moved, copied or deleted as needed during demonstrations.

For more details, go to http://www.for-a.com/products/index.html

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SMART Targets Corporations With New Collaboration Products

SMART Technologies, known for interactive whiteboards for education, announced three products specifically geared to corporate collaboration. In fact, they can connect remote rooms together for sharing data and other information, so it’s one step short of audio or video conferencing. But this handles the collaboration functions in similar ways as SMART has done for years now.

The company says these three products combine with single or multiple SMART Board interactive whiteboards and SMART Board interactive displays. The participants can create connected meeting rooms where dispersed staff can set up a data conference, write in digital ink over any application and save their work, share desktops and notes, and participate as if they were in the same room.

SMART Meeting Pro software includes whiteboarding and data conferencing to rooms with a dedicated computer and one or more SMART Board interactive whiteboards or displays. The software can connect multiple displays and laptops in the same room or around the world. and teams can display documents and images. Notes can be made on any display in digital ink, then saved to a network drive, the desktop or a USB key and distributed via e-mail. SMART Meeting Pro is available at MSRP of US$5,999.

SMART Hub SE is a collaboration appliance that provides basic whiteboarding and data conferencing without a PC. Combined with a SMART Board interactive whiteboard or display, SMART Hub SE lets meeting participants write over any application, including video, and save their notes. This product also allows whiteboarding and sharing info with colleagues in the same room or remotely, and sharing of laptop content. This will ship June 26 with MSRP of US$3,999.

SMART Hub PE supports single and multiple interactive displays in the same room and/or over distance. It has whiteboarding, integrated data conferencing and a wireless laptop connection. Participants can write over files on a single interactive display or simultaneously with team members on multiple displays. Notes can be saved to a network drive, the desktop or a USB key and distributed via e-mail. SMART Hub PE will begin shipping July 10 with MSRP of US$7,999.

For more information, go to http://www2.smarttech.com/st/en-US/About+Us/News+Room/Media+Releases/default.htm?guid={36E49987-FF24-4D73-A944-6F9DB54EA8C8}

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New Firmware Release, Price Reduction for HaiVision’s OSCAR

HaiVision announced a firmware release for the OSCAR H.264 encoder as well as a price reduction of the OSCAR to $1,995. HaiVision says this price point will make it more affordable for users who need to encode video to do so at each contribution point rather than relying on expensive capture cards. With OSCAR, the encoded feeds are then transported to a central Flash media server for web distribution.

The OSCAR is a compact, stand alone video encoder appliance that uses the H.264 standard to compress audio video signals for delivery over IP. It can directly stream network video to QuickTime or Flash environments, or directly to OSCAR decoders for point to point applications.

The company says the firmware release delivers twice the performance at full video (SD/D1) resolution with full frame rate full resolution video at bit rates up to 1.5 Mbps.

For more details, go to http://www.haivision.com/news/?ArticleID=100260

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New 3D Virtual Black Projection Screen, Velour Staging Curtain From Da-Lite

Da-Lite recently announced two new products – a rear-screen projection screen for 3D and a velour drapery for staging.

The 3D Virtual Black projection screen material is designed exclusively for 3D rear screen applications, making it an industry first. The 3D Virtual Black is designed with new polarization preserving properties engineered by Da-Lite’s research chemists. It will be shown for the first time at InfoComm.

Da-Lite says the technology effectively eliminates stereoscopic cross talk or “ghosting” by maintaining 99 percent polarization purity. The company also says the fabric has the highest extinction value, resulting in improved viewing of 3D passive stereoscopic images. Also, it is seamless, 16 feet high, and folds for transportation. Da-Lite expects this to sell to movie and entertainment industry, oil and gas surveying applications, medical and pharmaceutical applications, robotic surgery, museums, industrial and architectural design and the electronic gaming industry.

For more information, go to http://www.dalite.com/whats_hot/

Also new are the Ultra Velour drapery fabrics, flame retardant staging curtains in both permanent and rental applications. Ultra Velour fabric is sound neutral, weighs 10 percent less than Da-Lite’s current drapery line, and features high opacity and is machine washable.

This is available in three colors, black, pewter gray and blue.

For more information, go to http://www.dalite.com/whats_hot/index.php?wID=172

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Extron Introduces New, Larger VGA and Stereo Audio Switchers

Extron announced new eight- and twelve-input VGA and stereo audio switchers as part of the SW VGA Series. The SW8 VGA and SW12 VGA are compatible with computer-video resolutions up to QXGA and feature dual buffered outputs, input signal sensing, auto-input switching, and multiple modes of control. All models are compatible with high-resolution RGBHV computer-video signals, as well as HDTV component analog signals with tri-level sync, making them especially suited for small to mid-sized applications where high resolution switching is needed.

The Extron SW VGA Series of switchers is available in sizes from two inputs to twelve inputs. In addition to auto-input switching, which automatically switches to the highest-numbered input with an active sync signal, all SW VGA Series switchers can be controlled via their front panel, RS-232, and contact closure remote control. All models also feature active PC audio buffering, which converts unbalanced stereo audio to balanced line level signals, providing enhanced protection from hum and interference over long cable runs; and audio output volume control, which eliminates the need for a separate audio preamp in many system designs, reducing cost and simplifying integration and control programming.

Or more information, go to http://www.extron.com/product/product.aspx?id=swvgaarsseries

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SurgeX Bringing Next Generation Flagship Sequencer to InfoComm

SurgeX redesigned its flagship sequencer and power conditioner, the SEQ, to further up the control for today’s AC power platforms. The SEQ incorporates all the latest SurgeX technologies, says the company, including Advanced Series Mode surge elimination, Impedance Tolerant EMI/RFI filtering, SurgeX ICE Inrush current elimination and COUVS Catastrophic Over/Under Voltage Shutdown.

The latest generation SEQ features a sharper, easier to read, display and enhanced software. New features include a 12 Volt DC Output that can be programmed to control an additional remote system, and the ability to program additional always-on outlets.

The SEQ has three physical banks of four outlets each that can be sequenced with two external (remote) banks of equipment. It is designed to interface with other control systems and can be infinitely cascaded with other SurgeX products. Like all SurgeX products, the SEQ is backed by a 10-Year warranty.

For more information, go to http://www.surgex.com/

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Kramer Introduces VP-435 Component/UXGA HDMI Scaler

Kramer Electronics is shipping the VP-435 Component/UXGA HDMI Scaler. The unit, which incorporates HDMI, scales incoming video signals and outputs an HDMI signal with any associated audio embedded. The VP-435 is especially suited for projection systems in conference rooms, boardrooms, hotels and churches, as well as for home theater and residential use.

The VP-435 is housed in a desktop-sized enclosure, operates via 12VDC and comes with an On-Screen Display. It offers a non-volatile memory that retains the last settings used. The unit can be controlled directly using front-panel buttons, IR remote control transmitter (included with purchase), or a remote dry contact switch.

For more information, go to http://www.kramerelectronics.com/indexes/item.asp?name=VP-435

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Two New Professional LCD Monitors From Sharp

Sharp introduced the new TL Professional LCD Monitor line of 1920 x 1080, two-megapixel HD resolution monitors. The new series, including the 52-inch class (52.03” diagonal) TL-M5200 and the 46-inch class (45.9” diagonal) TL-M4600, target teleconferencing, CAD/simulation, digital signage, corporate, educational, training, hospitality, sports arenas, entertainment and house-of-worship.

The TL series is designed with a new thin, lightweight cabinet design for easy installation as well as RJ-45 LAN control. It is also designed with a fanless operation.

The TL-M5200 is available now with MSRP of $4,995. The TL-M4600 will be available in June with MSRP of $3,995.

For more information, go to http://www.sharpusa.com/products/FunctionPressReleaseSingle/0,1080,769-8,00.html

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New QuadView HD From RGB Spectrum

RGB Spectrum introduced the QuadView HD, a display processor for showing multiple images on a single monitor or projector. It has web based control, dynamic window sizing, borders and titling, smooth zooms/pans and more.

The QuadView HD accepts high resolution DVI, RGB, HDTV, S-Video, component and NTSC/PAL composite video. Up to twenty four sources can be connected, any four of which can be displayed simultaneously.

For more information, go to http://www.rgb.com/en/Products/ViewProduct.asp?product=QuadViewHD

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InfoComm International Becomes ANSI Accredited Standards Developer

InfoComm International has been recognized as an American National Standards Institute Accredited Standards Developer. InfoComm’s standards will be developed as international standards and, as warranted, will be presented for adoption by the International Standards Organization (ISO).

InfoComm’s exclusive focus in standards development is on system performance, rather than individual product or technology standards. This program will provide the industry with performance standards that AV companies can build their systems to meet, while giving the industry’s customers clear industry standards on which they can rely.

InfoComm will lead this activity under its Performance Standards Committee, but the standards created will benefit the whole industry and its customers. All InfoComm standards will be developed through a disciplined ANSI process to reach consensus among everyone involved with AV systems.

For more details, go to http://www.infocomm.org/cps/rde/xchg/infocomm/hs.xsl/avindustry_5967.htm

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NSCA Education Foundation’s Golf Tournament and Concert Set for InfoComm 08

The NSCA Education Foundation will debut its popular charity events, the industry golf tournament and industry concert, at InfoComm 08 in Las Vegas.

Before the show opens, attendees can enjoy a round of golf and socialize with their industry colleagues at the Systems Integration Industry Charity Golf Tournament. In addition to the NSCA Education Foundation, proceeds will also support the International Communications Industry Foundation and the local chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. The event takes place on June 17 with a shotgun start at Rhodes Ranch Golf Course in Las Vegas.

The industry concert, featuring the Drunk Unkles, is another great opportunity to relax and network after show hours. The concert begins at 9 p.m. on June 18 at “The Joint” in the Hard Rock Hotel. This world-renowned rock club has hosted, among others, the following artists: The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Velvet Revolver, Coldplay, Norah Jones, The Killers, Snoop Dogg, The White Stripes, Tom Petty, Duran Duran, Jon Bon Jovi, Motley Crue, Depeche Mode, Aerosmith, David Bowie, Metallica, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Neil Young. Visit the NSCA Zone at InfoComm 08 to pick up an invitation to enter the event.

For more information, go to http://www.nsca.org/nscaatinfocomm/events/schedule/index.html

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