James Kirby Futuresource Consulting The professional audio market has traditionally been an area of long-term growth, driven by macro factors and innovation across a range of vertical and product segments. However, the outbreak of COVID-19 came as an unprecedented shock to the industry, negatively impacting many of the industries which previously provided long-term growth for […]
By Adam Cox Futuresource Consulting 2020 was a tumultuous year and one that will cast a long shadow over almost every aspect of our lives. For many of those normally working in offices, one of the most significant changes has been being forced to work from home as most countries around the world went through […]
A new study released by Aura Health and Safety, The Phylmar Group, and SafeTraces, Inc, a company in DNA-based technology solutions, suggests that artificial fog has no negative impact on suspension of aerosols in entertainment venues and productions. This is great news for the film, television and live entertainment industries, with a U.S. market size […]
When looking back on last year, the best description that neatly wrapped up our collective experience in a bow was from Leslie Jones on a 2020 recap show on Netflix. Her character said, “I’d say it was a train wreck and a s*&tshow, but that would be unfair to trains and s*&t.” Seriously though, let’s […]
In a recent blog, Gary Kayye wrote about the current global supply shortage of semiconductors. Take a moment and read the blog and the linked Wall Street Journal article. They both raise some important concerns about what the next several quarters will bring in regards to this shortfall. Unfortunately, my blog is not going to […]
As the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic leaves India vulnerable, XTEN-AV is looking to deploy much-needed resources. The unprecedented number of cases and deaths are accompanied by a shortage of medical supplies and an overburden on healthcare facilities. XTEN-AV is asking fellow #AVtweeps to support those working on the frontlines to provide healthcare, economic […]
The first HOLOGATE WORLD will open its doors in September this year as a key attraction in FLAIR, a newly modernized urban marketplace in Fürth, Germany. Embedded between the Neue Mitte, town hall and city theater, FLAIR is Fürth’s largest retail property with 18,000 m². It’s a three-floor shopping and adventure experience sporting a new […]
ISE distributed a release today letting the AV market know that, although it planned for four different regional ISE events in lieu of the traditional ISE Show (canceled due to COVID-19), it turns out that country-based regulations will not allow the organization to have the show in two of the intended locations, including Munich and […]
I was in the middle of writing a blog post on a different topic altogether when I came across an article in the Wall Street Journal that immediately captured my attention. Published Monday, March 29, the piece is titled, “As Concerts Prepare to Return From Pandemic Lockdown, Roadies Have Moved On.” I was curious to […]
Do not underestimate what I am about to tell you. In case you haven’t been reading the tech sections of the newspapers lately, there’s a global semiconductor shortage (branded as the “chip shortage of 2021”) and, although it hasn’t affected our market yet, it will, starting in late July. So, who cares? Well, you’d better, […]
Microsoft just completed its “2021 Work Trend Index: Annual Report.” And parts of it are frightening. While the world debates the future of work after the pandemic, this Microsoft report mainly zeroes in on the state of work today. This survey was conducted by among 31,092 full-time employed or self-employed workers across 31 markets between […]
The past year demonstrated how the immense flexibility of digital signage helped many organizations quickly adapt to operate safely during the pandemic. And while we’re not yet out of the woods, this is a good time to reflect on some takeaways from the COVID-19 crisis. 1. The flexibility of digital signage has been a lifesaver […]
A year ago, churches nationwide unexpectedly were thrust into exclusively doing virtual events and services, over many months. With churches recently returning to live services, and the worst relating to the pandemic seemingly behind us … what now? Over these past 12 months, churches have adapted on the fly. Many have begun hosting live services […]
I thought this general term, “FUD,” used in two different connotations would be highly relevant and appropriate to many people (domestic and international), especially within the past year. I want to point out that I am not in the medical field and that these are my own opinions based on my professional (well over 30 […]
Like many other sectors, the consumer electronics market has also been affected by the COVID-19 crisis. The surge in global demand for PCs quelled the pandemic’s negative effect on consumer electronics spending, which still slipped to $1.02 trillion in 2020, globally — down from $1.2 trillion in 2019. According to data presented by StockApps.com, global […]
Over the last year, churches nationwide have seen how vital quality video and streaming are in spreading the message. For churches that weren’t streaming before last March, the sudden rush to begin left behind various technical issues. Following weeks of lockdowns and reduced capacity for in-person services, many churches now look to further improve their […]
People often throw around the expression that “history repeats.” In truth, the original axiom — it’s attributed to Mark Twain, although I suspect it’s even older — states that “history doesn’t repeat, but it does rhyme.” It’s certainly true that if you stick around long enough, you begin to see patterns — that what’s happening […]
By Matthew Rubin Futuresource Consulting The past year has been one of the most volatile on record for the professional displays industry. As COVID-19 spread across the globe, supply chains were interrupted and end-user demand plummeted in some of the biggest markets. Add into the mix the increasing appeal of LED, which makes it a […]
By Chris Pennell Futuresource Consulting Futuresource’s Home Working survey asked 1,500 employees across America, France, Germany, and the U.K. about the impact COVID-19 has had on their working patterns, as well as the use of work technology in the home. The findings indicate that post-COVID-19, respondents expect the changes to working patterns to continue in […]
By James Kirby Futuresource Consulting The Industry Begins to Recover The broadcast and video content industries have experienced significant changes over the past 12 months. The outbreak of COVID-19 has come as a substantial external shock, hindering the creation and supply of premium content. At the same time, demand for video content in the home […]
By Zee Hakimoglu Chair & CEO, ClearOne Over the last 12 months, the ideas of “work from home” and “distributed workforce” have evolved from novel ideas for office workers into necessary structures intended to protect the safety and health of employees while enabling continued business operations. As a result, organizations around the world are poised […]
An interview with Sam Taylor, senior vice president and COO, Almo Professional A/V By: The Almo Pro A/V Blog Team With 2020 in the rearview mirror, we are settling in and setting our sites on new goals in 2021. And yes, while 2021 is already starting with its share of challenges, there is a bright […]
Keeping connected amidst the global pandemic has become critically important for schools. Central Lyon School District in Rock Rapids, Iowa has leveraged its digital signage to facilitate sporting events and maintain a community spirit — even while observing official health and safety guidelines. Central Lyon is a unique K-12 school district that serves 780 students, […]
I went on record last year saying that the official motto for 2020 should be “Oh No, What NOW!?” Frankly, January 2021 already got off to a rollicking start. If you thought 2020 was a “Gong Show,” so far we’ve all had an eventful year and it’s not even February yet. I’ve written before about […]
By Lisa Schneider EVP of Marketing & Sales, Videotel Digital All customer-facing businesses have been dealing with COVID-related challenges that have adversely affected their revenue, if not their ability to stay in business altogether. Many of these large and mid-size businesses, as well as small entrepreneurs, need solutions that allow their customers to enter their […]
Higher ed just lived through what may be the strangest semester we have ever had. At my school, we held in-person classes, and — knock on wood — we were very successful, with limited numbers of COVID cases and no serious cases. Like many other schools, we employed social distancing, lower limits on people in […]
Back in September 2020, a decision was reached by Messe Frankfurt and the industries involved to forgo any physical events at its home base in the first quarter of 2021. Now, following close consultation with customers, the organization announced that “it has become necessary to postpone the international physical trade fairs planned for April and […]
Welcome to my 21st annual Kayye’s Krystal Ball! I love writing this annual predictions article — it’s both humbling and rewarding. It requires me to stop and research anything new, evaluate the potential impact it will have and then articulate it in a way that matters to readers. If you’re a regular reader of my […]
Simply stated, mid-September 2021. Decimated by COVID-19, most that are still standing have turned to virtual events. But, in those cases, you are trading dollars for dimes. Live events will not make any sort of significant recovery in 2021, I am sad to say. I miss them as much as anyone. But until we have […]
Some of my closest #AVtweeps know that back last summer, I volunteered to be one of the 43,448 people within the global trial to get injected with the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine (aka: BNT162b2 0.3 ml). Yes, I received the actual vaccine rather than the placebo (21,720 people in the study received BNT162b2 and 21,728 received […]
In the weird/unpredictable/unprecedented (did I get all the cliches in there?) times we are in, a question has stayed at the forefront of all of our minds: What the heck are our jobs going to make us do when COVID-19 is no longer a thing? For the past (almost) year, we’ve said “new normal” this […]
As I think I’ve mentioned more than once in recent columns, everybody I know is taking stock of the new world they find themselves in and asking themselves how they can make money. Some answers can be fairly radical, such as opening up into channels you’ve never been in before. Others can be more elementary, […]
