Thoughts from InfoComm 2018

One of the most exciting parts about being involved in the AV industry are the trade shows they put together. InfoComm, for example, is the largest audiovisual technology trade show in the country and a winner of the TSNN Award for Top Trade Shows. We recently attended the 2018 conference in Las Vegas, and after three days of viewing the latest and greatest AV technology for the commercial sector, we feel totally invigorated.

Many of the technologies we saw offered numerous practical applications. There are new technologies for the classroom, wireless collaboration for conference rooms, video walls with unbelievable picture quality, and the latest in speaker designs. The classroom systems will allow interactivity with the students, voice lift for the instructors, and document cameras for sharing, making the learning process more intuitive than ever before. Wireless collaboration has big buzz in the industry right now, allowing employees or clients to simply log into the conference room’s presentation system wirelessly with a laptop or smart device from anywhere. It opens up a world of business opportunities.

As we showed with the Harker Event Center case study and our article in Sound & Communication magazine, video walls are an important development in presentations and digital signage. This form of media allows presenters to highlight content that is important to their mission. More and more video walls are being installed to give that “wow” factor to the clients as they enter the lobby of their buildings, and the applications don’t end there. The video feed can display all types of information, from up-to-date sports statistics to stock information, or even a live feed from public Town Hall proceedings. It’s easier than ever to give your business or government facility an edge and provide information to your clients or the general public.

InfoComm 2018 was the window into the future, giving us the opportunity to view technologies and products that are still being developed for upcoming introduction.  There were over 1000 exhibitors at this year’s show, displaying current and emerging products that will revolutionize the industry in coming years. The show is also used for continued education in the AV world to attain or maintain the Certified Technology Specialist credential, the most recognizable program in the industry.

We had a fantastic time at the trade show this year and are really looking forward to all of the projects we can elevate with the newest audiovisual technology. From houses of worship to schools to theaters to government buildings, the possibilities are endless, and we can’t wait to get started.