SVI Magazine

Targeting the professional AV and system integration industries, ISE has already amassed a reputation in its short five-year history for not only being a focal point for some of the industry's best and brightest, but also for acting as a launch pad for the latest innovations. If last year’s event was anything to go by, we knew that the next couple of days were sure to impress.

Arriving at Amsterdam’s RAI exhibition centre almost a full day before the event kicked off, we entered the arena to set up the SVI stand. Making our way through the main hall, which at this point resembled an immense warehouse, it was hard to imagine that in less than 24-hours this arena would be teeming with activity. Yet things were already beginning to take shape. Looking past the concrete
floors and stacks of rubbish strewn around, you could see a multitude of industry professionals busily readying their stands and setting up their latest technological marvels. Building on the success of ISE 2007, this year saw the organisers secure an extra hall and as we found time for a brief exploration, it was evident that filling it had posed no problem whatsoever.

This was, of course, something that we had expected, given that six weeks ago the organisers were happily announcing that a waiting list had been started as the floorspace had already sold out. At the time, Mike Blackman, Managing Director, Integrated Systems Events commented: “At the end of ISE 2007, we announced we’d be occupying a fifth hall at the RAI because of the number of exhibitors wanting additional space. Since then we have signed up for a sixth and finally a seventh hall to meet demand, and there simply is no further space available.” The increase in space required was not only due to a host of previous exhibitors requesting larger stands – amongst them Sony, SpeakerCraft and Canon – who tripled their presence - but also to the large number of new companies keen to demonstrate their wares.

by the numbers
To fully appreciate the scale of the show let me give you some statistics. This year, the size of exhibition space rose to a whopping 38,500 gross square metres. This was effortlessly filled by 481 booths featuring exhibitors from 33 countries – 17 per cent of which hailed from the UK. The event's burgeoning success is clear for all to see.

Whilst providing a platform for our industry's leading manufacturers and suppliers, this year’s ISE also offered up an extended programme of educational seminars, as well as introducing a number of exciting new features. Old favourites such as CEDIA Region 1 presented attendees with a series of 45-minute ‘bite-sized’ training sessions such as ‘The CEDIA RIBA CPD Course – Designing Future Ready Homes’ and ‘Home Cinema Design By Numbers’, in order to whet their appetite for the full CEDIA programmes available. Given the number of visitors seen flocking to the CEDIA stand, these free-of-charge sessions were not only a success in their own right, but have provided a lot of anticipation for CEDIA’s main training event to be held during CEDIA Expo, at London’s ExCeL Centre later in the year.

Also getting in on the training action, InfoComm International hosted a number of conference seminars, amongst them ‘Digital Signage’ and ‘Installation Issues for Converged AV/IT Systems’, with attendance at each counting as a renewal unit towards the 30 units that InfoComm members must achieve every three years in order to maintain CTS certification. Offered from a dedicated multilingual training stand, automation experts AMX delivered two specially-devised seminars as part of a rolling programme of 15-minute presentations, which spanned the length of ISE and covered ‘New Product Introduction’ and ‘Economical Room Control’.

In addition to the conference programme, which featured sessions held by the likes of Kaleidescape, Extron and NaimNet, the ISE presentation theatre ensured that if desired, every minute of a visitor’s time could be put to good use. One of the highlights found within the theatre was undoubtedly the inaugural appearance of the ISE Manufacturer’s Forum. Discussing topics such as ‘The AV/IT trend – what does it all mean?’, ‘HD videoconferencing – is it the "killer" VTC application?’ and ‘Making money selling displays – can you?’, the panel consisted of Andrew Edwards (Extron), Randy Klein (Crestron), Jeremy Burkhardt (Crestron), Allan Bjornstad (Tandberg), Dirk Hendrickx (Barco) and AC Ter Meulen (Mitsubishi). Full details of their discussion, together with a plethora of other information and product news can be found here online shortly.

standing proud
Arriving at the show an hour before the grand opening, I found that an immense crowd was already amassing, eagerly waiting to explore the vast array of stands on offer. During the press briefing it was announced that as of 08:00 that morning, the number of pre-registered attendees was clocked at 19,403 - over 3000 more than had attended the entire event last year. By the time the ribbon was cut at the grand opening, the excitement was palpable - and it wasn’t hard to see why. Filled with red carpets that stretched out in several directions, the centre was a far cry from how it had looked the day before, and the effort undertaken by each exhibitor was blindingly obvious.

When attending an exhibition on the scale of ISE, you are faced with a difficult choice. You have a finite amount of time to devote to each company, and as editor of the leading trade title, I had even less with the various meetings and press conferences that I was due to attend. Thankfully, and perhaps inevitably, I found myself being drawn towards certain stands, the first of which was occupied by Panasonic. Granted, I was scheduled to be there for the European debut of the new 150-inch plasma screen, but like many others I happily loitered around the stand long before the unveiling.

Evidence of the company’s commitment to PDP technology, this latest offering owes its existence to Panasonic’s own, aptly named ‘Neo’ technology. Comprising new materials, a new manufacturing process, new driver technology and a new cell structure, ‘Neo’ enables the production of panels with half the power consumption, half the weight and a quarter of the depth of what we are currently accustomed to seeing on the market.

With an 8.84-million pixel resolution, the screen is the equivalent of nine 50-inch plasmas, and has double the luminance efficiency of a conventional FHD plasma screen. The quality of the picture was impressive and many commercial applications immediately spring to mind, although neither pricing nor plans for production have as yet been confirmed.

Moving on, I found myself at the Imerge stand where I was introduced to the MP1000 networked MediaPlayer. Expanding the number of independent playback sources and control interfaces in an MS5000-based system, this near-silent unit has a number of notable features, including 1080p output with integrated upscaling, extensive browse and edit capabilities, and SoundServer’s custom-designed, audio-grade electronics, with Wolfson Delta-Sigma 24-bit DACs for superior audio. Featuring the ability to upload content to a host MS5000, and be controllable from the same connection, this latest offering is sure to be a hit amongst installers.

in control
It was hard to miss SpeakerCraft’s imposing black and red stand, but decoration aside, what really stood out were the number of new product ranges making their European debut. Amongst them was their new revision to the popular MODE interface, the MODE Free, which whilst retaining the extensive control features and TFT display of its predecessor offers the addition of RF wireless functionality. With the ability to access any zone throughout the home, this compact keypad can be used with either a table-top or in-wall dock, the latter of which enables the MODE Free to reconnect to the hardwired MZC system.

When SpeakerCraft launched the Theatre in Motion Experience (TIME) last year, these motorised speakers unsurprisingly made a big impact. Now there are three ‘Mini’ additions to the range, the smallest of which – the TIME Mini 2 – features an exterior diameter of just 5 ¾-inches with a 2 ½-inch full-range driver. Along with the TIME Mini 5.1 and 5.3, all three models boast an integrated control unit, which not only provides power and control for the automation functions of up to eight speakers, but also acts as a dedicated subwoofer amplifier offering 150W of power to an 8-inch in-wall subwoofer. With three modular in-wall subwoofer systems, named 'Cinema subs' also joining the SpeakerCraft family, it goes without saying that a large portion of my time was dedicated to thoroughly examining these exciting new additions to this American company’s range.

Eventually I did manage to tear myself away, although I didn’t go far as the elegant stand next door was occupied by automation experts AMX. In addition to occupying a dedicated ‘education stand’, where a rolling-programme of 15-minute presentations were professionally delivered, AMX proudly presented a number of its latest offerings. Receiving their first European airing was the advanced VoIP Metreau entry communication system and the newly-refined Modero range of touch-panels. Offering high-resolution graphics, wireless mobility, digital intercom functionality and an extended battery life, the new 5.2-inch Modero ViewPoint widescreen touch-panel is not only appealing with its slick design, it’s simple to use thanks to a thumb-friendly navigation wheel. With a large contingent of staff on hand to offer both coffee and advice, this popular stand was constantly abuzz with activity.

lighting the way
Another popular choice was the unmistakable Crestron stand. Situated at the entrance to the show, it was truly immense, and despite occupying a larger space than last year, room to move amongst the kit was at a premium. Not only was the bar with free beer and coffee attracting a constant flow of foot-traffic, the numerous technologies were under near-constant examination. Being the lucky woman that I am, I received a full run-down of some of the latest offerings from Robin van Meeuwen, Director of International Sales, including the powerful Adagio Media System with its Advanced Image Processing (AMS-AIP) home theatre processor, which graced last issue’s cover.

This latest addition to the Adagio series offers professional 1080p upscaling, scalable ‘picture in picture’ functions, as well as Ethernet connectivity, built-in tuners and a 100W 7-channel amplifier. Capable of displaying a touchpanel layout, this added functionality allows advanced control of lighting control, HVAC and security devices from a basic remote control device. On the topic of lighting control, Crestron was also keen to draw attention to its new series of European lighting control products - devices designed to integrate audiovisual, security, and building management systems with lighting control.

Also sure to prove popular is the new Multimedia Presentation System (MPS) series, which comprises four models that offer complete out-of-the-box functionality with front panel control, plug-and-play connectivity for Crestron interfaces, and links to RoomView remote management software. The latest addition to the Isys touchpanel series – the TPS-6L - also made a welcome appearance as did the CEN-RGBHV wideband matrix switchers, and Crestron’s High Definition Digital Video Processor.

For everyone who felt a little overwhelmed by the abundance of technology arrayed before them, Crestron was ready with a solution in the form of CrestFest III. An estimated 1000 people attended this legendary annual event after the first day of ISE had officially drawn to a close, and Bonnie, Chantell and I were glad to be among them. After a very long day of pounding the carpets at the RAI, we were more than happy to indulge in a large range of complementary food and drinks as we joined our colleagues for an evening of networking and entertainment in a fun-filled cabaret atmosphere.

I have, of course, only scratched the surface of the delights that surrounded me, and I cannot discuss the various lighting control solutions on offer without mentioning my visit to the folks at the Lutron stand, where I found yet another product receiving its grand debut. Adding new features to the already-popular GRAFIK Eye system, GRAFIK Eye QS provides automatic control of up to three groups of Lutron’s Sivoia QS motorised shades and curtains, and with a more advanced user-interface, displays the real-time energy-savings (up to 100 per cent) that can be achieved by dimming the lights across the system. The HomeWorks system also made a notable appearance with Lutron’s latest wireless, RF wall and lamp dimmers, which serve to provide lighting control in areas where running wires can prove difficult.

adding dimensions
As I continued my journey through the various halls, I was struck by the number of 3D images being produced. Sony’s grandiose stand provided a plethora of desirable products, but the one that caught my attention was the industry’s first 1080i High Definition Videoconferencing system. Capable of displaying anything from PowerPoint presentations to live DVDs, or sharing PC data in HD at 30fps, this latest technology is designed to be a viable alternative to face-to-face meetings. The demonstration was indeed impressive, as the dual stream functionality allows users to send two separate streams of live HD information simultaneously. Boasting 6-site multipoint conferencing, up to five other remote sites can be called up, and with wide band stereo audio, as well as multi-language menu support for 20 different languages, this is sure to make a big splash this year.

Joining in the 3D fun, Philips introduced us to its WOWvx 3D technology, which appeared in the form of a 20-inch and 40-inch display, as well as a video wall. The main advantage of this product is that the image is generated without the need for the viewer to wear those rather fetching, but a little impractical 3D glasses. Instead, digital signage companies will be able to re-process existing 2D material by adding depth information, and subsequently create the 3D image. The screens certainly did stand out amongst the multitude of LCDs and plasmas scattered throughout the halls, and I had immense fun moving from side to side in order to determine the angle at which the image lost its potency. It turned out to be about 45-degrees, which still makes it ideal for commercial applications where catching the eye is key.

Another company that’s thrown its weight behind 3D is Christie Digital. Having already taken its TotalVIEW 3D/VR solutions to the professional market, the company is eager to discuss the number of applications available for this technology, such as providing video walls for conference centres. Using a sophisticated computer/stereoscopic display solution, participants are provided with an artificial reality, projecting them into a 3D space. A number of Christie installations feature the company’s Mirage active stereoscopic 3-chip DLP projectors with SXGA+ or HD resolution, and brightness levels ranging from 3000 to 17,500 lumens.

take a stand
By now my feet were well and truly sore, but I had still so much to see! Continuing my journey, I made my way to a company set to make a larger appearance in the UK market. On its bold yellow and black stand, Chief Manufacturing proudly announced the industry’s first WPA short-throw projector mount. Enabling users to extend a projector up to 12.5-inches from a wall surface, the WPA was shown with a Sanyo XL50 ultra-short throw projector. The mount itself includes integrated roll adjustments and easy extension, whilst the quick projector connect and disconnect capability removes the need for tools, allowing for what I am assured is an ‘effortless’ set-up. To ensure that the projector is securely positioned, security hardware is also included.

Swedish-based projection screen manufacturer, Bjurab, also chose to launch a number of new products, including a new screen material called ReAct! Featuring a dual coated surface designed to control ambient light, this innovative material is being offered by Bjurab at a competitive price point, expanding the market for their screens and subsequently creating a new market opportunity. Whilst the top layer of the screen reflects ambient light, enhancing the white and coloured elements of the projected image, the bottom layer helps to provide good contrast. A number of new screen types have also been added to the company's repertoire, including its first tab-tension models, and these along with many within the existing range can benefit from the new material.

Taking a quick pause, my fellow journalists and I were drawn to a press conference where we bore witness to Stardraw.com MD David Snipp and COMM-TEC founder Wolfgang Lenz confirming COMM-TEC’s new role as the exclusive distribution channel for all Stardraw products throughout Europe - with the UK, Ireland, and Russia remaining under the direct control of Stardraw.com. All of us at SVI wish lots of success to everyone involved in this fruitful new alliance.

My next stop, and sadly the last one that I have the opportunity to recall during this trip down memory lane, was to Yamaha's stand where I was presented with the ProjectPhone range of IP conference system products. Heralded as 'the world's first conference system with integrated speaker/microphone arrays', the PJP-50R delivers high-grade audio conferencing by eliminating echoes (thanks to an adaptive echo canceller, no less) and reproducing voices with higher clarity than ever before. With sixteen microphones per array, and four speakers, this latest product also boasts versatile connectivity from products surprisingly easy to set up.

journey's end
It is hard to imagine how quickly the three days at ISE passed, and the wonderful thing about exploring such a vast and encompassing show is that one minute you're looking at the latest media server, and the next you find yourself investigating the latest industry craze. The only drawback to having such a wealth of products to view, and activities to attend, is that there never seems to be enough time. As I chatted with fellow attendees, one comment that I continually came across was how they wished that the show could be extended to four days.

For everyone other than the most determined of souls, there was indeed too much to see, and unfortunately too much to write about than could fit on these glossy pages. Thankfully, our snappy website is at your disposal, so be sure to keep logging on as more information from companies like Kaleidescape, Smart-e, and British-born Airsound LLP heads your way.

We witnessed a lot of firsts this year, and it was only fitting that SVI got in on the action. This was of course the first exhibition to feature Bonnie, Chantell and myself, and I am happy to say that our stand garnered a great deal of attention! Almost 100 people signed on as subscribers – amongst them individuals from as far afield as Latvia and Mallorca - whilst the stock of magazines that accompanied us was decimated by hordes of attendees all keen to get their hands on our latest issue. Yes, the girls and I may be paying out in podiatrist bills, but our first big team effort was a huge success in keeping with the show itself!

By the end of the three days, a staggering 22,199 attendees from 99 countries had journeyed through the seven halls, compared to the 16,300 that were in attendance last year. Integrated Systems Europe is a show that continues to gain momentum each year, and with a significant number of exhibitors – such as our good selves - already signed up for next year, we are expecting ISE 2009 to be an even bigger success. On that note, I'm off to start planning my flight...

For further information visit: http://www.iseurope.org