Look Nice, Honor Your Colleagues
We’re rolling out the red carpet for AV industry all-stars, such as 2015 Adele De Berri Pioneer of AV Brian Critchley, Founder of Digital Projection; 2015 Educator of the Year Paul Zielie, CTS-D, of AMX; and 2015 Fred Dixon Service in Education Award-winner Alan Brawn, CTS, ISF-C, Principal of Brawn Consulting.
Join us for the InfoComm Awards Dinner, immediately following the InfoComm 2015 Opening Reception, Tuesday, June 16, at the Orange County Convention Center. It’s the place to see and be seen, mingle with friends, and honor outstanding industry pioneers, educators, volunteers and more. Help us honor Volunteer of the Year Ron Camden of Biamp Systems; CTS Holder of the Year Byron Tarry, CTS, LEED AP, of Sharp’s Audiovisual; and Young AV Professionals Award-winner Jeremy Caldera, CTS-D, CTS-I, of Zdi.
You’ll also meet Women in AV Award-winners Heather Callaway, CTS-D, of SiteReady Design, and Wendy Cox of Milestone AV Technologies. Read the news about all the InfoComm Award winners, then grab your colleagues and make a night of it. Single tickets are $125 for members and $150 for non-members. Full table sponsorships can be purchased for $1,250 (eight seats). Order now or contact us for more information.
Putting Drones to Work in Pro AV
Drones make a nice addition to your radio-controlled collection. You can interact with them through voice and motion and even turn them into flying web servers. But have you considered that drones could be used as sensors or input devices for pro-AV applications? Read about the pro-AV applications of drones and integration-specific drone training at InfoComm 2015’s Unmanned Systems and Drones Pavilion. Yes, flying is included.
Weekly Reading: Opportunity is Knocking
And it doesn’t always knock more than once. The question is, can you hear opportunity knocking? In this edition of Weekly Reading, we follow leads where they take us, from augmented reality to battery-powered buildings. What’s the opportunity for pro AV? That’s for you to figure out.
And if you have a knack for identifying the next big thing, visit the new Innovations Showcase at InfoComm 2015. These companies have never exhibited at InfoComm, but they offer solutions you might be able to use right away. They’re competing for $10,000 and your vote counts. See them all.
All UCC, All the Time
Revisit our three-part special report on unified communications and collaboration (UCC) and pro AV. And download the white paper The Role of the AV Industry in Unified Communications and Collaboration. Then get serious about the latest in UCC at InfoComm 2015.
On the show floor, visit the Unified Communications and Collaboration Pavilion, where you’ll find the latest videoconferencing and telepresence systems, networked whiteboards, telework technologies and more. Meet UCC integrators and service providers and learn how UCC and videoconferencing-as-a-service can help customers operate more efficiently.
For a deep dive, take part in the UCC Solutions Summit, a multiday program presented by IMCCA, the non-profit industry association promoting communication and collaboration technology and applications. Join one or both the UCC Lunch and Learns, which will cover the state of the industry and collaboration tools. Flip through the UCC Solutions Summit program.
Meet the 10,000th CTS Holder
Last month, InfoComm welcomed the 10,000th Certified Technology Specialist™ to the ranks of the AV industry: Larry Flad, CTS, of PSX Audiovisual Technologies in New Orleans. “I'm looking forward to the recognition that comes with the CTS credential, along with my 19 years in the industry,” Flad says. “I plan to take the CTS-D test in the next few months.”
Who’s next? InfoComm 2015 will feature three-day prep classes, starting Saturday, June 13, for CTS, CTS-D (Design) and CTS-I (Installation) certifications. After you’ve taken the prep class that’s right for you (or even if you don’t need a prep class) you can take the CTS exam of your choice right at the show. And when you pass the test, pose for a selfie and add your name to the CTS Wall of Fame .
On Friday morning of InfoComm 2015, join fellow CTS-certified professionals for a special CTS Holder Breakfast. Network with your peers, compare all-night-study stories and learn from longtime CTS holders what it means to be certified in the AV industry. Separate registration for the breakfast is required.
Infographic: Corporate AV Should Be Exceptional
Businesses work and communicate more effectively — internally and with the public — when they use expertly designed and integrated audiovisual systems. An exceptional experience in corporate AV combines content (formatted and delivered so people can comprehend), space (perfect lighting, acoustic and environmental conditions) and technology (seamlessly integrated and flawlessly functioning). Check out the new infographic.
At InfoComm 2015, tech managers of all stripes — corporate to higher education — can enjoy sessions and events designed especially for them. Here’s how tech managers can plan their time in Orlando.
Podcast: Tomorrow's AV Pros Today
Workforce development remains a challenge for the AV industry. How do we attract fresh talent and the next generation of tech-savvy professionals? Recently, InfoComm and the International Communications Industries Foundation (ICIF) started several programs to encourage and develop a new crop of AV integrators and designers. Hear AV pros discuss mentoring and the ICIF's new grant program for encouraging job training on the InfoComm Today Podcast.
Thinking about your own tomorrow in the AV industry? Stop by Booth #4091 during show floor hours for InfoComm’s second annual career fair. Meet employers from leading AV companies that are looking for qualified professionals. Network with colleagues and explore potential opportunities. You can have a complimentary head shot taken, get help perfecting your resume, and learn how to build your social media profile.
Harnessing the Cloud for Pro AV
InfoComm University™’s new online course, Harnessing the Cloud for the AV Pro, explains the benefits of cloud technologies and how they can be used to support AV applications. Jody Thomas, CTS, of Emergent Communications Technology, introduces cloud terminology and concepts that cut across the AV industry.
If you like to learn face-to-face with your instructor, catch Thomas at InfoComm 2015, where he will teach a live version of his online class on Wed., June 17. Harnessing the Cloud for Content and Control is a how-to session, focused on innovative ways of integrating existing systems with the cloud. It’s one of many brand-new classes at InfoComm 2015. Learn more and register.
Your AV Environment: Ergonomics 101
Even if your AV system sports an impressive amount of flash, a poorly considered design could ruin it. For example, if a display's too small or placed in an awkward position, it can detract from your message. Addressing such factors requires experience in a key component of AV design: ergonomics. Read this introduction to important aspects of AV ergonomics.
Keep in mind, AV designers can take any of InfoComm University’s in-depth, three-day design classes at InfoComm 2015 in Orlando, starting the Saturday before the show. Choose from AV Design Level 1: Environment, AV Design Level 2: Infrastructure and AV Design Level 3: Applied Design. Alternately, if all you need is a last-minute cram session before testing for your CTS-D credential at InfoComm 2015, sign up for CTS-D Prep, also starting the Saturday before the show in Orlando. You can find them all when you register and select “Multi-Day” from the menu of sessions and events.
Your Inside Look at AV Installs
InfoComm 2015’s Tech Tours are the most fun you can have away from the show floor. These specially selected, behind-the-scenes expeditions give you a rare glimpse at some of the Orlando area’s coolest AV installations. And they sell out fast, so don’t delay. Among your choices:
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The University of Central Florida (Wed., June 17) SOLD OUT
FamiLAB Maker Space (Wed., June 17)
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The Amway Center (Thurs., June 18) SOLD OUT
Lights, Motors, Action Extreme Stunt Show at Disney’s Hollywood Studios (Thurs., June 18)
Finding Nemo — The Musical at Disney’s Animal Kingdom (Fri., June 19)
Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts (pictured, Fri., June 19)
Learn more and register.
Installers! The Reviews Are In
It just came out, but already the CTS-I Exam Guide, from InfoComm and McGraw-Hill, is getting five-star reviews and it’s the number-one new release in its category on Amazon.com. “This is a very useful reference book for digital audio and video, with illustrations and links to great instructional videos” said reviewer Pasquale Fantone of Solutions PFT. “Members of our team are delighted to have this book as a real-world job site reference.”
Buy the CTS-I Exam Guide for your bookshelf, then share your experience with fellow AV pros on Twitter, using the hashtag #CTSPrepper. And sign up for InfoComm University’s installation courses at InfoComm 2015. This is the first time in years that both courses have been offered at the show. Take advantage.
Peer Into the Future at InfoComm 2015
The popular Future Trends session is back — all day Tuesday at InfoComm 2015. Reserve your seat before it’s sold out.
Just announced: Chad Hutson, President and Executive Producer of Leviathan, joins the all-star lineup of Future Trends presenters. He’ll change your definition of an exceptional experience, with jaw-dropping examples of how content and technology can be fused to create sensational effects. Hutson will show you how to come up with mind-blowing AV solutions for both live events and permanent installations. View session details and add Future Trends to your registration.
How to Score a Free Class by Volunteering
Do you want a free pass to an InfoComm University seminar or workshop at InfoComm 2015? Volunteer to be a room host and you can attend the session of your choice for free. As a room host, you will:
- Read a welcome script at the beginning of the session
- Notify the InfoComm Education Office if there are any problems during the session
- Help pass the microphone during audience Q&A
- Read a conclusion script at the end of the session
- Collect session evaluations and return them to the InfoComm Education Office
In return, you’ll get a free front-row seat at one of InfoComm University’s stellar seminars or workshops — plus, free CTS renewal units!
Sign up to host a session. You can volunteer to host any course with the session ID format IS##, IUX## or IUL##. You’ll be notified whether your session is available within five business days.
Upcoming Webinars
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