Sustainability and digital transformation are not new concepts, but in the last couple of years they have become buzzwords for every industry. Firstly, COP26 renewed the urgency for climate action, driving all businesses to rethink how they operate to reduce their global carbon footprint, including the digital signage market. It…
Comment
How MTR Front Row challenges the 16:9 screen dogma
I thought that nothing new would happen when it came to screen options for Microsoft Teams Rooms. Since the very first LRS (Lync room systems) it was obviously the law: front-of-room displays had to have a 16:9 format and full HD resolution, i.e. 1920 x 1080. Depending on your needs,…
Do we need trade shows?
Well, speaking as someone who’s been covering them for 40 years, I think we do actually, but in what form? The AV industry especially is something of a tactile one where personal contact is important, in fact everything. There’s no doubt that customers benefit from in-situ demos and time spent…
It’s all about adaptability
2022 will mark my 44th year in the AV and broadcast business. I’ve had the privilege to work at technical and sales levels for manufacturers, rental/staging firms, systems integrators and television companies during my life in employment. I have been involved with some extraordinary projects, and many of them have…
Four trends in hybrid collaboration and technology
The second year of the pandemic work environment saw the concept of the more flexible hybrid operational model become reality. While the blueprint for hybrid work – in which employees split time between a physical office and a remote location of their choice – began to take shape before Covid's…
How to overcome supply chain shortages in 2022
Everyone knows that the pandemic is causing supply chain issues, but how is this impacting the AV industry and what can we do about it? Some of my work involves helping manufacturers with product development, I have marketing involvement for others, and I also manage the design and delivery of…
What is in the signs for digital signage in 2022?
2021 has been a year of immense change, so much so that it might feel a little dizzying to look ahead. Next year, however, will see some long-running trends start to come to fruition. These are big macro trends that will be impactful across sectors. There is a way, to…
Three predictions for a not-so-post-pandemic world
This year has seen an evolution of how technology is used in all sectors, with businesses increasingly reliant on technology – particularly as a fully remote or hybrid work environment becomes a necessity. And in a not-so-post-pandemic world, IT leaders continue to invest in digital transformation strategies to stay agile. As the impact of the pandemic continues to unfold, we asked IT decision-makers…
What the AV industry gets wrong about Teams Rooms
Earlier this year I co-facilitated a session on hybrid meeting and teaching spaces with Owen Ellis at his AV Consultants’ Group. The consultants' view, expressed unanimously and articulately, was that the pandemic had forced users’ hands in creating and converting hybrid workspaces before they were ready to define and develop…
The AV market speaks…
Over the last month or so AV social channels have been filled with frustration. For the events industry, lead times have become incredibly short – in some instances, barely a week. “We’re entering an espresso culture… not something our industry is used to with its (reputation for) meticulous planning,” said…