As the live events sector wakes up from the nightmare of Covid, it seems to be greeting the new day with unexpected vigour. “Covid devastated the live events market almost overnight,” says Glyn Harries, rental manager at Audio Visual Material. “We lost some good people, and longstanding clients who’d weathered…
Markets
Can I help you?
How easy it is in life to focus on the big picture rather than the fine detail – especially when the picture can be so big, and so absorbing? “Traditionally, AV in retail was simply used to inform the customer about promotions, product information, directions in-store, and so on,” says…
How to aim higher
Few AV markets have witnessed more upheaval in the last two years than higher education. “HE was completely up-ended in 2020,” says Mike Rich, vice-president of strategic alliances at Panopto. “With the rapid move to remote synchronous and asynchronous classes, new technology forced faculty and students to adapt their teaching…
Welcome to the sign age
Walls have ears, said the wartime propaganda posters. But nowadays it’s more likely to be the poster itself that has ears (and eyes) – at least if it’s displayed via digital signage. "Two-way interactivity and data collection are at the cutting edge of digital signage implementations,” says Sean Wargo, senior…
Transport of delight
If there’s one thing worse than knowing that your connection is late, your luggage has gone AWOL and the coffee shop has run out of coffee, it’s not knowing. Travel can be stressful enough when we feel informed and in control. When we don’t, most of us wish we’d stayed…
The roar of the crowd
Sports and entertainment venues today are generally trying to combine two things, says Mark Stanborough, sales director at MediaStar. “The first is delivery of an outstanding experience, and the second is raising revenue. Displays with live or recorded video are no longer enough. They need to work hard and create…
Creating a 21st century view of the past
Often the best way to promote the past is to look to the future. If you want proof, just visit any successful museum or heritage attraction and see how it’s using the latest AV technology to engage with visitors. “AV is used to connect with visitors and inform them about…
Picture, picture on the wall
Big ideas need a big canvas, and that usually means a large format display (LFD) or a video wall. “LFDs can achieve image sizes up to 98in on a single panel at relatively cheap price points,” says Graeme Bunyan, head of integration at Creative Technology UK. “They’re becoming slimmer, with…
Safe and sound – and video
Once derided as out of date and out of touch, the use of technology in front-line public services is now cutting edge. “The public sector doesn’t only push the envelope in its use of AV, it’s a driver for change for the whole AV industry,” says Stijn Ooms, director of…
Virus and varsity
Society’s response to Covid-19 has precipitated radical changes in the use of AV, and higher education is no exception. “Changes in teaching methods that had been gradually working their way through the HE sector before Covid-19 – such as greater use of lecture capture and creation of online modules to…