Resimercial, Part Three: What do you need to know about audio – especially when it comes to echo-canceling and proper mic’ing? How are these spaces calibrated? How are they treated for sound? How are they lit? What are proper camera setups? What about AV over IP – what do you need to know? Again, there will be classes at CEDIA Expo that cover these topics. Our guests are Rich Green (Rich Green Design) and Eddie Shapiro (SmartTouchUSA).
Highlights from the most popular podcasts of 2021 – so far. Topics in these clips include deep dives into speaker tech, KNX, the complex systems in a massive CEDIA-Award-winning project, and much more.
Michael Heiss has been busy, covering events including Display Week, E3, and the Apple Developers Conference (WWDC21). He’ll also tell us about the latest gaming, display, immersive audio developments, and quite a bit more.
https://michaelheiss.com/
Are you thinking about building a showroom? What are the pros and cons? What are some baseline needs when you’re building one? What location considerations do you need to take into account? What tech or AV solutions are absolute musts? Guests include 2020 CEDIA Award winners for Best Showroom: Adam Begley, Wired Life (Asia Pacific); and Shelby Schwartz and Eric Fisher, Cinegration (Americas).
https://cediaawards.org/project/melbourne-experience-center/
https://cediaawards.org/project/cinegration-arvada-experience-center/
Guy Singleton (creator of the CEDIA Designer) and Anthony Grimani (PMI) give us the rundown on the latest updates and features of TCD, and we cover performance facts and concepts behind media room design. Want to get involved with standards at CEDIA? Drop us a line: standards@cedia.org
Details on our new affinity partner with Stuart Collingwood, Managing Director of Zuma. Zuma is an all-in-one biometric lighting plus Wi-Fi audio solution that comes in a variety of form factors ready for in-ceiling installation. The company’s founders are from a variety of well-known manufacturers with decades of experience in the CEDIA channel. They’re ready to work with UK members right now, but they’re expanding.
A preview of our CEDIA Expo 2021 keynote with the presenter, Poppy Crum. The topic: The Future of Storytelling. New technology has not only allowed for new products and human experiences, but also new ways of storytelling. As changing forms of media grow in popularity and scope, businesses are also able to connect with audiences in previously unimaginable ways. Dr. Crum – neuroscientist and technologist with Dolby Labs and Stanford -- looks at the future of storytelling and what audiences concerned with changing media ought to be paying attention to now. Expo registration opens June 9.
Part Two of the Resimercial Series: What are your unified communications options? Videoconferencing at home vs. work – what do you need to know? Can commercial scheduling devices be integrated into home situations? YES, there will be classes at CEDIA Expo that cover these topics. We’re joined by David Danto, Director of Emerging Technology, imcca.org; Steve Rissi, Senior Director of Technical Education, CEDIA; and Ian Bryant, Senior Director Strategic Partnerships, CEDIA.
http://www.imcca.org/
Details on our new affinity partner with Joseph Castonguay, Vice President of Autoslide North America. Autoslide is an automatic sliding door system that retrofits to your existing sliding doors. Although new to Propel, the company’s been around for many years. (Look for them at Expo, too.)
https://cedia.net/membership/benefits/cedia-propel
https://cediaexpo.com/
Longtime CEDIA volunteer and web designer Geoff Meads walk us through best practices for getting your message to existing and potential clients. You can leverage your website for better customer interaction, improved service, and lead generation. We’ll also hear from Taylor Cutler from Podium, a company that specifically handles tools for website interaction and messaging.
Not every speaker is a box, and not every client wants to hide their tech (especially when it comes to audiophiles!). What goes into making “statement pieces” that stand out? Does “form really follow function”? How does a company try to create designs that are both functional and beautiful – and hopefully, timeless? And how do you really hide gear (notably speakers) in odd/unique spaces, yet maintain quality? We speak with Barry Sheldrick from Meridian Audio, and Mike Cleary from James Loudspeaker/Sonance.
https://www.meridian-audio.com/
https://www.meridian-audio.com/products/home-audio-loudspeakers/reference/special-edition-dsp8000/
Jason Voorhees of Cantara, Charlie McClarron from Artcoustic, Luke Crutcher from Living Home Tech, and Amit Ravat from Lithe Audio break down the importance of having a terrific relationship with the manufacturers you work with both on big-ticket projects and product development. How does one develop that relationship? How do you maintain that trust? How has a manufacturer solved a problem/bailed you out when a project has hit a snag? How are your products adjusted based on integrator feedback?
https://www.livinghometech.co.uk/
https://www.cantaradesign.com/
First in a series: What’s the history of the term? Is it a two-way street: Can we really bring commercial tech into the home and can we make commercial spaces “homier”? How are these worlds different? How are they similar? What do you need to know before you set foot in a restaurant or a doctor’s office? CEDIA’s Steve Rissi and CE Pro’s Jason Knott (who’s bringing a ton of research to the party) give us the skinny. (Also: Look for classes addressing this topic at CEDIA Expo.)
With a debate about whether or not broadband is “infrastructure” looming in the U.S. and a new report just out (from the NSC, no less) on “weaponized AI,” where does the CEDIA industry stand when it comes to the impact of tech policy? How does the U.S. stack up to the rest of the world? How will we address energy tech, social media concerns, and cybersecurity, and how does that impact the globe – who’s winning? Industry expert (and former Expo keynote speaker) John Penney weighs in.
What changes has the pandemic brought to employee/employer relationships, rules, and regs? What do “sick days” look like now? What procedures will become permanent in the realm of health and safety for both technicians and clients? How do you navigate the various mask mandates? And how do you navigate the controversies surrounding vaccines? Courtney Berg of the firm Courtside HR weighs in. Note: Berg’s firm offers discounts on services to CEDIA members: link2hr.com
A chat with Elizabeth Parks, president of the research firm Parks Associates, regarding trends in connected home adoption, energy management, the changing face of content delivery, and quite a bit more.
For a complimentary VIP PASS to Parks’ events for CEDIA Podcast listeners, go to: http://www.parksassociates.com/2021-events
This one turned into an incredibly freewheeling – and deep – discussion: Installation Magazine has been working on a new market report that aims to look at how AV technology (and which types of technology) is having an enabling impact across a range of vertical markets. The publication mentioned areas such as AI, IoT, XR, and so on. We brought in some folks from the CEDIA Tech Council to weigh in – and the conversation rapidly expanded into a cliché-smashing, insightful, and even inspiring session. Guests include Peter Aylett (HTE), Christiaan Beukes (Sphere Custom), and Rich Green (Rich Green Design).
Yep, we’re busy planning already! Emerald’s Jason McGraw joins us to talk about the themes and health and safety precautions you’ll see at this year’s CEDIA Expo – and we have some local folks on to tell you about the great food, sights, and sports to be found in Indianapolis. Find a complete list of everything we mention on this episode (and more) HERE.
CEDIA is publishing a new study entitled “CEDIA Market Research Insights – Australia 2020/2021”. As the report states: “Never before has the Australian professional smart home industry been studied, broken down and assessed. This report seeks to identify the type of person and company installing smart home technologies, how they operate, and how optimistic they are about the future of this industry.” CEDIA’s Regional Development Consultant Paul Skelton (Australia and New Zealand) has the details.
CEDIA’s Senior Vice President of Education and Training Samantha Ventura, Instructional Designer Cara Chimento, and Technical Trainer Chaz deVerdier bring us up to date on the hybrid courses they’re developing, a blend of online and in-person teaching. Here’s what you need to know when you sign up for CEDIA’s evolving educational offerings.
It’s a busy year for state legislatures. What are the trends when it comes to new taxes or regs as states try to continue to navigate the pandemic and mitigate damage? What impact does the federal stimulus package have on all of this? Morgan Scarboro (Manager, Tax Policy and Economist) from MultiState fills us in.
https://www.multistate.us/
The KNX Standard provides a unique platform to integrators to provide a modular and scalable solution that works in all types of buildings. We’ll learn more about KNX with Team Leader of the Marketing Departament Casto Canavate of the KNX Association and Phil Juneau (CCO) of Automated Technology Company LLC. ALSO: Sign up for CEDIA’s KNX in the Home Conference on March 17: https://cedia.net/education-events/knx-in-the-home-conference.
CEDIA has been part of the rISE Spotlight series for Integrated Systems Europe, hosting “virtual watercooler” chats. Here you’ll get info on using VR as a sales tool and practical advice on WFH tech.
https://www.jooced.co.uk/
We speak with Bryte CEO and C-Founder Ely Tsern about the Bryte “smart” bed, the importance of restorative sleep, how the bed was developed and how it can integrate into larger projects. Bryte is a CEDIA Propel affinity partner.
Everything you ever wanted to know about speaker directivity, on- and off-axis response, power handling, certifications (THX), and much more with Perlisten Audio’s Dan Roemer, Control4’s Shawn Nageli, and HTE’s Peter Aylett.
https://www.perlistenaudio.com/