Sights and Sounds Abound at InfoComm ’06

May 10, 2006

InfoComm ’06 will be held June 3-9 in Orlando, FL. InfoComm targets those in the building industry who want to see and learn about the latest in audiovisual and information communications technology for professional use.

The exhibition encompasses technology demonstrations of video display and projection, digital signage, conferencing, lighting, staging, and audio products and systems. There will be dazzling, realistic demonstrations of applications such as classrooms, boardrooms, command and control centers, and large venue displays. The educational conference offers more than 250 courses ranging from 3-day in-depth sessions to 2-hour seminars.

In short, InfoComm is a comprehensive integrated systems event. Organized by InfoComm International®, an association for the audiovisual industry, InfoComm ’06 is expected to bring together 28,000 commercial and professional end-user attendees from more than 80 countries.

More than 750 exhibitors will present the newest AV technology at the Orange County Convention Center. With plenty of opportunities for training and professional development, along with demonstrations, special pavilions, and exciting events, InfoComm ’06 will fill more than 425,000 net square feet, making it the biggest information communications marketplace to date.

Why Should Architects Attend InfoComm?
InfoComm enables architects to see - under one roof - the latest technology applied. It is a great place to meet, in one location, systems integrators, independent design consultants, and technology manufacturers. Because thousands of end-users attend InfoComm, it’s also a great way to network with prospective clients. Instructional sessions of interest to architects include an AV Best Practices Session designed to bridge the gap between architects, general contractors, systems integrators, and technology managers. The session has been designed around the Audiovisual Best Practices Guide to the Design and Integration Process for the AV and Construction Industries, published in collaboration with architects last year. AIA credits are available in a variety of sessions.

InfoComm has also arranged unique and exciting AV technology tours off-site at SeaWorld, the University of Central Florida, and Cirque du Soleil’s La Nouba.

Conferencing at InfoComm ’06
It’s interesting to see how components are transformed into a boardroom, and InfoComm’s show floor will be packed with these types of application demonstrations. Attendees can also learn how to integrate collaborative conferencing into their clients’ classes, meetings, and training sessions. They can choose an application - web, audio, video, or a combination of all three. The latest and clearest videoconferencing is bound to amaze at the HD conferencing demonstrations. There are technologies and solutions at all price points and for all aesthetic tastes in InfoComm’s Collaborative Conferencing Pavilion.

Pavilions, Galleries, and More
Special attractions abound at InfoComm, and this year is no exception. In addition to the Collaborative Conferencing Pavilion (sponsored by IMCCA and ConferencingNews.com), there are a large audio section and pavilions focusing on digital content creation (sponsored by Prism Media), digital signage, and lighting and staging (sponsored by Lighting & Sound America).

Platinum sponsor Crestron and the InfoComm Independent Programmers Council will present a System Programming and GUI Design Gallery with side-by-side demos of touch panels showing variations of control-panel screen interfaces used in today’s integrated systems applications.

Architects will want to experience the crisp images of the Large Venue Display Gallery (sponsored by Extron Electronics®) - with larger-than-life HD display and projection solutions. This gallery presents projection and display solutions for such venues as sports arenas, concert halls, and entertainment centers. Technical engineering support, source material production, and project management are provided under the expert direction of Steve Somers, Extron’s vice president of engineering.

“Tomorrow’s Classroom Today” in the EduComm Pavilion enables top companies the chance to present their vision of the classroom of the future. Attendees can touch and explore products, interact with company representatives, and learn how to design the same classroom today.

Courses, Sessions, and Seminars
Education is a cornerstone of InfoComm ’06, with sessions covering the full range of the audiovisual and information communications industry. InfoComm Academy has expanded its lineup in response to industry trends to include new classes in digital signage, AV/IT, homeland security, staging, live sound, advanced audio, HD, edge blending, wireless, and project management.

The academy will hold its renowned 3-day Institutes for Professional Development (IPDs) prior to InfoComm ’06. Attendees can enroll in one of seven IPDs:

  • Design School Level 1: Principles of Applied AV Design
  • New! Design School Level 2: Facilities Design
  • Lighting for Videoconference and Presentation Spaces
  • Professional Sales Skills for AV Systems and Equipment
  • New! Project Management: Competencies and Structure - customized for the AV industry and approved by the Project Management Institute, the gold standard of project management certification
  • Videoconferencing: Applications, Technology, and Trends
  • Certification Prep

InfoComm continues to bring architects, the design-build community, and integrators together. AIA continuing education credits can be earned in several classes, including Managing Multiple AV Facilities and the 4-hour workshop Designing the Electronic Classroom - What to Tell Your Architect and AV Contractor.

An annual special event exclusive to InfoComm, Super Tuesday, features 6-hour workshops of intensive instruction. New to Super Tuesday are Designing in the Digital Age; Digital Signage; Government and Corporate AV Information Security; and Project Management Overview, an executive-level, PMI-endorsed course. Returning sessions include Introduction to Collaborative Conferencing (participants can receive AIA continuing education credits for attending); Technology Trends; Technology Manager How-Tos; and Tools, Tactics, and Technologies for Presentation Professionals.

The Communications Media Management Association returns to InfoComm with media management seminars, and Point-of-Purchase Advertising International (POPAI) is partnering with the association to offer digital signage courses. Rounding out the schedule, the ESTA Foundation and The Interactive Multimedia & Collaboration Communications Alliance will be lending their expertise with additional courses.

InfoComm International is again teaming with University Business and District Administration magazines to hold EduComm June 7-9, offering AV/IT educational offerings for higher education and K-12 professionals.

Audio
This is a great year for audiophiles attending InfoComm. More than 250-plus exhibitors will be demonstrating the latest in audio equipment, while some of the industry’s top manufacturers such as Harman Pro Group, Renkus-Heinz, Tannoy, and Telex Communications, among others, will show off their best at audio demo rooms.

At a 4-hour Advanced Acoustics Workshop, participants can receive AIA continuing education credits. Synergistic Audio Concepts (Syn-Aud-Con), audio and acoustic seminar specialists, will return to InfoComm with its special brand of audio training in a 4-day course on sound reinforcement for designers and AV consultancy groups. Technology Visions joins in the audio offerings with a new hands-on workshop on loudspeaker and speech intelligibility.

Awards Banquet
The industry will celebrate some of the greatest accomplishments in AV and architecture at the annual ARCHI-TECH AV Awards banquet. Attendees will see the “best of the best,” as determined by a team of esteemed judges. This event offers a unique opportunity to experience state-of-the-art designs from colleagues from around the world.

The Smithereens at the InfoComm Party
Preshow events begin the evening of June 6 with the Manufacturers Forum. The awards banquet promises to be more exciting than ever with the fast-paced comedic talents of emcees the Raspyni Brothers. The InfoComm party will be rocking thanks to a concert featuring The Smithereens.

A standout sound, lighting, and video reinforcement system (courtesy of platinum sponsors Barco and Telex) will not only showcase the entertainment but also will be kept in place throughout the remainder of the show for demos and training.

More information and registration are available at www.infocommshow.org.

InfoComm International® is a trade association of the professional audiovisual and information communications industries. Established in 1939, the association’s 3,600 members include manufacturers, systems integrators, dealers and distributors, independent consultants, programmers, rental and staging companies, end-users, and multimedia professionals from more than 60 countries. It is a leading resource for AV market intelligence and news. Its training and education programs, along with its Certified Technology Specialist (CTS) and Certified Audiovisual Solutions Provider (CAVSP) credentials, set a standard of excellence for AV professionals. InfoComm International is the founder of the InfoComm conference and cosponsors the Integrated Systems events in Europe, China, India, and Asia. Information is available at www.infocomm.org.

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