by David Keene
Digital Signage Expo (DSE), the Tradeshow and Conference dedicated to digital signage, interactive technology and out-of-home networks, will present its largest Conference Seminar Program ever at its February 23-25, 2010 International Conference & Trade Show, in Las Vegas. And that of course includes the “Tech Track” at DSE, for which I was selected by DSE to produce (with the amazing organizational help of Geri Wolff.) The “Tech Track” at DSE is Sponsored by Digital Signage Magazine.
To register for Tech Track seminars at DSE, log onto:
http://www.digitalsignageexpo.net/DigitalSignageExpo/Tracks/TechTrack.aspx
Details of the Tech Track at DSE are as follows:
Wed, 2/24 9:00-10:am:
Seminar 7 - Inviting telecom: mobile, satellite, & cable providers and others into the DS marketplace. How big can it get? Beyond Retail, Corporate Messaging, and Transportation: Bringing new players into the digital signage arena. Why aren’t telecom companies, broadcasters, or mobile providers buying out, partnering with, or otherwise becoming more involved in digital signage content and systems deployment? Or are they?”
Moderator: Jimmy Schaeffler, Chairman & CSO, The Carmel Group
Presenters:
• Joe Amor, VP & GM, Microspace, Communications Corp.
• Stephen Nesbit, President & COO, Reflect Systems Inc.
• Mike Tippets, President, Helius
• Wayne Ward, VP, Emerging Solutions, Sprint
Wed, 2/24 3:00-4:00pm
Seminar 15 - Advanced Installation Overview: Overcoming Connectivity & Delivery Challenges. While flat panels and content management software issues tend to dominate the pre-planning and equipment specifying phases of a digital signage installation, the challenges of connecting disparate resolution devices, scaling, routing, sorting out IP/Twisted Pair/Cat 5 and other protocols is the place where your digital signage installation will succeed or fail, from a technical standpoint. This session looks in-depth at the connectivity and delivery issues common in all digital signage applications — and it brings decades of experience learned from sophisticated boardroom and classroom AV systems to bear on the challenges.
Presenter:
• Roy Hermanson, CTS-I, CTS-D. Regional Applications Specialist, Extron; and an instructor at InfoComm International, where he is an Academy Faculty member.
Thurs, 2/25, 8:00-9:00am
Seminar 23 - Panel: The Future of Wireless Networking for Digital Signage. Wireless solutions offer both video extension and video splitting capability on site, and/or complete delivery of content from remote locations via cellular carrier or other non-IP based transmission. They also offer unique connectivity and management features, which can increase your return on investment. Often, wiring barriers, hazards and environmental challenges, in addition to local labor requirements, permits and inspections, increase the cost of installation, so wireless can be a tool to help you to bid low on installation while mitigating cost overrun risks.
Panelists:
• Matt Nelson, CEO, AvaLAN Wireless Systems Inc.
• Nash Parker, Emerging Technology & Media, Alcatel-Lucent
• Greg Weaver, Manager, Digital Signage Networks, Microspace Communications Corp. • Simon Wilson, CEO, MediaTile
Thurs, 2/25, 9:00-10:00am
Seminar 31 - Advanced Digital Display Technology & Its Applications. This session will offer an in-depth analysis of the relative benefits of different display technologies, concentrating on commercial grade LCD and plasma panels, as well as offering an assessment of commercial vs. consumer grade panels, since consumer grade panels are sometimes, unfortunately, specified into commercial digital signage applications. This seminar also will delve into projection for digital signage and new-generation flat panels coming down the pike, such as OLED, digital ink and others, including next-gen LCD.
Presenters:
• Jonathan Brawn, CTS, ISF, ISF-C, Director of ISF Commercial.
• Alan Brawn, Principal, Brawn Consulting, LLC
Thurs, 2/25, 3:00-4:00pm
Seminar 39 - Content Management Software Demystified: A Real-world Roundtable on Functionalities, Needs, Options and Approaches". This seminar will focus on one of the primary differences between the two main digital signage content management software camps: whether their software is a customer-installed solution that runs mainly on “premise-based” servers, or is a “hosted” software as a service (SaaS) that the end user does not “buy” but accesses remotely through a Web browser. While many customer organizations have specific policies regarding IT infrastructure, security, operations and other factors that require them to host all software on their own network and servers, others are able to outsource digital signage software infrastructure to a SaaS provider.
As there is no right or wrong choice, this seminar will attempt to describe a “real world” approach that will help digital signage operators make the best choice based on their unique requirements, including system goals, budget and resources.
Moderator: David Keene, Exec. Editor, Digital Signage Magazine
Panelists:
• Jim Huber, CTS, PhD, General Manager & Director Sales, NOR-COM, Inc.
• Denise McDonnell, GM, Digital Signage, Harris Corporation
• Kris Vollrath, VP/GM, Advanced Technologies Group, Advanced AV
To register for Tech Track seminars at DSE, log onto:
http://www.digitalsignageexpo.net/DigitalSignageExpo/Tracks/TechTrack.aspx
