Ever-increasing pressure on RF spectrum, AV industry standardisation and the arrival of Building Information Modelling (BIM) were among the topics under discussion during InfoComm’s Future Trends Summit.
A new event for ISE, Future Trends – as its name might suggest – aimed to highlight the technological and business developments set to shape the pro-AV landscape over the next few years.
Two speakers from InfoComm itself initiated the day’s proceedings. Following a brief scene-setting introduction from senior VP international development, Terry Friesenborg, VP of standards and best practice, Joseph Bocchiaro (pictured), took the floor to discuss the organisation’s involvement in pro-AV standardisation.
Whilst still in its relative infancy, the InfoComm programme has already yielded two published standards – Audio Coverage Uniformity in Enclosed Listener Areas (ANSI/INFOCOMM 1M-2009) and Standard Guide for Audiovisual Systems Design and Coordination Processes (ANSI/INFOCOMM 2M-2010) – with four more currently in development.
Bocchario – who jokingly admitted that his presentation was akin to a ‘firehose’ of information – also documented InfoComm’s latest work on best practices concerning the Sustainable Technology Environments Program (STEP) and Building Information Modelling (BIM).
Indeed, BIM was the subject of a further, standalone presentation given by William F Schuermann from HFP Acoustical Consultants. With reference to the BIM-orientated Autodesk Revit software package, Schuermann assessed the significant impact that BIM is likely to have on the construction sector over the next five years.
As for AV professionals… “BIM will change the way you design and conduct your AV work,” claimed Schuermann.
Quote of the day, however, arguably came from Lectrosonics’ VP of sales, Gordon Moore, whose far-reaching session touched on a raft of issues currently affecting the pro-audio fraternity. Pressure on RF spectrum, he warned, will only increase as new generation mobile services continue to emerge, while system control is about to be transformed by the iPad and comparable devices.
“If you’re not iPad-savvy,” suggested Moore, “you might want to update your résumé to something contemporary like blacksmithing.”
Trends in Videoconferencing (Dr J Chris Lauwers, Avistar) and Displays of Tomorrow? (Robert Simpson, Electrosonic) rounded out the suitably diverse Future Trends programme.
