EDITOR’S COMMENT
As we move away from lockdowns, hopefully for the last time, and some of us enjoy the sunshine – mainly staycations – it’s tempting to imagine a genuine return to normality sooner rather than later. Certainly the news from the AV industry is encouraging: with live events picking up (I was lucky enough to attend a music and food festival over the weekend preceding this edition’s press day, where there was some serious AV audio pumping out drum and bass and jungle, alongside more traditional rock, pop and folk fare), AV may even be in more demand than ever before if our ‘live events special’ stadium and pro audio features are to be believed. Here’s hoping.
Elsewhere in this issue, we take a look at control systems and pro audio in education, alongside a huge roundtable on this year’s tweaked ISE events – brave or foolhardy, depending on your POV; and largely well received by the industry – a round-up of the winning Installation entries from the Best of Show at ISE and (inaugural) Best in Market awards, and our very first Pro AV Watch List: 25 of the most influential people in AV which replaces our annual Power 20 list. Our choice of 25 are listed in no particular order, and we’re delighted to be able to say that women are in the majority, with 13 out of the 25 boasting two X chromosomes. This should be no surprise to any of us: the AV industry is blessed to have female talent in abundance, and long may this continue.
Sadly, one of those who was certain to make that list is no longer with us, and so I’d like you to consider this inaugural Pro AV Watch List to be a 25 plus 1. David Chiappini, executive vice president, research and development at Matrox, died unexpectedly on July 26, much to widespread sadness throughout the industry. As a tribute to David, we’re featuring his very last commentary piece for Installation, posted just a few weeks before his death. David is survived by his wife Antonella, his children Daniel and Olivia, and his parents Kanella and Attilio. The family have asked that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Canadian Heart and Stroke Foundation or Diabetes Canada.
Alongside David’s final commentary, we’ve got insight from Chris Ayre, managing director at AYRE Event Solutions, who takes a look at the impact the Covid-19 pandemic has had on the events industry, Jochen Bauer, head of sales and marketing at Guntermann & Drunck, who considers KVM-over-IP vs classical KVM, and Nancy Knowlton, Nureva CEO, who looks at the future workplace after Covid, and audio’s place in it. In addition there are interviews with Jeff Hastings, CEO of BrightSign and Massimo Pizzocri, vice president, video projector sales & marketing division, Epson Europe.
Rob Lane, Editor
