How do you see the ISE market faring in the EMEA region in 2010?
Across the EMEA region, Christie saw demand return for event-staging in Q4 2009 and strong growth throughout the year for our cinema business. While we expect cinema growth to continue and 3D demand broaden to other AV applications (broadcast, education etc…), it’s a little early to forecast the same for event-staging. Like other areas and sectors of the market, we’d expect the level of business to vary across territories within the EMEA region, particularly as it relates to public investment and institutional expenditure.
What do you think will be the key external factors affecting the market this year?
How governments manage the recovery will continue to have a big effect on most market sectors within our industry. Our industry is no different to any other – it depends greatly on the confidence of our customers, and that will depend on the macro-economic situation. We remain cautiously optimistic about this year.
Outside your company’s offering, what do you think will be the ‘star’ technologies of 2010?
2009 saw some interesting new technologies making an appearance – LED-powered displays, advances in laser technology, OLED display and digital ink for example. However, the technology that may impact us more than anyone yet realises is cloud computing. IT and AV need to converge still further for the opportunities that AV technologies present to be fully realised, and we in the AV world need to be thinking about how cloud computing affects the way we engage our customers. Sharing data is becoming easier and easier; web-based and platform-free paradigms like dropbox.com, googledocs, flickr and so on will grow in significance, and other video based applications will evolve. Large-screen display remains the best tool for collaborative decision-making and the two together present many opportunities for AV integration projects.
What do you think is the best thing about the ISE show?
It’s definitely not the preparatory work over the Christmas period! However, the hard work is worth it, as ISE remains the most relevant and truly successful international tradeshow for our industry. It’s great for exhibitors and professionals alike, a one stop-shop for all you need to know about our industry, its members and what they’re doing – supported by a team that want to make sure exhibitors push themselves, and that education remains high on the agenda.
