Integrated Systems Events recently announced that the Opening Address at ISE 2017, on the eve of the show (Monday 6 February), will be given by award-winning architect Ole Scheeren. He will share his vision of contemporary architectural and urban development and explore how technology and architectural design combine to influence the creativity of each discipline. Principal of Buro Ole Scheeren, which has offices in Hong Kong, Beijing, Berlin and Bangkok, Scheeren is its chief designer and leads the company’s strategic development. His current projects include the Guardian Art Center, near the Forbidden City in Beijing, 1500 West Georgia in downtown Vancouver, and MahaNakhon, Bangkok’s tallest tower.
The Opening Address will be followed immediately by the ISE 2017 Opening Reception.
Audio
QSC will show its AV-to-USB bridging solution, which combines professional-quality video with QSC’s audio expertise to deliver a superior user experience for computer-based videoconferencing and capture for both installed conference PCs and BYOD scenarios. The solution includes Q-SYS PTZ-IP cameras, TSC-7t Touch Screen Controller and I/O USB Bridge. This fully networked solution eliminates the need for HDMI and USB extenders by keeping all Q-SYS appliances on the network. QSC’s AV-to-USB is said to be the only solution in the market that allows users to connect multiple cameras with multiple bridging endpoints simultaneously, creating a true many-to-any matrix without the need for additional hardware.
Lectrosonics will show the new DBa digital belt pack transmitter (pictured), as part of the DSW (Digital Secure Wireless) microphone system. Featuring 24-bit/48 kHz digital audio for pristine sound quality, the DBa is designed for use in theatres, touring and other demanding applications. The compact and light weight but rugged machined metal construction ensures durability in tough environments, while AES-256-CTR encryption technology, ensures privacy for use in corporate boardrooms, shareholder meetings, and government facilities.
The DBa features wideband tuning (470-698 MHz), a highly linear RF output stage for reduced intermodulation distortion and a true 50 mW transmission RF power for excellent range and resistance to dropouts.
The main focus of the Merging Technologies stand will be the recording and delivery of immersive audio content to a wide variety of users. The latest versions of its Ovation Audio and Event Server, backed up by the Pyramix Virtual Studio recording and editing engine, provide for virtual room panning that is format agnostic.
On the networked audio solutions side, Merging will be showing a new AD card for its Horus and Hapi RAVENNA/AES67 interfaces. The AKD8D and its DP Premium version covers sampling rates from 44.1kHz to DSD256 and DXD; there are significant improvements to the preamp stages and the overall dynamic range and harmonic distortion.
Pliant Technologies is showing its latest SmartBoom LITE communications headset. This is claimed to offer exceptional audio quality, advanced features and design enhancements, including the proven SmartBoom technology, which allows the adjustable microphone boom to act as an on/off switch for quick muting.
The SmartBoom series of headsets is designed for comfort, flexibility and durability. The closed back, on-ear headsets feature a single-ear lightweight design with enhanced acoustic isolation. The mic boom is flexible and has a dynamic noise-cancelling cardioid microphone optimised for voice communications. The Lite headset will be available in 4-pin XLR female, 5-pin XLR male and unterminated versions.
Displays/digital signage
A completely overhauled player range from BrightSign is making an appearance at ISE 2017. Each of the seven slim new players (pictured) integrate H.265 and including HEVC playback features and an M.2 interface for Wi-Fi antennae or an M.2 solid-state drive. The top two product lines, XD and XT, offer a hardware accelerated H.265 video decoding engine capable of 4K HDR 10-bit video playback.
Version 4.6 of the BrightAuthor software enables a new feature on the HD, XD and XT players called Mosaic Mode, which allows a multitude of lower resolution videos to be played in multiple video zones that add up to the total resolution decoding power of the players’ video decoder.
Specialising in trade fair and digital signage solutions, dimedis is showcasing new touch-sensitive rental information columns for the very first time at a trade fair, in partnership with Basys and wedo. The columns are equipped with a 55in touchscreen and come with a complete implementation package that includes the kompas digital signage software and the kompas wayfinding digital route-planning software. The information columns can be laminated with customised films.
dimedis is also presenting the kompas wayfinding intuitive software on an interactive column like those used at the Abu Dhabi Mall or the NeuerMarkt shopping mall in Germany.
Joining Mitsubishi Electric‘s range of DLP videowall cubes at ISE 2017 is the WE120. Available in WUXGA (16:10) or Full HD (16:9) resolution, WE120 offers a minimum of 100,000 hours of continuous operation in all brightness modes. At 11.3 years of 24/7 operation, this is by far the longest rated lifespan of any DLP cube on the market, and its nominal power consumption of 77W makes it currently the industry’s most power-efficient. The proprietary air-cooled projection engine requires no servicing, and integration is simplified thanks to the Display Port 1.2 input. The inclusion of an Intel OPS slot, makes the 120 Series displays suitable for IP based-systems.
A new Content Marketplace containing over 500 pre-built pieces of digital signage content, including layout backgrounds, pre-built applications and widgets, is being launched at ISE 2017 by signagelive. The company is also revealing a suite of developer APIs for network and content management, bespoke player development and real time content triggering as well as a new UI accessible via tablets and containing a wealth of new features.
Signagelive supports the latest near field communications, beacons and mobile technologies, which enable real-time triggering of pre-cached content on a range of conventional and smart signage displays. This facilitates the development of interactive applications.
Ventuz Technology’s recently launched Ventuz 5.2 software, including complete virtual reality integration, is being demonstrated at ISE. The content creation toolset allows users to design 3D real-time graphics that can be adjusted to fit VR requirements. The toolset offers animation functionalities, dynamic data input and output and extensive import options for 3D models, including a live-link to Cinema 4D. Users can create content for Oculus Rift and HTC Vive, including the existing VR controllers.
To address interest and growth in the space of interactive video walls and large touch tables, Zytronic is showing its force sensing technology for large format interactive touchscreens. The company will demonstrate PCT and MPCT touch sensors with force sensing in ATMs, kiosks, game terminals and interactive videowalls to differentiate between a soft and hard touch.
Zytronic’s approach is based on a measurement of the surface area of an applied touch, which changes the measured capacitive signal levels at the relative touch location on the sensor. This eliminates the need for a piezoelectric or other layers on the glass to measure applied force or pressure.
