BETT 2014 will once again combine an extensive summit and seminar programme with technology demonstrations from leading brands in technology and education. Organisers are promising more content than ever before with a packed Arena programme, three bespoke CPD-accredited Summits, six Learn Live theatres and a whole host of networking and fringe activity.
Of particular interest is the Technology in Higher Education Summit, a space for HE professionals involved in IT provision to share ideas and streamline technology decision-making. In free seminars, experts within higher education and their counterparts in the corporate world will provide insight into technology delivery on a budget and managing user expectations. The sessions begin with ‘An Overview of the Impact of Technology on Learning in Higher Education’ at 10:30 on 22 January, while other highlights include ‘Changing the Learning Landscape Case Study: Preparing Higher Education for the Digital Age’ at 12:15 on 22 January and ‘Creating Flexible Learning Spaces for the Future Student’ at the same time on 24 January.
Over in the BETT Arena, confirmed topics include ‘Next Generation Content: Utilising Videoconferencing Across the Curriculum to Connect Securely with Experts and Industry’ which will feature speakers as diverse as film producer and educator Lord David Puttnam; Chris Lubbe, a former bodyguard to Nelson Mandela; and ‘Big Data’ with Gartner’s Bill Rust and Stephen Heppell of Heppell.net.
Technology
Korea’s AHA i&c provides a number of products including digital podiums, interactive LCD and LED displays, tablet monitors, interactive tables, and digital signage. New for BETT is an 84in interactive LED display complete with optional on-board PC, interactive pen tray and 4K resolution.
Ascent IT/Hue Animation Studio will showcase the Hue camera, which is widely used in schools as a multipurpose camera and visualiser, combined with easy-to-use stop motion animation software in the Hue Animation Studio kit. The camera’s flexible neck makes it useful when animating. Both the camera and animation software can be used with Windows or Mac OS X.
Visualiser manufacturer AVer Information Europe will demonstrate its recently launched TabCam, which allows users to connect a tablet device to share content wirelessly. Also on display will be the AVer TabSync charging cart and the AVer ClassHD videoconferencing solution. With an education-themed classroom backdrop, AVer will be joined by an array of videoconferencing content providers, who will be on hand to talk visitors through the benefits of videoconferencing in schools.
CTOUCH will show its Leddura and Leddura XT ranges – the company’s latest generation of interactive large-format touch displays. The multitouch surfaces offer four or 10 touchpoints, fast response times and built-in speakers.
Onelan and Onemedia will be showing a wide range of products. Onemedia’s videowall solution is described as “a simple, cost-effective communication solution that provides a high-impact way of communicating messages and dynamic content to audiences”. Schools, colleges and universities can play a mix of HD video, live TV streams, web content, scrolling text messaging, photos and RSS feeds across 2 x 2 or 2 x 3 videowalls in single zone and multi-zone arrangements. Using a single Onelan signage player to drive the whole wall, a videowall processor is not essential. The Onemedia videowall solution includes hardware, software, training, support, and a creative design tailored to an organisation’s requirements.
The two companies will also be showing the Digital noticeboard. It comes with fully customised layouts featuring customer logos and branding colours.
P Squared will be showing its range of School Radio solutions at this year’s show, including the SR4 Fixed Studio package, featuring contemporary studio furniture design and a full complement of broadcast studio features.
BETT will be one of the first public showings of a new offering from SMART Technologies, called SMART amp. This is a Cloud-based learning platform that can be employed on virtually any device, whether owned by the school/college or by the student. Because content is stored in the Cloud and accessed via a Google+ sign-in, SMART amp is suitable for schools and other educational establishments where the use of devices is shared between a number of students during the working week.
Sony will demonstrate how educators can harness the possibilities of rich multimedia content and interactive learning to enhance the learning environment, showcasing solutions from complete end-to-end AV systems to products for upgrading existing teaching environments.
“Sony takes pride in pushing technological boundaries to provide the most compelling experience for users, and our solutions for the education arena are no exception,” explains Sony Europe’s Damien Weissenburger. “Education is rapidly evolving and in our world of digital natives, it’s critical for teachers to engage with pupils through dynamic, powerful multimedia tools. We are working hard to marry the escalating needs of students with technologies that seamlessly support and augment the work of teachers and ultimately create a more engaging, empowering learning experience.”
