Like ISE 2022 (see show report), InfoComm 2022 has a fresh new look. The newly constructed West Hall of the LVCC is a $1 billion expansion providing an additional 1.4 million square feet of new space, and features the largest digital display experience in a convention centre in the US.
Also new for 2022 is the Las Vegas Convention Center Loop system, a three-station underground transportation system developed by Elon Musk’s The Boring Company, which shuttles convention attendees throughout the 200-acre campus in all-electric Tesla vehicles.
“We are ecstatic to bring InfoComm back to the always exciting city of Las Vegas,” enthused David Labuskes, CEO of AVIXA, ahead of the event. “InfoComm is the home for commerce and connections for the pro AV industry – one week, one place where you can accomplish so much to push your business and career forward.”
FAST GROWING
InfoComm 2022 is set to explore the largest, fastest growing, and most critical pro AV solutions that drive the $257.7 billion pro AV industry. The trade show floor and education program will spotlight conferencing and collaboration; content, production, and streaming; digital signage, learning technologies, live events, audio, and much more.
The education program kicks off with technical training three-day courses and CTS, CTS-I and CTS-D Prep on June 4-6. The show’s 12 education tracks and manufacturer’s training will take place on June 7-10.
In addition, on June 7 and 8, AVIXA and the Digital Signage Federation will host the D=SIGN digital signage conference to examine the solutions, innovations, and big ideas around digital signage.
InfoComm attendees can also find valuable insights at the Technology Innovation Stage on the show floor on June 8-10. These free sessions will feature New Technology Lightning Rounds highlighting new products, industry trend forecasts, and more.
EXPERIENCE TOURS
During the show, Integrated Experience Tours will be hosted around Las Vegas spots, allowing attendees to see stunning AV deployments in the real world and hear from the creators behind them. The tours include the University of Nevada Las Vegas, Arcadia Earth, Resorts World Las Vegas, Illuminarium Experiences, Las Vegas nightclubs, and Meow Wolf’s Omega Mart and AREA15.
“The week of InfoComm allows you to explore pro AV solutions from many vantage points – talking with experts, seeing the technology up close, and experiencing the pro AV installations in the real world,” said Rochelle Richardson, CEM, senior VP of expositions and events at AVIXA. “This year’s tours will showcase remarkable pro AV in a wide range of environments around Las Vegas – from nightclubs to art installations to classrooms. We’re excited for attendees to find inspiration from these exciting sights.”
A tour of Illuminarium Experiences will allow visitors to immerse themselves in the world’s natural wonders, cultural moments, and beyond. This immersive experience is powered by 4K interactive projection, 360-degree audio, in-floor vibrations, and scent systems.
Another tour will take place at the new West Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center, which features a 10,000-square foot video wall, overhead directional digital signage, and interactive 3D wayfinders.
InfoComm 2022 will also host a host of AVIXA council events, including the Women’s Council Breakfast, Technology Managers Forum, Live Events Forum, and All-Council Luncheon. In addition, the Young AV Professionals Council and Diversity Council will host sessions on the Technology Innovation Stage.
“It’s been four years since we’ve hosted InfoComm in Las Vegas and we look forward to returning this June,” added Richardson. “The AV community is going to be treated to new sights – from the brand-new West Hall at the convention center to exciting new AV tours around the city. Las Vegas offers state-of-the-art venues, exceptional culinary and hospitality experiences, and is an electric place for business professionals to gather, network, and collaborate – an ideal meeting place for the AV industry with health and safety as a priority.”
COLLABORATION SOLUTIONS
InfoComm will explore the conferencing and collaboration solutions that power remote and hybrid work styles, learning environments, and more. The show will feature more than 25 sessions and nearly 200 exhibitors focused on the products and solutions needed to deliver seamless conferencing and collaboration experiences.
“The future of the corporate workplace is top of mind this year as companies experience the impacts of returning to the office after two years with a remote workforce,” said Annette Sandler, director of live content US/Canada at AVIXA. “For InfoComm 2022, we’ve assembled top technologists, engineers, designers, and end users to share what solutions are working for them and what changes are needed to move conferencing and collaboration forward.”
On June 7, the session “Conference Room Refresh to Support Hybrid Work” will address how legacy video conference environments don’t adequately support hybrid meetings since they were built for a time when video calls were room to room. Andy Howard of Howard & Associates, Nia Celestin from DTEN, and Irwin Lazar of Metrigy will discuss the variety of technologies and design methodologies that can improve the meeting experience for both the in-room participants and remote participants.
The session “Why Meeting Equity is the Lifeblood of the Hybrid Workplace”, on June 8, will explore how office, home, and mobile environments all play a role in creating inclusive meetings, in addition to factors such as language, height, hearing disabilities, and more.
June 9’s, session, “Voice of the End-Users – Envisioning Successful Hybrid Solutions”, will address how we are living in a time with an abundance of tech innovation and tools that enable new ways to connect. However, many of us are still working in conference rooms where we can’t connect, and meetings are viewed as a waste of time. In this session, Kay Sargent from HOK, Monique Rezaei from Microsoft, and Casey Carlson from Deloitte will discuss the need to embrace these new tech tools to enhance and support meaningful human interaction.
SHOW FLOOR
On the InfoComm 2022 trade show floor, nearly 200 exhibitors will showcase conferencing and collaboration solutions, from meeting room booking hardware and software, and team collaboration apps, to video conferencing hardware and software. In addition, Sharath Abraham, digital workplace consultant for Accenture, will lead 90-minute show floor tours of conferencing collaboration solutions on June 8 at 2pm and June 9 at 10am.
InfoComm will also host a tour of the University of Nevada Las Vegas, where attendees will experience the university’s hybrid learning classroom solution, RebelFlex, on June 7, 830-1130am and 1230-330pm.
This solution allows instructors to teach a face-to-face class simultaneously with remote students. The tour will also explore the Flora Dungan Humanities building’s 254-seat theater/classroom featuring a Dolby Atmos immersive audio experience and a 4K Barco cinema laser projection system.
AVIXA is committed to the health and safety of exhibitors, attendees, partners, and staff amid the pandemic, so all InfoComm 2022 participants must provide proof of full vaccination or a Covid-19 negative PCR or rapid antigen test. Digital or physical documentation will be accepted.
AVIXA will follow the CDC mask recommendations for InfoComm based on the latest data using the Know the COVID-19 Community Levels resource tool to determine low, medium, and high levels. The AVIXA team will continue to monitor recommendations from local health authorities, the World Health Organisation (WHO), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and communicate any updates to health and safety protocols to show participants.
EDUCATION SESSIONS
InfoComm is set to feature more than 20 education sessions and 150 exhibitors focused on content creation and delivery solutions.
“The streaming boom has accelerated in recent years and more and more AV technologists have been tasked with delivering solutions for an array of industries, from education to performance venues,” said Annette Sandler. “InfoComm 2022 is excited to provide a platform for AV professionals to learn about the trends and see solutions up close to enhance their content and production strategy.
The session “Media Servers vs. Screen Switchers” on June 8, will address the age-old questions: “do I need a media server for my event or a screen switcher? Or both?” Kevin Ring of Nationwide Video will discuss the relevancy and use-cases of both and help attendees determine the appropriate gear needed when planning an event.
On June 9, the session “Intro to Live Streaming Design for Performance Spaces” will feature a panel of experts who will break down the basics of creating and operating a professional live streaming system for small and medium venues. They’ll discuss camera and microphone selection and positioning, various infrastructure approaches, options for controlling the stream, adding production effects, and much more.
Jesse Miller, CEO of Midtown Video, will lead the workshop “Streaming with Remote Guests” on June 9, where attendees will learn tips and techniques to make productions stand out for quality and cohesive storytelling when guests appear from remote locations. Topics will include audio mixes, video encoding and delivery methods, general conferencing software like Teams and Zoom, and manufacturer-specific platforms.
GOOD SIGNS
Digital signage will be front and centre too, with InfoComm 2022 welcoming back the D=SIGN Conference, produced in partnership with the Digital Signage Federation. In addition, InfoComm 2022 will feature more than 100 exhibitors showcasing digital signage solutions, tours of the trade show floor, signage-focused Integrated Experience AV tours around Las Vegas, a Digital Signage Reception, and a Digital Signage Pavilion.
The Pavilion will feature the latest digital signage solutions, including content creation software, direct-view LED displays, touchscreens and interactive displays, and much more. Attendees interested in digital signage can register for a curated tour of the trade show floor taking place on June 9.
On June 7, from 6-8pm, InfoComm 2022 will host the Digital Signage Reception at Brooklyn Bowl, an opportunity to connect with industry professionals while enjoying food, drinks, bowling, and more. A complimentary shuttle bus service will be provided from the Las Vegas Convention Center to Brooklyn Bowl.
“We’re excited to present a robust digital signage program at InfoComm 2022,” said Rochelle Richardson. “Pro AV professionals and the digital signage community will have the opportunity to learn from a talented lineup of experts, see cutting-edge technologies up close, view applications in the real world, and make new business connections. This insight will help them capitalise on digital signage opportunities and deliver better solutions.”
WELCOME RETURN
Whatever your pro AV technology focus, InfoComm 2022 is sure to tick all of your boxes. And if you’re lucky enough to attend both ISE and InfoComm this year – especially with the events so close together for 2022 – then you’ll surely be in AV heaven.
AVIXA CEO David Labuskes summed up his feelings towards the end of InfoComm 2021, when he spoke to our AV Network: “I am overwhelmed with emotion with respect to this show and the commitment of the people we have here.” He’s sure to feel the same come June 10.
