Networked Appliances
Increasingly, Lemke says, when these AV appliances are installed it is as an integral part of a system's network. And it is vital that all of the appliances work in concert. "The IP network is no longer an accessory," Lemke says. "It's a necessity and it can't be tenuous. It has to work. More and more people are going to be on the IP network. At some point it's going to be the primary source of a company's in-house communications signal."

Lemke says the ICIA has responded to this situation by creating a networking pavilion at INFOCOMM 2001 devoted to these critical issues.

The demand for professionally produced audio and visual media has never been greater, and it’s poised to increase exponentially.

This trade show has traditionally been a meeting place for manufacturers, their dealers, and systems integrators. That traditional core audience will still be in evidence, Lemke says, and it is vital that producers and other people from the creative community attend this show in order to understand new technology and how it is changing the production landscape.

"The whole market is growing," Lemke says. "There are going to be new people at the convention." He notes that there has been major consolidation on the part of dealers and systems integrators. That consolidation seems to have slowed for now, but even at its peak Lemke saw room for smaller businesses to flourish. "While the big guys are getting bigger there are always opportunities for smaller companies to replace them," he says. When two large companies merge they often leave a geographical void that can be filled, and filled profitably, by small, boutique businesses that can offer local customer service.

Lemke adds that more producers than ever attended last year's INFOCOMM in Anaheim, California, and he's confident that producers will benefit from this year's show.

Other Themes
Streaming media and digital cinema, two other themes at this show, are of particular interest to producers. Lemke sees streaming media, which is directly linked with networking, as perhaps the most important topic to be discussed. "If you have a message and you want to combine that message with the power of video, streaming is inexpensive compared to both satellite uplinking and even to traditional video conferencing," he says. "This is even true for one-way distribution."

INFOCOMM highlights always include the huge and intensely bright projectors that are geared for digital cinema and for the rental and staging markets. Several manufacturers will break the 14,000 ANSI lumen threshold at this event and other surprises seem likely. In Lemke's view, the main challenge in digital cinema is cost. "Who's going to pay for it? That's the big question," he says. "Is it going to be the studios? I think it has to be, but that issue isn't likely to get sorted out for a couple more years."

Lemke was named head of the ICIA last summer, so although he's been with the association for many years, this will be his first INFOCOMM as executive director. He's pleased with how the event is shaping up. "There are a lot of new things at the show," he says. "For example, we've added three keynote speakers instead of just one." And although Lemke would be the first to agree that both the quality and quantity of attendees at the show are critical to its success, he also feels that under his tenure the exhibitors are going to feel important, too. "We're seeing our exhibitors as partners," he says.

The bottom line for INFOCOMM 2001, according to Lemke, is clear: "This is the technology and this is how this business is going to go forward for the next year."

Finally, INFOCOMM is a show that always seems to deliver a few surprises. Sometimes it's the introduction of an exciting new product. At other times it has been a major business announcement. The past three conventions have been dominated by the technology of one company, Texas Instruments' Digital Light Processing chip. Several Japanese manufacturers have hinted that they intend to mount a challenge to TI. Just how successful they are likely to be may be revealed at this event.

See you in Las Vegas.

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