For Europeans Only

If you're heading over to InfoComm Europe next month in Koln, Germany, don't forget that the real benefit of the show, as with most shows, is the seminar schedule.

This year is the first year that InfoComm Europe is providing a comprehensive seminar series in conjunction with the show itself - so take advantage of this by signing up on-line at http://www.infocomm.org/exhibitions/europe-seminars/.

Here are a few of seminars that were either the top attended seminars at June's InfoComm Show in Las Vegas or one's that I feel you should plan on attending as they are hot topics in the market right now:

1. The AV Guide to LAN and Network Communications

11:30 - 12:30 Wednesday, 12 September
Marja Harms, Crestron International
An introduction to the concepts of networking basics for the AV Installer. Increase your understanding of IP communications and computer networking protocols, as well as media access control addresses. You'll learn about network hardware and how it can affect communications. See exactly what an IP address is, how it's used and where you can get one. Discover the difference between dynamic and static IP addresses and when each should be used. Also explore DHCP servers and what they do, subnet masks and gateways, the essentials of routers and how they handle traffic, and the basic proxy server concept and how it affects a MAC to IP access.

2. Signal Management

14:15 - 15:15 Thursday, 13 September
Jack Gershfeld, Altinex

Explore computer video standards including VGA and DVI. Examine the implications of new video standards on audiovisual design. Basic explanations of the different components used in audiovisual systems to allow new people in the audiovisual field to understand system requirements and design. Basic signal management will be outlined and common industry practices for systems design will be reviewed.

3. The Impact of the Network on Projection

11:30 - 12:30 Friday, 14 September
Gary Kayye, CTS, Kayye Consulting

Corporate IT and AV departments used to be two different entities, but no more. Today, AV is often a part of IT. Why? Information is what we display in ProAV, and more and more manufacturers are seeing the advantage of connecting their products to the network for monitoring, control, display and transfer of information. Explore how this simplifies set-up, installation, design and system integration by providing one backbone to distribute virtually all signals. Get an overview of ProAV products and manufacturers that accommodate IT connectivity. Explore the future and how it will impact the way we present and display information. This seminar will show AV dealers and contractors where the opportunities are in the convergence of AV and IT.

4. Video Over Twisted Pair

14:15 - 15:15 Friday, 15 September
Jan Braams, CTS, Extron Electronics

What do you do when you need to run high-resolution signal several hundred feet and there is no possibility of sending another cable through the conduit? Discover the ins and outs of using Category 5e/6 cabling for running video and audio signals. Key points such as NEXT, FEXT, skew and attenuation will be covered. Misconceptions about this medium will also be addressed, as well as a thorough explanation of when, or when not, to use CAT 5e/6 as a method of sending audio/video signals over long distances.

Of course, this is not the entire seminar schedule, in fact, there are 17 total seminars being offered by ICIA and InfoComm Europe. So, for more information on each seminar and a complete listing of the seminar schedule, go to: http://www.infocomm.org/exhibitions/europe-seminars/.

Gary Kayye is Chief Visionary of Kayye Consulting - a firm that specializes in providing marketing consulting and training development to the professional audiovisual industry. He spent 12 years at Extron and AMX as VP of Sales and Marketing before founding his own firm. He can be reached at www.kayye.com or via e-mail at gkayye@kayye.com.