NSCA Technology Showcases: The Future is Now

Push the boundaries of present-day technology—look, listen, and feel what's in store for the industry at the 2007 technology showcases. Beyond standalone products, systems will work together—integrated and communicating. Network-savvy integrators know that the future is all about connectivity, and the future is here.

Digital Signage Showcase

Make digital signage ideas come alive by visiting the NSCA Expo Digital Signage Showcase, which lets attendees explore the full range of digital applications and provides hands-on examples in a themedical environment, highlighting healthy lifestyles. Applications include a doctor''s office, a visit to a local gym, and a nurse''s station. Don''t miss this opportunity to have a hands-on approach to a fast-growing industry.

Throughout the show, there are six classes that will take place on the showcase floor. Everyone is aware of the booming digital signage business, but how do contractors partner with content providers that are sourcing many of the jobs? There are several courses that will help sharpen technical skills, expand knowledge, and discuss how to be more profitable in the digital signage arena, including "Digital Signage: The Exploding New Medium." This course, taught by Lyle Bunn, Alchemy, PI Media, reveals key trends and issues of the digital display in public spaces, including technology balancing, what is driving demand for these networks, the growth and deployment outlook, deployment issues and opportunities.

In "Integrative Sign as the Emerging Standard for Digital Signage Networks," Brad Gleeson, Planar Systems, will discuss how digital signage transforms and benefits many business models, generating significant business growth for those who participate. In the presentation, he will also talk about the nature of the digital signage market and how a standardized display appliance can simplify sales, installation, and management of signage networks. Other digital signage courses include: "Develop your Expertise in Selling to Digital Signage Prospects," "Design, Specification, and Installation of Digital Signage Systems," " Make your Customers Happy: Choose the best digital signage technology at the right price," and "Nice Screens - So Where''s the Content? The Right Content for the Right Target at the Right Time."

Intelligent Building Services Showcase

A building capable of detecting the thinnest wisp of smoke, messaging security to “check it out”, notifying all tenants if the situation progresses and even directing traffic out of the building if necessary? And tracking every tenant to make sure they''re out safely? It's not the technology of the future; all these things are possible now.

Come to the NSCA “Smart Building Services Showcase,” and see how a variety of IP-based products can be positioned as services in a managed environment within a building or suite of buildings. While it''s still smart to build with brick for a solid foundation, it''s increasingly clear that construction is the best time to put in the infrastructure to support an ever-growing array of IP-based products, and to consider positioning those products as services that can be managed throughout their lifecycle.

The showcase will feature “education stations” where you can drill down on the details of a particular service as well as “data demonstrations” where you can see some of the results of integrating these products into a service and also how to spot the difficulties of integrating networked products if you don''t have the right network.

From the integration of new technologies to the targeting of new market opportunities, NSCA is delivering the education needed to deal with the upsides and downsides of the converging industry. The Expo provides learning opportunities for systems contractor/integrators, consultant/specifiers, manufacturers, and independent reps. "Harnessing Convergence: Dealing With New Dynamic Forces in the Electronic Systems Industry" is presented by Jeanne and John Stiernberg of Stiernberg Consulting. The free course will answer the following: What is “Convergence” in the electronic systems industry? How is it relevant to your business? What are the risks and opportunities in dealing with technology convergence in 2007 and beyond? What is “business convergence”, and how does it impact our industry? The course is a provocative look at the how dynamic forces can be addressed and applied to your business in 2007 and beyond.

The second course offering in this showcase is "How Technology is Dramatically Changing the Design and Construction Industry." Taught by Stephen A Jones, Senior Director of McGraw-Hill Construction, the course presents exciting new technology solutions such as building information modeling, collaboration websites, and wireless devices. These solutions are dramatically changing how all project participants work together to communicate, solve problems, and build better facilities faster with fewer cost and schedule overruns. These developments are driving even more change in project processes, where traditional design/bid/build project delivery is being eclipsed by innovative team structures enabling dynamic integrated design and construction techniques.

For more on the NSCA Expo 2007 Showcases click here.

Register for NSCA Expo 2007 at www.nsca.org/expo.