I had the opportunity to browse the many exhibitors that made up the show while I was there. It was a tech wonderland filled to the brim with eye-catching and beautiful content, and I was equally impressed and intrigued by the unique products and experiences on display.

Here are some of the technology trends that piqued my interest.

8k and video walls: a visual sugar rush

The first thing anyone will probably mention after visiting ISE is the visual explosion that happens when you enter any hall. The whole event was awash with engaging and untraditional displays, such as Ledeca’s giant head-shaped LED display, Sony’s CrystalLED showing stunning 8k content on a display of 9.7 x 5.4 meters (a diagonal of about 440’’, folks!) or LG’s transparent OLED signage screens and their rollable OLED TVs.

The entire LED industry is unquestionably focusing on more and better pixels, and it was an impressive show of force from some of the industry’s titans. But while big screens and more pixels really stole the show at larger exhibitors such as Sony and LG, they didn’t portray anything majorly new or innovative.

I personally thought the 8k content and video walls were more about the ‘cool factor’ than actual usability. What I did take away from these larger exhibitors was the interesting fact that screens are no longer static objects, but can morph into all shapes and sizes, making signage and immersive experiences a lot better.

Digital signage is (still) all the rage

80% of brands experienced an increase of up to 33% in sales using digital signage, just like visual aids improve classroom learning by up to a staggering 400%, and 52% of travelers are more likely to go to a hotel that offers self-check-in, while quick service restaurants report a 30% increase in order value when customers use smart vending.

These rosy figures, reported by the official newspaper of Integrated Systems Europe, The Daily, indicated that growth in the digital signage sector is still on the rise; much more than other industries could hope for.

Because there’s such a rapid evolution going on with size and pixelation in video walls, digital signage can capture the audience way better than before. 8k video walls with IPS (Insane Performance Rendering) makes it possible to drive 8k video walls or clusters of four 4k digital signage displays from a single media player, which is quite something.

Digital signage setups are now able to summarize how many people walked by the displays, looked at the signage, for how long – and then add to that personal data about the user/consumer such as personal identification traits like age, gender or habits. In response to that data, messages can be modified in real-time.

Personal data out the window

It’s quite eerie to see how the use of data has changed. Digital signage can only become this sophisticated because we’re giving away more personal data than ever before.

And why is that? It’s a changing consumer behavior born by younger generations brought up with social media. They’ve been taught to share their data and use it for their benefit, and it’s having a massive impact on what we can convince an audience to do because the message becomes so tailored and specific.

Yes, it could mean a better overall experience with tech tools, digital signage, and IoT, but at what cost? I find it a little scary that the next standard for offices, for example, could be having my face on file as an entrance key or other types of logins. But maybe I’ll change my mind when I see how seamlessly it can make things work for the better.

Standardization

What I generally heard a lot of people say at ISE was that the demand for standardization is high. Users want to enjoy a consistent experience with a simplified design, and preferably one that has a solid standard for implementation as well.

Too many solutions are overcomplicated or require skills beyond what the regular user has. It’s time for tech companies, AV solutions especially, to take a step down from their ivory tower and into the user’s shoes.

Essentially, it’s function over form: if the solution can’t carry out the function it’s supposed to because someone had aesthetic or other things top of mind instead of what’s needed, it’s bound to cause confusion and disappointment.

Unfortunately, I heard the demand for more standardization rather than saw it at the show. It’s a pity, but at least when users are being vocal about their wishes, companies will have to follow suit eventually.

The downfall of projection

LED screens are making a move to steal the limelight from traditional projection. Eventually, they could be a complete replacement in both cinemas and classrooms where they are most widely used.

The average cinema-goer in Europe only spends about five hours in a cinema each year, according to analysts IHS market, and in order to attract more people, cinemas are trying to upgrade the total experience, making it more immersive and of higher quality.

Taking projectors out from classrooms has to do with tearing down walls. A projector binds students to a specific area or classroom whereas screens can be moved around more freely, allowing teachers more freedom and a more dynamic style of teaching.

Immersive technology explosion

It’s time for the physical and digital experience to fuse, ISE 2019 seems to tell us. Virtual sommeliers in restaurants, in-store scavenger hunts, digital garment collections. It opens up to a whole new world of business opportunities when you add digital content to the real world.

We’re talking holography to guide you through the consumer/user experience, mixed reality glasses, and gamification mixed with VR. And when you add AI to all of these immersive experiences, the user will be truly engaged with the content presented.

What was missing?

ISE 2019 was basically all the tech giants flexing their muscles. The show-off of the latest cutting-edge technology from all exhibitors, large and small, was engaging and entertaining, yet there were definitely a few things missing.

The 8k content was mesmerizing, but more of an initial sugar rush than something tangible that the user could take away from the exhibition. I think Airtame was a good antidote for all the wow effect booths at ISE, giving attendees a product with actual daily usability.

I wish ISE had a bigger focus on sustainability as well. The long halls were filled to the brim with eye-catching and amazing AV wonders, but I didn’t see a ‘green mindset’ presented in all that.

I did read a small post in The Daily about unboxing, though. With bulkier roll-outs, organizations could reduce disposal significantly by buying from companies that deliver everyday products, such as cables, in bulk. It cuts down on waste and eliminates hours spent on unboxing.

I also think user-friendliness deserve to play a bigger part in the show. We tried hard to make a booth that was different and had the user in mind, and it attracted a lot of attention because other exhibitors had a more conservative approach to their product presentation.

Next year, perhaps more will follow suit. ISE 2019 taught us that we need to see eye to eye with our users in order to better understand their needs, and talking to so many of them last week emphasized the point that they should be the center of attention, not us.

The post Technology trends: What we saw at ISE 2019 appeared first on Airtame.

We are firm believers that technology has a place in the classroom and can be an empowering tool for educators.

What are the rising edtech trends and their use in classrooms? We’ve dug deep and researched the movements on the rise, and here’s how we predict classrooms changing in 2019 and beyond.

Curious for more trends? Check out our predictions of how the contemporary workspace will change in 2019.

Edtech trends

BYOD brings people together

From laptops to tablets, to smartphones and Chromebooks, schools and universities everywhere are embracing a dynamic learning environment, where students bring and use a computational device of their choice.

It’s called BYOD or Bring Your Own Device, and when schools acknowledge that the technological companions are a part of our everyday lives, it becomes easier to implement and use them to the educators’ advantage. Sourcing the best devices would come at an immense cost for schools, so a BYOD environment is a good idea to overcome that hurdle.

We believe more learning environments will increasingly embrace the BYOD trend along with exploratory BYOD-driven projects that let students participate more actively. Our wireless screen sharing solution is platform-agnostic, which means it’s well-suited for these BYOD environments too.

Freedom to roam

A more mobile environment is a more dynamic environment, and going wireless is one step educators can take towards a more dynamic learning space. Educators can operate their laptop or tablet from anywhere in the room with wireless AV gear, like Airtame.

In a more dynamic environment, educators become more flexible, allowing them to instruct to the class and help individual students at the same time. It’s an area we’re definitely going to see more schools exploring in the coming year.

Safety through signage

Ensuring a safe and secure campus is no easy task, but digital signage may be the answer. Digital signage will enable instructors to update emergency alerts in real-time. Emergency messages could include wayfinding, information updates, and procedures.

Good thing is that many schools might not even have to invest in a lot of new gear to reap the benefits. If the school is already outfitted with displays in critical areas, it’s only a matter of acquiring the right software.

Smart classrooms become smarter

Previously, chalkboards were an integral part of the traditional classroom. Today, interactive whiteboards are the new standard along with a list of other smart solutions. These smart solutions give educators a lot more freedom – and probably also time.

We’re at a point now where teachers can do automated attendance, share content instantly with students, and not have to stay tethered to the front of the classroom. It brings about more interaction, not only student to teacher but student to student as well.

Luckily, many of these smart solutions are becoming more affordable and easy to access even for schools on a tighter budget. Besides that, the evolution of smart technologies for the classrooms is still on the rise, so we will definitely see more of them implemented in 2019.

Teaching trends

The benefits of gamification

A smart classroom puts students at the center and connects them to the space itself via their laptops, smartphones, and tablets. It’s called “active-learning classrooms” (ALC), and more schools are implementing these smart learning spaces.

In an ALC, students are more actively engaged, they participate through discussions and reflections rather than being only passive listeners. ALCs are on the rise, and we think more schools will put an emphasis on that.  

Another way to make the learning environment more active is to introduce gamification. Gamification ensures a certain level of interaction from students and in some cases heightens comprehension rates because the games can be tailored to the individual class or student. Read about more benefits here.

More classrooms are going “green”

The modern classroom not only focuses on edtech and active learning solutions; it’s also sustainable and eco-friendly. Of course, not every classroom will immediately be able to adopt a sustainability program, but there are several things instructors can do to make simple and efficient changes.

It’s called “The three Rs”: reduce, reuse, and recycle. With so many technological advances, reducing waste shouldn’t be so challenging, seeing as we’re already connected to cloud platforms and sharing a lot of content online. A lot of the work that has previously been done on paper can easily be transferred to computers.

The key to implementing a more “green” structure is a supportive administration in the school, and a city-wide infrastructure. Recycling at school becomes easier if students are already recycling at home and ditto for their parents at work.

Robotics and coding are not as alien as they sound

Coding shouldn’t be limited to a special type of learner. Today, everyone can benefit from learning how technology works and how it works with the wider world.

Teaching coding and robotics in the classroom is a brilliant idea that helps stimulate computational thinking.

With our online presence being so dominant in the Digital Age, we believe teaching coding activities, programming, and robotics will help prepare students for the modern, technological world. Coding could soon become a new mandatory ‘language’ in school.

Recognizing the individual

Each student is different, and so is their style of learning and interest in various subjects. Advanced, technology-assisted instructions allow for more personalized learning. Educators already have a good idea what each student’s preferences are like, and with the right tools, they’ll be able to tailor the learning experience to exactly fit the needs and interests of the individual, making learning more fun – and a lot more effective.  

Personalized learning is especially beneficial for special needs students with impairments that would cause them issues in a traditional setting. With adaptive and personalized learning, kids with hearing or visual disabilities, dyslexia or anxiety can have tools to express themselves in a way that’s suitable for them.

Drive learning analytics with AI

AI isn’t a replacement of human intelligence, it’s more a support tool that can be very helpful for instructors. For example, the data collected in classrooms can be used to tailor the learning experience going forward – and what works best with the set of students in front of the instructor.

AI could mean automated grading, which in turn means more time for other things. AI could also mean better and more immediate feedback for students, better research, and a better understanding of each student’s individual need.

Classroom culture trends

Focus on ethics, data, and privacy

Data protection needs to be top of mind in 2019 if it isn’t already. Just as we share data involuntarily all the time, so do students.

It’s not just important for the younger kids in school, older pupils and instructors need to be mindful of how they use their data – and when they’re protected.

The same goes for the online presence we inevitably all have. We think schools will play a more active role in addressing responsible technology use and online behavior.

Collaborative learning

In an ALC, collaborative learning is very much encouraged. It means an environment where students are encouraged to work together to solve problems and reflect on the topics presented.

Through project-based learning, gamification, and sharing content, students can participate more freely. Students can more easily find their own voice in the classroom in a collaborative environment and thereby figure out how they learn best and what they still need some support with.

Learning is for teachers too

It’s no use trying to implement fancy new technologies if the instructors don’t feel comfortable using them, so the right training can make all the difference.

AV gear should support the instructor’s teaching efforts by making their presentations effective and easy to understand. Instructors need to be educated enough that AV tools can be put to good effect.

The right training will strengthen the instructors’ skills in making their teaching process effective, attention-grabbing, and interesting. And if done right, it will foster more collaboration because students will be able to weigh in on the content shown. That’s why, even before looking into AV gear, schools should have a plan for how to prepare their educators.

Smarter classrooms are more inclusive

Each student is unique but most curriculums are not. It’s extremely challenging for an educator to come up with personalized learning tools for each and every student. That’s where the right technology can be of help.

Not only will smart technologies free up time that the teachers can then spend on supporting their students, they also help support students in finding out what their strengths are and how best to apply them throughout their education.

Airtame is such a tool, and it can help encourage many of these trends as it brings both students and teachers together in presenting when and where they want. For the uninitiated, take a look at the opportunities of Airtame in this quick video (or watch the longer Airtame for education demo here).

Did we miss anything? What do you think is in store for edtech trends in the coming year? We speak to hundreds of educational institutions every year, and we’d love to hear from you too.

The post The top classroom and edtech trends in 2019 appeared first on Airtame.

Now that we’ve taken the first bite out of 2019, we think it’s the perfect time to speculate on the future of the workplace, for this year and beyond.

Here are some of the trends and changes we foresee coming to offices across the globe this year.

Technological office trends that shape the digital workplace

The future is wireless

The smart office is a reality. We’re not just connected to each other, all of the things in an office building can be interlinked. Smarter technology gives us the freedom to roam and brings about a more dynamic way of working.

Being connected means we gain specific insights into performance stats that can help us improve our routines. Lighting, ventilation, heating, room scheduling, presenting … all of it becomes a breeze when we’re hooked up wirelessly to an intelligent network.

An intelligent office is more dynamic and efficient, and we think we’ll start seeing more of that in 2019. Going in a more wireless direction means that your business becomes more agile, intelligent, and collaborative.

Going BYOD saves time and money

BYOD or “bring your own device” is steadily becoming more popular in many workplaces. It gives employees who bring their own smartphone, tablet, laptop or “virtual assistant”, such as a smartwatch or voice-activated assistant, more freedom to do their job when and as they please.

In addition, employees actually work faster when they utilize devices they are already familiar with and it reduces the cost of having to equip every employee with tech gear they might not be comfortable with.

That means that personal smartphones, wearables, and applications stop being only at-home playthings and instead become increasingly integrated into the workspace. They keep track of our progress, schedule appointments, respond to messages, and help us with errands and meetings. As the virtual assistants become more sophisticated, they will eventually free up a lot of time for us, the employees.

We predict even more mobile assistance this year as well as more focus on BYOD environments (and the security issues that follow).

Watch this short video explaining how the Airtame 2 works in a BYOD environment:

The Digital Age calls for enhanced security

With more wireless connections and many mobile devices hooking up to internal networks, we’ll also see more data stored on the cloud. It’s a big blow to companies if that data isn’t secured well enough. We predict more focus on cybersecurity efforts in the 2019 workspace.

And that’s not all. Physical privacy is top-of-mind too. Companies are also opting for more personal privacy by creating smaller, enclosed spaces where employees can take a phone call or meeting without the rest of the office eavesdropping, for example, an office pod or call booth.

If you need a guiding hand, check out our article on obtaining enhanced network security.

Is a reception area for you?

The reception area isn’t necessary for all sizes and shapes of organizations. We made a small guide here to help you figure out if it’s for you. For larger companies with many visitors, a reception or lobby is absolutely vital, but the very nature of the reception space is seeing some change.

There’s isn’t always as great a need for a receptionist to be tied full-time to the front desk. Instead, companies are using smart sing-in kiosks and other signage solutions to welcome and guide visitors. Technology can help guide, inform, and support your guests in their visit, and smart solutions like sign-in kiosks and proper digital signage are just a few of those initiatives.

Workspace design trends that increase employee engagement

Healthy people = good work

It’s a pleasant transformation to see companies focusing more on the humans that do the work rather than the other way around. After all, we spend a good chunk of our lives in the office, and if we connect with our workspace and feel comfortable there, we’re more likely to invest energy in it. If you want an employee that feels ‘at home’ and great about putting in more time, invest in comfort and wellness.

But how, you ask? It’s all about the way we perceive the rooms we work in. If you include elements that are dynamic and stimulating, it makes for a happier work environment. Sunlight, good air quality, plants, healthy snacks and access to outdoors can all help counteract the static, dormant conditions of sit-still work. And if you want to take it even further, opting for recycled work materials, a clean work environment, and CSR programs can make a big difference too.

According to the Harvard Business Review, wellness programs don’t work unless leaders create a culture of understanding and acceptance. We think corporate wellness will be more inclusive and thought-out in 2019. When done right, wellness programs can boost confidence (and thus productivity) as well as prevent burnouts.

Once you go “green” …

Every office creates waste. The more people, the more waste. Soda cans, plastic bags, food waste … In 2019, we think employers will opt for greener, more environmentally friendly solutions and focus on recycling and finding simple ways to be more energy-efficient.

We’re starting 2019 off at Airtame with two recycling bins reserved for cans, one for used batteries, and a firm promise to eliminate plastic in the kitchen.

The “green” mindset doesn’t stop there, however. Including nature-elements such as ‘green’ walls or natural elements like wood will make the office seem alive and welcoming as opposed to cold and mechanical.

Office trends that create a “home”

Diversity drives innovation

Embracing people from different cultures than your own can prove to be enriching and productive for the work environment. Just take a look at us – 90 people and 30 nationalities represented, and we don’t plan on stopping anytime soon.

We see this as a continuing, deeply significant trend. Human Resources and People teams this year will look into how they can continue to grow businesses in ways that positively reflect cities worldwide. Moreover, they will focus on how to do this in a way that is constructive for company growth.

But diversity is so much more than a language or skin-deep construct. It also reflects how multi-faceted the thoughts and feelings of the staff body might be, and how these teams have to go to some lengths to accommodate every type of professional.

Increased flexibility boosts satisfaction

Experience-based office designs, remote working, shared office spaces … yes, the 2019 workforce is even more focused on flexibility in the workspace, and a modern office needs to take that into account.

Coworking spaces around the world (here’s a list of our favorites) have already embraced this trend of increased collaboration, flexibility, and community management, but more ‘traditional’ companies are starting to follow suit.

We predict that companies will allow for more personalized spaces in the office, such as remote working zones and designated team collaboration areas.

A fat paycheck isn’t everything

A fat paycheck just won’t cut it anymore. Attracting and retaining top talent requires intimate knowledge of the individual and their individual needs. Playing around with these perks will ensure that employees feel supported, even empowered, rather than looking at them as mere money makers.

Something that can make a big difference to a lot of employees is a retirement plan or health insurance. Struggling with financial challenges is emotionally challenging for anyone experiencing them, so an effective financial program will eliminate that stress and leave the worker less worried and therefore more focused on the tasks at hand.

Others perks could be stock options, tuition grants, paying off student loans, unlimited holiday, unlimited remote work, choice of hardware … the list is long and the options are many, and choosing just one or a few of them is sure to leave a lasting, positive impact on employees.

Community management drives company culture

Community management is hard in this period of individualism. The employee experience and the human aspect should, therefore, be prioritized. That means workspaces need to cultivate community-like environments with creative spaces to share and facilitate ideas. Breaking down walls and designing recreational areas a good way of evoking that feeling.

Business meeting trends that streamline working

Huddle spaces help productivity

With an increasingly diverse workforce and more flexible arrangements, the 2019 workspace needs more than just a conference room and cubicles. Huddle rooms or smaller collaboration spaces give teams the privacy and collaboration tools they need to be productive (described by us here).

Stay aligned with virtual meetings

Because the number of independent contractors and remote workers is rising, the need to dial in from afar is greater than ever. The remote workers need to be kept up to date with what’s going on at headquarters and businesses need to tune in to what their clients are saying on the other side of the globe.

That’s why we’ll see an increase in virtual meetings in 2019. AV gear is now so good that it’s almost the same as being in the room with the person you’re calling, so there’s no excuse not to equip your office with conferencing equipment. It reduces cost in the long run as you won’t have to travel further than your designated meeting room to have a chat with someone far away.

People matter more

In 2019, there’s an increased focus on people metrics. How you design your workspace plays a significant role in performance and productivity. Physical working conditions, mental health transparency, and an overall increase in flexibility. Why? Because people matter. Support the employees and you will reap the benefits.

These are just some of the office trends we can start to predict from the communication we have with over 18,000 organizations. Any we missed? What are you excited about seeing? We’d love to hear your thoughts.

Additionally, if you’re curious to kit your office space out with Airtame, reach out. We’re here to help.

The post The future of work: office trends in 2019 appeared first on Airtame.

Automated offices

One big theme of this year’s ISE conference was automation and control systems.

An endless number of companies at ISE offered to automate the curtains, lighting, projector screens, audio, and much, much more.

We are especially excited about this, because of the potential it has to empower the classroom.

One company that stood out was Neets, a Danish company:

They make a simple, easy to install automation platform that can turn on everything in the room with the touch of a button. Adding a motion sensor turns everything off when nobody is using the room.

Screens everywhere

At an AV conference, we knew screens would be featured heavily.

What we did not expect was the quality and sheer size of the screens.

There were ultra-large outdoor LED screens of a quality and sharpness that we had not seen before.

Of course, the much-raved about OLED technology was shown off in full force. A notable example of OLED screens is LG’s display of their ultra thin dual-sided signage displays.

Transparent screens were another screen trend using screens and projections in unexpected ways:

An example that really impressed us was commercial fridges with a transparent screen as a door. This meant that advertisements could be running on the screen front, while it was still possible to identify the bottles behind the glass door.

Go big, go nerdy

We saw two types of AV technology that grabbed everyone’s attention:

The kind that went big and the kind that went nerdy.

Go big

Panasonic’s robotic arms mesmerized most people walking by. The arms showed off both massive robotic power and impressive digital signage processing by moving around three large displays, while content that stretched over multiple displays stayed still and in focus.

Go nerdy

Another impressive crowd-pleaser and nerd-magnet was the Drone Arena.

This place had everything from DJI Phantom’s best seller to high-end photography drones at prices over €40,000 a piece.

It didn’t matter that the Drone Arena was in the furthest corner of the whole conference. There was a constant crowd who wanted to see the latest trends with these flying robots.

This bad boy costs 40,000 euros and can carry a large photography camera

Wireless office solutions

A trend that didn’t come as a big surprise to us was the amount of booths exhibiting wireless display and collaboration tools.

Many of the major AV companies now offer some kind of wireless display tool, ranging from the market leader, Barco, showing their new Clickshare lineup to smaller companies offering inexpensive Miracast streaming sticks.

A drawback of the solutions we saw at ISE 2016 was that they offer a long list of features that the user might not actually need.

It confirmed what makes Airtame stand out:

A simple and easy wireless solution that anyone from businessmen to high school students can use.

In any case, seeing the enthusiastic crowd around wireless display pumped us up!

Don't let cable clutter your office!

Did you attend ISE 2016 or have an idea where the future of AV technology is heading? Let us know in the comments.

The post AV trends from ISE 2016 appeared first on Airtame.