InfoComm: Why I Go

May 26, 2015 by Dave Haynes

I’m starting a series of pre-InfoComm posts about exhibitors and attendees to give readers a sense of what sends people to a steam bath or blast furnace every June.

The details are here …

Just to illustrate how this works, here’s my profile:

infocomm-2015-logo1 – How many years have you been going to InfoComm?

The first one I went to was in Anaheim in maybe 2007, when they still had it in places other than Orlando and Vegas.

2 – What are you looking for when you go?

DSE is so freaking busy for me that I don’t even come close to seeing what I want or need to see. When you know a lot of people, stopping at a booth means surrendering 45 minutes of chat time. So I rarely stop. I know far fewer people at InfoComm, so I have time to really look at the display technology and understand some of the other bits, like distribution gear. It’s definitely more of a tech show for me.

3 – Do you just walk the floor or do you hit any education sessions?

I usually just hump my way around the exhibit hall, but this year I am speaking at one thing and refereeing a panel on another day. Jim Nista from Insteo has put together what shapes up to be a pretty solid content day, which is a nice change from what I usually see on agendas (shameless pitches).

4 – What are the biggest changes you’ve seen in the industry, and where do you see things going?

The display industry is sooooo competitive, and there are so many interesting technologies coming along, like electronic ink, OLED, super tight LED modules and something called quantum dots I wouldn’t even try to explain. I also think people who roll their eyes at Google being in digital signage will change their tune in the next year.

mcosweat5 – Do you prefer Orlando or Vegas?

I really don’t like Orlando (sorry visitors’ bureau), except for the shorter flight and same time zone.

Hot. Hyper-humid. Dodgy taxis (though I hear Uber now there).

And an airport full of once-a-year travellers who jam up security lines and plane boarding.

Vegas is insanely hot in mid-June, but nicer than 95 F and 95% humidity on International Drive.

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