Events: DisplaySearch Digital Signage Conference Agenda Now Out

April 19, 2012 by Dave Haynes

The technology market research firm DisplaySearch is again holding a one-day conference at the front-end of InfoComm this year, billed as an “event to prepare yourself for discussions about OLED, transparent displays, glasses-free 3D, and touch technologies during InfoComm.”

Says the pitch: “Meet leading developers, suppliers, integrators, customers, and industry analysts of digital signage applications. Get the scoop on current technology trends from leading industry experts. And, like our participants from last year, you will be able to leverage the unique contacts and data gathered at this conference to drive your company’s future business direction.”

I went last year and thought it was pretty good, though not exactly jammed to the rafters with people. One of the things I like was that the agenda does not have the usual suspects who have running love affairs with microphones. Most of these folks I have not seen, though there are clearly some people on the list because they’re also event sponsors. Ah well, I get it.

The agenda

Introduction and Display Market Overview

DisplaySearch’s Chris Connery, Vice President PC and Large Format Commercial Displays, doing a Global Market Assessment, Tracking and Forecast

Keynote Address

Samsung – Invited (in other words, someone from Samsung, which is kinda funny, as I guess I am not the only one who doesn’t know who runs the commercial panel business in the US for Samsung). TBD will be talking about The New Market for Transparent Displays

Session I: Digital Signage Supply Chain

Speakers from DisplaySearch, Sharp, LG, and Corning will discuss the state of the US digital signage industry, as well as what could be on tap for the rest of the world. VARs and integrators will learn who makes what for whom, who the biggest players are, and what makes displays “commercial grade.” End-market users will hear from the leading players focused on specific commercial needs and learn about other markets around the globe

DisplaySearch – Hidetoshi Himuro, Director, IT & FPD Market Research Japan

Global Comparisons; Best Practices From Around The World

Sharp Electronics – Mike Marusic, Senior Vice President – Business Solutions Group, on One Large Display vs. Multiple Tiled Displays: Opportunities For Each In OOH

LG Electronics USA Commercial Displays – Daniel Smith, Director of Digital Signage, on Commercial vs. Consumer vs. Hybrid Displays

Corning – Luis Zenteno, on Glass Products For The A/V and Digital Signage Industries: Trends And Challenges From A Corning Perspective

Coffee Break

Session II: More than the Display

Sony, NEC and Four Winds will share details about how hardware, software, and services can come together to generate one-time and on-going revenue streams. From financing to content creation to content management to IT and AV support and installation, these companies are focused on the entire value chain, not just the supply chain.

Convergent Media Systems – Kris Konrath, Director of Marketing, on One Product, Multiple Channels

Four Winds – TBD, on Software Content Management in a Multi-Screen World

NEC – Ashley Flaska, Vice President of Marketing, on Cloud Control; Different Managed Services for Different Markets

Lunch

Session III: Go-to-Market Strategies

VARs will learn who to partner with and who can help them bring it all together while end-market installers will gain insight into how major companies can best to serve them. With presenters from Ingram Micro, Nanolumens and Panasonic, attendees will understand where they fall in the mix, what types of technologies might be available to them through which channels, and what markets are hot at the moment.

Ingram Micro Irene Chow, Sr. Vendor Business Manager, ProAV/Digital Signage, on Targeting Key Vertical Markets for Digital Signage from a Distributor’s Perspective

Nanolumens – TBD, on Using Distribution To Help Simplify Individual Installations

Panasonic – Rick Albert, Vice President, Flat Panel Display, on The Right Display Solution for You: Comparing Multi-Display and Large-Format Display Solutions

Break

Session IV: Advanced and Emerging Display Technologies for Digital Signage

New display technologies such as OLED, transparent displays, touch screens, and glasses-free 3D displays are shown at trade shows and showing up in consumer electronics, but are these technologies really ready for commercial adoption? DisplaySearch and other companies will discuss the state of OLED and touch technologies, while Philips/Dimenco will introduce glasses-free 3D for public environments.

DisplaySearch – Dr. Jennifer Colegrove, Vice President, Emerging Display Technologies, on The State of the OLED Market; Touch Market Characterization

Philips / Dimenco – Maarten Tobias, CEO, on Non-Glasses 3D for Public Environments (hopefully the Dolby 3D stuff)

3M Touch – Scott Hagermoser, Global Business Development Manager, on Why Does Big-Touch Feel Different Than My iPhone/iPad?