Retail Observer

RETAILOBSERVER.COM NOVEMBER 2023 36 Schweiger was joined by a powerhouse panel of industry experts that included Hank Alexander of Oasys, Daryl Friedman of CEDIA, Richard Glikes of Azione Unlimited, Jim Pearse of ProSource, and Jon Robbins of HTSA. The Smart Stage included other compelling discussions, including "Smart Technology Products to Help People Live in Place," "Service, Support, and Driving an Improved Customer Experience," "8K – Understanding the Content Perspective," and "How Integrators Can Use Innovation to Build Relationships with Specifiers." Notably, the 2023 CE Pro Best Electronics Systems Technologies (BEST) Awards and the 2023 CE Pro Home of the Year Awards also took place on the Smart Stage. The annual awards recognize leading products and installations in the custom electronics industry. "CEDIA Expo has identified trends, challenges, and opportunities for the residential and commercial technology industry. We have collaborated with our partners to create an engaging and thought-provoking lineup of panel presentations from some of the industry's brightest and most well- respected professionals," said Jason McGraw, CTS, group vice president for CEDIA Expo, Commercial Integrator Expo and KBIS, Emerald. "The Smart Stage addressed topics that included new technologies, business opportunities, and emerging market segments to provide attendees with resources to accelerate their businesses." Audio continues to be a dominant product category at the shows, as leading audio manufacturers demonstrated their latest loudspeakers, amplifiers, and signal processing solutions in demo sound rooms on the show floor and in the convention center's meeting rooms. One of the most notable demo theaters was presented by Trinnov Audio who teamed with Ascendo Immersive Audio, Barco, Kaleidescape, madVR Labs, Seymour-Screen Excellence and Officina Acustica to offer one of the most engaging activations at CEDIA Expo 2023. MicroLED Video Walls were another key trend this year as the display technology continues to penetrate the residential space, with a plethora of exhibitors that included LG, Samsung, Sony, Planar, Digital Projection, Just Video Walls and Barco, showcasing the growing trend. Lighting systems persist as a hot topic for integrators interested in capitalizing on the growth of architectural and LED lighting solutions for residential and commercial settings. CEDIA Expo featured leading lighting brands, including AiSPiRE/WAC, American Lighting, Coastal Source, Colorbeam, DMF, Environmental Lights, FX Luminere, and Lucifer Lighting, who brightened the show floor with their latest products along with the lighting business and design topics in the CEDIA Expo Conference Program. Networking and special events held at the show allowed attendees to reconnect with friends and colleagues and to learn about industry issues and trends, including the CE Pro All-Star Band Opening Reception, CE Pro Awards, the CEDIA Advocacy Town Hall, DSF's Digital Signage Day, NSCA's BizSkills Day, Technology Designer's Day of Discovery and the Women in Consumer Technology Luncheon. CEDIA Expo 2024 and Commercial Integrator Expo 2024 will be even bigger and bolder! Make plans to attend September 4-7, 2024 at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver, CO. To learn more about CEDIA Expo, please visit cediaexpo.com. For more information abouts Commercial Integrator Expo, please visit www.expo.commercialintegrator.com. CEDIA EXPO 2023 RO

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