In addition to showcasing a full range of DigitalMedia 4K AV distribution, system control and management solutions, InfoComm 2014 also saw Crestron turn the spotlight on its new FlipTop Touch Screen Control System (FT-TSC600).
Petra van Meeuwen, EMEA media relations at Crestron, considers the evolution of the DigitalMedia family – and the extent to which this year’s InfoComm was the one where 4K came of age.
In what ways did the company’s presence at the show move the DigitalMedia family forwards?
Crestron debuted a full lineup of DigitalMedia 4K products at InfoComm, including input/output cards, receivers, extenders and transmitters. These products can be used to upgrade existing card-based DigitalMedia systems through the DM 4K Upgrade Programme – with big discounts. Upgrading is simple and is bringing DigitalMedia into the 4K future, to meet the ever-growing demand from commercial end users.
Every day in the DigitalMedia Lab, Crestron’s engineers rigorously test 4K products to ensure they work in a matrix-switched environment. During InfoComm, Crestron brought the most exciting portions of their DM Lab to the show. Attendees could stop by [the booth] to see the technology that set the standard for 4K testing and certification, while learning how DM switching and the right cabling solutions solve the challenges typically associated with 4K signal distribution.
To what extent was this edition of InfoComm the one where 4K came of age?
At this year’s InfoComm 4K video transmission was a big theme, with several companies demonstrating HDMI cabling transmitting 4K over long distances. At Crestron, we demonstrated our impressive cabling infrastructure, which beats the “under 1 bit error per billion” over 100M, which is perfect for viewing 4K video. Last year, the 4K hype was surrounding the display itself, showing that in 2014 we have moved on from the ‘idea’ of 4K to making it a reality.
More generally, what do you think will be the trends that shape corporate and conference AV over the next six months?
Over the next six months, collaborative technology will become a major part of the corporate world. Being able to attend and influence meetings from a remote location will help companies to expand, and the AV that helps facilitate this will become mainstream. Crestron’s Airmedia kit has already paved the way for this type of technology, and our collaboration with Microsoft Lync and Crestron RL has helped boardroom solutions reach a much wider audience.
