Measuring the Product and Venue Offerings
Ok, phew, we’re all home. Some of us, myself included, have tested positive but so far I’m not having more than slight cold symptoms. I know there are a lot of us who are in the same boat post-show, but enough about that, let’s talk about the show.
It’s been three years since I last walked the floor of Infocomm or saw most of you, and our world has changed. The tools we use are different now, and the way we work has changed too. But how has Infocomm adapted? And for that matter how has the show experience changed in the COVID world?
First a quick shoutout to everyone I saw at the show, I can’t name everyone I saw because a) I can’t remember, and b) I wouldn’t have any space for anything else. To those I caught up with after three long years I’m so glad to see you again. To those I met for the first time, I’m glad to have met you and I can’t wait to see you again.
Accessibility is still weak
Ok, so what did I get out of Infocomm, what is new? Well, let’s start with this: one of the biggest areas in AV, education, is growing in prominence at the show but accessibility is still a limited area. I understand it’s not “sexy” and the tools for it look a lot like generic black boxes, but as we move into a world where AI is able to do a lot of what used to require human hands (such as transcription and captioning) there is a lot that can be done to make it “sexy.” Hell, a pair of assembly line robots have been repurposed in Vegas as bartenders, and even with frequent breakdowns they are incredibly popular (while people, meanwhile, hate drinks made by machines off the casino floor.) I would argue that a lot of opportunities exists to expand the concept of accessibility into the general consciousness. Let me be clear, however, I don’t blame the vendors, there’s so much to reveal and a limited amount of space to do it!
Let’s think outside the box
But, I did find a few options to enhance accessibility, or at least create a new pathway to accessibility. In many of our classrooms, hybrid learning needs to be accomplished via an ad-hoc setup with portable equipment being installed as needed. However because those requests usually come in on the day of the class, we may not always be able to provide the speakerphone and camera that we normally give. In that case, instructors often find themselves using phones and/or earbuds to handle the remote aspect. Having had the chance to evaluate several different options, I am now considering pushing for a greater deployment of bone conduction headphones for classes. These would allow instructors to be heard remotely, and hear the remote learner, without blocking their audio from the classroom. Similarly, offering them to students would make using WiFi ALS units and tools like Crowdmics more workable as they don’t block ambient audio.
Let’s talk convention accessibility
I’d also like to speak about the accessibility issues in the venue. Obviously, giant convention centers aren’t for everyone. They generally need visitors to have mobility, whether that is aided or unaided, the ability stands for long periods of time, operate without access to water, and the ability to tolerate a wide variety of sensory stimuli. Many of these things can’t be changed, they’re a feature of convention centers’ purpose, though they should be taken into account for future builds. But what about the Las Vegas Convention Center and the Orange County Convention Center? What can AVIXA do to make Infocomm more accessible?
First, I’d argue that there needs to be more seating, period. Sticking it in the far back of the hall, I get it, but it’s not helpful for people who need a place to sit and rest for whatever reason. Nor is it helpful that the seating looks and feels like an afterthought or a space for employees. Add to that the limited amount of it, and its location near the “food” options, and there’s a lack of natural seating areas that occurs. So add more little “pocket parks” around the floor. That would also give the opportunity for attendees to mingle and talk. Second, outside the floor there need to be spaces for attendees to decompress.
For individuals who are non-neurotypical, have sensitivities to light or smell, or just need to get their heads together, there is a lack of space to address those concerns.
As we see in airports, universities, and even a couple of casinos, such spaces are critical to helping integrate a wider range of participants. There are already conference rooms booked aside for the council lounge, speakers lounge, press room, offices, etc so why not add a few rooms for people to decompress? This isn’t a car dealership, it’s a trade show. Finally, let me address one last, less obvious, issue. Food options. Yes, fine, we can’t do much because they are controlled by the convention center, but the food options are a bit of a hurdle for people with dietary needs, religious prohibitions, or who simply need access to a quick bite. As AVIXA moves forward, perhaps they should work with the venues to provide more options for food.
I’m glad to be back from Vegas. Don’t get me wrong, I loved seeing all of you, but there was so much to digest that I’m still not there. Keep your eyes on this space for more ideas influenced by what we all saw at Infocomm this year.
