Interview with
MIKE
BLACKMAN
Managing Director, Integrated Systems Europe
What were the biggest highlights from ISE 2019?
We had two very different projection mapping showcases
at ISE 2019. The new nhow Amsterdam RAI hotel, just
next to the exhibition centre, became a projection canvas,
with specially created content mapped to the pattern of
the windows. And we were able to augment this with
video footage shot during the show, so the projection
was a commentary on ISE as well as being a wonderful
showcase for some of the technologies on the show floor.
There was also the world premiere of Sviatovid, Bart
Kresa’s amazing projection mapping sculpture. This was an
amazing spectacle, with highly detailed images, constantly
changing, synchronised to a musical soundtrack.
Bart Kresa also gave the Opening Address at ISE 2019,
which was another highlight. He talked about some
of the pioneers of projection mapping – some of whom
are not well known – as well as discussing some of
his most eye-catching projects in recent years.
Finally, I must mention our Closing Keynote from Tupac
Martir. Both he and Bart Kresa are creative people
who use the technologies on the ISE show floor and put
them to use to dazzling effect within live events. He is
passionate not only about technology, but also in his
insistence that it should be used to deliver original ideas.
We saw a lot of interesting and exciting
technologies exhibited this year. What’s your
take on the changing technology rapidly?
When ISE started, it reflected the changing technology
landscape of the AV and systems integration industry,
but it now helps to drive it. Exhibitors build their product
development plans around what they can launch and
announce at ISE, as they know it has a bigger audience and
a greater influence than any other show. The show is all
about systems integration – combining different technologies
to create something that hasn’t been done before – and
so many of our attendees come to keep up to speed with
the very latest developments in their particular field.
And you’re right that technology is changing rapidly – the
pace of change is probably faster than it’s ever been. That
makes it a very exciting time to be involved in the industry,
though the pace of change brings its challenges as well.
With regard to specific technologies on the show floor
– we saw a lot of 3D projection mapping this year (as
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The
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highonscore.com
well as outside the RAI, as I’ve mentioned). Other
significant areas were 8K displays; smart building and
IoT technology; AI-equipped devices; conferencing
and collaboration technology; LED displays in a huge
variety of curved, flexible, transparent and narrow-
pitch options; and AV over IP and audio networking.
Through the conferences and summits at the
show, what is it that you are trying to achieve?
Most of our attendee growth these days comes from
end-users – people who use AV equipment in their
working lives, rather than being employed in the AV
‘channel’ – and these end-users work in various vertical
market sectors. So it’s important to us to provide content
tailored to these attendees that addresses technologies
and business strategies that are relevant to them.
The conferences and summits also sit within a broader
framework of professional development at the show.
As well as being a place where the industry comes
together to do business, ISE has always been somewhere
where AV and systems integration professionals
learn new expertise and skills – and AVIXA and
CEDIA, the two trade associations that own ISE, have
always been strongly involved in delivering this.
If there is one thing you would love to add on
to this show, what would it be and why?
Another hall at the RAI! Regrettably the venue hasn’t
been able to keep up with the pace of growth of the show,
which is forecast to continue over the next decade. This
is why we will be moving to the Fira Barcelona from 2021
onwards. We’re excited about the move to Barcelona,
but we will be sorry to leave Amsterdam – both the RAI
as a venue and the city as a destination have played a
big part in the development of the show over more than
a decade. We’ll definitely have mixed emotions when
the show returns there for the last time in 2020.
Could you tell us a little bit about the number
of attendees this year and how much
has it grown from previous years?
We had 81,268 registered attendees, which is an increase on
last year. Also, the second day of the show, Wednesday, saw
the most people through the doors on a single day at any
show at the RAI, ever. For ISE 2020, our priority is getting
a more balanced attendance pattern across the four days