CEDIA EXPO 2012: Opportunities for Integrators
Next month systems integrators and home technology professionals will head to CEDIA EXPO 2012, September 5 to 8 at the Indianapolis Convention Center where they will find new technologies, education and lots of networking opportunities to get their companies in line for the future.
CEDIA, the Custom Electronic Design & Installation Association, is focusing on the themes of “Expand Your Business,” and “Own the Network; Own the Home,” at the conference, with close to 450 exhibitors registered for the exposition portion of the show.
Superlative education
CEDIA EXPO 2012 is expanding its course offerings and bringing even more sessions focused on networking and IP, some eight in total. In addition there are more than 20 new CEDIA University courses slated for the event.
There are also credentialing courses, including the new Residential Network Specialist, representing home tech and IP. The credential allows industry professionals to demonstrate the mastery of the fundamentals of designing, installing and configuring a robust network in the home.
The opening keynote address: “The Intuitive Home of 2016,” will be presented by Dr. Michio Kaku on Wednesday, Sept. 5 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Wabash Ballroom of the convention center. For many in the industry, the idea of the “smart home” has been around for years. As we move toward entry level/commoditized home automation, the “smart home” term will only increase in popularity—both inside and outside of the industry.
What many don’t know is that most smart homes aren’t “smart,” instead they boast a very smart design and installation by talented electronic systems contractors. With future offerings like IPv6, RFID devices and more, the next generation of smart homes will emerge, creating “The Intuitive Home.” Join Dr. Michio Kaku as he discusses what life will be like after the smart home transforms into the fully intuitive home.
On Thursday, Sept. 6 from 8 to 9 a.m. in Room 140 of the convention center CEDIA will present a follow up to the keynote presentation in a session called: “The Intuitive Home of 2016: What’s After the Smart Home.” This panel discussion is an interactive session designed to allow attendees to get their questions answered and foster thought-provoking conversation with all players in the industry. Dr. Kaku will be one of the panelists in the session.
Home health, security, networking and automation; energy management; and future technology are some of the areas to be explored at CEDIA EXPO 2012 Here’s a peek at some of the training courses you might consider in your visit (there are some 135 in total):
Business Growth: Selling Design and Engineering Services; Selling Networking (and IT Services) and Integration; and Are you Losing Money on Your Service Calls?
Technical Excellence: The Future of Home Theater: Delivering an Optimal User Experience; Fundamentals of Home Theater Design; IP for Technicians ‘Hands On’; Fundamentals of Residential Security Systems; Home Theater Audio and Acoustics; and Retrofit Installation.
Forging Alliances: Working with Industry Partners; Outsourcing to Thrive and Survive; Social Media Marketing, Parts I and II; and Creating and Maintaining a Five Star Customer Experience.
Emerging Trends: Designing Control for Mobile Devices and Tablets; Designing Residential Energy Management Systems; Using Smartphones and Tablets as Wireless Sources in the Home; and The Healthcare and Aging Crisis: How Integrators are Stepping in as the Missing Link.
Operational Excellence: The Art of Project Documentation; 8 Steps to a Winning Company Culture; Automate Your Business Processes, Doing More with Less; Effective Compensation Strategies; and Completing a Project, the Last Five Percent
At the Future Technology Pavilion, the following technologies will be represented by product: Near Field Communication; Telepresence; Access Control; Aging In place; Voice Control; and Gesture Recognition.
In addition, new to the CEDIA Expo is “Around the Table: 6 Topics, 1 Hour, Infinite Answers,” free to CEDIA members on Thursday, September 6 from 12 to 1 p.m. with lunch provided. Billed as a rapid fire brainstorming session, attendees will be able to network and speak with industry peers about the most pressing industry topics. For more information, visit www.cedia.org/expo.
