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44 | D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 4 Audio Visual Systems P H OTO G R A P H Y CO U RT E S Y V I B R A-S O N I C CO N T RO L ; AV I -S P L Innovative audio visual systems are revolutionizing experiences and crafting truly immersive environments by ROBIN BRUNET W hen the 1903 film The Great Train Robbery was first screened, the jittery footage of an oncoming train caused audiences to bolt from their seats and run for safety. Now, 121 years later, companies such as GAV MGMT cause people to forget they're in a room as they take in breathtaking outdoor vistas, courtesy of Samsung's The Wall microLED video wall – which is said to be the ultimate in immersive experiences. As GAV MGMT notes, the 'you-are-there' sensation is the result of the transfer- ence of micrometre-scale LEDs into LED modules, resulting in what resembles wall tiles comprised of mass-transferred clusters of almost microscopic lights. Mounted together as a uniform canvas and plugged in, they create a visual experience similar to that of premium QLED T Vs. Better still for end-users in the residential, commercial, and other sectors, the visual purity of the latest models of The Wall are leaps ahead of the version first unveiled in 2018 – and gives companies such as GAV MGMT more tools in their arsenal for companies seeking audio-visual, digital signage, and com- munication technology solutions. Another technological evolution that startles first-time audiences is offered by ClearLED. ClearLED rose to prominence by specializing in transparent digital displays, a groundbreaking way to deliver creative content and reinforce brand recognition. Its suite of displays ranges from portable window-size digital posters to giant custom high-resolution LED video walls and have been installed both indoors and outdoors around the world. In June, ClearLED's MicroMesh poster won the prestigious 'Best New Video Wall Product' award at InfoComm 2024, for technology that sets new industry standards. The poster achieves up to 93 percent transparency yet seamlessly integrates into any environment without obstructing natural light. A 3D printed mask protects the LED covering on both the front and back, ensuring durability and longevity, and its lightweight design ensures easy installation and main- tenance, making it perfect for both temporary and permanent setups for retail settings or large-scale events. Over at AVI-SPL (whose goal is to deliver digital workplace collaboration and meeting solutions that connect physical work areas, virtual collaboration spaces, and remote workforces), director of campaigns and content Nancy Lussier says her main task these days is using technology to lure people back into physical spaces. She explains: "The dream of everyone working from home has pretty much been left at the wayside, so businesses are trying to make offices a desirable place to be, and one way to do that is to augment them with the latest technology that is also very easy to use." Lussier credits the rise of AI for simplifying many familiar systems in the audio and video realms. She cites as an example Signature Microsoft Teams Rooms with Front Row view. This technology solves the problem of remote attendees not being able to detect subtle details of one's face and body language during a hybrid meet- ing. Microsoft Teams Rooms are equipped with a concise arrangement of displays, cameras, audio devices, and specialized tables to create an enhanced hybrid meet- ing experience for everyone. Further, the furniture is arranged so that in-person and remote attendees face each other. The Front Row display option in Teams Rooms allows remote attendees to be eye level with those in the meeting room during hybrid meetings; and with a 21:9 aspect ratio display, content can be projected, remote attendees can partici- pate, and chat rooms can be used. Another development from AVI-SPL is the company's virtual reality design services, which helps clients envision, validate, and get feedback on room designs and technology integrations before they are invested in and built. "It's also helpful in achieving design consensus, which is becoming increasingly complex as more people in a variety of businesses are charged with giving input," Lussier says. Sound masking in the workplace is a constant need even if the hybrid work model is still alive and well, hence the professionals at Vibra-Sonic Control were as busy as ever in 2024. Vibra-Sonic is one of Canada's leading solutions provid- ers of vibration isolation products as well as sound masking systems, with the solutions ranging from floating floors and acoustical foams to sound masking and noise control products. On the latter score, Vibra-Sonic partner Danielle Macey reports that "AtlasIED recently came out with something really neat called Atmosphere, a whole platform for a variety of uses: masking, playing music, paging, and so forth. It's an extremely flexible system, and its complex ecosystem of features makes it ideal for a wide variety of settings and purposes." Among many other things, the Atmosphere Audio Processing and Control Systems provide AI-based ambient noise compensation patented technology that continually analyzes acoustic information from the environment and automatically adjusts audio levels. Sound masking is available in up to eight zones and works with an array of plug-and-play accessories that give the user control via digital wall mount panels or virtually through their own personal device. Plus, Atmosphere is easy to install; and Atmosphere Cloud provides installers the ability to monitor and control their Atmosphere system deploy- ments from the Internet while off-site. But for all the advanced AV products that dominated the 2024 landscape, companies such as Commercial Electronics found themselves catering to a certain portion of the entertainment-loving public that crave a return to more basic technology. "I never thought we would see us stocking CD players after streaming rendered physical media all but obsolete, but we do now," says the company's general manager John Madison. Amped Up! The Front Row display option in Teams Rooms.

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