Audience Response Systems at InfoComm 2007
InfoComm was in Anaheim California this year and according to InfoComm staff, there were a record breaking 30,000 attendees. While I did get around to most of the exhibits, I focused on the audience response system companies, of course.
There are two main conclusions that I am able to draw from the time spent talking with vendors. First, the audience response industry continues to grow rapidly. Second, not all vendors are benefiting from the growth. It seems to me that quality is more important than ever. Those who are out there doing quality work day-in and day-out are being rewarded. And those who are not, receive very little repeat business.
I counted roughly 18 companies who are now selling systems. That’s a major change from years ago when there were typically only 4 or 5. Even so, every one of them seemed to be busy with strong traffic and truly interested visitors.
While I did see a few new products, I was most interested in Fleetwood’s ‘key fob’ keypad. It’s a very small device, about the size of your car’s keyless entry remote and like that remote, hangs nicely on a key ring. It has just five buttons, but Fleetwood’s Pat Moody states that they may develop a version with either 7 or 10. I’m not sure yet exactly how it will be used, but I do know that it will be a very ‘hot’ product upon release.
As many of you know, I am also involved with ComTec Audience Response Systems. So, I spent some time staffing their booth. It was a huge effort for ComTec’s staff to make this first-ever appearance at InfoComm, especially since they were moving offices at the same time. Nice work guys. . . next year will be a cakewalk. :-)
There are two main conclusions that I am able to draw from the time spent talking with vendors. First, the audience response industry continues to grow rapidly. Second, not all vendors are benefiting from the growth. It seems to me that quality is more important than ever. Those who are out there doing quality work day-in and day-out are being rewarded. And those who are not, receive very little repeat business.
I counted roughly 18 companies who are now selling systems. That’s a major change from years ago when there were typically only 4 or 5. Even so, every one of them seemed to be busy with strong traffic and truly interested visitors.
While I did see a few new products, I was most interested in Fleetwood’s ‘key fob’ keypad. It’s a very small device, about the size of your car’s keyless entry remote and like that remote, hangs nicely on a key ring. It has just five buttons, but Fleetwood’s Pat Moody states that they may develop a version with either 7 or 10. I’m not sure yet exactly how it will be used, but I do know that it will be a very ‘hot’ product upon release.
As many of you know, I am also involved with ComTec Audience Response Systems. So, I spent some time staffing their booth. It was a huge effort for ComTec’s staff to make this first-ever appearance at InfoComm, especially since they were moving offices at the same time. Nice work guys. . . next year will be a cakewalk. :-)
posted by longcall911 at
4:49 PM
