CEDIA Talks is an incredibly popular part of the annual CEDIA show. These are bite-size, TED-style talks–20 minutes, sometimes less–that cover a wide range of topics. Ten of the Talks are slated for CEDIA 2017. Here are highlights of what will be offered and short descriptions of each?
What Virtual and Augmented Reality Mean to Home Technology Professionals
Thursday, September 7 at 10:30 a.m.
Speaker: Rich Green, Rich Green Design
Green will cover the effect of VR and AR in the custom design and installation industry–and the conventional knowledge on that front is “remains to be seen.” The description notes, “This presentation will delve into how virtual reality moves from individual to social, shared spaces, and from closed, head-mounted displays to room-scale experiences.”
Don’t Miss the GAFA Opportunity
Thursday, September 7 at 11:00 a.m.
Speaker: Bruno Napoli, Krika
GAFA, or “Google, Apple, Facebook, Amazon,” in conjunction with the construction industry, promise to deliver mass-market automation systems. This, in turn, will create a huge demand for home technology experts.
Be Bold, Be Different, Take a Gamble:
The Art of Guerrilla Marketing for the CEDIA Channel
Thursday, September 7 at 11:30 a.m.
Speaker: Joe Whitaker, The Thoughtful Home
Whitaker notes that, “This isn’t your average marketing pitch,” adding that “reaching your potential clients through traditional marketing no longer delivers leads like it used to.”
Fear the Dark Side, Do Not!
Expand Your Empire with Lighting Controls
Thursday, September 7 at 1:00 p.m.
Speaker: Sam Woodward, Lutron
This Yoda-esque titled talk will cover topics such as sophisticated lighting scene setting, color and temperature control, and automation lessons that can boost revenue.
Analog Aging in a Digital Age
Thursday, September 7 at 1:30 p.m.
Speaker: Laura Mitchell, LMC
This session will explore the age of healthy wearables, robots, activity routine monitoring, vital monitoring, healthcare avatars, and robots for assisting those aging in place.
The A to Z of A(ugmented)
Friday, September 8 at 1:00 p.m.
Speaker: Peter Aylett, Archimedia
At press time, Aylett was still working on the description of this one. Not to worry: Have you ever heard Aylett speak extemporaneously on a CEDIA Tech Council Podcast? There’s a lot in that brain, and the topic will go light years beyond “Pokemon Go.”
Why Do My LED Lamps Flicker When Dimming?
And How to Achieve Success!
Friday, September 8 at 1:30 p.m.
Speaker: Sam Woodward, Lutron
Woodward tackles what happens when “lighting fixtures are being retrofitted with LED lamps–problems can arise with flicker, nuisance tripping, and interference issues. This seminar explains how to solve these problems at the specification and design stage and how to plan for a successful installation.”
Finding Friction:
Profit by Orienting Your Business Around Customer Pain Points
Friday, September 8 at 2:00 p.m.
Speaker: Henry Clifford, Livewire
Livewire’s Clifford says: “Home technology professionals must differentiate themselves from the herd by offering unparalleled customer service.” Learn what it means to find client friction points and leverage their pain into your gain. By serving clients where they want to be met, you’ll achieve a huge competitive advantage and reap big profits in the balance.”
Every CEDIA Talk is slated for the CEDIA Booth (3635), and deeper dives into topics concerning integrators (including everything from HDR to ATSC 3.0 to working with your immediate family) are covered by panel discussions called “CEDIA Open Sessions.” (The Open Sessions will be held in Room 27A, and you can find more info on all the events at cedia.net/show.) Sessions and Talks are all free to CEDIA 2017 attendees.
