NanoLumens Begins Worldwide Delivery of Expanded Line of Flex And Non-Flex Displays

Following on the heels of its debut at the recent CETW 2011 Show in New York, NanoLumens®, developers of the world’s first large format flexible digital display, today commenced worldwide deliveries of its expanded line of Flex Displays as well as its first line of Non-Flexible Displays.

“The era of fully commercialized digital wallpaper is now underway,” said NanoLumens President & CEO Rick Cope. “Now any indoor or outdoor surface can be turned into a powerful communications platform — while eliminating virtually all of the weight, installation, energy, and cost efficiency issues associated with traditional large format digital displays.”

NanoFlex™ and NanoWrap™ flex digital displays remain the only solution of their kind. They conform to fit any surface, are thin, lightweight, energy efficient and can be mounted as easily as a work of art. The revolutionary flex display technology shattered the traditional usage limitations of large format digital displays.

NanoSlim™ and NanoShape™ non-flexible displays, available in 6mm, 5mm, and 4mm pixel pitches, offer customers a more cost-effective alternative when flexibility is not a requirement.

According to Cope, NanoLumens is the only company able to reliably manufacture ultra-thin and lightweight, easy-to-install and maintain, seamless 6mm pixel pitch flexible digital displays in virtually any shape or size to meet each customer’s unique requirements.

The company’s patented display technology, which allows customers to select from 4mm up to 10mm pixel pitches (depending on the model), promises to transform the way marketers engage their customers indoors and out of doors in every type of trade show, retail, hospitality, stadium, arena, transportation and public event environment. The NanoWrap display gives advertisers the ability to utilize columns for 360-degree advertisements like no one has ever seen before. The display can be mounted on any column with at least a 28-inch diameter.

“Now, any surface can become a compelling display surface as simply as hanging a mirror,” Cope emphasized. “This product line is going to forever change the rules of the game when it comes to creative customer engagement.”

In addition to being ultra-lightweight and energy efficient, NanoLumens displays feature a seamless, edge-to-edge picture quality (up to a brightness of 5,000 nits) that can be viewed from any angle or any distance without color shift or picture drop-off. Designed and engineered to be energy efficient, NanoLumens displays consume significantly less energy per-square foot than conventional digital displays. Further underscoring their commitment to eco-friendly technology, the NanoLumens displays are composed of up to 50% reclaimed materials, and are completely recyclable. What’s more, some new NanoLumens displays can be serviced from the front, making maintenance easier than ever before possible.

The company’s technology has been recognized by Entrepreneur magazine as a 2011 future-proof tech trend and was cited by The Wall Street Journal in its 2010 Technology Innovations Awards. NanoLumens’ technology also received the 2011 Breakthrough Technology of the Year Award at the American Technology Awards.

For more information about NanoLumens LED Flex and Non-Flexible Displays, please visit www.nanolumens.com or call (678) 421-9694.

New Line Of *EckoUNLTD. Earbud Headphones Available For Holiday Shopping

Mark Ecko is giving holiday shoppers something to get really excited about this year. The trend-setting fashion designer, multimedia artist, and technology entrepreneur today announced that his first line of groundbreaking *ECKOUNLTD. earbud headphones are now available in limited quantities at www.ecko.com.

Ecko emphasized the importance of mobile devices and his eagerness to share this new line of earbud headphones with consumers this holiday season, saying, “I can’t imagine life without my gadgets. From my phone to my laptop I am totally dependent on my gear to keep me informed, entertained, and connected. For me mobile technology is not just a bunch of cables and ports.”

Six new earbud headphone styles — “Zone,” “Chaos II,” “Stomp,” “Lace,” “Zip,” and “Chain” — will be available in limited quantities beginning on November 22, 2011 at www.ecko.com, under an exclusive licensing agreement with Mizco International’s (www.mizco.com) DIGIPOWER Division. Each new style lives up to its respective name, featuring a fusion of fashion and function unique to each series. Suggested retail prices range between $12.99 and $39.99.

The “Zone” earbuds feature the iconic *ecko Rhino on the outer surface of the earpieces. Available for $12.99, in black, red, green, and yellow, the earbuds include a one-meter cable compatible with iPods, iPhones and Android smartphones and three sizes of ear-piece gels.

“Chaos II”, available for $14.99, in black, red, blue, and purple, features the *ecko Rhino on the outer surface of the earpieces, a 1 meter cable, inline microphone, controls for the iPod, iPad and iPhone, and three sizes of ear-piece gels.

Available for $19.99, the “Stomp” earbuds feature the iconic Ecko Rhino on the outer surface of the earpieces. Available in black, white, blue, and pink, the earbuds feature a flat 1.2-meter cable with an inline microphone and controls compatible with iPods, iPads, iPhones and Android smartphones. The earbuds include a convenient travel bag, and three sizes of ear-piece gels.

The “Lace” earbuds, available for $24.99, feature a nylon, shoelace style cord, available in black, white, red, and purple. The earbuds feature an inline microphone, controls for iPods, iPads and iPhones, three sizes of ear gels and a convenient travel bag.

The new “Chain” and “Zip” earbuds merge Ecko’s reputation for street-conscious fashion with utilitarian function. Featuring a beaded, dog-tag chain cord design, the “Chain” earbuds are available for $39.99 in black, red, blue, and pink. The “Zip” earbuds feature a functioning zipper cord, and are available in red, white, blue, and gold/black, for $29.99. Both styles of earbuds feature an inline microphone and volume control compatible with iPods, iPhones, and Android smartphones, as well as a convenient travel bag and three sizes of ear-piece gels.

Luxury Yacht Builder Sets Sail With The Niles ICS System!

SanJuanYachts to install Niles ICS System in every new 48-foot SanJuan48 yacht and the company’s new show boat, and make the system available to every client on every yacht model they build.

The Anacortes, Washington-based luxury yacht builder, SanJuanYachts, has a simple vision — redefine what a motor yacht can be from bow to stern. They focus on one yacht, one customer at a time, and they believe that every yacht should be a work of art. This philosophy drives everything they do. It’s who they are. It is why for instance, every material, system, machine and fixture encountered from bow to stern is chosen for its singular performance and beauty — and it is why they have now decided to install the Niles® Intellicontrol® ICS System in every new 48-foot SanJuan48 yacht they build!

“We strive to build the exact yacht that each customer desires, so when a customer came to us and requested we put in the Niles ICS System, we happily obliged,” said co-founder Donald Campbell. “He had used the system in his home and really loved it, so he wanted that same experience in his new SanJuan48. Our team installed the system for the first time with incredible ease, and we soon understood what the owner loved about the system. In fact, we’re so confident in the ICS System that we are installing in our new company show boat. I don’t know any other yacht builders that are using this amazing audio system, but I’m sure they’ll all be rushing to offer it once they see it on display in our show boat.”

“The clean, professional design and appearance of the Niles ICS System and the Contact interfaces are things that we noticed right away. Our installers were able to quickly and easily install and set up the system, and then learn how to use it within minutes. Our previous system used high-end car audio decks in each room and therefore didn’t have centralized control or look as clean as the Niles system. We are going to use this system from now on in every new SanJuan48 we build. The ability to simply integrate streaming music services like Pandora, Rhapsody and Sirius|XM goes above and beyond our previous system and is definitely a feature that new buyers want.”

The Niles ICS System on this SanJuan48 has five zones of audio, each with a stereo pair of speakers. Music and audio sources include am/fm radio, Sirius|XM Satellite Radio, iTunes through an Apple Airport Express, and audio from two 20” and one 26” Samsung LCD LED TVs, each connected to an Apple TV media device. The system is controlled through three Niles Contact touch screen interfaces and two Niles Single in-wall control panel. Internet is provided through a 4G Mobile Hotspot. The system’s layout will be used as a template for future 48-foot yachts.

With a simple, intuitive user interface that is displayed on Niles in-wall Contact panels, accessing an incredible range of music sources has never been easier. With the Niles ICS System, users can connect to their iTunes libraries, digital music files, Pandora Internet radio, Rhapsody, Sirius|XM Radio, and all traditional audio sources including CD players, DVD and Blu-ray players, iPods, am/fm radio and their computers or tablet devices. The Niles Multi-Zone GXR2 Amplifier makes it easy to access the whole home (or yacht) from one interface, giving users complete control over their entire audio experience, from home theaters to outdoor music.

What’s more, by integrating an ELAN Home Controller into the Niles ICS System, it can be controlled by iPhones and iPads through the ELAN g! Entertainment and Control System. SanJuanYachts plans to offer this popular and familiar control interface with every ICS System they install.

ELAN g! Entertainment And Control System Now Supports The Chinese Language

ELAN® g! now features a full 5,800 simplified Mandarin Chinese character set across all TS touch screens, HR2 remote control, computer interface, on-screen display, iPhone and iPad user interfaces.

ELAN will demonstrate Chinese Character integration at CEDIA Shanghai 2011 (Nov. 23 - 25), International CES 2012 in Las Vegas (Jan. 10 - 13, 2012) and at ISE 2012 in Amsterdam (Jan. 31 – Feb. 2, 2012).

Reinforcing its commitment to meet the growing Chinese market demand for its entertainment and control system solutions, ELAN® Home Systems today announced that its revolutionary g! system now supports a full 5,800 simplified Mandarin Chinese character set — a milestone achievement that is expected to immediately impact sales throughout this rapidly growing residential and commercial market for ELAN.

According to ELAN Home Systems President Paul Starkey, the company will demonstrate the g! system’s Chinese language support across all of its interfaces—TS touch screens, the HR2 remote control, computer interface, on-screen display, iPhone and iPad interfaces at the CEDIA Shanghai Expo taking place Nov. 23-25, 2011 at the Shanghai International Convention Centre, at the International CES 2012 at The AVC Group’s Hospitality Suite 2876 in the East Tower of the Las Vegas Hilton Hotel and at ISE 2012 at Stand 1N73 at The Amsterdam RAI in The Netherlands.

“The Chinese market is the second fastest growing market for g! systems outside of the United States,” Starkey said today, “and it is about time that the g! system more completely meets the lifestyle needs of our valued residential and commercial Chinese customers. By featuring a full 5,800 simplified Mandarin Chinese character set, we will be able to meet more of our customers’ needs in the region. At the same time, we can now also support metadata from iPod and MP3 sources.”

With the addition of Chinese, the ELAN g! entertainment and control system now supports a total of seven languages: English, Chinese, Russian, Spanish, French, Italian and Swedish.

Available starting at under $2,000 for a single-room, four sub-system control solution, the ELAN g! Series Control System can be expanded quickly and cost-effectively to enable whole-home control of every room appliance. ELAN g! provides users with the most uniform and intuitive icon-based control from their favorite devices, including TVs, touch screens, touchpads, PCs, iPhones, and iPads. The standardized interface works across platforms, so that the trendy g!Mobile app users love on the iPhone appears and works similarly on ELAN touch screens, valets and handheld remotes as well as users' televisions and mobile devices. And the system's IP backbone makes it just as easy to control the system from across the room - or across the globe.

The ELAN g! system has been awarded a 2011 Residential Systems Magazine RESI Award, a 2011 Custom Retailer Magazine EXC!TE Award, A 2011 CE Pro Magazine BEST Award, as well as a Platinum Level 2011 CEA Mark of Excellence Award by the Consumer Electronics Association and a 2011 Gold Level Electronic House Magazine Product of the Year Award.

NanoLumens NanoFlex Displays Provide Live Video Outdoors At Ontario's 2011 Remembrance Day Ceremony

What are you going to do when you have an outdoor ceremony and need a large, waterproof digital video display that can be set up and taken down quickly? The answer, as APG Displays found, is NanoLumens® 112” NanoFlex™ display. APG Displays, NanoLumens’ exclusive Canadian distributor, supplied two NanoFlex displays to their trade partner Mediaco when Mediaco was called upon to provide a digital video solution for Ontario’s 2011 Remembrance Day ceremony.

Remembrance Day, also known as Armistice Day, is a memorial day that honors all veterans by remembering their selfless courage and commitment on the anniversary of the end of World War I. The 2011 Ontario ceremony featured a speech by Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty and was held November 11 at the Ontario Veterans Memorial at Queen’s Park, Toronto.

According to APG Displays Vice President David Weatherhead, “When Mediaco came to us and said they needed two outdoor displays large enough to be seen from hundreds of feet away, that could be put up and taken down in a single day, the only solution was the NanoLumens 112” NanoFlex flexible display. It’s the only display that satisfies all the needs of this kind of event—it’s easy to put up quickly because it’s very lightweight, it’s super bright so it can be viewed in direct sunlight, it’s viewable from any angle with no loss in picture quality, it’s durable and waterproof for outdoor applications, and it’s more energy efficient than any other display technology available today. And because the NanoFlex display is compatible with virtually all video input sources, using it as a live video display is just as easy as hooking it up to a DVD player.”

According to Karen Robinson, NanoLumens SVP of Marketing and Sales, “With our lightweight, super-bright displays, event producers can now quickly and easily provide large video displays for short events and multi-day festivals. With the ability to move NanoLumens displays from day to day, reduced manpower requirements and significant energy savings over other display technologies, we offer the most portable, versatile and profitable digital video displays available today.”

First introduced in 2010, NanoFlex™ digital displays remain the only solution of their kind. They conform to fit any surface, are thin, lightweight and energy efficient, and can be mounted as easily as a work of art. NanoLumens is the only company in the world able to reliably manufacture ultra-thin and lightweight, easy-to-install and maintain, seamless 6mm pixel pitch flexible LED displays in virtually any shape or size to meet each customer’s unique requirements.

Designed and assembled entirely in the United States, NanoLumens displays are now available in both flexible and non-flexible frames in four product lines: NanoFlex™ and NanoWrap™ flexible displays; NanoSlim™ non-flexible rectangular displays; and NanoShape™ non-flexible round, square, and triangular displays.

APG Displays’ rental division searches the world for the most innovative, high impact audiovisual products and brings them to special events, meetings and trade shows in Canada and the U.S. We are proud to offer one of the most comprehensive portfolios of cutting-edge large video display solutions, each with customized accessories, specialist technical support, and full system design and installation services. We have worked with some of the largest exhibit, conference and production houses in the business, providing tailored support for each client. We also partner with some of the biggest A/V names in the country with our exclusive Trade Partner Program. APG Displays is a member of MPI, ITRA, TSE, ISES, and Tourism Toronto special event and rental organizations.

'Home For The Ages' With ELAN g! Brings Together Family Members Of All Ages

 The most important aspect of any home entertainment or control system is that everyone who wants to use it can do so easily without training. That’s why this ‘home for the ages’ located in Wisconsin features the ELAN g! Home Entertainment and Control System that is simple enough to be used by family members of all ages.

To give their relatives the best and most relaxing experience during their frequent visits to their new lake home, the homeowners wanted to include a state-of-the-art home entertainment and control system that’s easy enough for anyone to use and powerful enough to control everything in the house, from the TVs to the pool equipment.

“Having everything in our home tied together with the ELAN g! system does is amazing, but the best part is it takes less than five minutes to show someone how to use it,” the homeowner said. “We constantly have guests over and host parties, so there are people of all ages using the system. It’s as easy as using an iPod and the interface is the same no matter what device we use, so everyone in our family jumped right in and loved it!”

Hugh Connolly of Lake Forest, Illinois-based HVC Construction Consultants was the homeowners’ representative and in charge of design and development for the home. When Hugh was tasked with putting in a top-of-the-line home entertainment and control system, his cousin Mark Connolly of Scottsdale, Arizona-based Connolly Audio, LLC was his first choice. As first cousins who grew up outside of Chicago within 20 miles of each other, Hugh and Mark Connolly have collaborated on numerous projects throughout the years, both before and after Mark moved to Arizona. In fact, Hugh recently helped Mark design his own home theater in Scottsdale, in which Mark built a professional projection system controlled with the ELAN g! System.

So when the Wisconsin homeowners told Hugh they wanted to install a top-of-the-line home entertainment and control system, Hugh thought of Mark because he knew Mark would deliver every feature and capability the homeowners wanted. Mark flew in to consult and offer his advice, and he quickly developed a rapport with the homeowners and was contracted to design and install the home’s ELAN g! Entertainment and Control System.

“The family knew they wanted a competitively-priced system that gives them full consolidated control of every system in their home—lights, heating, air conditioning, security, surveillance, whole-house audio and video, even the pool equipment,” Mark Connolly said. “And the most important thing was that it be easy to use for everyone in the family, without having to teach them. When I heard all of those words—control everything, easy-to-use, affordable—I knew the ELAN g! System would be the perfect solution. They were thrilled when I showed them that it’s easy enough for them, their kids and their relatives to use with no training.”

And the system really does control everything in the home—seven Aprilaire thermostats, the Lutron lighting system, 24 audio zones that distribute to more than 50 ELAN Elios speakers, eight video zones, the home theater, the Elk Security System, the surveillance system and the Jandy pool controls.

The homeowner wanted a TV alongside the bathroom sink, so Connolly Audio installed an ELAN TS10 10-inch touch screen, which doubles as a TV thanks to its analog video input. Everyone in the family can control the system through another TS10 in the authentic Irish Pub-style bar, two TS7 seven-inch touch screens in the master bedroom and the main basement room, one TS2 four-inch touch pad, an iPad and nine ELAN HR2 remotes—one for every TV in the house! The system is also controllable through the ELAN g! app installed on every computer in the home.

In an effort to keep everything connected and simple to use, Connolly even connected the tennis house, a separate building from the main house located almost 900 feet away. He used cat5 cable to connect the properties so that the two surveillance cameras on the tennis house would be viewable right alongside the two cameras at the main house on the ELAN g! interface.

A walk through the home may only reveal six TVs, but there are two additional flatscreens that were custom installed to be hidden from view! In the great room a painting raises at the touch of a button to reveal an LCD TV built into the wall, and in the master bedroom another LCD TV rises from the base of the bed, giving the owners an uncluttered aesthetic without sacrificing access to their favorite television and movies.

Each of the home’s eight HDTVs can access content from three cable boxes and a Blu-ray player, and any of the 24 audio zones can be set to broadcast music from an iPort iPod dock, Sirius Satellite Radio, am/fm radio or ELAN g!’s own streaming music service, Shoutcast.

The equipment for the system is centrally located in two Slim 5 racks and includes an ELAN HC12 Home Controller, four ELAN S86 Multi-Zone Controllers, four ELAN D12 Amplifiers, one ELAN V85 Component Video Controller, two Panamax BlueBOLT M43Pros and a Panamax BlueBOLT UPS.
The home theater includes a JVC projector and a Screen Innovations Black Diamond screen along and is controlled with an ELAN HR2 remote.

Mark Connolly began experimenting with car audio at the age of 14 and turned his passion for technology and technical perfection into a career that has spanned more than 20 years in the custom installation industry. His expertise has helped him build Connolly Audio 100 percent by referrals, and now he is regularly called upon by industry colleagues to assist on and troubleshoot their installations. He designs and installs full home automation systems and professional home theaters for affluent clients who appreciate his wealth of knowledge and experience, and he prides himself on working closely with clients to deliver the exact solutions they want. Connolly Audio services what they sell, so every client is assured their system will remain as perfect as the day it was completed. With enthusiastic support from his wife Teresa and design assistance from his cousin Hugh, Mark installed a brand new, fully ELAN g!-controlled home theater in his own house that will serve as the client showroom for Connolly Audio.

Available starting at $2,000 for a single-room, four sub-system control solution, the ELAN g! Series Control System can be expanded quickly and cost-effectively to enable whole-home control of every system. ELAN g! provides users with the most uniform and intuitive icon-based control from their favorite devices, including TVs, touch screens, touchpads, PCs, iPhones, and iPads. And the system's IP backbone makes it just as easy to control the system from across the room—or across the globe.

The ELAN g! System has been awarded a 2011 Residential Systems Magazine RESI Award, a 2011 Custom Retailer Magazine EXCITE! Award, a 2011 CE Pro Magazine BEST Award, a Platinum Level 2011 CEA Mark of Excellence Award by the Consumer Electronics Association and a 2011 Gold Level Electronic House Magazine Product of the Year Award.

Ecko Unltd. Named As CES Innovations 2012 Design And Engineering Award Honoree

MIZCO International’s EckoUNLTD. product marketing division today announced that it has been named an International CES Innovations 2012 Design and Engineering Awards Honoree for its new Spray™ Bluetooth speaker. Products entered in this prestigious program are judged by a preeminent panel of independent industrial designers, engineers and members of the media to honor outstanding design and engineering in cutting edge consumer electronics products across 32 product categories.

The Spray is the newest addition to the Ecko UNLTD.SOUND line of powerful, stylish mobile audio products from MIZCO International. It is the ultimate Bluetooth speaker for use with iPods, iPhones, iPads, laptops and PCs, and all Android, BlackBerry and Windows smartphones. With two full-range high-output 40mm drivers delivering 3W each and two 45mm passive radiators, it can fill a room with high-fidelity audio or bring music to the outdoors thanks to the high-capacity Li-Ion battery that provides up to 10 hours of play time.

Utilizing Bluetooth 2.1 technology the Spray pairs with any Bluetooth device up to a maximum range of 30 feet, includes a built-in microphone that enables hands-free calling with any Bluetooth cell phone and has a 3.5mm line input for direct connection to any music player or smartphone. The Spray’s dome twists to control volume and skip to the next or previous song, and the Spray’s nozzle is a button that controls the play/pause and call functions.

The Spray has a high gloss black finish and includes a high-density metal grille. The high capacity Li-Ion rechargeable battery is user-replaceable, so owners can carry spare batteries to provide virtually unlimited playtime.

Graffiti has played an important role in Marc’s creative vision ever since he first glimpsed the vibrantly painted subway trains rumbling through New York City. In designing a Bluetooth speaker that looks and feels like a Spray paint can, he is sharing a part of his history and paying homage to those artists who came before him.

“Marc Ecko and Mizco have brought a new level of fashion, function and features to the consumer electronics industry with the Spray, giving consumers the chance to hear the colors sound can make, and we are proud to have that recognized by the CEA,” said Steve Kops, Executive Vice President of Sales for the EckoUNLTD. line at MIZCO. “The EckoUNLTD. line of mobile device accessories will continue to grow and introduce today’s consumers to Marc’s unique fashion style.”

The prestigious Innovations Design and Engineering Awards are sponsored by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA)®, the producer of the International CES, the world’s largest consumer technology tradeshow, and have been recognizing achievements in product design and engineering since 1976. The Best of Innovations honor is awarded to the products with the highest judges’ scores and will be featured in the Innovations Design and Engineering Showcase at the 2012 International CES.

EckoUNLTD.’s Spray will be displayed at the 2012 International CES, which runs January 10-13, 2012 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Honorees will also be displayed at CES Unveiled: the Official Press Event of the International CES from 4-7 p.m. on Sunday, January 8 in the Venetian Ballroom of the Venetian.

The Innovations entries are judged based on the following criteria:

• Engineering qualities, based on technical specs and materials used
• Aesthetic and design qualities
• The product’s intended use/function and user value
• Unique/novel features that consumers would find attractive
• How the design and innovation of the product compares to other products in the marketplace

Products chosen as an Innovations honoree reflect innovative design and engineering of the entries. Examples may include the first time various technologies are combined in a single product or dramatic enhancements to previous product designs.

Innovations 2012 Design and Engineering honoree products are featured on www.CESweb.org/Innovations, which lists product categories, as well as each product name, manufacturer information, designer, description, photo and URL.

The advent of low-cost, easy to install flexible digital displays, coupled with the imminent 100 percent smartphone adoption rate, heralds the start of a new age in public “one-to-one” targeted advertising, predicted NanoLumens® President & CEO Rick Cope in a feature presentation made today on the opening day of the 2011 Customer Engagement Technology World (www.cetworld.com) conference and exhibition in New York.

“The full commercialization of flexible digital displays is now a practical reality, which means it is now cost effective to deploy flexible displays that are movable, lightweight, energy efficient, durable and easily serviceable in just about any location,” Cope asserted. “Coupled with the coming 100 percent adoption of smartphones, this heralds a new era of one-to-one marketing, allowing an entire population of mobile device consumers to interact with marketing displays in literally any location—public events, transit centers, conferences and exhibitions, airports, malls and even in stores.”

NanoLumens, the pioneering company that last year introduced the world to large format flexible digital display technology, today introduced an expanded line of flexible and non-flexible displays at CETW. As digital signage displays become larger, cheaper, more energy efficient, and easier to install and maintain, they will increasingly replace static advertising in malls, airports, convention halls and transit centers, offering marketers an unprecedented opportunity to engage consumers and offer more than purely traditional advertising.

“Those of us with tenure in the digital display industry excitedly look forward to the day when the individually targeted advertising envisioned in Minority Report becomes a viable reality,” Cope said today. “But marketers need to be careful. Bombarding customers with specifically tailored ads can potentially be counter-productive and make people feel as if their privacy is being invaded. The best marketers will realize that there is a much larger opportunity than in-your-face advertising—spontaneous public customer engagement.”

The solution, Cope says, is to offer people a chance to interact. “If a certain display always ran nothing but advertising, how long would it take for it to become simply another forgettable tree in the urban landscape? The burden is on us to give people a reason to look at the digital displays.

“Providing something valuable such as news, weather, entertaining video clips, an interactive poll or an opportunity to get an instant coupon are all completely possible when smartphones are the norm. People can simply take out their smartphone and instantly interact with the display via Bluetooth, apps or QR codes. To borrow from another science fiction film, Starship Troopers, the future of digital display advertising could include a simple question: ‘Would you like to know more?’ Consumers could then interact using voice commands, hand gestures or a smartphone to receive special offers, detailed product information, browse their website or even talk with a live representative via video chat. Then the advertiser can measure when the coupon is used, how long the user spends on the website, and which advertising locations generate the most traffic or best user interactions.

“And these innovative advertising techniques aren’t a departure from current advertising initiatives, but rather an extension of currently utilized technologies. The servers full of customer and demographic data, the capability for personal identification and the ability to market based on proximity to stores and restaurants become even more valuable when you can persuade the customer to take part in an engaging advertising experience.”

According to Cope, if done correctly, these advertising experiences may actually drive people to seek out the displays so they can interact one-to-one or even one-to-many. “The possibilities really are endless. Imagine a 60-second ad where several people can use their smartphones to answers trivia questions about a company, store or product, or a ‘Spot the Difference’-type game that rewards the participants with an offer or coupon. Add these innovative public customer engagement opportunities to videos, the ability to link to Web sites and Facebook pages, and the increased level of tracking and data-mining possible, and it becomes clear that soon, we may achieve success beyond our wildest dreams with personalized, interactive advertising.”

Designed and assembled entirely in the United States, NanoLumens displays are now available in both flexible and non-flexible frames in four product lines: NanoFlex™ and NanoWrap™ flexible displays; NanoSlim™ non-flexible rectangular displays; and NanoShape™ non-flexible round, square, and triangular displays.

First introduced in 2010, NanoLumens NanoFlex™ digital displays remain the only solution of their kind. They conform to fit any surface, are thin, lightweight, and energy efficient, and can be mounted as easily as a work of art. The revolutionary NanoFlex display shattered the traditional usage limitations of large format digital displays. NanoLumens is the only company in the world able to reliably manufacture ultra-thin and lightweight, easy-to-install and maintain, seamless 6mm pixel pitch flexible LED displays in virtually any shape or size to meet each customer’s unique requirements.

In addition to being ultra-lightweight and energy efficient, NanoLumens displays feature a seamless, super bright edge-to-edge picture quality that can be viewed from any angle or any distance without color shift or picture drop-off. Designed and engineered to be energy efficient, NanoLumens displays consume significantly less energy per-square foot than conventional digital displays. Further underscoring their commitment to eco-friendly technology, the NanoLumens displays are composed of up to 50% reclaimed materials, and are completely recyclable. What’s more, some new NanoLumens displays can be serviced from the front, making maintenance easier than ever before possible.

The company’s technology has been recognized by Entrepreneur magazine as a 2011 future-proof tech trend and was cited by The Wall Street Journal in its 2010 Technology Innovations Awards. NanoLumens’ technology also received the 2011 Breakthrough Technology of the Year Award at the American Technology Awards.

Headquartered in Norcross, Georgia, NanoLumens, Inc. (www.nanolumens.com) is a privately held corporation engaged in the research, product development and component design for unique flexible displays that address a yawning technology gap in the $14 billion digital display industry. NanoLumens has built a portfolio of more than 20 international families of issued and filed patents on its flexible display technology that effectively address the commercial market void between relatively small flat-panel displays and huge, limited application LED boards. NanoLumens technology is not constrained by standard sizes and shapes, or by the size, noise and cost issues associated with commercial LED products.

Custom Integrator Creates A Stealth Whole-House Audio System Using Niles In-Wall And Rock Speakers

When designing a whole-house audio system for a 14,000 square foot residence, many integrators use a mishmash of different speakers from several manufacturers, each with different characteristics, abilities and styling, resulting in an inconsistent listening experience and design aesthetic from room to room. Mike Flanagan of Overland Park, Kansas-based Home Systems by Design believes in giving his clients a consistent high fidelity audio experience with components that can be hidden from view, which is why he chose to outfit this 14,000 square foot, 16-audio zone home with 72 Niles® in-wall, in-ceiling and outdoor rock speakers.

Most of the home’s speakers are from the Niles ceiling-mount DS series, which was introduced in 2001 and features Niles’ patented Directed Soundfield technology. This unique technology resolves architectural issues such as cathedral or vaulted ceilings, alignment with in–ceiling lighting, or a plasma display over a fireplace that leaves no space for a center channel speaker. They are perfect for home theater environments and surround sound systems, and they also perform very well in whole-house distributed music applications. Their flexibility enables installers to direct the sound where it needs to go to achieve optimal acoustic performance.

“I have been selling and installing Niles speakers since they entered the residential market more than 30 years ago, and I have never received a single complaint,” said Flanagan. “The superb sound quality keeps the men happy, and the fact that Niles in-wall and in-ceiling speakers are nearly invisible makes the women even happier! And the DS series speakers give the homeowners the best surround sound experience possible with ceiling-mount speakers, which no other manufacturer can match.”

The gem of this system is the media room, which features a 180” 2.35:1 Stewart Filmscreen, a Sim2 LED projector, nine Niles Stagefront speakers and two 15-inch subwoofers, with all the speakers hidden behind paneling—a completely invisible 11-speaker surround sound system! The media room has 12 motorized leather recliners and a full bar in the rear with additional seating for four. It is the ultimate room for hosting parties or fundraisers, which the homeowners plan to do. Home Systems by Design even set up the video system so what is playing in the theater can be rebroadcast throughout the whole house, making it perfect for showing house-wide messaging during the fundraisers.

According to the homeowner, “Home Systems by Design really came through for us and gave us exactly what we wanted. The audio system sounds great throughout the whole house, especially in the theater, and you’d be hard pressed to point out every speaker because they blend into the walls and ceilings so well. When we watch a movie in the media room it really feels like we are at the movies, which is amazing.”

There are 13 flat screen TVs throughout the home, four with surround sound systems, and they can all play content from six DSS receivers, three Apple Mac Minis, two cable boxes and a 400-disc Blu-ray changer. There are also three local Blu-ray players.

The ELAN g! Entertainment and Control System is also integrated with the home’s LiteTouch lighting system, security system and 10-camera surveillance system are also integrated with the ELAN g! system, giving the family total control over their living environment. The homeowners can be access and control the system through seven ELAN TS7 7” touch screens, seven ELAN HR2 remotes, four iPads and two iPhones.

Home Systems By Design builds custom home audio/video and home control systems to meet their customer’s exact needs and budgets. Since opening in 1992, they have worked with a large network of builders in the Kansas City, Kansas Metro Area and come so highly recommended that they get nearly 85 percent of their business from customer referrals. For more information, please visit www.hsbd.com.

Leading Continuing Care Community Brightens Its Emergency Preparedness With Sentina LED Lighting

 At a continuing care retirement community like Westminster Canterbury Richmond in Richmond, Virginia, the staff take every measure and precaution to provide their residents with the utmost in care, quality and safety. After experiencing an extended power outage due to Hurricane Irene, the management team at Westminster Canterbury Richmond purchased 675 Sentina rechargeable LED lights to install in more than 600 residences throughout the community.

According to Bob Cox, Vice President Support Services at Westminster Canterbury Richmond, “After losing power for 30 hours during Hurricane Irene, we spoke with our residents and learned there was a need to expand our emergency lighting system from hallways and common areas into the bedrooms and private residences. We recognized that the cost to install additional generators and emergency power was excessive. So with input from our residents we explored the alternatives and discovered that with Sentina plug-in LED nightlights, that can also be used as flashlights, we can provide an effective, energy-efficient solution to improve the safety and quality of living for our residents for a fraction of the cost of installing generators.”

After researching the benefits of LED lighting and comparing the products available, they chose Datexx’s Sentina LED-92M four-way emergency lights with sensors that detect motion, darkness and power outages. The Sentina LED-92M simply plugs into a wall socket and performs for pennies per day. The light activates only when approached, when in darkness or in a power outage. At all other times the light remains off, with no need to turn off a switch or unplug the light. When taken out of the electrical outlet, the light operates as a rechargeable emergency flash light for up to eight hours, which means there are no batteries to worry about.

“We chose the Sentina LED-92M specifically because it has several functions and features that provide added safety for our residents,” Cox continued. “We wanted a light that could be bright when needed, but also serve as a muted nightlight, and then could be unplugged from the wall and used as a flashlight without the need to replace batteries. After all, what good is a flashlight if it sits in the closet for five years and has dead batteries when you need it most? Also, the motion and power outage sensors make these better than normal lamps in some ways, because our residents don’t need to flip a light switch to turn them on if they wake up in the middle of the night. And because they are LED lights, they cost very little to operate and will last basically forever, saving us a tremendous amount of money in the long run.”

According to Datexx President Mei Noguchi, “Sentina LED lighting products can help retirement and continuing care communities ensure the safety of their residents by providing bright lights that are simple to use and always there when they need them. The cost-effectiveness makes these lights the ideal solution for communities of any size on any budget, and they are a simple way to increase the quality of care.”

Through the ministry efforts of the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia and the Presbyterian Synod of the Mid-Atlantic, Westminster Canterbury Richmond opened its welcoming doors to residents in 1975, providing secure independent living combined with a continuum of care. It is now one of the largest non-profit single-site continuing care retirement communities in the United States. Located in Richmond Virginia, the community has more than 1.2 million feet of living space and is home to more than 900 residents.

Headquartered in Kenilworth, New Jersey, Datexx is a leading manufacturer and marketer of innovatively-designed, affordably priced products that help consumers manage their time and money. For more than 15 years, the company has proudly met the needs of smart consumers seeking smarter living solutions. To date, more than 20-million consumers have joined the Datexx family of satisfied customers.

Stampede Named Distribution Partner For Sony Video Conferencing in Canada

Stampede, the leading value-added distributor of professional audio video (ProAV) solutions and the exclusive U.S. distributor of Sony Video Conferencing equipment, today announced it has been named the exclusive distributor of the same Sony line in the Canadian provinces of Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Labrador, Nunavut, Northwest Territories and Yukon Territory.

“Our U.S. dealers have enthusiastically embraced Sony Video Conferencing. They have discovered that this line enables them to make further inroads with clients who want to take advantage of the efficiencies of video conferencing,” said Kevin Kelly, President and COO of Stampede. “We now look forward to giving our Canadian dealers the same opportunity to grow their business.”

Since 2007, the Sony go-to-market strategy has been designed to utilize a focused, dedicated distribution organization that can deliver exceptional market and partner response. Sony expanded on that direction in Europe in 2010, and now recognizes Stampede as the best choice to grow market share in Canada based on their success in the United States.

The existing Stampede Toronto office will be the new home for the Canadian division of Stampede’s Visual Communications Group.

About Stampede
Known for its value-added distribution, Amherst, NY-based Stampede is the leading distributor of presentation equipment including LCD/DLP projectors and flat panel displays. Stampede provides a complete range of brand name presentation equipment to a variety of audio/video, computer, and home theater resellers and integrators in the United States, Canada and Latin America. These resellers rely on Stampede for value-added services in distribution, marketing and solution-based sales. Stampede annually produces the “Big Book of AV,” an 816-page catalog and companion website (www.BigBookofAV.com) providing hundreds of sales, installation and spec tips for Stampede’s dealers in addition to product details on more than 5,000 SKUs. For more information on Stampede visit www.stampedeglobal.com.