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SDM Chip: The Key to Streamlined Digital Signage and Connectivity

by Angie Greene | Apr 29, 2025 | Digital Signage, Pro Displays, Projectors, Uncategorized

I’m always in the pursuit of better understanding our current technologies, so I’ve decided to delve into Smart Display Module specifications. You’ve probably heard a lot about them, and you’re probably already using them.

How much do you really know about them and their capabilities? Improving upon the previous version called OPS (which is still currently available), SDM was developed to meet the needs of higher resolutions and higher data transfer speeds while minimizing space allowing displays to remain thin.

What are some of the other enhancements? In essence, the SDM is designed to future-proof your setup, whether you need capability for sharing content to a display or projector, or flexibility in connectivity options for today and the future.

As the demand for digital signage grows across a variety of applications, so does the need for more efficient and streamlined solutions. SDM, which stands for Smart Display Module, is a groundbreaking innovation that brings impressive power and efficiency to your digital signage setup.

In a recent conversation with Rudolf Vitti, Panasonic Product Manager Displays, we discussed the benefits of SDM and how its transforming digital signage and other AV over IP Solutions. Let’s explore how this innovative technology enables smarter, more streamlined installations.

The Basics: What Is SDM?

Developed by Intel^®, SDM is a small, but powerful module specification designed for connecting displays and other peripherals to computing systems. SDM is designed to streamline the integration of displays into various types of systems, such as digital signage, interactive kiosks, and other embedded applications.

By helping with the need for a separate computing device, the modules can run signage software and support different connectivity capabilities.

Streamlined Integration Across Many Applications

Panasonic displays with SDM chip The versatility of SDM makes it an ideal solution for a wide range of applications across various industries with flexible connectivity options without overhauling your entire system.

Retail & Advertising: For retail environments, SDM enables digital signage that’s simple to manage and maintain. Displaying ads, promotions, and product information on digital screens can enhance customer engagement by delivering targeted content based on location, time of day, or customer preferences.

Transportation: Airports, train stations, and bus terminals can use SDM-powered displays to show real-time flight or schedule information. With its compact and integrated design, it allows for easy installation and management of multiple screens across large spaces.

Higher Education: In colleges and universities, digital signage can be used for announcements, event schedules, and campus news. With SDM, educational institutions can set up digital displays in classrooms, halls, or lobbies without worrying about complicated setups or additional hardware.

Why Is SDM a Game-Changer?

One less point of failure: By creating a more streamlined, efficient setup, SDM reduces the potential for breakdowns or technical issues. Fewer components mean fewer opportunities for malfunction, making the system more reliable.

Futureproofing and adapting to new trends without replacing the entire display: The SDM’s modular design ensures that digital signage installations can evolve without having to replace entire displays. It’s easier to upgrade the module itself rather than overhaul the entire system, allowing businesses to stay up to date with new technologies and trends.

Easier to update and manage content: With SDM, content management becomes more efficient. Updates can be made remotely or directly through the system, reducing the time and effort needed for manual updates. This streamlined process ensures content is always fresh and relevant.

Designed for the Future SDM is flexible, adaptable, and built for the future. It provides versatile, standardized solutions that reduce the need for custom designs and ensure compatibility. The modular nature of the chip allows for easy upgrades in signage. Additionally, it offers backward compatibility, making it possible to connect new displays with older infrastructure. SDM also enables the integration of multiple displays within a network for complex setups and large-scale deployments, all while reducing cables. Panasonic projector with SDM chip

Panasonic Connect supports SDM across the EQ, SQE2, and SQ2H series displays and PT-RQ25, REQ15, and RQ7 series projectors.

The SDM is a game-changer for digital signage, offering a more reliable, adaptable, and scalable solution for various industries. By reducing complexity and hardware requirements, SDM enables businesses to implement cost-effective and future-ready connectivity options for various applications inclusive of digital signage systems.

Interested in learning more about Panasonic SDM modules or other Panasonic products? Please feel free to reach out to me, Angie Greene, Exertis Almo BDM Brand Specialist, Panasonic.

About the Author

Angie Greene | DSCE

Business Development Manager

Supported Manufacturers: Panasonic Connect

QDEL: Just Another Acronym or the Next Quantum-Dot Leap?

by Oshiana Lindsley | Apr 10, 2025 | Digital Signage, DVLED, Pro Displays, Uncategorized

Display technology advancements seem to pop up every other day, but every now and then, a true game-changer emerges. Enter QDEL—Quantum Dot Electroluminescent displays. More than just another acronym in the tech world, QDEL has the potential to redefine the way we experience screens by overcoming the limitations of OLED, LCD, and even the latest QD-OLED technology.

What is a QDEL Display?

QDEL (Quantum Dot Electroluminescent) is a cutting-edge display technology that eliminates the need for a backlight. Unlike traditional LCDs, OLEDs, and QD-OLEDs, which require external light sources or organic materials to emit light, QDEL uses quantum dots as the primary light emitters. This results in a self-emissive display that delivers exceptional brightness, richer colors, and greater energy efficiency.

The good news? Quantum dots are already being successfully used in LCD-LED and OLED screens, proving their viability in consumer technology. Now, with QDEL, stakeholders predict even greater efficiencies—including lower power consumption and higher brightness compared to OLED.

Why QDEL Could Be the Ultimate Display Tech

QDEL offers significant advantages over existing display technologies:

✅ Wider Color Gamut – Expect richer, more vibrant colors than today’s QD-OLED displays.
✅ Higher Brightness – More intense illumination without excessive power consumption.
✅ Burn-in Resistance – Unlike OLED, QDEL won’t degrade over time, making it more durable.
✅ More Affordable Production – Potentially lowering costs compared to OLED and microLED.

By addressing the weaknesses of OLED, QD-LED, and direct-view LED (DVLED) displays, QDEL represents the future of screens—offering a superior visual experience with greater longevity and accessibility.

The Future of Display Technology with QDEL

With QDEL technology on the rise, the future of displays looks brighter—literally and figuratively. This innovation could reshape the industry by delivering next-level performance, efficiency, and affordability.

Imagine a world where displays are:

☼ Ultra-bright yet energy-efficient – Perfect for outdoor viewing and HDR content.
⏿ Vivid and true-to-life – The widest color gamut ever seen in consumer displays.
⛨ Free from burn-in worries – Long-lasting screens for TVs, smartphones, and beyond.
$ More affordable – Bringing premium visual experiences to a wider audience.

As QDEL technology continues to evolve, we can expect thinner, more flexible, and more durable screens, paving the way for groundbreaking applications in gaming, home entertainment, digital signage, and even augmented reality.

The rapid progress in quantum dot applications proves that QDEL isn’t just a concept—it’s the next leap forward. We’re on the brink of an exciting transformation, where screens will be brighter, richer, and more reliable than ever before.

The future isn’t just high-definition—it’s QDEL-defined.

About the Author

Oshiana Lindsley | DSCE

BDM – Brand Specialist

Supported Manufacturers: Sony

Want to know more about innovative LED technologies?
Check out this blog, “How Transparent LED Film is Revolutionizing Display Technology“.

TAA-Compliant Products Available from Exertis Almo

by John Rossman | Feb 18, 2025 | Business Development, Cameras, Government, Interactive Touch Displays, Networked AV, Pro Audio, Pro Displays, Signal Distribution, Uncategorized

If you work with customers in the Federal Government space, you’re probably familiar with the term “TAA-Compliant”. For those curious, “TAA” refers to the Trade Agreements Act, and its statute requires that products purchased through government contracts are:

Articles [products] that are wholly the growth, product, or manufacture of the U.S. or a designated country, or
Articles [products] that are “substantially transformed” in the U.S. or a designated country into a new and different article of commerce with a name, character, or use distinct from that of the article or articles from which it was transformed.

The Trade Agreements Act (TAA) was enacted to encourage fair and open international trade, but in practice it has implemented the requirement that the US government may only acquire US- or “designated end country”-made end products.

While this statute can seem quite limiting on first glance, in practice there are plenty of products available to meet your customers’ needs while remaining TAA-compliant. The list of “designated countries” outside of the US is substantial, and includes countries you may not have considered compliant, including Taiwan, Japan, Hong Kong, Republic of Korea, and Singapore.

To assist with identifying TAA-compliant products, Exertis Almo has recently added a new field to Almo Access which readily shows whether a product is compliant:

TAA products specifications

So what are some examples of TAA-compliant products available through Exertis Almo? The list might surprise you, and give you ideas of opportunities you may not have considered before: CSA series

AMPLIFIERS

Crown CDi, DCi, i-Tech HD series
JBL CSA and CSMA series

AV OVER IP ENCODERS/DECODERS

AMX NMX series
Lumens OIP-N series

CABLES

C2G 501-series HDMI cables
C2G TAA-compliant ethernet cables

CAMERAS

Vaddio RoboSHOT, IntelliSHOT, EasyIP, ConferenceSHOT, HuddleSHOT, and DocCAM series
Lumens VC-TR30, VC-TR40, VC-TR40N, VC-TR60A (full list available here)
Sony BRCX1000, BRC-AM7, BRCX400, SRG-A12, many more

Nureva huddlecam CONFERENCING

Barco CX-20, CX-30, CX-50, C-5, and C-10
Nureva HDL310 and HDL410

AMX Varia CONTROL

AMX MU-series control processors
AMX NX-series control processors
AMX Varia touch panels
AMX Massio button control panels

DISPLAYS

Sharp 4P-B and 4W-B (interactive) series
Christie SUHD series
Planar UltraRes X series

LOUDSPEAKERS

JBL VLA, VTX, PRX, SRX, Control CRV, AW, AE Compact, AE, AM, PD, VRX, JRX, and EON 700 series
Atlas FAP62T-USA

MICROPHONES

AKG gooseneck and condenser microphones
Audix M3G6 ceiling microphone
Shure ceiling, wall, table array microphones, wireless microphones, Intellimix P300 and ANIUSB-MATRIX audio interfaces, and MicroFlex microphones with the “-TA” suffix

Chief display mounts MOUNTS

Chief display and projector mounts

NETWORK SWITCHES

Netgear -TAANAS and -TAANES series

PROJECTORS

Christie DWU-, Jazz-, GS-, and HS-series projectors
Panasonic PT-REQ and PT-REZ series DLP projectors

BrightSign TAA media player for digital signage DIGITAL SIGNAGE

Brightsign XT1144-T 4K media player

VIDEO EXTENSION AND PROCESSING

AMX DVX-2265-4K-TAA and DVX-3266-4K-TAA presentation switchers
AMX DX-TX-4K60-TAA & DX-RX-4K60-TAA HDMI transmitters and receivers
AMX DGX modular matrix switchers
Eaton HDMI matrix switchers and HDMI over CAT extenders
Vaddio AV Bridge USB encoders and conferencing products

This is just a sampling of the many products Exertis Almo has available for your projects which require TAA compliance. If you have questions regarding whether or not a certain product is TAA-compliant or have any technical questions, reach out to your Business Development Manager or to any of our Account Managers for assistance!

Want more audio tips? Check out “Enhance Your AV Projects with Pro Audio Solutions“.

About the Author

John Rossman | CTS

BDM II – Technical Specialist

Supported Manufacturers: Harman Professional – AKG, AMX, BSS, Crown, DBX, JBL, Lexicon, Martin, & Soundcraft

Competitive Esports: What’s It All About?

by Angie Greene | Feb 13, 2025 | Business Development, Cameras, eSports, Pro Displays, Uncategorized

Over the past few months, I went on a journey to gain a better understanding of Esports. With over 30 years in this industry, my exposure and knowledge level about this new and growing business was very limited at best. Other than the discussions with my niece and attending a few webinars hosted by rAVe’s Gary Kayye, I intended to expand my personal knowledge – and hopefully share some of that information with you.

Over the past few years, Esports has transformed from a niche activity into a global phenomenon, with large audiences, sponsorships, and college programs dedicated to competitive gaming. While Esports is rising in popularity across many universities, the term can still be a bit of a mystery for those who aren’t immersed in the gaming world. Simply put, Esports focuses on competitive video gaming, where players and teams participate in organized tournaments, often with large audiences watching online or live at arenas.

In a recent article about the rapid expansion of Esports, rAVe’s Clara Mello details the large market potential for competitive gaming. Thanks to its expansion into college programs, the gaming market was valued at $187 billion with 335 million players and viewers when rAVe’s article was published.

But it’s not just about the games — there’s a long list of audiovisual technology that helps bring these epic events to life. Let’s take a deeper dive into the world of Esports and discuss how AV solutions are driving this industry.

In conversation with Keith Vidger, Engineering Manager for Pro Video and Audio at Panasonic, we discussed the key factors that contribute to a successful Esports setup. First and foremost, it’s important to differentiate Esports streaming from broadcasting.

“There are many rules and procedures used for broadcasting at conventional sporting events,” he explained. “These rules do not apply when you’re not broadcasting over the air, so there’s no need for delay.”

While the government requires that traditional broadcasts insert several seconds of delay, these rules do not need to be followed when streaming. Instead, streams should have one frame or lower latency. And in competitive Esports, latency and lag are major concerns. With each game requiring split-second decisions, even a few milliseconds of delay can cost players the game.

“Certain applications do not care about lag, but [in Esports,] 3-microseconds versus 2-microseconds of lag could be the difference between winning and losing a game,” Vidger said. “[Traditional] broadcasting caused an unnecessary delay that was detrimental to the game players.”

Additionally, the growing popularity of Esports wouldn’t be complete without the rise of platforms like Twitch and YouTube. Many Esports events are streamed live on Twitch, where millions of fans tune in to watch the action unfold in real time. Pre-recorded events are frequently uploaded to YouTube, where they can be revisited by fans after the event is over.

So, how does the right AV gear enhance an Esports event? Here are a few necessary products that are designed to help these competitions run smoothly and efficiently.

PTZ Cameras

Panasonic Connect PTZ cameras Panasonic’s AW-UE150 and AW-UE160 cameras are excellent choices for Esports events, as they provide crystal-clear images and capture fast-moving gameplay. For smaller setups or more budget-friendly options, the AW-UE30 and AW-UE40 are also great choices. PTZ cameras by Panasonic Connect

Explore the Panasonic PTZ Camera lineup.

Displays

While the players often have access to their own personal monitors during an Esports event, large displays are an essential component of an arena. These displays show the competition to large, in-person crowds and give attendees a close-up look at key moments.

Looking towards the future of competitive Esports, Vidger finds that the largest point of change is in the organization of the sport itself, as there are many different leagues that can employ players and drive revenue. He expects that the scope and reach of these leagues continues to expand, with more university campuses requesting these audio-visuals systems to host competitive Esports events.

Overall, Esports is a fast-growing segment for the AV industry. In my opinion, it’s a very interesting topic, especially if you are not really involved in playing any games. If you’re looking to experience an Esports event, I’d recommend going on Twitch to watch an online stream. This is an area that brings opportunities for all of us to provide equipment for these events. Additionally, Esports also presents itself as a rapidly growing business segment, which will only bring even more discovery of products and services.

This was an educational and eye-opening process for me, and I’ll share some useful links and resources so you can peruse them, too! With any questions, please reach out to me, your Exertis Almo representative, and/or your Panasonic TAM for assistance.

Resources for You

Want to read more? Check out “Esports on Campus: The Role of ProAV in Competitive Gaming“
For more details on the market potential of Esports, visit rAVe’s article, “How to Get into Esports“
To learn about AV’s influence on Esports, watch this video from InfoComm.

About the Author

Angie Greene | DSCE

Business Development Manager

Supported Manufacturers: Panasonic Connect

The Future of Security: Opportunities for Resellers Combining AI-Driven AV Systems and Network Protection

by Guest Blogger | Jan 7, 2025 | Business Development, Cameras, Networked AV, Pro Displays, Pro Services, Signal Distribution, Uncategorized, Video Walls

The Security Industry is Booming

One of the most exciting developments in recent years is the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into security systems. AI not only enhances the capabilities of security solutions but also opens up new opportunities for resellers like you to offer cutting-edge products to your clients. Additionally, the integration of network security with AI-powered AV technology is becoming increasingly crucial in providing comprehensive protection.

To illustrate the potential for growth, check out these numbers. The security industry in North America is experiencing significant growth, with the market size projected to reach $167.12 billion by 2028, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.3% from 2021 to 2028. In comparison, the AV systems integration market in North is also expanding rapidly, expected to reach $8.5 billion by 2028, with a CAGR of 12.5% from 2021 to 2028.

The projected growth highlights the immense opportunities for resellers and integrators to capitalize on the increasing demand for advanced security solutions. Let’s explore four key AV product categories where AI integration is making a significant impact:

1. Advanced PTZ Cameras for Surveillance

ceiling mounted Lumens VC-TR40N PTZ camera with facial recognition AI AI-powered surveillance cameras, such as PTZ (Pan-Tilt-Zoom) cameras, are revolutionizing the security landscape. These cameras use AI algorithms for advanced features like facial recognition, motion detection, and automated tracking. For instance, the Lumens VC-TR40N PTZ Camera offers AI-powered human face recognition and gesture control, making it easier to track subjects during presentations or conferences. By offering these advanced cameras, you can provide your clients with enhanced security and monitoring capabilities, ensuring they stay ahead in the market.

2. Video Walls for 24/7 Monitoring

Monitors and video walls are essential components of any security system, providing real-time visual feedback and monitoring. AI integration in these displays can enhance their functionality by enabling features like intelligent video analytics and automated alerts. For example, AI-driven video walls can analyze video feeds in real-time, identifying potential security threats and alerting operators immediately. Philips X-Line 6000 Series video wall displays This not only improves the efficiency of security operations but also reduces the workload on human operators. You can leverage these advanced displays to offer more comprehensive security solutions to your clients.

The Philips X-Line Videowall display is designed for 24/7 operation and can be customized to fit all your content needs. View content from multiple sources in real-time with enhanced picture quality.

3. Secure Networked AV

Netgear managed switches Networked AV solutions play a crucial role in managing multiple video feeds in a security system. The NETGEAR AV Line of M4250 managed network switches, including the GSM4212PX and GSM4248UX-100NAS, were built or the growing AV over IP market.

With AI integration, networked systems can now offer smarter routing and management of video signals. AI-powered networked AV solutions can automatically prioritize video feeds based on the level of detected activity, ensuring that critical events are always in focus. This intelligent management of video feeds enhances the overall effectiveness of security systems. By incorporating AI-enabled networked AV solutions into your offerings, you can provide more efficient and responsive security solutions.

4. Connectors and AV Furniture

Connectors might seem like a small part of the puzzle, but they are vital for ensuring seamless integration and communication between different components of a security system. By integrating high speed cables, like the C2G Performance Series, in this solution, you can create a robust and efficient security workflow. These cables ensure high-quality video and audio transmission, making them ideal for high-resolution surveillance and monitoring applications. This setup not only enhances security monitoring but also provides flexibility and scalability for future expansions.

Middle Atlantic command control consoles Additionally, incorporating AV furniture like the Middle Atlantic Visionline 24/7 Desk Consoles can significantly improve the functionality and ergonomics of your security operations. These consoles are designed for continuous use in mission-critical control rooms, offering robust cable management, integration for active equipment, and class-leading industrial design.

Conclusion

AI integration in security systems is not just a trend; it’s a game-changer for the Pro AV industry. By offering AI-powered surveillance cameras, intelligent monitors and video walls, smart networked AV solutions, and advanced connectors, you can provide your clients with state-of-the-art security solutions. These innovations not only enhance security but also open up new business opportunities. Stay ahead of the competition by embracing AI in your product offerings and delivering unparalleled value to your clients.

For more information, a quote, or consultation on AI-integrated security products, visit Exertis Almo.

Want to know more? Check out “Overcoming Security Threats: In-Room Collaboration Technology“.

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