CEDIA 2016 is approaching, and registration is now open at Cedia.net/show. This year’s conference will once again be at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas, September 13-17.

 

The theme of CEDIA 2016 is “Think BIG,” and it is designed to be a global showcase for the biggest thinking, innovations and connections in home technology. The show allows attendees to network with industry leaders and change-makers, receive new training and certifications, and grow their business visionary ideas and products.

 

From immersive audio to displays to service providers designed to make life easier, the CEDIA show floor will showcase countless products from more than 400 exhibitors. 

 

“CEDIA has created more ways for attendees to capitalize on their show experience this year - from expanding our training offerings to the addition of a new series of free panels and countless opportunities to learn and connect with industry thought-leaders and peers,” said Vin Bruno, CEDIA CEO. “One thing is clear — it’s going to be a big year for CEDIA in Dallas.”

 

Early bird savings of 25 percent on training and registration are available until July 22. CEDIA members enjoy free access to the tradeshow floor. Members also receive exclusive savings on training and are able to take advantage of the CEDIA training pass, allowing them to take an unlimited number of courses at CEDIA 2016.

 

Shelly Palmer, trusted strategic advisor to the C-Suite of leading technology firms, regular technology commentator for CNBC, MSNBC, CNN, and Fox Business News, and one of LinkedIn’s Top 10 Voices of Technology, will present the CEDIA 2016 Opening Keynote.  

 

“Shelly Palmer has extensive experience and insight into the technology sector making him a great fit to present our opening keynote and share a vision with CEDIA attendees about the best ways leverage new technologies to their benefit,” said Bruno. 

 

In his keynote, Palmer will explore how the most effective home technology professionals are managing change and how all CEDIA 2016 attendees can position their businesses to successfully compete in a connected world.

 

“As those who already have a deep understanding and love for technology, CEDIA professionals are poised for fantastic success over the next several years as the number of connected devices is set to surpass 50 billion by 2020,” Palmer said. “The proliferation of the Internet of Things means that anything that can be connected will be connected, and that simple truth lends itself to many avenues for innovation that I look forward to discussing at CEDIA 2016.”

 

Palmer is Managing Partner at Palmer Advanced Media where he is a driver of market, technology and strategic direction, as well as acquisition strategies, for his clients. Palmer is also an award-winning composer, producer, writer and director, and is the patented inventor of the underlying technology for Enhanced Television used by programs such as ABC’s Who Wants to Be a Millionaire and ESPN’s Monday Night Football and response-based advertising systems.

 

The Opening Keynote will take place on Wednesday, September 14, 2016 at 5:30 p.m. in the Forks Ballroom of the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center. 

 

 

On Friday morning, Amazon Director of Alexa Smart Home Charlie Kindel will present a Keynote. Kindel’s keynote will focus on voice control experiences in the home and the natural user interface ecosystem.

 

“Controlling your home with voice commands is no longer a ‘someday’ technology — it’s here,” said Bruno. “The landscape is evolving quickly and represents another fantastic opportunity for CEDIA members to position themselves as the trusted technology experts in the home. Charlie Kindel and the Alexa team are driving new solutions in our industry and they have a big vision for what natural user interfaces will do for today’s connected home and for integrators.” 

 

The keynote, “Creating Voice-First Experiences for the Smart Home,” will take place at 8:00 a.m. in the Forks Ballroom of the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center. There is no fee to attend, but attendees are encouraged to register for the event through the CEDIA 2016 registration system. 

 

Amazon representatives will also present two CEDIA training courses at CEDIA 2016: The Business of Voice Control (ESB00681) taught by Ashwin Karuhatty, smart home business development, and Designing with Voice (ESD0047) taught by Dan Quigley, senior manager, smart home.  

 

Voice control is also a featured topic for one of the new free CEDIA Panel sessions: The Role of Voice Control in the Connected Home, which will take place at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, September, 15 in the C Ballroom of the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center. 

 

In all, CEDIA is bringing you 116 courses — 48 of which are new — and sought-after workshops like Rack Building and Wiring Fundamentals, Home Cinema for Designers, and more. 

 

This year Carol Campbell is once again organizing The Women in Consumer Technology luncheon — an event that’s become a fixture of the CEDIA show. It’s a chance for women in the business to share their challenges, celebrate their accomplishments, and — most importantly, says Campbell — figure out how to not just attract women to the world of technology but also keep them.

 

In this interactive presentation of Gender Intelligence and the impact on innovation, collaboration and cooperation, Kendra Thomas, head of global diversity for Pearson presents the scientific evidence that brings awareness of how to leverage the unique skills that men and women bring to your organization. Tickets go on sale July 25, 2016