ISE 2019: Trending Topics at the Leading Trade Fair for Digital Signage.
Lots of Good News: ISE 2019 Innovations.
Yes, there’s a lot of good news — and as we’ve often said, we love ideas and innovation. What impressed us most at ISE 2019? We’re happy to share.
More exhibitors, more visitors, more exhibition space — ISE, the leading trade fair in the sector, continued to grow in 2019. The professional audiovisual and electronic systems integration industry gathered once again in Amsterdam to present, explore, and be inspired by the latest advancements. We’re not just highlighting a few trending topics from ISE 2019 — we’re also taking a look at technology highlights from EuroCIS, the retail technology trade show in Düsseldorf, and the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona.
ISE: Projection Mapping — Presented by Mike Blackman.
At the ISE opening, Mike Blackman, Managing Director of the show, emphasized projection mapping as one of the major themes. Beamers are used to illuminate three-dimensional objects, with projected visuals adapting perfectly to the shape of the surface. Sculptures, buildings — even people — can be transformed this way. Like “Sviatovid,” a five-meter-tall sculpture created by projection artist Bart Kresa on the exhibition grounds. It was illuminated by four 4K laser projectors, each producing 30,000 lumens.
According to Blackman, Sviatovid was designed not just to impress trade fair visitors, but also to show the city of Amsterdam the possibilities of Digital Signage. Panasonic also wowed the audience with a projection mapping show — blending real dancers with projected visuals in stunning fashion.
LED Is All Around You.
While flat-panel LCD screens are still the most widely used digital signage technology, the AVIXA industry association predicts that LED will play an increasingly dominant role and eventually overtake LCD. ISE 2019 confirmed this shift: nearly every major display provider showcased LED technology as part of their portfolio. A standout was Samsung’s "The Wall Professional", a 146-inch micro LED solution that delivered exceptional clarity, contrast, and brightness — all without the need for color filters or backlighting.
Hybrid Touch Technology for a New Wow Experience.
Combining the flexibility of touchscreens with the tactile feedback of mechanical buttons: that’s the promise of hybrid touch technology. Physical buttons no longer need to exist separately from the display. They can now be integrated directly into the active screen area. Manufacturer Zytronic claims this will deliver a whole new user experience — even outdoors, and even when users are wearing gloves.
Success on (Voice) Command: Control With Your Voice.
Multi-sensory, data-driven experiences are gaining traction. Stefan Schieker, Managing Partner at Result MC, shared during the Digital Signage Summit at ISE that companies like Amazon, Netflix, Apple, and Google have trained users to interact via touch — and now, with Alexa & Co., they’re teaching us to speak to control. Voice control is expected to have a significant impact on how we use and experience digital signage in the near future.
EuroCIS: From Point of Sale (POS) to Point of Excitement!
Omnichannel retail — the seamless connection of all sales and service channels — is no longer optional. Solutions that support store staff, enable smartphone interaction, mobile payments, and digital upgrades to the point of sale are taking center stage. From smart mirrors and video walls to virtual reality applications that enhance service and emotion during shopping, the retail experience is becoming more exciting, engaging, and unique than ever before.
MWC: Folding Displays for Maximum Flexibility.
A quick glance at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona shows one clear direction: displays are becoming more flexible. At CES earlier in the year, LG had already unveiled its roll-up OLED TV, showing just how dynamic screen technology can be. Now smartphone manufacturers like Samsung and Huawei are bringing foldable phones into the spotlight.
Other major MWC trends included 5G connectivity and increasingly complex smartphone camera systems featuring multiple lenses — pointing toward a future of higher performance and visual storytelling on the go. As you can see, there’s no shortage of fresh ideas — and we love being inspired. At DMS, our mission is to create many more “wow” moments. For companies of all industries and sizes. Because what matters most is that we can do what we do best: inspire.
