ISE 2025: AI, E-Paper, LED, and Sustainability in AV

The Integrated Systems Europe (ISE) 2025 show in Barcelona was a vibrant showcase of industry advancements, thought-provoking discussions, and key trends. A dominant theme throughout the event we felt was "Evolution," with manufacturers prioritising the refinement of existing technology over radical reinvention. The focus was on improving performance, simplifying controls, integrating AI, and advancing sustainability—demonstrating a shift toward smarter, more efficient, and environmentally conscious solutions.

Our top picks from ISE 2025

E-Paper Screens: A Low-Power, Sustainable Alternative

One of the most exciting developments we saw at ISE was the development of?E-Paper screens?by manufacturers such as Samsung, LG, and Sharp. Unlike traditional LCD and LED displays, these screens consume zero power when displaying static content and require only minimal energy for updates. This makes them an ideal, energy-efficient alternative for digital signage, particularly in:

• Retail environments looking for retrofit solutions that do not require rewiring or additional power sources.
• Historic and listed buildings where running power cables is impractical or prohibited.
• Corporate meeting rooms, reducing power consumption for agendas, schedules, and notices.
• Transportation hubs, such as train stations and bus stops, where information must be legible in bright sunlight while using minimal energy.

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AI's Growing Role in AV

AI integration in AV is still in its early stages, but its potential is significant. While some companies are taking a cautious approach, evaluating how AI can truly enhance their products, others are forging ahead with practical applications.

Sodaclick: AI-Powered conversational voice: Sodaclick showcased the power of Conversational Voice AI at the drive-thru and introduced their latest AI assistant, 'Bella', ahead of an upcoming launch. Powered by ChromeOS, the solution is optimised for fast interactions, peak performance, and maximum security, just as real-world, high-demand environments require. For Pioneer Group, this is an exciting technology that we are already deploying into the drive-thru sector.

SmartThings Pro?Smart Sensor Integration: Samsung demonstrated AI-powered sensors that adjust lighting, screen brightness, and audio levels in real time based on occupancy and environmental conditions.

LED Technology: The Future is Brighter Than Ever

LED technology continues to push the boundaries of visual quality and efficiency. Manufacturers were in fierce competition to showcase their latest advancements in resolution, energy efficiency, and form factors. Some standout innovations included:

• Fabulux’s Curved LED: A visually stunning curved LED solution that we see gaining traction in retail spaces, corporate lobbies, and high-end experiential venues.
• LG's Seamless LED Design: Offering interior designers the ability to seamlessly blend LED walls into architectural designs while delivering immersive, high-resolution visuals.
• Ultra-Thin, Lightweight LED Panels Like that shown by Viewsonic: Ideal for rental and staging applications, these innovations are making large-scale LED deployments easier and more sustainable.
• Sony’s Spatial Reality Display: Sony introduced its Spatial Reality Display, offering an advanced 3D visualisation solution that delivers professional-grade, autostereoscopic images without the need for special glasses. This technology is particularly useful for design visualisation, medical imaging, and immersive content creation.

For the corporate space we were massively impressed by 谷歌 ’s Project Starline: Google showcased its cutting-edge Project Starline, a revolutionary holographic video conferencing system that creates lifelike, three-dimensional representations of remote participants without the need for headsets. This technology has the potential to redefine remote collaboration, making virtual meetings feel more natural and immersive. More details on this project can be found here.

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Sustainability and Environmental Impact

With European regulations such as the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) increasing accountability for environmental impact and carbon reporting, sustainability has become a major focus in the innovation of audio-visual (AV) technologies. We felt it was clear that manufacturers were taking significant steps to align with these initiatives:

?Extended Warranties and second life warranties: several manufacturers we spoke to now offer warranty extensions at any point during the original coverage period, reinforcing their commitment to sustainability, while Sharp also introduced extended warranties for resold screens, which ensures their longevity and helps reduce waste.

Energy-Efficient Power Management: Several brands showcased advanced power management features that allow devices to operate in ultra-low-power modes when they are not in active use. (Similar to our own LEED offering, which allows sports clubs to switch off their LEDs when not in use.)

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Our Final Thoughts?

ISE 2025 highlighted that the AV industry is focusing on refinement, sustainability, data-driven decision-making and simplifying solutions. Rather than disruptive overhauls, manufacturers are evolving their offerings to add tangible value. AI is poised to make a significant impact, but its full potential may take some time to be seen.

If you want to discuss any of these trends further or explore how they might impact your AV strategy, please feel free to contact us through LinkedIn or our website. https://pioneergroup.co.uk/contact/

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