EVS showcases new technology with fall show

Touch screen technology is a big part of that future.

“Your finger becomes the mouse and you control the computer right here at the board,” said Scott Barnhart, area sales manager for Smart Technologies Inc., while manipulating text on the board.

Canada-based Smart Technologies manufactures the Smart Board, an electronic version of a dry-erase white board equipped with computer projection. The product allows teachers or businesspeople to do anything they can do on a computer while standing at the board.

The Smart Board was a popular item at the EVS showcase, even though Barnhart said its technology has existed in some capacity since 1991.

The newest version, released Oct. 1, costs about $3,500. “It’s taken a while for people to get used to it and understand it,” he said. “It’s an extremely hot product right now, especially in education.”

Raun Hamilton, EVS vice president and general manager, said the show had 64 exhibitors and 350 to 400 attendees this year, down slightly from past shows.

Professionals – mostly in the retail, education, broadcasting and security fields – came from Missouri, Arkansas, Kansas, Oklahoma, Illinois and Indiana.

“It’s a good draw from a lot of the major markets regionally,” Hamilton said.

EVS, 2029 W. Woodland, has been in business since 1979 and has held the annual show for a decade as a way to thank its clients.

“It’s also a good way for our manufacturers to support us,” he said.

Steve Hargis, director of film and video production for Bass Pro Shops, has been an EVS client for six years. Hargis said high-definition displays topped his watch list.

“We try to be as proactive as we can about the future,” Hargis said. “We’re trying to educate ourselves.”

Tulsa-based NXGN Inc. married touch screen and high-definition technologies in its digital signage collection, which EVS’ Hamilton calls “a billboard on steroids.”

For $15,000 to $20,000, a business can be outfitted with a 50-inch, high-definition plasma TV made by Panasonic, equipped with a touch-screen overlay and a Dell computer with a network connection.

Bob Cauthon, president of NXGN, said the setup allows consumers to access practically anything – maps, commercials, event information, entertainment, training – with a simple touch.

He also said the interactive device records touches and, therefore, consumer interest in a product.

“Almost no advertising results are measurable,” Cauthon said. “These results are measurable, so you can monitor your return on investment.”