Audio Video News

Custom installation is the growth area for the consumer electronics industry. To expand training opportunities for installers, the Custom Electronics Design and Installation Association (CEDIA) has announced a new partnership with the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) to bring CEDIA training to the 2002 International Consumer Electronics Show, to be held January 8 11 in Las Vegas. The upcoming CES will be the first one to be held during weekdays rather than over a weekend.

Five classrooms in the Las Vegas Convention Center will be allocated to the training sessions, which will run Tuesday, January 8 through Thursday, January 10. The CEDIA program will focus on custom installation and systems integration and is targeted to designers and installers of electronic systems for the home. The training will be of great benefit to installers based in Western states, who may not have been able to attend the annual CEDIA show in Indianapolis.

Subjects to be covered include home theater, home networking, essential technologies, whole-house systems, and business management for custom designers and installers. Two CEDIA professional certification prep courses—the installer level I and installer level II seminars—will prepare participants for professional certification exams. CEDIA's CES training program will consist of five circuits, with three classes in each circuit, plus the two all-day installer seminars and two CEDIA certification exams.

Attendees can select any of the classes they wish to attend, and can register for CEDIA/CES passes on the CES website. Information is also available by email or by calling 703-907-7605.

CEDIA describes its training programs as follows:

CEDIA Business Management Circuit: This circuit focuses on the requisite knowledge and business-management skills needed to run an efficient, profitable custom installation company.

CEDIA Essential Technologies Circuit: This circuit, consisting of three sessions, provides the knowledge necessary to advance as fast as products and installation technologies do. The curriculum also prepares installers for the CEDIA professional certification exam.

CEDIA Home Networking Circuit: Widespread consumer adoption of home theater, wireless communications, multi-line in-home telecommunications, lighting control, security, AV distribution, and home computing has been rampant throughout the 1990s and into this millennium. The convergence of these technologies, and their integration into one simple-to-use control system, has created a healthy business for the installer. This circuit will teach installers what they need to know to succeed in this field.

CEDIA Home Theater Circuit: The home-theater circuit curriculum is designed to develop the skills necessary to maximize the performance of multi-channel AV installations. Individual courses focus on specific disciplines to maximize the attendees' learning experience in the following areas: acoustics and space development, multi-channel audio, and video-display technologies. From conceptualizing to calibration, this circuit offers answers for those just developing their theater-design or installation skills, as well as for masters of home-cinema spaces.

CEDIA Professional Certification Circuit: This circuit consists of two all-day prep courses and two certification exams. Each course and exam is priced separately.

CEDIA Whole-House Circuit: Subsystems abound in today's homes. Among these subsystems are whole-house audio, video, television, security, and lighting. This curriculum explains how the independent subsystems work and also how to link them together. Participants also will look at the importance of control and the user interface.