At Display Week 2016, the Society for Information Display will provide a forum for live demonstrations of emerging information display technologies and related areas in an exhibit called the “Innovation Zone” (I-Zone) in the main Exhibit Hall. The I-Zone will showcase the cutting-edge demos and prototypes that will lead to the products of tomorrow.
The I-Zone offers start-up companies space to demonstrate their prototypes or other hardware demo units for three days free of charge at the premier display exhibition in North America, and gives attendees a chance to view best-in-class emerging information display technologies in a dedicated area on the show floor. The committee is actively encouraging participation by small companies, startups, universities, government labs, and independent research labs.
Proposals to demonstrate new displays, input technologies, and innovations in related fields such as lighting and organic electronics are now being solicited. Technologies should be in the pre-product stage, and demos that will be shown for the first time in a public forum at I-Zone are especially encouraged.
The I-Zone Selection Committee will evaluate submissions and select the strongest proposals to receive free space within the I-Zone. If their proposal is accepted, applicants must cover their own expenses, including travel, lodging, and the creation of a table-top exhibit demonstrating their prototypes. In addition, a knowledgeable person must be on hand on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, May 24- 26, while the I-Zone is open to all attendees, to run the demonstration and answer questions.
Submissions are due by March 18, 2016, and should include a 100-word abstract; a two-page summary describing the novelty and potential application; any relevant photographs, videos (no longer than 3 minutes), or diagrams; and a brief logistics plan for the intended demo. A selection committee representing the geographical and technological diversity of SID will select the organizations to participate in the I-Zone. Selections will be based on the novelty, interest, and quality of the prototype to be exhibited as described in the proposal.
At Display Week 2016, the I-Zone Committee will select a winner of the “Best I-Zone Prototype at Display Week 2016” award, to be announced on the show floor during Display Week and in the post Display Week issue of Information Display magazine. Past winners include Ubiquitous Energy’s ClearView Power Energy Harvesting technology (2015), Ostendo Technologies’ Quantum Photonic Imager (2014), Shinoda Plasma Company’s film-type display using plasma tube arrays (2013), and Tactus Technology’s touchscreen technology with transparent physical buttons (2012).
Selected Innovation Zone participants will be notified by April 4, 2016. At that time they will be sent the I-Zone Rules for Participation and they will have until April 11 to confirm their participation. Click here to submit your proposal or visit http://www.sid.org/About/Awards/IZone.aspx. For any questions related to the 2016 I-Zone, please email [email protected] or Alicia Waldron at [email protected].
