With two days left to explore the NAB Show exhibit floor, attendees won’t want to miss International Research Park.

International Research Park is a time machine that takes you forward into the future, where you can catch a glimpse of products and technologies that could grace booths of manufacturers in the coming decade.

Located at the east end of the Lower South Hall, the International Research Park is a technology pavilion showcasing research and emerging technology.

Exhibits feature advanced projects now underway in academic, government, and commercial research laboratories, including technologies and equipment not yet commercially available that push the envelope for content production, processing, distribution, broadcast, display, and interaction with the consumer.

Lynn Claudy, NAB senior vice-president of NAB Science and Technology, said: “The International Research Park extends the scope of exhibits at the NAB Show to go beyond the range of commercial products that are available currently or in the immediate future.

This technology-rich exhibit area will feature the work of start-ups, established companies and research organizations around the world as they work on innovations and fundamental technology breakthroughs that may have an impact on the media landscape over the next several decades.”

LOOKING AHEAD

Commercials during this year’s Super Bowl put the topic of mobile television into the minds of viewers, so it’s not surprising that at least one company is displaying advanced mobile TV in the pavilion.

The CTB Group, which derives its name from “cellular terrestrial broadcasting,” is demonstrating its implementation of the ATSC’s Mobile Handheld (MH) standard. “CTB Group is developing a nationwide broadband mobile content delivery network that bypasses existing carrier networks for downstream data,” said Greg Herman, the CEO of CTB Group. “The CTB network utilizes existing television spectrum, most of which currently resides with the thousands of Class A and LPTV operators throughout the United States.”

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In addition, CTB Group has acquired UHF spectrum licenses in multiple metro markets and highway corridors.

“Network services will be implemented using licensed UHF TV spectrum obtained by CTB through purchase, lease or direct application to the FCC,” Herman said. Since mobile television as shown by CTB Group uses existing television transmitters for distribution, this presents a new revenue stream for broadcasters and should be of great interest to NAB Show attendees.

TWO-WAY EXCHANGE

International Research Park is a place where companies can demonstrate their technologies to the industry in a casual setting. This is more than a one-way information exchange, however; companies displaying research and prototypes also want feedback from the attendees to assist in further developing these technologies. This two-way flow of information is crucial for meeting the needs of this rapidly evolving industry.

“Our display at the 2010 NAB Show will allow us to further socialize our vision for enhancing terrestrial digital broadcasting, and will provide us with an outlet to demonstrate the functionality of the various components of our system,” said Herman.

WORLDWIDE PARTICIPANTS

Some of the other companies exhibiting technology in the International Research Park include NHK, ETRI (from Korea), the Georgia Tech School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, the IT Innovation Centre from the University of Southampton in the United Kingdom, Sandia National Labs, Ryerson University in Canada, and the Rochester Institute of Technology.

The 14 organizations exhibiting offer a window into a wide variety of topics ranging from Ultra-HDTV to audio loudness metering to low-data-rate ATSC transmission for digital signage. They offer media services for the future; fundamental imaging and audio research; innovative use of broadcast spectrum; new technological innovations in transportable power generation and lighting; 3D research; and advanced production technology for media services.

International Research Park is available for browsing when the main exhibition floor is open. Come take a look at the future and offer your comments while you still can — before you know it, these technologies could be reaching the mainstream.