High-tech meeting places: Indiana convention sites keep up with the latest bells and whistles.

• Author: Prata, Kathleen
• Position: Meetings and Conventions

Technology changes very rapidly in the conference business. While presentations based on overhead projections and slide shows have not yet gone the way of the dinosaur, new developments in audiovisual technology have improved the quality of these productions and added several sophisticated options. At the Century Center in South Bend, the business theater is the most requested service. Janice Flynn, events supervisor, says corporations frequently mix audiovisual and slide presentations into their meetings.

"Generally, it's an unveiling of a new product line, or it's a shareholder's meeting," she says, adding that with renovations under way, electronic lighting should be an added feature in the near future.

At the Horizon Convention Center in Muncie, Jane Zell, events planner, says an 11-foot-diagonal video screen has taken the place of TV monitors in many instances. "In our smaller rooms we still use the TV/VCR modules, but in the big room, we use the screen now instead of several monitors to ensure that everyone can see," she says. The larger room holds 600 people for an awards dinner, and 800 people in theater-style seating for seminars.

An expansion under way at the Horizon Center calls for the addition of an exhibit hall, which will have a separate sound and lighting system and will be suitable for large regional meetings or trade shows.

With 260 theatrical lighting fixtures in the Sagamore Ballroom at the Indiana Convention Center & Hoosier Dome, the possibilities are endless, says Bob Potter, sound and special lighting supervisor. "We can really have a light show in essence," he says. With multi-image shows, Potter says, technicians are able to highlight a speaker at the podium, without "washing" the screen where a video or slide presentation is being utilized. Gels or colors also can be added. The "dedicated conference" facility at University Place Conference Center & Hotel on the Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis campus is loaded with high-end professional audiovisual equipment. John Short, director of the facility, says, "The systems-design part of the building was done so we would be positioned well into the 21st century for newer technologies coming on line. We don't have to jury-rig or rewire new cables to put in new systems." The latest project completed at University Place is the installation of Internet computer interfacing. "Internet allows access to a vast array of database information services throughout...