LIVE: Integration and connectivity conversations continue at APEX TECH
Last updated: Friday, March 1, 6:14 a.m. (PST). Find updates below.
Xia Cai, SVP Product Development and Design, Qatar Airways, delivers the day two keynote address with Dr. Joe Leader, CEO, APEX
Day two of APEX TECH is in full swing at the Sheraton Gateway Los Angeles Hotel in Los Angeles this morning. Attendees gathered early for coffee and networking at 8:15 a.m., before today’s keynote speech, “Integrating the Future: Qatar Airways’ Pioneering Cabin Experience”, from Xia Cai, Senior Vice President of Product Development and Design, Qatar Airways, in conversation with Dr. Joe Leader, CEO, APEX.
The one-on-one interview with Xia Cai delved into all aspects of the airline’s digital transformation, focusing on the recent deployment of iPhones to cabin crew, collaboration with Google Cloud for personalized AI-driven services and Qatar Airways’ partnership with Starlink for high-speed internet connectivity. Cai and Leader discussed the way these technologies are elevating the passenger experience and shaping the way the airline operates.
Panel 1: 9:30 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.
“'AI-Assisted' Smart Metadata in the Content Delivery Supply Chain" panel, moderated by Rob Delf
The first panel to follow the keynote speech on day two of the event began at 9:30 a.m. The “AI-Assisted” Smart Metadata in the Content Delivery Supply Chain panel was Moderated by Rob Delf, CEO, Fabric and featured speakers Michael Valdez, Manager, Strategic and Quality Initiatives, Panasonic, Andre Valera, Vice President, Business Development, Touch Inflight Solutions, Sam Allen, Managing Director, Stellar Entertainment, Hollie Choi, Managing Director, EIDR and Juraj Siska, Co-Founder, IdeaNova Technologies, Inc.
The panel discussed AI’s seamless integration into the content delivery supply chain and how it is enhancing the efficiency of metadata processing. Looking to the future of content management, the panel examined how AI-assisted smart metadata is contributing to a responsive content delivery supply chain.
Panel 2: 9:30 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.
Panasonic Avionics' Phil Watson discusses the convergence of entertainment and connectivity
The second discussion panel of the day, “The Integration of IFE & C: Edge Caching in the Content Delivery Supply Chain” was moderated by Phil Watson, Chief Systems Engineer, Panasonic with speakers Estibaliz Asiain, SVP, Media & Content, Anuvu, Sigfried Luft, Co-Founder & CEO, Netskrt, Jim Nelson, CEO, Siden, Esdra Lamy, Senior Vice President, Warner Bros. Discovery and Jeremy Desmauts, Director Sales Engineering NAM, Broadpeak.
Led by Watson, the panelists provided insight into the convergence of entertainment and connectivity, with emphasis on how the two technologies work to optimize inflight content delivery for passengers.
A networking lunch sponsored by Panasonic followed and refreshed attendees ahead of the afternoon’s events.
Panel 3: 1:45 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Haley Meidell moderates the final panel of APEX TECH 2024
The final discussion panel of this year’s APEX TECH, “From Data to Destination: Optimizing Passenger Journeys with Environmental, Personal, and Behavioral Insights” was moderated by Haley Meidell, Principle Analyst, zeroG. Panelists included Vincent Campana, Chief Revenue Officer Crew & Passenger, HRS Crew & Passenger Solutions, Benny Retnamony, Founder & CEO, Neuron, Kate Groth, President, West Entertainment, Paul Colley, Chief Technology Officer, Spafax and Richard Kroon, Director of Technical Operations, EIDR.
Meidell moderated the discussion focused on how the use of data can elevate the passenger experience.
Afternoon keynote: 3:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Patrick Brannelly, SVP Retail, IFE, & Connectivity, Emirates, delivers the afternoon keynote
The afternoon keynote address from Patrick Brannelly, Senior Vice President of Retail, IFE, & Connectivity, Emirates, took the form of a one-on-one discussion between Brannelly and Dr. Joe Leader. The pair spoke about Emirates’ advancements in inflight entertainment, with a focus on the shift to 4K content delivery.
Brannelly explored the same topic in the content delivery workshop at 4:00 p.m.
Content Delivery Workshop: 4:00 p.m. to 4:45 p.m.
Andy Beer, VP Technical Engineering, Spafax/The Hub and Wilson Capitao, Product Manager, Touch Inflight Solutions facilitating discussion in the Content Delivery Workshop
The content delivery workshop saw attendees break into smaller groups at the round tables to look at three different discussion topics.
The discussion focused on answering the question, "How Far Away are We From an Industry-Wide Migration for Content Encoding and Technical Services into the Cloud?" was facilitated by Michael Stattmann, CEO and Founder of Cast Labs.
Dirk Ottens, Head of Content & Media Strategy, Lufthansa Systems, facilitated a discussion on "How to Speed Up Media Content Integration and Fix the Last Mile" while the discussion on "Smart Metadata: Leveraging EIDR, LMT and Ad-ID" was led by Andy Beer, VP Technical Engineering, Spafax/The Hub and Wilson Capitao, Product Manager, Touch Inflight Solutions.
Results Presentation: 5:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
The results presentation and official conference closing took place at 5:00 p.m. with all delegates reconvening to learn about the findings of other attendees during the workshop discussion.
This marks the end of another successful APEX TECH, bringing together industry leaders from around the world for two days of insightful discussion, ideation and networking.
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