Apple Pay point-of-sale transactions have increased in recent months, states a report by Pymnts, which notes a rising preference for touchless payments since the pandemic began. Eight percent of US consumers who have the feature enabled say they have used it, compared with 4.9% surveyed before March.

AV integration firms: If you're planning to enter SCN's Top 50 Systems Integrators program, the deadline is fast approaching. This year, entries will be judged on a three-year average of revenue in lieu of predicted one-year revenues in light of the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the industry. Entries are due by 11 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Oct. 28.

As campuses deal with on-again/off-again in-person instruction, AV/IT directors and educational technologists need to be prepared. Join directors from Johns Hopkins University and the University of Southern California, and experts from 1 Beyond and Nureva to learn how to ensure the best quality outcome. Register now for the free webcast, which starts at 2 p.m. Eastern on Tuesday, Oct. 27.

Apple is enhancing HomePod with the rollout of intercom capabilities, giving users the ability to talk to family members in different parts of the home. Alarm customization, more Siri functions and multiple-user voice support for podcasts also are being added.

Microsoft and MIT researchers have partnered on GazeCapture, a system that gathered eye-tracking data to develop a gaze tracker that is compatible with any webcam. The hope is that this will lead to expanded gaze control capabilities across any computer, smartphone or tablet.

BenQ's RP02 Series interactive flat panels are designed for in-person and remote collaborative meetings. The 4K UHD IFP series is available in three models: the 65-inch RP6502, 75-inch RP7502, and 86-inch RP8602.

By Emil Delgado
Shure is positioning its MXA710 linear array microphone and MXN5-C PoE ceiling speaker as a conferencing ecosystem designed to form the audio core for conferencing spaces in today's world. We tested it out to see how it delivers on this promise.

The Grand Hyatt Hotel in Dubai has deployed an extensive digital signage solution throughout the hotel and across its extensive conference and event facilities.

AJA Video Systems has joined the Secure Reliable Transport (SRT) Alliance, an open-source initiative dedicated to overcoming the challenges of low-latency video streaming.

Data can play a pivotal role in learning during remote learning. Read how the University of Wisconsin, Madison is using analytics to track student engagement in real time, quickly connecting struggling students with support.