Groundbreaking Technology Wows at ISE 2026
February 9, 2026
Shining a Light on an Invisible Revolution
March 2, 2026
The changing face of home entertainment was a prominent topic of discussion when industry experts took centre stage across four days of presentations and panel discussions at the world-famous ISE 2026.
Integrated Systems Europe, the leading trade show for professional audiovisual and AV systems integration, was held in Barcelona in February, bringing together experts eager to explore and try out the latest innovations from across the sector.
This year saw Clarke Infinity MD, Simon Clarke, in attendance with Lighting Designer Carla Clarke, and Head of Services and Aftercare Neil Wilson, with Simon also invited to take his place on a panel of other industry experts to discuss the future of home entertainment. Discover what wowed the team at ISE 2026 here.
Simon Clarke joined Adrian Bond, Product Marketing Manager for B2B Bravia and HPJ, Sony, with Stuart Tickle, Owner and Managing Director of smart home technology and distribution company AWE, to make up an expert panel to discuss and share insights about the future of home entertainment, moderated by Samantha Ward.
Together they shared their extensive knowledge on what was next for home entertainment… and what really matters. Read on for some of Simon’s discussion points.
Simon told the audience: “We have been installing smart homes for 38 years. There has been an evolution and there has never been a better time than now to buy a home cinema. The quality is just amazing. Whether you have got £10,000 or £500,000 to spend, there is a home cinema or media room to be had.
“In home entertainment, the biggest change has been open plan space for which the technology is getting better and better. We now expect better picture quality and better audio.”
He added: “Lutron’s new Ketra range of lighting is absolutely fantastic. In the past, this might have been an add on, this is now an integral feature and we want there to be a feel-good factor in every home.
“The other big change is with acoustics. We have always dealt with and treated home cinemas and swimming pools for acoustic treatment but I think it is a question of a whole house treatment now.
Wellbeing is a serious consideration when planning any home entertainment system as part of a bespoke smart home solution – and the panel all agreed the client was, and should be, at the heart of every home entertainment project.
Simon said: “The discovery element of the process is really important; it is the time when you discover how people watch or listen to content. Once we have found out what the client really wants, we work out how to use the latest technology to best effect.
“The one thing you cannot underestimate is the importance of health and wellbeing. We do lighting designs with sources of wellness in mind. That is where the neurological side of things comes in. People get worn out in a reflective environment so we have to make sure we look at a whole house solution and in this, design is so important.”
Simon discussed his love of home cinemas. He said: “There is no better place to relax whether it is listening to music, doing yoga or watching a movie. I hope the whole discussion about home media rooms doesn’t mean we lose the real cinematic feeling you get when you are in a home cinema.
With AI, and how it is reshaping the sector, unsurprising proving a prominent discussion point throughout ISE 2026, Simon told the audience he is optimistic about the future of home entertainment, saying: “AI content will change people’s lives, but we have to make sure we keep it simple and easy. It will be interesting to see what happens in the next 10 years.”
For more insights and content from ISE 2026, make sure to follow Clarke Infinity on social media. Get in touch with our friendly expert team on 01277 624444 or info@clarkeinfinity.com for any questions about ISE or to discuss smart home solutions for your property.
