Mad Systems Inc., the award-winning audiovisual and interactive system designer and integrator, has made the first of three announcements scheduled for this week’s AAM Annual Meeting and MuseumExpo in Los Angeles.
Museums and attractions are always looking for the next big upgrade—new ways to wow visitors with engaging, relevant, and innovative experiences. However, amid economic uncertainties, tariff fluctuations, and ever-tightening grant requirements, budgets often get squeezed, so a good solution is to refurbish rather than replace.
This is where Mad Systems’ forward-thinking “AV++®” approach, built on the QuickSilver® platform, comes in to help institutions breathe new life into their galleries and exhibits.
A flexible upgrade in an age of uncertainty
Costs can skyrocket when building from scratch. Tariff increases on new hardware, combined with limited or shifting museum grants, mean a total tech overhaul isn’t always feasible or financially prudent.
AV++ is designed to repurpose the monitors, projectors, touchscreens, and speakers you already own. Where equipment is reasonably current, Mad Systems can retrofit that existing system with next-generation technology instead of tearing everything out. This not only saves money but also helps institutions align with granting agencies’ growing preference for resourceful, eco-friendly solutions that avoid unnecessary waste.
It also future-proofs the system, allows for multi-lingual options, and can allow for future upgrades such as the company’s Alice® hyper-personalisation options.
What is AV++?
AV++ is Mad Systems’ trademark for its advanced audiovisual platform that merges traditional AV with cutting-edge interactivity. Its core is QuickSilver: a future-proof, non-proprietary hardware-based AV ecosystem that replaces the usual “black box” components with streamlined, off-the-shelf, non-proprietary hardware.
QuickSilver handles all media playback, system and show control, and more, cutting down on equipment racks and complex cabling.
On top of this solid, long-life foundation, Mad Systems can add its “Alice” family of interactive tools (nicknamed after Alice in Wonderland characters). The Alice AI engine drives hyper-personalised, multilingual content.
Users can leave at that for a basic upgrade, or the system can interface with various personalised ‘recognition’ options, including RFID, interfaces to visitors’ smartphones using NFC tags, and even CheshireCat™, which provides rapid facial recognition. These options allow users to greet guests by name (only if they opt in). Lory™ serves up accessible, multi-language support right to guests’ smartphones.
All these elements combine to keep visitors engaged and create a unique journey for each person who walks through the doors.
Breathe new life into exhibits
Museums commonly have screens, kiosks, and projectors that function well enough but are often tethered to outdated systems that can’t offer the interactive, personalised experiences modern audiences want. AV++ breathes new life into older hardware by giving it a QuickSilver retrofit and adding sensors or small media players only where needed.
- Minimal new infrastructure: Because QuickSilver runs on off-the-shelf hardware and can work wirelessly if there is no option for additional signal cabling, users will need far less new cabling or special devices.
- Shorter installation times: By reducing rewiring and big equipment racks, museums can upgrade exhibits in a fraction of the time.
- Future-proof flexibility: If spares are needed later, or additional exhibits need to be added, QuickSilver’s modular design makes it easy to swap or add parts without ripping out the entire system.
The essence of AV++ is that it allows museums to remain agile, enabling them to navigate uncertain tariffs and fluctuating grant cycles.
Institutions can avoid price spikes and swiftly adapt to external budgetary pressures with decreased reliance on proprietary equipment and increased use of commodity parts. This strategy also permits the inclusion of new elements during the upgrade process.
Regarding media, the same media that museums have been using so far will suffice, and the firm can perform the necessary work to support additional languages, age-specific content delivery, and other options as part of the upgrade.
The power of personalisation
Personalisation is the name of the game for modern visitors. Today’s audiences expect more than static panels. They want experiences tailored to their interests, backgrounds, and accessibility needs. AV++ can do precisely that, and with QuickSilver installed, possibilities include:
- Smart visitor recognition: Whether using facial recognition, RFID-enabled cards, or a simple phone-based NFC/QR scan, QuickSilver can “log in” visitors so that each sees the content most relevant to them.
- Multilingual, accessible content: The patented Alice system uses AI that draws from a curated knowledge base, eliminating hallucinations, to offer multiple languages (up to 200) for interpretive or informational media. It can also auto-adjust content based on a visitor’s age or expertise.
- Inclusive design: Through Lory, visitors can get custom captions, sign-language videos, or audio descriptions on their phones. The system addresses accessibility requirements head-on, ensuring no guest is left behind.
These features turn a run-of-the-mill gallery visit into an interactive adventure that guests keep talking about long after they leave.
A smart investment
AV++ is a strategic choice that protects a museum’s investment in uncertain times:
- Grant-friendly: Reusing existing infrastructure is often a significant plus in grant applications, showing that management is being responsible with funding. Museums can dedicate more of their budget to storytelling and content, rather than purely to hardware.
- Tariff-resistant: QuickSilver leverages non-proprietary computer hardware that can be sourced from multiple vendors, reducing exposure to sudden tariff hikes on specific equipment.
- Modular upgrades: Additional features like new apps, content expansions, or sensors can be added with software updates or minor hardware changes. Museums won’t be stuck ripping and replacing entire systems down the line.
- Visitor expectations: Modern audiences are used to personalisation everywhere, from theme parks to retail experiences. Meeting and exceeding those expectations helps ensure repeat visits and positive reviews.
By blending personalisation, accessibility, and cost-saving retrofits, Mad Systems has made AV++ a flexible, future-oriented solution.
“In an era where every dollar counts and every experience matters, investing in AV++ is a bold step that preserves what your institution already has while updating it for the 21st century,” says the firm.
“Whether you’re a small local museum or a world-class attraction, Mad Systems stands ready to help you refresh, re-energize, and reinvent your exhibits, and do so with far less disruption and cost than you’d expect.”
Earlier this year, Mad Systems was awarded two more US patents for its Alice and Lory technologies, namely U.S. Patent No. 12,273,589 and U.S. Patent No. 12,271,418.
