Last month I wrote a blog on Extron’s efforts to define a True4K specification.  For those of you that read it, you already know that I myself was confused by the language Extron used in their True 4K specification, so much so that the specification led me to draw some incorrect conclusions about their new XTP II products.

I have received “feedback” on my opinions in the past from other manufacturers and typically that feedback is a request for me to remove my opinion accompanied by a gentle hint at some type of repercussion if I do not.  I always respond politely and reassert why I believe my opinion is valid.  Typically they fade away, most likely unhappy with the outcome and also giving me a bad impression of their method of interaction.

Based on this, you can imagine my initial gut reaction when I got a call from Casey Hall at Extron the morning my True 4K blog went up.  To my delight, Casey did something few have done with me in the past.  He used my blog and my initial confusion as an “opportunity for a conversation”.

We spoke for a few minutes about the True 4K initiative and about the specifics of his product that I had misinterpreted.  He took the time to acknowledge my perspective and agreed that the True 4k specification could use a little clarity.

I revised the blog with a red line edit after that conversation so that it accurately reflected both his product’s capabilities as well as the reasons for my initial confusion.  I didn’t want to take the blog down completely, as I felt that would be hiding from my mistake.  I really don’t like being wrong but I’m always ready to admit mistakes, be accountable, and try to remedy them as quickly as possible.

Later that week Casey invited me to Extron for lunch and we had a round table to discuss how to make the True 4K specification better.  I referred to Extron’s site recently and saw those changes we discussed front and center on their new specification.

Take a look at the small changes that I believe make the True 4K specification easier to understand.

I won’t discuss everything else we spoke about as he didn’t do this for me to write a blog about and I want to respect anything that may have been proprietary in nature.

I did want to highlight this interaction however as somewhat of an anomaly in my experience.  It seems the legacy approach in our industry has created a much different atmosphere than the one Casey created in his interaction with me.  Kudos to Casey at Extron for creating an “opportunity for a conversation”.  The net result was a clearer specification, (I don’t take credit for that, they would have got there on their own without me), and a lasting positive impression on one industry blogger.  It’s an example worth applauding.

Stay tuned for my take on the legacy of AV interactions, an audio blog on that is soon to come…