Volume 13, Issue 23 — December 2, 2015
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Editorial Editorial Editorial Editorial Editorial Editorial
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Industry News Projection Audio Control & Signal Processing Unified Collaborative Conferencing Cables, Cases, Furniture, Mounts, Racks, Screens & Accessories
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On Why We Don’t Have the Shiniest Toys Anymore
By Leonard Suskin Pixel and Ink-Stained Wretch
AV people used to have the coolest toys. Look back not that many years to the first AV touchpanels you saw; people oohed a bit, they ah-ed a bit and — if the installer soldered the nine-pin D-sub correctly — were impressed when the touch of one (soft) button not only turned on a room’s main display, but also switched inputs to the VCR and even popped up a set of transport controls. Yes, training was sometimes a chore and yes, users were sometimes afraid of the new technology. It also seemed special; it was a dramatic improvement over the table covered with remote controls they used at home.
Then time passed. So many people have tablets and smartphones that I’ve actually heard users refer to a shiny new, sleek tabletop touchpanel as an iPad. Users accustomed to navigating apps were now comfortable selecting “dial VTC call” or “present laptop” on a touchscreen. For a time, we didn’t have the coolest toys anymore, just industrial, enterprise-level versions of the same toys. That was still pretty cool, but not quite as cool. The cutting edge seemed to have caught up to us in the professional AV world.
Today, I look at enterprise tools and see a great deal of advancement and quite a few ways to create overall experiences and ecosystems that set us apart from the consumer world. That’s a topic for another day, but there’s one thing that has lagged: the cool factor. The user experience. As the AV system slowly vanishes, it becomes easy for us to cling to the last scraps of the familiar. What do I mean? I’m thinking now about how mobile interfaces have changed, and our interfaces have, to the largest extent, not.
“Open the Pod Bay Doors, Hal” — Action-centric Interfaces
The biggest “cool factor” in UI is probably voice. As I left a meeting yesterday, I took my phone out of my pocket and said “OK Google, navigate home.” The phone obediently opened a map application, set directions to my house, and started reading them to me. Next: “OK Google, text Karine ‘Leaving now. Be back soon.’” My robotic servant read the message back to me and fired it off via an SMS app. The nifty part isn’t that it’s hands free (though that is nifty) but that it is task oriented rather than application oriented. We’re moving to a new way to interact with devices, in which we don’t choose to open a particular application, but ask it to accomplish a particular goal. Did I ask a general question? It will open a search app. Send an email? Mail app. Count down to when I should check that my dinner is done cooking? The countdown timer app. And so on.
In the professional world, I’ve yet to see someone walk into a conference room and say, “Display presentation. Call London Office.” I felt like Dave Bowman asking Hal to open the pod-bay doors. Fortunately, as of this writing, none of my devices have yet gone mad and tried to murder me.
[As an aside, I invoked the aforementioned murderous malfunctions when I learned that Rane had named its audio DSP platform “Hal.” The company’s answer was that the computer in Sir Arthur C. Clarke’s novel was the HAL9000, while its latest hardware device is the Hal4. We therefore should safely have 8,996 further hardware iterations before our DSP products start killing astronauts. I’m still concerned enough about symbolism that I’d think twice before installing one in a space-station. (Full disclosure: I am currently working on zero space-station projects.)]
Sharing is Caring — Content-Based Interface
What’s more interesting, and perhaps more subtle, is how tightly integrated mobile applications have become. I’m thinking in particular about the Android “Share” button that can expand to include various additional services as one adds them. When I installed a networked printer, I didn’t need to reprogram my phone; I ran the printer app and the printer now appears as an option for “Share to” for my already existing image viewing apps — the same way the Chromecast plugged into my TV, instant messenger programs, email or social networking.
So now in addition to the action-based approach of the voice command, we have a content-based approach in the share-button. One first selects content, and then chooses what to do with it. In fairness, wireless content sharing devices such as the Barco ClickShare or Crestron AirMedia can appear on this sharing menu. Not only are other aspects of professional AV systems not able to do so, but there’s also little of this kind of integration in PC desktop applications.
Hardware Based — The Dashboard
It’s pretty clear: For the most part, we don’t have all of the coolest toys anymore. I see many competent control GUI layouts which more-or-less follow the InfoComm Dashboard for Controls standard. (Did you know that was a standard? InfoComm has standards and guidelines for quite a few things if you take time to look for them. It’s a great resource.) These designs are familiar and comfortable, but increasingly dated. Part of the reason is that we’ve always looked at things not in terms of “actions” or “content” as above, but in terms of devices; this made a great deal of sense when a purpose-built hardware appliance was required for each action. Play physical media? Select the VCR/DVD/Blu-ray player. Make a video call? Select the VTC appliance. Present your laptop? Select the correct switcher input. The idea and positioning of persistent controls (e.g., volume, environmental factors, etc.) with a central window featuring specific device controls was a very good one for its time, and still works in many applications. I wonder, however, if we let ourselves be a bit too far fixated on what is now a decade-old standard.
Today, “play media,” “make a call,” “record an event” and even “display mobile content” could ALL be PC-based applications. This renders the the center of the dashboard — the heart of a traditional AV control system — an empty splash page. Do you remember your first systems in which “video call” gave you dialing buttons plus camera control, “watch movie” gave you your DVD transport controls, and “display PC” gave you a sad little message that said “control your PC with the keyboard and mouse?” Today that “use keyboard and mouse” message might apply to video calls, media playback and pretty much anything else you’d do. We’re left with a “dashboard” which is a pretty (and functional) frame around what has increasingly become dead space.
Where Do We Go From Here?
Various professional manufacturers have been working on different tools that would make AV control not only “cool” again, but also modern and relevant. Harman has been selling NFC-enabled touchpanels for years now (since before they were branded as Harman). I’ve seen some use of this to personalize dialing directories and the like, but implementation is still far from mainstream. But it is, at least, a start.
Also of note is Crestron’s creation of an app to pair with its PinPoint beacons. It’s created something that knows where you are (via the magic of Bluetooth), can book the nearest meeting room for you and can not only activate the system when you walk in, but even pair you with a Crestron AirMedia device in the space. Thus far, this seems to be an all-Crestron experience. Having your meeting start when you walk in not only feels like a cool toy, but it also gets us away from an old paradigm.
It also, more to the point, echoes something that Alan Vezina said on these pages a few weeks ago: that AV programming is a traditionally closed set of ecosystems with very high barriers to entry. His own firm, Jydo, is based on Python, Javascript and HTML5. Crestron has moved to .NET and Harman to Java. HRC and Utelogy use HTML5. The AV world is starting to open. We just need to step through the door.
What I hope is that this will begin a shift away from “AV programmers” being primarily thought of as people who program AV systems, and more as general-purpose programmers whose work is in the AV industry. Let’s make the mobile versions of an AV touchpanel something more than a scaled-down copy of the wall-panel version; there are opportunities to use environmental, audio and location services.There’s a chance to stretch interactivity beyond “touch an icon, something happens.” There’s a chance to make some cool toys. Leave a Comment
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A Story About Breadmakers — and Lutron’s Joel Spira
By Gary Kayye rAVe Founder
LUTRON is the defacto-standard lighting control company in the AV market.
Think lighting control, you think LUTRON.
LUTRON lost its leader of 54 years when Joel Spira passed away on April 8, 2015.
I had the pleasure of consulting for LUTRON and not only meeting Joel, but also working with him (indirectly, I will admit). But, that said, if you’ve ever worked for LUTRON in some capacity, Joel’s influence was never missing — he was intimately involved in all aspects of LUTRON and he passionately cared about the company.
I am sure there are many people who have many Joel Spira stories. Some are hilarious (e.g., the story behind why one of their buildings is surrounded by fake trees) and some are inspiring.
But, none have stuck with me like the one I am about to tell you. I may get the specifics slightly wrong, but I hope that those engineers who I reference in this story will come on and comment on this blog to give more details on the story.
So, here goes:
One time — I think this is the 1980s — he was traveling in Japan. He stumbled upon a breadmaker (yes, the kitchen appliance that makes bread) by Panasonic. He was intrigued, but more excited about the prospects this sort of thing could teach his engineers. You see, the art of making bread (prior to the breadmaker) was (and still is) very complicated and very tedious. If you’ve ever made bread made from scratch, you know exactly what I mean — you have to do everything just right or it may not rise, may not be porous or may not taste any good at all. But, the bread making machine did it all for you. Just pour in the ingredients, wait the allotted amount of time and — voila! — bread. Homemade bread.
So, Joel flew home with a handful of these bread machines, enough to spread around the engineering department. But there was one hitch — he removed the instructions, the packaging and any markings that gave any hints as to what it was. It only had the brand Panasonic on it. He gave them to his engineers and told them figure out what the machine was for and how it worked.
And, they did! These engineers were given no hints and no specifics (and this was pre-Internet and Google). And remember, this was also before it was a household appliance anywhere in the world — it had just made its debut in Japan, so the engineers probably had never seen or even heard of one before. But they figured it out anyway.
Then Joel gathered the engineering department together and said, “OK, make our stuff work this easily. Make our stuff work without manuals. Make it so people can figure it out.”
Genius. Sure, a company owner can tell their engineers to make their stuff simple — but actually demonstrating it was Joel’s way.
I am told he was always filled with anecdotes like this — not just aimed at engineering, but at sales and marketing, too.
Joel’s contributions will be felt through LUTRON for a long, long time. And, his creative vision will be missed. Leave a Comment
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InfoComm: Inside the Modern High-Tech Boardroom
By Cindy Davis Special to InfoComm International
The traditional boardroom conjures images of mahogany, leather and PowerPoint. Maybe it’s used quarterly, for board meetings of directors from around the globe. For all those other days of the year, the projector, gooseneck microphones and super-slick control panel remain idle.
Not anymore. Today, workplace trends and new technology are transforming almost every aspect of the modern boardroom — and it starts in the office.
“How do you take the experience that an executive has at the desktop, which is seamless audio-videoconferencing integration, and move that same experience through their personal conference room — through any space they may need, up to and including the boardroom?” says Scott Walker, CTS-D, LEED AP, president and CEO of Waveguide.
The executive boardroom is no longer an island unto itself, with its own design rules and gravitational forces. “We need to empower the boardroom to be more like the desktop, which is kind of flipping the whole thing on its head,” Walker says. “How they might share content wirelessly in their own office is the same thing they need to do in their boardroom. It’s a similar look and feel, not a wholly separate experience.”
Consider the trends: Powerful mobile devices, from laptops to smartphones, have become all-in-one offices, allowing users to correspond and collaborate, share information, interact, and gather, store and analyze data. At the same time, organizations are creating new physical environments, such as huddle spaces or other meeting rooms, to facilitate “ideating” between two or more people. Single-use offices are giving way to collaboration areas. Such factors increasingly are the norm in workplace environments. And what applies to the humble huddle space applies to the executive boardroom.
“We no longer take a room or project approach,” says Dale Bottcher, senior vice president for sales and operations at AVI-SPL. “It’s more of a platform approach so it crosses the entire enterprise. The technology has got to be scalable and consistent room-to-room.”
Not an Island
AV professionals say that boardroom design has taken on a holistic approach. Starting from an enterprise-level technology model, new systems and upgrades are migrating into boardrooms as part of an interconnected whole. Today’s boardroom is an integrated, interoperable collaboration space writ large and communication tools are the key.
“Just as organizations have huddle rooms all the way up to boardrooms, people have the expectation that they can bring in a tablet and display or share content in the room,” Bottcher says.
The thing is, depending on use case, some organizations prefer to keep the boardroom simple. And as simple as technology such as unified communications and collaboration (UCC) has become, its introduction to the boardroom may face headwinds. Talking through executives’ needs is important.
When Ford Motor Company wanted a brighter projector for its boardroom, Bottcher says it was a chance to think ahead. “It’s a very simple design, and the last time it was upgraded was maybe 1995,” he explains. “I said, ‘Let’s think about this a little bit. You’ll need conferencing ability in this space within a year or two. You have a 40-foot wall you’re projecting on. Why not make that a tiled videowall or some form of large display that can be upgraded for videoconferencing or some form of UCC technology?”
Indeed, videowall technology is not just the domain of lobby displays and operations centers. Boardrooms, which are often designed to impress their particular users and enhance decision-making, can also benefit from large visual canvases.
“What we’re seeing, particularly with oil and gas customers, is entire front walls becoming giant videowalls where they can pull up multiple windows of content and look at high-resolution details,” says Walker. And while a large-format display is ideal for presentations, more boardrooms today also require individual screens for meeting participants. “Because it’s not just a PowerPoint being presented to the board,” Walker says. “It is much deeper data analytics that need to be managed, voted on and made a part of the meeting.”
“While large LCD displays are becoming more readily available at reasonable cost, they still have a practical limit on what size space they can serve effectively,” says Gregory Clark, CTS, principal consultant at The Sextant Group. “Once that threshold is crossed, alternate technologies such as projection or a videowall may better suit the application, and those require differing infrastructure provisions.”
For example, some boardrooms opt for rear-projection, specifically. Housing projectors in a separate room removes noise and potential heat from the boardroom, plus it eliminates the threat of shadows on-screen. And depending on budget, the projection room can include a pair of projectors — one for backup duty — so that the meeting can always go on.
The Multipurpose Boardroom
With all the collaboration technology being incorporated into boardrooms, many organizations are trying to maximize the investment year-round. “They’re using the room for more than four days a year,” Walker says. “Other days of the week they may use it for investor calls or other decision-making. It sort of becomes a huddle room on steroids.”
Emerson Process Management recently opened a multipurpose space at its offices in Austin, Texas, to foster collaboration with the company’s partners and accommodate board meetings. Emerson supplies process automation technology to oil and gas, refining, chemicals, life sciences, metals and mining, and power industries. The Integrated Operations Center at Emerson’s Process Systems and Solutions Innovation Center (pictured) has already hosted multiple board meetings, but it’s also a sort of experience center where customers can see how integrated companies streamline decision-making, collaborate across locations and more easily accessible expertise — sort of what a board of directors might do.
“We’ve had really positive reactions from everybody who’s come into the facility,” say Mike Boudreaux, director of performance and reliability monitoring at Emerson. “We have customers who come visit us here in Austin from all over the world, often evaluating not only our products, but also our capabilities and expertise.”
Emerson embraced Barco collaboration technology for the center. In working with Waveguide on the project, the company emphasized usability across all use cases, whether to support board meetings or customer experiences.
“You walk into the room and there’s an on/off button on the wall. You press ‘on’ and the lights and screen come on and the Barco ClickShare is activated,” Boudreaux says. “If you want to do anything more elaborate, we have a tablet to manage it.”
Say What?
As AV professionals know, an effective collaboration space, such as a modern boardroom, is about more than technology. Emerson engaged Waveguide soon after sitting down with the architect and quickly realized that what users hear would be as important as what they see.
“Going into the project we didn’t have a very strong appreciation for the value of good acoustics, and that was something that Waveguide helped us gain an appreciation for,” Boudreaux says.
Working collaboratively with the architect, Waveguide helped shift the room design to be more acoustically pleasing. “We had some unique designs, with rounded rooms and glass walls, and we needed the ability to prevent a lot of ‘fishbowl effect’ echoing,” Boudreaux explains. “We also had to make sure that we had the right microphone placement, lighting and speaker locations. They’re still rounded walls, but they were flattened out a little bit as a result of the acoustic design.”
It can be argued that acoustics and intelligibility are even more important considerations for modern boardrooms as the need to include remote participants in meetings grows. The boardroom at the Calgary, Alberta, headquarters of energy-distribution company Enbridge was in need of expansion and upgrades. Amin Ladha, IT Systems Analyst at Enbridge, recalls that remote participants were complaining they couldn’t hear everyone in the company’s aging boardroom during meetings.
“I’m involved in setting up the executive team meetings, board meetings and any meetings that involve high-level stakeholders,” Ladha says. “That’s where most of the complaints were stemming from. Quite often we had a lot of echoing.”
In addition, as meetings grew, the original 18-seat table wasn’t big enough, leaving 10 or more participants sitting on the periphery, farther away from the table microphones.
When the Enbridge boardroom was renovated, it gained a purpose-built table for 26 and a carefully considered AV design to accommodate 35.
“We put together a design package that showed the polar patterns of the microphones based on the table they were spec’ing for the room,” says Keith Newson, Design Engineer at AVI-SPL Canada. Pop-up mics with intuitive muting and unmuting features minimized the effect of paper shuffling at the table, while ceiling mics in the boundary areas ensured participants not seated around the table could be heard.
“You have to think bigger in a boardroom,” says Waveguide’s Walker. “As boardrooms get larger, you have to do what’s historically been called a mix-minus system so you can amplify voices within the room. There are better and better microphones, DSP algorithms and speakers out there. We’re seeing some interesting products that used advanced technology to focus on the sound you want to hear and disregard the sound you don’t want to hear.”
Of course, in boardroom situations, what executives don’t want people to hear is, well, everything. For privacy’s sake, sound isolation and masking techniques are a must, to say nothing of commonsense design measures to ensure that people who shouldn’t see confidential presentations — through windows or sleek glass walls — don’t.
“Because AV is an enabler,” says Emerson’s Boudreaux. “It’s not the thing in the room; it’s really part of the room.”
This article was reprinted with permission from InfoComm International and originally appeared here. Leave a Comment
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Be a Better Customer
By Mark Coxon rAVe Blogger
I will admit straight off that this post is somewhat of a rant, but I am tired of bad customers. The customer, despite claims to the contrary, is not always right.
My wife does a lot of marketing work for everything from Comic Con to auto shows to demonstrating espresso machines. She is amazing at it, as she is very personable and extremely smart (not to mention beautiful).
On Saturday, she had someone come up to her in the store she was working at and inquire about an espresso machine. She asked about his coffee preferences, showed him different models and even gave him tips on preheating porcelain cups to keep the drinks hot longer. After 30 minutes of interaction, he decided to buy a machine from the retailer she was at.
On Sunday, the man returned and approached her with the machine in hand. Let me first say that she isn’t actually employed at the store and doesn’t work the register or facilitate returns, so the only reason he approached her was to say the following.
“Money doesn’t matter to me. I mean, I drop $200 on a bottle of wine easily as I’m very well off, but I found this machine cheaper on Amazon and you didn’t tell me it was cheaper there so I’m returning it.”
Then he went to the counter and proceeded to tell the retailer he was returning the machine as it was “misrepresented.” Of course upon hearing that, my wife approached him and related that she was employed to represent the brand inside the retailer, so of course she wouldn’t send someone somewhere else to make a purchase. She said that she understood he found it cheaper and it was his responsibility to do his due diligence as a customer to research that before making a purchase. His response?
“Do you feel better now that you said that to me?”
Let’s just say it’s a good thing I wasn’t standing there at that time. But what’s the bigger picture? How does this relate to our businesses in AV as well as our profitability?
We’ve all heard people rail against companies like Wal-Mart for destroying small business. In fact, I’d bet the man my wife encountered has a great speech on Wal-Mart being the devil of modern commerce. But then, hypocrisy knowing no bounds, these same people go into a retail store, try a product, take the paid time of an employee to answer questions, allay concerns and educate them on the product, and then turn around, leave the store and go buy from the cheapest online bidder.
We have a Better Business Bureau to report businesses that engage in unscrupulous activity so I thought it was about time we create a Better Customer Bureau (BCB) to start tracking customers who do the same. To my surprise, there actually IS one that helps match vendors to customers who prefer to pay for work well done. Check it out here.
I think they should go a step further and create a rating system. Come into a store, and before you get the undivided attention of a paid employee, you get your driver’s license scanned and your BCB score pops up, letting the store know how much time to invest in you.
This happens to us in the AV space ALL THE TIME. We do an evaluation of the customer’s needs, we do a preliminary system design, a bid that details the equipment, and then they turn around and take it out to bid, or even worse, share our numbers with competitors to get a better price. Of course there will be someone to do it cheaper, especially now that all the design labor has been done by someone else.
The customer comes back to us with pages of search results showing where all the hardware can be procured cheaper online, asking us to match those prices. Never mind potential warranty concerns, delivery, etc. Of course they don’t consider that their purchasing manager, who makes $40 an hour, just spent 20 hours researching and compiling all this. That cost isn’t even a thought, nor is the cost the original firm incurred in doing all the specification work in the first place.
If it wasn’t for your firm, the customer never would have known what to look for on Amazon in the first place!
If we want to get better customers, we have to BE better customers. We can’t complain that customers are shopping our designs online if we ourselves go down to Best Buy, spend two hours comparing TVs and talking to their employees and then go home and order it from Amazon.
People’s time and knowledge come at a price. We get more value from a product when we are properly educated and can experience it first, even if it costs a little more to buy it from the store or from an AV integrator than Amazon.
Sure, if you already know what you want and need, and you don’t need coaching or education, then by all means go shop online. I buy books on Kindle, I buy vitamins on Amazon or toys my kids ask for from TV commercials. I’m not saying there is not a role for online shopping.
Certain products and services still require a value added delivery model that a dealer or retailer provides. This is why I never buy clothes online. I need to make sure they are a fit. If I spend time and energy ordering and returning items until I get the right one, the added savings mean nothing.
Sucking all the value out of the retailer or dealer like a consumer vampire without ever purchasing only assures that eventually those people you rely upon for hands on experience or their expertise will be out of business.
We need to be better customers, especially if our own businesses rely on value added delivery models to exist. Otherwise our own consumer behavior eventually kills the very business model we rely upon to survive and we end up with customer service like in the cartoon above.
So the next time you think about going somewhere else to save 5 percent, ask how much time and energy someone else may have spent in guiding your decision and making sure it is a good one. Then ask yourself if your company had made that same investment in that time and information, if you’d be upset if the potential customer went elsewhere and purchase to save a little.
Be a better customer and you may get better customers in return. Leave a Comment
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Five Reasons Why AV Is Not IT
By Ernie Beck Sr. Sales Engineer, Cenero
For the past few years the conversation of AV and IT convergence has been discussed ad-nauseam. While this article is no different in subject matter, I’m writing to pose a counter-argument. Before the AV nerds of the inter-webs declare this blasphemy, this should be taken as a tongue and cheek observation. Obviously, AV systems today more closely resemble IT assets in both form and function. Putting AV on your network to interact within the larger building system ecosystem, gathering usage data, and centralizing support are just a few of the benefits, as I explain in another post ‘Smart AV Evolution.’
With that said, is it fair to assume that AV should now be designed, purchased, and implemented like Information Technology? I don’t think so, at least not yet, and according to some industry feedback, I’m not alone. Here’s the top 5 reasons that seem to keep coming up:
AV is Still “Audio” and “Video”
Audiovisual components are sometimes the first thing you see and hear upon entering a space. They’re designed to invoke a response, an emotion, to impact users or visitors. From a shopping mall with a large LED video wall in the entryway, to the sound quality of your Boardroom’s audio conferencing system. No matter how technology changes, all of those 1’s and 0’s ultimately convert to something that can be seen or heard, which requires extensive knowledge of delivering high-quality audio and video systems. One colleague stated:
“The wrong choice in a microphone, speakers, or a store bought TV can cause everything from interoperability issues, to poor image and sound quality, to persistent service headaches.”
AV & Architectural Considerations
AV has an interesting task of balancing both the technical, as well as aesthetic aspects of a space. Not only does an AV professional need to understand the technology and impact to a building network, they need to understand how it aligns with the vision the architect is trying to achieve. From their impact to electrical, mechanical and structural specifications, to furniture and finishes, how the final AV solution will look has a specific aesthetic purpose that must be honored.
AV Installation Acumen
The “meat” of the Design/Build/Support sandwich. If you’re trusting your AV installation to a team that’s better suited for cabling installation, you could be doing more harm than good. Qualified AV installers are experienced in best practices for safely installing heavy AV components (many times of which are located over your head!). If this is short-changed, not only could your installation look sloppy, but it could be potentially hazardous.
Implementing Standards & UX
I have to hand it to them, IT professionals and staff have an extremely challenging task of implementing and supporting complex networks for complex businesses. To do this, IT teams have developed specific standards and processes that help with these challenges. But, are standards and processes used for information technology directly applicable to AV? Likely not all the time. At a single person workstation you’ll find your standard IT components (work area outlets, desk phone, PC, laptop dock, etc.).
But scale up to a huddle room and or conference room, and you’re dealing with an entirely different set of physical parameters which must translate directly to the audiovisual systems being specified.
Different business units may require different needs, i.e. corporate training departments vs. international sales departments. Which leads me to User Experience. Try as I may, I just can’t escape this buzzword. This may be an over simplification, but as one AV pro puts it: IT typically establishes and dictates to their clients (users) how they will access info and use the network. And for good reason. However, AV must take input from a variety of users and groups and deliver a solution that everyone is comfortable using. Ultimately, we’re both required to implement for the best User Experience, it’s just how we get from Point A to Point B that is different.
Clients Need Both
This post is in no way diminishing the critical importance of choosing quality IT vendors or staff. Quite the opposite. This is meant to show that AV and IT professionals possess equally important, yet different skill sets. Ultimately, the ideal vendor will have a strong knowledge of the other disciplines importance in order to successfully deploy compatible audiovisual and IT systems in today’s business world. Leave a Comment
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AV Programming Sucks
By Alan Vezina Jydo
In my previous post, The AV Industry Needs to Open Up, I talked about two reasons why it is difficult to become an AV programmer — proprietary hardware and certifications. Today, I am going to talk about the biggest reason there is a shortage of quality AV programmers: sub-par tools.
For AV programmers there are two main platforms, Crestron and AMX. There are other platforms too, but to keep this article short I’ll be talking mostly about the Crestron and AMX platforms. Within the two platforms you have two options: proprietary languages created by the manufacturer, or a supported open language that can run on their hardware.
Let’s start with the proprietary languages. Crestron has SIMPL and SIMPL+ and AMX has Netlinx. SIMPL isn’t so much of a programming language as it is a visual tool that allows you to build logic for your processors. SIMPL can get some jobs done, but is often inadequate for complex jobs. Due to SIMPL’s nature as a visual language it is not compatible with version control software like Git or Subversion, and makes it difficult to work in teams.
SIMPL+ is a C-like language while NetLinx is a bit more Java-esque, but both are plagued with the same problems. Due to their proprietary nature, the main source for support is on the developer support forums. It’s also nearly impossible to find any good third-party frameworks or tools. Contrast this to more open languages such as JavaScript or Python, where all of my problems can be solved with StackOverflow, or by the countless blogs written by kind strangers on the Internet. If I need to accomplish something, there is probably a library to help me. Tools like npm or pip make installing third-party libraries a breeze.
You don’t have to use these proprietary languages though. Crestron supports C# via SIMPL Sharp, and AMX supports Java — two very open, very useful languages. Unfortunately for AV programmers, the implementations supported by the manufacturers are terribly outdated.
Crestron launched C# support with its 3-Series line of processors, the first of which was released in 2011. The problem with SIMPL Sharp is with the supported version of C#. You see with SIMPL Sharp, you’re locked into Visual Studio 2008, which means when SIMPL Sharp was released it was already obsolete — Visual Studio 2010 had already been out for a year. With Visual Studio 2008 you get to use C# version 3.0, the most recent version being 6.0. AV programmers are missing out on some seriously great features: optional parameters, named arguments, async programming (which is super useful in AV), the Safe Navigation Operator and more. This is ridiculous.
And then there’s Java with AMX, which is even worse. In order to use Java with AMX, you need to purchase a copy of Cafe Duet, a set of extensions for the Eclipse Java IDE. The latest release of Cafe Duet was in 2005, 10 years ago. It runs on Eclipse 3.1.0 to 3.1.2, which are also 10 years old and absolutely terrible (I know from experience). When I write Java, I use Intellij IDEA, which is arguably the best IDE on the market. If you’re an AMX programmer, you don’t get to choose your IDE; your only choice is one that is 10 years old. This is ridiculous.
Even if that wasn’t so bad, you’re locked to Java 1.4, which is more than 13 years old, and hasn’t been supported by Oracle since 2008. The feature gap between Java 1.4 and 1.8 is huge. Java 1.5 introduced enums and generics. Every Java project I have ever worked on has made liberal use of enums and generics. I didn’t even know that there was a version of Java without generics. Language features aren’t my only concern either: Java 1.6 was so notoriously insecure that Java applets are now disabled by default on all major browsers. Apple has repeatedly disabled Java on OS X. This is ridiculous.
You want to know why you can’t find any AV programmers? Because no one wants to work in an environment where they’re given obsolete and proprietary tools, which are locked to expensive hardware, and can only be acquired by dealers. When I start a new project I get full control of my tech stack. I can experiment with new languages and new frameworks. With the current state of AV programming, you get to work with tools that are decades old. Fresh college graduates don’t want to work with tools that were released years before they were even in high school, and they definitely don’t want to get a certification to do it either.
So how the hell did this happen? Well, I have a theory: AV programmers don’t make the manufacturers any money, so they don’t want to spend the time or energy investing in building better tools. In a recent interview, Crestron’s CEO Randy Klein said, “We used to be a control system and touch panel manufacturer – today, those account for only 10 percent of our total business.”
I’m certain the same is true for AMX, especially considering the companies it’s acquired such as AutoPatch and SVSI. The big players make their money selling hardware, and why shouldn’t they? Products like SVSI are great, Crestron’s video transports are particularly nice and they both have many more product lines.
There are a few things manufacturers can do to show they care about the programming community. First, they can open up their tools for anyone to use, regardless of certifications. Second, they can open up the developer support forums, and encourage the community to post on other sites like StackOverflow. It would be amazing to see manufacturers create a process that allows the community to submit feature proposals, similar to Python’s PEP system. Creating an open atmosphere for developers to work in will inspire a great deal of innovation within the community.
Manufacturers don’t just have to stop with their tools and resources; they can open up their hardware as well. Manufacturers should open up the APIs on their hardware products such as matrix switchers and DSPs. If manufacturers really want to enable the community to innovate, they would open up the operating systems for their control systems, allowing people to run whatever software they want on them, i.e. more programming languages such as JavaScript, Python, Scala or Go.
If the AV industry wants to attract new high quality talent, it needs to treat programmers with respect, not neglect. Programmers want and need better tools. Better tools will attract better developers, which in turn will spark greater levels of innovation in this industry. With better tools and more innovation everyone wins, the customers, the manufacturers and the developers.
Alan Vezina is a co-founder and CTO of Jydo, a browser-based audiovisual control company. Reach him on Twitter @fancysandwiches. Leave a Comment
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Submissions are Available for NSCA’s 2016 Excellence in Business AwardsSystems integrators are encouraged to apply for NSCA’s 2016 Excellence in Business Awards. Submissions will be accepted through Jan. 15, 2016. Winners will receive one free admission to NSCA’s 18th annual Business & Leadership Conference (a $1,499 value), as well as recognition throughout the year in various NSCA and industry publications.
Companies with solid business sense and creative tactics continually beat their competitors to the finish line – whether it’s through successful strategies in fiscal responsibility, marketing, training, or strategic advancement. NSCA’s Excellence in Business Awards recognize integrators that address challenges head-on by implementing tactics and strategies to improve business performance.
Integrators can apply in one of six categories:
- Business Performance (establishing methods for accurate job costing, new ways to trim operating expenses, etc.)
- Employee Engagement (corporate culture exercises, increasing job satisfaction, etc.)
- Differentiating Strategies (implementing new sales strategies, growth strategies, etc.)
- Strategic Transformation (entering new markets, increasing RMR, etc.)
- Customer Experience (increasing customer satisfaction scores or repeat business, etc.)
- Talent Development (cross-training, onboarding, recruiting, career development, etc.)
Download a free application here. Winners will be announced on Feb. 2, 2016.
The Excellence in Business Awards will be presented at NSCA’s Business & Leadership Conference, Feb. 25-27, 2016, in Dallas, Tex. Winners will be honored during the Welcome Reception, where they will discuss their winning strategies and techniques. To register, go here or call 800.446.6722. Leave a Comment
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Almo Pro A/V to Offer Internet TV and Voice Services NationwideAlmo Professional A/V today announced it is the first AV distributor to offer internet, TV and voice services through carriers nationwide. With the new Almo CONNECT platform, partners now have the ability to incorporate reliable, scalable bandwidth for internet, live TV and advanced voice as part of an overall AV installation, and then receive an ongoing commission for these services.
Almo is the only AV distributor to create a path for resellers to expand their reach through managed services. Almo CONNECT is the newest addition to the distributor’s service model, which also includes Content Creation Services and Installation Services.
“As more AV hardware is being put on the network, there becomes a need for increased bandwidth services for installations like HD video teleconferencing and digital signage,” explained Sam Taylor, executive vice president and COO for Almo Professional A/V. “Almo CONNECT provides a pathway to sell these services nationwide. Integrators are in an ideal position to simply refer their customers and, in turn, make a monthly commission on the services sold.”
According to Eric Olson, business development manager for Almo Professional A/V, the primary offering through Almo CONNECT is the “referral” model in which the reseller refers their customers to Almo to assist with identifying service requirements, connect the customer with a carrier such as Comcast — depending on the project region and services they require – and secure the opportunity. From there, Almo and the telecom partner complete the process. The service becomes part of the project and the reseller immediately begins earning a monthly commission.
For more information about the Almo CONNECT Services, it’s here. Leave a Comment
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ISE 2016 to Feature InfoComm MasterClass Program From business topics to technical topics to end-user topics — all taught by some of the industry’s leading experts — experienced AV professionals will not want to miss our MasterClass program. See below for example instructor lineup and topics:
InfoComm MasterClass: Projection Optimisation
Instructor: Greg Jeffreys, CEO, Paradigm Audiovisual Ltd
Greg Jeffreys is founder and CEO of Paradigm AV Ltd, Bedford, U.K., a specialist projection company in the EU, manufacturing and distributing projection and flat panel display solutions and products. Jeffreys also acts as specialist consultant, often advising on, and assessing, projected image quality.
In 2002, appointed as a visiting lecturer, he wrote a module on projected displays for Manchester’s UMIST University post-graduate MSc on Sustainable Electrical Building Design. Arising from this he was a founder of a quality standard committee for the specification and assessment of projected images. He is author of the associated best practice paper. In 2013 Jeffreys completed six years on the board of InfoComm International, serving as President in 2012 and as Chair of the Leadership Search Committee in 2013.
He is active in the standards movement. InfoComm is an ANSI/ISO registered standards development organisation. He served a full three-year term on the Systems Performance Standards Committee from inception and played a leading role in the new ANSI Standard on Projected Image System Contrast Ratio (PISCR).
InfoComm MasterClass: The Product is Dead, Long Live the Platform
Instructor: Julian Phillips, Executive Vice President, Whitlock
Phillips joined the Whitlock executive team in 2010 and drives innovation, strategic marketing and relationship management on a global level for the company. He brings 30 years of leadership experience from the European and U.S. technology markets. A British national, he was previously the Managing Director of Impact in the U.K. He is a founder of the Global Presence Alliance, the leading international consortium of AV and collaboration solution providers, and continues to serve on its board. Previously, Phillips held senior management positions with Trinity Mirror, Orange and Dell. He is a board member of InfoComm International and is an InfoComm University Adjunct Faculty member.
InfoComm MasterClass: Networked AV
Instructor: Maxwell Kopsho, CTS-I/D, CCNA, PMP, CQT, Thorburn Associates Inc
Kopsho has 28 years of in-depth experience with AV systems, computers, computer networks, network security, telecom, videoconferencing and collaborative systems. He holds advanced certifications in project management, networking, network security, operational excellence, QA/QC and audiovisual design and installation. Kopsho has achieved a great deal of success in technology and training consulting, network security, technology channel sales and channel/market development. He has been a Senior Faculty member for InfoComm University™ for more than a decade and was awarded the 2010 Educator of the Year. Kopsho has developed and executed comprehensive global training programs for industry associations, channel partners and technology manufacturers. His experience in unified communications includes videoconference and collaborative environment design for global enterprises, development, training and implementation. He served in the U.S. Army for 10 years where he gained his initial experience in computer/electronics technology and worked with complex computer networks, advanced radar systems and specialized electronics and thermal and night vision imaging devices. Kopsho is also the author of the book The Art and Science of Da Vinci Sales — The Seven Keys to Selling Like Leonardo. This book outlines the keys to selling technology in today’s challenging marketplace.
Here’s how to register for it. Leave a Comment
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Christie Adds Boxer 30The Christie Boxer is now available in 2K. The new projector is built for rental staging applications including concerts, amusement parks, projection mapping, live theater and conventions, as well as permanent installations including museums, planetariums, higher education and houses of worship. Omni-directional with integrated Near Field Communication (NFC), a preview screen and 1,500-hour lamp-life to 70 percent brightness, the 30,000 lumen Boxer weighs 160 pounds and features 2K imaging with optional upgrade licenses to 4K DLP. Utilizing the same rigging frame, lenses, lamp modules and projector controls as the Boxer 4K30, the Boxer 30 expands the Boxer family and introduces a resolution upgrade path.
Christie Boxer 30 has six mercury lamps housed in two three-lamp cartridges, Christie TruLife electronics and built-in Christie Twist so without using external solutions, images can be blended and warped from multiple projectors on both curved and irregular surfaces.
Users can monitor the lamp hours and serial numbers through Near Field Communication (NFC) with each lamp – simplifying the effort required to track lamp-life as well as the ability to make fast changeovers so the show goes on without interruption. The Boxer 30 and the entire Boxer family deliver omni-directional orientation capability for greater installation and placement flexibility.
Other Christie Boxer 30 features include:
- 3GSDI, DisplayPort, HDBaseT, optional DVI, optional HDMI, Optional DisplayPort 1.2 connectivity
- 120Hz upgrade available
- Color LCD preview panel
- Lamp life of 1,500 hours to 70 percent initial brightness
- 3DLP image quality combined with Christie TruLife image processing
The Christie Boxer 30 is here.
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Genelec Debuts 1236 Smart Active Monitoring Main Monitor SystemGenelec recently debuted the new 1236 Smart Active Monitoring (SAM) Main Monitor System and its individually calibrated 3U-high Remote Amplifier Module (RAM-XL) in a large format, flush-mounted main monitoring system. The new design is based on the high-efficiency proprietary double-18-inch bass driver design of Genelec’s 1036.
The 1236’s frequency response extends from 17 Hz to 26 kHz, and it is capable of delivering 130 dB SPL at 1 meter through a combination of modern digital signal processing and efficient Class D amplifiers, providing two channels of 1000 watts, 800 watts and 400 watts of short-term power into woofers, midrange and tweeter channels, respectively. The 37.75″ H x 46.5″ W x 25.625″ D enclosure features two 18-inch high-linearity woofers, with two Genelec proprietary high-efficiency five-inch midrange drivers, as well as a two-inch high compression tweeter, mounted in a very large Directivity Control Waveguide (DCW) enclosure.
SAM technology is a vital part of the RAM-XL design. All crossovers, protection circuitry, and driver calibrations are implemented in the digital domain with the highest precision. In addition, the latest version (V2) of Genelec Loudspeaker Manager (GLM) and AutoCal couples with the 1236 to ensure that the speaker-to-room interface remains as near to perfect as possible from the moment the sound leaves the cabinet until it reaches the user’s ears.
Here are the specs. Leave a Comment
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Bose Professional Updates Panaray 802 and 402 Loudspeakers as Series IV Bose Professional announced updates to its Panaray 802 and Panaray 402 sound-reinforcement loudspeakers, as well as a name change to the Panaray “Series IV” models.
Introduced originally 25 years ago, the Panaray 802 and 402 loudspeakers achieved what Bose calls “an iconic status among A/V system integrators, design consultants and installers.” The Series IV models have been updated with new installation options that better suit indoor and outdoor installed applications.
All Bose Professional Panaray installed sound-reinforcement loudspeakers feature full-range driver arrays, eliminating the need for tweeters and crossovers, to provide unsurpassed reliability and natural vocal clarity. Additionally, a Bose Articulated Array design — where drivers are set at precise angles to provide wide, even coverage — is claimed to reduce the number of loudspeakers required for many installations.
The Panaray 802 Series IV loudspeaker features a 120°V x 100°H Articulated Array design, while the 52 Hz low-frequency response can eliminate the need for subwoofers, providing a cost-effective solution for many indoor and outdoor installed sound-reinforcement applications. The new Series IV model adds new side threaded inserts and optional accessory U-Bracket to make installations simple, fast, and cost effective. The Panaray 802 Series IV comes in a black finish, weighs 30 pounds (13.6 kilograms) and measures 13.3″ x 20.5″ x 13.2″ (338 x 520 x 335 mm).
The smaller Panaray 402 Series IV indoor/outdoor installed sound-reinforcement loudspeaker features a 120°V x 60°H Bose Articulated Array design, while the 73 Hz low- frequency response covers the entire vocal range to provide an even further cost-effective installed sound-reinforcement solution. The new Series IV model adds new rear threaded inserts with industry-standard mounting to accommodate optional pan-and-tilt brackets to enhance installation flexibility. The Panaray 402 Series IV comes in black and white finishes, weighs 16 pounds (7.3 kilograms) and measures 23.3″ x 8.1″ x 8.0″ (592 x 206 x 202 mm) and weighs 16 lbs.
The Panaray 502A, Panaray MA12 and Panaray MA12EX, remain unchanged.
The Panaray 802 Series IV loudspeaker is available now, while the Panaray 402 Series IV is scheduled to be available in early 2016. More information is here. Leave a Comment
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Datapath Adds Pair of Capture Cards to VisionSC LineDatapath Ltd has introduced its latest professional AV capture cards: the VisionSC-HD4+ four channel HDMI capture card and the VisionSC-SDI4, a four-channel 3G-SDI capture card.
The VisionSC-HD4+can be used to meet a wide range of applications that demand multiple channels of video capture from a single card. It has been developed to suit markets from advanced medical and machine vision capture, military applications and security/surveillance systems, through live events broadcasting and lecture capture, to retail display.
Available with either HDMI or DVI adapters, the VisionSC-HD4+ has four on-board HDMI1.4 capture inputs allowing for two channels of 4096x2160p @ 30fps and two channels providing 1920x1080p @ 60fps. All inputs operate independently of each other to enable four separate video sources (including HDCP protected sources) to be captured and controlled simultaneously. The card also features embedded audio support across all four channels.
Developed as a half-length card (110×177-millimeter including heatsink), the VisionSC-HD4+ will fit almost any systems.
The second new Datapath capture card, the VisionSC-SDI4, has been developed to capture multiple high definition SDI video signals, making it the ideal solution for AV professionals working in the broadcast, live event or surgical markets, or for any SDI capable applications. It provides four 3G-SDI inputs, each one capable of capturing 1920x1080p @ 60fps. All of the capture channels are hardware time-stamped, allowing for larger surfaces to be captured and stitched together seamlessly according to requirements.
The VisionSC-SDI4 includes an eight lane PCIe Gen.3 interface, 768 MB frame buffer memory, Datapath unified Windows and Linux driver support, and full support of the Vision Feature set.
For streaming applications, the VisionSC-SDI4 can be used with Windows Media Encoder to compress and stream captured video. The RGBEasy SDK from Datapath is also available for customers wanting to integrate Datapath cards into their own software environments.
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KanexPro Launches 4×4 and 8×8 Matrix SwitchersKanexPro has two new matrix switchers in the HDMX44-4K and HDMX88-4K, both spec’d to handle switching of 4K/60Hz with HDCP 2.2 — but, buyer beware as they are NOT specifying color bit depth on their spec sheets.
These matrix switchers are available in combinations of 4×4 and 8×8. The 4×4 HDMI matrix switcher includes four inputs and four outputs with audio de-embedding and HDCP 2.2 specs and supported video resolutions up to 4096×2160 at 60Hz. The 8×8 version consists of eight inputs and eight outputs with the same specs above (time between switching of less than 0.2 seconds). Control is via RS232, IR and web based GUI using Ethernet allowing integrators to switch, control and matrix directly from a touch panel or computer.
Both HD switchers provide four or eight additional audio ports via S/PDIF connectors to supports de-embedding from HDMI and expedient firmware upgrade through micro USB ports. The switchers transmit 4K x 2K at 60Hz signal up to 15 meters and they are housed in a rack-mountable enclosure.
Here are the detailed specs. Leave a Comment
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Nureva Announces Two New Versions of Span Classroom Collaboration SystemNureva just announced two models of the Span classroom collaboration system, the WM210e and the WM220e. Aimed at classrooms, media centers and innovation labs, the Span classroom collaboration system draws upon familiar, simple and flexible tools already widely used in paper-based creative processes in the classroom including sticky notes, sketches, images and flip charts. The system uses a software-as-a-service (SaaS) model to enable collaboration on an expansive 40′ (12.2 m) digital canvas. Students create their input on their personal devices, either a computer or a tablet, and share it on the digital canvas in the cloud. The single-projector WM210e model or dual-projector WM220e model transforms classroom walls into a 10′ or 20′ (3.1 m or 6.1 m) interactive panoramic workspace for small-group or whole-class collaboration on the digital canvas.
The Span system is ideal for developing 21st-century skills including creativity, critical thinking, collaboration and communication. Students use their personal devices to capture their thoughts and when ready, they add these ideas to the shared virtual canvas that is accessed online and projected in panoramic view on a wall. A group or an entire class can then work together to classify, discuss, debate and refine ideas. Everyone’s contributions are visible, enabling all students to actively participate in discussions and learning. Best of all, collaboration doesn’t end when class does. One session can easily lead to further exploration, and students can continue to work on the canvases in real time from other computers, tablets or large-format interactive displays anywhere.
The canvas offers 40′ (12.2 m) of digital space (10′ [3.1 m] visible on the WM210e model and 20′ [6.1 m] visible on the WM220e model) that can be panned horizontally. Students and teachers contribute content in the form of notes, sketches, flip charts and images, and organize content by moving and grouping.
A variety of apps are available for students and teachers to access the service using Span hardware as well as tablets (iOS 8.1+, Android 4.4+), laptops, Chromebooks and a variety of large-format displays, such as interactive whiteboards, interactive projectors and interactive flat-panel displays connected to computers (Chrome v.44+ and Windows 8.1+).
Multiple types of digital artifacts can be created on a personal device or at the canvas, such as:
- Note – A digital 5″ x 3″ (12.7 x 7.6 cm) note allows students to enter up to four lines of text
- Sketch – A digital 12″ x 9″ (30.5 x 22.9 cm) page for sketching comes with three different ink colors and an eraser
- Flip chart – A large digital 30″ x 42″ (76.2 x 106.7 cm) flip chart for capturing notes and questions comes with three different ink colors, a highlighter and an eraser. One flip chart can contain multiple pages.
- Image – Any screen capture, photo or stored image can be contributed to the canvas
The HD panoramic projector creates an ultra-wide display in a 16:6 aspect ratio at 3000 lumens. A contrast ratio of 1800:1 (native)/10,000:1 (APM) provides consistent, high-performance color and a rich viewing experience. Solid-state illumination (SSI) means instant-on/off and no costly bulbs to replace, delivering the same 25,000 hours of useful life as most flat-panel displays. Touch and pen interactivity are provided by a touch module at each projector, supporting simultaneous multiuser and multitouch activities.
The image-alignment module joins the two images of the two-projector WM220e model together through an on-screen alignment process performed at the time of installation to create one seamless 20′-wide (6.1 m) image.
Both the WM210e and the WM220e are already shipping. Here are the detailed specs. Leave a Comment
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Pexip Intros New Fusion Technology for Microsoft Skype for Business and Lync with Infinity 11Pexip today announced that the next version of its Infinity platform will include new Pexip Fusion technology. Pexip Fusion claims to simplify the user experience for Microsoft Skype for Business or Lync users when they join meetings that include standards-based SIP or H.323 videoconferencing users, providing unmatched and fully native user experiences for meetings that span traditional technology silos.
Pexip Fusion is activated automatically in video-based meetings with participants using a mix of Skype for Business and legacy videoconferencing. Specifically, Skype for Business users will find familiar layouts, participant listings, and meeting controls. They can, for instance, drag and drop standards-based videoconferencing users into meetings as they would with other Skype users. While in a Skype meeting, participants can also drag and drop Pexip Virtual Meeting Room (VMR) contacts into the meeting to merge complete meetings seamlessly based on different technologies. Likewise, videoconferencing users will benefit from their familiar layouts and environments. Skype users then appear as if they were standard videoconferencing participants. During any meeting, Pexip’s unique content sharing capabilities enable anyone to share presentations, documents and other content with meeting participants.
Pexip says Fusion goes beyond encompassing legacy videoconferencing and Skype for Business and Lync technologies. It also provides participants using mobile devices or Web-browser-based video with the same experience. When using Pexip Infinity as a gateway or as the primary meeting platform, Fusion applies technology elements that define and control how standards-based videoconferencing and other video-enabled clients — such as WebRTC or Pexip’s own Infinity Connect clients — work when they connect with Skype meetings.
Pexip Fusion is part of the company’s new HyperNative experience concept, which claims extensive native experiences across any platform or technology, with native apps, clients and experiences for each. Their goal is to simplify users’ participation in virtual collaborative meetings and conferences.
All the details are here. Leave a Comment
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Polycom Ships RealPresence Trio Aimed at HuddleRoomsThe Polycom RealPresence Trio 8800 is billed as a smart-hub for group collaboration — it looks like a three-point conference phone but adds voice to it for small spaces. Polycom says the RealPresence Trio is aimed at group collaboration as you can share voice (it’s a conference phone) HD content sharing (as you can use it like an iPhone and share apps and documents) and live video (as it has videoconferencing integrated into it’s 5” screen).
RealPresence Trio has a 20-foot pickup range and audio technology such as enhanced Polycom HD Voice and their patented Polycom NoiseBlock. And, you can connect a USB camera to it to make it capable of instant IP-based videoconferencing. With Power-over-Ethernet (PoE), it connects as easily as a phone and integrates directly with your call control platform. Native integration with Microsoft Lync 2013, Skype for Business client and support for all major SIP platforms.
Specs include:
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Auralex Ships SonoLite Kits Auralex Acoustics has started shipping the SonoLite product range. Modeled after the company’s Studiofoam Roominator Kits, SonoLite SonoKits are modular configurations of Auralex’s SonoLite Panels and SonoLite Bass Traps. They offer the same performance as the Studiofoam, with a velour fabric covering. SonoLite SonoKits are marketed as a cost-effective, acoustical kit for home theaters and corporate production studios.
The SonoLite SonoKit-1, suggested for rooms 228 square feet and smaller, includes:
- Eight SonoLite Panels
- Two SonoLite Bass Traps
- 40 EZ-Stick Pro tabs
The SonoLite SonoKit-2, suggest for rooms 228 square feet and larger, includes:
- 12 SonoLite Panels
- Four SonoLite Bass Traps
- 64 EZ-Stick Pro tabs
SonoLite Cloud Panels are configurations of 2′ x 4′ panels that can be flown individually or arrayed to form a 6′ x 4′ cloud. Assembly hardware with fly points included.
Auralex’s SonoLite panels are fabric-wrapped Studiofoam Pro acoustical absorption panels that provide broad-band frequency control. SonoLite panels are available in packages of two and are a great way to add additional absorption to the SonoKits. SonoLite panels can be used for wall or ceiling applications, and SonoLite Bass Trap panels, sold individually, can be installed in either vertical or horizontal orientations where walls and ceilings meet. Auralex’s proprietary Studiofoam Pro is used in the SonoLite panel to maximize absorption performance in its one-inch thickness. Studiofoam is also used in the three-inch-thick Bass Trap panel to optimize low frequency performance, resulting in highly effective control preventing bass build-up and cancellation that would mask your room’s true low-frequency character.
SonoLite Panels features include:
- Wall mounted acoustical absorption panels
- Reduce unwanted acoustical reflections
- Tame chaotic reverberation
- Affordable absorption solution for professional and residential settings
- EZ-Stick Pro mounting tabs included
SonoLite panels specs include:
- SonoLite Dimensions: 1″ thick x 2′ wide x 2′ tall
- SonoLite Bass Traps Dimensions: 3″ thick x 2′ wide x 2′ tall
All SonoLite products are available in tan or black and specific specs are here. Leave a Comment
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Dukane Enters Huddle/Collaboration Furniture MarketKnown primarily for its educational product line, Dukane is staking a claim in the meeting room market with an integrated collaboration table dubbed the DCT6. The Dukane Collaboration Table (hence, DCT) is billed as an affordably-priced model with adjustable height legs. Dukane is not only aiming it at schools, but as a huddle space piece. Built-in electric allows for power and charging (included) and an integrated flat panel mount accommodates up to a 55″ display. It’s all on casters so it can be wheeled and set-up anywhere.
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For all you REGULAR readers of rAVe ProAV Edition out there, hopefully you enjoyed another opinion-packed issue!
For those of you NEW to rAVe, you just read how we are — we are 100 percent opinionated. We not only report the news and new product stories of the ProAV industry, but we stuff the articles full of our opinions. That may include (but is not limited to) whether or not the product is even worth looking at, challenging the manufacturers on their specifications, calling a marketing-spec bluff and suggesting ways integrators market their products better. But, one thing is for sure, we are NOT a trade publication that gets paid for running editorial or product stories. Traditional trade publications get paid to run product stories — that’s why you see what you see in most of the pubs out there. We are different: We run what we want to run and NO ONE is going to pay us to write anything good (or bad).
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To send us feedback, don’t reply to this newsletter. Instead, write directly to founder Gary at gary@ravepubs.com or Editor-in-Chief Sara Abrons at sara@ravepubs.com
Everything we publish is opt-in — we spam NO ONE! rAVe ProAV Edition is our flagship publication with what we believe is a reach of virtually everyone in the ProAV market. rAVe HomeAV Edition is co-published with CEDIA, covering the HomeAV market. We added rAVe Rental [and Staging] in November 2007, rAVe ED [Education] in May 2008 and then rAVe DS [Digital Signage] in January 2009. We added rAVe GHGav [Green, Healthcare & Government AV] in August 2010 and rAVe HOW [House of Worship] in July 2012. You can subscribe to any of those publication or see ALL our archives by going to: https://www.ravepubs.com
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