In all the classrooms at the University of North Carolina, we integrated the ShareLink — nearly every professor connects to the Epson projectors in the room using it — less than 10 percent connect to the systems using HDMI. Now, Extron’s launched a new 4K version called the ShareLink Pro 1000. This is perfect timing as we’re about to upgrade everything to 4K (3840 x 2160) laser-based projectors.
How far away are from truly being wireless? Well, certainly, a lot of people walking into classrooms aren’t used to wireless projection and still carry a USB-C “dongle” around with their MacBooks or feel more comfortable projecting using the HDMI output of their Lenovo laptops. But, with the adoption of AV-over-IP systems projected to be huge in 2019, how far away can we be? I mean, with AV-over-IP, you don’t even need your source device (e.g., laptop or tablet) with you any longer — you can just project all the content over the network (and this is how IT departments will soon be configuring AV in rooms). But, that’s not even the game-changing application of AV-over-IP. The real gift we’re about to be given with AV-over-IP is the ability to treat every display like a “digital canvas.” In an AV-over-IP world, since all content is in the network, we can literally display anything anywhere — and lots of anythings everywhere. So, every display becomes a video wall of sorts. No processor required. You can make your PowerPoint full-screen, share the screen with slides and a browser or fill the screen with both and a Zoom conference with a guest lecturer, all simultaneously. And, all in 4K resolution!
AV-over-IP is a true game changer. Are you ready? Have you been reading about it, yet? Extron has the NAV Series, Crestron has the NVX, AMX has their SVSi product line and there’s even a 10G standard for sending AV-over-IP called SDVoE. All of those links are FLLED with education where you can learn about what’s available and what’s coming. So, take this time — during the calm-before-the-storm that is AV-over-IP and learn. Learn why there isn’t one standard — and what each bandwidth offers (e.g., 1 Gig, 10 Gig and everything inbetween). There are tradeoffs and even some opportunities to send video and audio via a normal network, too (H.264, for example).
In the meantime, check out all the new laser-based projectors launched this week and the plethora of classroom accessories highlighted in this issue of rAVe ED — and thanks, again, for being a loyal reader!