Volume 12, Issue 8 — April 26, 2021

rAVe UCC — Volume 12, Issue 8

April 26, 2021 | Volume: 12 | Issue: 8

We are not short of news this week, #AVtweeps. There is a global chip shortage that, according to Gary Kayye, will affect you soon if it hasn’t affected you already. If you want to find out how best to prepare you and your companies for this, check the blog out. Gary gives some helpful advice.

The next blog is from Michael Katz, who writes about the evolution of videoconferencing (particularly through the early 2000s). We’ve come a long way from thinking telepresence systems were the most advanced we were ever going to get for UCC tech.

Also, check out the news from Nureva, MAXHUB, Audio-Technica, Pexip, Extron and more.

Bye!

— Steph Beckett

COLUMNS

+ How the Chip Shortage Could Decimate the AV, UCC and Digital Signage Markets and How You Can Avoid Its Effects [Gary Kayye]

Do not underestimate what I am about to tell you. In case you haven’t been reading the tech sections of the newspapers lately, there’s a global semiconductor shortage (branded as the “chip shortage of 2021”) and, although it hasn’t affected our market yet, it will, starting in late July.

+ The Evolution of Videoconferencing [Michael Katz]

Many years ago, I worked for a facilities-based CLEC selling POTS (plain old telephone services), DSL, T1 (1.5 Mbps), bonded T1 lines (3 Mbps), phone systems and VoIP (voice-over-IP) solutions. This experience helped me to really understand the business criticality of quality-of-service internet bandwidth and continues to help me to this day.

+ “Alexa, Clean Out My Desk” [Tony Sprando]

The statements, “Alexa schedule my meetings for next week,” or “hey Google what conference room is open?” Might sound a little outlandish, they’re actually both current technology used in the corporate world. Starting in November 2017, Amazon launched Alexa for Business, which is an Alexa platform designed for more business-type use, scheduling meetings, general questions around the office, dimming lights, etc. It’s a very unique idea that something we use in our homes could also be so useful in the office.

+ A Flexible Approach to a Hybrid Working Environment [Brian Rhatigan]

Whether you have recently attended Almo’s E4v learning experience or have been keeping up on industry topic discussions — undoubtedly conversations about what the return to the physical office will look like have been in the forefront. If you are like me, you probably feel there are more questions than answers at this point and will be paying close attention to this fluid situation.