Volume 19, Issue 43 — November 17, 2021

rAVe ProAV Edition — Volume 19, Issue 43

November 17, 2021 | Volume: 19 | Issue: 43

As much time as I spend reading and writing about LED technology and the like, I have never spent any time thinking about where LEDs came from. That’s why I’m extra grateful for writers like Sara Abrons who answer questions I didn’t know I had. In this blog from the one and only, she not only writes about when/where/how LEDs were discovered, but why red and green were so much easier to figure out than blue ones were. What was so difficult about this particular compound? Read to find out!

We also have a guest article this week from Bryce Dunn at Audinate. Bryce writes about the supply chain, the problems it’s caused and how Audinate is working to handle it. I personally appreciate all the companies that have been straightforward about how they have been affected by the shortages, and I know you all will appreciate it too.

Finally, our pals over at Almo wrote about digital signage service systems and how hands-on trainings have gained popularity. Why is this? Possibly because of the transition to the hybrid workspace. Read more here.

Enjoy the rest of this newsletter, #AVtweeps!

— Steph Beckett

COLUMNS

+ The Blue LED Problem: How a Difficult Solid State Physics Obstacle Delayed LED Technology by Decades [Sara Abrons]

From early on, scientists were excited about the possibility of LEDs. They are much more energy-efficient and long-lasting and emit significantly less heat than previous lighting technology. Twenty to thirty percent of all electrical energy consumed is used for lighting, so efficiency improvements are significant, both economically and environmentally. Since the blue LED problem was solved, the quality, brightness, efficiency of LEDs have increased dramatically, while the size of the chips and production costs have fallen.

+ Protecting the Supply Chain to Serve Integrators and End Users [Bryce Dunn]

Supply chains — once solely the domain of product managers and procurement specialists — are now being discussed in the evening news as disruptions impact the availability of a wide range of consumer and commercial goods. Semiconductors, in particular, have been affected by a significant uptick in demand that has not yet been met by a corresponding increase in supply.

+ Valuable Updates to Digital Signage Service Systems and the Popularity of Hands-On Trainings [Sophie Gustafson]

In the age of the growing hybrid workspace, the ProAV industry is responsible for more than just product fulfillment. Digital content services, specifically for media player technology, have become increasingly popular and necessary for user success, facilitated by company-offered installations and trainings.