Volume 19, Issue 6 — February 10, 2021

rAVe ProAV Edition — Volume 19, Issue 6
Latest headlines: Mark Coxon on the hybrid workplace, Michael Katz on hosting 32 virtual sessions, plus news from Sony, Extron and more

February 10, 2021 | Volume: 19 | Issue: 6

 

In reading Daniel Shatzkes’ recent column about in-person vs. virtual events, it reminded me that it was about a year ago that I last was on a plane — to go to/come back from Amsterdam, for ISE, no less. Our industry was talking (actually, squabbling) about COVID-19 before most people in the U.S. even knew what it was, mainly because of ISE and everyone having an opinion on whether it should be held and if it was, who should be allowed to go. At ISE, which saw a drastic reduction in attendance, we fretted about cleaning off surfaces and washing our hands; we touched elbows, rather than shook hands, if we touched at all. But very few people wore masks. I don’t think a single case of COVID was transmitted at the show, though it’s hard to know for sure. What a difference a year makes.

This might be a controversial opinion, but: I have not missed trade shows. Or work travel. I have definitely missed seeing (and drinking with) my industry friends. Relationships like that are hard to build virtually. My sense of humor is best enjoyed in person. I think the closest friends I have in the industry I actually made at smaller conferences, like AVEC, or the NSCA BLC, or Almo’s E4 in-person events. I’m also sad that I have lost most of my statuses on the various airlines (I think. I haven’t actually bothered to check.) But after 17 years of attending InfoComm, and CEDIA, and nearly as many DSEs and ISEs, which I know is basically half as long most of you have been going, not to mention press events, training and client visits, it should have come as less of a surprise to me that staying home for a full 12 months would actually be an unexpected upside of COVID. I’ll admit that I don’t have kids at home to get through virtual school, and 12 months later, I still like my roommates. One of them is even now my fiancé! I figure if you live with someone for a year, and literally don’t see any other humans, and still like them, then you may as well get married. The other roommates are pets. I have one fewer than I did a year ago, but the others are OK, aside from the ongoing interruptions because of barking at mail/UPS/FedEx/Amazon delivery people (and there are MANY delivery persons these days, since online shopping is one form of COVID stress relief, at least, apparently, for my cul-de-sac).

Anyway, it’s for that reason that I hope the lessons we’ve learned during COVID about work, remote and in-person, as well as work events, last beyond the pandemic. I’ve learned that working from home can be more efficient from a deep work point of view. Before, however, I thought the open work environment I worked in, in which employees could talk freely and ask questions of me was fun, but also inefficient and detrimental to everyone’s total productivity — although I still think it’s inefficient, I realize that I drastically undervalued serendipitous interactions with colleagues, and how many ideas came out of it, and how much easier it made pivoting on collaborative projects. I hope virtual events are here to stay (not just selfishly) and that they continue to improve. Virtual events should remain a staple, even after we can travel freely again, because they are more efficient for a lot of things, better for families and better for the planet. I honestly think now that we should all aspire to travel less for work. I do of course hope in-person events return, but that they are ultimately more thoughtful about the experience, with less waste, and a critical focus on human connection and relationship building. I guess I just hope that we are more thoughtful about how and when we do work, making choices about what’s best for our people, and not just our company’s bottom lines.

— Sara Abrons

COLUMNS

 

+ Hybrid Is Tough [Mark Coxon]

If you’ve been paying any attention to the conversations in professional AV right now, you’ve undoubtedly heard the word hybrid over and over again. There are countless products, articles and strategies for deploying technology that bridges our physical spaces to our virtual ones in ways that try to level the playing field and create equity in the experience for all attendees.

+ What I Learned By Hosting 32 Sessions With Different Topics and Speakers During the Pandemic [Michael Katz]

I had 12 years of experience with videoconferencing, and had already set up my “global command center” (see attached photo) in my home office with dedicated FIOS 75/75 megabit-per-second bandwidth, along with my own Pexip VMR license and a global contact list. So, I thought a good use of time would be to set up weekly 30-minute VMR sessions. The purpose is to provide my contacts with valuable information including the logistics of working from home.

 

+ Science of the Lam(p)s [Tony Sprando]

When most people contact Audio Visual for noise control and noise solutions, they often don’t realize what’s truly contributing to the volume of the sound. When you’re in your home trying to get work done ,and you can hear the birds clattering outside, or someone listening to music in the next room, the noises meld together. Clients often think that their walls are too thin. Though this may be true, what is actually bringing that noise to your attention is the other contributing quieter noises which in tandem compose that loud hum drumming in your ear.

PRODUCT NEWS

 

+ Sony Adds New 100-Inch, 32-Inch Displays for Business [Gary Kayye]

+ Pronology Updates StreamFile Core Cross-Platform Software Application [Steph Beckett]

+ LG Business Solutions Debuts 25 New Preconfigured dvLED Display Models [Gary Kayye]

+ ATEN Technology Releases New 3-Port USB-C KVMP Switch [Steph Beckett]

+ Extron Intros Two New USB-3.2-Compatible Switchers [Steph Beckett]

+ Zoom Creates Virtual Concierge Service Using Zoom Kiosk Mode, Adds Touchless iOS Control of Rooms [Gary Kayye]

+ Black Box Intros New Temperature-Screening Kiosk [Gary Kayye]

+ Digital Projection Intros M-Vision 23000 Projector [Steph Beckett]

+ Watch This! SDS Helps Create Social-Distancing Visual Queues [Gary Kayye]

+ Extron Just Upped the Ante in AV-over-IP [Gary Kayye]

 

+ Fortissimo Capital Fund Acquires Major Interest in Kramer Electronics [Gary Kayye]

+ Datapath Launches New AV-over-IP Solution — Aligo [Steph Beckett]

+ Extron Intros New 4K@60 HDMI Additions to DTP Line [Steph Beckett]

+ Digital Projection Expands Range of Single-Chip Projectors [Gary Kayye]

+ Extron Intros New IP Link Pro Expansion Interfaces [Gary Kayye]

+ Nureva Releases Developer Toolkit for Secure Access to Cloud-Based APIs [Steph Beckett]

+ Brompton Technology Announces Tessera V3.1 Software [Steph Beckett]

+ Optoma Expands Range of DuraCore Laser ProScene Projectors [Steph Beckett]

+ Savant Enters Zoom Room Market — in the Home [Gary Kayye]

+ Martin Audio Now Shipping New Cardioid Subwoofers [Steph Beckett]

 

INDUSTRY NEWS

 

+ Shure’s Motion for Preliminary Injunction Against ClearOne Appears To Be Stopped [Gary Kayye]

+ LG Business Solutions Appoints David Bacher Head of Marketing for Digital Signage [Gary Kayye]

PARTNER POSTS

 

+ SDVoE Highlights: SDVoE Alliance Now Accepting Applications for Developer Certification Program [Steph Beckett]

+ Sony’s Th!nk AV Is What a Successful Virtual Panel Series Looks Like [Leah McCann]

LinkedInTwitterFacebookInstagramYouTubeWebsite
 

/ https://www.rAVePubs.com /

 

© 2021 — rAVe [PUBS] – All Rights Reserved.

 

For reprint policies, contact rAVe [PUBS] at steph@rAVePubs.com.

 

Interested in advertising? Contact kirsten@rAVePubs.com.

© THE rAVe Agency 2021 1011 S. Hamilton Rd Suite 300 Chapel Hill NC 27516
Manage your email preferences.