Volume 6, Issue 2 — February 26, 2015

These devices are promising to revolutionize six distinct areas. For gaming, the most obvious one, it promises an immersive three dimensional experience that takes up the player’s entire field of view and will put them in the driver seat in a whole new way. The military applications are also pretty obvious and are already in use in many ways including remote operated vehicles and tactical battlefield assessment. This tags along to the entertainment sector in which patrons don 3D immersive wearables that put them in the best seat in the house no matter where they are in the theater. This was recently seen at the latest Sundance Film Festival where eleven films were screened using the Samsung Gear VR equipment and Samsung has already provided a sizable library available for immediate use with their product.

The bigger areas of disruption as I see it are in the education, medical, and corporate markets. Although the medical field has been using VR for some time now, the systems have been very expensive and rather clunky at best requiring massive amounts of computing power and specialized rooms and equipment. These new products will advance tele-medicine capabilities, surgical techniques, and provide opportunity to better explain diagnoses to patients in a more informative graphical manner. In the educational markets, the opportunities can be seemingly endless. Students will be able to take virtual tours of planets, inside cells, visit historical events, or even modern day event hotspots without leaving the classroom at an affordable price. Lastly is the corporate environment providing virtual collaboration opportunities in a 3D environment allowing more than just seeing your counterparts in 3D but actually sharing 3D models and giving virtual direction to the far-end.

So what does this have to do with sustainability? For one, it provides opportunity to reduce the amount of required technology within an environment or replace systems with more efficient gear that uses less power and generates less heat. It also has the potential to dramatically reduce travel even more than has been accomplished through video conferencing systems. The biggest questions in my mind are how the devices will match up to existing systems and will the devices be upgradable without having to toss the entire device. Planned obsolescence would be a major downside to this potentially revolutionary disruptive tech.

What will be most telling as to the success of the technology is if markets during their upgrade cycle will take this on and implement it or continue with a strategy of business as usual. Some of the options are being decided for them (Windows 10) while others make some financial and operational sense. The hurdle may be the pipeline and how much information will be required and will the infrastructure provide enough bandwidth to not make this seem clunky and unusable. What are your thoughts on these new devices? Do you see them as revolutionary or just a gimmick?

Raymond Kent is the Managing Principal of Sustainable Technologies Group, LLC specializing in technology systems for the performing and cultural arts, healthcare, Government, higher education, and corporate markets. He is a co-author of the STEP rating system and serves as the chair of the Technology Task Force for the STEP Foundation. Raymond received the 2012 InfoComm Sustainable Technology Award and is involved with the Center for Sustainable Practice in the Arts.

First I will tell you that to intelligently automation a building the system is working against you, because truthfully you don’t know what you don’t know and a low bid plan means that the winning contractor is typically not going to share changes that will hit their bottom line – they are going to provide exactly what is in the contract, nothing more, nothing less. The next challenge is that seamless automation is not anywhere close to main stream, and so designers are not yet experienced in how to make that happen for any size building. Finally, many equipment combinations are just not compatible (say what?), so what seems to be simple integration is often difficult if not impossible.

What is typically done today in most any standard building is:

1. HVAC is automated, but stand alone*.
2. Lighting is automated, but stand alone*.
3. Access control is automated, but stand alone*.
4. Audio Visual is automated, but stand alone*.

*By “stand alone” I mean that system is not making decisions based on information from the other systems.

I bet you may be looking at something like this wall clutter (image below) in your own building today, and wondering why all these control points could not be combined or even removed entirely? Please Read on…

This recent customer in the image above paid a lot to get high tech stuff in the building, but the problem is the trades don’t communicate and they many not have been in the building at the same time during build out. There was a lot of finger pointing with this, but the contracts were met and the customer would have to come out of pocket to bring all this together. This common scene is unfortunate, but very common today even with honest attempts at practical integration. Truth be told fully integrated intelligent automation is cutting edge and finding a design team that can do this is a challenge, and frequently lost in the value engineering phase. Fear not because you can still bring this about with a little knowledge on how the “build out system” really works, and some easy informed planning.

Hand this list over to your building design committee and you will be well ahead of the standard building today;

1. HVAC should be centrally controlled by a central Building Automation System (BAS) using BACnet the ASHRAE standard for building communications.
2. HVAC will gather occupancy status from the lighting control system via BACnet. There will not be separate occupancy sensors for both systems in the same spaces.
3. Lighting Control will communicate with the audiovisual (AV) systems in each space AV installed. The AV system should have the ability to dim lighting appropriate to presentation media needs.
4. Occupancy sensors will perform a majority of lighting control. Schedules should control common areas (e.g., main lobbies, elevator lobby, hall ways, exterior signage and architectural lighting ).
5. Beacons working with occupancy sensors will recognize user roles and offer more or less control on touch panels in AV integrated spaces. Beacons will also provide employee location and tracking.
6. Access control informs the building when known users enter and leave. The BAS will turn on and off unused spaces as users leave (overridden by occupancy sensors).

Ok so no simple list of this few items could be the perfect system, but I’m telling you that these are the items that are missed most often and if you get this entire list your building is in the 1 percentile.

The author Richard Blackwell began his automation career at sea with the U.S. Navy as a Nuclear Propulsion Plant Supervisor. Later he was awarded the first patent for videoconferencing integration of banking systems. The next stop was with the brand new Saturn Car Company where he envisioned and created GM’s first intranet web based automation. For almost two decades now he has been driving the message for the merge of all low voltage services in buildings, and intelligent integration of all building automation.

Parking Decks are likely one of the last buildings you think of when considering building automation, but they are a prime opportunity for Iintelligent use of automation for enhanced safety, energy conservation and light harvesting.

This is what you should be considering when you build your next parking deck:

1. Green – Light Harvesting
   1. Lamp Dimming
   2. Solar Tubes
2. Green/Safety – Occupancy Activated Interior Lighting.
3. Convenience – Entrance Light Level Step for easy eye transition. All lighting control is Automatic.
4. Performance – Remote Monitoring from the Cloud.
5. Access Control – with RFID access control occupants can be directed to available parking spaces.

Light Harvesting – Like any building, a parking deck can use sunlight to more efficiently illuminate the interior. Active light harvesting senses that the light level outside the building is providing sufficient lumen levels to safely reduce the interior lamp levels in affected edge space. Passive harvesting comes from the use of light collecting tubes on the top of the deck that will pass light to the covered areas that never see sunlight. Light collecting tubes have almost no cost of ownership, long life space, are easy to retrofit and direct sunlight to space that would otherwise use energy to light. See more here on the importance of natural light.

Occupancy Activated Lighting – Typical green lighting protocols require occupants to manually turn on the space lighting, but in a parking deck, security concerns override the environmental concerns. Occupancy sensors with short timeout’s shift the lighting from minimal levels to occupied levels when they see motion and then return it back to minimal levels when the area is vacant. Light harvesting logic ties into the decision process of how much to lower lamps when empty on a bright day.

Performance – An intelligent automated system is aware of it’s status and can share that information with assigned maintenance personnel. For example; By tracking energy usage of each zone in the system maintenance can be alerted when bulbs fail – indicated by reduced energy usage. Additionally Phase Loss monitoring alerts maintenance to electrical failures.

Access Control – Using access control designated users can be directed to reserved parking by lighting a path to the assigned area. With more advanced tracking available spaces can be monitored and users directed to a specific space (coming to a Parking Deck near you).

OK Conversations on intelligent parking decks may not be the most exciting topics, but who hasn’t been alone in a scary dark parking deck late at night and thought “… I wonder if they are harvesting sunlight?”

The FOX II 4K Series fiber optic extender provide signal extension for moderate distances of up to 2 km (1.25 miles) over multi-mode fiber optic cable and extreme distances up to 30 km (18.75 miles) when using single-mode cable. Both transmitters include a buffered loop‑through for a local monitor at the source. The buffered input loop‑through follows the input resolution or can be selectively downscaled, ensuring interoperability with lower resolution displays. Also, the FOX II R DP 4K provides audio de‑embedding and balanced return analog stereo audio output to support a remote audio source at the receiver. Other integrator‑friendly features include Key Minder, EDID Minder, audio embedding, audio gain and attenuation adjustment, bi-directional RS‑232 and IR control and real‑time system monitoring. Also, optional mounting kits such as the MBU 125 under‑desk mounting kit allow signal extension from a source in a lectern to a remote display or central control room. These extenders are easy to set up and commission using Extron’s PCS — Product Configuration Software.

Here are all the tech specs.

ClearOne is describing this as a cost-efficient network device used for digital signage applications where common content is repeated over multiple displays and may not need professional-level audio amplification, or third-party equipment control. Such applications include displays at airports and transportation hubs, hotels, casinos, and shopping malls.

The newest addition to the ClearOne line of professional streaming components, the economical D210 decoder, incorporates some of the same performance features as the larger VIEW Pro D110 decoder including 1080p60, H.264 high-definition HDMI video-audio, and 4:4:4 true-color output — the platinum standard for color. It is an attractive compact device that can be easily mounted behind any display.

Complementing the VIEW Pro System, VIEW Virtual Matrix Software displays a simple view of the entire networked media system on a single screen, and provides simple source and destination selection and control options in Windows, Android, and iOS for StreamNet encoders and decoders. Users have control access from any number of input devices, including wall touch-screens, desktops, laptops, and handheld devices.

With the addition of this economical decoder, ClearOne continues to be truly differentiated in the professional market by offering complete AV streaming and distribution systems that can scale to fulfill projects of any size and complexity, from light commercial to the very largest environments. ClearOne’s media streaming solutions deliver agility, flexibility, and scalability for networked media of all types.

More details on the new ClearOne VIEW Pro D210 Decoder are here.

Available in black, white, and brushed nickel, Revolabs’ tabletop Elite Wired Microphones bring sound capture to any conferencing or unified communications (UC) application. Released in omnidirectional or directional (cardioid) models, the devices follow the same form-factor and design as the Executive Elite series. As a result, participants gain exceptional sound quality that is resistant to GSM noise.

The microphones also offer an optional mounting adapter to provide lockdown capability for settings requiring fixed microphone locations and can be used in tandem with Revolabs’ entire wireless solutions portfolio. As a result, installers can easily increase the maximum number of microphones available within a single space while combining wireless flexibility with the security of the wired microphones.

More details are here.

Well, they are now shipping it. Like the others, it’s using the AWIND technology, but that’s where the similarities stop. Extron’s ShareLink 200 Wireless Collaboration Gateway supports devices include Windows and OS X computers as well as Apple and Android smartphones and tablets. ShareLink technology provides simultaneous display of presentations, images, documents, and other content from up to four different personal devices, eliminating the need to constantly change sources during a session. Content from a single device shows full screen, and content from multiple devices appears simultaneously in four windows on the display. Any user can share content and control the presentation when it is set to collaboration mode. A moderator mode ensures only approved content is displayed. Designed for professional AV applications, this wireless gateway also includes many integrator-friendly features such as an integrated wireless access point, Power over Ethernet — PoE, and antennas mounted on the front panel. The ShareLink 200 Wireless Collaboration Gateway can be used to create a stand‑alone wireless collaboration and presentation system or to add wireless presentation capabilities to a variety of wired AV system designs.

A unique feature called WebShare enables content to be sent over the network to a Web browser on each attendee’s personal device. WebShare is useful if the sight line to the display is impaired or when slides need to be saved for future reference. ShareLink technology also allows a Windows or OS X computer to communicate with multiple ShareLink 200 units on a network to send the same content to as many as four displays. This is useful for larger spaces with multiple displays or to support adjacent rooms used for overflow. For easy integration into modern digital and legacy analog systems, ShareLink 200 includes HDMI and VGA video outputs to support a wide variety of display devices and system switchers.

Here’s a good demo of how it works.

Overture eliminates the cost and burden of hardware boxes by controlling all AV devices via TCP/IP. It is “company wide,” centralized, connected to Microsoft Exchange for room booking, Microsoft Active Directory for credential management, SNMP for logging, and Building Management systems for environment control and energy savings.

Medialon says that Overture uses standard IT technologies both for hardware, allowing the use of smartphones and tablets as user interfaces, and for programming,
allowing users to set up and edit their Overture system themselves. Overture is database-driven and relies on configuration for most of its functionalities, eliminating heavy programming. User interfaces are automatically and dynamically generated from information in the database, user credentials, and room booking information.

Medialon will demo Overture at ISE in the Comm-Tec stand at ISE 2015 (#2-A42) but all the details are here.

The new features include:

• Super stability — included set screws can be used to keep the mount rigid and stable throughout the life of the installation
• Nesting spacers — can be stacked to achieve any depth and reduce waste
• Faster installation — integrated teardrop design speeds up and eases installation through use of lag screws
• Quick-store cords — magnetized ClickConnect makes it easy to store and access pull cords
• Improved cable management — redesigned end caps allow cables to be routed behind the poles
• Additional lateral shift — shifts wall plate around electrical and low voltage boxes on the wall
• Enhanced security — integrated security lever makes safeguarding displays easier
• Easy-reach handle — provides better accessibility to ClickConnect on extra large mounts
• Better packaging — when displays will be mounted at a later time, hang the new interface hardware box on mount rails without losing pieces

All the details are here.

Other features include:

• Da-Lite IDEA screen technology
  –Gain of 2.5 and a 25 degree viewing half angle
  –High performance dry erase marker surface
  –Certified by GREENGUARD Environmental Institute as a low emitting product
• Floating board design
  –Cables route behind the board instead of inside walls
  –Height-adjustable integrated side panel stores control panel, stylus (2), and markers (3)
  –Marker tray attaches anywhere along length of the board to customize for the user
• Chief PreSet installation technology
  –Wall bracket locates the entire system on the wall for fast placement without calculations
  –Preset projector arm takes the pain out of aligning the projector image
  –Chief RSM projector mount for fine-tune image alignment
  –Valance hides projector and cabling for a clean appearance

Here are all the options.

We were given this scoop while i was on a videocast with Jupiter Systems’ VP Marketing & Strategic Alliances, Brady Bruce. In addition, he told us all about the new Canvas 3.0 software suite as well as the fact that the Fusion Catalyst 4500 now supports HDCP.

All of it is in this videocast here.

The Sharp PN-H701 comes equipped with built-in upscaling capability, allowing Full HD (1080p) signals to be easily upscaled to 4K Ultra HD images. In addition, the PN-H701 features a built-in USB and internal memory media player, allowing playback of informational content without the need of a PC.

It ships later this month and all the specs are here.

Extron yesterday announced the settlement of its patent infringement lawsuit against Crestron Electronics. The lawsuit, filed in June 2014, alleged willful infringement of Extron patents related to the company’s Retractor product line. The settlement includes a cash payment to Extron, and a requirement for Crestron to withdraw its prior cable retractor models from the market and fully replace the lineup. The revised Crestron cable retractor utilizes a less precise, all-or-nothing mechanism that eliminates intermediate cable length positions between zero and full extension. In comparison, the Extron Retractor remains the AV industry’s premier cable retraction module, offering infinitely-variable cable extension from zero to full extension for a superior user experience.

“We’re pleased to bring this suit to an expedient and positive conclusion,” says Andrew Edwards, President and CEO of Extron. “Much as any market leader, Extron will vigorously protect our technologies and intellectual property against those who choose to simply copy our designs.”

Introduced in 2009, the patented Extron Retractor series of cable retraction modules, in conjunction with the company’s Cable Cubby line of cable access enclosures, is the AV industry’s leading solution for discreet, convenient access to AV, power, and data connections. The Retractor series offers the widest selection of AV and data connectivity including HDMI, DisplayPort, VGA, VGA + Audio, USB, PC audio, CAT 6 Network, and DC power. Extron Retractor modules are available in two versions: Standard, with cable extension up to three feet (90 cm); and XL, with cable extension up to five feet (152 cm). In addition, Extron offers the unique Retractor SM line of “Show Me” cable retraction modules for use with the Extron TeamWork collaboration system, with versions for HDMI, DisplayPort, Mini DisplayPort, and VGA sources. Extron Retractor modules are the most reliable and best engineered AV cable retractors on the market, allowing the cable to retract smoothly and effortlessly with a push of a button.

Extron’s retractor cables are here.
Crestron’s are here.

Forecast #1: The prevalence of SVC-based architecture

The number of VC endpoints connected to systems built on Scalable Video Coding (SVC) technology will outnumber the endpoints dedicated to classic mixing schemes (MCU) in 2015. The new architecture makes use of the extended capabilities of video codecs such as the H.264 SVC and VP8 SVC codecs, which allows video streams to be processed on the server side without re-encoding. This effectively lowers the cost of video conferencing infrastructure, cancels the limitations regarding the number of connected endpoints, and eliminates delays and visual artifacts caused by signal re-compression on MCU.

Forecast #2: All-purpose PCs will replace the video conferencing endpoints in meeting rooms

Forecast #3: A world of AV peripherals to choose from

This is a direct consequence of the previous point. Previously, cameras, microphones, speakers, etc. could be connected only using their own proprietary ports that usually were not interoperable with solutions from different vendors or even with different product series by the same manufacturer. With the introduction of PCs in the meeting rooms, we get the ability to connect anything via USB, HDMI or analog ports, and also by using wireless technologies like Bluetooth, Miracast and WiFi. There is now a huge range of plug-and-play PTZ cameras, speakerphones, content capture devices and even camera-speaker-phones (see latest Logitech announces). Moreover, those peripherals are as good as the old video conferencing hardware, in terms of content, video and audio quality.

Forecast #4: The advent of UltraHD 4K and mobile video conferencing

Those may seem like two separate subjects, but in reality, they are closely connected. The key feature of SVC architecture is the ability to deliver video streams to multipoint conference participants in both the original resolution, and in any lower resolution. This allows for the creation of a dynamic video window layout with the total resolution starting from 120p and scaling up to 3840×2160 (4K) or higher. The same conference can be accessed without the need for re-encoding from any device, and with great resilience. For now, though, this feature is available only in software VC solutions built on modern SVC architecture, which gives those solutions an advantage.

Forecast #5: New work scenarios – from planning to delivery

In 2013 and 2014 we saw how quickly video conferencing systems entered workplaces and mobile devices. The classic scenario of booking a conference room and planning the meeting with an overloaded web interface seems to be receding into the past. In the era of Skype, users demand the same comfortable interface, the ability to call to phone numbers, and to be able to use contacts list with presence statuses. In 2015, easy to use or browser-based conferencing, address books, integration with telephony, calendars and streaming platforms brought together by a comfortable user-friendly interface will become standard features for any respected video conferencing and UC vendor. Softwerization, SVC, WebRTC, support for SIP protocol, and basic UC principles will help.

Want to know more? Turnoff is here.

All of these new MediaLink Plus controllers are configured using Extron Global Configurator Plus or Global Configurator Professional software. They also integrate seamlessly with Extron’s award-winning GlobalViewer Enterprise software for complete AV resource monitoring, management, and control over a computer network.

Here are all the tech specs.

The E-Rack incorporates processing and amplification, combined with I/O and industry standard power connections.  By utilizing Lab.gruppen’s new PLM+ line of amplifiers with features such as Rational Power Management and Dante capabilities, Adamson engineers have created a rack that can be used interchangeably to power all Adamson inventory. Whether the application is big or small, the Adamson E-Rack can power it.

E-Racks are sold in 8 channel or 12 channel configurations, and can be modified to include either PLM 12K44 or PLM 20K44 amplifiers, as well as region specific power distribution units. A personal license for Adamson’s Blueprint AV software is included with each E-Rack.

The Adamson Audio Panel allows full use of the quad-redundant signal capabilities the PLM+ line of amplifiers has to offer. Both Neutrik Speakon NL8 and 19 pin Socapex output connectors are standard.

A rear-mounted gigabit Ethernet switch handles all Dante and control signal.  The switch is capable of handling up to two racks worth of dual redundant Dante signal and is pre-loaded with firmware to make this system truly plug-and-play.

The E-Rack features a welded aluminum frame designed to withstand the rigors of the road. Each wooden panel is fully removable and replaceable in the event of damage. Both doors are hinged and swing upwards to slide into a slim housing at the top of the rack. The interior steel 10U frame is rubber shock mounted to ensure the mechanical and electrical integrity of all components.

Here are the details.

The ShareLink 200 N can also enhance the presentation for audience members. WebShare technology enables content to be sent over the network to a Web browser on each attendee’s personal device. WebShare is useful if the sight line to the display is impaired or when slides need to be saved for future reference. ShareLink technology also allows a Windows or OS X computer to communicate with multiple ShareLink 200 or ShareLink 200 N units on a network to send the same content to as many as four displays. This is useful for larger spaces with multiple displays or to support adjacent rooms used for overflow. For easy integration into modern digital and legacy analog systems, ShareLink 200 N includes HDMI and VGA video outputs to support a wide variety of display devices and system switchers.

All the product details are here.

The XR18 is a remotely-controllable 18-input/12 bus portable mixer housed in a stage box form factor, and claim it’s the first of its kind designed for use with iPad and Android tablets, as well as smartphones and PC, Mac and Linux computers. XR18 is designed for both live and studio applications and includes 16 Midas-designed mic preamps, an integrated tri-mode Wifi module for wireless control — and a bidirectional USB audio/MIDI interface.

Other features include four high-end X32 stereo FX processors, with close to 50 studio-grade X32’s high-end FX “Plug Ins”; X AIR Gain Sharing technology for hands-free auto-mixing; a high-resolution 100-band Real Time Analyzer (RTA), with full bar and spectrograph views, and Ultranet connectivity for Behringer’s P-16 Personal Monitoring System.

The $699 X AIR XR18 can be found here.

The boundary microphones, which share the product name MEB (microphone electrostatic boundary), are available as in-table and on-table models. They each come in three different colors: white, black or Nextel grey, thus providing optimum integration into any meeting environment. The tablestand combinations, which have the product name MAT (microphone accessory tablestand), are available in black and Nextel grey.

The design of the Sennheiser microphones ensures that they blend excellently into any room. The MEB 114 on-table microphone has already won the iF Product Design Award. Flexibility in choosing the right microphone type is also guaranteed by optimum connectivity: the SpeechLine Wired microphones are compatible with all systems on the market. The Sennheiser microphone series therefore offers scalable solutions for every installation.

Audio specialist Sennheiser is now launching the final components of its SpeechLine Wired series: the MAT 153-S tablestand has an XLR 5 input and a programmable, two-color LED ring switch and is phantom-powered. Combined with the new MEG 14-40-L-II gooseneck microphone with a matching green light ring, Sennheiser offers a conference solution that makes installations easier than ever before. Its phantom power enables the tablestand-gooseneck combination to be connected to a microphone cable in the usual manner, thus eliminating the need for additional and costly cabling.

Regardless of the model, color or combination, all SpeechLine Wired installation microphones are available with or without a ‘mute’ switch. The switch, which is indicated by an “S” in the product name, has a two-color LED ring. When the microphone is switched on, the ring is illuminated in green. If the microphone is muted, the color automatically changes to red. This color combination is intuitively recognized by all users, thus making the microphone extremely user-friendly. On the in-table microphones, the LED ring is directly on the microphone itself. The ‘mute’ switch, which also has a light ring, is integrated into the table top.

With its range of microphones in the SpeechLine Wired series, audio specialist Sennheiser offers top-quality solutions for every installation, precisely meeting customer requirements in every case.

The SpeechLine Wired series is here.

The ControlSpace ESP-1600 extends the line of Bose fixed-I/O engineered sound processors with a new model designed for up to 16 analog inputs. The ESP-1600 features a built-in ESPLink output for sending eight digital audio channels to one or more PowerMatch amplifiers and when combined with a Dante card, the ESP-1600 becomes a powerful, high-quality and cost effective input processor (e.g. stage box) for Dante network distribution.

ControlSpace Dante endpoints, including the EP22-D 2-in/2-out Dante endpoint, EP40-D 4-input Dante endpoint, WP22B-D 2-in/2-out Dante wall plate and WP22BU-D 2-in/2-out Dante wall plate, complement Bose ControlSpace ESP products and PowerMatch lines and share configuration and control using ControlSpace Designer software. ControlSpace Dante endpoints, combined with ControlSpace ESP products and PowerMatch amplifiers, allow installers to create Dante-enabled systems of nearly any size, in either new installations or when retrofitting existing systems. Available in wall-box and rack/wall-mount versions enabling installation in various locations (surface, table, shelf, rack), Bose ControlSpace Dante endpoints are convenient and cost-effective for connecting analog devices like microphones and mixer amps.

Also, the company’s ControlSpace Designer software has been updated to version 4.2 to support the ControlSpace Dante endpoints and the ESP-1600 processor.

Here are all the tech details.