Isn’t it a boundless, wireless, world that we live in? It’s enhanced by the feature-rich automobiles and personal communication devices we have ready access to. The mobility and social status afforded by these devices seems to even mitigate the known short comings inherent to the fundamental technologies. But while the affection for them may have started as luxury accessories, there is no denying the evolved dependency on the fundamental functions they now provide.

For our automobiles, that’s to get from point A to point B whenever we desire to, with a turn of the key. For our personal communication devices (aka mobile/cell phones), that’s to always remain in direct communications with whomever we desire by hitting “send.” That said, it seems in today’s culture those basic needs are sometimes put into conflict with the never-ending race to more features by both supplier and consumer. Ultimately, though, it matters not how fast it can get us there if it can’t do so reliably. So while the potential is boundless, we all know there are some strings attached…

Hopefully it stands to reason that the premise in which wireless is used in AV should not waver much from the lessons learned by the car and phone examples.  In the case of AV, the presenter also desires mobility and perhaps even craves a bit of social status (guilty as charged). Further, while we may provide wireless features initially as luxuries, make no mistake that the dependency on them always working is absolutely implied.

OK, let’s count some of the ways wireless can build personal affection with our AV systems! And, so as to not be remiss, let’s also note a few of the strings attached along the way. After all, the real end user’s worst possible time to have (wireless) AV stop working is when he is standing in front of a room of people looking expectantly at him! It’s kind of like having your new convertible breakdown as you pull up to pay at a busy toll booth lane.

Keep in mind, for all these (and as with our examples above), battery life is a number one criteria and the more, the better. Further, general frequency coordination and other back end technical issues are the burden of the provider (us) to address on behalf of the end user. Last but not least is that by the nature of the kinds of typically public/open access spaces our systems are placed in is the need to consider how to actually keep the wireless AV devices from being so mobile they end up “walking away” from their dedicated space. But more on this later in the column.

Wireless AV Example 1: Perhaps one of the most embedded wireless AV technologies in education is wireless microphones. Even with “cordless” high quality audio being a staple of recent generations of technologies, new worthwhile features continue to be developed, while still allowing free range of movement in the classroom. One recent setback, dealing with the 700 MHz. issue, is being addressed by products that use RF frequency agility and/or by using IR transmission.

Wireless AV Example 2: While perhaps considered low tech, another premiere example of wireless AV is the use of wireless mice and/or keyboards. This technology not only lets instructors be mobile while dynamically interacting with stationary computer-based content but can also be part of a creative solution to address limited wiring access in legacy locations. One pitfall to watch is to take care to make sure keyboard data is transmitted in encrypted form via products that provide such capability.

Wireless AV Example 3: Althought still up and coming, but probably the Mother of All Wireless AV, tablet devices for wirelessly displaying (and manipulating) content to AV systems will be critical in classroom technology. Rest assured, as individuals become accustomed to the idea that they no longer have to physically touch media content, but rather, can access it anytime/anywhere via the network cloud, the tablet (and hybrid personal communication/data devices) is a likely portal between end user, content and AV systems. One string attached here is getting the network and AV systems fully interoperable to do so in a way that is intuitive to the real end user.

Wireless AV Example 4: Lastly there is wireless AV control. This typically ranges from touch panels with RF transceivers or handheld remotes via IR. As implied, these allow the roving instructor to manipulate AV functions without being tethered to a specific location. And, in the case of IR remotes, provide a typically “included” (i.e., no additional cost) way of remotely controlling AV devices. In this case, the challenge is somewhat paradoxically how to keep the wireless remote in the room it is intended.

So it’s no mystery that various forms of wireless AV have moved past the just “cool” stage and are being expected to be made available (and working). But even with the advances in features and functions of wireless AV, the real end user may still (unfortunately) encounter creatively glued, screwed or otherwise “attached strings” that some put on IR remotes so they remain within the bounds of the classroom they were designated to. Which is fine, I suppose… so long as they also agree to never leave their own driveway.

The views expressed in this column do not necessarily reflect the views of the authors’ employer(s), past or present.

Greg Bronson, CTS-D, applies AV technologies in the development of innovative learning spaces for higher education. Greg spent the first 10 years of his career as AV technician and service manager, with the past 12+ years as an AV system designer and project manager. Bronson currently works for Cornell University and has also worked for two SUNY (State University of New York) campuses as well as a regional secondary education service depot. Bronson is the originator of concept for Infocomm’s Dashboard for Controls and has had completed projects featured in industry publications. You can reach Greg at gregthetechie@netscape.net