Working As a Team It’s down to the wire. It’s going to take all hands on deck to save this install. We have to get it done — too much is on the line. Twelve hours of work today? Could be more. This one is going to take as long as it takes. Every integrator […]
Common ground for all salespeople, regardless of the channel they’re in, is that they need to let their boss know what’s going on. I had one boss who asked, “What are you working on?” so often it was like the catchphrase from a TV sitcom. Those check-ins cover an entire spectrum. There’s the less formal […]
In my March 2020 blog, written before COVID-19 changed the world, I wrote about “Digital Transformation.” At the time, very few organizations had truly invested in a digital transformation strategy. It was still a buzzword corporate leaders did not understand or were not able to fully implement. Before we move any further, let’s get a […]
In recent months my company has seen an uptick in requests to consult on acoustics solutions and installations in commercial spaces. Some of these clients reached out for assistance on new builds, but most of them were looking for solutions to integrate into existing spaces. In many cases, the request stemmed from the need to […]
What AV systems can be hidden away? Written By: Kate Couch and Tony Sprando Design over function is often an argued topic amongst the design community. We think that these things are in lieu of the other, but that isn’t always the case. In many circumstances, the ability to get maximum function and […]
I like to assume that, as time goes on, we grow and learn; at least I hope we do. Everything changes over time, and as we gain experience (and some things we’ve understood are reaffirmed), we come to view things differently. As the saying goes, “Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose …” In […]
Remember way back when, when phone calls didn’t include video? I miss these days. Unbeknownst to my clients — sans the occasional siren or Harley Davidson motorcyclist, there were many, many times where I would jump on a call with them and walk, and walk and walk while strategizing. I loved it. Not only was […]
Several months ago I started a podcast here on rAVe called #DearVendor. The idea behind the podcast is the AV industry is an ecosystem — we are only healthy if all parts of the industry are healthy. In the podcast, I give tech managers (aka in-house integrators) an opportunity to tell manufacturers, integrators, programmers, designers […]
Chances are, you’ve heard of the Newline FLEX — we even covered it last year when it was first unveiled on the market. The Newline FLEX is a solution completely designed for desktop collaboration. The 27-inch monitor includes capacitive touch, full device touchback capability (with palm rejection), USB Type C connectivity (with power) and an […]
Integrated Systems Europe (ISE) came to us both in-person and digitally this year. ISE 2021 took place in-person at the Fira Gran Via in Barcelona on June 1 and 2. You can find a short intro to ISE 2021’s schedule here. In addition to the in-person event, the show was streamed live online via a […]
One of the first marketing/technology terms that I learned when I joined a video managed services company in 2008 — versus previously working at a telecom company — was the difference between a cloud-based service (not a weather system) versus on-prem (aka on-site) hardware products. I currently work for a digital signage company that provides […]
Written by: Tony Sprando and Kate Couch “Never separate the life you live from the words you speak.” — Paul Wellstone We live in a “he said, she said” society. We interact through voice memos and quick videos focusing on what is said and not what is done. The art of holding to your word […]
A preview of the surprises in store when you visit BrightSign at ISE 2021. You must admit one thing about the digital signage industry: It’s great at partnerships. I mean, really great. Like the difference between Premier League and your local team. These are some of the recent partnerships recorded on BrightSign’s website. As you […]
Thursday’s LAVNCH WEEK 4.0 experience, ProAV Day, included an impressive set of presenters and products — even following an amazing day one, UCC Day, and day two, Digital Signage Day. Our talented host, rAVe Managing Editor Steph Beckett, introduced the day. What were you most excited to see on Thursday? 11 a.m. EDT: Here’s How […]
James Kirby Futuresource Consulting The professional audio market has traditionally been an area of long-term growth, driven by macro factors and innovation across a range of vertical and product segments. However, the outbreak of COVID-19 came as an unprecedented shock to the industry, negatively impacting many of the industries which previously provided long-term growth for […]
Happy LAVNCH WEEK 4.0, AV pros and fans! This is my first time writing (and experiencing) a LAVNCH WEEK, and it’s been exciting, informative and FUN! In Leah’s words, LAVNCH WEEK events are “part digital-event experience, part virtual product-launch stage and part networking hub,” where we take a deep dive into the now and next […]
Ask the Right Questions An AV system brings in many devices, audio and video signals that must be sent to a lot of destinations. This kind of chaos has to be channeled through a control system — a layout simple enough for any user to handle. All but the most basic AV projects need their […]
I know that I’ve said more than once that companies in the same channel are typically more similar than different. Sports select for specific attributes in athletes, which is why you don’t see 145lb NFL linemen or 280lb gymnasts. By that same token, the demands of a given channel lead to business (the ones that […]
In the connected world of cloud-based signage, security has to take precedence over performance and functionality when operating over corporate IT networks. This is often painful for AV managers. Even the flashiest, most impressive AV systems are inherently flawed if there is potential for a network to become a point-of-entry for hackers. In my experience, […]
I’ve written live coverage for a lot of AV industry events over the years. But when last year rolled around, rAVe’s new concept, LAVNCH, reinvigorated my excitement to document live happenings in the industry. In fact, rAVe Managing Editor Steph Beckett reminded me in her LAVNCH WEEK 4.0 preview article that the agency developed the […]
By Adam Cox Futuresource Consulting 2020 was a tumultuous year and one that will cast a long shadow over almost every aspect of our lives. For many of those normally working in offices, one of the most significant changes has been being forced to work from home as most countries around the world went through […]
By Claire Kerrison Futuresource Consulting The outbreak of COVID-19 forced higher education campuses across the world to adopt distance learning overnight. “The education technology industry has been one of the few to witness growth as a direct result of COVID-19,” said Claire Kerrison, senior market analyst, Futuresource Consulting. “This is reflected in the Futuresource Higher […]
Mark sits down to talk with Carlos Carrasquillo about his journey into design and architecture, how space can inspire behavior and how we use it to build community.
Photo by: Kate Couch with Canva Written By: Tony Sprando and Kate Couch What we believe and what we feel about a situation has strong ties. This usually circulates around the values we attach to something. When you reach for an apple in the grocery store, you hesitate and hover for a moment to […]
If you stick around long enough you will see patterns repeat themselves. Most businesses in this channel are more similar than they are different; they have similar strengths and weaknesses. They’ll also have similar problems that need solving. The problems will be similar but seldom identical. The solutions that worked for your clients may need […]
Daria Fedko worked for an information technology development company in the Ukraine. One day a client asked her, “What do you know about AR?” While she had plenty of IT background, Daria really didn’t know anything about AR. She looked it up on Google, researched articles, talked to people in the field and read until […]
When looking back on last year, the best description that neatly wrapped up our collective experience in a bow was from Leslie Jones on a 2020 recap show on Netflix. Her character said, “I’d say it was a train wreck and a s*&tshow, but that would be unfair to trains and s*&t.” Seriously though, let’s […]
By: Tom Kehr Almo Pro A/V Whether or not a certification means something to someone or an organization will not be settled here. I’m a member of several professional and social groups, and we all have opinions. What I can offer instead is what it means to me. I achieved my CTS back in 2000, […]
Here’s a scenario: Your church has just installed a new audio mixing console. The church’s demands of working audio, video and lighting gear are often heavily placed on volunteers. Training is, therefore, crucial to their success. Are you thinking about having your volunteers fully trained on the new console after one training, just one day […]
Today, a friend of mine named Kyle Davis @ mentioned me on Twitter to get my thoughts on the future of the huddle space. I responded with this tweet: I have to do a blog- short answer- the huddle room we knew it will not be as prevalent and will change. The reasons? Blog to […]
Anybody who knows me knows that I seldom pass up a chance to quote the legendary agent Dicky Fox from the film “Jerry McGuire.” Fox explains, “The key to this business is personal relationships!” Maybe it’s not true of all industries, but it’s definitely true of the ones I’ve worked in. I’ll get to why […]
In a recent blog, Gary Kayye wrote about the current global supply shortage of semiconductors. Take a moment and read the blog and the linked Wall Street Journal article. They both raise some important concerns about what the next several quarters will bring in regards to this shortfall. Unfortunately, my blog is not going to […]
