As InfoComm approaches, the AV industry is gearing up for a pivotal event — one that promises to address pressing economic challenges and help forecast the market for the year ahead. This year, Orlando takes center stage. It won’t just be about showcasing cutting-edge technologies; it will also serve as a forum for critical conversations […]

In 2013, I was a guest on a debate podcast where we talked about the future impact of IP-enabled devices and software-driven solutions. One of my opponent’s main points of contention in that debate was that AV would always have a secure spot because we have the unique ability to create superior audio experiences in […]

Last week, the rAVe LAVNCH platform hosted its second AV Cloud Summit. It was incredible and one of the highest-attended events we’ve hosted in 2025. The topic of where the so-called AV Cloud will take us has really amped up since its introduction to the market just a couple of years ago. Sure, we’ve had […]

Today is my birthday. Two weeks ago today, I had triple-bypass surgery on my heart. Trust me, no one was more shocked with this diagnosis than me. It came out of nowhere, just a few weeks after running my fifth Disney World 10-miler. A few days before my procedure, my heart surgeon told me I […]

A good author knows that before reaching the story’s climax — or final boss — you have to build the world, introduce the characters, set the stakes, and never skip the setup. Likewise, in this column, I’ll avoid rushing straight into listing AV gear as if it’s patch notes. I want to capture the heart […]

Some of you may know the phrase “the map is not the territory.” It was coined by Alfred Korzybski and later popularized by Timothy Leary. The idea is simple: A map isn’t the place — it’s just a representation of it. A tool to help us think about what’s real. The aphorisms and heuristics I […]

A few years ago, Google introduced Project Starline — a research initiative aimed at redefining video communication using 3D imaging. It enabled remote conversations that felt almost like being in the same room, all without the need for special glasses or headsets. I had a private demo at the time and honestly, it felt too […]

In AV and Collaboration, Your Devices Are Talking – But Not Just to You You’ve heard the old line from the early internet era: “If the product is free, you’re the product.” But in today’s audiovisual and collaboration industry, that idea goes far beyond social media platforms and search engines. It’s not just about what […]

Before I dive into the meat of this opinion piece, let me clear something up in case anyone’s unfamiliar with the term: “trunk slammer” is a pejorative used by AV installation pros to describe itinerant jobbers — often solo operators — who lack many of the things you’d typically associate with a professional AV installation […]

There’s a curious linguistic twist happening in the way we talk about artificial intelligence. As the hype cycles roar on, we’ve started labeling our tools and technologies with increasingly human-sounding traits. One of the buzziest terms in this transformation is “agentic” — a word that sounds freshly coined but actually has deep roots in psychology […]

It’s hard to believe, but the final day of LAVNCH WEEK 11 has come and gone — and it wrapped up with a bang. From emerging digital signage strategies and collaborative meeting space design to AI ethics and long-term AV trends, Day Three was jam-packed with insights you don’t want to miss. If you haven’t […]

I read David Danto’s recent piece, “I’ll Have What She’s Having: AV and Building Management May Finally Click,” with great interest. David makes several good points, but when it comes to a multi-building college campus, I disagree with the idea that AV and building management systems must or inevitably will merge. Let me tell you […]

Hey there, AV pros! Day Two of LAVNCH WEEK 11 is officially in the books, and it was all about education, big visuals, certification, and smart spaces. From reimagining classrooms to designing immersive digital canvases, today’s sessions covered the full spectrum of what’s possible when AV meets innovation. We had a packed lineup — and […]

The industry wasn’t exactly asking for another wired cable standard. We already have HDMI 2.1 and 2.2, DisplayPort 2.1, USB4, and Thunderbolt 4 and 5 — and most of us have our favorites, along with a few scapegoats. Each standard is busy working on its next version, promising faster speeds and better performance. Still, a […]

Hi, friends! We kicked off LAVNCH WEEK 11 with a stacked lineup of sessions, panels and product spotlights — and Day One did not disappoint. From state-of-the-market insights to tech that’s transforming classrooms, it was the perfect mix of forward-looking strategy and hands-on ProAV innovation. We had a packed schedule, and trust me, you don’t […]

Welcome to Authentic Esports, a monthly series where I take you deep into the heart of the esports and gaming market. If you’re expecting the usual corporate jargon about “cutting-edge AV solutions” or a thinly veiled sales pitch dressed up as expertise, hit Alt+F4 now. This isn’t that. Here, we talk about real esports, real […]

If you’re at all familiar with my columns, you know one of the drums I beat regularly is the importance of follow-up —whether you’re trying to win new clients or take care of the ones you already have. Closely tied to that is my frequent soapbox about CRM systems — client relationship management — and […]

Five years ago this March, the COVID-19 pandemic turned our world upside down. We learned a lot during that time — and in the months and years ahead, we’ll need to put those lessons to use. Whether or not you agree with the directives of the new U.S. administration, it’s clear that the White House […]

If you’re looking for a comprehensive recap of all the products and software suites announced at the just-completed NAB Show – this article ain’t it. Plenty of people (including the team here at rAVe) have already covered the press releases and booth announcements. For many years now – including this one – the NAB conference […]

As the title probably gave away, this year was my first time attending NAB Show. You know as well as I do that my trade show shoes have seen more InfoComms, ISEs and CEDIA Expos than I can count. But as someone with a background in theater and broadcast journalism, this show almost felt like […]

I’m sure some rAVe readers know me as “the guy with all the aphorisms.” To be fair, not all of them are aphorisms — some are metaphors, others are sports analogies. But I digress. Not every saying I bust out — here or in person — is a favorite. Some I don’t particularly care for, […]

LAVNCH WEEK 11 is back with a completely reimagined format, and registration is now open. Taking place April 22–24, this three-day virtual event delivers a dynamic mix of education, product announcements and expert insights designed to highlight the latest trends and innovations in the AV industry. Unlike past LAVNCH WEEKs, which focused on a single […]

Shure’s Innovation Roadshow made a stop in Charlotte this week, and obviously, I had to check it out. The visit was part of Shure’s 100th anniversary celebration, and they brought along a few of their latest collaboration solutions for some hands-on demos. The day kicked off with a short session highlighting the company’s legacy and […]

Next week is the Global Association of Customer Engagement Professional’s Spring Conference. A few hundred professionals dedicated to providing world-class customer experiences will converge on Austin to share best practices, network, and learn about new innovative methods of engaging customers. I always look forward to connecting at this conference because the conversations revolve around impact […]

In an NPR article posted Monday (and in an “All Things Considered” segment), Nell Greenfieldboyce urges users of Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Webex, etc., to pay attention to how their computers are altering their voices. She points to a new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences that found high-quality audio makes […]

This Sunday, Chris Neto introduced the topic of projection mapping to the #AVintheAM community. I was busy with family activities throughout the day, and even though the topic was practically shouting my name, I had to sit it out … until now. Projection mapping is often misunderstood. It involves much more than large-scale projection on […]

I recently had the chance to attend the Sony AV Tech Expo in San Diego, hosted at its headquarters (which is stunning, by the way). The two-day event brought together industry pros, creators and tech leaders, and gave them hands-on experience with Sony’s latest tech: professional displays, spatial reality, device management, remote control and more. […]

What is AV? This question is more relevant today than ever. If you’ve been in the AV industry for two years, 20 or even 40, you’ve witnessed its dramatic evolution. AV integrators are now de facto technologists, IT specialists, C# and HTML5 programmers, visual and UI/UX designers, third-party automation experts, subsystem communication pros — and […]

Enterprise Connect 2025 has come and gone, and if one thing is clear, it’s that AI isn’t just a supporting act anymore — it’s the star of the show. From Microsoft and Zoom to Cisco and nearly every other major player, AI-driven automation, intelligent assistants and workflow enhancements dominated the conversation. Everything was described as […]

There’s an old expression I’m sure you’ve all heard that goes, “It’s not what you say but how you say it.” No one likes receiving bad news, and sometimes there’s no alternative: You just have to give it to them straight. That said, there’s always room for nuance. I’m going to bring up a very […]

As I virtually watched colleagues and friends jet off to Barcelona last month, I thought about the  interconnected aspects of our world. We can hop on a plane in the U.S. and — within hours — be anywhere in the world. I have never been to Barcelona. In fact, have only been to one other […]

By Steve Thorburn On the evening of Wednesday, March 6, 2025, Scott R. Sharer passed away after a seven-year battle with brain atrophy and dementia caused by vascular degeneration. A gifted communicator, teacher, and engineer, Scott was also a beloved brother and a friend to many in our industry. I first met Scott at InfoComm […]