Suffice it to say, it would be nearly impossible to find a place to hide or isolate yourself from the miracle (or debacle, depending on your point of view) called artificial intelligence (AI). I challenge you to find anything currently written or broadcast that does not refer or infer to AI, or derivations thereof. I […]

Not long ago I wrote about what happens when your customer gets bought, which is something I have a lot of experience dealing with over the years. Acquisitions and buyouts happen, and I’ve done this long enough that I have a sense for when they’re imminent. There have been quite a few recently in my […]

Mark Coxon recently wrote a blog with his reflection of InfoComm 2024. In it, he questions where the innovation in AV has gone. To him, InfoComm looked like a bunch of companies all trying to one up each other by adding minor features to products everyone is selling. Take a moment and read the blog […]

Hello everyone and welcome to the June edition of the Microsoft Copilot Roundup where I highlight a few updates to Copilot, Microsoft’s artificial intelligence assistant, that I consider to be most helpful to those in the AV industry. I will also include the full list of updates at the bottom of this article for your […]

Navigating the Pro Audio industry can be challenging, with rapid advancements every day and numerous technical details. To help you focus on what truly matters, we’ve consulted with industry experts to identify the top six key insights in the Pro Audio sector. We hope their perspectives offer valuable guidance for both newcomers and seasoned professionals. […]

Let’s take a moment to reflect on the sales funnel. It’s handy as a metaphor (or maybe an analogy, I often get those confused) that paints a mental picture of your sales process, and where your clients and prospective clients are at in their transaction cycles. I like using it because it recognizes that the […]

Welcome, readers, to this June 2024 Microsoft Teams Tracker article, where each month, I round up some of the latest and greatest updates to the application. Whether you’re an MS Teams user or you integrate tech that works with Teams, this will be a perfect monthly article for you to find all the information you […]

By Tom Kehr CTS-D, CTS-I, LEED Green AssociateExertis Almo Recently, I saw where a manufacturer provided the following installation requirements for web and PTZ cameras: “Mount cameras at a height between 15 inches and 48 inches from the floor to comply with ADA standards for operable parts” and that cameras and their mounts should not […]

Artificial intelligence is transforming our world of audiovisual, but if we raise our eyes to the horizon instead of the workbench, we’ll see AI will transform the world around us as well. And those changes may be more significant. Let’s call this next stage in AI adoption the AI Rainbow. From content creation to editing […]

June was Pride Month, and many of our audiovisual companies and organizations showed support for the LGBTQ+ community during this month. Yet, since we are in such a polarized world, there is often a blowback to doing something as simple as flying a flag to show support for fellow human beings. I flew the rainbow […]

Welcome to my roundup of the latest updates to Microsoft Copilot, the company’s virtual AI assistant, as of May 2024. In this article, I will highlight a few updates to Copilot that I consider to be most helpful to those in the AV industry. I will also include the full list of updates at the […]

I had a meeting with the new general manager of one of my dealers. Rather, I should say he’s new to that company, but I’ve known him for years: an industry veteran with lots of skill and experience. In his new role, he’s been tasked by the owner to grow the business. That means earning […]

Following hot on the heels of my recent article (published to rAVe [PUBS]) on the implication of artificial intelligence in AV and digital signage Gary Kayye and Steph Beckett invited me to participate in a live broadcast discussion about the genesis of the article, and additional thoughts about the implications of AI on the industry. […]

As we celebrate Independence Day, there’s no better time to honor the innovation and craftsmanship of American-made AV products. In the spirit Independence Day, we wanted to spotlight the audiovisual solutions developed right here in the USA! These products are a testament to the creativity, dedication and technical expertise that American manufacturers bring to the […]

Attending InfoComm 2024 in Las Vegas as the esports expert for rAVe [PUBS] was an exhilarating experience. The sheer size and scope of the event were beyond my expectations, with thousands of attendees and hundreds of booths showcasing the latest advancements in AV technology. The energy and enthusiasm of the crowd, combined with the impressive […]

Technical Debt has been the topic of several of my blogs recently, and I was able to speak about it during LAVNCH WEEK 9, a weeklong virtual event put on by rAVe. A critical aspect of being able to manage technical debt, and keep your systems running well, is being able to tell a solid […]

By Tom Kehr, CTS-D, CTS-I, LEED Green Associate Exertis Almo “The new pastor would like to have hardwired microphones instead of wireless for the following locations …” What a refreshing request: hardwired microphones. Yes, I’m aware that wireless cleans up the stage and wireless certainly looks better on camera, especially since so many churches are […]

By: Trevor Cooke, EarthWeb As technological advancements continue to reshape industries, so do the tactics of cybercriminals, underscoring the critical need for robust cybersecurity measures. Recent data highlights the industries most targeted by cyberattacks and the substantial financial toll they exact, emphasizing the urgency for organizations to prioritize cybersecurity. Most Targeted Industries by CyberCriminals Rank […]

The dust has settled, we’ve all returned home, and hopefully most of us came home healthy or have recovered from any bug we may have caught in last week’s gathering of 30,000+ people. Vegas Vegas’d, our social tanks were filled, steak dinners and late night cocktails fueled early morning rehydration efforts, and the overwhelming sentiment, […]

Welcome, readers, to this May 2024 Microsoft Teams Tracker article, where each month, I round up some of the latest and greatest updates to the application. Whether you’re an MS Teams user or you integrate tech that works with Teams, this will be a perfect monthly article for you to find all the information you […]

By: Alan C. Brawn CTS, DSCE, DSDE, DSNE, DCME, DSSP, ISF-C We have all heard about the 800-pound gorilla in the room and that it should not be ignored. Nobody will claim that AI is being ignored, but a significant aspect of the rapidly evolving technology is not as exposed to scrutiny as it should […]

Huddly is known for its AI-driven camera solutions, all Microsoft Teams-certified devices. In a move to expand the use of intelligent AI cameras in more spaces in the hybrid workplace, Huddly has adjusted pricing downwards by up to 25% to allow use of more video in the workplace. I reported this story earlier this month […]

Mark Twain said, “History doesn’t repeat itself, but it often rhymes.” Although lesser known, my grandfather said, “If you live long enough, you get to see it all come around again.” I’ve seen a lot happen over the years. Just to give you some idea of the pace of change over the years: When I […]

Welcome to the monthly breakdown of our Temperature Check survey. In May, we wanted to ask all of you about InfoComm 2024. Now that the show is over, let’s take a look at your thoughts about the show and its importance to the industry. The first thing we asked you, our readers, is whether or […]

Well, it’s official. The show floor is closed and AVIXA has officially released the numbers. And let me get something clear right away. While this show didn’t technically break attendance records, I chalk it up as a giant success. I have never in my life felt tired all the way into my bones at a […]

Raise your hand if you told Dave Labuskes (you know — the CEO of AVIXA) that you’re getting too old for this whole trade show thing. Just me? Awesome. (Dave, if you’re reading this, for legal reasons that was a joke.) Today was heavy on the interviews, light on me getting the chance to explore […]

I’m sure that no one is surprised that artificial intelligence (AI) is the buzzword at Infocomm 2024, but is it secure? And does it work? Let’s dig in. The first session I attended Wednesday at Infocomm 2024 was called “Chat GPT for AV.” The presenter showed how the platform could be used to answer a […]

When I departed Bradley International Airport on Tuesday, the temperature was a cool 70 degrees Fahrenheit. When I landed in Las Vegas 5 hours later, it was about 700 degrees. Okay, it wasn’t 700, but it was 101. I don’t know about you, but I dread this sort of heat. But I am here for […]

Right now, as I start to write this, it’s 2:15 p.m. PDT, local time in Las Vegas. (Let’s be real. I will not be able to finish this in one go. I will have 20-minute increments in which to write this.) Both of us (me, who is writing this, and you, the reader) probably know […]

Last night, I had the extraordinary opportunity to attend “An Evening at the Sphere” in Las Vegas, sponsored by AVI. As someone deeply immersed in the audiovisual (AV) and esports industries, I was particularly excited to experience firsthand the groundbreaking technologies that make the Sphere a standout venue. With its immersive sound and visuals, the […]

There are few things I can count on in this life, but one of them is that I’ll attend Sony‘s pre-InfoComm press event and that I’ll have a great time. This year at Kassi Beach in the Virgin Hotel, Sony hosted a brief talk to the members of the press before continuing into its customer […]

The news hit the headlines on a cool, rainy April 2024 morning. I grabbed my sweater. Bitdefender was the first to report the four security vulnerabilities discovered in LG’s WebOS TV operating system, allowing a potential cyber attacker to gain root access to the TV after bypassing the proper authorization.  The second paragraph of the […]