Higher Ed & Corporate Thinking – Part 1

Thanks to my colleague Brett Tipton for his contribution to my first rAVe Pubs blog post. Brett is a writer, teacher and public speaker. He brings a great in-the-trenches perspective to the topic of higher education, how well it prepares students for the real world of corporate America, and how corporations themselves — and IT departments, in […]

Higher Ed & Corporate Thinking – Part 1

The New Future of Collaboration — Skype for Business

In a recent Twitter conversation, the Microsoft Lync handle @msftLync was tagged, and after a few back and forth messages with others, I received this: @Cbmoss We recommend reading our blog for additional information. Stay tuned for #Skype4B updates. And with this, I decided to write an article about Skype for business. When Skype entered the […]

The New Future of Collaboration — Skype for Business

So You’re Telling Me Hardware Is Dead… Again

So you’re telling me hardware is dead… Every time a new software video conferencing product hits the market, I hear the cries that hardware is dead in our industry. Cloud (Internet) services are all the rage, but the continual cry of hardware being dead from software vendors is stale and has run its course. Maybe […]

So You’re Telling Me Hardware Is Dead… Again

Stop Selling My Products

“Stop selling my products” — This would be my new tagline if I were to move back into sales. This may sound like a stupid statement for a sales person to say but bear with me for a little bit.  I can think of a million resellers that can sell my products exactly the way […]

Stop Selling My Products

In An Attempt To Catch @AVPhenom

First congratulations Mark Coxon for writing the blog on writing your 100th rAVe [Publications] blog. Happy anniversary — all have been great. My turn… It all started for me in April of 2013 and the story in itself is interesting. Gary Kayye, who we know is the owner of rAVe, sent out a tweet one […]

In An Attempt To Catch @AVPhenom

Celebrating 100: A Look Back

Let me start by saying that English was never one of my favorite subjects.  As a kid I loved and was drawn to science, I excelled at math, and I dreaded English.  This is why I am surprised to be celebrating my 100th rAVe Publications blog within the first 19 months here. It seems amazing that someone who […]

Celebrating 100: A Look Back

Beacon: The Future of Technology That’s Already Arrived

A month or so ago, a participant in an upcoming article that I have written about Google Glass and wearables usage in higher education (coming in December) and I started another discussion, this one touching on beacon technology. I have to say that it was so enlightening, I decide that we should have a followup […]

Beacon: The Future of Technology That’s Already Arrived

Blessings and Turkeys- 2014 Edition

So just as the celebration of Native Americans and Pilgrims eating together way back when has become an annual tradition in the United States for most people, Blessings and Turkeys has become an annual blog tradition for me.  It’s the time of year when I give thanks for developments in the AV industry as well […]

Blessings and Turkeys- 2014 Edition

Strange ReTales: Suspicious Behavior

One of my personal weaknesses is the lengths I will go for a joke. Sometimes it’s gotten me into trouble. I used to work at a place that had a monstrous, top-heavy bureaucracy. Like all monstrous, top-heavy bureaucracies it generated mountains of paperwork. Mind boggling amounts, stuffed into bankers boxes and squirreled away into filing […]

Strange ReTales: Suspicious Behavior

Sell the Solution, Not the Product

If your firm had the goal of growing the bottom line by 10 percent next year, would you consider the possibility that you might just be able to do that by selling into and serving the House of Worship market? It’s true, and there are manufacturers and systems integrators focusing on this underserved vertical market […]

Sell the Solution, Not the Product

The Archaeology of Software

I often take a look at where major grant funding is being spent as a way to keep tabs on major technology trends over the next five to 10 years. After all, when NSF or DARPA puts millions of dollars of taxpayers money to work, it’s a bit like watching the Vegas line for college […]

The Archaeology of Software

Disruptive Forces: The Leaders Speak – Craig Malloy, Lifesize

Profile: Craig Malloy is the Founder and CEO of Lifesize. Prior to founding Lifesize, Craig was also the founder of ViaVideo, which was ultimately the backbone of Polycom’s video business. Craig’s backstory: Craig started Lifesize in 2003, oversaw its acquisition by Logitech in 2009 and served as CEO until 2012. Drawn back by his unceasing passion for […]

Disruptive Forces: The Leaders Speak – Craig Malloy, Lifesize

Barco: Networked for Visualization and Control Room Operations

In a continuous search for interesting industry AV/IT solutions, I happened upon a certain solution recently that was of great interest to me. I’ve been looking at numerous networked solutions and it just so happened that Barco has a solution set for just this purpose. Barco, a global leader in professional visualization systems, designs and […]

Barco: Networked for Visualization and Control Room Operations

Connecting and Volcanos – My Two AHA! Moments This Week

Another great week with a class of incredibly talented AV geeks getting their CTS credentials. This was another unique class because it was for a manufacturer, so the depth of knowledge in projection and image quality was unparalleled.  I learned a lot from this team of professionals. Along the way I learned some things I […]

Connecting and Volcanos – My Two AHA! Moments This Week

Hard and Soft Thoughts at the NEC Partners’ Showcase

I’ve been away from AV writing this month while doing my annual Nightmare Fuel project, but a few weeks ago I was able to take a few minutes of my lunchbreak to attend the NEC Partners’ Showcase. This is one of those neat little events at which one can meet up with friends in the […]

Hard and Soft Thoughts at the NEC Partners’ Showcase

Pan Tilt Zoom

We tend to forget that video conferences are supposed to be a technological way to have meetings. Gadgets, gadgets, more gadgets and expensive widgets are getting in the way of us just sitting down and having a meeting. The worst culprit of all is the PTZ camera. The PTZ, by its name alone reminds us […]

Pan Tilt Zoom

AVPhenom “First to Market” Glasses-Free 3D UHD TV

Last month, AVPhenom, Founder, President and CEO of PHENOMinal Industries, took the audio world by storm with the world’s FIRST 4k speakers.  Now rAVe Publications has learned that Phenom plans to make another product introduction just in time for Christmas.  We caught up with Phenom to ask about his “First to Market” Glasses-Free 3D UHD […]

AVPhenom “First to Market” Glasses-Free 3D UHD TV

The Right People In the Right Place

Last week I went on a tirade in my blog about how much I hate buying cars, and why. This week I wanted to expand further on a takeaway that was buried in my screed: People make all the difference. It’s all about having the right people in the right places. Yet why are so […]

The Right People In the Right Place

Under Pressure: Uncompressed vs. Lossless

In today’s world of video, there are a lot of numbers swirling around. We have resolutions like 4096 (4k), 2160p (UHD), and 1080p. We have frame rates like 24, 29.97, 50 and 60.  We have color bit depths of 8, 10 and 12.  And we have data bit-rates of how fast all this data is […]

Under Pressure: Uncompressed vs. Lossless

Finish This Sentence

I love the AV industry because… Come on, tell me (comment below)!

Finish This Sentence

BYOD Part 1: Enterprise Strategy and Policy

Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) refers to an organization-led program which permits employees to bring personally owned mobile devices (laptops, tablets, and smart phones) to their workplace, and to use those devices to access privileged company information and applications. It is a known enterprise mobile strategy which has gained acceptance in numerous markets: • Corporate: BYOD is […]

BYOD Part 1: Enterprise Strategy and Policy

Six of the Coolest AV Installations of All Time

In the audio-visual field, the latest and greatest uses of technology and installations are most often those that create an immersive, true-to-life experience. The ones we’ll never forget are those that create a reality beyond our wildest imagination. From sharks – so true-to-life that we fear we’ll be eaten – to stadium-size fantastical light displays; […]

Six of the Coolest AV Installations of All Time

Business Acumen: Here’s What Not To Do

I believe that bad examples are just as valuable learning experiences as good examples, if not more so. In order to keep growing personally and professionally, it’s useful to take the lessons the universe presents to you and learn from them. I’m not in the car business, and I’m not writing for an audience that’s […]

Business Acumen: Here’s What Not To Do

IT: A Broader Topic of Conversation

We have seen numerous blogs and articles written defining IT terms (and in some cases coinciding AV terms) as well as some discussion concerning them. Some have been direct approaches and some a little more than that. But all in all many are trying to focus on helping the industry to understand more about what […]

IT: A Broader Topic of Conversation

#TBT: The AV Industry Then & Now

As a technology company, we’re always looking ahead for the next breakthrough that makes our products thinner, faster, and stronger. We’re moving a mile a minute, hardly noticing how little improvements mean huge changes in the long run. This “Throwback Thursday,” we’re highlighting not only the advances in AV we’ve seen throughout our careers, but […]

#TBT: The AV Industry Then & Now

Scenesters: Then And Now

Most editorials about “kids today” typically take the tack that things were better in the old days. This isn’t one of those editorials. Instead I’m going to marvel at the advantages the Internet age has presented to culture vultures worldwide. None of these observations are new, novel, or earth shaking, but I find myself thinking […]

Scenesters: Then And Now

Ten Very Scary DIY AV Installations

Happy Halloween! For most folks, ghosts, goblins, and zombies tend to give us a fright during this time of year. But, if you’re an integrator, DIY installs that you’ve resurrected probably still haunt your dreams. In the spirit of the scariest time of year, we’ve rounded up some of the most cringe-worthy (and often just […]

Ten Very Scary DIY AV Installations

How Important is “Being Green” In the Classroom Technology Decision Making Process?

The honest answer is “not exceptionally important.” The reason, however, may surprise you. Many schools have sustainability initiatives in place that cover a wide variety of campus life processes from printing and food services to facilities and grounds keeping. While technology is an obvious environmental concern, that concern is usually a result of the amount […]

How Important is “Being Green” In the Classroom Technology Decision Making Process?

Google and the Security Princess

Meet Google’s Security Princess. From an article published in Elle Magazine in August of this year, the header gives a unique description of her: As Google’s top hacker, Parisa Tabriz thinks like a criminal—and manages the brilliant, wonky guys on her team with the courage and calm of a hostage negotiator. Whoa. Weeks back I […]

Google and the Security Princess

Different Uses for Digital Signage

When thinking about digital signage, most folks automatically think of quick-service restaurants. However, as clichéd as it may sound, the applications for digital signage are endless. We’ve certainly been seeing digital signage serve new and grand purposes. Car Service How about bringing in your car to be serviced without ever speaking with a concierge or […]

Different Uses for Digital Signage

Sneak Peek: Five Collaboration Ideas from Inside Plantronics

A few weeks ago, I had the good fortune of visiting the Plantronics headquarters in Santa Cruz, California. The business purpose was to meet with a handful of SMART Technologies’ Collaboration Executive Council (CEC) members in a semi-annual meeting hosted by SMART’s customer and CEC member Plantronics. The CEC event was great – I learned […]

Sneak Peek: Five Collaboration Ideas from Inside Plantronics

The Top 4 Reasons to Attend Digital Signage Week in NYC

What better place to celebrate digital signage than the city that is the epicenter of communications and host to numerous glorious digital signage installations? From October 20-24, multiple venues in New York City have been hosting a variety of events for professionals interested in digital signage, employee communications, retail decision-making, and more. From open houses […]

The Top 4 Reasons to Attend Digital Signage Week in NYC