AV SuperFriends: On Topic

On Topic Episode 25: AV Nightmares

Recorded September 28, 2022

In a change of pace, we've collected our scariest and creepiest tales of AV projects, equipment, customers, and support. Join the AV SpookyFriends as we sit around the bonfire and share our tales of fright. Justin brings an Old Kentucky Fable, Marc recounts his End of Summer Waking Nightmare, Larry reminds us that our worst fears can come true during the Year of Good Enough, and Chris visits the Twilight Zone to recount the Needs Analysis of Terror.

Happy Halloween, y’all!

24: I’ll Meet You Halfway Via This USB Adapter | AV Superfriends
 
Recorded August 19, 2022

This month’s topic is software AV and we couldn’t decide between software AVoIP content, software AV control, or software management platforms, so we’ll cover all three!  We start with an article about a semiconductor manufacturer widening software (and hardware) support for SMPTE 2110, which gets us one step closer to HDBaseT-style interoperability… in theory.  

Then, it’s a whirlwind tour of software AV content, control, applications, and more.  Why are we using legacy thinking when building our networks?  Will we ever fully trust the PC to be a true AV endpoint?  After all, a huge amount of current content originates from or is delivered to the classroom PC, so why can’t we (reliably) leverage that for multi-protocol high bandwidth content?  

Article discussed: https://www.ravepubs.com/macnica-new-software-hardware-smpte-2110/

On Topic Episode 23: Take ‘Em Over and Try to Squeeze ‘Em In

Recorded July 15, 2022

It’s Back to School season! What will the 2022 - 2023 school year bring?

We start with an article from EdSurge about schools who put massive student CRM systems on hold and are now restarting those massive projects. Regardless of how many times we’ve all been through this process, the end result seems to be the same: a litany of complaints, nostalgic stories of the previous system, and plans for the next upgrade.

Then, plans for our Fall terms to start in just a few weeks. Setting expectations based on un-finished projects, mitigating standards to make something work, and delays delays delays. We also prognosticate on what we think will be our top help desk tickets this fall. But, if nothing else, fresh Trapper Keepers for all!

Article discussed:

https://www.edsurge.com/news/2022-06-21-higher-ed-is-investing-in-student-success-tech-is-it-a-new-golden-age-or-just-vague-talk

22: Saying It Smart | AV Superfriends

Recorded June 22, 2022

Have y’all heard of this VR thing? It’s a thing! Or is it… We start with an article about highly customized content for highly specialized academic programs and how that just doesn’t scale. And that leads to a discussion covering everything from shared standards for metaverse content to nursing simulation systems to user generated content.

Then, scope creep. Have you done that thing you didn’t know about and weren’t technically responsible to do? Why does it always seem to fall to AV and IT to take on more than we’re responsible for and clean up others’ messes? Is it because we’re the last ones in the door? Or, because everyone knows we’ll get it done? Probably both.

EdScoop article: https://edscoop.com/virtual-reality-universities-class-design/

NYT article: https://rd.nytimes.com/projects/an-end-to-end-guide-to-photogrammetry-with-mobile-devices

Metaverse Standards: https://metaverse-standards.org/

Follow us on Twitter @AVSuperFriends to stay updated with what we’re doing!

On Topic Episode 21: InfoComm Preview and/or Wrap-up

Recorded May 13, 2022
It’s our annual InfoComm Preview show! Or, if you are listening to this after the first week of June, it’s our annual InfoComm Wrap-up show! Chris, Larry, and Justin will be there in person, so come join us for presentations, tours, and interviews. Or, listen to recordings of those same presentations, tours, and interviews because InfoComm is over! We hash through what we expect to see and hear: Chris is still expecting announcements of heretofore unannounced stuff, Justin is wondering if we’ll see last year’s gear with a new model number, Marc isn’t expecting much of anything and would prefer manufacturers use the show to get product ideas from end users, Larry is expecting only minor announcements, and Jamie is giving up and going to the beach for a the week.

Follow us on Twitter @AVSuperFriends to stay updated with what we’re doing!

On Topic Episode 20: Some Money is Better Than None Money

Recorded April 8, 2022

Working with integrators and consultants is a necessary part of the job for any higher ed AV manager, and the AV SuperFriends have plenty of suggestions to make that process easier. Step 1, don’t give away engineering and design. Step 2, don’t give away consulting and end user interaction. Step 3, don’t give away programming. Step 4, don’t give away integration. In fact, just do it all in house.

Marc has recommendations about working on capital projects, Larry is happy to work with outside experts on highly specialized projects, Chris wants integrator pricing estimates to be honest and not hide costs or overcharge, Justin has a well-established system at WKU of splitting projects into multiple phases so they can be budgeted and contracted separately, and Jamie wants to ensure that if an integrator is engaged, that he is in the loop as the liaison to ensure standards are being met and followed.

We also discuss brining new integrators onboard, building relationships, leveraging multiple suppliers for box sales, and when to expand those relationships with value-added services.

On Topic Episode 19: Letting Our POs Hang Out There
Recorded March 11, 2022

Jamie brings an article that describes two very different experiences with warranty and support… of socks. It’s relevant in a weird way. And in a year when we’re having to be extra flexible with our choices of equipment due to the supply chain madness, it does raise the question of just how much that manufacturer support weighs in our decisions of what to specify.

Speaking of supply chain, let’s talk supply chain! Marc can’t plan for projects, Larry is wary of replacing anything until everything is here, Chris is using the summer for maintenance and staff training, Justin is tired of spending 50% of his time getting asked for schedule updates, and Jamie thinks 2022 might just be the year of deferred maintenance. We’ll check back in 12… 16… 26 weeks…

Article: https://www.residentialsystems.com/blogs/a-tale-of-two-warranties

On Topic Episode 18: In Your Experience Wallet

Recorded February 18, 2022

If we’re discussing emerging technologies in learning spaces, we’re obviously going to talk about the metaverse… but not the one you’re thinking of. Marc brings an article and associated study from Forbes and JP Morgan that reveals the plans that the financial world has for the future. And no, it’s not goggles. Larry also references an article from 2012 that raises many of the same issues. Links are all below.

So, will the metaverse take over classrooms? Not in the Lawnmower Man way you’re thinking, but definitely look for persistent, unique identifiers, NFTs, and blockchain technology to show up in your favorite content platforms, campus LMS, and productivity software. Once that groundwork is in place, look for similar integrations into your AV systems, too. Besides, the goggles do nothing.

Story:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/ronshevlin/2022/02/16/jpmorgan-opens-a-bank-branch-in-the-metaverse-but-its-not-for-what-you-think-its-for/amp/

Report:

https://www.jpmorgan.com/content/dam/jpm/treasury-services/documents/opportunities-in-the-metaverse.pdf

Article:

https://dmlhub.net/publications/connected-learning-agenda-for-research-and-design/index.html

On Topic Episode 17: Smalltalk and All That BS

Recorded January 14, 2022

This month’s topic was supposed to be about the return of Integrated Systems Europe (ISE) and the upcoming HETMA Spring conference, but in light of ISE canceling their show (again!) and “rescheduling” to May, we figured it was time to satirize the constant canceling and rescheduling of large tradeshows and conferences by writing them an obituary. So, in loving memory… and such.

HOWEVER… online conferences are emerging everywhere and the AV SuperFriends will be presenting a session at the HETMA Spring conference this month, so go sign up and bring your best questions. The link is below.

This leads to our larger discussion of what the future of events will look like. Will we still have massive national expositions with tens of thousands of people? (Yes) Will we have more and more smaller, more targeted regional tradeshows? (Yes) What about mixed mode events with conference sessions presented locally, remotely, hybrid and everything in between? (Yes, yes, and yes).

Besides, if nothing else, Larry and Chris will be there.

Sign up for the HETMA Spring 2022 Conference: https://www.hetma.org

News: https://www.ravepubs.com/ise-2022-postponed/

16: The Year of I Told You So
AV Superfriends: On Topic

Recorded December 10, 2021

It’s a prediction show! Educause suggests 10 IT-related trends we should all be aware of and we decide they’re not in order, so we’re starting with number 6. As with anything from Educause, it’s highly-researched and detailed, but often just a little too milquetoast for our tastes.

Then each of the SuperFriends has a prediction for 2022. Some of us are suggesting general technologies (blockchain, AVoIP), others are focused more on the adoption of various technologies, and Larry is concerned that after almost two years of working, teaching, and learning from home, that “good enough” will be seen as good enough and cause all sorts of integration and quality issues. Have we really lowered the bar that much? (Yes).

Article: https://www.educause.edu/research-and-publications/research/top-10-it-issues-technologies-and-trends/2022

Connect with the AV Superfriends at AVSuperfriends.com.