AV SuperFriends

In light of so much recent AI-related news, we skip the news and dive right into AI. Will AI take over or is it just the newest fad in technology? Afterall, we've been using AI-generated artwork for months, so that means even this podcast is AI-enabled, right?

The current spate of AI search engines are really just cranking out the top result from Google, Wikipedia, Stack Overflow, and other sites, often without citing sources or verifying information, but they sure do seem to be the bees knees! Or are they? Is this the Dunning-Kruger Effect or Gell-Mann Amnesia?

Regardless, we openly speculate about the AI-enabled AV consultant of the future. We already have automatic calculators for projector throw distance, screen size, microphone layouts, speaker coverage, and more, so how soon until we have a single program that takes all the information entered into account and can generate AV systems writ large?

Alternate show titles:

• This is Super Clippy!
• Not today, Dave
• Not fed by ads, yet
• Super Furby of the Future
• Roughtimate
• Trust but verify
• Eyeballs on the spitball

Recorded January 20, 2023

In a change of pace for Off the Rails, we're going to stick to one subject: USB. We're joined by Joe Cornwall, Legrand's AV Technology Evangelist to dive deep into USB and why it seems to be anything but universal.

We all get the question from users that their laptop, tablet, phone has USB-C for charging, so why can't we do that in an AV system? We'll also cover such questions as: Why is trying to simply extend USB a bad idea? Why can't I rely on USB extension? Why is HDBT & AVoIP more reliable to do essentially the same thing? Why is USB switching a bag of hurt? Why is it so hard to identify the right cable with the proper capabilities?

Finally, all the panelists will share their thoughts on implementing USB-C in their classrooms. Spoiler: sorta, but not really.

Also, stop extending USB.

• Legrand's AV University - https://www.legrandav.com/tools_and_training/training/training_and_certification

• Look for Joe's AV Transport and Signal Distribution Masterclass at InfoComm 2023!

Alternate show titles:

• USB-C, the AV Unicorn

• You cannot tow that boat with a Corvette

• The parts you need to do that; they don't exist yet

• Lots of reasons to start foaming a the mouth

• The bad taste left in your mouth

• 80 gigabits per second

• Give 'em the finger and walk away

• USB-C is a desktop transport; full stop

• It's called "Go Home!"

• As fat as it needs to be

Recorded December 14, 2022

It's our annual prediction show!

But first, a Festivus Miracle— ClearOne and Shure have settled their dispute over squares, or whatever it was.

Anyway, we review our predictions from January 2022 to see how right (or wrong) we were and then make bold predictions for 2023. Marc talks AR and VR, Chris foresees a student-driven redefining of the college experience, Rachel is both impressed and creeped out by AI, Jamie sees increased training and development for instructors, Justin expects someone to buy Zoom (Amazon? Apple?), and Larry says we'll all be using Microsoft Teams more than Zoom.

Article discussed: https://www.avnetwork.com/news/shure-clearone-have-reached-global-settlement

Recorded Dec 16, 2022

Apple is including a new application in all their devices with a new service pack called Freeform. While it may look like any other whiteboarding app, it is a harbinger of the types of second or third channel content that students will bring with them to our classrooms as it's now pre-installed on billions of devices.

Then we review the concept of designing on expected system lifecycle rather than capability. Should every system we design, specify, install, and support run forever? Or, given the significant changes in teaching and learning over the last three years, should we be prepared to modify systems after only two or three years?

Finally, now that almost all learning spaces are distance education capable, can instructors expect the same level of production and support? How do we manage those expectations?

Apple Freeform:

• https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2022/12/apple-launches-freeform-a-powerful-new-app-designed-for-creative-collaboration/

Alternate show titles:

• Cockroach Technology

• That's all I expected out of this device

• Don't Future-proof

• Disposable Equipment

• … and a Side Toilet

• They Beta Drove It

• Rip off the bandaid without them knowing

• I didn't get no complaints

Recorded December 09, 2022

(Watch the video of this show: https://avsf.live )

In our second live show, we host a typical awkward office holiday party complete with ugly sweaters, a gift exchange, seasons greetings from the Higher Ed AV community, some special guests join us to share what they've been up to, and AVSF trivia to give away AVSF swag (and everyone likes swag, right?). And Chris Neto breaks big news about the future of #AVinTheAM!

Our gift exchange is of AV-related gifts that we found in our storage spaces. Old classroom-in-a-box systems, non-standard ersatz keystone inserts, table devices with more non-standard inserts, a lamp-based travel projector, a "compute," even AVSF swag— it's all fair game. Special kudos to Larry for sending Jamie a hammer for his whack-a-mole control system and to Rachel for sending Marc the world's weirdest sad clown artwork… which is now the episode artwork!

If you want to be part of the next AVSF: Live show, sign up for notifications here: https://avsf.live

Erin's Maher-Moran's links:

• HETMA Prism Scholarship

• AV Nation Ed Tech Podcast

Chris Neto's links:

• #AVintheAM

• @theAVintheAM

Joe Way's links:

• Higher Ed AV

Recorded October 26, 2022

In the spirit of American retail annual sales scheduling, here's a holiday episode recorded in October. Our theme for this show is stocking stuffers, so we all have a little gift to share (aka a "recommendation") or something from our AV wish list that will hopefully arrive soon. Little Marc gives everyone AVoIP decoders, little Chris gives "secret" analog I/O for QSC Cores and wants the perfect button panel controller, little Justin gives everyone an NDI to USB converter, little Jamie also gifts us all an NDI decoder, and little Larry brings a Dante remote decoder from the local corner store.

Don't forget to join the AV SuperFriends LIVE on Friday, December 9 at 300p EST for our holiday spectacular!

AVSF Live: https://avsf.live

Products discussed:

• VANCO Handheld HDMI Tester: https://www.vanco1.com/product/handheld-4k-hdmi-tester/
• BirdDog Pod: https://birddog.tv/pod-overview/
• BirdDog Play: https://birddog.tv/play-overview/
• Focusrite RedNet R1: https://pro.focusrite.com/category/audiooverip/item/rednet-r1

Alternate show titles:

• Fool around at the house
• Jamie learnt me something today
• That's the gift that keeps on giving the whole year
• Uncle Larry's at it again
• It's a twofer learnt day
• Listen to Zoom trash my sound

Join the AV SuperFriends: Live!

https://avsf.live

Recorded November 11, 2022

Remember movie theaters? Enormous sodas, greasy popcorn, giant candies, and … Zoom? Have you ever wished you could combine the experience of a summer blockbuster with a Zoom meeting? Neither have we, but it's coming to a theater near you.

Then we return to the topic of AR, VR, XR, and other Rs. Larry makes a cogent argument about AR and Marc broadens his definition to encompass nearly everything. Regardless of how we think of it, the application of AR in higher ed will be driven by students, so be ready. Also, the Metaverse is never happening.

Finally, Larry shares his thoughts on UNCG's new Esports arena. What does he like, what would he change, and where is gaming leading us in the future?

Article discussed: https://www.theverge.com/2022/11/7/23446136/amc-zoom-rooms-theaters-meetings

UNCG's Esports Arena: https://esports.uncg.edu

AVSF: Live! on December 9: https://avsf.live

Alternate show titles:

• An Owl Cam at the Movies

• Where are we using AR today?

• We're just calling old shit "AR"

• The AR-ish type thing we're trying to do here

• The Google Person

• Real-time Fact-checking

• Baby's First Step was Zoom

• According to Wikipedia…

• That's the Job!

• No Cameras and Flashing Allowed

Recorded November 4, 2022

Meetings! We love 'em! We need more of 'em! Or do we? And are all these fancy spaces we've built out to support hybrid meetings just adding to the problem?

Next we dive deep into the hardware side (and a few software bits, too) of selecting AVoIP encoders and decoders. We're putting together a list of criteria, separating them into Nice to Have and Need to Have and are in the process of testing these all in real-world environments. Why? Because we aren't going to wait until Q3 of 2023 and there's a LOT of alternatives out there.

Finally, Jamie raised an interesting question: has the challenge in getting certain types of equipment changed how we get rid of old gear? Are we hanging onto equipment that would have ordinarily been discarded and sent to surplus in 2019? Justin has the best suggestion for how determine when something must be cast-off.

Article discussed: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220926005145/en/One-third-of-Meetings-Are-Unnecessary-Costing-Companies-Millions-and-No-One-Is-Happy-About-It

Alternate show titles:

• That One Special Space
• Frustration Multiplier
• It's a Pixel Bus
• I'm a regular person
• Rookie-friendly
• Just put a magnet on it
• I cut 'em up all the time

Recorded October 28, 2022 In the news, Chris shares his thoughts from the recent CCUMC conference at UCF in Orlando. Also, CCUMC has changed their inscrutable name to the slightly more scrutable ETC. Then we're joined by Jason Zapf from the University of Wisconsin - Green Bay to discuss how to (or how not to) provide hybrid capability in active learning environments. While the temptation is go big and expensive, we all provide alternative suggestions to keep things simple and not over complicate an already busy learning environment. Finally, we hash out the recent push for the 21:9 ultrawide aspect ratio. It's not particularly new (1957), it will lead to detrimental compromises in screen element size, and frankly, it's not going to happen, Microsoft. ETC (nee CCUMC): https://www.etcollaborative.org Alternate show titles:

• I hate everything about it
• It goes all the way up
• Hell, no… but!
• Eat together, drink together, sleep together