AV SuperFriends

Recorded March 4, 2022

Marc brings an article about the commoditization of IT skills as organizations mature. It spurs some good discussion for our next topic about hiring staff.

So, is it better to hire an IT person who then learns AV or hire an AV person who then learns IT? Larry put a similar question out on Twitter related to hiring or growing programmers.

Finally, Marc wants to know what out standard cabling infrastructure looks like. Are we following all the TIA standards and best practices or are we simply paying them lip service?

Article discussed:

• https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/jobs/reinvent-your-career-along-the-skills-pyramid/articleshow/39655798.cms

• (Alternate link) https://archive.ph/qOibz

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 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

Recorded February 11, 2022

QSC divides into two divisions, focusing on their pro audio products and burgeoning control and AV transport lines respectively. Is this a good move? Time will tell, but they certainly have the metrics to show what website visitors are looking for. Oddly enough, after this announcement, QSC held an event where they announced products in both lines. It was… weird.

Then we dive into AV replacement cycles, refresh cycles, life expectancy— whatever you prefer to call it. Do we set arbitrary schedules of 5, 7, 10 years or tie AV refresh projects to capital projects and building renovations. Marc tries to forecast 20 years out, Jamie had a plan that all went out the window, Larry bases his plans on PC replacements, Justin doesn't have a budget, and Chris wants to upgrade everything when the first item dies.

Finally, we celebrate the little widgets, tchotchkes, adapters, converters, and odds & ends that keep our AV systems running. These products are truly the glue that holds the industry together.

Article: https://www.avnetwork.com/news/exclusive-interview-qsc-creates-two-independent-divisions

Recorded February 4, 2022

In the AV news, we review Kramer purchasing UC Workspace, best known for their Quicklaunch software. I find this intriguing because as PCs become the center of conferencing systems, Quicklaunch provides a customizable unifying interface regardless of platform.

Then Chris demands the rest of the AV SuperFriends help him determine the "best" method for integrating multiple (that is, more than one) PTZ cameras into a classroom system. Should we transport baseband video and switch the cameras outboard of the presentation system? What about IP network video direct to the PC and switching the cameras in software? Or, do we use USB cameras via extenders and switch the cameras on in software? While we don't determine the ultimate solution, we do come up with a common solution that works today and provides for future capability. We are all aware of that "last inch" between the AV system and the PC and have high hopes it will get solved in the future.

Finally, it's the first ever AVSF Hall of Shame/Fame awards. Our first winner is an easy one, except when Jamie tries to extend that honor to all the products in the same family and Marc starts swearing.

Article discussed: https://www.yahoo.com/now/kramer-acquires-uc-workspace-strategic-170000933.html

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 cancelling their show (again!) and "rescheduling" to May, we figured it was time to satirize the constant cancelling 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/

Recorded January 21, 2022

It's a lecture capture spectacular!

The AV SuperFriends are joined by two guests, Michael Quinones and Raul Burriel, and with our powers combined… we are still unable to identify the perfect lecture capture system. Heck, we can't even really define lecture capture. But that doesn't stop us from walking through the earliest days of ITV systems, camcorders, VHS & DVD recording, and even famously abandoned systems like iTunes University (remember that?). We also review hardware encoders, capture software, local recordings, cloud delivery, and LMS integration. And, at the end, we all just use Zoom because that's what instructors know.

Finally, Jamie shares a clever method for bootstrapping light video production switchers into his classroom systems. Despite everyone else's reservations, it is something worth considering.

News: https://campustechnology.com/articles/2021/02/24/study-finds-use-of-video-boosts-learning.aspx

OSU Streaming Blog: https://blogs.oregonstate.edu/streaming/

Recorded January 7, 2022

With enrollment decreasing, some schools are looking to specialized learning spaces to match their specialized academic programs. Is this a harbinger of university learning spaces to come in the future? (Yes)

Then, we cover a topic that has been rattling around in all our heads in different ways: the gap between pedagogical development and physical operation of a hybrid learning spaces. Our schools put lots of effort into assisting faculty in developing their curriculum for teaching in hybrid spaces and as AV nerds, we work hard to make those hybrid spaces as capable as possible, but those two groups don't often come together. It's part of the qualitative conversation we've been having and one that is only evident after we've gotten past the "make everything hybrid" phase of the last two years.

Finally, we review the results of our first Technology on Trial on Extended Reality. It leads to some spirited discussion and not even the AV SuperFriends can agree on this one.

Article discussed: https://hechingerreport.org/facing-an-existential-crisis-some-colleges-do-something-rare-for-them-adapt/

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 the SuperFriends each 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

Recorded December 17, 2021

Have y'all heard of this Metaverse thingy? It's exactly like Second Life from 2003, but… uh… new? And people want to live in it for some reason? I don't get it. No one does, but we're all playing along. So, we have a news story about a recent poll that says people want to work in the Metaverse because it'll… uh… increase… productivity… somehow?

Then we introduce a new segment we call Technology on Trial where we select a new or emerging technology that is getting a lot of coverage and present arguments for and against. It's like Law and Order, but the listeners are the jury. Look for an upcoming Twitter poll to determine the outcome!

Finally, we look back on our predictions for our fall semesters. Were we right in our prognostications about instructors and students having trouble adapting to hybrid learning environments? Hint: No… and yes!

Articles dicussed:

• https://www.avinteractive.com/news/collaboration/nearly-half-employees-want-workplace-metaverse-08-12-2021/

• https://er.educause.edu/articles/2021/12/educause-quickpoll-results-xr-technology

Recorded December 3, 2021

Are your AV devices secure? Probably not. Is your campus network secure? Fingers crossed!

We start with some recent non-AV news about campus network security and ransomware that forced two entire community colleges to simply close temporarily.

Then we discuss the current state of AV network security. How many devices do we all have out there on the network running firmware from years ago? Has that firmware been through a security audit recently? Or ever? Of course not! AV manufacturers have a bit of a cultural problem when it comes to security in that it often seems to be an afterthought-- even for native AVoIP devices or gear that requires a network connection to function.

Finally, we commiserate about campus clients who want to second-guess project estimates. Over the last two years, everyone has gotten used to "good enough AV" experiences while teaching, learning, and working from home, but is that really good enough for a university learning space? Also, we just bought this TV at Best Buy. Can you just install that for us real quick?

Article discussed:

• https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2021/11/30/butler-county-lewis-and-clark-community-colleges-hacked