AV SuperFriends

Recorded August 13, 2021

We're back! It's been a weird couple of weeks with some of the AV SuperFriends moving across town, some moving across the country, and others staying right where they are. Summer is full of vacations and travel… and so many AV installation projects! And what better way to close out summer than with a discussion of digital signage on our campuses?

We first try to define digital signage in a very general sense and then describe some of the issues we've had deploying, supporting, and maintaining it at our institutions. Jamie describes how to blind your students and faculty, Rachel suggests we use the devices that students carry with them, and Chris shares how to booby trap digital signage content players so they don't sit on a logo for 8 months.

We then talk about how we might use digital signage players and displays for academic purposes and vice versa. After all, we've got a bunch of displays around— we might as well turn them into informal huddle spaces or support the teaching in the space.

Also, we discuss some AV news about something that should have happened a year ago— Zoom support on Smart TV streaming boxes. Well, at least on one box from Amazon. Where are the home telepresence devices?

News story: https://www.techhive.com/article/3627488/amazons-second-gen-fire-tv-cube-now-lets-you-make-zoom-calls.html

Recorded July 7, 2021

It's Back to School season, so get some new shoes, a nice shirt for the first day, a new Trapper Keeper and pencil bag, and let's all take an awkward picture by the front door on the way out to catch the school bus. And, we have some survey results to discuss— and we love our surveys! — from Classroom Technology on the ways Online Learning (whatever that means) is changing post-pandemic. The students are driving change, so it'll be interesting to return to this topic after a year and see how we did.

Next up, Marc knows what our top Help Desk ticket issues will be this fall and lets us all in on the secret. Are you prepared? It really focuses on the dichotomy of experience between teaching and learning at home and from a classroom. And it will inform AV design for years to come. Also, get rid of your codecs in classrooms.

Finally, do you have rooms you haven't been in for over a year? Well, chase those spiders away, those rooms need to be 100% for the start of Fall classes! Jamie walks us through how UMKC does their room checks and the advantages of allocating resources to support that model.

Article discussed during the show:

• https://campustechnology.com/articles/2021/06/22/how-the-pandemic-changed-higher-eds-priorities-for-online-learning.aspx

Recorded July 9, 2021

In AV news, Sharp/NEC announces a new display with support for an insertable module (SDM, the replacement for OPS) that has NDI and Dante onboard. While that sounds as exciting as burnt toast, it could be a harbinger of things to come— displays (and general AV devices) with support for multiple AVoIP transport protocols on a single NIC. It's clearly the way of the future, so let's hope we see more of this in the coming months.

Speaking of harbingers, we then review some disruptive technologies that are available today and changing how we think about designing classroom AV systems. Some of these technologies are so disruptive, we're including them in our newest classroom standards… if that makes sense. We also return to the idea of a PC as the center of the AV system, instead of the monstrous $5,000 all-in-one switcher.

Finally, students are keeping us on our toes as we have to adapt to their learning styles and comfort with multiple, simultaneous content streams— official and unofficial— during classes. Should we really let the whims of 19 year old students determine the future of learning spaces and AV design? Like, for sure, boomer.

Recorded July 2, 2021

Biamp buys Neets and presumably looks to get into the larger ecosystem of AV control. And that raises some interesting questions about control systems. Aside from the big two, Crestron and Extron (AMX no longer counts), we're seeing a ever-increasing number of smaller companies introducing solid control options, often at a significant savings. We've tried a few from Atlona, QSC, and others and they show real promise. Also, what's the deal with these ePTZ cameras? Are they worth it? Spoiler: for the most part, yes.

Articles and links from the show:

• https://neets.io
• https://www.biamp.com/company/press-releases/press-release-detail/biamp-acquires-neets-a-s
• https://www.avinteractive.com/news/business/biamp-broadens-control-range-neets-acquisition-22-06-2021/
• https://www.ravepubs.com/biamp-control-system-manufacturer/

Recorded June 11, 2021

It's summer! Spend the next three hours as the AV SuperFriends review all their summer projects, one by one. No, that's boring and tedious. We're all doing the same thing you're doing at your school.

Instead, let's talk supply chain. We're joined by Clay Stahlka, Senior PreSales Engineer at Starin to talk about the current situation regarding the AV and electronics supply chain. Clay shares his insider perspective and gives some great tips on planning projects early in order to get your gear on time.

Marc also shares an article about holograms (which don't really exist). They're the future! No, no they're not, but not because we don't all want a Star Trek Holodeck— Rachel reminds us that there's simply no content for holograms (which still don't exist).

Connect with Clay Stahlka on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clay-stahlka-cts-d-06205941/

Articles from the episode:

• https://www.wsj.com/articles/tech-companies-want-to-make-holograms-part-of-routine-office-life-11623232800

• https://blog.google/technology/research/project-starline/

Recorded June 18, 2021

Trade shows are back and that means lists upon lists of trade show awards! We look at a list from ISE by Commercial Integrator and CE Pro and note some awards that make sense and some that seem suspicious. Also, Jamie really doesn't like "listicles" like this.

Then, let's talk AV department branding and identity? What is our current AV department called? Are those names out of date or still accurate? What should we be called in 2021? In a super non-scientific study, Chris gathered 25-30 names from universities around the country (but he didn't note which name came from which school) and we're pretty sure some version of your department name is in there somewhere. Hopefully this spurs some similar discussions at your school.

Finally, what actually happens when someone presses the "Power Off" button on your touch panels or button panels? Are we really powering off equipment or just telling the users that so everything is ready immediately for the next user? What about remote power control? Are you using that and if not, why are you doing it wrong? PoE is great until it isn't. And Justin reveals that all the instructors at WKU are required to strap two yard sticks together and flip the rocker switches on the back of ceiling-mounted projectors at the end of every class.

Top New Technology Awards article:

• https://www.commercialintegrator.com/product_news/2021-top-new-technology-awards-winners/

Department Names:

• Academic Technology and Media Services

• Audiovisual Educational Technology and Media Services

• Audio Visual & Systems Technology

• AV & Event Services

• AV Operations

• AV Services / Audiovisual Services

• AV Solutions

• Audio/Video Services and Engineering

• Classroom Support Services

• Classroom Technology and Media

• Classroom Technology Services

• Classroom Technology Support

• Classrooms, Digital Media and Events

• Collaboration and Classroom Technologies

• Desktop and Classroom Technology

• Instructional AV

• Instructional Technology

• Interactive Video Services

• Learning and Technology Spaces

• Learning Environments

• Learning Experience & Technology

• Learning Spaces

• Media Services / Media Services Technology

• Media Productions and Audio Visual Services

• Multimedia Classrooms

• Office of Classroom Management

• Teaching and Learning Technologies

• Technology Management Services

• Technology Support Services

• Video Communication Services

Recorded June 4, 2021

It's June so hopefully you have your summer orders submitted because it's too late now!

We start with a quick look at AVIXA's recent survey on commercial AV salaries, certifications, and job satisfaction and how those might be reflected in Higher Ed. We then review a report from Commercial Integrator about the future of distance learning written by non-educators, though one of them does mention pedagogy.

Speaking of which, Larry suggested we share our current AV industry pet peeves and there is no shortage of things that are bothering us, be they from manufacturers, integrators, vendors, or even other universities. In the interest of time, some of us didn't get to all of our list, so there's plenty more where that came from. It was quite cathartic, actually.

Finally, while it may be well known to some, we didn't realize that Zoom is providing full commercial AV designs for everything from conference rooms to classrooms to telepresence suites. The designs are quite comprehensive, but use multiple manufactures where they're not always necessary (in our opinion). If nothing else, the Zoom designs are a good place to start.

Links from the episode:

• https://go.avixa.org/webmail/888683/42579103/2e447cf9a9d892949d1ab60e0c1cab8e36844b94be6a7d8e8412cc0915030fb8

• https://www.commercialintegrator.com/download/a-look-at-distance-learning-in-2021-and-beyond/

• https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/sections/360009297492-Professional-Services-ProAV-Designs

Recorded May 14, 2021

The AV SuperFriends welcome Mandy Beckner, President and Chief Operating Officer at THE rAVe Agency to the show and peer into our Magic 8 Ball to determine what tradeshows, conferences, and events are going to look like in the future. The 8 Ball says "Reply hazy, try again," which isn't terribly helpful.

Some events are already returning with various approaches to COVID-19 safety while others are seemingly going to wait out 2021 and hope for better luck in 2022. Regardless of the status of your favorite conference or tradeshow, online events— or some variation thereof— seem to be here to stay. In a world where information is king, how do you sell the shared conference experience over the actual information? Are manufacturers, sponsors, presenters, and attendees alike willing to admit that it's not just about the information, but the larger experience?

News stories discussed:

• ISE throws in the towel in Amsterdam and Munich

• What Is the Future of the Edtech Conference?

Recorded May 21, 2021

Let's start with some AV industry news about two integrators merging. Wait, why are we covering this? Ah, because Marc sees this as a coordinated move into the education vertical. After all, schools have money (CARES or otherwise), a need to spend it, and generally their staff are easy to push around.

Next up, it's summer project show & tell! We each talk about a project that we're looking forward to— Marc is building an aquarium, Chris is describes the Phil Collins Sussudio Stustudio, Larry is focusing on eSprouts (or perhaps eSports), Justin is cranking out Zoom Rooms, and Jamie is laying the groundwork for zero latency direct fiber connections between campuses. Rachel then surprises us all with an under-the-radar project about standardized 3D content formats that is likely years away, but sure sounds cool.

Finally, we dive deep into difficulties finding AV integrators with availability for our projects in recent months. Most of us prefer to do everything in house, but as COVID upgrades in 2020 took the place of a regular replacement cycle, we're effectively a year behind, so our university AV staff are booked for 2021 and there's still more to do. On the other hand, a lot of schools don't do their own installs and never have, so they are reliant upon AV integrators. But what happens when those integrators aren't available because they're all busy with other commercial projects— especially the myriad of "return to the office" upgrades?

AV News articles:

• https://www.avnetwork.com/news/trox-and-tierney-merge

• https://www.commercialintegrator.com/business_resources/sales_marketing/trox-acquires-tierney-to-expand-education-client-base-across-north-america/

• https://www.trox.com/20210426-trox-and-tierney-unite

Recorded May 14, 2021

We start with our take on an article from Inside Higher Ed, which says "Students Want Online Learning Options Post-Pandemic." In related news, water is wet and my son wants only hot dogs for dinner.

Next, we take a deep dive into the world of training, professional development, and industry certifications. Most of us have a collection of letters we can attach to our signatures when the moment calls for it, so we wanted to talk about which ones we consider truly valuable and which certifications we look for when reviewing job applications.

Finally, it's a lightning round of unique control options we have implemented. That is, something beyond a standard touch panel, button panel, or keypad. Jamie games us all on a creative solution.

Article discussed: Students Want Online Learning Options Post-Pandemic