Patrick Murray interviews Fred Loucks about...

• How management will replace control in AV integration...
• How hardware manufacturers can modernize their business by moving to a subscription model and why they should...
• How to make the software delivery process as simple as installing hardware.

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Fred Loucks, CTO of Level 3 Audiovisual, takes us on his white-whale journey to answer one question: How do you get visibility of audiovisual systems at scale?

We learn some cool new phrases like "Automated remediation" and "Signatures of common issues" while digging deep into...

• Program Management from designing, deploying and updating with a focus on administration.
• How programming let him rollout 3000 Zoom Rooms in two weekends with a one-man team.
• The real costs of downtime and disruptions including productivity loss, embarrassment and loss of confidence.
• How collecting data adds value by answering questions - it starts with monitoring.
• Why there is resistance to AV monitoring tools.
• Wrangling the chaos of API's and protocols to create a data model.
• Why to avoid devices that are not observable.
• A day in the life of a support NOC technician.
• Defining a service status for AV systems in order to present an SLA.
• Why monitoring is incomplete without remote access, documentation and domain knowledge.
• The challenges of creating an AV NOC including deep integration with customer networks and staffing. 
• Thinking about management instead of control. 

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AJ Thompson is Vice President of Cloud Driven Solutions and provides a range of services including SaaS platforms, Consulting, and App Development

• AJ was previously on the podcast in Episode 35
• Cloud Driven Solutions offers a meeting and agenda management application that integrates with AV systems
• Scaling was the biggest challenge when going to market
• Expects an open source AV control system is inevitable

Mentioned In This Episode

AMX, Crestron, QSys, BrightSign

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Wes Hatchett is CEO of ControlEnvy. ControlEnvy is an open-source software based control system.

Wes and the ControlEnvy team were one of the first podcast interviews in Epsiode 6. 

• Can run on Android.
• Has a setup configuration interface that includes troubleshooting and debug tools.
• Chose to focus on Android because it continues to outpace even laptops in processing power.
• Sample application: Google Pixel 4a installed in a rack connected via WiFi.
• A Mac Mini can also be used when a hard-wired appliance is required.
• The system is driven by states stored in a local data store.
• Paths are used to access components in the data store through logic macros.
• Shifting from completely custom programming projects to a product based model allows for better update management. Old systems benefit from feature updates instead of standing still.

Lutron, Sonos, Biamp, Google Pixel 4a, Apple Mac Mini

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Stephen Von Takach

CIO at PlaceOS

placeos.com

PlaceOS ties together drivers into systems by running functions on a scalable cluster of computing resources. Similar to how AWS Lambda works.

• Constraints allow creativity to blossom.
• Drivers can exist in multiple systems. Logic is system specific.
• Built on Crystal-lang, similar to ruby, but type-checked. https://crystal-lang.org
• PlaceOS started in AV integration but, because they can integrate with anything, it has evolved to focus on workplace experiences. Streamlining your day, from when a persons enters a building until they leave.
• User actions generate data that give insight into utilization and enable features like contact tracing and gamification.
• "Once you are integrated into every system, the experiences are only limited by your imagination."
• Digital twin - modelling real world systems in the digital realm.
• Mitigating risk through partnering with IT.
• Most stake-holder resistance concerns network security, GDPR conformance and data ownership.
• Conference room automation is evolving to eliminate the need for a touchpanel control interface.
• Open source removes vendor dependency and helps educate. It also helps create a cooperative driver development ecosystem.
• Clients are looking for a wholistic solution. A single workplace app (as opposed to multiple apps with separate functionality) drives usage and discovery of what the workplace is capable of.
• Gamification can be used to drive a behaviour, like using spaces in off-peak hours, by offering an incentive, like free coffee and gift cards.

Mentioned in this episode:

AMX, Cisco, Microsoft Teams, Project Connected Home over IP, Google, Apple, Zigbee, 

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Anton Karsten helps me understand:

• How web browsers work
• Some history of HTML and browsers
• The problem with frameworks
• Choosing frameworks
• Single Page Apps vs Server-Driven Architecture
• Using Javascript for AV Control and Automation
• Advantages of Typescript
• Organizing Project Teams
• Dealing With Different Devices
• How Large Companies Set User Experience Standards
• HTML, CSS, Javascript, Angular, Vue, React, PHP, Saas, Webpack

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• Why I stopped podcasting
• Focusing on complex systems
• The effect of software tools on AV projects
• What developers need to succeed
• How tech managers are forcing change

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• A great way to learn AV is to start on the end user/technology owner side.
• High Speed Internet at home was the spark for growth in AV.
• Keep a portfolio of your work and recommendations to present at job interviews.
• Study personal branding to improve your social media effectiveness.
• Social media is about building relationships by sharing information.

• Altcomm
• New York Giants 
• William Paterson University
• Picturetel
• Polycom
• RCM Technologies Staffing
• Schering Plough Pharmaceuticals
• Merck
• Novartis
• Barco
• Starin
• Twitter
• Joel Colm Twitter book
• AV Help Desk
• Paul Konikowski 

Twitter

Instagram

Rebels & Flux

LinkedIn

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• AV focuses on the creative side of technology. That’s what separates us from IT; We help people tell their story and communicate ideas.

• We can improve our offerings by looking at every step of the delivery and use lifecycles. A short training after the install isn’t enough.

• System thinking includes considering every “user” in the supply and use chain. A company’s intentions are communicated at all of these touch-points.

• To be scalable, standards are required.

• Best practices and oversight increase reliability and improve the overall experience. Consider a Quality Of Service Manager position as a go to reference who helps everyone implement your guidelines. 

• Look into Advance Supply Chains to increase sustainability and avoid "bone piles” of unused equipment.

• AV is everywhere. It is still a specialty, but is becoming more of an expected and critical piece of building infrastructure.

• Mobility and remote working catalysed the boom in huddle rooms to give mobile workers a touchpoint in the office (instead of a fixed desk).

• Spend time considering where you fit in a Smart building and smart world. Survival is not about being the smartest or the biggest, it is about being adaptable.

• Consider the application, vertical market, and venue. 
• Does the application get it done?
• What vertical markets will have strong activity?
• Venue specialists can be successful but need to be able to interconnect. 

• Be disciplined in what you do. Use software and agile project management to avoid waste and move adeptly.

• Customer success = how much they love you in the end.

• Map your workflow. Ask question like, “What are we going to do when we meet the curmudgeon?”.

• Consider on-demand training because people don’t want information until they need it. The days of the lunch and learn are ending.  

• Paul Konikowski
• AVIXA
• David Fitzgerald
• Barco
• Zoom
• MCSI
• Dante
• QSys
• Book: Draw To Win
• Bobby Schwartz
• Malissa Dillman 

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