On Higher Ed Tech: ZeeVee

John Costa, Sales Manager, USA West at ZeeVee
(Image credit: Future)

AVT Question: Please share insight and best practices for designing the higher ed classroom for today and the future.

Thought Leader: John Costa, Sales Manager, USA West at ZeeVee

AV has always played a key role in connecting teachers and students for academic instruction. University planners and administrators are now actively seeking out technologies that support hybrid teaching and distance learning requirements—all originally necessitated by the pandemic. In fact, we believe the demand for this model, which enables a wider reach to remote audiences via the best available and most intuitive technology solutions, will grow. 

That said, many of our customers working on higher education projects still need sophisticated AV solutions for on-premise learning and collaboration applications. This includes the creation of automated experiences driven by sensors. For this, system controls with robust open APIs are essential to ensure all system elements work seamlessly. 

System controls with robust open APIs are essential to ensure all system elements work seamlessly." —John Costa, Sales Manager, USA West at ZeeVee

The tactile training employed in engineering and medical contexts requires high-quality video with near-zero latency. Instructors need a point-of-view perspective as they observe students working through projects from geological studies to surgical procedures and beyond. In addition, the ability to route multiple sources (local computers, USB cameras, esports gaming consoles) without additional latency or compression is also required. Across the board, SDVoE signal distribution technology delivers the required fluid user experience. 

Higher education administrators and AV/IT departments need AV systems that are reliable, flexible, and easy to use. They are also quickly learning that relying solely on a single product manufacturer is a dangerous vulnerability. Deploying a standard or interoperable solution like SDVoE is very attractive, as it enables decision-makers to create best-of-breed solutions while hedging against product availability issues. 

Going forward, sophisticated AV technology will remain a driver in attracting students who are savvier than ever. In fact, students and instructors at higher education institutions are benefiting from the convenience of the latest deployed AV solutions—becoming more comfortable with, and knowledgeable about, the possibilities they offer. 

Cindy Davis
Brand and content director of AV Technology

Cindy Davis is the brand and content director of AV Technology. Davis enjoys exploring the ethos of experiential spaces as well as diving deep into the complex topics that shape the AV/IT industry. In 2012, the TechDecisions brand of content sites she developed for EH Publishing was named one of “10 Great Business Media Websites” by B2B Media Business magazine. For more than 20 years, Davis has developed and delivered multiplatform content for AV/IT B2B and consumer electronics B2C publications, associations, and companies. From 2000 to 2008, Davis was the publisher and editor-in-chief of Electronic House. From 2009 to present, as the principal of CustomMedia.Co, Davis developed content plans and delivered content for associations such as IEEE Standards Association and AVIXA, content marketing for Future Plc, and numerous AV/IT companies. Davis was a critical member of the AVT editorial team when the title won the “Best Media Brand” laurel in the 2018 SIIA Jesse H. Neal Awards. A lifelong New Englander, Davis makes time for coastal hikes with her husband, Gary, and their Vizsla rescue, Dixie, sailing on one of Gloucester’s great schooners, and sampling local IPAs.