The pandemic accelerated technology workplace changes at near light speed, and one of those transformations presents an important challenge. AV integrators and technology professionals may be surprised to learn their expertise is applicable to the desktop workstation.

In the past, most AV professionals have been reluctant to give any real thought or design input to desktop productivity systems. Certainly, those impressive command-and-control consoles seen in corporate security centers and first responder facilities have been an important part of commercial AV integration, but not the typical working desktop. As hybrid and fully remote work become a permanent fixture in the workplace, there’s a significant reason the workstation needs a modern-day upgrade: It will significantly boost the bottom line.

Most workstations that are more than a couple of years old were not intended to support the shear multitude of windows and applications a contemporary knowledge worker has open at any given time. Even more importantly, it probably wasn’t optimized for videoconferencing.

The typical worker loses about 15 minutes of productive worktime each day to eyestrain. That may not seem like a lot until we consider the number of workdays on the calendar. This 15-minute daily loss can add up to 65 hours over the course of a year. That is a week and a half per person in lost productivity! To really see the magnitude of this lost value, calculate that time as a factor of each employee’s salary. The results are startling.

[The Ghost in the HDMI Machine]

Like any other AV project, desktop projects start with needs analysis. Integrators should review the technology currently in use and weigh it against the real productivity challenges arising due to inadequate image real estate, awkward display positioning, barely legible content elements, or a washed out, uninvolving image. The goal of analyzing technology choices is to increase productivity by making desktop systems more enjoyable, easier to use, and a better fit for the job tasks. Let’s dig into some considerations.

The Viewer-to-Display Relationship

Getting the physical geometry of a desktop productivity system right is at the core of optimizing its impact on efficiency. Get the screen size and positioning right and the rest will follow. Here are a few best practices that will have a notable impact on desktop system performance and user satisfaction.

The top of the display image should be level with the viewer’s eyes. Human ergonomic studies suggest we use 48 inches from the floor as an average height for a seated viewer’s eyes. This is just a starting point. Fine tune the system to the physical stature of the system user and, where possible, do actual measurements. The comfort and productivity of a person who is 6 feet tall will differ from one who is 5 feet, 2 inches tall using the same system—and will be evident after a full day at the workstation.

[Why dvLED Is Gaining Market Share]

Consider the point of view of the camera. In most desktop AV solutions, a web camera should be mounted to the top bezel of the main display, which places the lens’ point of view just above the user’s eyes, facilitating natural eye contact. Eye contact is extremely important during communication and conversation, even during videoconferencing. A head-on frontal view fosters a feeling of engagement during a video call. If the camera is lower than the user’s face, the result will be an unflattering, often distracting view that detracts from the quality of video communication. For best results, mount the camera so that the point of view is just above the bevel of the primary monitor.

Ensure you have the appropriate display size, shape, and configuration. For maximum productivity and output, don’t skimp on the screen. Many people work from multiple monitors to have access to more visual real estate. Most often, the main monitor is an indiscriminately chosen desktop LCD flat panel that was left over from a 10-year-old tower computer, and the second monitor is the built-in laptop screen. This isn’t a good practice.

Monitor Size Calculations

There is a way to determine, with mathematical precision, the best size for a video display in any application. It’s called DISCAS and it is an ANSI/AVIXA standard for determining Display Image Size for Content in 2D Audiovisual Systems. All we need to do is adapt it to the desktop productivity system.

For this example, I used AVIXA's DISCAS online calculators to determine screen size for a typical hybrid work productivity solution. Let's assume the needs analysis revealed the average distance from the viewer to the screen in this desktop solution ranges from about 28-38 inches. A 32-inch diagonal monitor has an image height just under 16 inches.

The AVIXA DISCAS calculator shows the farthest recommended viewing distance for 4K UHD content with that image size is just over 25 inches from the screen to the viewer’s eyes. Using that same screen size, but with 1440p resolution (also known as QHD), we see that the farthest recommended viewing distance is about 38 inches. Finally, when we input a viewing distance of 28 inches with a 1.78:1 image aspect ratio and a 16-inch screen height, the calculator indicates the best resolution is about 2,000 vertical pixels. This is just below 2160p, which is UHD 4K. We now know that a high-performance desktop productivity solution optimized for a BDM/ADM hybrid application is best served by a QHD or UHD monitor.

Color Space Choices

We generally don’t think too much about color reproduction until it’s obviously wrong. Bad color rendition takes our focus away from what is happening on screen and makes the viewing experience unenjoyable. The electronics industry has defined how various screens, monitors, and projectors deliver color through the use of defined color spaces.

A color space is an organization of color models and mapping that supports accurate, reproducible color on a screen. sRGB stands for Standard Red Green Blue, and is a set of specific colors created by Hewlett-Packard and Microsoft in 1996. It is the most used color space today. Most consumer applications, devices, printers, and web browsers will default to the sRGB color space.

There’s also Rec. 709, which is the standard camera encoding color space used for HDTV. It has a color space identical to sRGB, but uses a slightly different transfer function to make it a better fit for video applications. Functionally, Rec. 709 and sRGB will deliver near identical results.

Beyond color reproduction, there is a choice in the way a computer monitor produces an image. There are three major types of desktop LCD monitors: twisted nematic, vertical alignment, and in-plane switching (IPS). Each has its own strengths and weaknesses and, depending on the work to be done, a place and time in AV design. For desktop productivity, an IPS monitor that can reproduce the sRGB color space is the best and most versatile choice.

Using what we’ve learned from the needs analysis and applying the DISCAS standard tells us that a good resolution for most contemporary systems is QHD (1440p). This is an excellent resolution for 27-32-inch diagonal monitors and the sweet spot for most productivity solutions. Text and picture elements will be clearly visible, there will be enough visual real estate for some multiple window work, and full-screen images will pop with detail.

A top-of-the-line choice for an individual productivity system is a 32-inch diagonal UHD IPS monitor with USB Type-C, DisplayPort, or HDMI inputs. It will display every bit of information. For most knowledge workers, this is the right choice for today and will carry the workload far into the future. There are very few reasons to consider moving beyond 4K resolution in a 16:9 format anytime soon.

Ergonomic Considerations

Now let’s examine the multi-monitor setup. Although installing two screens of identical size is a good way to improve multitasking and increase efficiency, it comes at a cost. Right in the middle of the field of view is the bezel of each monitor. The user is always looking off-axis because a split image is very distracting and distorted.

An ultrawide monitor offers a high-quality image spanning the full real estate of the workspace without any bezels or mullions in the middle. Images or videos can be placed in the center of the display, where our visual acuity is at a maximum, while leaving the sides of the display free for supporting tabs and content. For the ultimate in productivity technology, a 39-49-inch 1440p 5K display is a fabulous choice. This is the equivalent of two QHD 27-inch side-by-side monitors. It can provide all the detail we can see, plus the display real estate is easily the most flexible available.

The best monitor in the world, coupled with a high-performance video camera and quality microphone, will make the work experience richer and more rewarding only when it’s comfortable to use. Ergonomic considerations don’t stop with viewing position, an adjustable chair, and good posture. Just as important is the monitor mounting solution.

The Human Factors and Ergonomic Society identifies adjustable tilt, rotation, and display centering as critical features to optimize user safety and comfort. A dynamic mount that can compensate for the weight of different displays and deliver easy, dynamic positioning with minimum physical effort lets the content and work take center stage.

When it comes to productivity loss, now is the time to consider the role technology is playing. As the numbers clearly show, an aging desktop isn’t good enough to keep up with the modern productivity desktop demands. AV integrators and tech professionals are well-equipped to advise organizations on upgrades.

For more in-depth information, read the full white paper here.

Avnu Alliance, the industry consortium driving deterministic capabilities into open, standards-based networking, today announces the availability of a new white paper addressing market expectations, capabilities, and certification procedures for wireless Time Sensitive Networking (TSN) applications. 

“Time sensitive networking feature sets and profiles are still evolving,” said Dave Cavalcanti, chair of Avnu’s Wireless TSN (WTSN) working group and principal engineer at Intel. “No network or device, wired or wireless, implements every single TSN feature. With this white paper, the WTSN Working Group is aiming to offer a first look at the application requirements and expected wireless networking capabilities to meet those needs. It is intended to facilitate both discussion and alignment in the industry in this early phase of technology development, trials and testing.”

Created with input from TSN market leaders including Intel, L-Acoustics, Cisco, and Keysight, the new paper identifies the capabilities that wireless TSN-capable networks must implement, including features to enable time synchronization, bounded latency, reliability, security and efficiency. It also offers estimated KPIs for these capabilities by vertical market, including industrial automation, professional audio and video, and AR/VR (augmented and virtual reality).  

“It was critical for us to understand how the needs and network configurations will differ across markets,” explained Genio Kronauer, executive director of electronics and network technologies at L-Acoustics and one of the paper’s contributing authors. “Live sound and industrial automation talk about their networking needs differently, so it was fascinating to see the synergies across markets. Through collaboration and certification, WTSN is going to be able to serve a wide range of industries.”

For network managers, the white paper also provides models for various WTSN configurations including Wi-Fi, 5G, and hybrid networks across wired and wireless TSN segments. 

“This white paper is an important next step towards an ecosystem,” added Greg Schlechter, president of the Avnu Alliance and technology manager at Intel. “It begins to form a roadmap for the industry, including makers of devices and network components, to meet the market expectations for time sensitive networking applications that require wired and wireless mediums.”

The white paper, Wireless TSN: Market Expectations, Capabilities & Certification, is now available for download via the Avnu website.

The educational white paper “Reopening Live Events Safely: An Industry View” is now available for download from industry insurance solutions provider Take1 Insurance.

Current Live Events Environment

“The entertainment and live events industry has been through a nightmare scenario as the COVID-19 pandemic brought everything to a halt. Virtual events have helped fill gaps, but, ultimately, the desire of people to experience live events in person cannot be denied,” said Scott Carroll, Take1 Insurance vice president and program director. “Now with vaccines rolling out, the prospect of getting back to some semblance of normality is becoming a reality. Together with our partners, we are doing everything possible to help shake off the rust and get our industry back to work safely.” 

Carroll said that everyone must recognize that the workforce of the entertainment and live events industry has changed radically in both quantity and quality over the last year and a half. According to IBISWorld, there were more than 270,000 concert and event promotion employees in the U.S. as of February 2019. A year later, that workforce had shrunk to around 148,000, a drop of 55 percent.

“Even as we start to recover, the workforce totaled 190,000 in February 2021. When will it return to pre-COVID numbers? Even with steady growth, not before 2022, if then. Many experienced workers will not be returning. They were forced to seek alternate employment and have moved on with their lives.” 

In addition, the employment model itself has changed from full-time staff to freelance gig workers. Looking at the two largest concert producers underlines this dramatic story. Live Nation saw its quarterly concert activity plunge from 7,000 concerts in 2019 Q2 to 24 concerts in 2020 Q2. With revenue down 98 percent, it's not surprising that their workforce was reduced from 18,700 to 700 to keep pace.

AEG, the No. 2 producer, told Rolling Stone that the company expected to lose 10,000 North American shows in 2020, plus at least half of that in 2021. That’s a loss of $2 billion to $3 billion dollars. In a normal year, AEG puts on around 13,000 shows, which translates into a loss of about 75 percent of their expected business in 2020.

Current Challenges

With all this upheaval, the live events workforce, particularly technical workers, faces enormous challenges.

1. The pool of experienced workers has shrunk dramatically. Many are financially stressed after a year of turmoil as well as professionally “rusty” and in need of refresher training as the industry gets back up to speed. 

2. Many new workers are entering the pool without any training or experience, especially when it comes to safety on the jobsite. Their inexperience can create risk.

The Take1 white paper discusses strategies to go back to work while managing risk. While there are many strategies to consider, the most crucial is safety. The white paper features industry experts, including production professionals, underwriters, brokers, and safety specialists, to better understand what it will really take to get back to work safely.

This news follows last week’s announcement that, in partnership with Intact Insurance Specialty Solutions and the Event Safety Alliance, Take1 will provide free Event Safety Access Training to professionals returning to work after more than a year of being sidelined because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Related News

COVID-19’s Impact on the Live Events Industry • How AV and live events professionals can get through the COVID-19 crisis.

Event Safety Alliance Offers Free Event Safety Access Training • The free ESAT training for live event professionals is sponsored by Take1 Insurance underwriting partner Intact Insurance Specialty Solutions. The course will be available free of charge until Aug. 1.

Spotlighting the expanding use of digital signage in almost all areas of education, LG Business Solutions USA has released a white paper that provides insight on the new ways in which large and small higher education institutions are using digital signage in their classrooms, lobbies, and beyond. Titled “Higher Education Adopts New Display Technology to Enrich Learning,” the ebook is available now for download.

Related: The Technology Manager's Guide to the New Era of Digital Signage

“Widespread use of digital signage throughout higher education is a logical extension of the screen-based ways today’s students learn,” said David Bacher, head of marketing for LG Business Solutions USA. “More and more, higher education institutions are adopting audiovisual solutions both to compete for prospective attendees and improve their overall offerings. As administrators, faculty, and students return to campuses across America, this white paper can serve as a resource that shows what’s possible with the latest advances in digital signage technologies.”

In addition to profiling large-scale digital signage implementations at Georgetown University and Caldwell University, the new digital resource delves into timely topics such as collaboration technology in the classroom, large-format videowalls in lobbies, and the proliferation of on-campus esports arenas.

Related: LG Unveils Two New Indoor DVLED Series

“Display technology continues to evolve so colleges and universities will find new applications and ways to enhance life on campus,” Bacher said. “Higher education institutions now have to reflect the digital world from where their students come. They’re doing so by investing in experiences that meet expectations and create a higher level of engagement across campus.”

To download the whitepaper, click here.

Collaboration tools, particularly multimedia conferencing, have been riding the crest of a wave created by the global migration of businesses to a remote working model. With an expected sustained increase in remote and hybrid work, the collaborative organization of the future will need to equip meeting rooms with advanced AV devices that complement the widespread adoption of modern cloud conferencing services for their professionals to be successful, no matter where work is conducted. The audio must be high quality, seamless, natural, reliable, and easy to use to deliver a truly superior and more productive user experience.

Frost & Sullivan’s latest thought leadership paper, 7 Steps to Improve Virtual Meetings in the New Era of Work, examines the role of innovative audio solutions in ensuring the ease of doing business in the current distributed work environment. It assesses the various technology benefits of high-quality audio and how it increases the overall value and return on investment (RoI) of collaboration solutions.

Related: The Technology Manager's Guide to Audio in the New Era of UC

"Once offices reopen, health and well-being regulations will require employees to have minimal contact with shared surfaces. Therefore, there will be a great demand for touch-less conferencing," said Robert Arnold, principal analyst, Connected Work, Frost & Sullivan. "As enterprises build a robust conferencing ecosystem, the adoption of AV technologies that aid simple deployment, intuitive operation, and seamless compatibility with leading collaboration platforms will experience significant growth."

Technology buyers and investment influencers need to perform due diligence to identify the best solution for their specific needs. The most important benefits include:

• Enhanced ownership through a single-source provider that simplifies purchasing and deployment and serves as a single point of contact for support.
• Standardization that delivers a common set of monitoring and management functions to streamline routine IT tasks performed from anywhere and at any time, reduce help desk tickets, and assure uniform security and consistent user experiences for any meeting across the organization.
• Certified interoperability with popular third-party conferencing services, which expands usage and use cases to accelerate RoI.

To download the complimentary white paper, click here. 

BenQ has published a technical white paper that focuses on the security-related details of the architecture, components, and technical control for its BenQ InstaShow wireless presentation system (WPS). As security is a major concern for every organization, this white paper explores how BenQ designed the InstaShow WPS to minimize the attack profile of schools and businesses by eliminating security vulnerabilities. 

“Wireless presentation systems open up a world of productivity, allowing multiple presenters to share the screen during a meeting and quickly exchange ideas,” said Bob Wudeck, senior director of business development at BenQ America Corp. “This white paper shares how our designers and R&D engineers created a methodology that eliminates the security threats found on most other wireless presentation systems. This is accomplished by both system modularization and improving the modules to create an integrated security architecture.”

Related: The Technology Manager's Guide to Conference Rooms 

This white paper details InstaShow’s system security architecture and the platform’s three security levels. In addition, the document also highlights InstaShow’s security certifications. The BenQ InstaShow receivers and buttons have been extensively tested and certified by Onward Security to identify and disclose any critical vulnerabilities. The company tested for a variety of security breaches, including unauthorized network access via the receiver, as well as unauthorized viewing of wireless transmitted content by a third party. Onward Security tested the InstaShow wireless encryption system for KRACK attack vulnerability, and found no vulnerabilities.

InstaShow is an all-hardware, plug-and-play presentation system for meetings and collaboration. The latest addition to the InstaShow family of collaboration tools, InstaShow S WDC20 is designed to support up to 32 participants or input sources at a time. 

The entire InstaShow family is fully interoperable with any operating system or hardware platform while providing data security through WPA2-PSK protection with AES 128-bit encryption. InstaShow S can maintain stable wireless connections even in less-than-ideal Wi-Fi environments. Equipped with Wi-Fi 802.11 ac/n for transfer speeds of up to 700Mbps, the S model facilitates sharing of presentations, pictures, documents, and video. It also features native support of extended desktop functions for presenters to privately view or take notes, backup data, and monitor other applications while simultaneously delivering presentations.

Download the InstaShow security white paper here. 

NSCA  has just released a new white paper: Mergers & Acquisitions—Don’t Grow Your Business into the Ground.

Over the past few years, the systems integration industry has seen an active climate of mergers and acquisitions. Approximately 30 NSCA integrator members have been acquired in the last year alone. Although a successful acquisition or merger can lead to increased market share, purchasing leverage, better relationships with key accounts, and increased diversification in technologies and markets, some integrators have important stories to tell about things that can go wrong.

“In the ‘not successful’ instances we’ve seen, lack of success is caused by a failure to blend from a cultural perspective,” says NSCA executive director Chuck Wilson. “Over the past few years, NSCA has been watching and observing, learning lessons, and speaking with buyers and sellers. We’ve uncovered many things that need to be shared with members so they can make more informed decisions.”

Mergers & Acquisitions—Don’t Grow Your Business into the Ground leads integrators through a successful growth process based on the positive, and not-so-positive, experiences of NSCA members. The white paper also includes thoughts from several NSCA trusted advisors, many of whom have walked away from far more deals than they’ve completed. 

In addition, the white paper includes helpful checklists:

NSCA members can download the white paper at no cost by visiting nsca.org/research.

Solutions for media owners to optimize and fully monetize their network of digital out-of-home screens.

A report from Research and Markets forecasts that digital out-of-home (DOOH) will reach a total market size of more than $11 billion by 2023. This is great news for media owners.

Even if you’re running existing ad campaigns with brands or agencies, there’s a strong chance your network of DOOH screens has unsold inventory—in which case, you’re missing out on key marketing dollars from buyers who value the audience that your screens serve.

Through This White Paper You Will Learn:

Click here to download this white paper.

Today’s most progressive houses of worship require projector technologies that not only shine the light bright, but also help to educate and enlighten growing congregations. In this whitepaper you will learn:

• Projection or flat-panel monitors? Why the size of a church matters
• Most important features for best viewing
• How to create laser-focused messages
• Planning and integration tips from the pros
• Fun features with advanced projectors.
• 
  

Click here to download the full white paper.

New research from NewBay’s AV Technology and Tech & Learning magazines—from a poll of more than 200 users of educational technology in K–12 and higher education—shows how technology leads to increased engagement and more use of online resources, thereby improving educational outcomes. Although the survey showed that many higher education and K–12 schools remain at a crossroads in terms of making a full transition to technology, the vast majority of those who responded are excited about what they’re accomplishing today and are equally excited about moving quickly to implement better ways of teaching with online curriculum and to take advantage of online avenues for research, better displays, video conferencing, and more. While there’s still a technology gap in many schools, it’s a gap that up-to-date projectors, large displays, better networking/connectivity solutions, and better teaching software can fill. The survey results offer a roadmap showing what technology and tech-based pedagogical methods are working for schools today, as well as what’s to come.

Click here to download the full white paper.

In this supplement we take a look at this networking technology and the ecosystem that has grown up around it over the past 10+ years to include more than 1000 products. Includes a history of the technology, a selection of products and a hands-on case study for configuring a Dante set-up in a House of Worship.

Click here to access the Dante-Enabled supplement

That’s a simple enough request, right?

• We’ve all heard stories or experienced the reality of an installed technology not being used because it required one click too many, and simply wasn’t intuitive. Expensive equipment goes to waste, AV and IT departments are blamed for “broken” systems, and future AV/IT budget requests are challenged.

Before arriving at their current solution, the staff responsible for installing and integrating active learning classroom (ALC) technologies at the University of Saskatchewan (U of S) experienced a steep learning curve. Two years ago, an ALC technology solution was installed on campus. “We built it out of discrete components,” says Melissa Hildebrandt, PMP, project manager, Enterprise Project Management Office, Strategic Program Office of the U of S. “There was nothing wrong with the way that it was put together—it’s just that instructors had a hard time understanding how to use it.” As a result, the team was not certain the system was being used to its full capabilities. “We had BYOD wireless connectivity boxes behind monitors around the perimeter of the room, but these all tied into a central video switcher and the controls are a bit cumbersome for an average user,” she says.

In 2016, Hildebrandt and Kyle Berezowski, CTS, consultant, Equipment Services, ICT Client Services of the U of S began the search for a new ALC technology solution. “The user interface was a critical component,” Hildebrandt says. “The others didn’t have an easy way to run the system.”

Engineers and project managers from Sony Professional Solutions of America and teams from Japan spent more than two years traveling the world, listening to AV and IT departments and educators so they could understand exactly what they needed in active learning classroom and meeting room collaboration systems. They visited five different universities in the United States, as well as others in Europe, China, and Japan. “The number-one request from all of the people we met—whether it was the integrator, the AV manager, or faculty—was that ‘it has to be really easy to use,’” says Mike Tada, Education Marketing Manager, Sony Professional Solutions of America. “No one wants to use an intimidating, overwhelming user interface.”

Learn more from Hildebrandt and Berezowski about their mission to integrate an intuitive, easy-to-use active learning classroom technology solution at the U of S, how they trained staff, and see photos. Plus, hear first-hand accounts about the solution the University of Manitoba installed, and how it’s using its new ALC technology solutions, here.

This paper will discuss new technologies, all of which are easy to use and deploy, that have been developed to help support and enhance the Active Learning Classroom (ALC) experience. Two case studies will demonstrate how barriers to entry can be overcome and how staff training can be a breeze. You will learn the information you need to make a decision about incorporating ALC technologies in your classrooms.

Click here to download the full white paper.

For AV integrators, providing sprawling multi-story LED video solutions is a huge and growing opportunity. Operating these walls requires the integration of complex hardware and software–and the right LED technology and services partner.

Click here to download the full white paper.

This paper provides you with the background you need to use the correct language with your customers and to help them understand new technology solutions that are available to help enhance ALC pedagogies. Through interviews with two integrators and their end user customers, learn how easy it is to add this new technology category to your portfolio.

Click here to download the full white paper.

For churches and houses of worship in the U.S., AV is no longer a luxury. That makes this market one of best growth areas for your audio, video, and lighting technology expertise. AVTechnology and Panasonic have partnered on an eBook that explains the business, TCO and resource management issues of this unique market, with case studies from the most sophisticated users and AV providers. Just a sampling of highlights include:

• 57% of multi-site churches will launch an additional campus in the next 12 months and spend, collectively, more than half a billion dollars on technology.
  
• Churches are moving to end-to-end 4K/60p production-value solutions.
• Digital scenery is desired through laser projection for I-MAG screens as well as edge-blending projectors.
• Transformation of worship experiences via new technology tools to target millenials.

Click here to download the full white paper: Upgrading Technology for the Highest Purpose—the Joy of Worship

For technology experts, architects, consultants, and other providers of higher education solutions, improving learning outcomes is the new mission of higher education. To position students for success in a workplace of the future, learning spaces are being designed to support peer-to-peer, collaborative, experiential, visual, service-oriented, and value-based pedagogies.

How are colleges and universities using technology to help students, staff, and faculty have a richer learning/teaching experience?

Click here to download the full white paper: New Tech Tools Change Mission of Higher Education.

• Only video projectors can scale images to the precise size needed to allow placement of moving images on curved surfaces and 3D objects. Laser projectors provide even more versatility because its light source longevity is tailor-made for frequent use applications.
• To ride laser projector’s growth curve integrators should partner with vertically integrated vendors who specialize in projection. This white paper provides what you need to know to make informed choices:
• Learn which key verticals are driving laser projection sales
• Key market trends: Projectors vs. flat panel displays
• Understanding laser projectors
• Chart on how to choose the right projector by application
• Lessons from the Field: Nashville-based pro-AV integrator

Download now.

Why are many AV integrators and end users hitting operational and profitability roadblocks on installations? Because it¹s too easy to fall into a commodity mindset that says, "all mounting solutions are alike." Smart integrators avoid these issues by addressing key questions with their mounting provider before installation begins:

• LED has more delicate mounting requirements than does a video wall made up of LCD panels. What needs to be done differently in all phases of an LED installation?
• Are the deliverables structured to fit the job schedule, exigencies, and nuances?
• Is there a dedicated solutions/engineering service that turns a risky custom job into a well-engineered, profitable one?
• Display products are changing, is the mounting provider in sync with the latest display lines?

Find the answers in this white paper and be on your way to smoother installations and greater profitability.

Click here to download.

Think of all the barriers to entry of installing fiber-optic cabling. Now forget them.

This buyers guide outlines the latest advances in high-bandwidth, high-speed fiber-optic cabling that will be game changers for IT, AV and commercial building stakeholders who are seeking to meet the rapidly growing networking needs of their customers. You will learn:

• How to future-proof your network infrastructure
• Create more robust business operations that lead to greater financial opportunities
• Compare fiber optic cable performance to that of UTP cable
• Compare durability of fiber optic cable to that of standard fiber
• Best practices for fiber optic cable installation

Download here: http://go.newbaymedia.com/l/262762/2017-10-26/3tccx

The ability to share large, higher-quality images, videos and websites has transformed higher education into a multimedia experience, and projectors have become the centerpiece. To tap into the state of the art for higher education projectors, AV Technology surveyed 150 buyers and users of projectors at a wide variety of colleges and universities to see what’s important to them. In addition to asking about their current fleet of projectors and how they’re connected, we surveyed what they’re looking for two-and five-years in the future, including resolution, light source, imaging technology and assortment of ports.

This new research reveals how colleges and universities are joining the movement towards full HD and eventually 4K resolutions, the timeline for integrating digital video in the classroom as well as emphasizing lamp-free technologies, all while being cost-efficient. Download the research to find out full results.

Click here to download

AoIP is coming to television broadcast and production facilities thanks to the inclusion of AES67 as the designated PCM audio format in the upcoming SMPTE ST 2110 media-over-IP standard. This white paper points out important considerations for implementation and offers examples of how the technology is already being used for television production around the world.

Read the whitepaper here.

While the exponential increase of IP video traffic has driven new opportunities and applications, it also presents challenges. This eBook explains how AV solution provider frontrunners who focus on true standards-based products aimed at different workflows will be able to maximize reach and performance and can guarantee customers the greatest long-term usefulness for their money.

Read the whitepaper here.

Utelogy Corporation has released a new white paper that discusses the business value software-defined AV brings to organizations.

With the digital revolution upon us, there are four main reasons organizations like higher education and today’s enterprise are pushing vendors to become software/virtualization companies. Because of the acceleration of technology innovation, product lifecycles are becoming shorter and shorter, which makes hardware obsolete faster than ever.

Executives have a renewed focus on results over technologies. They’re looking for a rich and engaging user experience and unprecedented efficiencies and access to usage data.

A software-defined AV system can deliver standards-based technology anyone can use, business outcomes tied to technology spend, and ongoing improvements from IoT insights.

Alpha Video released a white paper on Monday that provides an overview and analysis of competing IP protocols for television production. These protocols include AIMS, ASPEN, NewTek NDI, and Sony NMI.

Commenting on the white paper, Bryan Nelson, Alpha Video’s Broadcast Systems account executive (@BryanAlphaVideo), said, “One of the hottest topics at the National Association of Broadcasters conference held in April was the status of broadcast IP protocols. It was also one of the most confusing,” Nelson added. “Most of what we currently hear about this topic is being provided by the manufactures who support one or more of the protocols. This white paper was written to provide an unbiased and independent analysis of this technology.”

The white paper, entitled “Deconstructing Live IP,” is available as a free download.

• Identifying key trends and profit centers is an integral part of any AV integrator’s business, but it’s a job that often ends up in the “to-do” pile, untouched and forgotten.
• As the market for technologies such as LED screens reaches higher into the billions of dollars every year, this is one segment that is impossible to ignore.

With help from Nanolumens, we have brought together three key informational pieces that show the key benefits of using LED technology in your installations, as well as how to secure greater profitability in executing them. You’ll see examples of how this technology has been deployed to great success and gather some useful tips for your own business.

It’s as Easy as L-E-D

This new white paper will bring you up to date on the markets for LED screens by identifying ongoing and emerging trends, and outlining why LED screens are the best choice for customers. The statistics will surprise you and inspire your next project.

IX Center Installation Video

The enormous IX Center in Cleveland may be one of the largest exhibition spaces in the world, but LED screens that defy expectations help make it a more intimate space while delivering messaging from critical to profitable and all points between. LED panels curve 360 degrees and fit in spaces in ways that excite the imagination and create a larger than life presence. Watch the video and see how it’s done.

NanoLumens I-X Center Case Study from Window Frame Productions on Vimeo.

Phoenix Case Study

Digital displays were a fantasy when Bulpitt Auditorium at Phoenix University first opened in 1939. The process of modernizing this historic space while preserving its Art Deco/Early Mid Century design aesthetic was a challenge, but a multi-department team that included an architect was able to do that and also restore its natural lighting with LED technology.

In light of recent and well-publicized national security breaches, many organizations businesses are taking a closer look at how they protect their mission critical assets and resources — especially those which are highly sensitive and/or core to operational function. This is true in many vertical markets, including government, energy production, post production and many others.

Thinklogical, provider of KVM and video routing systems, is offering an industry white paper that explores best practices for designing KVM or video routing systems to help ensure more secure content.

According to the whitepaper, there are five basic criteria that should be followed:
• The system architecture should physically secure and separate the target of the attack (content or system operation) from the threat: people.
• The technologies used in the system should eliminate the ability to attack from a distance; that is, sniff or eavesdrop on the system.
• The system should allow the administrator to closely manage and control access in accordance with the organization’s security policies.
• The system should automatically and continuously monitor for and identify breaches.
• The system should be resilient; that is, it should be designed to not only withstand an attack, but also recover quickly following one.

Download the white paper, free of charge, here: thinklogical.com/white_papers

Q&A with Joe Pajer, president and CEO of Thinklogical

• AV Technology: What is the significance of this whitepaper for higher ed environments?
Joe Pajer: In today’s digital age, maintaining the security of confidential institutional and personal information is critical for all organizations. The white paper offers clear direction and common-sense best practices based on real-world examples that will help higher education technology managers and IT departments enhance their network infrastructure and improve their overall security practices while still supporting the institution’s mission.

• Can Thinklogical outline key best practices for university technology managers who need to meet the needs of thousands of on-site students, online learners, faculty, and staff?

Joe Pajer: Recent events have shown that the threat to institutional security often comes from within, whether it’s employees, contractors, or end users. Recognizing this, technology managers need to address how to best separate the data source (the PC or server) from the threat (the individual who may have malicious intent) while not compromising the need to maintain easy access to the data for legitimate uses.

From our experience, implementing an infrastructure that provides for moving the data source computers into more secure locations such as a data room or even an offsite facility, minimizing the ability to access the device and data via an external or USB drive or while still providing end users with control via a keyboard, video monitor, and mouse enhances the overall system security posture.

This separation of the PCs from the users can be up to several miles, using fiber optic cabling and Thinklogical equipment, with no noticeable degradation of performance or quality of the data or signal for the end user.

This type of infrastructure can be implemented in administrative offices, classrooms, libraries, common internet cafes and computer lounges, and other facilities where there are multiple public users accessing institutionally-managed computer assets.

• Will the increasing use of NFC and AirPrint wireless printing solutions from companies like Apple and Samsung affect network security?

Joe Pajer: Clearly, the proliferation of near field, Bluetooth, and wireless communications increases the potential exposure of confidential data to possible intrusion threats. Technology managers will need to embrace these productivity-enhancing capabilities but do so within the framework of a comprehensive data security architecture that minimizes the likelihood of a data breach while maximizing the end-user experience.

• What is a secure university system going to look like five years from now? What are the key elements/components/recipes for success?

Joe Pajer: Traditionally, university systems have been designed and developed with user needs and cost management as the top priorities. Technology managers will need to add data security and system access to the list of key requirements that must be addressed in designing university systems and procuring the software and hardware required. The challenge will be to continue to effectively support the university’s mission and ease of access for users while maintaining the highest level of security as is practical.

• PSAV has teamed with BrainStrength Systems to produce a White Paper—Audiovisual Technologies and Adult Learning in Meetings—which is now available from PSAV to help event planners better understand how a sensory-rich environment engages the brain, facilitates learning, enlivens the senses, and contributes to an enhanced meeting experience.
• PSAV is a supplier of audiovisual services and event technologies to hotels, associations, producers and meeting planners worldwide. The company provides a range of event technology and with more than 800 partner locations worldwide. BrainStrength Systems is a learning and performance organization dedicated to bringing the valuable information from current neuroscience to ordinary people for use in their lives and at work. The company works with organizations to improve performance and culture, and with meeting and learning professionals to support their work with the latest research and brain-compatible strategies.
• "Audiovisual technology has come a long way from its early days of overhead projectors to today's current usage of PowerPoint or Keynote slides, video, lighting, and music," said Meg Fasy, PSAV’s vice president of industry relations. "More aptly called event

echnologies, AV plays a very important part in what an audience experiences and how they learn and retain the meeting's message. While attendees look forward to the entertainment value that AV brings to an event, neuroscience is actually proving that these event technologies are enhancing learning and improving the entire meeting experience."

The PSAV/BrainStrength study found that people always demonstrate more learning in the following ways—see graphic at right.

"Everything we experience occurs through our senses: sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch," Fasy said. "Our brain registers and responds to everything in our environment and, with modern brain imaging technologies, neuroscientists are now able to pinpoint what’s happening in our brains as we undergo experiences. This allows us to identify how our brains interpret and respond to our world, and to use this information to design meeting environments and contexts that maximize learning and produce memorable attendee experiences. Only then are we achieving meeting objectives."

When information is presented orally through a presenter talking, studies reveal that individuals remember about 10 percent of it when tested three days later. This figure goes up to 65 percent when visual imagery (a picture vs. text) is added. Individuals have better recall for visual information, and several studies have shown that recognition doubles for a picture as compared to text.

"Our purpose in compiling and reporting on this research is to provide meeting planners and facility managers with an understanding of the vital role audiovisual technology plays in the meeting experiences that attendees have," Fasy said. "Often, AV is just an item on a checklist—simply a logistic that must be handled. If, instead, it is used intentionally to work with the brain’s capacities, audiovisual technologies can produce specific and targeted effects that maximize learning and memory, convey your message in memorable ways, and produce the meeting outcomes you desire.

"We invite everyone interested in learning more about how sensory learning impacts meetings to request a copy of Audiovisual Technologies and Adult Learning," she added. "By incorporating the principles presented in the White Paper, we guarantee that meetings will be more memorable."

To obtain a copy of the White Paper, click here.

Dynamax Technologies has released its latest white paper discussing the advantages of location-based visual communications for hospitality industry players.

The white paper presents the ways in which hotels and restaurants can use digital displays to develop multi-channel contact points with their stakeholders and improve their bottom line. Hoteliers and restaurateurs are offered examples of when, where and how to use the technology to connect with their guests as well as tips on creating appealing content for this medium.

‘Digital Signage for Hospitality’ presents the main differences between cloud-based and premise-based digital signage systems and provides readers with evaluation criteria for choosing the right solution for their needs.

The 28-page document includes references to other resources analyzing the role of technology in hospitality as well as industry-related statistics on the use of digital devices in this environment. The viewpoints of technology and marketing leaders on the emergence of location-based services and cloud-computing complete the discussion.

The white paper stresses the importance of multi-channel points of contact for engaging guests in a two-way conversation when they are most likely to respond. It continues by explaining how digital information boards and screens can be used to reinforce other communication channels such as social media or corporate websites, and what role they can play in the marketing and communications campaigns of hoteliers and restaurateurs.

‘Digital Signage for Hospitality’ is available for download from Dynamax’s website.

Minneapolis, MN--Vaddio has released a new white paper authored by S. Ann Earon, Ph.D., "Video in Education Paradigm Shift," which examines how the distribution of content is changing the way information is accessed, and how to make the best use of video technologies to engage students.

According to the white paper: "Building a consistent front end will allow schools, colleges and universities to teach from a consistent platform. The "back end", or engine, may change with new innovation. The objective is to understand that a consistent high-tech classroom can remain and grow. Tracking cameras for instructors, student cameras and touch-to-talk microphones for remote students, video whiteboards, high definition document cameras, and fully integrated computers will drive the content and make it easier to communicate.

The paradigm is changing. Classrooms and training rooms are becoming an important part of the decision process for CIOs and IT departments. Building a consistent and easy-to-use front end will allow students and educators to benefit from changes in technology, with only the back end components needing change. Distance learning, streaming, recording, distribution via web links are all readily available technologies. The engines will change and grow, but the consistency of the front end classroom will remain the single most important piece of the solution. Carefully selecting, quality front end products will allow organizations to cost effectively reap the benefits of video communications for many years without the need to constantly change all aspects of technology as the engines change."