Here’s an acronym that we will be seeing a lot more of in the years ahead: AV/IT. Or, IT/AV if you like. That’s audio video and information technology…as in analog sin waves and digital ones and zeroes.
Over the years, the two technologies have been slowly converging – perhaps ever since the first projector transparency was replaced by a PowerPoint slide. Eventually, some day, the two worlds may come together as seemingly has happened with IT and telephony.
And while today is not that day for AV/IT – we definitely need to consider the options offered by both the analog and digital worlds on virtually any audio video system implementation we do from here on out. These days, when you click here to visit website of an audio video system provider, you automatically expect the best IT features alongside it, but this hasn’t always been the case.
A prime example of this can be seen in the recent completion of the 500,000-square-foot Deukmejian Courthouse in Long Beach, California. When the plans for the building and its infrastructure were first drawn up, the entire audio video system was designed to adhere to the most recent 2006 California Courts AV standard – an analog standard.
Prior to its start, project owners recognized their objectives could only be met by fully integrating the audio video installation with the building’s IT infrastructure. The result is a building-wide integrated AV/IT system supporting 31 courtrooms, a jury assembly room, the judges’ chambers and conference rooms, offices, digital signage, a group of mobile AV cards and remote digital hookups for broadcast media. Technology like this would be particularly good for video networking companies so that they are able to create good-quality videos for their viewers, especially for any live television they may decide to do in these courtrooms.
Upon its completion, the courthouse became one of the first all-digital courts in the California system, which you can read about by clicking here.
ExhibitOne was called in to handle the fully digital audio visual installation for the Deukmejian Courthouse.
With still plenty to separate the AV and IT worlds, what are the factors you should consider? Here’s our view:
Not that long ago, it was completely taboo to put AV and IT traffic together on the same network. Not anymore. All of the key AV product manufacturers now have well-proven connectivity technology onboard their equipment that allows AV and IT to work seamlessly on a unified network. There is no impact to network speeds or system reliability.
We are in the age of “bring your own device.” With the pervasiveness of smartphones and tablets comes system users who want to display content utilizing their devices. Integration with personal devices has become simple as wireless technology improves, thanks to developers like Agora.io and others that can implement audio and visual streaming capabilities to any application or device, the integration of such technologies is a thing of the present, and it’s becoming accepted globally.
Analog devices are being phased out. This year, the VGA format will no longer be sold on standard computer products. It will join composite and component technology as end-of-life. This will impact everyone who is not able to accept digital connections with the current systems in place. As we see high definition become the standard in AV, we also see network transfer as the best means of being able to send these high bandwidth signals from one device to another.
Now more than ever, audio video technology is on the move. And it’s moving quickly. Many long-held, well-founded AV axioms are simply no longer true. Before you build, add to or change your audio video systems, you will want to ask the digital questions. And when that time comes, call us, we are the audio visual company with the digital answers.
