Creating Control Systems That Work the Way People Do

At E1 Audiovisual Technologies, we view control system programming as the brain behind every AV experience. Yes—the flashing LEDs in the rack look impressive, and the large display at the front of the room is hard to miss. But the real magic happens in the background, where each device communicates seamlessly with the next to create a smooth, effortless user experience. 

In today’s AV world, systems often blend technology from multiple manufacturers. That’s when things get interesting. Making all those components feel like one unified system—simple to operate, intuitive to navigate, and reliable in every scenario—is both the challenge and the craft. And it’s exactly what E1 specializes in. 

Our programming approach always begins with the end user in mind. Their workflow, their habits, their expectations — these guide every design choice we make. Here’s how we bring that philosophy to life: 

Step 1: Programming Discovery Meeting 

We start by gathering the people who matter most: the individuals who will use the system every day. Through conversation and collaboration, we uncover their needs, preferred workflows, interface expectations, and what “easy to use” truly means to them. Their insight becomes the blueprint for an effective control design. 

Step 2: Interactive Touch Panel Mockup 

Next, we create an interactive mockup using the control processor. This is where the interface begins to take shape. Clients can explore page layouts, navigation flow, button placement, and visual styling — giving them an early, hands-on preview of their future system. 

Step 3: Client Review and Approval 

Once the mockup is refined, we present it for formal approval. This step ensures alignment before coding begins, allowing our team to move forward with confidence, precision, and clarity. 

Step 4: System Simulation and Pre-Testing 

While the physical equipment is being built and assembled, our software team simulates the entire system in-house. Displays, audio components, routing logic, and control behaviors are all emulated to mirror how the final installation will perform. Clients are invited to see and interact with this simulation — essentially test-driving the system before it ever arrives on site.

This approach reflects years of experience and proven best practices, ensuring every system we deliver is functional, intuitive, and ready to perform from day one—without surprises and without complications. More importantly, it reinforces our commitment to thoughtful design. When control system programming is done well, it doesn’t draw attention to itself. It simply works in the background, responding naturally and predictably to the people using it.

That’s what we mean when we talk about creating control systems that work the way people do. They follow real workflows. They anticipate common actions. They adapt to how a room is actually used. And when technology aligns with human behavior in that way, the result is seamless, dependable performance—every time.