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News – by Kristin Bidwell – March 22, 2024

AI & UC in 2024

  Over the past few years, we have witnessed an explosion of Unified Communication (UC) applications. Companies are working hard to provide an environment that allows for equitable meeting experiences for hybrid and remote employees. The goal is to remove all distractions and friction from the user experience to provide a comfortable and productive collaboration space. Audiovisual (AV) expertise should not be required to conduct a virtual meeting. Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) have made this possible. UC platforms are now smart enough to adjust volume, resize video images of participants to provide meeting equity for successful hybrid meetings, mute unwanted noise, take meeting notes, analyze communication, and assist with language barriers. AI can also provide metrics such as room temperature information and the number of participants in the meeting. Just one year ago, these features required user intervention. Those UC application companies that did not keep up with their competitors have already left the UC market. Technology is moving at a rapid pace. AI can also assist with jobs such as programming. AI can take on repetitive tasks so that traditional programmers can spend their efforts building customer-centric software solutions for a better user experience. Our job descriptions are beginning to shift. It is important that businesses plan ahead for a future with AI. Training in technology and soft skills can help ensure success for your employees and your business. We will begin to see Augmented Reality (AR) combined with AI in the meeting space. For example, if you have not seen the new Apple Vision Pro goggles for spatial computing, I suggest you check them out. Technologies such as this provide new pathways for AR and AI to disrupt the market. I would love to use these, or a technology similar to Vision Pro, in the field to easily verify shop drawings and construction conditions while I have my team or the client on a videoconferencing call. Or in our meeting spaces to review drawing packages with clients and navigate these coordination meetings using my hands, voice, and eyes. This type of application can also transform remote training videos into interactive spaces for learning. I foresee mixed reality along with AI creating completely new meeting and learning environments in the not-so-distant future. January 11, 2024

News – by Kristin Bidwell – March 23, 2024

AV & Acoustics for Videoconferencing

Is your videoconferencing system unintelligible?  Have you installed a videoconferencing system just to find that your lack of acoustical treatment makes everything unintelligible? If it sounds bad in the room, imagine how remote participants feel! Through a properly design AV system with the right acoustical treatment, your space can look, feel and sound amazing! The Conference Room  Office spaces provide a variety of areas for collaboration. This is one of the key factors in having employees in-office. If the rooms aren't functioning properly it is discouraging for all parties. We typically see conference rooms with large windows and reflective walls, large conference tables, and dual displays or video walls. All of these elements are reflective in nature making these spaces problematic and defeating their main purpose - video conferencing.  AV & Acoustics Luckily, we have seen a shift in technology such as ceiling microphone capabilities where sound can be directed towards a speaker and not cover the entire space. These microphones are often designed into today's conference rooms. Taking that one step further, these ceiling microphones can be custom wrapped in acoustic material to not only match the interior design on the ceiling, but also provide additional absorption for the space.  When acoustical treatment is not incorporated into a space properly, reflections can make audio unintelligible, making participants lose focus, fatigued, and uninterested in collaborating. To assist with acoustical absorption, we can visit your office and provide an analysis that will inform us on how much coverage you require for your videoconferencing needs. There are many solutions available to meet your aesthetics and acoustical requirements.  If you are interested in learning more about AV and acoustical design for your videoconferencing space, feel free to connect with us! We look forward to helping you with your next project! 3/24/2024

News – by Kristin Bidwell – August 21, 2024

AV & The Olympics - Part 1

The Olympics were amazing! The display of good sportsmanship and love for all countries was felt at the events and throughout the city. People of all cultures got along. They were happy, supportive, and grateful to be there. Of course, I could not help but notice the audiovisual systems that were utilized during the games and how sustainability was one of the driving forces behind the selected technology. With an increased labor shortage and an increase in network demand, manufacturers met Paris' sustainability requirements with energy efficient solutions. A few key takeaways are listed below: AVoIP - Panasonic used its Kairos IP/IT platform to deliver content to stadiums and Fan Zones across the city. A single Kairos Core produced content for up to three venues. This simplified workflow and streamlined operations. AVoIP was the core live production platform of the 2024 Olympics broadcast operations. Smaller Projectors - There were 130 laser projectors installed. This was the largest deployment of projectors ever seen at the Olympics. However, Panasonic used compact and lightweight projectors - some of the smallest and brightest projectors on the market and 40% smaller than its predecessor. This reduction in size led to reduced labor requirements minimizing transportation, storage and installation efforts, and reduced the carbon footprint of the games. Remote Management – By using remote management services, operators were able to manage large-scale, multi-projection systems from the cloud and address issues such as image misalignment due to vibrations from a remote location. Implementing sustainable design not only met Paris' energy goals but improved the overall experience of the games for techs, athletes, and fans. I encourage AV designers, manufacturers, and integrators to see the win-win of sustainable design. Overall, this was a once in a lifetime experience. Congratulations to Paris and the audiovisual companies involved with the Olympic Games. A job well done!   Sources: PANASONIC GEARS UP TO PLAY A PIVOTAL ROLE SUPPORTING THE OLYMPIC AND PARALYMPIC GAMES PARIS 2024 | Devices | Products & Solutions | Press Release | Panasonic Newsroom Global Panasonic Signs Official Worldwide Olympic Partnership Agreement | Sponsorship & Events | Sponsorship & Events | Feature Story | Panasonic Newsroom Global *Panasonic is mentioned in this article as an example only. AVCT is an independent consulting firm and was not paid to promote this company. We do not play favorites; we specify what is best for our clients on a per project basis.