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Category: Guest Blogs

  • Why you should switch from static to Digital Signage in 2021

    Why you should switch from static to Digital Signage in 2021

    In the current marketing landscape, choosing between traditional and digital signage solutions is crucial for most businesses. Generally, businesses should opt for signage solutions that improve customer experience, provoke an emotional response, and meet brand aesthetics and style. While static signage has improved from the handprints and proved its effectiveness over several years, most businesses opt for digital signage solutions, which is the current evolutionary trend that has surpassed static signage boundaries.

    Static vs Digital Signage

    Over time, static signage has been the backbone of indoor and outdoor signage with two main functions; informing and decorating. Widely known as out-of-home advertising, this includes the use of customized signs for interior and exterior branding of vehicles, buildings, billboards, street furniture, stands, and banners. This option enables businesses to decorate both the interior and exterior with welcome signs, stickers, vinyl letterings, and more.

    On the other hand, digital signs include any electronic display that advertises and informs through audio, texts, video walls, and animation. The main differentiating factor between digital and static is that the content in digital signs can be changed with ease and customized to deliver specific information to the target audience. This is a key solution for businesses looking to complement the current tech revolutions.

    Benefits of Digital Signage over Static Signage

    Below are some reasons you should switch from static to digital signage;

    1. Capture and Increase Customer Attention

    The effectiveness of digital solutions in capturing audience attention and increasing awareness cannot be compared to static marketing options. This is beneficial for your business in several ways. Humans are naturally visual learners with very short attention spans. However, compared to static signs, digital solutions are excellent for attracting and holding their attention. Videos increase attention and help customers learn with ease.

    A good application of digital signs’ effectiveness in grabbing attention is in spreading emergency information in real-time. In case of an emergency, you can leverage the attention-grabbing benefits of this solution to direct your viewers and employees on how to handle the situation. The option also significantly decreases customers’ perceived wait time. Most customers are drawn to videos. Therefore, with engaging content, time seemingly passes faster.

    Most tech-advanced businesses understand this concept. For instance, restaurants often hand out menus to customers waiting for their orders. This distracts for several minutes before their orders are ready. Retail locations can also install display screens to distract customers with product videos, news, sporting events, or weather reports.

    2. Empower Customers

    Digital signage not only enables businesses to distribute content but also empowers customers to control the content. This is possible in the following ways;

    • Customers can make their own purchase decisions – most customers, especially millennials, prefer making individual purchase decisions without the influence of salespeople. Interactive digital signage features demo videos and other options that customers can engage with before making a purchase decision. This also decreases employee workload.
    • Provide wayfinding features – digital signs’ interactivity eliminates the static maps, offering intuitive wayfinding tools for customers, new guests, and visitors in your business. Visitors can easily browse through various directories, request custom directions, and more.
    • Provide Customer Entertainment – a study by ULI concluded that half of the millennial men and 70 percent of women consider shopping a source of entertainment that should be shared with family and friends. Digital signs make it easy to entertain and woo such customers. Retail stores can share anything from news, videos, and more on your digital screens.
    3. Improve Internal Communication

    Digital signs are not only beneficial for communicating with customers and prospects. They also ease internal communication with your employees. They benefit businesses in the following ways;

    • Easily share business updates – digital signs are a good option if you need to get your staff or departmental team on the same page, regardless of their location. You can send consistent messages to multiple offices in different locations in a single click.
    • Training staff – digital signs are also effective training tools. Companies can use tutorials and videos when training new staff. Besides, you can provide continuous training by stocking several resources that employees can easily access if they need a refresher.
    • Motivation – digital signage is an effective motivation tool for any sales staff. Digital screens are good leaderboards that inspire staff to present the product accurately and competitively.
    4. Financial Benefits

    Besides promoting your products and services, digital signage is also a good source of revenue. The financial benefits include;

    • Renting ad space for non-competing products – with the attention of highly-engaged customers, you can rent out spaces to other complementing and non-competing products and businesses. Other businesses can market their products and services as brief clips and banners on the screen.
    • No replacement signs are needed – unlike static signage, you can change the content on digital signs at little or no cost in a short time over the internet. You can update content regularly without having to purchase new signs. Digital displays spread out across the country can be changed remotely simultaneously. This improves your products’ professional appearance, as there won’t be crossed-off or outdated information in your signage.
    • Eliminates strain on human resources – informative and intuitive digital billboards eliminate the need of employing guides who can direct customers, visitors, and guests. Similarly, there is no need to hire new people when you need to change the ads. Simply sign in to your content management system to make the changes with a single click.
    5. Analytics

    Unlike static signs, digital signage provides insightful and beneficial analytics about your business. Integrating your digital signage solution with digital signage analytics software helps in capturing several insightful information. For instance, the solution can report on the most searched products. If product sales are not consistent with analytics reports, you can consider lowering the price or improving customers’ perceived value.

    Such information wouldn’t be apparent with static signage, especially if customers left your store without making inquiries. Digital displays can also be fitted with video cameras that capture every shopper’s eye movements. This reveals areas within the display that capture the most attention.

    6. Repurpose Social Media Content

    The power of social media, especially Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter, in influencing and enticing shoppers is unmatched. However, creating social media posts and running these campaigns can be challenging. Fortunately, with good social media content, you can repurpose and use it in digital signage without necessarily having to create new digital content for your digital signage solutions. Various apps make it easier to select and use your entire social media feed.

    Bottom Line

    Digital signs are better than static ad solutions in many aspects. While the initial installation cost of new electronic signage can be high, it provides assured returns on investment. It also saves the environment, space and creates an instant wow effect. However, you should consider several factors to enjoy these benefits.

    For instance, choosing the best digital signage hardware, software, reliable WI-FI, and signage player are key. You should as well do your research and create dynamic content that suits your brand. Apart from social media feed streams, you can use captivating ads, promotional information, customer testimonials, and product reviews.

  • Connecting our indoor and outdoor world with biophilic design

    Connecting our indoor and outdoor world with biophilic design

    People spend more than 70% of our time inside a building. Yet we have a deep connection with the natural world. This dichotomy is the root of two recent design trends.

    One trend is biophilic design, where an effort is made to connect the indoors and outdoors. This is done by opening up buildings to natural views while also physically bringing elements of nature inside.

    Connecting the indoor and outdoor world with Draper

    There are many other ways you can fit AV into biophilic design. For instance, a videowall can be used to display natural content. We humans like context, though, so an even better solution would be a custom trim frame that looks like a window frame. Also, use lifts to hide AV equipment in ceilings, walls, or floors when not in use. And don’t forget the importance of using natural light while mitigating glare and heat gain! Automated roller shades can be integrated into the home or building control system to improve comfort and make it easier to view projected or flat panel content.

    The other trend takes the opposite approach, moving the indoors outdoors.

    Outdoor spaces have become more important than ever during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially in the residential and commercial markets. They offer the benefits of a connection with nature. Adding outdoor space is a cheaper option than bricks and mortar for expanding the footprint of a business or home.

    Here are a few ways to stretch the capacity of a building and blur the line between indoors and outdoors:

    Create a four-season space.
    Existing structures such as garages or pergolas can be used year-round in many areas. Installing exterior shades with side channels keeps out rain, reduces noise, and controls heat and glare. With outdoor heaters it isn’t out of the question for employees and customers to make use of the space all winter in some areas. It also makes it more feasible to include AV whatever the weather.

    Extend the seasons.
    As businesses invest more in outdoor spaces, they want to extend their usage for a better ROI. If there is no existing detached structure, retractable exterior shades can help you get more use of covered patio areas. For decks without a roof, adding a louver system that can be opened or closed can also let you make use of your outdoor space for a longer period. Integrate these systems with outdoor AV for a better experience—i.e., reduce glare on screens and lower noise levels from outside.

    Create multiple outdoor areas.
    Don’t limit yourself to a single large outdoor space. By creating multiple outdoor “rooms,” you can allow more customers and employees to enjoy the outdoors simultaneously with a greater sense of intimacy and safety. Retractable shades can be lowered to create separate areas for eating, chatting, watching movies, and other activities, and to improve social distancing between groups. They can also be left up to create larger spaces.

    Visually link the indoors and outdoors.
    Use colors and plants near windows and doors to create a natural transition between indoor and outdoor spaces. Display views of nature on screens near the exits to help with the transition. Interior or exterior shades in natural colors can keep out glare when necessary and provide some privacy while allowing views through to the outside when the shades are down.

    Exterior shades are an excellent solution for bringing any of these concepts to life. They offer several benefits:

    • Reduce heat gain
    • Reduce glare
    • Resist wind
    • Resist insects
    • Reduce noise
    • Provide privacy

    Exterior zipper style shades are also great for keeping the rain away. Many outdoor spaces use clear plastic barriers when it starts raining. By using exterior shades people are kept dry with a more aesthetically appealing solution that still allows view-through!

    Integrate into control system for maximum performance.
    Exterior shades and screens should be seen as part of the overall project. They easily integrate into smart home or whole building automation systems. Use groups to create an outdoor room with a single button press, have shades deploy when the screen or other AV equipment is activated, or have the shade location determined by the time of day and location and orientation of the building.

  • How to maximize a mission-critical environment with a video wall controller

    How to maximize a mission-critical environment with a video wall controller

    Are you looking to maximize your mission control room’s capabilities with a better-functioning video wall? Well, there’s one surefire way to do just that: by investing in the best video wall controller.

    Why Do I Need A Video Wall Controller?

    A video wall will be at the core of any properly functioning mission-critical environment. It is basically a set-up of multiple monitors, over which a single image is split and other significant data overlaid. It allows everyone in the room to have eyes on all of the most important and up-to-date information all at once.

    If you want to make the most of your video wall, though, you’ll need to get yourself a controller.

    Video wall controllers are devices that let you customize the output on your video wall. They give you more power over the display and make things more flexible. So, if you need to have tabs on multiple inputs while keeping everything on your display looking tidy and readable, then it’s definitely a good idea to invest in one.

    People used to be put off investing because of the cost. These days, though, products in the video wall controller markets have become a lot more affordable. In addition to the lower price, modern controllers very often come complete with improved capabilities, too! With graphic application windows, direct signal inputs, and options for remote management, you’re much more likely to get your money’s worth with a video wall controller nowadays.

    So, here’s how you can go about finding a controller that does exactly what you need it to do, and for a relatively reasonable price.

    Where Can I Get A Video Wall Controller?

    Finding the perfect video wall controller starts with finding the right place to buy one from.

    There are a number of places you can go, with plenty of big-name tech brands keeping a foot in the door of this constantly evolving market. You can even find video wall controllers on online marketplaces like Amazon!

    However, the role that video wall controllers play in the performance of mission control rooms is absolutely vital. As such, it is best to go with a specialized provider, with plenty of research and expert insights to back up their products and services. You are far more likely to find the right product for your company if you do that, and to get the support you need once you’ve made the purchase.

    You should also be on the lookout for superior quality products that are comprehensive, wholly reliable, and offer a great price-to-performance balance.

    What Type Of Video Wall Controller Do I Need?

    Your video wall controller will need to meet the mark, no matter what it is you do. After all, all of the work that gets done in any mission-critical environment is dependent on the quality of the display of information. If your control room’s display is slow to update or hard to read, that’s inevitably going to impact how well people can do their jobs.

    In a mission control room, you’ll definitely need a hardware-based controller that runs on a range of processing chipsets. These are far more advanced than software-based processors, which are intended for PC and video gaming. The controller than you go for should be able to split an image over multiple screens while also displaying a wide range of other visual data wherever on the video wall you want it to go. For that, you’ll need something that is heavy duty and durable.

    Ideally, you’ll get a controller that can be easily tailored to your needs. Whether you want to overlay live video from multiple sources or you require input from several different remote and local monitors, your controller should make it really simple to manage the input on your video wall. You just can’t waste valuable time with convoluted processes when you’re working in mission control.

    And, with many mission control rooms running at all hours of the day and night, you really do have to get a controller that can cope with whatever you need to throw at it.

    What Video Wall Controllers Work Best In Mission-Critical Control Rooms?

    The performance and dependability of a video wall controller will be absolutely key in any mission-critical environment. And there are a number of models out there that are more than up to the task.

    For example, you can browse a wide selection of devices from brands such as Barco, Extron, Assured Systems, and AO Open.

    But, while there are a number of video wall controllers that will likely be able to meet the demands of a mission control room, you might as well invest in one that has been designed explicitly for such an environment.

    The Mitsubishi Electric DG-X11K7 Video Wall Controller is a good example. This controller is designed to fit seamlessly into large control rooms that focus on everything from critical facilities to process control services.

    It is compatible with vision capture, image graphics, and ActiveSQX decoding cards, making it highly customizable. The DG-X11K7 also doesn’t compromise on speed, with either a 7th generation Intel® Corei7 or high performance dual E5 Xeonn processor helping to keep it up to pace at all times.

    The DEXON DXN5200 Video Wall Controller is another device that is designed explicitly for demanding, mission-critical environments. It can support a video wall of multiple screens, and makes things very easy to customize. With a Windows-10 graphics desktop interface, multiple sources of input can easily be managed and positioned on the video wall by multiple people working on different monitors. It can even support multiple video walls at once! This helps to make managing a more complex mission control room as straightforward as possible.

    However, not all mission control rooms are the same. Some might be used in, say, infrastructure management while others will be for security supervision purposes. As a result, some are going to require a more specialized video wall and controller.

    If, then, your mission control room is dedicated to security management, you might consider DEXON’s DXN5600/5800 video wall controller. This is designed to support input from 500+ IP Cameras in different locations, without affecting load time.

    Or, you can opt for the Genetec VuScape Video Wall Controller. Operated using simple drag-and-drop functions, you can easily display live video camera footage in sequences or playback streams, depending on the needs of your organization.

    With remote management capabilities and a range of supported features, effective security management is a breeze with the VuScape video wall controller.

  • A Heartfelt Thank You to the AV Community

    A Heartfelt Thank You to the AV Community

    An Open Letter to the AV Industry

    by: Joe Way, PhD, CTS

    Growing up with very little, I found that as the years went on, I began to value the physical
    blessings, job titles, and recognitions I earned more than just about anything. I became
    someone who believed my worth lied in my accomplishments. I mean, that is how you prove
    you have “made it,” right? I didn’t seek to keep up with the Joneses, I wanted the Joneses to try
    to keep up with me. Plainly and simply, I have always loved the rush that comes with starting
    something new—whether it be a business, job, or organization—and then becoming one of the
    single best at it. I hate failure; and to me, the more “things” I could collect meant the less times
    I had failed.

    On December 15, 2020, one of the most devastating things happened to me and my family. We
    lost our home, three cars, and nearly all our earthly possessions to an electrical house fire. One
    minute I’m returning business emails and recording a podcast episode, the next I’m watching
    my garage all but disappear in flames within the span of a three-minute call to 911. Adding to
    the pain, the fire spread to our neighbor’s home; they too were deemed a total loss. Yet, we
    thank God we all got out safely… including the pets. Even still, over a month and a half later, I
    feel pain when I think about the “things” that are no more, just as if the fire had happened
    yesterday.

    C.S. Lewis wrote that “when we lose one blessing, another is often most unexpectedly given in
    its place” (1967). That which I lost was not replaced (at least not yet), and while my life and
    comfort were both heavily displaced, I discovered a fresh new feeling of security and hope from
    a very unanticipated place. You.

    Yes, you.

    While it may not be apparent to many people because of my very public persona, I am actually
    quite the loner. I’d much rather be passively observing. I am a conflict avoider. My safe space is
    by myself. And therefore, when I lost it all, I had nowhere to hide. I was exposed, lost, scared. I
    felt something I hadn’t in a long time… vulnerable. But, I did what I was supposed to as the
    leader of the household; I put on the fake smile and took many deep breathes behind the
    scenes in order to appear strong for my family. Deep inside, well, that was a different story… I
    was—and honestly still am—weak. My faith in the Lord propelled me, it guided me, it became
    my rock, but something very unforeseen inspired me. You.

    Yes, you.

    Just hours after checking into a hotel for the night, a call came in from the front desk. “You have
    a delivery.” “Thanks, I’ll be right down.” No sooner than returning to my hotel room with the
    beautifully wrapped package of wine and gift card for dinner, the phone rang once again. “Dr.
    Way, you have another package here at the front de… actually you have two more.” Somehow,
    someway, people were finding out where we were staying and sprang into action. The texts,
    emails, calls, and Tweets began to flood in. At the time, I was in no shape—physically, mentally,
    or emotionally—to answer the calls or respond to each notification. However, with each new
    ding on my phone, I knew more and more, things are going to be ok. Somehow, someday,
    things are going to be ok. The next morning, we woke up to meet the insurance adjuster at our
    house; by the time we returned to the hotel after lunch, there was that familiar red flashing
    light on the late 90’s corded phone. “Good afternoon, we have some deliveries here for you.”
    “Ok, I’ll be right down.” “You’re going to need a few trips. We can just let you borrow a valet
    cart if you want.” I return to the room with box after box, envelope after envelope. And then in
    one moment of rush, I cried. Amy cried. We cried. And I knew everything would be ok because
    of selfless acts of love and compassion from the most unexpected of places. You.

    Yes, you.

    As we sat down to start going through all the deliveries Amy asks, “who are all these from?”
    These are from my colleagues at this university, and that university. These are from some of my
    vendors. These are from people I know from my Sunday morning Twitter conversations. And
    then, there’s this one: “Hi Joe. I am praying for you and your family. You don’t know me, but I
    listen to your podcast every week. I heard what happened to you, and felt I needed to do
    something. You have changed my life and helped me in my career. I want you to know we are
    all here for you and are praying for you. God bless you and your family; I hope you come out
    stronger in the end.” Enter… tears. Enter… silence. Indeed, we are stronger, and getting
    stronger every day. And that is only because of the answered prayers for strength that have
    come from the most humbling of places. You.

    Yes, you.

    And then it happened. The GoFundMe. The moment I would forever believe in the hope of
    humanity and know the “community” of AV people we often talk about is more than just a
    community, it is a refuge. It was not the act so much of setting it up (which I am indeed
    extremely thankful but would be way too shy and probably too proud to have done myself), but
    of all the selfless acts of over 250 people wanting to make a difference for me and my family.
    And another hundred who wanted to do something privately. Many I knew well; some I have
    never met. Articles were written throughout our various industry publications, podcast
    episodes were dedicated, and shoutouts came from everywhere. My family was flooded with
    messages of hope, prayers for peace and safety, gracious warmth, and… love. Throughout my
    entire life, I can honestly say, I have never felt so cared for. At a time when I didn’t know what I
    needed, you took the initiative to act… That should tell us all we ever need to know about you.

    Yes, you.

    The phrase, “I can’t thank you enough,” just doesn’t sound like, well, enough. What do I do
    now? How do I say thank you to an entire industry? How do I begin to repay you even in the
    slightest? Where do I begin? In his second book of poetry, John Bunyan wrote: “You have not
    lived today until you have done something for someone who can never repay you” (1684). The
    sentiment in that quote never felt so true, so impactful, so profound, until I was on the
    receiving end it. When we perform even the smallest deeds out of selfless compassion for
    others, life change happens. When we turn toward others in their time of need, life change
    happens. When we say through our actions, “everything is going to be ok, we’re here for you,”
    life change happens. Lives are restored, renewed, and revived. Lives get back on track, dig
    themselves out of the rubble, and stand strong in faith-filled confidence. My life was changed
    because of you.

    Yes, you.

    If there’s a lesson to learn, it’s more than you are all awesome. That’s a given. If there’s a lesson
    to learn, it’s more than a testament to the fact that our people are here to help when the need
    arises and tragedy strikes. That’s a given. If there’s a lesson to learn, it is this… We are as strong
    as we stay united and as weak as we allow others to fall apart. When we come together as an
    industry, we can accomplish great things. I know that. I… felt… that. I pray that the response to
    my tragedy was just the tip of the iceberg to the power of what can be realized when we
    recognize we are all in this together. My life was changed. Now it is time to change everyone
    else’s, especially those who do not share the same spotlight I have been blessed to fill.

    I pray we seek those in our industry who are suffering in the shadows due to any number of
    reasons from natural disasters and personal tragedies of their own, to mental and physical
    health, to financial difficulty caused by the pandemic slowing in our industry. I pray that 2021
    be the year we turn misfortune into blessing and pain into faith. I vow that moving forward my
    platform will be used as a place of community, support, learning, and comfort for everyone in
    the AV industry. It will start with me, and all because of you.

    Yes, me. Yes, you.

    Joe Way, PhD, CTS, is the Director of Learning Environments at the University of Southern California, in Los Angeles, CA and AV Nation 2019 AV Professional of the Year. He is the host and editor-in-chief of the Higher Ed AV podcast and digital magazine, and serves as the co-founder and acting chair of the Higher Education Technology Managers Alliance (HETMA.org), aimed at connecting the higher ed tech manager community and advocating for their common audiovisual needs. He is the author of the bestselling book, Producing Worship: A Theology of Church Technical Arts, is a regular contributor to leading AV-industry media outlets and podcasts, and serves on the AVIXA Tech Managers and Diversity Councils. Joe is an Orange County, CA, native with over 25 years’ experience in education, technical production and the arts, and organizational leadership and management. Over his career, Dr. Way has received diverse awards in the areas of education, the arts, and business, and is a regular keynote speaker and writer for AV-industry and higher ed conferences and media outlets.

  • Audiovisual industry poised to help offices, retail open during COVID-19

    Audiovisual industry poised to help offices, retail open during COVID-19

    AV Pros leverage display, digital signage, and panel technology

    By Hermann Cheung, Chief Product Officer, Glory Star Group

    As industries and businesses reopen, those operating and working in healthcare field are seeking solutions that will help them continue to offer annual exams and routine medical services during the pandemic. In order to limit the exposure to COVID-19, they have instituted additional protocols. These measures include frequently sanitizing waiting and exam rooms, donning face masks, maintaining social distancing recommendations wherever possible, limiting the number of occupants, and setting up numerous hand sanitizer stations throughout facilities. To further strengthen their lines of defense, health facilities are also screening each visitor’s temperature before allowing entry.

    Taking a person’s temperature is an age-old tool for assessing health. Invented in 1867 by Sir Thomas Allbut, the first medical thermometer took 5 minutes for an accurate reading. Today, people are accustomed to digital ear and temporal scanners with a 30-second to 2-minute readout. Although this isn’t a significant amount of time during a doctor’s appointment, it’s considerable when being scanned to enter a building. Minutes can add up, resulting in lengthy queues that can increase infection risks.

    AV Professionals Expertise

    In addition to slowing down building access, most of these thermometers touch the skin and be operated by personnel, which make them poor solutions for public temperature screenings in the era of social distancing. In response, the market has opened up with contact-less gun-style temperature readers as well as ones that scan wrists. However, these products create their own problems. First, the operator must be in close range or a person must come in close contact with a surface; second, gun-style readers  instinctively drive up anxiety because there is a “gun” being held up to the forehead, creating a poor experience in an already stressful time. Visitors to buildings using wrist readers must be trained how to hold up their wrists, often inadvertently touching the reader.

    For the AV industry, solving problems isn’t just about choosing any solution to the get the job done. Integrators have long been experts at selecting and installing technology that also creates a positive experience for users. Furthermore, no one understands the limited resource of time and how it impacts the user experience like pro AV manufacturers and integrators.

    Through continuous advancement of audio, video, and control technology, pro AV manufacturers have made even the most mundane daily tasks effortless and efficient. In the past decade, IoT-based equipment and algorithms, such as control tablets with built-in motion and temperature sensors, have been developed. These solutions automatically sense the environment, then intelligently and accurately respond to affect change that achieves an expected user experience and outcome.

    Audiovisual Display Technology

    Similar technology can be now be used to assist healthcare facilities to safely reopen. In this case, a commercial tablet, such as Glory Star’s TAURI Temperature Check tablet, equipped with high-quality temperature sensors and integrated with facial detection software becomes a sophisticated and accurate temperature check station. It recognizes when someone is standing in front of it from up to 3 feet away, zeros in on the person, and scans their temperature. It only takes a matter of seconds without the need for staff to operate it.

    Based on the reading, the tablet can provide visitors with the appropriate message, such as, “Please proceed to the check-in desk.” Or for those with an above-normal reading, it might read, “Please wait here for assistance,” so that person can be handled with care and according to the office temperature policy.

    Unlike a temperature gun or wrist reader, a table feels familiar and people know what to do around them, be it an Apple iPad, Amazon Kindle, or a checkout kiosk. According to Pew Research, roughly half of all adults in the U.S. own tablets.

    In addition to making temperature checks as seamless, accurate, and natural as possible, another concern is maintaining privacy and protecting personal medical information. A commercial-grade tablet equipped with an HDMI output can send results to a secondary screen, such as one located at a nurse’s station, ensuring results are kept confidential.

    A commercial-grade tablet also opens up other opportunities and achieves greater ROI than a single-use temperature gun or wrist reader. For example, TAURI also integrates with access control systems, adding another layer of protection. With options to upload messages or digital signage images, a facility can also push out information on insurance, events, or advertisements. Even long after temperature checks are no longer required, a facility can continue to leverage it for other needs.

    While COVID-19 has forever changed the dynamic of the world, the pro AV industry has already begun to step up and do what it’s always done: make experiences easier.

  • Focusing on what you can do now

    Focusing on what you can do now

    Five things you can do to stay sane as the world collectively slows down

    Focus on what can be done at a time like this, when the world slows and all are in a similar position. Things that you never have time for, that get de-prioritized because other, more pressing issues take the lead. Here are five things you can do to stay sane.

    #1 Opportunity: Buff up your website

    1. Get website updates & enhancement done. It’s not often we get the gift of lower website traffic around the globe. Take advantage of this by handling updates, enhancements, and make sure all plug-ins and security updates are done. Be sure you’re sharing data or access with only those who are deemed critical to your site’s operation.
    2. Look at the language and images your site uses. Is it up to date and using the same language, tone, and approach as you and your team? If not, update it. Ask your team what they’d suggest and if you can, also as your closest clientele to share thoughts on how your brand presents itself to the outside world. Start a punch list and work from easiest to hardest so you don’t overwhelm yourself or those you’re asking for input.
    3. Take a look at SEO and how you might be able to attract new prospects or trades to your brand, start a list of keywords, phrases, and competitors you want to monitor closely. SEO MOZ offers a host of free tools and more if you want to pay. https://moz.com/free-seo-tools.

    #2 Update your Social Media profiles

    1. Now’s a very, very good time to invest in a wholesale review of you and your company’s social media profiles and overall presence. Are your profiles, contact info, hashtags, URL, and related information still current? Are the images used for the Cover and Profile sections as high-quality and on-point as they should be and do they reflect you and your company’s current offering? Is the language being used appropriate, effective, and targeting your intended audience? Update passwords and initiate 2-step verification where it’s offered.
    2. Do a thorough review of who you follow and who follows you,  and eliminate all that aren’t relevant to you, your company, or its offering. High follower counts do not equal a high-performing feed or following, period.
    3. Check other connections. Look at the platforms and who they or you are sharing your information with. If you don’t recognize any that you see, delete or disconnect them.

    #3 Introduce yourself to “adjacent trades”

    1. “Adjacent trades” are those who you or your company may interact with on projects and would include architects, designers, specifiers, etc. Now is a great time to reach out to them with a brief introduction of your services and offering and ways you and your company could be beneficial to them in the future. Don’t pitch or sell, just share and seek a connection down the road.
    2. Offer to do a short 30-minute webinar for the adjacent trades or the contacts you’ve made within them, specifically. Give them the knowledge and resources they need to make you and your firm part of the future work and follow up in 30-days. 
    3. If you’ve got an AIA or other course that offers CEU make that content available to them online, on-demand, etc. 

    #4 Start a genuine conversation and stay present

    1. As COVID-19 spreads and state and local mandates are evolving rapidly, people are understandably going a little crazy. Take 30-minutes every day to reach out to your team members, clientele, partners, and peers to see how they are, what they need, and how you might be able to help them. Send a text, an email, a DM, or just make a call. Just be genuine, no matter what you do.
    2. Share the services you and your company are able to provide during these times. Now, more than ever, people need strong internet, access to entertainment, and the ability to communicate with loved ones. Don’t be pitchy, but do let people know what’s possible, now. If you offer remote services to troubleshooting, support, etc., share how that works and consider making it free for all during this time. Be the resource your community needs, now.
    3. Find and share funny memes, sayings, etc., to introduce levity into people’s lives and give them something else to focus on. Make sure whatever you share is appropriate for your audience and if you happen to slip-up, be quick to delete (then move on, don’t hold onto that mental baggage).

    #5 Take a break

    1. Turn off the TV and step away from your news sources for at least a few hours every day or for as long as you can stand it. Do NOT let the news be your day-long background noise or narrative.
    2. Bodies in motion stay in motion. Start or get back into a workout routine, just get your body in motion. Go for a walk, take the dog out, or just sit in the open air. 
    3. Learn a new skill or take care of honey-do’s. YouTube is full of insightful, educational content and you’ll be amazed at what you can learn in a day, hour, or even 5 minutes. Likewise, you undoubtedly have a list of things to get done around the house. Take the time to get those done and give yourself the gift of time, later.

    Last but not least, just breathe. This too shall pass!

    Katye McGregor Bennett is the CEO of KMB Communications, a leading provider of PR, Social Media, Content Development & Copyediting, SEO, Podcasts, and Video production services whose clients typically include manufacturers, integration firms, and industry associations serving the AV and adjacent trades.

    Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash.

  • The hygiene factor – keeping your AV equipment clean

    The hygiene factor – keeping your AV equipment clean

    In these troubling times, keeping AV equipment clean and as free from bacteria as possible has never been so vital. Philips Professional Display Solutions offers its advice for helping mitigate the threat of germs.

    On average we pick up our mobile phones 58 times, and touch them as many as 2,617 times, every single day. For most of us, making a call, reading an email, sending a message or posting a Tweet, is something we do without thinking twice. But did you know, the average mobile phone carries up to 9,000 times more germs than the average toilet seat? 

    There’s more. If you use a computer or laptop, your keyboard could be up to 20,000 times dirtier than a toilet seat. Pretty disgusting! Similar statistics are prevalent when it comes to other everyday items you encounter, especially when it comes to touchscreens used in QSRs for ordering food and beverages, transportation hubs for ticketing, and point of sale displays.

    The AV industry is, therefore, a potential breeding ground for COVID-19, with equipment. From professional TVs whether used in commercial settings or in the more than 15.5 million hotel rooms globally, through interactive displays in schools and businesses, LEDs, digital signage in retail and other settings, monitors and touch screens, through to remote controls – the list is endless – all require some form of human contact, be it directly (physical), or indirectly, being controlled via laptops, tablets or PCs. 

    Touching on interactive hygiene
    Before Coronavirus was even brought to our attention as a risk, the hygiene of interactive displays has been a big concern for many. In fact, a Kiosk Marketplace report last year found that more than 70% of us were already worried about using public touchscreens. The online survey highlighted respondents that 80% of bacterial infections come from what people touch, then asked them to indicate which of a range of self-service situations concerned them most. 

    ATMs caused the most concern among respondents, with 72% citing bank ATMs as posing the greatest risk. Hospital check-in screens were second at 70%, followed by 58% for both QSR touch screens and supermarket self-service kiosks. Airport and hotel check-in kiosks both scored 40%. 

    COVID-19 and AV
    Bring into focus concerns now about health and safety over Coronavirus and the importance of keeping electronic items clean, helping to reduce the risk from potentially harmful germs and bacteria, has never been more important.

    The World Health Organisation states that COVID-19 can be spread from person to person through small droplets from the nose or mouth which are spread when a person with COVID-19 coughs or exhales. These droplets can, if not caught, land on objects and surfaces around the person. Other people then catch COVID-19 by touching these objects or surfaces, then touching their eyes, nose or mouth.  

    Little is yet known about the amount of time COVID-19 can remain contagious on hard surfaces, but studies have suggested that other coronaviruses, like SARS and MERS, can stay alive for up to three hours in the air and as much as two or three days on metal, glass and plastic surfaces. 

    Reducing the risk of infection has always been a factor in the health sector, which is why the Philips bedside TVs include hydrophobic glass, antimicrobial casing and no raised buttons, but when it comes to hygiene, other products, including interactive displays such as the Philips T-Line range, need extra vigilance. 

    Taking action against unclean screens
    AV In light of the current climate, Philips Professional Display Solutions offers some basic suggestions on how to help keep your AV equipment clean, reducing the potential risk of COVID-19 and any other germs. Some will seem obvious, some are already common practice, while some may provide food for thought.

    For those using touchscreens as a part of their business – installers and resellers included – regular cleaning is essential.

    The best way of killing the spread of coronavirus is through simple but effective actions, ensuring you wash your hands thoroughly (for at least 20 seconds) and catching any droplets from coughs or sneezes. The reality is, such practices are not guaranteed, nor full proof. So, what else can you do?

    Wipe it off, wipe it out
    For businesses offering the use of touchscreens to customers at their premises, regular cleaning is essential. Likewise, for those using touchscreens as a part of their business – installers and resellers included – there are a number of methods and products that can help: 

    Antibacterial wipes 
    The most practical method of safely cleaning an electric item is using antibacterial product. There are many to choose from – albeit in very high demand. 

    For displays (all types), the most effective and accessible way of fighting back against unwanted germs is through using a simple screen wipe. When searching, it’s important that you choose a brand that is designed specifically to eliminate germs (key words: alcohol, antibacterial), as opposed to simply water based (baby wet wipes) making your display look clean and shiny.

    If you think a surface may be infected, or even simply for good practice, clean it and then clean your hands.

    Foam
    While antibacterial wipes are perfect for cleansing flat surfaces, they’re not always sufficient for equipment with multiple small parts, inaccessible areas, or even high sensitivity to moisture. 

    As stated before, a computer keyboard, if left untreated, is a festival of dirt and grime both above and below. A quick cough into the hand, an unexpected sneeze, bits of food and, in commercial situations, multiple users can quickly escalate the problem. 

    It’s recommended by many microbiologists that we should all wipe down ours desks and keyboards at least once a week, while some go even further, suggesting at least once per day. With the current climate, we’d recommend the latter – as a minimum.

    For examples such as these, the use of an antibacterial non-abrasive foam will do the trick. Beware, most are not suitable for screen cleaning. 

    Note also that, for those tiny hard to reach areas, additional cleaning accessories, such as cleaning swabs, might be useful.

    Your personal AV hygiene toolkit 
    There are, of course, other methods you can adopt to help reduce, if not eliminate, coming into contact with any infected surfaces:

    Stylus
    In addition to regular screen wipes, for those who regularly use an interactive touch display (including tablets), owning and using a personal stylus will help cut direct interaction, further reducing the risk. 

    Gloves
    You could also, should you wish, go a step further and adopt a strict practice of wearing touch screen utility gloves, again practically eliminating any direct skin contact. Of course, it’s vital these gloves are regularly cleaned and removed before making any contact with your own body parts, i.e. scratching an eye, touching your mouth or when visiting the bathroom. 

    Receiving a delivery – whether from home or abroad
    Of course, many people are also concerned about the deliveries they receive and the potential for these to carry infection. In the AV industry, we receive a lot of deliveries from overseas. However, the likelihood of an infected person contaminating commercial goods is marked by WHO as low and the risk of catching the virus that causes COVID-19 from a package that has been moved, travelled, and exposed to different conditions and temperature remains low. 

    However, a quick clean can help further reduce the risks and provide peace of mind on arrival and subsequent use.  

    For more information related to the coronavirus, please view the latest advice from WHO here.

  • Technology crucial during COVID-19 social distancing

    Technology crucial during COVID-19 social distancing

    Technology can help bridge the gap during the Coronavirus pandemic as higher education institutes and corporations are moving to a remote work model

    There’s a great deal of uncertainty over the spread of the novel Coronavirus and our response to COVID-19 infection. The response of social distancing has been rapid, and is causing disruptions to workplace, education, and entertainment. Offices in areas of exposure are shifting to remote work, college campuses are shifting to online courses, and entertainment events are being canceled or altered to limit the numbers gathered in a common space. As we all seek to understand how this will impact our near-term experiences, we expect to see a shift in how technology will support our daily lives, possibly long-term as well.

    Health experts say social distancing is important because it can slow the virus’ spread, providing a chance to keep the caseload at a more manageable level for care providers. But when it comes to the use of technology, there will be no “flattening of the curve” as we expect current trends toward remote collaboration and distance learning to accelerate, increasing network loads. The Internet is already demonstrating its indispensable value as the fourth utility. Companies like Zoom, Microsoft, and Slack are opening up their paid collaboration platforms for free to students, businesses, and individuals. Internet Service Providers are offering free service to low income households.

    However, this presents strains to online infrastructure as the number of simultaneous online collaborations increases dramatically. Service companies, businesses, and individuals must be prepared for continued strain on private and public networks. The service providers must ensure their systems have the capacity and bandwidth to accommodate a large influx of users.

    Likewise, businesses must evaluate their infrastructure and policies to ensure they can support remote participation, both technically and socially. Companies may need to consider executing portions of their emergency preparedness and disaster recovery plans. And managers will find new metrics for accountability. Hopefully they’ll better align with actual output and productivity than 40 hours at a desk. Our Technology design team is considering implementing a task-based Scrum methodology to give some transparency across our multi-office team members.

    We need to be empathetic to the impact on workers and students who will be forced to work and learn differently while continuing to meet social needs despite physical separation. At the time of publication, mandated quarantine and isolations are limited to specific regions where the concentration of COVID-19 cases are the highest. But already, a trend is emerging in higher education to shift to online courses for the remainder of the school year. Schools moving to online learning already number near the thousands, and the list is expected to grow.

    As consumers of online technologies, what can we expect in the coming days and weeks? Before the Coronavirus, online video for streaming and collaboration accounted for about 70 percent of all peak internet traffic. That number is expected to rise as a result of our response to the virus. Video is one of the most bandwidth-intensive activities we engage in online. That means despite service providers attempts to ensure availability, consumers should be prepared for service outages and increased customer support wait times. Best practices must include a backup plan if your primary online meeting and collaboration solution is unavailable. Websites such as Down Detector, Down for Everyone or Just Me?, and API-based status trackers like Zoom status will help end-users troubleshoot connectivity issues by identifying widespread outages with websites or services.

    Remember that patience is a virtue. In the immortal words of Douglas Adams, “Don’t panic!” And as always, be sure to consult your company or school’s IT department for guidance of how to stay safe online while working from home. One helpful tip for simulating the in-person experience is to turn on your laptop or phone camera. This will be helpful for signaling non-verbal body language which is critical for communication and will also help demonstrate our attentiveness and make us feel less isolated.

    We hope to be back to normal soon, but we anticipate this experience will result in a “new normal.” Moving forward, expect a cultural shift as we recognize that more of our meetings and classes could be covered over email and Instant Messenger and some of our travel could be replaced by web meetings. In the meantime, let’s stay positive. Necessity is the mother of invention as the saying goes. We anticipate that there will be new tools developed to help us adapt to remote work and education at-scale, and we anticipate new technologies will help providers, higher education organizations, and companies become more elastic at rapidly scaling their infrastructure up and down. These developments will have a lasting effect long after the coronavirus has been contained. And we can expect to grow as individuals. We will learn how resilient we truly are, and we’ll inspire ourselves as we learn that we’re capable of exceeding even our own expectations.

    Brad Kult is HGA’s Director of Technology Design & Planning. This article was originally posted on HGA.

  • A guide to video conferencing etiquette

    A guide to video conferencing etiquette

    The basic rules you should follow to ensure a successful virtual face-to-face meeting

    If you are planning to work remotely, there typically is an expectation to continue communications and meetings virtually through phone or video conferencing. While many leading technology platforms like Zoom or GoToMeeting have simplified the process for getting virtual meetings set up and running, taking an extra 20 minutes to familiarize yourself with these video conferencing etiquette tips can save you from hours of lost productivity and distraction.

    1. Confirm and download the correct video conferencing app
    Having everyone start on-time is crucial to an effective video conferencing meeting. To avoid a last minute scramble because of an unexpected app download or web browser permission process, make sure you have the correct meeting link, dial-in number, and app downloaded on your phone or computer ahead of time. After download and setup, login to the app and make sure you can enter and exit the virtual meeting room without issue.

    2. Get familiar with video conferencing controls
    It’s a great idea to use your software platform’s basic settings and controls for your microphone, speaker, camera and display. controls to ensure your equipment is working prior to your virtual meeting. 

    If you are a participant in the meeting, you should know how to mute/unmute your mic, turn your camera on and off, join and leave a call, chat, and share your screen when needed. 

    If you are a moderator or host of the meeting, you should also make sure you know how to mute/unmute and remove remote participants to bring order to the call if tech issues get out of hand.

    3. Check for audio problems
    Many people fail to realize that what they hear in their own room isn’t what other participants hear. Sealing out noises with your headphones or headset does not prevent your mic from transmitting those noises across the call. While you may be able to ignore a distracting buzz, rattle, squeak or fan on your side of the call, microphones often boost those noises to other participants. It’s good practice to find a private, quiet place and close the door to keep family, neighbors and pets from creating mid-call distractions. 

    When an echo occurs, a little recognized fact is that the person who doesn’t hear the echo or audio problem is generally the culprit. The easiest start to finding the problem is by simply asking, “who doesn’t hear the echo?” For smaller meetings, you can ask half or all participants to mute their mics, and then one by one reintroduce them until the noise is heard again. Once one problem is addressed, you can add in other caller’s audio until another problem emerges. 

    4. Check for video problems
    If your face appears to have a shadow on it or you can’t clearly see yourself through your camera, first make sure your camera lens is clean and unobstructed. Secondly, look for a bright or white spot in the video image. Many computer cameras adjust their brightness levels for the brightest spot of the image. To adjust, pivot your body and/or camera away from the bright spot until it improves. 

    If there isn’t a bright-white spot, there may be too much light coming from behind you. Put a light source in front of you or turn-around and the image should adjust. Also, try to think about your surroundings and limit people, animals, TV or other moving objects that may be a distraction from your camera’s view.

    5. Test your Internet connection
    Your network or internet connection is probably not as good as you think it is. 

    Many people try to think of the quality of their streaming services like Netflix or Disney Plus as a measure of how fast their connection is at home. However, these online video platforms use powerful buffering techniques that create a smooth viewing experience. 

    Video conferencing is real-time communications, which means there is a constant flow of data, and a constant strain on your network when conversations are happening. Even enterprise networks suffer when video-conferencing call utilization increases above historical utilization. What you think is the appropriate amount of bandwidth may not be sufficient when hidden ISP adjustments (such as on MPLS) and WAN/LAN switch duplex issues unexpectedly impact your calls with jitter and latency.

    For conference participants, the quickest and easiest way to check your connection is through the conferencing app itself. Apps will often provide call-quality details including your bandwidth (the amount of data being sent and received), latency (packet-arrival-delay), and jitter (out-of-order packet arrival). You should be transmitting between 1.2 and 2Mbps with low-latency for a good quality call.

    It’s important to have a test meeting beforehand. Try getting at least one other person online with you and ask them about the audio and video quality. IT professionals can prepare for a wide range of scenarios, but in the end, running video or doing an intensive conferencing-grade network evaluation is the only way to know if and where you may run into issues. 

    6. Be courteous. We’re humans, and its technology
    Respect normal human dynamics and be patient and gracious to others. We all make mistakes, especially in situations when we’re doing something for the first time. You should adapt your communication style appropriately for the number of people attending. An easy tip to remember is however you would speak to a certain group size in-person, do the same in video conferencing. Don’t hog talk time or talk over others. If you’re having a video conference with a large group of people, plan on it being primarily a one-to-many conversation with a segment for limited Q&A.

    While there are many other challenges people may run into in video conferencing, most issues arise from poor participant etiquette and unfamiliarity. Empowering your team to remove common obstacles and distractions from your call ahead of time will make a significant difference in your remote meetings.

    Matt Slack, C-EST, CTS, is the founder and president of AV Solutions, located in Baton Rouge, LA. Since founding the company in 2005, Matt has led his team and clients through Hurricane Katrina, an economic recession, and a devastating flood in 2016. He holds a long list of professional certifications through prestigious industry organizations like AVIXA, NSCA, Audio Engineering Society, Entrepreneurs Organization, and the National Center for Construction Education and Research. In 2014, Commercial Integrator Magazine named him to their 40 Under 40 list.

     

  • 3 Reasons to get HDBaseT training at ISE 2019

    First HDBaseT Installer Expert Program of the year

    ISE Special Blog by: Sandra Welfeld

    #1

    It’s the most in-depth and updated course about HDBaseT today

    HDBaseT continues to evolve to address the needs of the AV market, and the Expert Program is constantly updated with the latest and greatest about the technology.  In the three-hour course, you get to learn not only the basics of the technology, but also understand new features (hybrid networks, for example), get the latest information about interoperability and certification, and ask any questions you may have.  Our HDBaseT Expert Trainers are exactly that – experts, and they are ready to help with any topic you may have.

    #2

    It includes an on-site demo

    Reading is great, listening to a lecturer is awesome, but there is nothing like experiencing the wonders of HDBaseT on the spot.  At the Installer Expert Program at ISE, you will have the chance to see how a real HDBaseT installation works, which will help you in your day-to-day activities as an AV professional.

    #3

    It entitles you to 3 AVIXA RUs

    If you hold an AVIXA certification, you are aware that you must renew your credentials every three years through continuing education.  The HDBaseT Installer Expert Program gives you 3 AVIXA RUs towards this.  And an HDBaseT Expert certificate. And an HDBaseT Expert T-shirt. And an HDBaseT Expert official digital badge.

    And if that’s not enough, you will also have a chance to win a Pulse-Eight Neo:Ultra HDMI Extender Set. 

    The Installer Expert Program takes place at ISE on Tuesday, February 5th, 2019, at 14:00, at the Emerald Room. 

    There is no cost to attend the course.  Register here, as space is limited.