AV SuperFriends

Recorded March 8, 2024 More and more AVoIP systems are being sold because more and more AVoIP systems are getting specified into new projects.  It's an amazing coincidence!  We cover an article from Commercial Integrator about how commercial integrators see AVoIP.   Then in part 27 of our 213 part series on how we organize our AV systems into buckets, tiers, levels, types, packages, etc., we final...

Recorded (and streamed live) on February 16, 2016 This month's topic is "rethinking spaces" so we decided to discuss projects that we've completed recently that we wish we'd approached differently.  Marc hates microphones, Chris hates complexity, Justin hates how the AV services are marketed on campus, Jamie hates treating rooms as clones of one another, and Larry hates blanket approaches (and sin...

Recorded February 23, 2024 While planning the episode, we couldn't decide between a news story on VR or a news story on holograms, so we decided to cover them both.  Hint: they're not real Then we continue our discussion of how we each stratify and organize the different types of systems we commonly deploy on our campuses.  It's just as messy as you'd think with us all declaring confidently we hav...

Recorded February 9, 2024 Did y'all know ISE was just last week?  That means we're obligated to talk about it at least one more time for the news, so we have an article that identifies three trends from ISE that we'll see again at InfoComm.  Two of them are nothingburgers, but the third… so close, but yet so far.   Then we dive deep into how we structure our AV systems and room types.  Do they all...

Recorded January 19, 2024 Our topic for February is "things just won't go away" or "things that keep coming back year after year" like Groundhog Day.  We've each selected items that we all hope might see their shadow and disappear for a while.  BYOD, VR, terrible marketing, wireless sharing, and more.  We're also testing some format changes to On Topic to keep the show shorter and LIVE on various...

Recorded Feb 02, 2024 LIVE from ISE!  Well, not really, but given some of the other coverage from Barcelona, it's still more timely and more in depth from 5,000 miles away.  This is our take on the news from ISE this week.  In true AVSF style, this discussion is spicy, yet reasonable, as we review the new products, the coverage, the people, and the show itself.     ▀▄▀▄▀ CONTACT LINKS ▀▄▀▄▀ ► Webs...

Recorded January 12, 2024 Remember when refrigerators would just sit there in the kitchen and keep food cold and we really, really wanted them to tell us what to cook?  No? Well, too bad!  We cover a story from CES about an AI-powered, excuse me, "AI" powered fridge that wants to scan your tomatoes! Then, we delve into the concept of basing every AV system on the same equipment and same cabling......

Recorded January 5, 2024 It's a new year and we're starting 2024 by looking backward!  We return to a previous topic: working with integrators.  On Off the Rails 78, we debated Marc's question about how to ensure we get delivered what we wanted from AV integrators… and that conversation prompted quite the debate on Twitter, led by friend of the show, Joe Way.  So, we invited Joe on the show to tal...

Recorded December 20, 2023 (Part 2 of 2) It's our third annual prediction show!  And I predict we'll do it again next year. We first review our predictions from last year to see just how well we did.  Some of us were dead on, others were hit & miss, and yet others seem to be deliberately vague just to claim accuracy regardless of outcome.   Then, we each prognosticate on what to expect in 2024.  M...

Recorded December 20, 2023 (Part 1 of 2) It's our third annual prediction show!  And I predict we'll do it again next year. We first review our predictions from last year to see just how well we did.  Some of us were dead on, others were hit & miss, and yet others seem to be deliberately vague just to claim accuracy regardless of outcome.   Then, we each prognosticate on what to expect in 2024.  M...

Recorded December 8, 2023 Today's news is a summary of the Geometry of Learning research project from friend of the show, Dr. Jon Dorbolo, about teaching in round classrooms.  Done well, these are fantastic learning spaces with untold opportunity.  Done poorly, they are technology-driven failures. Those two outcomes are not mutually exclusive.  Then, we attempted to discuss how to document project...

Recorded November 15, 2023 It's December, so it's time for a holiday wishlist!  Each of us shares the AV device or service that we'd really like under the Christmas tree.  Some of these are real products, others are slight variations on commonly available products, and one requires a time machine.   Merry Christmas, y'all! ▀▄▀▄▀ CONTACT LINKS ▀▄▀▄▀ ► Website: https://www.avsuperfriends.com ► Twitt...

Recorded December 1, 2023 Our news comes from the Chronicle of Higher Education who now recognizes that teaching via lecture and teaching via active learning are not mutually exclusive nor diametrically opposed.  Shocker! It's possible to effectively teach via lecture in an active learning classroom and engage students in active learning in a lecture hall.   But we all knew that, didn't we? Speaki...

Join the AV SuperFriends LIVE on Dec 15 at 3p EST for a higher ed AV-themed Holiday Party! We will have live guests, a Santa's workshop photo exchange, and the official AVSFmas tree! It should be a great time of holiday cheer!  https://avsf.live

Recorded November 17, 2023 Our news article this week is really more of an opinion piece by a friend of the show and all around good guy, Steve Greenblatt of Control Concepts.  He opines that maybe, just maybe, contractors shouldn't be chasing only profit margins, but providing solutions that customers will really appreciate.  Blasphemy! Then we're joined by Mike Pedersen from Iowa State Universit...

Recorded November 10, 2023 We start with an article written by a commercial integrator about commercial integrators in Commercial Integrator.  While the points the raise are valid (for some), it raises the question as to who is the intended audience.  Then we're joined by Johanna Pierson from the Wentworth Institute of Technology to talk about how smaller schools do classroom AV, events, conferenc...

Recorded October 27, 2023 Happy Thanksgiving, y'all! If you recall, last year we accidentally set fire to Marc's house while trying to deep fry a turkey.  This year we all went to Jamie's house where Larry volunteered to smoke the turkey overnight, which turned out great!  While enjoying Thanksgiving dinner, we each shared our thoughts on some AV turkeys– that is, products or services that don't q...

Recorded October 18, 2023 AI is all the rage, so we're going to discuss AI.  We start with a discussion of Biamp's new AI-derived DSP processing and we're joined by Richard Mitchell of Biamp.  We then expand the discussion to broader topics of AI-powered (or at least AI-branded) AV from cameras to microphones to control systems to digital signage. Finally, what about all these spaces that someone...

Recorded October 12, 2023 It's our second annual Halloween Spooktacular!  This year, we went all out with a fully-produced audio drama from an original script. Who knew we could do an AV-themed horror story?  This was probably the most work we've ever put into a show and has been two months in the making.  We had a blast making it and hope you enjoy it as much as we do.  We're proud to present AV...

Recorded Sept 15, 2023 (Part 2 of 2) Rather than discuss whatever the topic is this month, we decided to challenge ourselves to collaboratively determine how capable of a basic classroom we can put together.  Focusing on the capabilities, not the stuff, and given the scenario of a general purpose classroom, about 30 students, single display, and collaboration/hybrid capable, we hashed out just how...

Recorded Sept 15, 2023 (Part 1 of 2) Rather than discuss whatever the topic is this month, we decided to challenge ourselves to collaboratively determine how capable of a basic classroom we can put together.  Focusing on the capabilities, not the stuff, and given the scenario of a general purpose classroom, about 30 students, single display, and collaboration/hybrid capable, we hashed out just how...

Recorded September 8, 2023   Instead of the news, we focus on a topic we've noticed a lot recently: that the AVIXA CTS is being pushed as an entry-level certification.  It really isn't, nor should it be, but if it's getting that reputation, it devalues the certification for everyone.     Next, student workers.  They're a fantastic resource and we all have dozens of them running around and helping...

Recorded September 1, 2023 There's no news today, so we're going to read a letter from a listener who raises some questions about how we budget and plan long projects.  They're not wrong, but also things are not quite cut and dry. Then, the joys and challenges of modern room systems.  After fighting for so long to get away from h.323 codecs ruining everything, are we recreating the same problems? ...

Recorded August 18, 2023 Let's talk about the Student Experience.  And that's really why we're all here, isn't it?  We discuss what students are expecting from a university in 2023, advocating for students when no one else will, and crushing everything down to be delivered by Zoom or Teams.  After all, we  have one chance to get it right; are we cutting corners that puts that all at risk? After we...

Recorded August 25, 2022 Did you know esports is dead?  Neither did we, but here's an article about it and while it may not be filling stadiums, the reports of its death are greatly exaggerated. Then we're joined by Don Merritt from the University of Central Florida to discuss learning spaces without focusing on "the stuff."  As technologists, it's tempting to talk about features without activitie...