AV SuperFriends: On Topic

AV Superfriends: On Topic Episode 47: Just Don’t Do Zero Trust Recorded (and streamed live) on May 17, 2024 This month’s topic is “InfoComm” so we saw that as an opportunity to discuss what trends we’re seeing, what we’re looking forward to and what types of products we’re looking for at the show.  We also teased some of the recordings and events we’ll be attending at InfoComm so follow us on the...

AV Superfriends: On Topic Episode 46: A Lazy Mistake Recorded April 16, 2024 This month’s topic is “Commencement” and we don’t want to talk about that.  So, instead, we’re going to talk about working with students, graduating students to the next level of their academic and professional careers, and converting student workers into full time employees.   We stream our recording sessions for On Topi...

Recorded March 15, 2024 It’s time to get out the mops and brooms, clear out those storage closets, gather up all your old Class A amplifiers, analog cameras, and CRT monitors and throw them in the nearest waterway.  If anyone asks, you have a permit and you’re just returning those parts to nature.  Besides, it’s all biodegradable if you wait long enough…  Marc is getting rid of wires, Larry is rem...

On Topic Episode 44: The plan was flawless 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, a...

AV Superfriends: On Topic Episode 43: BYOD is an AV Rodent 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 t...

On Topic Episode 42: People will start laughing at us 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. The...

On Topic Episode 41: All of this is just BS 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...

AV Superfriends On Topic Episode 40: Toys today are so much worse than they were 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...

AVSuperfirends On Topic Episode 39: AV Turkeys 2023 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 t...

On Topic Episode 38: I work in the V department 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 colla...

On Topic Episode 37: They don’t care about the A 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 coll...

Episode 36: This Should Be Better Than My High School 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 cu...

On Topic Episode 35: Questionable Undefined Modalities Recorded July 21, 2023 We’re joined by Marina Walton from Trinity University to talk Faculty Support covering everything from identifying champions, supporting innovative learning spaces (that everyone hates), engaging department chairs, hosting an IT Open House to put faces to names, adding a personal touch to IT support, and much more. We al...

Recorded June 13, 2023 We figured since five of the six AV SuperFriends were all in the same building, we’d record our On Topic episode for July. The topic is Showcase Spaces, but rather than review our own showcase spaces, we discuss the general process of developing a showcase space, what the end user clients want, and that’s it’s absolutely, completely possible to have a showcase space that is...

On Topic Episode 33: Tchotchke of Choice / InfoComm Preview Recorded May 19, 2023 It’s June and for the pro AV world, that means InfoComm… and that happens to be the topic of this month’s episode. Our download numbers show that you’re likely listening to this before you travel to Orlando, so this episode is all about what we’re doing all week long. Justin is teaching a 3-day course, Chris is leadi...

AV Superfriends: On Topic Episode 32 "I'm Not Much of a Top Hat Guy" Recorded April 14, 2023 Is it over yet? While the topic for this month’s show wasn’t clear, it was assumed to be about the approaching end of the school year. Instead, we opted to discuss technologies that we’re just sick and tired of discussing. And, if you know us, you know we just love VR and the metaverse. And while we don’t...

On Topic Episode 31: Pull the Stick Out Recorded March 10, 2023 Who wants some riveting discussion of IT budgeting? Yeah, neither do we, but we make a heckuva effort to stay awake for this. Chris budgets projects with massive contingencies and with market pricing, Marc budgets by time, Larry is concerned about trying to make up all of last year’s projects and complete this year’s projects, Jamie b...

On Topic Episode 30: It’s Trash in the Classroom Recorded February 10, 2023 It’s the coldest part of winter, so let’s talk Spring Cleaning! Remember to fully submerge your touch panels in bleach before re… oh, not that kind of spring cleaning. We’re joined by Joe Way to talk through our plans for Spring Clinging— that is, what we should be thinking about replacing, what we are holding on to, and w...

29: A Premium Experience In Their Own Pocket AV Superfriends: On Topic Recorded January 11, 2023 This month’s topic is BYOD and why that’s a terrible idea all around. Wait, it’s not? Well, you’ll have to convince me. We discuss BYOD for conferencing vs. BYOD for presentation only, BYOD for meetings, BYOD for student devices, wired vs wireless connections, why all wireless sharing appliances are ba...

On Topic Episode 28: Let me get out my genie lamp Recorded December 14, 2022 It’s our annual prediction show! But first, a Festivus Miracle— ClearOne and Shure have settled their dispute over squares, or whatever it was. Anyway, we review our predictions from January 2022 to see how right (or wrong) we were and then make bold predictions for 2023. Marc talks AR and VR, Chris foresees a student-dri...

27: Holiday Wishlist (B&H Convenience Store) | AV Superfriends: On Topic Recorded October 26, 2022 In the spirit of American retail annual sales scheduling, here’s a holiday episode recorded in October. Our theme for this show is stocking stuffers, so we all have a little gift to share (aka a “recommendation”) or something from our AV wish list that will hopefully arrive soon. Little Marc gives ev...

26: AV Turkeys | AV Superfriends: On Topic Recorded October 21, 2022 For Thanksgiving, the AV SuperFriends all gathered at Marc’s house and stood around the kitchen waiting for the turkey to cook in the indoor deep-fryer.  In addition to an assortment of side dishes, we all brought an AV Turkey to share.  Marc reminds us of the nonsense of touchless AV control, Chris complains bitterly about wirel...

On Topic Episode 25: AV Nightmares Recorded September 28, 2022 In a change of pace, we've collected our scariest and creepiest tales of AV projects, equipment, customers, and support. Join the AV SpookyFriends as we sit around the bonfire and share our tales of fright. Justin brings an Old Kentucky Fable, Marc recounts his End of Summer Waking Nightmare, Larry reminds us that our worst fears can c...

24: I’ll Meet You Halfway Via This USB Adapter | AV Superfriends   Recorded August 19, 2022 This month’s topic is software AV and we couldn’t decide between software AVoIP content, software AV control, or software management platforms, so we’ll cover all three!  We start with an article about a semiconductor manufacturer widening software (and hardware) support for SMPTE 2110, which gets us one st...

On Topic Episode 23: Take ‘Em Over and Try to Squeeze ‘Em In Recorded July 15, 2022 It’s Back to School season! What will the 2022 - 2023 school year bring? We start with an article from EdSurge about schools who put massive student CRM systems on hold and are now restarting those massive projects. Regardless of how many times we’ve all been through this process, the end result seems to be the sam...