Integrating Technology

Patrick Murray interviews Fred Loucks about...How management will replace control in AV integration...How hardware manufacturers can modernize their business by moving to a subscription model and why they should...How to make the software delivery process as simple as installing hardware. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fred Loucks, CTO of Level 3 Audiovisual, takes us on his white-whale journey to answer one question: How do you get visibility of audiovisual systems at scale?We learn some cool new phrases like "Automated remediation" and "Signatures of common issues" while digging deep into...Program Management from designing, deploying and updating with a focus on administration.How programming let him rollout 3000 Zoom Rooms in two weekends with a one-man team.The real costs of downtime and disruptions including productivity loss, embarrassment and loss of confidence.How collecting data adds value by answering questions - it starts with monitoring.Why there is resistance to AV monitoring tools.Wrangling the chaos of API's and protocols to create a data model.Why to avoid devices that are not observable.A day in the life of a support NOC technician.Defining a service status for AV systems in order to present an SLA.Why monitoring is incomplete without remote access, documentation and domain knowledge.The challenges of creating an AV NOC including deep integration with customer networks and staffing. Thinking about management instead of control.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

AJ Thompson is Vice President of Cloud Driven Solutions and provides a range of services including SaaS platforms, Consulting, and App DevelopmentInterview HighlightsAJ was previously on the podcast in Episode 35Cloud Driven Solutions offers a meeting and agenda management application that integrates with AV systemsScaling was the biggest challenge when going to marketExpects an open source AV control system is inevitableMentioned In This EpisodeAMX, Crestron, QSys, BrightSign Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Wes Hatchett is CEO of ControlEnvy. ControlEnvy is an open-source software based control system.Wes and the ControlEnvy team were one of the first podcast interviews in Epsiode 6. Interview HighlightsCan run on Android.Has a setup configuration interface that includes troubleshooting and debug tools.Chose to focus on Android because it continues to outpace even laptops in processing power.Sample application: Google Pixel 4a installed in a rack connected via WiFi.A Mac Mini can also be used when a hard-wired appliance is required.The system is driven by states stored in a local data store.Paths are used to access components in the data store through logic macros.Shifting from completely custom programming projects to a product based model allows for better update management. Old systems benefit from feature updates instead of standing still.Mentioned In This EpisodeLutron, Sonos, Biamp, Google Pixel 4a, Apple Mac Mini Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stephen Von TakachCIO at PlaceOSplaceos.comPlaceOS ties together drivers into systems by running functions on a scalable cluster of computing resources. Similar to how AWS Lambda works.Constraints allow creativity to blossom.Drivers can exist in multiple systems. Logic is system specific.Built on Crystal-lang, similar to ruby, but type-checked. https://crystal-lang.orgPlaceOS started in AV integration but, because they can integrate with anything, it has evolved to focus on workplace experiences. Streamlining your day, from when a persons enters a building until they leave.User actions generate data that give insight into utilization and enable features like contact tracing and gamification."Once you are integrated into every system, the experiences are only limited by your imagination."Digital twin - modelling real world systems in the digital realm.Mitigating risk through partnering with IT.Most stake-holder resistance concerns network security, GDPR conformance and data ownership.Conference room automation is evolving to eliminate the need for a touchpanel control interface.Open source removes vendor dependency and helps educate. It also helps create a cooperative driver development ecosystem.Clients are looking for a wholistic solution. A single workplace app (as opposed to multiple apps with separate functionality) drives usage and discovery of what the workplace is capable of.Gamification can be used to drive a behaviour, like using spaces in off-peak hours, by offering an incentive, like free coffee and gift cards.Mentioned in this episode:AMX, Cisco, Microsoft Teams, Project Connected Home over IP, Google, Apple, Zigbee,  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

USC tasked Joe Way, Director of Learning Environments, to create the single best IT Department in all of academia. Joe tells about what it was like to achieve that vision. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Anton Karsten helps me understand:How web browsers workSome history of HTML and browsersThe problem with frameworksChoosing frameworksSingle Page Apps vs Server-Driven ArchitectureUsing Javascript for AV Control and AutomationAdvantages of TypescriptOrganizing Project TeamsDealing With Different DevicesHow Large Companies Set User Experience StandardsHTML, CSS, Javascript, Angular, Vue, React, PHP, Saas, Webpack Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A conversation with Steve Greenblatt of Control Concepts about:Why I stopped podcastingFocusing on complex systemsThe effect of software tools on AV projectsWhat developers need to succeedHow tech managers are forcing change Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Highlights From This Episode…A great way to learn AV is to start on the end user/technology owner side.High Speed Internet at home was the spark for growth in AV.Keep a portfolio of your work and recommendations to present at job interviews.Study personal branding to improve your social media effectiveness.Social media is about building relationships by sharing information. Mentioned In This Episode…AltcommNew York Giants William Paterson UniversityPicturetelPolycomRCM Technologies StaffingSchering Plough PharmaceuticalsMerckNovartisBarcoStarinTwitterJoel Colm Twitter bookAV Help DeskPaul Konikowski Contact ChrisTwitterInstagramRebels & Flux LinkedIn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Highlights From This Episode…AV focuses on the creative side of technology. That’s what separates us from IT; We help people tell their story and communicate ideas.We can improve our offerings by looking at every step of the delivery and use lifecycles. A short training after the install isn’t enough.System thinking includes considering every “user” in the supply and use chain. A company’s intentions are communicated at all of these touch-points.To be scalable, standards are required.Best practices and oversight increase reliability and improve the overall experience. Consider a Quality Of Service Manager position as a go to reference who helps everyone implement your guidelines. Look into Advance Supply Chains to increase sustainability and avoid "bone piles” of unused equipment.AV is everywhere. It is still a specialty, but is becoming more of an expected and critical piece of building infrastructure.Mobility and remote working catalysed the boom in huddle rooms to give mobile workers a touchpoint in the office (instead of a fixed desk).Spend time considering where you fit in a Smart building and smart world. Survival is not about being the smartest or the biggest, it is about being adaptable.Consider the application, vertical market, and venue. Does the application get it done?What vertical markets will have strong activity?Venue specialists can be successful but need to be able to interconnect. Be disciplined in what you do. Use software and agile project management to avoid waste and move adeptly.Customer success = how much they love you in the end.Map your workflow. Ask question like, “What are we going to do when we meet the curmudgeon?”.Consider on-demand training because people don’t want information until they need it. The days of the lunch and learn are ending.  Mentioned In This Episode…Paul KonikowskiAVIXADavid FitzgeraldBarcoZoomMCSIDanteQSysBook: Draw To WinBobby SchwartzMalissa Dillman  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Highlights From This Episode…Handle change orders by presenting the facts and explaining why there is a cost associated with the request.Create new business by introducing yourself to customers already working with someone in case they need an alternative someday.How to do a good site survey is an important part of AV sales training.Sales teams need to respect engineering teams.The information Sales gives to engineering determines the success of a project.Don’t engineer without a budget.Say Cat X or structured cabling when speaking with IT (don’t say CAT5).For AV to become truly software-defined, devices need to commission themselves.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Highlights From This Episode…Bring up security early in the process. IT is often treated as an afterthought in AV.Assess the impact of each device being comprised. Consider access for each device. Who? How? Why? Least resource or least route?Consider if network connectivity is really needed for each device.Perform role-playing to get better perspective of what a malicious actor could do.Assess if users can accidentally cause a security breach, such as plugging in unkown USB sticks.VLAN headers can be spoofed and should not be considered a security mechanism.Close unused ports on all devices.Enable device logging and monitor the logs for suspicious activity.Consider messaging direction per device and disable a device’s ability to send or receive messages if not needed.Being able to demonstrate internal security practices may reduce liability should an incident arise. *This is not legal advice 🙂Create a culture of security awareness in your organisation through policies, training and compliance testing.Perform internal and possibly public code reviews. Track data check-in and check-outs.Mentioned In This Episode…Harvard Online Course: Cybersecurity: Managing Risk In The Information AgeZoom  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Highlights From This Episode…Knowledge of industry is a good indicator of potential success. Knowing the end customer and distribution channels is important.Knowing the market is not so important - that will be learned through the development process.The Business Canvas is a 9 step process that can help determine the initial features of an app should be.Creating functional prototypes that really represent the finished product (as opposed to wireframes) before writing any code, always exposes new requirements that are less expensive to implement in a prototype than finished code. Other benefits of the prototype includes having a clear description for the developers and a working demo to show potential customers.When planning a software product, make sure there is a budget for development of future versions based on user feedback from the initial version.Software products are never done because if you stop developing and marketing, customers and revenue will fall off.When choosing technologies, consider how data is stored and related, if scalability is important (it's probably not).  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Highlights From This Episode…2015 Open Internet Bill Protects Browser Based Internet Traffic, but excludes VPN's, Hardware Codecs and IoT DevicesRelying on the internet to provide a service introduces a 3rd party (the ISP). Contracts should consider reflecting this.CA requirement for no default passwords goes into effect January 1st, 2020. Mentioned In This Episode…TEECOM, Zoom, Barco Overture, Utelolgy, Extron, University Of California Merced, Santa Clara University  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I met AJ Thompson from the LearnAVProgramming.com website. He enrolled in a bunch of courses over the past few years and we recently exchanged some emails where he told me about some interesting solutions he is working on. He tells us about what it takes to move from traditional AV programming to modern software tools and more importantly - why you would want to.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today’s guest is Co-founder and VP of business development at Global Cache. Global Cache makes connectivity products that let programmers like me control and automate pretty much anything using whatever software we like. In an industry full of propriertary solutions, this is quite the unique approach. That’s why I am really looking forward to learning a lot today from Robin Ford. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I have the honour of having Two cyber security experts on the show today.Dr Jonathan Butts is a retired Air Force officer who among many other roles served as Research Director at the Air Force Center for Cyberspace Research.Billy Rios has held security positions with companies like Ernst & Young, Verisign and Microsoft. He probably had one of the coolest sounding job titles as Google’s Security Ninja.Both Jonathan and Billy are currently Managing Partners at QED Secure Solutions, whose mission it is to advance Cyber Security and Critical Infrastructure Protection. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Vangelis Mihalopoulos has a background in software engineering and product marketing and startup investing.He is currently CEO and founder of yodeck. a digital signage management platform.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Peter Krogh is a photographer and author the DAM book, Digital Asset Management aka the bible on digital photography. His currently the Acting Director of Digital Strategy at History Factory where he integrates storytelling, web-based media publishing and digital preservation into a seamless user experience. I am really looking forward to hearing more about how he uses technology to tell stories and preserve the past.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.