Tech Unraveled

Amidst the backdrop of ongoing supply chain challenges, 2023 has been a pivotal year for the Audio-Visual (AV) industry, marked by significant innovations and shifts in traditional practices. This context sets the stage for an in-depth exploration of the year's most impactful developments and future projections in AV technology.Matt Boyer, Director of Technology at Vistacom offers a comprehensive review of the AV industry's evolution over the past year. He highlights how the response to supply chain disruptions led to the discovery of new products and solutions, steering away from conventional methods. Boyer also sheds light on the anticipated impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the AV sector, with a particular emphasis on advancements in system monitoring and remote service support. he also addresses the need for more open APIs to enhance remote diagnostics and updates, ensuring the ongoing security and efficiency of AV devices.

As we navigate the ever-changing landscape of hybrid work environments, it's crucial for all to get a handle on the ins and outs of video conferencing. This episode of Tech Unraveled, presented by Vistacom, delves into the modern challenges and evolving technologies in this space.The episode features Cara Shannon, Senior Manager, Product Marketing  at Crestron discussing the intricacies of video conferencing in hybrid work settings. Hosts, Josh Herring and Lianna Russell explore topics like Microsoft Teams Rooms integration, intelligent video technology, and the balance between in-office and remote work preferences, offering a comprehensive view of the current state and future of video conferencing technology.

As AVoIP (AV over IP) becomes more integral to audiovisual professionals, the improved and streamlined AV system implementations resulting from AVoIP solutions lead to a natural question. What is the best AVoIP solution? The answer? It depends.In the latest episode of “Dear Matt,” presented by Vistacom, Matt Boyer, the Chief Technology Officer at Vistacom, leverages his 30+ years of experience in the AV industry to address the factors crucial for selecting an effective AVoIP system tailored to specific use cases and performance requirements. Boyer illustrates this with examples ranging from houses of worship to hospital operating rooms, highlighting how different scenarios demand varied AVoIP solutions. He emphasizes the importance of understanding the intended application and desired performance level, whether dealing with compressed video and latency in a worship setting or requiring uncompressed video with sub-millisecond latency in a medical environment. Additionally, Boyer advises considering factors like the manufacturer's reputation, support quality, ease of management, API availability, and hardware requirements. Concluding the segment, Boyer invites viewers to submit their AV questions to Vistacom, ensuring a continuous exchange of knowledge in the AV community.

In a time when the AV industry supply chain faces unprecedented challenges, understanding its current status and future trajectory is crucial. In this week’s segment of “Dear Matt,” presented by Vistacom, host Matt Boyer, the Director of Technology at Vistacom, brings his over 30 years of experience in the audiovisual industry to the status of the AV industry supply chain. Boyer acknowledges the significant impact of supply chain issues, noting how they have compelled Vistacom and its clients to explore alternative solutions and products. This shift, born out of necessity due to shortages in digital audio processing, wireless microphones, and AV over IP control systems, has unexpectedly led to positive transformations. Boyer highlights how this departure from traditional solutions has opened doors to innovation, resulting in breakthroughs and unique opportunities. While most manufacturers have normalized their stock levels, a few still need help with specific product lines. This insightful discussion sheds light on the resilience and adaptability of the AV industry in the face of supply chain disruptions.

Are projectors a dying technology?In today’s rapidly evolving landscape of display technology, one might assume that projectors could soon be a thing of the past. Not so fast, thinks Vistacom’s Director of Technology, Matt Boyer. In this Dear Matt segment, Boyer, a seasoned expert with over three decades in the AV industry, looks at video projection technology’s current state and future.This video shows how projectors maintain a strong foothold despite the rise of direct-view LED and large LCD screens. Boyer argues for the projector’s cost-effectiveness and adaptability, highlighting advancements like laser light sources and ambient light rejection screens that bolster their performance economically. He emphasizes the utility of projectors in diverse settings — from digital cinemas to residential spaces and K-12 education — and their specialized use in projecting on unconventional surfaces such as building exteriors during events. Notably, the use of 4K projectors in mission control centers for organizations like NASA and SpaceX underlines their significance. Boyer ensures that projectors, through continuous innovation, are far from facing their twilight.

As the world grows increasingly reliant on advanced AV technology, understanding the nuances of various protocols and tools will be crucial. Matt Boyer, the Chief Technology Officer at Vistacom, recently discussed NDI (Network Device Interface) —  a vital component in modern AV setups, and the role it will play in the future of the AV industry.On a recent episode of his show “Dear Matt,” Boyer explored the intricacies of NDI while he addressed a viewer’s question about NDI transmission and its benefits in different AV environments. He explained the development of NDI and its purpose. NDIs have diverse applications, including video production, conferencing, and transport. Boyer also highlighted NDI's cost-effectiveness and adaptability and how it has increasingly become an ideal choice for a range of AV systems. During the segment, Boyer further explored the ways in which NDI is eliminating traditional switchers, and revolutionizing the AV world by simplifying installations. Boyer noted that this is helping increase the prevalence of NDI in standard AV installations.

The landscape of audiovisual technology, especially within the business world, frequently presents a maze of compatibility and functionality concerns. As organizations increasingly migrate to a platform like Microsoft Teams, questions about the interoperability of MTR, such as seamlessly integrating with software like Zoom or Webex, become more significant.As these tech giants strive to foster smoother digital communication, users stand to benefit from features that enable one platform's room to access another's meetings. An expert in this area is Matt Boyer, Chief Technology Officer at Vistacom. His guidance on his weekly Vistacom segment “Dear Matt,” helps break down some of the most common challenges users run into and need assistance with. This week he focused on MTR and video conferencing operability.

Welcome to Tech Unraveled, brought to you by Vistacom, where we delve into the AV industry, going beyond buzzwords to provide insights from industry experts. In this episode, we are thrilled to have Michael O'Halloran, a Regional Account Manager with Planar, join us to discuss the exciting world of DirectView LED technology. As a trusted partner, Planar has been at the forefront of video wall solutions, and their expertise in DirectView LED is unparalleled. Let's dive deep into this game-changing display technology.• DirectView LED: A bezel-free display technology for video walls, offering seamless visuals and superior picture quality.• Advantages of DirectView LED: Consistent color and image uniformity, longer lifespan, and the ability to create large video walls without size limitations.• Partnership success: Planar is a trusted partner for video wall solutions, with DirectView LED gaining popularity for its unique applications and advancements.DirectView LED technology, while not new, has undergone significant advancements to meet the evolving needs of various applications. Unlike traditional LCD video walls, DirectView LED eliminates bezels, providing a seamless, uniform picture that captivates viewers. Planar, a renowned player in the display market, has been offering cutting-edge video wall solutions for over four decades.DirectView LED's popularity stems from its ability to overcome the limitations of LCD displays. While LCD panels have size constraints, DirectView LED can be scaled to virtually any size, making it ideal for larger displays. Additionally, DirectView LED offers enhanced image uniformity and color consistency, as there are no independent displays that age differently. This technology has a longer lifespan, typically around 10 years, compared to the five-year warranty offered for LCD video walls.The flexibility and ease of installation make DirectView LED a preferred choice for various applications. Unlike large LCD displays that require cumbersome logistics, DirectView LED panels can be easily transported and assembled. Planar's DirectView LED solutions, such as the Direct Light Ultra cabinets, deliver high peak brightness and exceptional picture quality, rivaling hand-built OLED televisions. The advancements in technology have made DirectView LED more cost-effective, making it an attractive option for conference rooms, boardrooms, and other corporate environments.Planar's commitment to showcasing the potential of DirectView LED is evident through its network of showrooms across the country. These showrooms provide firsthand experiences of the brilliance and quality of DirectView LED displays, leaving a lasting impression on visitors and clients.DirectView LED technology has revolutionized the display industry, offering seamless, vibrant, and visually stunning video walls. Planar, with its extensive experience and expertise, continues to push the boundaries of DirectView LED technology. As prices become more affordable, the adoption of DirectView LED is expected to increase, transforming the way we experience visual content in various settings. To fully grasp the power of DirectView LED, it's highly recommended to witness its brilliance firsthand in one of Planar's showrooms. Stay tuned for more exciting episodes of Tech Unravel as we unravel the ever-evolving world of AV technology.

Welcome to Tech Unraveled, brought to you by Vistacom, where we delve into the AV industry, going beyond buzzwords to provide insights from industry experts. In this episode, we are thrilled to have Michael O'Halloran, a Regional Account Manager with Planar, join us to discuss the exciting world of DirectView LED technology. As a trusted partner, Planar has been at the forefront of video wall solutions, and their expertise in DirectView LED is unparalleled. Let's dive deep into this game-changing display technology.• DirectView LED: A bezel-free display technology for video walls, offering seamless visuals and superior picture quality.• Advantages of DirectView LED: Consistent color and image uniformity, longer lifespan, and the ability to create large video walls without size limitations.• Partnership success: Planar is a trusted partner for video wall solutions, with DirectView LED gaining popularity for its unique applications and advancements.DirectView LED technology, while not new, has undergone significant advancements to meet the evolving needs of various applications. Unlike traditional LCD video walls, DirectView LED eliminates bezels, providing a seamless, uniform picture that captivates viewers. Planar, a renowned player in the display market, has been offering cutting-edge video wall solutions for over four decades.DirectView LED's popularity stems from its ability to overcome the limitations of LCD displays. While LCD panels have size constraints, DirectView LED can be scaled to virtually any size, making it ideal for larger displays. Additionally, DirectView LED offers enhanced image uniformity and color consistency, as there are no independent displays that age differently. This technology has a longer lifespan, typically around 10 years, compared to the five-year warranty offered for LCD video walls.The flexibility and ease of installation make DirectView LED a preferred choice for various applications. Unlike large LCD displays that require cumbersome logistics, DirectView LED panels can be easily transported and assembled. Planar's DirectView LED solutions, such as the Direct Light Ultra cabinets, deliver high peak brightness and exceptional picture quality, rivaling hand-built OLED televisions. The advancements in technology have made DirectView LED more cost-effective, making it an attractive option for conference rooms, boardrooms, and other corporate environments.Planar's commitment to showcasing the potential of DirectView LED is evident through its network of showrooms across the country. These showrooms provide firsthand experiences of the brilliance and quality of DirectView LED displays, leaving a lasting impression on visitors and clients.DirectView LED technology has revolutionized the display industry, offering seamless, vibrant, and visually stunning video walls. Planar, with its extensive experience and expertise, continues to push the boundaries of DirectView LED technology. As prices become more affordable, the adoption of DirectView LED is expected to increase, transforming the way we experience visual content in various settings. To fully grasp the power of DirectView LED, it's highly recommended to witness its brilliance firsthand in one of Planar's showrooms. Stay tuned for more exciting episodes of Tech Unravel as we unravel the ever-evolving world of AV technology.

ISC West is the biggest security industry trade show in the U.S., with over 30,000 security professionals attending and showcasing new products and technologies. This year, the show took place from March 28th to March 31st in Las Vegas, Nevada.What were some of the key takeaways from ISC West, and what does security company Vistacom see as the value in attending?On today’s episode of Tech Unraveled by Vistacom, host Lianna Russell is joined by Joshua Herring, Marketing Communications Specialist at Vistacom, and Robert Schlegal, Director of National Control Room Sales at Vistacom, to discuss their takes on the ISC West trade show, popular topics, and why it is a critical event for Vistacom and the pro AV industry. Russell, Herring, and Schlegal also discussed…1. Initial impressions of ISC West and why it is important to be part of similar shows2. Common topics covered at Vistacom’s booth during ISC West3. The integration of physical and cyber security Herring stated, “We get caught up on educating ourselves behind a screen, or hopping on meetings and talking to people that way and introducing ourselves and educating ourselves on things over the internet. I think this show and the enthusiasm of people being there, you definitely get the sense that there is a lot of inherent value in attending these shows.”Schlegel explained how some companies at ISC West have tackled the challenge of having overwhelming amounts of information and turning it into knowledge. “Axis rolled out—or they’ve been talking about—one of their new fusion cameras that basically is taking some of the advances from autonomous driving with radar and coupling that with analytics. So, now we have moved from not having information to starting to have knowledge.”Joshua Herring is a strategic communications professional and content marketer who is Marketing Communications Specialist at Vistacom Inc. In the past, he has served in roles such as Account Executive at Compass, Ecommerce Product Editor at Saks Off 5th, and Marketing Communications Coordinator at MKP Technologies. He studied Writing for Film & Television at Emerson College and holds an Associate’s Degree in English/Liberal Arts from Northampton Community College as well as a Bachelor’s Degree in Professional Writing, Culture & Media Studies, Digital Communication & New Media from Kutztown University of Pennsylvania. Robert Schlagel is a certified ASIS International physical security professional with more than 10 years of experience in sales, engineering design, and program management. He is currently Director of National Control Room Sales at Vistacom and has been Area Sales Manager, Security Solutions, at Johnson Controls, Director of Sales and Marketing and Director of Engineering at CSi, amongst other past roles. Schlagel attended the Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and DeSales University, where he earned a BS in Chemistry and Computer Science.

ISC West is the biggest security industry trade show in the U.S., with over 30,000 security professionals attending and showcasing new products and technologies. This year, the show took place from March 28th to March 31st in Las Vegas, Nevada.What were some of the key takeaways from ISC West, and what does security company Vistacom see as the value in attending?On today’s episode of Tech Unraveled by Vistacom, host Lianna Russell is joined by Joshua Herring, Marketing Communications Specialist at Vistacom, and Robert Schlegal, Director of National Control Room Sales at Vistacom, to discuss their takes on the ISC West trade show, popular topics, and why it is a critical event for Vistacom and the pro AV industry. Russell, Herring, and Schlegal also discussed…1. Initial impressions of ISC West and why it is important to be part of similar shows2. Common topics covered at Vistacom’s booth during ISC West3. The integration of physical and cyber security Herring stated, “We get caught up on educating ourselves behind a screen, or hopping on meetings and talking to people that way and introducing ourselves and educating ourselves on things over the internet. I think this show and the enthusiasm of people being there, you definitely get the sense that there is a lot of inherent value in attending these shows.”Schlegel explained how some companies at ISC West have tackled the challenge of having overwhelming amounts of information and turning it into knowledge. “Axis rolled out—or they’ve been talking about—one of their new fusion cameras that basically is taking some of the advances from autonomous driving with radar and coupling that with analytics. So, now we have moved from not having information to starting to have knowledge.”Joshua Herring is a strategic communications professional and content marketer who is Marketing Communications Specialist at Vistacom Inc. In the past, he has served in roles such as Account Executive at Compass, Ecommerce Product Editor at Saks Off 5th, and Marketing Communications Coordinator at MKP Technologies. He studied Writing for Film & Television at Emerson College and holds an Associate’s Degree in English/Liberal Arts from Northampton Community College as well as a Bachelor’s Degree in Professional Writing, Culture & Media Studies, Digital Communication & New Media from Kutztown University of Pennsylvania. Robert Schlagel is a certified ASIS International physical security professional with more than 10 years of experience in sales, engineering design, and program management. He is currently Director of National Control Room Sales at Vistacom and has been Area Sales Manager, Security Solutions, at Johnson Controls, Director of Sales and Marketing and Director of Engineering at CSi, amongst other past roles. Schlagel attended the Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and DeSales University, where he earned a BS in Chemistry and Computer Science.

Video conferencing has rapidly evolved in the last decade. Further increasing usage was the COVID-19 pandemic, which called for more conferencing needs as lockdowns limited in-person meetings and gatherings. It has and continues to be a massive part of the lives of everyday Americans, per Pew Research. As record numbers of people use video conferencing tools, improving functionality has become a priority for many companies. As users and companies determine the necessary improvements needed for many video conferencing tools, it also raises the question that even as companies work to make changes from a collaboration perspective, other issues still need to be solved. What are these issues in particular? On "Tech Unraveled," hosts Josh Herring and Lianna Russell interviewed Jordan Owens, the VP of Architecture at Pexip, and Justin Longo, the company's Channel Sales Manager. The four discussed the evolution of the video conferencing industry. The four also discussed: Common complaints from users about video conferencing tools and improving them Security concerns and data breaches with the increased usage of video conferencing The challenges in video conferencing technology and solutions “What they don't solve directly is this idea of, ‘How do I allow a customer to migrate into this modern meeting solutions and yet still leverage the equity that they've already invested inside of other collaborative solutions,’” said Owens. "One of the interesting things about Pexip, in general, is a lot of the times we like to steer conversations outside of just the conference room, and talk about, again, how people are using technology to augment their lives," said Longo. Jordan Owens is the VP of Architecture at Pexip and attended Virginia Tech. Justin Longo is the company's Channel Sales Manager and has been working there since 2020. He attended Saginaw Valley State University.

Video conferencing has rapidly evolved in the last decade. Further increasing usage was the COVID-19 pandemic, which called for more conferencing needs as lockdowns limited in-person meetings and gatherings. It has and continues to be a massive part of the lives of everyday Americans, per Pew Research. As record numbers of people use video conferencing tools, improving functionality has become a priority for many companies. As users and companies determine the necessary improvements needed for many video conferencing tools, it also raises the question that even as companies work to make changes from a collaboration perspective, other issues still need to be solved. What are these issues in particular? On "Tech Unraveled," hosts Josh Herring and Lianna Russell interviewed Jordan Owens, the VP of Architecture at Pexip, and Justin Longo, the company's Channel Sales Manager. The four discussed the evolution of the video conferencing industry. The four also discussed: Common complaints from users about video conferencing tools and improving them Security concerns and data breaches with the increased usage of video conferencing The challenges in video conferencing technology and solutions “What they don't solve directly is this idea of, ‘How do I allow a customer to migrate into this modern meeting solutions and yet still leverage the equity that they've already invested inside of other collaborative solutions,’” said Owens. "One of the interesting things about Pexip, in general, is a lot of the times we like to steer conversations outside of just the conference room, and talk about, again, how people are using technology to augment their lives," said Longo. Jordan Owens is the VP of Architecture at Pexip and attended Virginia Tech. Justin Longo is the company's Channel Sales Manager and has been working there since 2020. He attended Saginaw Valley State University.

Control room operators have a critical role in the utility and energy industries. They are responsible for everything from managing surveillance to command and control to traffic management and broadcasting distribution monitoring. With such a key role, what are some of the unique needs control room operators have when it comes to designing their workspaces?On today’s episode of Tech Unraveled by Vistacom, Hosts Joshua Herring and Lianna Russell, are joined by Lee Pagnan, National Sales Manager of Utilities at Barco, and Shawn Brady, VP of Product Development at Winsted, to talk about control mission operator roles, how control centers need to be ergonomically designed, and technology trends in the control center industry. Herring and Russell also discuss…1. What control mission operators perform on a daily basis 2. Ergonomic resolutions for operation work centers and commonly overlooked design considerations3. Examples of what operators look at from the viewable data perspectiveBrady explained that there are two types of data—task data and viewable data—and operators want to see it all at once. However, this is not the most optimal solution, he explained, “We try to take stock and show the difference between the task data and the viewable data. And then we can say that all these things that are occurring, that are task data, we need to keep that on the desk. But maybe we have some of that viewable data that we can move off to a display wall…that way, it’s there for the room.”Pagnan is seeing trends in increasing preparedness of control centers. “A great trend that we’re seeing in electric and utilities is standing up additional control center. So, COVID really brought to light some vulnerabilities previously not thought of. While most utilities were operating a primary and a backup control center, tertiary sites are now being implemented in the case there’s some type of outbreak in a primary or the backup center.”Lee Pagnan is National Sales Manager of Utilities at Barco and previously served as Market Manager of Utilities at Barco. He has worked at Mitsubishi and AVI-SPL as in sales and market management roles. Pagnan earned a BA in Political Science from the University of California, Riverside. Shawn Brady is VP of Product Development at Winsted and was employed at Barco as a Business Development Manager of Utilities as well as a Senior Control Room Specialist in Utilities. Brady is a Certified Office Ergonomics Evaluator (COEE) and has completed more than 200 projects in the mission critical industry.

Control room operators have a critical role in the utility and energy industries. They are responsible for everything from managing surveillance to command and control to traffic management and broadcasting distribution monitoring. With such a key role, what are some of the unique needs control room operators have when it comes to designing their workspaces?On today’s episode of Tech Unraveled by Vistacom, Hosts Joshua Herring and Lianna Russell, are joined by Lee Pagnan, National Sales Manager of Utilities at Barco, and Shawn Brady, VP of Product Development at Winsted, to talk about control mission operator roles, how control centers need to be ergonomically designed, and technology trends in the control center industry. Herring and Russell also discuss…1. What control mission operators perform on a daily basis 2. Ergonomic resolutions for operation work centers and commonly overlooked design considerations3. Examples of what operators look at from the viewable data perspectiveBrady explained that there are two types of data—task data and viewable data—and operators want to see it all at once. However, this is not the most optimal solution, he explained, “We try to take stock and show the difference between the task data and the viewable data. And then we can say that all these things that are occurring, that are task data, we need to keep that on the desk. But maybe we have some of that viewable data that we can move off to a display wall…that way, it’s there for the room.”Pagnan is seeing trends in increasing preparedness of control centers. “A great trend that we’re seeing in electric and utilities is standing up additional control center. So, COVID really brought to light some vulnerabilities previously not thought of. While most utilities were operating a primary and a backup control center, tertiary sites are now being implemented in the case there’s some type of outbreak in a primary or the backup center.”Lee Pagnan is National Sales Manager of Utilities at Barco and previously served as Market Manager of Utilities at Barco. He has worked at Mitsubishi and AVI-SPL as in sales and market management roles. Pagnan earned a BA in Political Science from the University of California, Riverside. Shawn Brady is VP of Product Development at Winsted and was employed at Barco as a Business Development Manager of Utilities as well as a Senior Control Room Specialist in Utilities. Brady is a Certified Office Ergonomics Evaluator (COEE) and has completed more than 200 projects in the mission critical industry.