Choosing an AV Provider
Part One
rom educational facilities to government agencies, to businesses, to architectural firms and facility managers, today’s lecture, communications, sales, advertising and conferencing functions demand professionally designed, installed and produced audiovisual (AV) presentation systems.
Depending on the size of a company or facility, there may be an information technology (IT) department or staff person in-house needing assistance to bring your communications capabilities up to speed using the modern technology and systems available. An AV solutions provider offers guidance in determining how to proceed before needlessly expending time and money to research the options.
Small organizations may not even have an IT or AV department, and this resource provides a roadmap of who to contact, whether you need to rent, buy or install AV equipment, or simply need a resource to produce an event.
Larger companies, government and military agencies, or higher education institutions are more likely to have AV departments, AV managers and AV technicians on their staff. These may be part of the communications department or part of the information technology or information systems department. Even in this situation a skilled AV provider can offer services that enhance an organization’s communications strategy.
How Can I Access These Resources?
Visit the InfoComm website www.infocomm.org and navigate to the AV Products and Providers’ directory to search for a company that specifically meets your needs. Here you will also find case studies and pictures of boardrooms, auditoriums, houses of worship, command and control centers, and other AV environments.
Design and Construction of Facilities
When dealing with the design and construction of a new communications facility (a boardroom, auditorium, command and control center, videoconferencing facility or entire high-tech building), it is important to identify AV needs early in the process. A myriad of building considerations should be addressed during the design process, including lighting, space design, sightlines, acoustical requirements, cooling and electrical loads, furniture designs, wiring, networking and many others. When refurbishing or renovating an existing facility, many of the same considerations must be addressed, and the task is often more challenging because the audiovisual systems must be integrated into an environment that may not be conducive.
To help you with all your AV needs, there are different types of companies and resources available. These are companies that are all part of the professional AV industry. InfoComm International® is a membership association that represents all types of professional AV companies as well as individuals who work as AV managers and technicians. With the unique requirements of designing, installing and operating AV systems, training and certifi cation is a strong focus of the association and its members. AV professionals must also understand and work with the complexities of information technology systems and networked environments.
What is the AV Communications Industry?
The AV communications industry centers on the technologies, products and systems for visual display, audio reproduction, video and audio production, interfacing and signal distribution, lighting, control systems, interactive display and audio presentation systems, remote video and web conferencing, and the furniture, cabling, connectors and racks to tie them into a system.
This industry interfaces with the information technology and telecommunications industries to create and transport the information that is presented to the intended audience.
What AV Resources Are Available?
Systems Integrators: AV technologies are often installed as integrated systems and require skilled installation professionals to ensure compatibility with existing information technology, to ensure the systems will work the way they should once installed, and to ensure that staff has suffi cient understanding and training to work the system. Simplifying the use of many different AV components into one, simple user interface controller (i.e., a remote control, or touch panel) is the role of a design consultant (see below) or systems integrator. Some integrators also design systems, and they are known as design/build companies. These integrators spend time understanding AV needs and the expectations you have of your new AV system and then design a custom solution for you. Post-installation services can also be provided by the systems integrator in the following ways:
Phone — support over the telephone for basic malfunctions and customer assistance
On-site — for basic service and repair
Online — New technology now allows systems integrators to monitor and control nearly all system functionality remotely through the use of the Internet and advanced software technology available from many AV product manufacturers.
Courtesy of INFOCOMM.ORG-Provided by Jon Maslansky, Commercial Sales Manager, Custom Audio Video
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