I’ve enjoyed writing for AV Technology Magazine for nearly two years and I would like to thank them and particularly the editor, Margot Douaihy, for providing me the opportunity to contribute. It has been a wonderful platform to share my thoughts, opinions, and technical expertise on a variety of topics. It has also been an amazing journey into a world that was fairly new to me (blogging), but that has given me the chance to explore and communicate industry insights from my vantage point of 28-plus years in AV and IT.
Blogging was new to me. I had written before—mostly articles and technical white papers—so the concept of blog posts was refreshing. I was given the opportunity to write about whatever I felt was timely or saw as an important trend in the AV industry. When my blogs started getting “ranked” on the monthly email blast and I made the top 10, I was as excited like the kid who just received a gold star in elementary school. At one point three of my blogs made the top 10 including the #1 spot. Sweet. I think my mom was posting them on the refrigerator at home.
Throughout the AV industry we have certainly faced our share of changes over the years, whether it is evolving technologies, mergers between companies, the changing of the guard for industry organizations, the analog sunset, the integration of our equipment with building systems, the rise of the iPad or the convergence of AV and IT. Whether accepted willingly or reluctantly each of these changes presented themselves and took place and in doing so enabled growth and movement in a market and an industry that is all about innovation. Change IS good….however, being prepared for it is even better.
To my AVT blog followers, thank you for your support and your feedback and for being part of an industry that I still get excited about every day.
So for this blog I thought I would provide a recap of my work, which represents my thoughts, insight, hindsight and to some extent my predictions. I hope that through my blogs I have been able to provide you with information or a new way of looking at things that has helped you “change” in some way and perhaps build stronger opportunities and business for yourself and for the companies that you work with.
Below in chronological order is a list of my blogs for your use and enjoyment.
AV Meets the IPad
http://avtechnologyonline.com/blog/72236.aspx
AV Touch Panels are Out of Control
http://avtechnologyonline.com/blog/71198.aspx
How CES 2012 Will Influence Commercial AV
http://avtechnologyonline.com/blog/69706.aspx
Where are we going in AV in 2012?
http://avtechnologyonline.com/blog/69208.aspx
2011 AV Review
http://avtechnologyonline.com/blog/69118.aspx
AV Project Process: No Shades of Gray Allowed
http://avtechnologyonline.com/blog/68100.aspx
As AV and IT Collide, What Are We Worth?
http://avtechnologyonline.com/blog/67110.aspx
AV – Sometimes it’s Just Inconsistent Nonsense
http://avtechnologyonline.com/blog/66796.aspx
Impressive Women in AV
http://avtechnologyonline.com/blog/65786.aspx
Streamlined Classroom AV Systems
http://avtechnologyonline.com/blog/64934.aspx
Are You Ready for AV Week – Take Out the AV Garbage
http://avtechnologyonline.com/blog/64860.aspx
Daily Room Checkout 101 – An End-User FlyBy Course
http://avtechnologyonline.com/blog/63880.aspx
AV Groups in an IT World – How to Survive & Grow
http://avtechnologyonline.com/blog/63390.aspx
Why Does UC Matter to Tech Managers?
http://avtechnologyonline.com/blog/63302.aspx
Will the AV Industry Be Overrun?
http://avtechnologyonline.com/blog/61230.aspx
InfoComm 2011 Review – Was it The Center of IT All?
http://avtechnologyonline.com/blogArticle.aspx?id=60698
Christie Digital – This Company Really Knows How to Make Video Projectors
http://avtechnologyonline.com/blogArticle.aspx?id=60406
AV System Energy Conservation
http://avtechnologyonline.com/blogArticle.aspx?id=59130
IT Groups Want to “Own” the AV Departments – Good Luck
http://avtechnologyonline.com/blog/58352.aspx
InfoComm 2011, Here We Come
http://avtechnologyonline.com/blog/57944.aspx
Analog Sunset – Did We Forget About Audio?
http://avtechnologyonline.com/blogArticle.aspx?id=56970
AV Department – You Will Likely Be Working For IT, If You Aren’t Already
http://avtechnologyonline.com/blog/56254.aspx
How is the End-User – Distributor Relationship Changing?
http://avtechnologyonline.com/blog/55486.aspx
The AV Industry is due for a change
http://avtechnologyonline.com/blogArticle.aspx?id=54596
Digital Video Pain – You Are Not Alone
http://avtechnologyonline.com/blog/53238.aspx
The Top CES Products with Commercial Promise
http://avtechnologyonline.com/blog/53104.aspx
Post-CES Wrap: 3D’s Real World Impact
http://avtechnologyonline.com/blog/52876.aspx
CES … coming soon. A peek into the future of commercial AV…
http://avtechnologyonline.com/blog/51890.aspx
Help Wanted – Architect with AV Technology Savvy
http://avtechnologyonline.com/blog/51776.aspx
STEP – Should we step lightly at first?
http://avtechnologyonline.com/blog/51206.aspx
AV Equipment Manufacturers: PLEASE STAND BY
http://avtechnologyonline.com/blog/50790.aspx
Will the real Project Manager please stand up?
http://avtechnologyonline.com/blog/50138.aspx
The AV Project Process: Two Methods
http://avtechnologyonline.com/blog/49908.aspx
The Ramifications of Crestron DigitalMedia
http://avtechnologyonline.com/blog/49468.aspx
Are Personal Electronics Changing AV?
http://avtechnologyonline.com/blog/48384.aspx
Do You Get II?
http://avtechnologyonline.com/blog/47618.aspx
AV Done Properly
http://avtechnologyonline.com/blogArticle.aspx?id=47026
Will AV Systems Become a Commodity?
http://avtechnologyonline.com/blog/46178.aspx
The Conflicting World of Intellectual Property
http://avtechnologyonline.com/blog/45864.aspx
Now let me break out the AV crystal ball, and tell you what I see for InfoComm 2012:
1. Extron will not have a booth or throw the Extron Bash. (Who could have predicted this?)
2. Cisco will have a larger booth and presence and continue to make inroads into the AV industry.
3. The term “Telepresence” will appear (incorrectly) on any videoconferencing product.
4. iPad apps will continue to proliferate everywhere.
5. AMX will have a strong presence and push for their Enova line of Digital Media Switchers
6. Gary Kaye will Rant, Rave, Tweet, FB, Video and social media us to till we say “Drunk Unkles”
6. Commercial AV products will be revealed for interfacing an iPad to an AV system.
7. My accredited training session ISO10 “Managing Multiple AV Facilities on Wed June 13 will be a huge success (as it has been for the past three years).
See you in Vegas!
Christopher Maione, CTS-D, is president of Christopher Maione Associates, a firm specializing in all aspects of AV business, technologies, emerging trends and marketing strategy. Christopher serves as an InfoComm Adjunct Faculty, Approved CTS RU Provider and sits on several AV standards committees.
Email:cmaione@chrismaione.com
Twitter:CMAav
Facebook:Christopher Maione Associates
