Have you heard the buzzwords: IT and AV convergence? If you’ve picked up an industry trade publication that deals with audio video installations, attended a trade show like InfoComm, NSCA, CES or CEDIA, or follow #AVTweeps on Twitter, you probably have.
But what exactly does IT and AV convergence mean to commercial AV customers?
Back in the day, audio signals were transmitted via speaker wire, while video was transmitted over RF cables. Today, though, we have many more options to transfer signals from a source to an output device (screen, projector, speaker, etc.)
A few of the options are:
- Ethernet
- HDMI cable
- LAN (Local Area Network)
- WAN (Wide Area Network
- Crestron digital media, a proprietary data transfer protocol
What all of these options have in common is the programming required falls into the realm of Information Technology v. typical audio/video work.
When it comes down to it, you need an audio video specialist trained in IT to get the job done right. Your audio video designer will help you choose the data transfer method best for your venue, and will integrate the systems with a sophisticated control system, operated via intuitive touch panel, that’s as easy to use as your cash register.
It’s a cliche to say computers are everywhere, but we can’t think of a better way to explain it. And the convergence of IT and AV? That’s basically a fancy way of saying computers play an integral role in your new audio visual systems installation, too.