Installation 235 December 2020

December 2020

AV integration in a networked world

OUT OF OFFICE AV'S ROLE IN THE FUTURE OF THE WORKPLACE

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Welcome Welcome

This is the first of our hybrid publication schedule print editions, a new programme of print digital issues produced new This is the first of ourand hybrid publication scheduleevery printquarter. editions,This a new hybrid modelofsees Installation publications per year, with one programme printeight and standard digital issues produced every quarter.

This new print publication and onestandard digital edition in eachpublications quarter. As per quarterly hybrid model sees eight Installation year, with one publications, the and printone editions deeper andquarter. more expansive coverage of print publication digitaloffer edition in each As quarterly the AV marketplace, focusing specific technology such as digital of publications, the print editionson offer deeper and moreareas expansive coverage signage, collaboration, and projection.

Our digital-only editions the AV marketplace, focusing on specific technology areas suchwill as bring digital you the latest projects, and tech,projection. and solutions deployed in specific signage, collaboration, Our being digital-only editions will bring vertical markets, with supplements dedicated to the education, corporate, you the latest projects, tech, and solutions being deployed in specific hospitality and retail, visitor attractions sectors.

Our first digital edition vertical markets, withand supplements dedicated to the education, corporate, goes live in and earlyretail, January willattractions concentrate on the Our education sector. hospitality and and visitor sectors. first digital edition Meanwhile, thisJanuary latest print – also available of sector. course – goes live in early and edition will concentrate on the digitally education concentrates future of edition the workplace, with opinion from of–our Meanwhile, on thisthe latest print – also available digitally ofsome course industry’s leading lights on of how will change post-Covid how concentrates on the future thethings workplace, with opinion fromand some ofAV our is set to play a leading role, comprehensive articles and essential industry’s leading lights on with how two things will change post-Covid and how AV commentaries.

In addition, we report from Futuresource Consulting’s is set to play a leading role, with two comprehensive articles and essential annual Audio Collaborative thisfrom year Futuresource held virtually, with further commentaries.

In addition, event, we report Consulting’s industry insight on the workplace an audio perspective; out annual Audio Collaborative event, from this year held virtually, withcheck further some of the latest casefrom studies; look perspective; at how video check collaboration industry insight oninstallation the workplace an audio out has benefitted an offshore wind company’s carbon footprint; from some of the latest installation case studies; look at how video hear collaboration some of our industry’s leading in interviews comment pieces; has benefitted an offshore windlights company’s carbonand footprint; hear from and talk mental and emotional wellbeing. some of about our industry’s leading lights in interviews and comment pieces; Finally in thismental issue, we tribute to the late, great Ian McMurray, one of and talk about andpay emotional wellbeing.

Installation best writers whotribute sadly died just a few days filing his last Finally in ’s this issue, we pay to the late, great Ianafter McMurray, one of article for the magazine featured thisjust veryaissue on page Widely Installation ’s best writers–who sadlyindied few days after32. filing his last respected throughout the industry,in bythis CEOs, and alike, Ian article for the magazine – featured veryPRs issue onjournalists page 32. Widely was quite simply one ofthe theindustry, nicest men you’d ever carejournalists to meet and willIan be respected throughout

by CEOs, PRs and alike, sorely missed.

Onone a personal level,men I hadyou’d the pleasure ofto working withwill Ianbe was quite simply of the nicest ever care meet and both a freelance for this title and also the ISEof Daily , as well asIan a PR sorelyasmissed.

On awriter personal level, I had the pleasure working with professional.

He was always absolute deal with both as a freelance writer foran this title andpleasure also theto ISE Daily , asand wellhis asdeath a PR is a loss not only to hisalways familyan and all who pleasure knew andtoloved but also to professional.

He was absolute deal him, with and his death this publication. was a great writer and never, ever missed deadline. is a loss not only Ian to his family and all who knew and loved him, a but also to Rest in peace Ian. this publication.

Ian was a great writer and never, ever missed a deadline.

Rest in peace Ian. www.Installation-International.com

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In this issue...

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Movers and shakers

Latest appointments, hires and promotions

In memoriam

Where we pay tributes to those who recently passed

10 A tribute to Ian McMurray

A total gent; it was a pleasure to have known him. We bid a fond farewell to one of Installation magazine’s stars

16 Audio’s post-Covid future

We report on Futuresource Consulting’s renowned Audio Collaborative event, this year held virtually

18 Skilled trades

CEDIA’s Samantha Ventura and Aneta Armova-Levin discuss the shortage of skilled workers in our industry

THE FUTURE OF WORKPLACE SPECIAL

P21 WORKING IN THE NEW NORMAL

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW AND HOW AV WILL HELP

21 Overview

Installation editor Rob Lane sets the scene

22 Working towards a new future

We gauge the opinion of some of our industry’s leading lights in this roundtable report on AV in the workplace

29 Safe & secure

Atlona’s Garth Lobban discusses the importance of safe and productive work environments as we return to offices

30 Tips for a successful workplace

Amy Crowshaw of Beyond Workplace Consulting looks at how workplaces will develop in the new normal

32 The Zoom boom

What does the rise in popularity of Zooming mean for unified communications? Read the late Ian McMurray’s final report

36 Going virtual

AVIXA’s Krystle Murphy on how to make an event virtual

38 The human condition

P10 A TRIBUTE TO IAN MCMURRAY

WHERE WE BID A FOND FAREWELL TO OUR DEAR COLLEAGUE

As we navigate changing working patterns, the strain on mental health can be huge. James McKeown reports

42 Artful audio

We check out Dolby’s state-of-the-art Dolby Atmos mix room in Dean Street Studios’ flagship Studio One

44 Filling the void

How Void Acoustics enlivened three Irish bars

46 Flow motion

Why Amsterdam’s Flow office is the future

48 Marketing the new normal

Brandy Alvarado assesses the options for AV companies as marketing operations start to come back on track

50 An installation journey

We talk to Nicola Beretta, at Allen & Heath, to find out more about the company’s installation business

55 Technology round-up

The latest remote working solutions under the spotlight

58 Winds of change

P42 STATE OF THE ART

HOW DOLBY ATMOS FIRES UP DEAN STREET STUDIOS

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Antoine Goodwin of MHI Vestas Offshore Wind on how

video collaboration benefits the company’s carbon footprint

60 In the know

Stories you may have missed from Installation online

62 Inside track

Steve Warren founder director of Avolites, discusses his industry journey and his proudest moments

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Stay in the loop with the latest appointments, hires and promotions from across the installation industry…

HELEN JOINES REJOINS

RIEDEL UNVEILS

ATLONA APPOINTS

CALREC AS NEW

NEW R&D DIRECTOR

NORDICS MANAGER

Riedel Communications has promoted Peter Glättli to the position of director of research and development. Glättli moves from his previous position as head of R&D of the company’s Zurich operation and assumes responsibility for Riedel’s five main development hubs, aiming to advance the company’s IP-enabled hardware and software solutions. He will report to founder and CEO Thomas Riedel.“Ongoing research and development are absolutely crucial for us to build and secure our company’s future, and this vital function is in great hands with Peter,” Thomas Riedel said. “In this leadership position, he will now lead a significant concentration of engineering talent with a singular focus on creating the hardware and software solutions to drive future broadcast, event, and AV workflows.”

Glättli added, “Riedel has an outstanding and talented development team, both in terms of quality and quantity. It’s a great honour to be able to take the helm.”

AV over IP solutions specialist Atlona has appointed Viktor Fjordberg as regional sales manager for the Nordics. Fjordberg’s role will see him cover Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden to expand the company’s visibility and market share across the Scandinavia region. He will report into Thorsten Goecke, director of Atlona sales, EMEA. “The Nordics market is quite mature when it comes to AV, and we are seeing a dramatic evolution that has led to stronger alignment with IT systems,” said Fjordberg.

Thorsten Goecke added, “Viktor’s extensive experience working throughout the Nordics region will help Atlona make a stronger impact in an important region that has lacked a local sales presence. We continue to aggressively grow our sales and support teams through EMEA in an effort to get closer to our customers, and bring Atlona’s value proposition to the forefront of the AV industry. We welcome Viktor to the team and look forward to his contribution.”

OPERATIONS MANAGER Calrec has hired former employee Helen Jones as its new operations manager. “This appointment is another example of Calrec continuing its investment in the future, both ours and that of our customers.

We’re always striving to improve our production efficiency and quality, using the latest techniques,” said Sid Stanley, general manager at Calrec.

“The Covid era will bring new challenges to our supply chain and the way we work, challenges that we will face head on so our customers remain unaffected. Helen’s role will be to ensure that operationally we stay ahead of a fast evolving and changing business environment, combining her great knowledge of Calrec with her leadership and management experiences to take operations to the next level.”

Jones, who is rejoining her former company, added, “I’m excited to execute my skills and knowledge to effectively manage my team and quality of the products so that our customers truly benefit.”

IN OTHER NEWS… Other notable appointments from the past few weeks have included Joan Aixa’s move to Maverick to become the company’s new European smart signage director, while Jo Mayer was unveiled as the new senior director of marketing at Integrated Systems Events back in September. Mayer joins operations director André Hooijer and senior sales director

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George Buckingham as part of the ISE senior leadership team (SLT), reporting to MD Mike Blackman.

Elsewhere, Daniel Horan has joined B-Tech AV Mounts as project manager; TIG has recruited Joseph Edwards as UK sales manager; and Guy Ready has joined Audio Visual Material as business development manager.

In memoriam...

One of the hardest things we have to do as colleagues and friends in the AV community is to say goodbye to those we respect and admire, however fleeting our contact with them may have been. Sadly, during what has already been an extraordinarily difficult time, our community has had the added hardship of losing a number of talented individuals before their time. Here, we remember those who have passed in recent weeks…

MARK BRUNER, SHURE At the beginning of October, Shure announced the sad and untimely passing of its vice president of global corporate and government relations, Mark Brunner. Shure’s president and CEO Christine Schyvinck, said in a statement: "It is with a heavy heart that I announce the unexpected passing of Mark Brunner on October 1. Mark was more than our VP of global corporate and government relations, he was family to so many of us at Shure and in the industry.

Mark joined Shure in 1989, and he touched the lives of everyone he worked with.

Mark was a trusted advisor, a mentor, and most importantly, a friend. Our thoughts are with Mark’s family at this difficult time.” Brunner had served in positions such as director of advertising, managing director of the musical instrument and touring sound business unit, and senior director of global brand management.

Brunner had been "instrumental in helping Shure build an even stronger reputation among associates, customers, industry influencers and the public."

MICHAEL MUELLER, LAWO Just days prior to news of Mark Brunner’s passing, Lawo announced that its vice president of sales, Michael Mueller, had sadly passed away at the age of 66. "We mourn the premature passing of our colleague, team member, and friend, Michael Mueller; a truly unique colleague, with whom we at Lawo had the pleasure to work together for more than a decade. He passed away after a brief, yet severe illness on September 26, 2020 amid his loved ones. Michael joined the company in 2008 when Lawo was hardly known in North America. Michael’s incredible passion, hard work, dedication, positive attitude and pure likeability, are among the reasons that the company today enjoys such widespread success and reputation in this part of the world. Known for his witty sense of humour and kind-hearted personality, we will remember Michael as a key member of the global organisation, skilled bass player in the Lawo band, a renowned face of the audio industry as a whole and a true gentleman and friend."

DAVID CROXTON, KV2 AUDIO In September, KV2 Audio released a statement announcing the death of sales director David Croxton at the age of 59 following a tragic accident. The statement read: "It is with the deepest and most sincere regret that we have to announce the shocking and unexpected passing of our dear friend and colleague David Croxton as the result of a fatal accident. He was 59. His determination, energy and endeavours were certainly a part of the company’s success throughout the world. Having worked in the audio industry throughout his career, David’s knowledge of touring systems and studio production recording coupled with his experience of having run a successful distribution business in his Australian homeland, provided unparalleled access to unique insights and knowledge to those involved with him throughout his work. His passing has left behind a huge hole in everybody’s hearts, especially his family and friends and we are all thankful for having had the privilege of being his friend and colleague."

MELINDA VON HORVATH, PEERLESS -AV On 12th May this year, Peerless-AV vice president of sales and marketing, Melinda Von Horvath, sadly passed away at the age of 47 at her home in Amsterdam surrounded by family and friends, following a brief battle with cancer.

Announcing her passing, Peerless-AV said in a statement: "In her all too brief time here with us, Melinda enriched the lives of so many and imprinted her unique character on so many. Her smile and playful humour was infectious. Her warmth for her family, friends, team and many others that knew her was heartfelt. Melinda’s network was impressively widespread on an international level having held senior positions at various major AV brands during her professional career. She loved the industry and was exceptionally passionate about building teams, encouraging personal development and giving talents room to shine.

Her life achievements will be celebrated and our memories of her will be cherished. She was an inspirational leader – always in our hearts."

The thoughts and best wishes of everyone at Installation and the wider Future community go out to the family and friends of all those who have sadly passed. May they rest in peace. www.Installation-International.com

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Ian McMurray One of the broadcast and AV communities’ finest journalistic voices www.Installation-International.com

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It was with the heaviest of hearts that Installation announced in September the passing of its dear friend and colleague, Ian McMurray who sadly died after a short battle with cancer. Here, we pay tribute to a man universally admired and respected for his talent, proficiency, and wit; one of the finest journalistic voices of his generation of technology commentators.

By James McKeown

I

an was a rare talent who made an art of translating highly complex and technical information into engaging, palatable editorial; always of the highest quality, always submitted on time. Ian often joked that he was yet to miss a deadline, and he was true to his word right to the end; he filed his final article for this very issue of Installation just days before he sadly passed away. It is the mark of the man who went about his business professionally, diligently, and without fuss.

As well as being Installation's longest serving contributor and a regular writer for TVBEurope, he served for a time as the former’s contributing editor providing invaluable advice and endless ideas for features and editorial for what was at the time a young editorial team learning its craft.

On a personal level, he will always be best remembered for his work on the IBC Daily and ISE Daily teams, where his relentless filing of high-quality copy really came to the fore. He was an everdependable member of both teams, and was much loved and much admired by all of his peers. Indeed,

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another of his rare talents was that he was universally liked in the industries he served.

Ian was someone I regularly sought counsel from; someone I turned to for advice, ideas, perspective.

He was always accommodating, always honest, always willing to help. For me and for many of his peers, he was a constant in our industries as a respected and notable writer, a technical expert, and a colleague and friend that many of us will retain the fondest memories of.

The picture we've used on the previous page, courtesy of our dear friend Michael Burns, captures Ian in typical working mode in the ISE Daily office. For many of us, our lasting image of him will be sitting in The Hoppe pub in Amsterdam after a long shift on the Daily, nursing a pint in blissful solitude. It is here that I will always picture him.

It is heartbreaking news. He will be sorely missed by all. The thoughts and condolences of everyone at Installation and the wider Future family go out to Ian's family and friends.

May he rest in peace.

Tributes from the AV and broadcast communities Paddy Baker, ISE and former editor of Installation

I'm deeply saddened to hear of Ian's passing. Shortly after I took on the editor's role at Installation Europe (as it was then), Ian explained to me why he could only communicate via email: he combined his freelance career with a full-time job, so he couldn't take calls. You might think that this complex working arrangement would be a recipe for chaos and disappointment, but no; quite the reverse. Ian was an editor's dream. His work was accurate, needing little sub-editing. He never missed a deadline; if he had to renegotiate the odd one, it was never because of him.

He was also a master of finding new and interesting ways to introduce familiar topics; in ways that might initially seem contrived but actually made excellent sense once he got you onto his wavelength. And on occasions when I was struggling to come up with a strong enough angle for one of his commissions, I would send him my half-formed ideas, which he would build on and adapt into something that was actually workable. Small wonder, then, that his work appeared in just about every issue of the magazine that I edited, as well as being on the team of every ISE Daily until this year, when illness prevented him.

And there was something else. He seemed to have a limitless capacity for writing. As his prolific workrate on the ISE Daily showed, turning out highquality copy extremely quickly was his default setting. On occasion I would approach him sheepishly with a request to add a short-turnaround story to his already full Daily workload; I don't remember him ever turning me down. And in addition to his output, he was a great asset to the Daily team with his unflappable demeanour and sharp, but never cruel, sense of humour.

Because of the nature of his freelance work, I would only see Ian in person in Amsterdam during ISE and IBC. My abiding memory will be of him enjoying a quiet drink at the Hoppe, the ISE Daily pub of choice, after a long day at the keyboard. You've earned it, my friend.

Dan Goldstein, AVIXA and former editor of Installation

I first met Ian in the early 2000s when he was heading-up the DLP division of Texas Instruments for Europe. When he left that position for a new job outside of the AV industry, he was probably relieved

to get out. Little did he know that, as editor of Installation Europe at the time, I would come calling on his services as a writer so that his wit, experience, eye for detail and dogged determination were not lost to AV entirely. Ian went on to become a core part of the team that created the ISE Daily in 2006, and in that role, as in all of his others, he was a charming, efficient and objective documenter of the huge shifts that impacted not just AV but consumer technology in general. His combination of skills was rare and will be much-missed.

Michael Burns, IBC and ISE Daily colleague

I’ve worked with Ian for several years on the IBC Daily and ISE Daily, first as a fellow writer and then as an editor, but always as a much-respected colleague. Always the one to deliver the first story, and usually the one to deliver the most copy on the team (small victories he always celebrated), Ian was always a very dependable and accomplished writer, who I greatly enjoyed working with. Our industry and its publications will miss his talent and support. I know I will.

Ian’s witty observations and cutting comments always made me laugh out loud, especially when they were directed at me (more often than not).

It’s so typical of the man that earlier this month, in what would be the last message I received from him, his remark about something I’d forgotten was: "My excuse is 'I'm a bit preoccupied'. What's yours? LOL..."

For many of us, our lasting memory of Ian will be him sitting in the Hoppe pub in Amsterdam after a long day's shift on the Daily, nursing a pint in blissful solitude www.Installation-International.com

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Fergal Ringrose, SVGEurope, and former editor of the IBC and ISE Dailies

It was my privilege to work alongside Ian during my time as editor of both the IBC Daily and ISE Daily. The finest reporter I have worked with and one of the nicest guys you could ever meet. Like others my favourite memory of Ian will be quietly sipping his pint outside de Hoppe on Spuistraat, after a hard day's graft around the RAI on the Dailies, with that ever-present humorous twinkle in his eye. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.

Louise Wells, on behalf of all at Bubble Communications

We are deeply sad to hear the news of Ian’s passing; his family and friends are in our thoughts and prayers. Ian was a pleasure to work with, always offering such kind words whenever any of the Bubble team worked with him on opportunities. The industry has lost a wonderful man and a great contributor. We are all so very sad and lost for words.

Alexis Lipoff, 3WM Communications

I am reading this with much sadness. Ian was a formidable journalist, always on the deck representing the ISE and IBC Daily, with an incredibly sharp, sometimes critical, but always fair opinion on industry news and novelties. Some of his emails ended with the post scriptum “my proud boast in 15-plus years of freelance writing is that I have never yet missed a deadline…” and the fact that he submitted his last article for Installation on time speaks volume about his professionalism. We will truly miss him when the next trade show finally comes. He was one of the great writers of this industry. Our thoughts at 3WM go out to his family.

Michael Garwood, Bees Buzz PR and former editor of AV Technology Europe

I’m deeply saddened and shocked by the news of Ian’s passing. I was fortunate to have worked closely with Ian during my time as editor of AV Technology Europe, a time where he was affectionately addressed as my ‘Mr Reliable’ and my ‘Favourite Freelancer’, much to his amusement and gratitude.

But aside from being a fantastic, creative and indeed entertaining writer (he loved a John Cleese reference), Ian was (and I truly hate describing him in the past tense) someone I was honoured to get to know personally and describe him as a friend.

Something that always makes me smile is how I remember him bluntly warning me – the then new boy – on my first week at AVTE that we’d never speak on the phone and had requested that I adhere to his strict email-only policy of communication. A unique character, I liked him immediately.

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Looking back, our final communications related to his then upcoming hospital appointments and my, as a fellow Northamptonshire resident, offers of transportation, should he ever need it. Many people describe the AV community as an AV family – and for me, Ian was firmly part of that.

We never did ‘catch-up’ for that drink we repeatedly promised. I’ll miss you, Ian.

Simen K Frostad, chairman, Bridge Technologies

A working associate becoming a personal friend throughout the many years of collaboration, I am at a loss for words as an industry constant has passed on and left us wanting. We are in mourning and our best wishes are for his wonderful family to keep this great man alive in their memories, as he sure will in ours.

Nothing more to say, too sad.

Joss Armitage, Jump PR

Having worked as both a journalist and in PR in this industry, more so the latter, Ian was a constant in my professional life for many, many years. He was easy to deal with, clear in what was required and knew the pressures and constraints under which we often have to work. And he appreciated a laugh, too. This is very sad news

Chris Forrester, IBC and ISE Daily colleague

Ian was much too young to be taken from us and his family. He was invariably one of the very first to arrive at the office and was always there with a joke and a comment on the day's news, and perhaps a lighthearted grumble about Dutch coffee. But more than any of this he really was a super nice guy, a total professional, and we will all miss him.

Adrian Pennington, IBC and ISE Daily colleague

Ian was often the quietest member of the Daily team but he exuded a professionalism I shall never forget. I remember accompanying him to stand interviews at ISE where he charmed the company PR and disarmed the company execs with his lucid and probing questions to elicit genuinely fresh responses; no mean feat. That he could then write it all up, faster and more polished than anyone, was legendary, even if the goal was to get the pub as soon as possible. His Eeyore demeanor was as legendary as his dry wit.

A true gent.

Harriet Diener, Desert Moon Communications

I only met Ian in person once, but we were ‘digital pen-pals’ for years, especially around IBC time. This past summer I had the good fortune to trade correspondence with Ian numerous times. There was never an email unanswered, regardless of the US-UK time difference. His responses were always

thoughtful, truthful, and delivered with a side of optimism: “Hi there – happy Monday”. His clear, concise instructions allowed PR folks like myself to give him exactly what he needed so our clients could receive maximum exposure. He was a consummate professional.

I was so shocked and saddened to learn of Ian’s passing; our last email exchange was a mere few weeks ago. My deepest condolences go out to his friends and family as well as an entire industry that will mourn his loss and miss him.

Wolfgang Huber, Lawo

With sadness I have read about Ian’s passing. It is hard to believe or to understand that he is no longer with us – my last correspondence with him only dates back to mid-August. To me, he always represented high-level journalism, always supportive, giving guidance when needed to fully grasp a topic, and also giving me some extra time.

A great writer is gone. My thoughts are with his family and his friends.

George Jarrett, IBC Daily colleague

My abiding memories of sitting next to Ian in the IBC Daily news room were his incredible productivity, and the subsequent adoration accorded by PR teams excitingly glad to prove their value to clients.

Everyone who brought him a story, or a present for writing a published piece, were given the same polite and brief reception.

Ian took everything in his stride, despite having the most demanding hall (1) in terms of technical variation, and for every one story I did he seemed to produce five or six. Writing a ton of stuff for the pre-produced middle sections gave him a wide product news perspective for IBC itself, so he was rarely surprised.

In terms of Amsterdam outside of RAI churn hours, Ian loved The Hoppe as his every night local, but just for a couple of beers and being immersed in his own thoughts, just inches from the bustling activity of the street. All our conversations, bar one long exchange in The Hoppe, were brief but witty or cordial. Ian reminded me of the Paul Simon lyric, "I am a rock, I am an island".

George Cole, former ISE Daily colleague

I am devastated to hear the news of Ian’s death.

I was fortunate enough to work with Ian in the ISE Daily press office in 2017 and 2018, and my one abiding image is of Ian sitting at his desk, pounding away on his keyboard and churning out reams of copy at a tremendous rate – he was a powerhouse.

What’s more, it was always high quality stuff. Ian could turn his hand to anything – a snappy news

Ian often joked that he was yet to miss a deadline. True to his word, he filed what would be his final article for this very issue of Installation just days before he passed away story; an in-depth interview or a highly technical piece that was both informative and entertaining to read. Ian never ever seemed to get flustered, even when several tight deadlines were looming.

I remember how he’d gladly take on extra work to help someone out – and deliver the goods on time. If you wanted the definition of a highly professional journalist, Ian was it. I loved his dry sense of humour, and we often discussed the county where he lived, Northamptonshire, as it’s one of my favourite regions. I can’t imagine an ISE Daily office without Ian. To say he leaves a huge gap is an understatement. I feel very lucky to have known Ian, and my thoughts go out to his friends and family.

Dan Gumble, former editor of Installation

I only spent a brief period as editor of Installation, but during that time Ian was – as he had been for many years – one of our most valued contributors. His articles and features were always expertly written and insightful.

Incredibly, even during what must have been unthinkably difficult times during his illness, he continued to pitch great ideas and deliver reliably excellent copy on time. Indeed, his feature in this very edition of Installation was filed just days before his passing. It was a huge shock to discover that he had passed. He was a consummate professional who will be missed by all who have worked at Installation and in the industry at large.

Ian’s funeral took place on 1st October 2020. His family have requested that any donations be made to Action Bladder Cancer UK via the following link https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/ fran-mcmurray.

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Advertorial

Hybrid workplace technology is central to preserving engaged collaboration in a post-Covid world

By Lieven Bertier, director of workplace, Barco COVID-19 resulted in the biggest shake-up to common working practices in living memory. But what’s become clear over the course of recent months is that rumours of the demise of the office as we know it, which many claimed in the wake of the first lockdown, may have been greatly exaggerated. The world of work and the office environment will undoubtedly need to change significantly as a result of the pandemic, but the shift isn’t to wholesale remote working, it’s towards a hybrid workplace approach that achieves a healthy and productive blend of home and office working. As the UK faces a second national lockdown, work from home fatigue will only grow, further increasing the need for investment into hybrid workplace technology.

Barco ClickShare’s latest research study, Finding a New Balance, revealed an overwhelming desire from employees around the world to return to the office. In the study of 1,750 white collar workers from the UK, US, Germany, France, UAE, India and Australia, only 15 per cent wanted to work full-time from home – the vast majority of people wanted to return to the office, albeit now with a better blend of home and office working. Almost half of employees (49 per cent) said they enjoy home working far less now than they did at the start of the pandemic, while 42 per cent said working from home stifled their creativity.

As offices begin to re-open, a hybrid working model will be the best way to navigate the new normal: maintaining 14

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creative teamwork and social interaction while retaining the freedom to work from home where needed. The employees surveyed in our study identified the ideal balance to be three days in the office, with a maximum of two days a week working remotely. Technology will be critical in bridging the gap as a hybrid structure is only viable and productive when employees have access to the right digital infrastructure and tools. The number of meetings between home and office-based teams is set to significantly rise over the next 12 months. Video conferencing will be at the heart of all virtual collaboration making it the number one investment priority. Currently, 77 per cent of staff use video conferencing at least once a week, while 28 per cent confirm they use it every day.

With the normalisation of virtual meetings, there has been a pronounced shift towards people wanting to use their own devices to interact with co-workers.

More than half of employees (56 per cent) have expressed a clear preference for using personal laptops to access and host virtual conferencing sessions, whether at home or in the office. Indeed, four in ten use their own

devices to participate in online meetings at least once a day. For many people, engaging virtually does not yet come naturally. However, one in four meetings (23 per cent) currently includes a mix of in-person and remote attendees, with that figure set to rise to 29 per cent in the next year. These shortcomings can be addressed by providing access to better IT infrastructure and solutions that facilitate more natural and authentic virtual interactions which bring a sense of humanity back into virtual meetings.

After a year that will largely be remembered for being one of rapid reinvention by companies forced to overcome the challenges of lockdown, we must now look positively to the future.

Organisations must find the right balance between face-to-face work in the office and remote virtual collaboration, and ensure their employees have the best tools and solutions to work from any location, however they choose to connect.

In this way, they will be better prepared to play their part in navigating the road to recovery and seize the opportunities that will surely follow.

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AUDIO’S FUTURE IN A POST-COVID WORLD This year’s annual 'Audio Collaborative’ conference from Futuresource Consulting was an all-virtual affair, but no less enjoyable and informative, especially when it came to the future of the workplace. Rob Lane reports

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his year, Futuresource Consulting shifted its annual ‘Audio Collaborative’ conference to an all-virtual event, sharing the usual industry insights and thoughts on the future of the audio industry – and to give attendees the opportunity to network. As media partner alongside our sister titles Residential Systems and TVBEurope, Installation was keen to hear what some of the audio industry’s movers and shakers had to say at this seventh Audio Collaborative event, so we closely monitored the presentations and panels to mine for nuggets of valuable insight.

Taking place over the 4th and 5th November from 2-6pm, the fully virtual show certainly continued its tradition of bringing professionals together to share the industry’s thoughts, engage with global brands, and – this year – to understand the future of the pro audio industry within the ‘new normal’. All presentation and panel sessions were available on demand to registered attendees shortly after the event.

Thought-provoking panels and presentations took place from renowned industry leaders across the two days, with all the sessions designed to help and support audio brands to emerge from the pandemic as stronger, better positioned, more valuable businesses.

Geir Skadden, chief products and services officer at Xperi provided this year’s keynote address, and was joined by key influencers, including: head of audio and digital at BBC England, Chris Burns; senior VP of Podcasting at ViacomCBS,

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Steve Raizes; founder of Presonus, Jim Odum; Google product manager, TJ Varghese; and Dave Berol, senior solution audio engineer at Amazon.

BRIDGING THE GAP One of the key takeaways from this year’s event – and apposite for this issue’s workplace special – was how audio is set to contribute to bridging home working and the office environment.

During the “AV Collaboration Tools and App Usage Turbocharged During Lockdown for Business Professionals and Consumers” panel, Futuresource senior market analyst Adam Cox discussed the topic of AV collaboration in more detail. Joining him for the discussion was TJ Varghese, product manager at Google, Jason Goecke, VP and general manager at Intel Unite and Martin Bodley, director of emerging businesses at Bose.

Jason Goecke explained that there will be a growing need to have access to the same tools at the office desk and in the home: “How do you create a seamless experience between the two? An ambient computing capability must allow workers to gain access to everything they have in the office while working from home.”

He also referred to the massive opportunity for improvement here, with the pandemic bringing our attention to the range of networks that initially struggled to cope with colleagues

He reckons that this very much depends on the reliability of people’s internet connection from home, with bandwidth limitations playing a role in how workers choose to communicate. 5G however will impact a lot of these challenges and we’ll see a tremendous wave that will influence telephone and video moving forward.

Goecke added that “we may be overstating the death of telephony.” Voice is crucial to conferencing and video can become tiring for many. This is why it’s vital to work on algorithms to cancel out background noise – to enhance and drive engagement through voice.

Opposite and above: the other five panels and their panellists

working from home, as well as the additional challenge of training staff remotely.

TJ Varghese said that “the challenge with hybrid working is how to provide that experience when not everyone can achieve the same in-home environment – what we’re hearing from customers is the growing conversation around equitable working experiences.”

He went on that there needs to be an accompanying product or form factor for those who are working remotely – whether that’s in the form of a tablet or another device.

HYBRID AND THE HUDDLE Martin Bodley shared his thoughts around the shift to hybrid working, explaining the increased demand for video endpoints for huddle spaces. “There is video enablement going on within the walls of each building to facilitate these meetings; products and services need to address huddle spaces, remote users and different locations,” he said. Bodley also referred to the growing opportunity within wearable technology to improve the remote working experience.

He also explained that people won’t want to use the office as an opportunity to look for private workspaces when they can already achieve this from home. In the long-term, offices will be used to engage and collaborate with other colleagues, and so spaces will be adapted to best accommodate this.

The panel agreed that we may see large organisations cutting back on real estate and investing in collaboration spaces for their remaining offices; this will then require the appropriate collaboration technology to better assist with remote working.

However, Varghese opined that there are different perspectives to cater for: there will also be employees who don’t want to work from home or those who need a more suitable environment to work. What do large tech companies do to cater for those who require a more succinct boundary between work and home life, he asked.

THE RISE OF SPATIAL AUDIO Bodley explained that stereo and spatial audio will help to combat fatigue in meetings, and will be the next step in creating a more collaborative experience, even when working remotely.

This will start in niche areas where it adds the most value. While the gaming industry is leading the way here, the working world could benefit from spatial audio to utilise directionality for brainstorming sessions.

Varghese added: “What we’re trying to do is to get people to focus on the content that’s being communicated and the productive outcomes of our meetings, not necessarily the technology. Using spatial audio to bring yourself into a more natural environment to improve efficiency is the ultimate goal.”

Goecke expanded on the spatial audio experience by stating that it wouldn’t make sense in collaboration platforms unless it was visually representative. There is a lot of work to do to create AR environments that allow you to visually see the people you’re working with while getting the full audio representation.

This was an excellent event, and we've really only scraped the surface here: there were a total of eight presentations and five panels across the two afternoons! However, don't worry if you were unable to attend the event: tickets are still available from the following link for on demand access to all of the panels and presentations from both days: https://rb.gy/hazlbw To find out more about the services Futuresource offers across the audio sector, contact Leon Morris at leon.morris@futuresource-hq.com.

Below: the AV Collaboration Tools Recharged panellists

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Skilled trades: A global call to action CEDIA’s Samantha Ventura and Aneta Armova-Levin discuss the misconceptions related to skilled trades, the global issue with the shortage of skilled workers in our industry, and highlight ways we can all get involved to support those new to our industry

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The American perspective, with Samantha Ventura Recently, I sat down with a professor I had long admired and had a very real and open discussion about higher education, the costs associated with furthering one’s education in general, and the negative and unfair stigma that has often been associated with skilled trades. She is older than me, and has seen trades and how they are viewed and supported in society change throughout the years, with the past few decades people pushing for the 18 yearold age group to aspire mostly to traditional schools of higher education to further their learning. This sparked in me the desire to write about this topic as I feel it is incredibly relevant to the shortage we are experiencing right now in our own industry’s workforce.

Interestingly, almost everyone I know in higher education agrees with me: a one size fits all for learning does a huge disservice to our young people, our economy, and our view regarding not just what people should learn, but how they should learn as well.

In the United States, according to the National Center for Educational Statistics (NCES), the average trade school degree costs around $33,000, compared to the daunting $127,000 price tag associated with many bachelor degree programmes. In our own industry, CEDIA prides itself on the total cost of two brand new pathways (New Hire Essentials Package), with their corresponding certifications, costing less than $1,500 for a member. For many achieving certifications from trade schools, the starting rate of pay can go up to $25.00 per hour, with other trades such as aircraft technicians having a starting salary of $50,000 and up per year, while only requiring on-site technical training. Additionally, the US Department of Education recently noted that those with trade and technical educations are actually more likely to be hired, and more quickly, than their academic peers who went through traditional colleges and universities.

With shorter learning times, much less in tuition costs, and a higher rate of return upon graduating out of a programme, the question remains: ‘why are skilled trades often viewed through a negative lens?’

Now, I myself went through traditional higher education, eventually ending with degrees that afforded me opportunities that have been enriching and personally gratifying. They were also very expensive to attain, and very time consuming throughout my years when working to complete them. For me, however, this path made the most sense as it allowed me to focus on my interests and career goals, making it the right choice upon my completion of high school. For so many others, their interests, timeline for goal completion, and overall viewpoint associated with learning is much less traditional in nature. All of those factors need to be just as accepted as the various reasons a traditional school was the perfect fit for me.

The UK view, with Aneta Armova-Levin Likewise, in the UK we are seeing much more of an uptick in younger people interested in skilled trades, as well as the support and societal acceptance of them as a viable career opportunity, too.

If you happen to be a secondaryschooler in the UK, things are now even more in your favour than ever before. If you choose to enroll in an apprenticeship programme after secondary school, you will not only gather experience in the field and build a stronger resume, but also gain a nationally recognised qualification without facing student debt upwards of $40,000 – the national average for university degrees. In fact, your employer will pay you to gain your qualifications. Even better, there are many degree-level apprenticeships, which means your apprenticeship training builds toward a university-level degree as well.

Over the past few years, the UK government has reformed

apprenticeships to encourage young people to choose them instead of university degrees, additionally making them more applicable to employers’ needs. This was a perfect opportunity for CEDIA to gather and lead a group of industry employers to curate the skills, knowledge, and behaviours needed for technicians in the field and create the Smart Home Technician Apprenticeship.

The apprenticeship was approved at the end of 2019 and we are hoping to see the first cohort of apprentices in early 2021.

It is not a secret that the coronavirus pandemic has taken an enormous toll on job markets around the globe, and young people are one of the groups worst affected by it. To help with this, the UK government also introduced the national Kickstart Scheme, which funds employers to create new job placements for young people who are at risk of longterm unemployment. This scheme is specifically designed to create and support thousands of opportunities for young people, maintain their access to the job market, and drive the UK’s economic recovery. Businesses get up to $8,500 to hire those young people, give them work experience, and teach them skills which can help them find permanent employment. CEDIA has volunteered to act as a gateway between the government and the employers who would like to participate in the scheme.

Further, we will help businesses to train their new hires by creating a tailored career skills package to go along with our basic industry related training.

Supporting the next generation CEDIA is committed to bringing in and supporting new talent within our industry. To do this, we have developed comprehensive educational opportunities culminating into real, viable career pathways for the younger generation of integrators we are bringing into the field. Further, we support their learning development by working with our communities to break down barriers and misconceptions that often come with a younger individual wanting to focus on a skilled trade for their future career.

As an industry, we can best support those wanting to become a part of it by

working to break the stigma often associated with skilled trades. Our focus can be broken into what we like to note as CEDIA’s three significant industry action items; a call to action, if you will: n Accept and support all kinds of learning, and all areas of study, recognising the way in which students learn and the topics they learn, should not sit within one mindset of “acceptable programmes and schools” n Applaud students and their families who are self-aware, able to accurately assess the needs of the student first, without falling victim to misguided opinions attached to non-traditional learning experiences as well as institutions of higher learning n Consider giving back to our industry by bringing your success and expertise to others by presenting at skilled trade and industry related conferences (like Expo and ISE), writing blogs, and maybe even programme teaching at your local trade school. Your success will provide a clear and enticing illustration for those interested in our industry You may have heard the CEDIA Education team use the phrase, “we are strongest when we are stronger together”. As we continue to see our world struggle with labour shortages in the area of skilled trades, those within our industry can be a very real champion for helping to solve this problem.

Supporting education in our industry, believing in the certifications we provide, and upholding the standards within your own organisations that mirror those supported, explored, and developed through a joint CEDIA/CTA/ANSI accredited standards body, are all ways we can continue to commit to raise the bar together and showcase this industry as the viable, exciting, and fulfilling career option it is.

Samantha Ventura is senior vice president, education and training at CEDIA, and is an inductee of Installation’s inaugural Pro AV Power 20 list. Aneta Armova-Levin, is education manager, EMEA at CEDIA.

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Discover the Future of AV. Fira de Barcelona Gran Vía 1-4 June 2021

A joint venture partnership of

Register now www.ISEUROPE.org

A workplace revolution The AV industry is in the box-seat to benefit from changes to the workplace as we move out of the pandemic – and as a result of Covid, its revolution, not evolution.

Rob Lane reports COVID-19 has almost certainly changed the workplace forever, with a revolution in office-based working practices taking place before our very eyes, enabled by AV technology. Remote working is at the heart of this revolution in the workplace, with office workers the world over reluctant to return to a pre-Covid normal, not just out of fear of the disease, but also as a result of a realisation that working from home is not only doable, but also more productive and preferable to stressful and expensive commutes into the office.

There was already an evolution in workplace practices under way before the pandemic reared its ugly head, of course, with unified communications (UC) and video conferencing undergoing strong growth between 2015 and 2019 as more and more enterprises welcomed comms technologies into their meeting rooms.

Cultural change was at the heart of this movement, with Millennials in decisionmaking positions and tech-savvy Gen Z staff demanding user-experience-rich technology in the workplace that matched the tech they were enjoying at home.

Incubator for innovation In many ways the workspace sector has been functioning like an incubator for AV innovation, powered by technology and driven by workforce demands for flexibility, connectivity and excellent user experience (UX). But Covid-19 has had a nitroglycerinlike effect over the past eight months, accelerating things like never before as staff and employers fully engage with UC and technology out of necessity more than choice. The pandemic was, within a few short weeks, the most disruptive force the workplace had ever seen – ironically way more turbulent than the disruptive

technologies that we would now come to rely on as we all went into lockdown.

Thrust to the forefront by the global pandemic, AV technologies are now being viewed as vital business tools as opposed to nice to haves. Most firms worked out that video and collaboration tools were essential as the pandemic hit, and much of the required infrastructure was already in place for many. The difference was necessity: where staff may have previously shied away from ‘scary tech’, they were forced to get to grips with platforms like Zoom and Teams – and user adoption grew exponentially. Indeed, we can probably thank these formats for what was ultimately a fairly seamless segway into home working when lockdown hit. Without them it probably wouldn’t have been possible; imagine how we would have all coped ten or more years ago.

Collaborative workspaces Successful businesses in a post-Covid world will be beholden to AV technologies to power collaborative, connected workspaces that dovetail with out-of-office workspaces. This presents a huge opportunity for people working in AV. But the challenge for business – and the biggest opportunity for the AV industry too – is to somehow find a way to encourage workers back to a tech-rich office, whilst adapting to what will almost certainly be a permanent alteration in the way we all work. Working from home is here to stay, but office spaces are still a vital component of business – the gel that binds a company together – and design, technology and knowhow need to come together to ensure that workers feel safe, enriched and enthusiastic about a return to the workplace; even if it’s only a once a week

occurrence. Meeting rooms will certainly need to change. Traditional spaces, where out-of-office staff dialled in, and everyone else crowded round are unlikely to survive, with multiple venues preferred: ‘hot desk meeting spaces’. At the same time, the technology just be better geared to servicing in-room staff and remote staff, with seamless access for both.

And whilst office design will need to adapt, with larger, open plan, Covidfriendly spaces – a return to offices of the 80s perhaps – and bigger meeting hubs likely to trump small meeting rooms, technology will have a part to play here too.

Track and trace can be built into existing IT platforms; face recognition could help to enable touch-free entry and exit into buildings; AI might be utilised to manage staff flow for reduced human contact and space efficiencies; noise cancellation, or ‘pink noise’ would be a useful tool for ensuring more efficient at-desk conference calls as these become more of a necessity; and VR should finally break through in corporate AV, as companies look to augment their video conferencing experiences.

Covid-19 has certainly sparked a workplace revolution and there’s no going back to what went before. Employers will ultimately benefit from the new normal, with increased efficiencies the ultimate goal – and unlikely spinoff of the pandemic – for business. And staff should benefit from a new hybrid working, with less time commuting, a better work/life balance, and an improved office environment. But it’s the AV industry that stands to be the initial beneficiary, as technology takes the box seat in the workplace revolution.

Opportunity knocks for AV as the Covidled change advances at pace.

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WORKING TOWARDS A NEW

As Covid-19 continues to impact the way we live and work, the AV industry has a huge opportunity to benefit from the tech-led demand for change – a new normal where technology is at the forefront of new working practices like never before.

Rob Lane gauges opinion in our latest roundtable

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he ongoing impact of Covid-19 on our industry as a whole is huge, and although the live events sector has been hit the hardest, it’s in the workplace where things look set to change for the long-term, post-pandemic. But whilst it’s clear that working practices have been transformed forever as a result of Covid-19, with a workplace revolution developing at pace, many of the changes taking place today have been bubbling under for some time.

“Covid-19 is perhaps best looked at as an accelerator of trends,” argues Sean Wargo, senior director of market intelligence at AVIXA. “The need to support remote workforce and utilisation of video conferencing solutions were both a part of the prepandemic landscape. Now, with many companies having gone 100 per cent remote, these trends have solidified such that they are much more ingrained in our practices.”

For the long term, Wargo reckons, this will mean that companies will have to support a more fluid workforce, necessitating a re-thinking of office space: a further shift towards smaller collaboration spaces, and a de-emphasis on larger conference rooms.

Huge impact “Covid-19 has had a huge impact on the immediate future of the workplace, although it could be argued the changes it is bringing about were existing trends and thus it has only accelerated the rate of change,”

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agrees Adam Cox, head of imaging, pro video and collaboration, Futuresource Consulting.

“The pandemic has made us question where and how we work by proving that remote working can and does work with tangible benefits to workers, businesses and the environment. Adoption of collaboration equipment is now being seen as a business critical investment, simply because businesses do not know where meeting participants will be based. Hybrid working cultures mean that workforces are being split between home working and office working on a daily basis, and so investment in meeting rooms must reflect this.”

The office, of course, has for a long time been an incubator for AV innovation, helped along by workforce demands for flexibility, connectivity and the kinds of technology staff use at home every day.

The corporate sector has seen rapid transformation in recent times, partially as a result of Millennials’ demands for a more flexible, tech rich working environment. The unified communications and video conferencing markets caught alight several years ago, and Covid-19 has acted as a very powerful accelerant to this buoyant tech sector. Change is certain to be permanent.

“This trend was in existence before Covid-19 due to the shifting generations in the global workforce,” agrees Cox. “Many Millennial and Generation Z employees will have had expectations shaped by their use of technology within education and this, coupled with differing values towards remote working and the environment, was one of the driving forces behind the change. Covid-19 has had a huge impact on all aspects of society, but in the case of home working and adoption of video conferencing, it has only (though dramatically) accelerated the trend.”

“Over the last eight months we have seen an acceleration of the adoption of digital workflow and collaboration platforms and the rise of hybrid working,” agrees Jon Sidwick, president, Collabtech Group. “As Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella famously said, ‘we’ve seen two years’ worth of digital transformation in two months’.”

Pictured opposite: Adam Cox, Futuresource, left; Jon Sidwick, Collabtech Group

Power transfer Sidwick reckons that one of the biggest is a shift in dynamics, putting the employee at the centre of, as he puts it, “the equation”, whereas previously it was the employer. Thanks to Covid-19, the power has been transferred to the individual staffer, and – for most employees – a trust has been built with their bosses, allowing them to choose where they work from and when they come into the office.

“This has of course hinged around individuals being equipped with the tools to be able to

seamlessly do their jobs whether that’s from home, in the office collaborating with others who are working remotely, or from on the road,” adds Sidwick.

“The working from home culture has shifted systems expertise to the user,” agrees Jenny Hicks, head of technology at Midwich. “Many of the staff who have managed their workload effectively from home have become experts in their own UC stack, because so much of the new ways of working have been self-taught. The result of this is that their opinions are stronger and really matter.

“Historically decisions on technology platforms have been made by IT teams, facilities managers or the C-Suite, with the full workforce having little influence. This must change; the entire workforce should be surveyed before any streamlining of platforms is introduced.”

Opportunity knocks Certainly businesses in the post-Covid world will have to rely on AV technology more than ever before – a huge opportunity for integrators and other AV professionals. Collaborative, connected workspaces, will be the order of the day, all linked to a broad landscape of at-home workers who will also have to be facilitated in terms of the tech they use. AV can bring dispersed workers together, whilst powering creativity and productivity.

“Covid-19 has changed the workplace forever,” opines Robin van Meeuwen, CEO for Technological Innovations Group (TIG) and Crestron. “People have had to adapt from working in the workspace to working from home overnight, and have started realising that working remotely can be just as efficient and productive as working from the workplace – if they have access to the right technology.

“UC and AVoIP have become the new norm for any business, and never before were meeting platforms such as Teams and Zoom so important in providing a lifeline for the continuity of so many businesses. The workplace will no longer be just a place where people come together to work, but rather to meet, and will need to allow for remote participants to take part.”

“Covid-19 has accelerated adoption of video communications and collaboration softwares dramatically,” agrees Hicks. “It feels as though we have shot 5 years ahead when it comes to user adoption of cloud-based conferencing, video, and collaboration.

“The future workplace needs to ensure it can accommodate this increased requirement, whether by increasing the number of spaces with UC hardware to facilitate remote participant meetings, or adapting desk spaces using sound masking or

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booths to ensure those using video can cause little disruption to those performing focused work.

“In addition, staff will have an increased interest in safety and wellbeing. This means it is time for facilities managers to look at IoT sensors to capture behavioural analytics around the workplace and share these with staff, whilst allowing informed decisions from staff about how they use the workplace.”

Unprecedented change It’s certain that Covid-19’s impact on the modern workplace is unprecedented, and moving forward, it is likely that remote working will become far more prevalent across all sectors. Yet, although it is apparent that working from home doesn’t impact detrimentally on productivity (indeed, many have opined that it’s a productivity booster), Colin Farquhar, CEO at Exterity believes it’s possible that without the key technological tools, remote working may fail to capture the “spirit of communication, collaboration and creativity” that a shared physical environment can foster.

“Where people have to go into their workplace, the whole approach to the physical environment is changing and will continue to do so,” he states.

“Communication, whether it is messages sent straight to employees’ devices, digital signage with critical information, or videos providing instructions on proper procedure, will be absolutely crucial to keeping everyone safe.”

“AV technology – which can include everything from a collaborative team communications platform for home workers, to smart digital signage in workspaces, to IPTV video in lobbies and other public-facing areas – has seen continued adoption over the last few months,” adds Farquhar.

“The Covid-19 crisis has given the effective use, deployment and updating of AV technologies an increased urgency. These systems are becoming invaluable to organisations of all types as they look for ways to ensure safety by easily sharing guidelines for social distancing, safe use of shared facilities and other constructive habits. For example, a recent project at a hall of residence at a university provided the capability to allow every screen in the building to be turned on remotely in order to display emergency health and safety messages – a task that would be challenging to do without a site-wide IPTV system.”

Talking back control Businesses, of course, need to ensure they are making the best technology and software platform decisions in this new normal, both in the office and also with regard to home workspaces. As stated, the pandemic has in many respects empowered

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employees to make their own decisions with regard to what tech to use – particularly when it comes to conferencing software such as Zoom – and this will doubtless continue. But going forward firms will need to take back control to ensure processes are smooth and security is tight, whilst ensuring that workplaces are suited to the new normal.

“Businesses need to be putting their employees first, ensuring that they are ok, have the tools that they need to work seamlessly from home, put the practices in place to move the whole workflow into the digital space and most of all, trust people!” says Sidwick.

Sidwick believes that the workplace is not in peril, but rather it is thriving, whilst changing to become a destination-centric environment, rather than a must-attend venue.

“We predict that cubicles and rows of desks will become a thing of the past. Instead, with people continuing hybrid-working patterns, they will be choosing when and why they go to the office, so it needs to facilitate a new set of needs.

“We will see changes based around the individual, with a rise in informal meeting and huddle spaces that people can arrive at, connect to instantly for collaborating. We will see a decrease in fixed environments and more informal and connected ways of working with others when we’re in the office, rather than alone.”

“Unless a company has decided to go 100 per cent home working, then businesses cannot afford to forget about office life – even if their people are not back onsite yet,” says Farquhar. “Making the office a safe, vibrant and engaging place must still be on the

agenda. That should also extend to things like remote training and team building, areas in which AV technologies can help – and this investment should not be overlooked.”

Workplace experience Making staff feel safe and productive, whether in the workplace or working from home, is essential in today’s circumstances, and providing the technology to do that should be at the top of every employer’s list.

“Survey your workforce, give them a voice,” says Hicks. “For those returning to the office consider their workplace experience. Can they still feel a sense of permanence and belonging to the business with personal input to their desk space? Are you able to give a consistent workplace journey to those coming into the office so they can feel comfortable with their routine?”

Wargo states that working with a consultant to plan for return to office, with commensurate investment road maps, is essential, ensuring spending is done efficiently and effectively to support more long-term needs.

“It is easy to over-respond in these situations with the expectation that what we are living now is permanent,” he says. “At some point the virus fades into the background and so do the need for the stricter guidelines (plastic sheeting barriers as an example). Thus, it is better to take a long-range look at needs.”

Technological transformation Technology is key to these decisions, and – according to van Meeuwen – it’s never been more important in transforming traditional workspaces into smart, flexible spaces.

“The visualisation of ideas that are created during meetings will become increasingly important and will lead to faster decision making,” he explains. “This is where the term collaborative technology comes in.

Businesses will need to invest in technology with the emphasis on bridging AV with IT.” The pandemic is – again – speeding things up, with AV/IT convergence, for a long time inevitable but moving more slowly than some AV professionals expected, accelerating fast. TIG’s van Meeuwen believes that “one cannot exist without the other” in today’s new normal, with standalone AV systems no longer being part of the post-Covid era, with businesses having to act now to future-proof systems that will need to merge between AV and IT. When Covid-19 struck, business owners had to put measures in place very fast to ensure that staff could carry on working as efficiently and productively as possible, and this required investments in

technologies that bridge AV and IT: “Never before has the strain on IT been so high to cater for such high volume of meetings happening all at once,” says van Meeuwen.

“The convergence of AV and IT into more unified solution sets has been accelerated by the pandemic,” confirms Wargo. “Remote work has shifted investments into more IT-oriented solutions, like collaboration software and laptop accessories.

Support for online events also relies heavily on IT back-ends for content storage and distribution.

Digital signage also rides over local and wide networks. Standards help all of this work more effectively and so support the notion of a move towards more standardisation and use of protocols.”

Converging shifts There was, of course, already a long-term move towards IP-based technologies throughout AV, and Covid-19 has reinforced this shift, especially given IP-based broadband connectivity is the common infrastructure for remote working. As Hicks opines: “The new normal has increased the need for AV and IT convergence, interoperability, and understanding.”

Farquhar: “For businesses seeking to keep scattered workforces informed and engaged, videobased technologies, including IPTV and digital signage, will underpin all communications, so putting in place standard practices makes a lot of sense.”

Going forward, AV technologies are going to thrive within this new dynamic, and will be key to the postCovid workplace, but how much of an impact will this new normal have on the take-up of less widely adopted tech such as AI and VR/AR? “AI has a huge role to play going forward, whether to control occupancy or provide behavioural and movement analytics to improve the safety of staff,”

Pictured below: Colin Farquhar, Exterity, left; Sean Wargo, AVIXA

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says Hicks, whilst explaining that other less showy technologies are just as important.

“Bring your own meeting (software agnostic solutions) are key solutions to understand moving forward. [Also] sound masking to reduce the effects of noise pollution whilst so much of the workforce remains at home, and to handle the increased use of video communications.”

“There is an argument to suggest that AR could play a role in meetings, allowing someone to have a virtual presence in the meeting room,” says Cox. “But this is some way off, especially considering the cultural change that would require for mass adoption.

“AI is set to play a much bigger role, whether it is in the improvement of sound (noise cancellation) within headsets, or on conferencing platforms or assisting with track and trace in the office. The latter example is particularly intriguing as the need to understand where someone has been within an office space, and with whom they have had contact, has obvious benefits during a pandemic – but it raises significant questions with regard to privacy.”

Traditional technologies As the lockdowns ease, and as vaccines are made available, the transformed workplace environment should also see a return to take-up of more traditional AV technologies, however, and digital signage could be the big winner.

“As we emerge, many of the traditional solutions return to growth,” explains Wargo. “This includes digital signage, which certainly also plays a role in the pandemic as a communication vehicle.”

“Any technologies that can allow organisations – especially ones that have depots, offices, or public-facing areas – to communicate with people quickly and effectively are invaluable,” adds Farquhar. “Digital signage and video screens can play a critical role here. Unlike static signs, the ability of digital installations to dynamically change messaging based on current health advice is vital.

This means that IPTV, digital signage and audio systems all offer many advantages.”

The advantage, during and following Covid-19 is surely AV’s. The workplace was already undergoing an evolution before the pandemic hit, with AV technology at the centre of things, but Covid has accelerated workspace change more than any of us could have foreseen. Revolutions are always fired by new ideas and changes in attitudes, and the Covid-necessitated alterations to workplace norms have certainly put a fire under the belly of our approach to working.

This workplace revolution – no longer merely an evolution – is being realised thanks to the enabling

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Pictured above: Jenny Hicks, Midwich , left; Robin van Meeuwen, TIG

power of AV technology. Business success post-Covid will be reliant on AV technology in its ability to power collaborative, connected workspaces. There are still tough times ahead for our industry as we navigate our way through this new normal, but in the workplace the opportunities for AV professionals will be greater than ever before.

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Safe and secure modern business communications for the workplace As workers gradually return to office environments, businesses must create environments that are both safe and productive, writes Garth Lobban, director of marketing, Atlona

AS business begins to return to a ‘new normal’, we are seeing new guidelines emerge that aim to protect employee safety and prevent the spread of Covid-19. Sanitising surfaces, social distancing, and masks will still be with us, and these present unique challenges for office and meeting environments.

Of obvious concern is the typical AV system that utilises a touch panel, keypad, or other physical user interface to control equipment and room computers, or cables that provide connections to the system. To address these issues, businesses will rely on outside integrators and/or in-house tech managers to implement solutions that support safe and modern business communications.

In today’s business environment, it is more important than ever to communicate effectively, while feeling safe and having confidence in an ever-increasing amount of technology.

This means that installers will need to consider AV and control system designs that eliminate or minimise users having to touch shared technology components, without endangering access or ease of use.

The goal is to keep employees safe as they continue to produce and collaborate for any modern business communication need, including video conferencing and

wired/wireless BYOD applications in meeting spaces, conference rooms and divisible areas, such as a hotel or convention centre ballroom.

Touch-free AV Imagine entering a meeting space, presenting material, then leaving the room without touching anything but your personal laptop or mobile device. An AV switcher with built-in wireless casting and automation for display control and input selection is at the heart of such a system.

As you enter the space, a discreet occupancy sensor connected to the switcher detects your presence. Through built-in automatic display control, the switcher then activates the display and presents a welcome screen with instructions for connecting your device wirelessly to the switcher for casting from your tablet or laptop. For a minimal-touch experience, users without casting ability can use their own cable to connect to the system as the automatic input selection capability will switch between wired and wireless inputs.

To maintain safety for all users, businesses will need to provide a means for disinfecting cables and contact points for users when absolute touch-free systems can’t be maintained.

BYOD control Shared touchscreen surfaces that traditionally act as the end user’s cornerstone for AV control will present an immediate concern as workers return to

the office. BYOD strategies that allow workers to control the space with their own devices will effectively address these concerns. This is critical to a safe work environment as touchscreen surfaces may not be regularly or thoroughly cleaned, yet workers will still be able to access room control for collaboration, source selection, display control, and volume control.

One way to accelerate the transition from touchscreen to BYOD control is to generate a QR code within the control system. Users can scan the code from their smartphone or tablet, then use it to control the room. Control systems that integrate this functionality directly, such as Altona’s Velocity System, simplify the QR code creation and deployment process by eliminating the need for users to manually create codes and update GUIs. These codes are easily displayed on the touch panel itself – a great way to continue leveraging the investment in that technology – or via printed media inside the room. The most flexible systems also provide various levels of access including secure which is protected by a login, or unsecure for open access to any user. In some cases, the QR code can be automatically changed at various time intervals to prevent accidental access and control after users have left the meeting.

These flexible options for automation and control ensure that the general use of AV in modern business communications will continue in a safe way.

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Tips for a successful future workplace With the pandemic still a prominent force across the world, the workplace as we knew it is a thing of the past. But how will it develop and can employers maximise staff performance?

Amy Crowshaw, founder and CEO of Beyond Workplace Consulting, investigates…

T

he main change to our working environment has been the move to working from home. But whilst some people are enjoying more time at home, no commute and the freedom to manage their own schedule, others are struggling with the isolation that comes with it and the constant struggle to feel productive.

So, whilst working from home is seen as a brilliant development for many workers and also employers who are keen to reduce costs, it is essential that it is bolstered with support to protect the wellbeing of staff. Below are some key tips for a successful future workplace: Empathy It is imperative that managers engage with their employees’ whole-selves.

Whilst previously employers could focus only on the professional persona of their staff, with the change in environment and physical workplace management they now need to be looking at their employees more holistically. Both mental and physical wellbeing is important, and ensuring that teams have the support and tools to manage the isolation and struggle that comes with working from home during a pandemic is key. Simple actions like a coffee chat (via video) facilitating a ten-minute talk focused on the individual and their lives, rather than tasks and responsibilities, can go a

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long way towards making an employee feel valued and supported.

Remove the guilt and re-define productivity The guilt that normally surrounds needing to log off to pick a child up from school or doing a shop for an elderly relative during the working day can be stifling, and micromanagement of an employee’s time can lead to feelings of frustration and a downturn in productivity. By removing this guilt and allowing employees to manage their own time, management can show trust in their workforce and encourage them to want to give back to the company they work for. By re-defining productivity from being sat at a desk from 9-5 to task-based working whenever it suits an employee’s day, bosses will find creativity and productivity increasing.

This will lead to further benefits, allowing access to a large and often untapped market of talent (primary caregivers) who have a wealth of skill and drive but need an environment that supports not hinders.

Useful technology The urge to equip all staff with the latest and greatest technology has to be balanced with the cost of doing so.

Employers need to research the technology they want to put in and make sure it aligns with their working

processes and objectives. Without first assessing the equipment, companies can find ill-fitting solutions are implemented leading to dissolution and apathy around using the new platforms.

Poor user experience leads to poor user adoption, so employers need to make sure the tools they are providing their teams with are helping and not hindering their daily activities.

Champion individuality Employers should encourage employees to display their unique interests and talents. By using the great technology available, it is possible to engage with teams in meaningful and interesting ways. Companies should move away from thirsty Thursdays and provide virtual content and event ideas that inspire and encourage teams to branch out and try new things. By investing in thoughtful content, employers can both ensure their employees feel part of a team/culture/community and let them know that they matter to the company on more than just a transactional basis.

Beyond Workplace Consulting works with organisations to help them build a virtual community for their employees.

The company consults on everything from virtual content creation to working process evaluation, ensuring that organisations are ready for the future of the workplace.

THE ZOOM BOOM: just a passing phase?

Largely unheard of this time last year, Zoom has been the name on everyone’s lips since March.

But, what does its exponential rise in popularity mean for the unified communications industry?

The late Ian McMurray finds out in what would be his final article for Installation

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A

ccording to research by CIPD – the UK’s Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development – working from home will double post coronavirus, from 18 per cent to 37 per cent. Elsewhere, a study found that 71 per cent of businesses plan to adopt more flexible and agile working practices, having discovered that employees have been as productive or more productive working from home. Asset management company Schroders has told its 5,000 employees they need no longer come into the office. The ‘new normal’ looks as if the role and dynamics of the office will have changed forever. The impact of that paradigm shift will potentially be felt throughout the AV industry – and

use, there was perhaps still an overall tentativeness towards broad adoption and usage,” says Sean Wargo, senior director, market intelligence at AVIXA. “This changed just about overnight.”

“The pandemic, urgent shift to remote work and ensuing spike in the usage of UC solutions has done wonders for individuals’ and organisations’ confidence that these technologies really do work, scale well and enable – rather than inhibit – productivity,” echoes Michael Helmbrecht, chief operating officer at Lifesize.

“The ‘Zoom Boom’ and the increase of the use of Teams has opened a lot of people’s eyes to the power of UC and how it can enable anyone to interact with friends, colleagues and customers with ease,” adds Paolo Visintini, director of unified communications at TIG. According to Chris Miller, executive director of the PSNI Global Alliance, the Zoom name, app, cost and approach that was exposed to so many workingfrom-home end-users introduced the unified communication concept – and term – to a whole new group of users, many of whom had not heard of Zoom or UC prior to the pandemic.

“The perception of UC as a sophisticated company workforce tool managed by the IT team changed to both a workplace tool and a personal communication and lifeline app,” he says. “UC has moved, in some cases, from a concept and tools that were nice to have with limited adoption to an essential new normal. Now, driving adoption is less from the top down to the bottom up where remote employees need and demand efficiency and easy to use communication resources to stay relevant and productive in their jobs.”

perhaps especially in unified communications (UC).

But: will the impact be positive?

“The adoption of remote working on a massive scale due to COVID-19 has put the power of UC officially on the map,” believes Paul Clark, senior vice president and EMEA managing director at Poly.

“Hybrid working is now a reality – employees need to be able to work from anywhere, to be mobile and connected, to collaborate and be productive, and UC is a fundamental enabler of this.”

Overnight change “Prior to the pandemic, even though video conferencing solutions were already increasing in

Unprecedented demand The impact of coronavirus on the UK industry would seem, then, to have been positive. Has that been reflected in sales?

“Demand has been unprecedented and across all sectors,” says Jeremy Cussons, unified communications specialist at Visavvi. “The videoconferencing industry has always talked about, and longed for, pervasive adoption of video communications – and, over the space of a couple of months, we have experienced a near global adoption.”

He goes on to note that Zoom has become a brand name synonymous with UC, much as photocopiers are often referred to as Xeroxes and vacuum cleaners as Hoovers. There can be few accolades greater than becoming a ‘genericised trademark’.

Lifesize has seen a level of customer enthusiasm similar to Visavvi. “Demand for UC solutions went through the roof as organisations rushed to move

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Pictured from left to right: Chris Miller, Paul, Michael Helmbrecht, Nick Mawer

entire workforces to a safer remote work model almost overnight,” notes Helmbrecht. “At Lifesize, we saw usage of our video conferencing service jump tenfold and welcomed hundreds of thousands of new users in a matter of weeks after the pandemic hit Stateside. Even though things began to level off as organisations and teams became more equipped and comfortable with remote work, we are still consistently witnessing four times the usage of what we were recording in February.”

Nick Mawer, marketing manager at Kramer Electronics, is equally upbeat. “We have seen an increase in demand for our VIA solutions that facilitate UC and face-to-face meetings simultaneously, and a lot of interest has been shown in the ‘VIA Versa’ feature of the VIA Connect PLUS that allows users of any portable device-based UC platform to access a room camera as well as their device’s own camera, and to be able to switch between them.”

And, as Wargo notes: the NASDAQ index has grown well past the previous peak set just before the market crash, with the top five stocks representing companies with at least some “skin in the UC game”. If further proof were needed, Cussons points to the one-time worldwide shortage of webcams and headsets.

Learning opportunity Everything in the garden would, then, seem to be rosy. Wargo believes that adoption of UC on this scale and in this new environment, however, provides a learning opportunity.

“We don’t get a true feel for system limitations until we are all forced to connect remotely,” he believes. “This exposes all of the issues. For example: having all participants online exposes the tendency for the in-room participants to overshadow those online, which makes it difficult for the remote group to get a word in. Evolutions in application feature sets will evolve to support the more mixed audience – like Zoom’s more inclusive group viewing window with thumbnails of more of the participants on the screen at one time.”

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Visintini sees things similarly. “The hybrid scenario will emphasise the need for UC solutions that offer consistency, so that staff can enjoy the same user experiences in the office and when working remotely,” he says. “Enterprises need to overcome the frustrations involved in getting the technology in different meeting spaces to work. They can do this by providing simple-to-use and consistent user interfaces in all places of work.”

When it comes to how we work, it’s clear that we’re not there yet; few want to predict how things might look this time next year, or this time in five years. That it will look different is, however, clear.

“Working from home is here to stay in ways many never imagined,” says Helmbrecht. “But working in offices is going to come back, even if it doesn’t reach pre-Covid levels. As more people return to offices, whether full-time or part-time, an essential characteristic of UC systems will be how well they bridge between people working from home and people back in office meeting rooms, making both groups more productive and engaged.”

Consistent experience “Additionally,” he continues, “UC solutions for the remote workforce must be more optimised to be used on laptops and mobile devices. The catch is that there also must be a consistent experience across how those solutions are used by in-office workers and those at home, otherwise there will be resistance to learning two different workflows or UIs and adoption or critical mass usage will flounder.”

He has an ally in Clark when it comes to improving the working-from-home experience. “Enterprise home set-ups will evolve dramatically too,” he believes. “It’s not enough for remote workers to continue to use DIY set-ups or for companies to simply provide a laptop and expect employees to work productively. Organisations need to bring enterprise-grade technology into the home.”

“UC is arguably going through the biggest and most rapid development phase in history,” adds Visintini, “It is therefore being pushed to the very limits of its own capabilities, and the demand for evolution and constant progression is massive as more people become accustomed to using it. This has forced UC vendors and providers to fortify their solutions to ensure they are robust enough to perform under such heavy uptake.”

PSNI’s Miller sees a similar need for the UC industry to continue to develop. “The solutions we have that incorporate the best of IT and AV are appropriate for now,” he believes. “But they will need to evolve with time. The challenge right now is that we aren’t sure what the future of the workplace looks like.”

Vital role For Clark, integrators have a vital role to play. “The channel has the opportunity to help shape a new future by redefining what ‘work’ really means, and delivering the technologies to empower these changes,” he believes. “Organisations will be looking to professionalise employee home workspaces, empower collaboration across the dispersed workforce and create technology-enabled workspaces to collaborate, think, create or simply check in with others.”

There can be little doubt that UC has played a crucial role in enabling business to continue to operate – even if how it has been achieved may not have been optimal.

“As many organisations have been able to ‘limp through’ the crisis using multiple communication platforms, there is the tendency to dilute the importance of the need for a robust UC environment,” states Vizavvi’s Cussons. “Savvy organisations will have been quick to realise that, long term, this is not an option, as the impact and cost of inefficiencies and limitations of these systems will be significant over the longer term. Now that the immediate pressure has lessened, users need to be quickly analysing, defining and deploying integrated UC systems that will deliver for the future.”

Given the transformational shift in the way we work – and the way we can expect to work in the future – you might think that the UC industry, embedded as it may seem to be in ‘the old way’, would be concerned. Nothing could be further from the truth.

The fact is, it had already begun to extensively integrate remote working into its feature set. Those efforts are being redoubled as it looks to achieve parity of experience among all those involved – and, if anything, the future of the industry looks brighter today than it ever has.

Very sadly, just days after submitting this article, Ian McMurray passed away following a battle with cancer. The thoughts of everyone at Installation and the wider Future family go out to Ian’s family and friends at this desperately sad time.

May he rest in peace.

“It’s not enough for remote workers to continue to use DIY set-ups or for companies to simply provide a laptop and expect employees to work productively. Organisations need to bring enterprise-grade technology into the home Paul Clark, Poly Pictured from left to right: Paolo Visintini, Paul Clark, SeanWargo

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TAKING AN EVENT VIRTUAL Krystle Murphy, communications manager at AVIXA, explains how to go live online

I

n 2020, virtual events have catapulted forward due to restrictions caused by the pandemic. According to Associations Now, more than 90 per cent of associations say they’re offering virtual events essentially because of Covid-19. Companies that typically host in-person events are having to quickly get up to speed on how to successfully pull off a virtual event.

“The best way to approach creating a virtual event is to treat it like a live event. The purpose of the event hasn’t changed – just the format has,” says Mark Consiglio, event producer for Zenevent and member of AVIXA Market Trends Advisory Board, who’s spent 20 years as an AV professional in the live events world.

The virtual event platform needs to have different experiences for meeting planners, presenters, and attendees, because each audience has unique requirements. It’s important that the platform can holistically handle registration, agenda, speakers, technical assistance, live streaming, videos on demand, live chat, and more. If you’re using additional programmes, they need to seamlessly integrate into the virtual platform. You cannot expect participants to have a good

There are endless possibilities to monetise a virtual event. Nearly everything you can monetise for an in-person event, you can do with a virtual equivalent

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experience if the event is difficult to navigate.

“I’ve seen failures when event companies just try to utilise their existing AV inventory and stream the event through Twitch, YouTube, Facebook Live, or Zoom,” says Consiglio.

Whether it’s in-person or virtual, it’s a meeting planner’s job to manage all the speakers and make sure it goes smoothly.

Some presenters that are used to speaking on stage are completely floored by having to present to a camera on their computer, shared Consiglio. They’re more nerve-wracked by that than having 300 or 400 people in front of them. It’s important to have a platform that eases their mind and makes the presentation process seamless and easy for them.

You can decrease the chances for hiccups by pre-recording sessions. If you want attendees to believe that it’s live, you can play the recorded video through the stream. For an event, the general session could be done live because there is Q&A, and then other sessions that aren’t interactive can be pre-recorded.

If meeting planners would like to have higher production value for the keynote speakers at a virtual event, they can have a stage set up and the speakers can give their presentations as if they’re talking to the masses in an exhibit hall. For veteran speakers, this will seem more familiar to them.

A benefit of virtual events is top-level keynote speakers.

They can book themselves for more speaking engagements, because they no longer have to worry about hours or days of travel time. And for meeting planners, they have more accessibility to keynote speakers because the time commitment is significantly reduced, and pre-recording allows for flexibility.

For virtual event attendees, the agenda needs to be up to date and interactive. An attendee should be able to look at the agenda, click a session, and be in the session. It’s imperative that the platform allows any user on any device to register for the event and log in.

“A lot of times at shows, walking the exhibit floor, you can miss out on so many sessions. In a virtual environment, attendees can go back on demand and see a general session,” said Consiglio. “I think for the very near future, events will be all virtual. Once we get the go ahead to start opening facilities again, we’re going to see the hybrid model of virtual/live.”

Left: a still from June's InfoComm Connected virtual event. Below: Krystle Murphy, top, and Mark Consiglio

CES (Consumer Electronics Show) is an example of a trade show that has buyers, product managers, and marketers that attend the event live so they can sit down and have meetings and see the products. But the launches – Sony launching PlayStation and Microsoft launching Xbox – have been streamed for years. They launch it in a hybrid way – in-person and streamed on Facebook, YouTube, and Twitch. The consumers at home get all this data at the same time as the people who attend in person.

The downside of virtual events is the loss of human interaction. Socialising and networking at the event’s venue and over meals just isn’t possible. In the future when we’re able to gather in large groups, meeting planners will need to decide on which format works best for their audiences. If human interaction is required, the event will need to be in-person or a hybrid. Whereas activities like general sessions and panel discussions lend themselves well to being consumed virtually.

There are endless possibilities to monetise a virtual event.

Nearly everything you can monetise for an in-person event, you can do with a virtual equivalent. Registration pricing can be done in a tiered approach where different levels have access to different sessions. The major value an event has is attendee data, which can be priced into sponsorship and exhibitor models.

“I think trade shows and product launches are going to be different going forward,” said Consiglio. “The options to be a virtual attendee or an in-person attendee are now greater and more respected than this time in 2019.”

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THE HUMAN CONDITION FINDING THE BALANCE IN EMOTIONAL AND MENTAL WELLBEING We cannot fully explore a future hybrid working landscape without addressing the human impact on professionals as we all get to grips with changing working patterns, environments, and expectations. With emotional and mental wellbeing thankfully increasing in prominence in general discourse, how does our industry measure up when it comes to employee/individual support as we embark on a seemingly more permanent shift to being around each other far less often. James McKeown talked to a cross-section of the industry to find out…

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“I

t’s okay not to be okay”. It is a phrase that has come to define a welcome seachange in the way society is fronting up to an issue that has for too long been stigmatised to the point of near taboo, but has plagued many more of us than would dare to acknowledge.

In the professional realm, the stigma surrounding stress-related mental and emotional conditions can often be traced back to their being perceived as points of ‘weakness’; the fear that in acknowledging such struggles, one is highlighting to an employer a potentially undermining flaw in one’s programming that devalues your ‘worth’ as an asset to the business. It feels akin to admission of failure, and as such it is intentionally overlooked to preserve one’s professional status.

It is not without irony that this ‘safeguarding’ can have the opposite effect. In an age, pre-Covid, where companies have been streamlining operations and tasking their workforces to do more with less, staying silent on mounting workloads and increasing pressure to deliver in order to save face will only, as my parents used to put it, “end in tears”. Often, quite literally.

Covid has only intensified that reality.

Plenty of us will identify in this ‘thick skinned’ camp; an unconditional confidence in our ability to deal with workloads of varying enormity and all of the pressures that come with them.

Too many of us, I fear.

PULL YOURSELF TOGETHER… In recent years, I’ve had the enormous pleasure of working very closely with Michael Garwood, who came into the AV industry as editor of AV Technology Europe and now plies his trade with Bees Buzz PR. Ever since I’ve known Michael, he has been very open on the subject. “Any discussion around mental health is always likely to be met with very different responses and attitudes. For some, there is a great deal of understanding and empathy towards it, while others see it as something you simply ‘get over’. How many times have we heard or uttered the words ‘pull yourself together’?”

Having been ‘pulling myself together’ and ‘just getting on with it’ for many years, there is plenty in Garwood’s experience that I personally recognise. In particular is the thick skin I mentioned earlier which in hindsight you can clearly identify as a defence mechanism to cope with pressure; some of it undue, some of it invited.

“I speak from very personal experiences before I began a career in the AV industry and as someone that has lost a friend to suicide,” Garwood explains. “For me, I was in denial about the strains being placed upon my mental health and, worse still, I was very, very good at it; convincing not just other people, but myself, that all was fine. Machismo? Maybe. Denial? 100 per cent.”

He continues, suggesting that as a human, there’s a limit to how much load a single person can handle all at once, and though it took a while, he eventually crashed. “I went from convincing myself and everyone that everything was fine, work was great, to waking up in the night unable to breath, to the point I kept passing out and being admitted to hospital.”

Garwood developed an anxiety triggered condition called Laryngospasm. “In short, around 20 times, day and night, I would suddenly be unable to breath to the point I expected I would die and often pass out – at which point, things would return to normal for a short period. It’s as horrific as it sounds.”

The intensity of the pressure being placed upon him by his management in league with his own self-confessed denial that anything was wrong made for a dangerous cocktail. “My dedication to work and my inability to see things clearly, were irrational. Every doctor I saw asked me the same question, ‘are you under any stress at work?’. ‘No, of course not’, I'd always respond, as if it was a daft question.”

It took an almost complete collapse for Garwood to eventually acknowledge his plight. That came by the way of resignation from his employers after which his condition improved markedly.

It is a very personal journey that it is a privilege to be able to share. Happily, Michael’s current situation is a world away from the stress detailed above, weaving a predominantly homebased work set-up around his family life to strike a balance where he feels in the most productive phase of his career.

RELATIONSHIPS OF TRUST If the first step is acknowledging the need for support, it is equally important to understand that such a step can only be made if there is trust that meaningful support is on offer.

That’s why it is so very important that businesses and organisations across industries not only ensure that programmes are established for those in their care, but that there is clear communication about access, availability, and importantly, discretion.

Garwood’s experience, and there are thousands more like it, should be a lesson to all companies about the dangers of demanding high output from employees while seeking to streamline operations; ‘do more with less’ is an understandable tactic to navigate challenged waters, but it is not a sustainable long-term strategy.

Pleasingly, we are starting to see more employee support policies being built into company strategies as staff wellbeing becomes more ingrained into corporate philosophies. Here at Future, publisher of Installation, every employee has access to mental health first aiders; co-workers who have volunteered their ears and time to whomever needs it, with regular campaigns to encourage people to access support whenever they feel under duress. In addition, in response to the pandemic period the company has expanded its remote working policy to the discretion of individual teams so that every single member of staff can go about their day to day work in the environments that are most productive for them.

That level of employee empowerment is a statement of trust from the business to its people. It reflects the two principles I value more than any other in the relationship between management and people: empowerment and ownership – giving people the freedom to own their roles, and the tools and environment to perform to the highest calibre. Building relationships of trust with employees can only help them flourish.

HOW DOES THE AV INDUSTRY MEASURE UP? Ownership is another important talking point in the discussion on how industries address employee welfare. Should it be a top-down issue led by industry organisations, or is it better handled locally by individual companies?

We’ll look at some perspectives on this theme in another edition, but beforehand it’s important to ascertain where the AV market is in its relationship with mental wellbeing.

David Labuskes, CEO of AVIXA, offers this summary: “Sadly, it seems that there is still too much whispering about mental health in our society. At least in the Euro/Anglo cultures. There’s likely a long historical reason for this to be the case but we should certainly work together as a community to overcome the stigma and put a spotlight and focus on maintaining not only our physical health but our mental health,” he says.

“Here in the United States, I’ve watched a number of our members share their workouts via social media and share the success of their weight loss programmes through the months of this pandemic. Maybe there’s an opportunity to incent

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individuals to openly share their mental health challenges and actions being taken and successes achieved.”

Social media has played a pivotal role in keeping the AV community together through the darkest days of the lockdown period, especially for those furloughed or sadly laid-off. The Twittersphere and LinkedIn channels have been a source of much campaigning for those affected, with colleagues coming together to offer support and promote their availability to hiring companies.

An important fixture in the social media community is the #AVinTheAM group, founded and moderated by Pro AV Power 20 inductee Chris Neto, which discusses all things AV tech every Sunday. Neto and a batch of fellow social media users are some of those who have been sharing their #AVFitness workouts, as Labuskes alluded to; inspiring others with their progress.

“If supporting this ‘because it’s the right thing to do’ isn’t enough of a motivation, perhaps a pragmatic consideration can be offered,” Labuskes continues. “Mental health, wellness, mindfulness – these, I believe, are all foundational for creativity and productivity. As employers, we’re advantaged if our teams are in a state of both positive physical and mental health.”

AVIXA has been providing a range of mental health resources, including a virtual panel session at August’s Integrate expo.

During that session, Christine Morgan, CEO of Australia’s National Mental Health Commission, talked of de-stigmatising the issue for those that need support. “Talking about mental health doesn’t mean you’re weak, it means you’re human…

Leadership is saying to people it’s OK to not feel OK; what’s not OK is to not reach out for help.”

More recently, the organisation’s Diversity and Women’s councils hosted a webinar (still available to watch on its website) on ‘Improving mental fitness and managing mental afflictions’ with Mindful Solutions founder, Anastasia Agramonte.

According to Labuskes, the crisis brings with it an opportunity for the community to share experiences and build support networks. “At a personal level, we are all interacting with people who are challenged and struggling through these months – who among us can say they themselves have not been challenged?

But this gives us an enormous opportunity – one that I believe truly is unprecedented,” he says.

“I suspect this is the first time that humanity has had a truly universal experience. No person alive today has been unaffected

by Covid-19. From shared experience we build empathy. And from empathy we build trust. And with trust, we can seek compassion and offer compassion. And with that, we can support the people in our community openly to seek out the help they might not even know they need.”

ACCELERATED CHANGE Much of what we’ve explored so far in this piece, certainly in terms of attitudes to welfare, predates the coronavirus and the revolutionary accelerated change it has brought on companies to move to new hybrid remote/office environments. Considering this change is likely to be permanent for many, does this increase the importance of wellbeing in the AV community?

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“It’s an important issue in any community, and with AV often being a high-pressure environment it’s not a new one here, but it has certainly come to the fore among the sector in recent months,” explains Toni Moss, managing director of integrator CDEC. “Given the changes we’ve all had to adapt to, and the fact that many of us have been in similar situations, in some ways it’s actually become easier for people to say they’re struggling, whether that’s from balancing home, work and family, or because of the economic uncertainty we’re facing. Being able to speak up and be heard is key, so we’ve created as many forums as possible for people to interact and communicate during this time to help everyone remain connected.”

WELLBEING AND PRODUCTIVITY Jon Raines, end user account manager at Sharp NEC Display Solutions, says that organisations have long recognised the importance of employee wellbeing and its close alignment with motivation and productivity. “Environments that are stimulating and which promote wellbeing and engagement (rather than merely mitigating the worst effects of a poor workspace) are bound to be more productive, leading to better outcomes for organisations. Where previously, organisations managed the working environment and supported workers within the office setting, they are now required to empower the workforce to work more independently at remote locations.” Back to that emphasis on empowerment!

He continues, “As many workers are tentatively returning to offices, many believe that a hybrid of home working alongside face to face meetings taking place as needed in the office, will be the new working practice. Preparing workspaces which support this new standard, alongside a more compassionate working culture which prioritises employee wellbeing, should be high on the agenda as businesses plan for the future.”

Speaking of Midwich’s response at the outbreak of the pandemic, PR and communications director Ben Thompson says that greater emphasis on mental health is now critically important. “We’ve seen really alarming stats published in the media around the rise in mental health issues during the pandemic so it’s important we’re providing qualified support,” he says.

“It’s crazy to think we went from a busy office environment, with lots of people around us, to a home office with little or no human contact. Back in March, it was important for businesses to act fast in providing the necessary level of support to its people and I’m really proud how quickly Midwich shifted its focus onto the wellbeing of its staff and has continued to do so ever since.”

Just prior to publishing this issue, we learnt that Midwich’s staff had raised £27,000 for mental health charity Norfolk and Waveny Mind through a series of fundraising events, with a goal to reach a target of £45,000 in total.

ENGAGING WITH THE ISSUE Commendable philanthropic endeavours aside, just how are companies in our community engaging with the issue closer to home? Staying with Midwich, Thompson explained that the

company has a good support network in place. “We have a number of trained mental health first aiders that are always on hand to help our people, they hold weekly drop in sessions via Microsoft Teams in order to provide one-to-one support where needed. For more professional support, staff can access the ‘Health Assured’ package which is part of our employee benefits and I know a few colleagues that have taken advantage of this service. We also launched an internal newsletter in March, this aimed to provide weekly support and information around the subject of mental wellbeing.”

Where CDEC is concerned, Moss says that the company has always prided itself on being an open and approachable company. “Our company values focus on empathy, trust and understanding and while we understand it’s easy to just say the right things, we reinforce this throughout the business,” she explains.

CDEC offers a mentor programme and also encourages staff to join industry associations to broaden their support base.

Most of all, Moss continues, the company encourages open and honest communication across the board. “Hopefully we’re normalising the conversation around mental health so that if someone is struggling, they’ll feel able to reach out, but we’ll also know the signs to look out for among our team.”

ONLINE ASSESSMENT At the newly converged Sharp NEC Display Solutions, Raines explains how the business has partnered with professional wellbeing solutions company Fusion-Spaces “to help organisations foster better home-based working environments which embrace best practice for user wellbeing through an online assessment tool and a range of bundled home-office technology solutions,” he says. “The assessment tool, WorkFree, is designed to help employers and employees achieve the mutually beneficial goal of healthy, happy and effective work.”

The tool Raines alludes to is built on three main principles: n Assurance: to enable employers to meet their responsibilities and obligations to ensure that employees have a safe place to work n Comfort and quality: to ensure that home-based workers can set up an effective and comfortable working environment which gives access to a range of professional quality (but domestic scale) products to support and improve their physical and mental health and wellbeing n Freedom and empowerment: to ensure that home-based workers are empowered to manage their work and space That word ‘empowerment’, once again. Raines continues, “Along with the assessment tool, there is support available to help organisations create a plan of continuous improvement and guidance on the sorts of interventions and products that might be useful to create healthy home working spaces.”

I’M ONLY HUMAN, AFTER ALL… Fusion-Spaces is itself an example of the changing narrative around the professional workplace; set up to help enable organisations to put people, and human wellbeing, at the heart

IN A WORLD WHERE ALL WE SEEM TO TALK ABOUT CONCERNS TECHNOLOGY, SYSTEMS, OR SOLUTIONS, IT IS REFRESHING TO FEEL THAT THE PENDULUM OF CONVERSATION IS ACTIVELY SWINGING TO BECOME MORE HUMAN-CENTRIC of their business. Founded by Michael and Jayne Cox who boast decades of experience in technology, wellbeing, and critically AV, the company works with businesses to integrate technology solutions into home and office spaces that focus on the reduction of human stress to the benefit of human productivity.

In a world where all we seem to talk about concerns technology, systems, or solutions, it is refreshing to feel that the pendulum of conversation is actively swinging to become more human-centric.

After all, the human mind is the most complex piece of machinery that we will ever get to work with. For every other piece of precious cargo in our worlds of work, there are stress tests, upgrades, versions 2.0, failsafes, security measures, protective packaging, and disaster recovery plans. Considering this, it is surely extraordinary that it has taken so long for our human technologies to be afforded equal billing.

As we’ve seen, the AV community seems to be advancing at a noble speed along the right paths, with our central institutions and component companies each finding their own progress in addressing the issue. Yet, there is always more that can be done, and who should lead the charge and set the example, as well as what should come next, is a discussion we’ll pick up in another edition.

To conclude for now, it seems that all conversations, perspectives, and ideologies around this subject boil down to a single fundamental concept: balance. Where businesses can build relationships of trust with their employees and in doing so empower them to flourish and grow, the net result is an optimum balance of loyalty and respect that drives productivity and quality.

It’s a balance of optimum mutual benefit.

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A game changing install for Dean Street Studios At the start of October, Dolby announced that it had installed a state-of-the-art Dolby Atmos mix room in Dean Street Studios’ flagship Studio One. Installation got the lowdown with this exclusive case study

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ean Street Studios is one of the last professional large-format recording studios in Central London, and during its history has welcomed a prestigious roll call of music artists through its Soho doors to record some of their biggest hits.

Icons such as David Bowie, Adele, John Legend, Lady Gaga and Paul Weller are just some of the impressive names to have stepped foot in the studio – but earlier this year, the site closed its doors for refurbishments, undertaken by Veale Associates, during the coronavirus pandemic.

In October, Dean Street Studios reopened the doors to its legendary music recording and production suites, as well as announcing the installation of a state-of-the-art Dolby Atmos mix room in Studio One – its flagship studio – in partnership with Dolby Laboratories, a leader in immersive entertainment experiences.

The new Dolby Atmos mix room provides artists the chance to create dynamic and immersive tracks in Dolby Atmos, taking their music beyond the restrictions of stereo and mono to a platform that provides a whole new way to create and listen to music.

The Dolby Atmos install features PMC’s flagship IB2S XBD-A active monitors covering left and right main channels, an IB2S-A monitor for the centre channel, ten discrete Wafer2 loudspeakers for surround and height channels and four sub2 subwoofers. The Dean Street Studio’s set up exactly replicates the PMC system initially designed for Universal Music and installed two years ago at Capitol Studios in Los Angeles.

The install exceeds the standard Dolby requirements, allowing artists’ audio spanning across all genres of music to be delivered consistently at a remarkable quality in Dolby Atmos, like never before. An immersive audio experience, Dolby Atmos Music adds more space, clarity and depth to music. The technology empowers creators to place discrete audio elements or objects in a three-dimensional sound field, which is not possible in stereo.

“I have grown up in the music industry and have seen a lot of advances and change over the years, but nothing excites me more than Dolby Atmos Music,” says Jasmin Lee, managing director at Dean Street Studios. “This is a game changer for artists in terms of how they can create their music and engage with fans. I have listened to tracks in our new Dolby Atmos mix studio and my mind is just blown by it. This is music like you’ve never heard it before. We have a proud history of working with some of the world’s most successful artists and we can’t wait to offer them this new more immersive format which I’m sure will unleash a whole new creative journey for them.”

Javier Foncillas, VP commercial partnerships Dolby Europe, adds, “Dean Street Studios has an incredible track history of working with scores of award-winning artists to record their ground-breaking music between its four walls.

We’re thrilled that the iconic studio has created a dedicated space for mixing in Dolby Atmos and are excited to see the immersive creative output from those that walk through its famed doors in the future.”

“We are delighted to be bringing this statement Dolby Atmos system into the UK for the first time and could not be more pleased to be spear-heading it alongside a facility with so much heritage and positive reputation as Dean Street Studios,” says Chris Allen, business development manager at PMC. “PMC’s flagship Dolby Atmos install has become the reference for many Dolby Atmos Music studios, and although Dean Street’s room is relatively small, we were able to work with Dolby to design an effective system that meets and exceeds Dolby Atmos specifications. The result is incredibly pleasing and the system respectfully, and easily, reproduces all genres of music consistently at all levels.”

Dolby Atmos Music adds more space, clarity, and depth to music. Instead of just hearing music, with Dolby, it feels like listeners are inside the song, revealing what may have otherwise been lost in the conventional stereo recordings, and has already breathed life into music in the past by globallyrenowned acts including The Weeknd, Halsey, The Beatles, and Coldplay.

Dolby Atmos Music unveils levels of detail and depth in songs and allows the listener to get closer than ever to the songs they care about to discover the artist’s vision without compromise.

Whether it’s the unleashing of a legendary guitar solo, a massive bass drop that washes over you, or the subtle breath a singer takes, with Dolby Atmos Music it’s like hearing your favourite songs again for the first time, with every detail and emotion as the artist intended.

All images © James Robinson

The technology empowers creators to place discrete audio elements or objects in a three-dimensional sound field, which is not possible in stereo

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Void Acoustics boosts trio of 'tired' Irish bars Void Acoustics systems were recently installed in three “rather tired old bars” in Ireland that emerged from lockdown with a new lease of life to offer engaging meeting spaces for a new generation of patrons…

Full technical specifications Caribou Bar 2 Zones of Void Acoustics 8 x Void Acoustics Venu 8 v2 4 x Void Acoustics Venu 112 bass 1 x Void Acoustics Bias Q2 1 x Cloud Z4

Impala Bar 6 Zones of Void Acoustics 10 x Void Acoustics Venu 6 4 x Void Acoustics Venu bass 2 x Void Acoustics Cyclone 55 1 x Void Acoustics Indigo 6s 2 x Void Acoustics Bias Q2 1 x Cloud Z8 1 x 12u rack with power distro

Bonobo 6 Zones of Void Acoustics 14 x Void Acoustics Venu 6 6 x Void Acoustics Venu bass 3 x Void Acoustics Ciruss 6.1 3 x Void Acoustics Bias Q2 1 x Cloud Z8 1 x 12u rack with power distro

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s Ireland starts to ease out of lockdown there are three refurbished bars around the country which are match-ready to welcome customers back. Owners Shane Clifford, Declan Murphy and Hugh O’Farrell have upgraded their bars Bonobo, Impala and Caribou to incorporate high quality Void Acoustics systems throughout.

Ed Rice from Sounds Good Systems was appointed by the bars’ owners as the specifier and integrator for the refurbishments. As sole distributor in Ireland for Void Acoustics for over eight years, Rice was seen as the natural person to specify high-end audio to match the exacting brief in order to offer stylish and ambient sound required at each venue.

Bonobo, Impala and Caribou bars, located in Dublin, Cork and Galway respectively were all, by their owners’ admission ‘rather tired old bars’ which needed completely renovating and upgrading in order to provide engaging spaces, each with their own unique style and offer, but with the common aim of providing great meeting spaces for the young communities in each city. Bonobo in Dublin offers a wide variety of craft beers with a curated music selection, massive outdoor space and world class pizza. Impala Bar in Cork is an award-winning craft bar with inviting outdoor spaces at the front and back of the venue and a curated music selection. And Caribou Bar in Galway is another award-winning craft bar with great outdoor spaces and appealing bar food.

Long-term reliability The brief stipulated that each bar required high quality zoned sound systems, which were easy to operate and with even coverage across all spaces. Alongside this the audio systems needed to be able to facilitate an occasional DJ set, and offer appropriate audio solutions for big screen usage. The owners wanted the systems to look good and most importantly required systems providing long-term reliability.

Rice explains taking on the brief: “I knew Void was the solution for all these bars. Void Acoustics offers a massive range of speakers to suit all applications, inside or out, with endless choices of colour and finishes to keep designers, architects and venue operators happy. And because we were also supplying lighting and individual AV requirements for each bar, we were able to treat each venue as a turn key project where it all works seamlessly together.”

Despite each bar having varying numbers of spaces and unique requirements, the bar operators chose Void systems to be installed at all three venues based on sound quality, reliability and value.

Six zones of Void Acoustic systems were installed into Bonobo and Impala Bars, featuring Venu 6. “In my opinion the Venu 6 is the perfect speaker for stylish bar settings” states Rice. “For Impala I went all out and specified a Venu 6 and Venu bass system with Cyclone 55 out front alongside an Indigo 6s for the snug. The beer garden even has a Venu 6 mounted under a bulkhead so it is safely out of the direct rain."

Caribou is the most recent refurb and is the first installation in Ireland of the new Venu 8 v2. Here, two zones of Venu 8 v2

and Venu 112 have been installed in both inside zones to accommodate regular DJ bookings and to ensure continuity throughout the venue. The initial install is subsequently going to be supplemented by Cyclone 55s at the front of the bar and on the rear terrace. All Venu systems are supported by Void’s Bias Q2 amplifier systems.

“I specified Venu 6 and Venu bass for Impala and Bonobo as they offered my clients the best balance between size/price/ sonic performance for their venues,” Rice adds. “These systems really are hard to beat. They offer amazing sound in a fairly compact box and when the Venu 6 is combined with Venu bass they cover all uses in bars of the size and style of Impala and Bonobo. In addition to which, with Caribou planning on running a lot of DJs, Void has the range of products to suit perfectly with Venu 8 so that is what we have installed there.”

Co-owner of the bars, Shane Clifford, is particularly pleased with the quality and impact of the audio installation provided by the Void Acoustics systems. “To put it simply, Void Acoustics are the best systems” he says. “The success of our bars depends upon our ability to provide the best atmosphere to encourage a busy through flow of clientele. The single best way to do this is with the music we play, so we have to have the best equipment in order to maximise that key element of our offer.”

Josh Pearce, EMEA account manager for Void Acoustics was also on hand to provide support to Rice. “Ed is dedicated to quality audio, he has a professional approach, and is a great brand ambassador for Void Acoustics across Ireland.

Void’s reputation and presence in Ireland is pretty much down to Ed’s hard work since he first familiarised himself with our brand” he says. “And because of Ed’s extensive knowledge of Void Acoustics products, he works closely with each customer to understand their requirements, before recommending the most suitable audio spec to ensure it is fit for purpose and perfectly suits each application. Of course, we are always on hand to provide additional support and advice. All in all, it’s an ideal manufacturer-distributor set-up.”

Clifford offers a glowing testimonial of Rice and his team at Sounds Good Systems. “Over the years we have dealt with a number of audio companies, and the service offered by Ed at Sounds Good Systems, and the team at Void Acoustics is incredible. When we first heard a Void system in another bar in Dublin, we knew it was the solution we were looking for with our bars.

"I’m certain that I’ve driven Ed around the twist on occasion but it’s because we want to achieve the highest quality audio solution possible. And no matter what, Ed has been on hand to help us achieve this. Our expectations were managed every step of the way and we are completely satisfied with the end result."

Clifford concludes: “We couldn’t be more delighted with the final outcome in each venue. We are here on standby with phenomenal playlists and a state-of-the-art sound system in each bar to welcome our customers back and provide them with the best experience possible.”

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Flow motion Case study: A lively and modern AV design conjures innovation in an already-inspiring corporate atmosphere

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s businesses eye a return to office life, most agree that it’s time to put the drab and dry corporate atmosphere to permanent rest. Naturally, the results will be mixed: some will embrace the opportunity for change and innovation, while others will return to business as usual.

Located in the historic Amsterdam neighborhood of Houthavens, Flow is marketed as both an office environment and a state of mind, where corporate and lifestyle can seemingly co-exist.

Beyond choose-your-own open workspaces, the Flow building includes a rooftop event space, a lounge-style lobby, a communal kitchen, outdoor relaxation decks and a fitness center with massage and therapy services. Flow is also the first office building in Amsterdam to receive WELL certification, which recognises seven key strategies for maximum wellness, productivity, creativity and employee retention.

Naturally, AV technology is an integral element of the Flow experience. And like so many other newly-constructed corporate facilities, the project team immediately set its AV sights on the IP network. Systems integrator Sinus Audiovisual was brought into this project

by MVSA, the brains behind Flow’s inviting architectural design. The Sinus team worked closely with both MVSA and the networking contractor from phase one, with the latter running network cable through the building to carry signals. Sinus was provided a separate VLAN for most AV and control signals, with some interconnectivity to Flow’s main network.

Video is mostly centralised to digital signage in lobbies, and inside the war room, a high-tech meeting space with 350-degree projection. Sixteen Optoma ZH420UST ultra-short throw 4000 AL projectors power the video, with Crestron NVX350 network-scaling encoders and decoders managing IP video traffic.

Audio is more of a building-wide presence, and therefore represents a substantial portion of the technical systems design. “Audio is important to the overall Flow experience. We have interconnections with their network for

streaming radio, most of which happens through four Sonos Connect streaming audio players,” says Peter Kaandorp, managing director, Sinus AV. “Sometimes, the Flow principles want to control more of the sound in various zones around the building.”

Most of the signals are processed through three AV/IT equipment racks from Minkles housed on the first, third and fifth floors. Cisco SG350X-8PMD and SG350-XG-48T network switches move signals on and off the AV network, with the latter providing a bandwidthrich 10Gb pipe for connectivity to the main Flow network.

Flow’s emphasis on lifestyle and wellbeing means that audio is an essential part of the workspace experience. Each

Each frame is equipped with twochannel mic/line input, two-channel line output, and two-channel AES output cards. The breadth of signals handled by the Xilica Solaro FR1 Frames make the manufacturer’s integration with Crestron control an enormous benefit for overall ease of use, while also simplifying the programming and integration for the Sinus team.

“We created the audio matrix design within the Xilica DSP, and replicate that in the Crestron control system,” says Kandoorp. “That made everything seamless and interoperable from the programming stage forward.”

While the programming ease was a benefit, Kaandorp returns to the Solaro FR1’s processing power as the wow

“Flow is also the first office building in Amsterdam to receive WELL certification, which recognises seven key strategies for maximum wellness, productivity, creativity and employee retention” rack integrates a Xilica Solaro FR1 DSP Frame with a 64x64 matrix, along with Quint Audio A1 class D amplifiers and Crestron CP3N control processors; the latter is also used for video signal control. The Quint Audio amplifiers, along with the Sonos streaming audio players, feed a variety of Quint Audio loudspeakers and subwoofers installed in various spaces throughout the building.

The Xilica Solaro FR1 Frame is at the core of all audio applications, reliably processing and managing analog and digital music sources coming in and out of the frames. In addition to the Quint Audio and Sonos systems – as well as Sennheiser wireless microphones – the Xilica Solaro FR1 Frame processes audio signals coming from other areas of the building’s IT infrastructure over Dante.

factor. “You can drive these DSP frames incredibly far,” he says. “We don’t have to worry about easing the EQs or otherwise leaving room for external processing power. They can cleanly drive the audio systems to their limits.”

While Kaandorp doesn’t anticipate immediate expansion of the system, both the Crestron and Xilica solutions have “plenty of additional capacity,” he explains, adding that both are easily expandable. “Xilica has Solaro XIO expansion frames that can be easily added to accommodate more audio sources, while it’s simple to add new encoders and decoders to the Crestron NVX350 system,” he concludes. “We are confident this deployment is exactly what Flow and their tenant need today, with plenty of additional opportunity to serve future requirements.”

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MARKETING REIMAGINED FOR THE NEW NORMAL Brandy Alvarado, freelance marketing consultant and 2020 Pro AV Power 20 inductee, assesses the options for AV companies as they bring their marketing operations back up to speed post-pandemic

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oes anyone else feel like 2020 has been like an episode from Stranger Things? Or like a zombie apocalypse minus the zombies? With layoffs high and the state of our industry in flux, it is more apparent now that we reimagine our marketing efforts as we enter into the new normal (whatever that is!).

The pivot toward a more forward-facing company is essential to keep your products and services top of mind, and in building long-lasting customer relationships beyond the pandemic.

Let’s consider the importance of creating new customers, and for retaining those life-long raving fans of your products and services. Marketing, at its core, is tasked with generating, identifying, and engaging with potential customers. Traditional marketing efforts have all but gone out the window during Covid-19, as marketers have had to alter their strategies in this age of homebound patrons and unpredictable environments.

The American Marketing Association cited in a recent study called Emerging Marketing Opportunities that creating trusted relationships, amping up social media, enhancing the online buying experience, learning how to reinvent marketing strategies, and all the while learning how to do more with less personnel is vital for a company’s survival.

Whether you are an integration company, manufacturer, or on the design side of pro AV, I think we can agree that marketing is an important and valuable sales generating resource. But the task of hiring someone is daunting and arduous for both the employer and employee. Never mind hiring someone while social distancing. That, in my experience, is even more challenging for many reasons.

I’ve had the opportunity to work as both a freelance contractor and a full-time salaried employee during my career.

Both have their pros and cons for the company and the

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employee, and both offer companies a chance to engage with customers in these unparalleled times. Recently, I started doing some freelance marketing work for some pro AV companies. As with any new venture, one has many factors to take into consideration, but so do the companies choosing to hire a contractor for this type of work. I thought I’d offer a breakdown of some of the pros and cons of hiring a freelancer versus an employee for you to consider.

FREELANCE DIGITAL MARKETERS Freelancers are individuals who offer services for pay by the hour, day, or project. Freelancers work flexible hours, and they may work for several businesses at one time. Freelance work is typically done in an individual’s free time, or as a job that gives them more freedom to make their own schedule. Freelance work is usually associated with graphic design, blogging/ writing, editing, website design, social media, email marketing, and brand management and things of that nature. When outsourcing this type of work to a professional be sure to have an agreement as to the scope of work, deliverables, and deadlines to complete the project.

Pros n It’s a great idea to hire a contractor when the skill needed is outside of your team’s skill set. For instance, if you need some customisations to your website, or to create collateral, it might be wise to seek out a freelancer n Maybe you’ve got a small marketing budget. The total compensation of a full-time employee versus a contractor can be expensive. Freelancers are typically less expensive and can be hired as needed per the scope of work n If you’re not ready to hire a full-time employee, this might be a

great reason to test the waters before buying. By hiring a freelance person there is less inherent risk and costs associated as you try it out n Reduced costs in terms of expenses, payroll, benefits, and overhead can be a significant savings to the company as well n Quality of work. Freelancers thrive on repeat customers and always strive to offer the best services, meet deadlines, and cultivate relationships as they run their business Cons n Communication and control can be limited since this person is not in your office. But given the available technology like Zoom and Teams, this can easily be overcome with regular check-ins on the project. Be sure to set expectations as to how you will communicate and how often you want a progress check n Brand Knowledge can be a hurdle. Hiring a freelancer versus an in-house marketer may leave you with a gap in this area.

But if you can articulate this info in a brand style guide this can be conquered n Hours of operation. Freelancers enjoy the freedom and flexibility of working on projects in their free time. This may cause some communication issues, as they may respond to emails or calls at off-times. Set boundaries and expectations up front to avoid this dilemma n Creating a cohesive and recognisable brand means your marketing efforts need to be consistent. Same colour, font, same look-feel-finish to all materials. It can be disruptive and inconsistent if you’re hiring multiple contractors

Cons n Costs will be higher as you will need to consider benefits, overhead, and other costs associated with an employee n Workload can be demanding for someone in an office.

Marketers often get tagged for other projects as needed when in the office. Maybe the company is having a party, or contest, and needs some party invites or some other collateral designed. These added tasks can add to the workload and cause project deadlines to be in danger n Equipment and software costs. In the employee relationship the company will assume all equipment and software costs associated with the scope of work n Costs of hire. When considering an employee, understand that the cost of hiring, training, accounting/payroll transactions, and recruitment costs are all assumed by the company. Hiring an employee is a huge initial investment of time and money for a company to assume SUMMARY In a recent NASDAQ report, it said that an estimated 43 per cent of the US workforce consisted of freelancers by the beginning of 2020, and that number is expected to rise considerably. Ultimately the decision always lies with the intent of the hire and the long-term goals of the company.

Consider wisely but do consider someone that will make your company shine.

IN-HOUSE MARKETING EMPLOYEE An employee is someone who receives compensation as a result of employment, oftentimes working full-time for a business. With employees, businesses are usually required to file proper paperwork, maintain tax compliance, and observe medical and vacation benefits. On top of that having a full-time employee also offers the company stability, and an insider that can help connect the division between sales and marketing.

Pros n Financial Benefits. Hiring independent contractors saves on some of the costs that are typically associated with full-time employees. According to the US Department of Labor, benefits alone can account for more than 30 per cent of total employee compensation. This year, employers spend an average of $10.70 per hour per employee on benefits alone. Consider the total compensation package when hiring a full-time employee n Knowledge of the company and its goals is an important factor too. Tribal knowledge of how companies have deployed products and campaigns surrounding product launches is invaluable to have on your team n Immediacy of communication. Having someone inside your office makes it much easier to have meetings and project updates on the fly n Company culture is created by having a full-time employee n This is a win-win for both company and employee

Brandy Alvarado

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An installation journey 25 years in the making This issue, Installation caught up with Nicola Beretta, head of product marketing at Allen & Heath, to find out more about the Cornwall-based company’s well established but perhaps lesser known installation business...

What drove Allen & Heath’s decision to target the installation market?

That question came up a lot in the last few months when speaking to a lot of consultants and integrators, and while many are fans of our installation range and eager to learn about the next developments, others definitely saw Allen & Heath purely as a live mixing brand and were curious about our ‘entry’ into the installation market.

The truth is we’ve been designing installation products for around 25 years. We launched our first digital matrix processor, DR128, way back in 1996, quickly followed by the smaller DR66, spearheading Allen & Heath’s foray into digital processing. Back in those days, the ‘digital’ R&D team consisted of a handful of engineers, compared to the 50-strong R&D department we have today, half of which is software development. Even before the launch of DR128 we had introduced the first of what turned out to be a long line of GR series analogue zone mixers.

A highlight of our installation journey was the launch of the iDR range in 2002. The iDR8 processor and its expanders, together with iDR System Manager software, brought top audio quality to installed sound and paved the way for our first live digital mixers. The release of iDR4, a condensed version of the iDR8 processor, expanded the range to

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cater for smaller installs such as hotels, restaurants, bars, and boardrooms. A companion range of remote controllers, the PL series, took iDR to a new level of flexibility and was undoubtedly a key ingredient in its success. Nine different PL units were developed, including a variety of wall plates, a fader panel and an expansion hub.

After all these years, you still find iDR processors at the core of audio systems in global banks, blue chip headquarters, government facilities, retail chains, broadcasting networks, universities and theme parks.

How did the current generation of your installation products come about?

Our live mixers took a decisive technological lead over the competition in 2015 with the launch of dLive; the first product to give a glimpse of our new XCVI core. The ambition of doubling input channel count, bus count, sample rate, and number of FX compared to our previous flagship platform posed a challenge that was solved with countless man hours of research and the decision to deploy a new FPGA engine. Running at 96kHz, the XCVI core packs dozens of parallel cores into a single chip, acting like virtual DSPs and eliminating the limitations of classic DSP farm topology.

multi-purpose venues could handle everything from background music and announcements to a full orchestra performance with a single system. In a way, the mixer didn’t have to sit at FoH or in a control room any longer. It was everywhere, embedded in the fabric of the building, be it a university campus or corporate HQ. Pictured above: Allen & Heath's AHM-64 matrix processor

Aside from sheer raw power, the other immediate benefits are minimal latency and phase coherency.

It was clear to everyone involved that this technology could be equally effective in the installation market. We started by extending the dLive range into fixed install, with the addition of the DM0 audio engine, the DX164-W wall-mount audio expander, the IP1 single-gang wallplate (joining a range of PoE powered remote controllers), the DX Hub for more flexible audio distribution, and a networkable GPIO interface. Software features like automatic mic mixing and remote control over WAN were also developed to aid adoption in different installation verticals.

While most competitors were sticking to the traditional mixer formula of control + processing + I/O in one unit, we took a fundamentally different approach. We already had the advantage of a separate mix engine (the MixRack) that could be deployed with or without a control surface, and went a step further by creating an unprecedented range of distributed I/O and control options. For the first time,

You unveiled the new AHM-64 matrix processor at the ISE show earlier this year. Is this a further evolution from dLive?

The technology certainly spans out of dLive, but AHM-64 owes at least as much to input from integrators and consultants. We knew that there was potential to use the 96kHz XCVI core as the heart of a dedicated 64x64 matrix processor for installed sound management, capable of handling a variety of applications from paging to audio distribution and conferencing.

The biggest challenge was to develop firmware and software that met the needs of the SI market.

Early in the project we discussed the concept, feature set and user requirements with over a hundred integrators and consultants from different territories. In marketing they go under the name of focus groups, but internally these were known as ‘secret squirrel’ meetings and really helped to shape the final product. As a result, we switched to a user interface with a horizontal signal-flow view of channel

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Market feedback was very split between the simplicity of fixed architecture and the configurability and design freedom of open architecture. I think we struck the right balance with AHM-64, so you have the ease of use and set latency (sub millisecond) on one side, but on the other side extensive flexibility and none of the limitations of budget fixed architecture processors. For example, the 64 processing outputs can be configured as mono or stereo zones, or reserved for speaker processing outputs: a stereo zone can feed into a two, three or four-way crossover with EQ, limiter and delay on each output. Zone mixes can be routed to other zones for room combining or overflow applications. All channels can be assigned to up eight automatic mic mixers for management of multiple, simultaneous meetings. And input and output routing is soft patchable with the added option of tie-lines connecting inputs to outputs directly for audio distribution and format conversion.

While most competitors were sticking to the traditional mixer formula of control + processing + I/O in one unit, we took a fundamentally different approach processing, clearly displaying what processing is available and what is active or not, coupled with a zoomable patching and routing view with level and mute information expressed in the crosspoints. On top of eight-band PEQ, dynamics and delays on every input and output, we added source selection, priority ducking, noise compensation, graphic EQ and limiter on every zone; optional processing expansion for echo cancelling; integrated stereo playback and comprehensive preset and event management; a Dante 64x64 card which is 96kHz capable and AES67 and Dante Domain Manager compatible.

And we went to the extent of making the AHM System Manager available for both Windows and macOS, again following feedback from the market.

You have described AHM-64 as having a ‘flexible’ architecture. What was the thinking behind that?

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What do you think consultants are looking for when they evaluate a new matrix processor like AHM-64?

What seems to capture the interest of consultants is not simply the processor itself, but the array of I/O and control options around it, all of which are available from the word go. Up to 24 audio expanders can be added to a single system and thanks to the intelligent SLink port our full ‘Everything I/O’ range is compatible with AHM-64. You have a choice of proprietary, low-latency Layer 2 point-to-point audio transport, or Layer 3 Dante AoIP, from a family of portable, wall-mount, modular and rack expanders.

In terms of control and integration, we provide a TCP control protocol for third party integration, but can also offer a selection of PoE-powered network controllers in fader, rotary or wallplate flavours, and our very own custom control app which deploys custom user interfaces on demand to multiple users and/or device types, allowing for both kiosk and BYOD applications on Android, iOS, Mac and Windows.

Security is key for many customers, and we’ve been fortunate to work with a global corporate client, giving us the opportunity to minimise network vulnerability and comply with the strictest requirements from IT departments. In addition to 32 password protected user profiles, we now provide optional SSL encryption to the external control port, with the ability to load a certificate file and key to the AHM processor, and a hardware option to disable HTTP connections.

Consultants and installers are also looking for efficient solutions that will save them time and money. Having access to off-the-shelf accessories and peripherals means they don’t need to waste time sourcing and configuring third-party gear to accompany AHM-64. Features like automatic firmware matching of expanders and controllers can cut aftersales callouts. There are no hidden costs: we don't charge for apps or slap on extra service fees. The abundance of processing on board lets them apply as much processing as they like to all inputs and outputs without compromises and without affecting latency. It’s also super easy to learn, with no certified training required, and it’s tremendously scalable, making it equally at home in a bar or a conference centre.

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KIT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT

Product Spotlight

Sony Bravia BZ40H display range TOWARDS the end of October, Sony announced the launch of a new range of large format Bravia displays that it said have been specifically designed for the corporate and education sectors. The BZ40H range features four models from 55″ to 85″ all in 4K with Full Array LED and a slimmer design to help with integration.

The new Full Array LED feature provides improved contrast by boosting backlighting for lighter areas in an image, creating peaks of brightness (850 cd/ m²). The series has “native compatibility” with Sony’s TEOS solutions for advanced workplace management, including smart automation options, new meeting display

interface and Outlook integration, as well as signage, mirroring, wayfinding and meeting room management.

“Our four new Bravia Professional Displays uniquely combine incredible depth and quality of 4K resolution with the very latest in Full Array LED picture quality and processing power, wrapped inside a flexible and robust new design,” said Thomas Issa, corporate solutions marketing manager at Sony Professional Solutions Europe. “At Sony we are committed to the needs of our customers in an evolving business landscape. The BZ40H displays are specifically designed to support new ways of working, providing crisp and

clear delivery of video conferencing and shared content, alongside the latest technological performance and style our customers have come to expect from Bravia.”

Sony has also created Covid-19 related signage templates and a range of workflows in TEOS to help with flexible working and social distancing. The new range is available in 55″, 65″, 75″, and 85″ displays and are natively compatible with multiple partners, including Cisco, Crestron, Extron, Kramer, Logitech and Control 4, and is designed for use in meeting rooms, public and retail spaces, digital signage, smart classrooms and healthcare institutions.

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Remote working solutions This issue, we take a look at some of the kit and solutions on the market for the home office

Shure MV5C Home Office Microphone At the end of October, Shure announced the launch of its new MV5C Home Office Microphone designed for working-from-home professionals and executives. In presenting the new mic to the world, the company said it is supporting the needs for professionals of all levels in this “new age of virtual collaboration” with a product that provides optimal audio quality by prioritising the user’s voice and not the environment.

“With nearly everything now operating from home – TV productions, education, health and wellness, and our everyday work – we quickly realised the need for improved audio in these

settings,” said John Born, senior global product manager at Shure. “The MV5C provides drastically better sound from a brand that professionals have been trusting for decades to support their biggest moments on stage. In the simplest and most concise way, you can now have the confidence that your message, presentation, or story, is being heard loud and clear.”

The MV5C is a directional microphone that features Shure’s Speech Enhancement Mode to enhance the user’s voice on audio or video calls, and is compatible with Mac or Windows devices with USB-A and USB-C connectors.

ViewSonic TD1655 Full HD LED Display In recent weeks, Installation has been fortunate enough to get to road test the TD1655, which is marketed as a portable 16” full HD touch monitor “perfect for overcoming one-screen limitations outside the office”.

As you can see from the image, we currently have it set up as part of a three-monitor home working station using one of two USB-C ports to link the display directly to a MacBook Pro which in turn is connected to a Dell D600 Dock. (What you’ll also see from the image is that 'we' need a bigger desk!) It’s simple and easy to integrate, with power being routed through your primary device (although it does have its own power adapter), 56

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and is extremely useful for work on larger scale projects where additional screen real estate is required.

At 16”, the TD1655 is very portable (think massive iPad) and is ideal for both smaller home office set-ups and for taking with you when you’re on the road, once business travel is back up and running. You can extend screens from laptops, phones or tablets and the 10-point touch functionality gives you plenty of options for smaller scale presentation or huddle sessions. However, it’s important to note that the touch function only works when connected to one device.

The monitor comes with a mini HDMI input (and mini to HDMI cable) plus a touch pen, aluminium stand, and anti-slip cover.

Audio and video tools from Marshall Electronics October also saw Marshall Electronics introduce its CV503-U3 camera model designed around its CV503 camera, which it says is commonly used in professional broadcast production all over the world. The U3 is a USB3.0 HD PoV camera suitable for both home working set-ups and remote live streaming applications. It has simple plug-and-play connectivity using capture device drivers already built into Mac, PC, laptop and Linux systems, as well as a “software agnostic design to integrate into any USB capture soft codec”.

“Our CV500-series POV cameras have been widely used in professional broadcast applications for nearly a decade,” explained Tod Musgrave, director of cameras at Marshall Electronics. “Having just released our latest generation CV503 with improved video performance, it was a logical extension to release it on a USB format.”

Complementing the CV503 camera from Marshall is the company’s MXL AC-44 compact

USB microphone, which again Installation has been furiously putting through its paces during the lockdown period.

The mic uses MXL’s signature 3-capsule array but in a small enough unit to allow it to be integrated into smaller home working set-ups (as pictured). The pick-up arc is sufficient that it can be placed anywhere within touching distance on your desk or near your device while retaining audio quality. Do be sure to check the audio input levels on your device, however, as we found the first-time use to be on the quiet side for other meeting participants on video conferencing calls, but once addressed performance was notably brighter.

We’ve been using the AC-44 in a number of video conferencing scenarios including large-scale video conferences (20-plus participants) via Google Meet and Microsoft Teams, smaller scale team huddles (and family quizzes!) on Zoom, and one-toone meetings via Google Hangouts. In

all scenarios, the audio quality has been crisp and professional and a notable upgrade on built-in MacBook microphones and some of the other options in this portable USB/USB-C range.

While we’ve been road testing mainly from a one-to-many video conferencing perspective, those family quizzes we mentioned earlier have given us the chance to test the pick-up arc when there is more than one local user. We’ve found that the quality range has been maintained giving this product added suitability within huddle spaces and mobile and field work situations due to its portability.

It’s plug and play which means limited drama with regard to installation, and comes with a USB-C to USB cable; which means if you have a newer Mac you’ll need an adapter or a docking station with USB ports to get up and running.

All in all, this is a very handy and good quality remote working and huddle room microphone.

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Powering the winds of change Antoine Goodwin, head of IT operations at MHI Vestas Offshore Wind, provides Installation with a unique insight into the positive effect that video collaboration is having on the company's carbon footprint

M

HI Vestas, a global manufacturer of offshore wind turbines, has always been a business built on teamwork and collaboration, so it was crucial that when the lockdown hit we were able to carry on communicating as normal. Like many organisations, we had to get used to collaboration between dispersed teams, and we had to ensure that we could continue to operate smoothly and communicate effectively. Video conferencing systems in particular really came to the rescue, as they allowed us to keep in touch in a way which closely mirrors face-to-face communication, and stay productive through challenging circumstances.

Luckily for us, we had already seen the need to invest in collaboration technologies prior to the pandemic, which meant we were well prepared when the lockdown orders were put in place. The organisation is made up of 3,000 employees across Europe, the US and Asia Pacific region, meaning a lot of business travel was required for teams to communicate face to face, which was time-consuming and often inconvenient. Perhaps more importantly, as a global leader in the renewable energy sector, we’ve always been on the lookout for ways to reduce our carbon footprint, and video collaboration was an obvious way of cutting business miles. And once the pandemic forced mass work-from-home, there was also the safety and wellbeing of our employees to consider.

Investing in the right tools When investing in video conferencing tools, we knew that therewouldn’t be a ‘one size fits all’ solution. Every business has different requirements, depending on the number of employees, the type and size of meetings usually held, the number of

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employees working remotely, and even the budget. After considering a number of options, we opted for Logitech. We were drawn to Logitech as they were able to offer a solution for pretty much every room size and configuration, and, in partnership with reseller go2telecom, were on hand to help in the consultation process, advising on the best products for each situation. In various combinations, we decided to go for the Logitech Rally Plus and Logitech MeetUp conferencing cameras, along with a Logitech Tap controller and Logitech Sync, a remote device management system which helps us to keep track of the status of all of the equipment.

The importance of energy saving As a leading manufacturer of offshore wind turbines, sustainability is at the heart of our business. With this in mind, we’re always looking at ways of operating in an environmentallyfriendly way, and eliminating unnecessary business travel was an obvious area to address.

As well as providing energy savings, favouring video conferences over in-person meetings can help to reduce business costs. In fact, research from PGI found that through video meetings, businesses can reduce travel costs by an average of 30 per cent.

With so many benefits, taking advantage of video technology as an alternative method for global teams to collaborate, and for quality communication with customers, was a no-brainer.

Working safely and effectively through the pandemic While upgrading our video conferencing capabilities was already a priority before the pandemic hit, the impact of coronavirus

one platform to be used across all teams and business areas.

With people working away from the office, it was also important that the software could be set up by non-IT professionals, for example.

We also saw the benefit of investing in a system which had a device management capability, such as Logitech Sync. Sync means that our technical teams are able to monitor and maintain our video conferencing systems remotely – even if they are working from home. With Logitech Sync, our IT team can roll out large-scale video deployments and troubleshoot meeting room problems, while minimising the number of site visits needed. brought an even greater incentive to make use of the video collaboration tools we had put in place – with employees, customers and partners all largely moving to working from home in a very short space of time.

We initially rolled out our new video conferencing systems in January 2020, so employees were already familiar with using video calling, and we were seeing good engagement from employees embracing the system. This meant we were well prepared to make use of the technology more frequently while working remotely, and employees could remain safe and well, and had a stress-free way to stay connected to one another, in turn making sure productivity wasn’t impacted. With flexible working now set to be the norm, these video solutions will also be perfect for connecting employees spread between the office and working from home.

With 87 per cent of remote employees saying they feel more connected and involved with teams and projects when using video conferencing and seeing one another face-to-face, investing in quality audio and video is key, particularly to ensure that wellbeing and morale is maintained through such uncertain, and often isolating, times. We opted for Logitech Rally as it offers brilliantly sharp video and voice clarity, as well as the capability to balance light to show faces clearly and suppress background noise. It also has a function, RightSense, which perfectly autoframes meeting participants. Logitech MeetUp also makes use of RightSight, automatically adjusting the camera position to zoom and find people in the room.

Seamless, intuitive solutions Our other key consideration when upgrading our video conferencing system was ease of use. In order for employees from different functions across MHI Vestas to embrace video – from engineers discussing the latest turbine designs to executives presenting business updates internationally – it needed to be initiative and seamless to use.

For us, this meant having a system that worked out-of-thebox, and was compatible with Microsoft Teams, as we wanted

The result During the roll out, we equipped 16 meeting rooms with Logitech’s systems, and have since equipped 50 more rooms across the business, as well as migrating to using Microsoft Teams only.

The results so far have been impressive. By June, 32,000 meetings were scheduled by employees using Teams and the new solutions in the first three months alone, giving us confidence that Logitech’s products are as user-friendly and intuitive as we had hoped. Going forward, we are also planning to equip all of MHI Vestas’ global meeting rooms with Logitech systems by next year, reducing our carbon footprint and travel costs even further.

With so many benefits, taking advantage of video technology as an alternative method for global teams to collaborate, and for quality communication with customers, was a no-brainer www.Installation-International.com

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IN THE KNOW Inside Track

FIND OUT WHAT YOU MIGHT’VE MISSED FROM THE INSTALLATION WEBSITE THIS MONTH...

THE Installation website is home to an expanding canon of exclusive insights, interviews, and case studies that are designed to help the modern AV professional in their day to day world of work. As the volume and frequency of our unique online content continues to grow, we’ll round up some of the most popular stories from the website in every issue to keep you up to date with some of the

stories you might have missed. Our first story encapsulates the heartwarming stories that have been coming out of the AV market during the harsh period of lockdown, demonstrating just how AV solutions are having a positive impact on those that need it most. There have been plenty more, and you can find more examples of ‘AV in the community’ stories over at www.installation-international.com

Integrated Systems Events launches RISE Spotlight forums

How AV technology is tackling loneliness and social interaction at care home

Hill House in Sandbach is home to 24 residents with a range of disabilities and communication needs. The care home is currently the focus of an exciting assistive technology project.

The programme will see residents and staff engaging with new technologies to help increase independence and widen the range of opportunities for social interaction. Pure AV is working with Hill House on the development and implementation of solutions that use virtual reality, video conferencing and interactive technology to create new ways for residents to engage with staff, family, and each other. David Hursthouse of Leonard Cheshire explained, “For me, one of the most critical parts of this project is improving social interaction opportunities.” https://bit.ly/3nnBKXT

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Integrated Systems Events, organiser of ISE, has announced a monthly series of free-to-attend digital events and engaging content. Launching this month, RISE Spotlight is a forum for thought leadership and opinion, aiming to spark conversation in the industry, as well as drive engagement between ISE attendees, exhibitors and partners in advance of ISE 2021. The monthly two-hour RISE Spotlight events will be produced in partnership with The Next Web (TNW), a world-leading technology media brand with extensive reach among global and technology businesses.

TNW will support the digital events with unique content from global subject experts, technology entrepreneurs and start-ups. Content includes roundtable discussions, interviews and interactive virtual hangouts. https://bit.ly/3pkGb7q

Sharp and NEC form ‘joint venture’ following partial acquisition

Sharp has acquired 66 per cent of NEC Display Solutions (NDS), a subsidiary of NEC Corporation, with NDS becoming Sharp NEC Display Solutions Ltd (SNDS) and operating as a subsidiary of Sharp.

The newly formed ‘joint venture’ will continue to focus on the B2B display market, producing and developing a broad range of solutions for a variety of markets and applications.Fujikazu Nakayama, senior executive managing officer and business solutions BU president of Sharp, will serve as SNDS chairman, whilst Hisatsugu Nakatani, president of NEC Display Solutions, will serve as SNDS president.The official press announcement states: “Both Sharp and NDS display businesses are two market-leading brands and the SharpNEC joint venture will result in a wide range of synergies.” https://bit.ly/3kpy45G

Tabatha O’Connor to step down as CEDIA president and CEO

CEDIA has announced that Tabatha O’Connor (above), its global president and chief executive officer, will leave her role with the association at the end of January. O’Connor has spent 18 years with CEDIA through what the association said was a period of “profound transformation”.

“The CEDIA board is grateful for Tabatha’s leadership in executing a number of critical strategic initiatives over the last three years,” said Robert Sutherland, CEDIA board chair.

“She has helped CEDIA transition from a trade show organisation to an industry association focused squarely on meeting its members most critical needs. She leaves us well positioned to continue as the global leader in custom integration education, training, certification, and workforce development.”

CEDIA said that it will launch a global search for a new president and chief executive officer over the next several months, with O’Connor transitioning her duties to the CEDIA board of directors between now and the end of January. https://bit.ly/2K2tVbF

World’s first full-staged drive-in opera wows audiences at Ally Pally

The world’s first fully staged drive-in opera, ENO (English National Opera) Drive & Live, took place at Alexandra Palace September 19-27, with live event specialists ADI providing a complete event production solution incorporating staging, structures, LED screens, lighting, OB and cameras.

The ambitious outdoor project, with 16 live performances of Puccini’s La Bohème taking place in a car park outside the iconic Ally Pally, provided UK audiences with live opera for the first time since March. ENO would usually hold opera concerts in its natural home, The London Coliseum, so this was something of a challenge. https://bit.ly/35sQYVr

Dante enables Gold Medal performance for London Guildhall School of Music & Drama

There have been some inspiring stories to come out of the adversity of the last few months, where AV solutions have proved enabling forces for good in maintaining or in some cases reimagining operations for organisations across the professional spectrum.

One recent story that has come to light is how Dante audio networking helped London’s renowned Guildhall School of Music and Drama to reimagine its annual award for The Gold Medal, a performance competition that is a key part of the school’s curriculum, and has taken place every year since its inception in 1915.

Scheduled to take place in May, the 2020 iteration of the annual performance was postponed as all teaching moved online for the summer term. “Because of Covid we needed to be swift in our response to ensure things like The Gold Medal could occur and, very importantly, that in-person classes could still take place with full scale participation,” said Julian Hepple, head of recording and audio visual at Guildhall School. https://bit.ly/2Iz6LJi

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INSIDE TRACK This issue we sit down with Steve Warren, shareholder and founder director of Avolites, to discuss his industry journey and his proudest moments in his company’s 36 years of operation...

How did you get into the industry?

I had become bored with my government job at the time and a close friend told me that he had started a special effects company and was providing “Pyro Cannons” for the AC/DC Black in Black tour. “I would love to do something like that”, I said and he replied “It would be great to have you with us but I cannot afford to pay you, but I would be happy to feed you and you can come sleep on our couch…”. I must have really wanted a change as I immediately resigned my draftsman job and went to work for them at Cause & Effects Ltd. What was your first job?

My real first job was an ‘electrical design draftsman’ for the government’s Property Services Agency, designing electrical layouts for schools, hospitals, army and other publicly owned facilities. My first industry job at Cause & Effects was incredible, working on a Pan & Tilt automated PAR Can in 1983! This was at a time when Vari*lite was the only moving light in existence. We supplied an AutoScan system to the Gary Numan Tour in 1984 and shortly afterwards I joined the Avolites console production team.

What does a typical day at work look like for you?

‘Typical’ is difficult to define as days can be so different to each other.

I spend many weekends in the summer at shows and festivals where I can meet lighting and video designers while they are actually using our Avolites consoles and media servers. This not only keeps me in close connection with our users but also allows me to feed their requests and suggestions back into our development and design teams. Of course as director of Avolites, there are many meetings to refine and shape our future direction and product roadmap. I also must add that day to day, I feel very lucky to be able to spend so much of my time in contact with the Avolites users, telling them about our recent developments and inviting them in to see and learn in our London HQ. What has been your favourite/proudest project to date?

Proudest projects over the 36 years of Avolites… it’s so hard to pull out only one or two. Talking with the artist Prince at the console before the show, having Frank Zappa wait a few minutes for me to finish my tech job at the console? I was also so proud to have arranged passes for the whole Avolites team to see us controlling the Jackson and Stones shows at Wembley Stadium.

But the proudest moment ever must have been watching the world's largest screen, the stadium audience screen for the London Olympics 2012, controlled from the Avolites AiMedia controllers and Ai media servers, from within the stadium during the closing ceremonies.

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What is the most ambitious project you’ve worked on?

I would feel a charlatan to use the phrase “I have worked on…” as the complex, pre-production work is provided by our highly skilled coders and support teams, but we are all proud of being part of the delivery team for the ‘World’s largest Installed video system’ at the Museum of Qatar, delivered by RES. The project took five years to come to life, and the results include nine Avolites Ai Q3 servers with another 163 Ai Miami Software licenses running on custom RES designed 1U 8K media servers for the install. In total, it’s estimated that 21 billion pixels are processed every second. Other proud moments have come from witnessing live Avolites Synergy at the Temple Glastonbury for the first time and the recent Script Tour which made full use of Avolites Synergy, Ai integration of Notch VFX, Sapphire consoles running Titan and the brand new Ai Q-Gen media servers! Technology and creativity working in perfect harmony for this sensational Mirrad production by Jamie Thompson.

How do you balance life and work?

My life and work are totally integrated and interweaved, always. I cannot spend enough time, but try my very best to visit as many productions as I can. It lifts my heart to see the creative ways that our users make use of our products and features and I never get tired of that. However, my other passion outside of industry visuals is Bikram Hot Yoga. I started by accident 14 years ago when my Kung Fu studio closed down, and got totally hooked. I now practice it every day with my life partner who is also a yoga teacher. I cannot recommend yoga strongly enough for back issues, lifting energy and immunity levels and mental focus and wellbeing. These things are especially important in the current situation.

What are the biggest challenges you face in your job?

My greatest aim is to help everyone move forward with their careers in visual control. The greatest challenge is to convey to already knowledgeable and experienced programmers just how much Avolites and our training programmes can help them. The experienced ones feel that “we are too busy and have no time to learn new things” but I know that learning new technologies and skills are the greatest tools for career progression.

What do you like most about the industry?

I love the sense of community in our industry. Yes, we all compete but we are also all in this together, all the time. I also love looking out at audiences and installation visitors, enjoying the fruits of our work and feeling satisfied that we are playing an important part in society.

We are keeping people connected, entertained, uplifted and inspired so that they can go about all the important roles that they play within our society.

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