Sound & Communications

December 18, 2006
Large Commercial Buildings and Offices

• MasterCard International, the well-known global payment card provider, has revamped and streamlined its boardroom AV system at its Purchase NY corporate headquarters. An article by Jim Stokes.
• First Community Credit Union's new Chesterfield MO headquarters, which consolidates its corporate and back-office operations, bringing 175 employees under one roof, banks on technology. An article by Shonan Noronha.
• The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) recently renovated a major portion of its relatively new four-story, 1.5-million-square-foot headquarters building in Indianapolis IN. An article by R. David Read.
• Gary Kayye, CTS, presents his eighth annual Krystal Ball feature, offering predictions for the upcoming year for commercial AV, and even some home AV technology.
• Many words might be used to describe ACE Communications, but stagnant emphatically is not one of them. Dan Ferrisi profiles the successful systems integrator.
• David Lee Jr., PhD, presents the conclusion of his multi-part series about Communicating with Church Leaders, in which he offered his advice about how best to reach worship leaders.

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November 20, 2006
Stadiums and Arenas

• The Louisiana Superdome, which suffered the disastrous effects of Hurricane Katrina, has risen again. The newly restored, technologically advanced facility has brought the Saints marching back. An article by R. David Read.
• Stanford University's new football stadium in Palo Alto CA is more intimate than previously. The physical improvements were greatly augmented by a newly designed and installed AV system. An article by Jim Stokes.
• Since its introduction in the 1980s, the digital signal processor has evolved from a simple digital version of various analog processors into the powerful system management tool we enjoy today. An article by Jerrold Stevens, CTS.
• R. David Read presents a thorough discussion of new challenges in the wireless age, paying particular attention to radio frequency interference issues.
• In the Integrator's POV section, Jim Colquhoun, VP Technical Services for Audio Visual Innovations, discusses National Wild Turkey Federation's retired Bell B3 helicopter getting an AV makeover.
• TechSpa is this month's subject for In Focus. A software-programming consultancy serving the systems integration industry, it's a small company with big ideas. An article by Dan Ferrisi.
• In his AV Café column, Joseph Bocchiaro III, PhD, CTS-D, CTS-I, argues that AV pros must walk the line between the technical and the artistic.

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October 23, 2006
Hotels and Restaurants
LDI issue, ISC East issue

• The new Conrad Indianapolis Hotel in Indianapolis IN extends the five-star facility's amenities to its meeting spaces with extensive AV capabilities. An article by Jim Stokes.
• The Tom Sawyer Diner Entertainment Complex, which revisits the diner as a classic slice of Americana, is a throwback featuring modern AV flavor. An article by Dawn Allcot.
• Anthony Fonzo, the product marketing manager for Philips Business Display Solutions, discusses video evolution, arguing that the hospitality market is brimming with opportunities.
• David Haycock, director of product development for RGB Spectrum, discusses graphics image distribution, making the point that LANs and MPEG2 codecs make this possible.
• R. David Read continues his series about Industry Pioneers, this time covering Sidney N. Shure. This is the 15th installment in the series.
• Wes Alderson and Karen Alderson present the case that fresh ideas and new methods drive industry innovation, summed up as follows: "If it ain't broke, break it!"
• Neal Weinstock, of Sound & Communications' IT/AV Report and president of Weinstock Media Analysis, discusses video cards.
• Mad Systems does basic, bread-and-butter AV installs…but that's just the tip of the iceberg for a company that advertises its ability to do "crazy stuff." An article by Dan Ferrisi.

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September 18, 2006
Entertainment Venues
AES issue

• The audiovisual gear employed in Louisville KY's Muhammad Ali Center, an $80 million project housed in a 93,000-square-foot, six-level facility, scores a technical knockout. An article by Jim Stokes.
• The Waterside Theatre on Roanoke Island needed a technical upgrade in order to achieve audio excellence, but also required that historic ambience be retained. An article by Shonan Noronha.
• Neal Weinstock attempts to decipher display trends. Industry consolidation, LCDs, 3D, OLEDs, LED backlights, new manufacturing techniques and pricing are top news.
• "Environmentally friendly" is a phrase that sounds simple, but in reality includes a multi-layer process. Gepco's Scott Fehl tackles the issue of RoHS compliance.
• David Lee Jr., PhD, presents part four of his series about communicating with church leaders. In this part, he further explicates the innovation-decision process.
• In his "Architectural Perspectives" column, Tony Warner, CTS-D, talks about finding convergence in infrastructure. He argues that the AV industry struggles to figure out its place in the mix.

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August 21, 2006
Corporate Facilities
CEDIA issue

• Southwest Airlines expands its corporate headquarters' AV capabilities, getting first-class technology at a business-class price. An article by Shonan Noronha.
• The National Association of Realtors' new "green" building in the heart of the nation's capital provides a wide range of AV presentation and conferencing technologies in a corporate showcase setting. An article by Jim Stokes.
• Jerrold Stevens, CTS, a senior consultant and project manager for PMK Consultants, LLC, analyzes digital dominance in consoles, discussing advantages and more solutions.

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July 17, 2006
Retail Environments
21st Annual Commercial Systems Integration Survey Report

• Nintendo World, located in Rockefeller Plaza in New York City, features pervasive video   content, including an innovative Video Tower and Video Globe. An article by Dan Ferrisi and
  David A. Silverman.
• Abercrombie & Fitch's New York City flagship store "sells the lifestyle" that A&F represents.   The environment is enhanced with an extensive audio system. An article by Dawn Allcot.
• Douglas Bruey, a design engineer with Rane Corp., offers a technical overview of SNMPv1.
• Todd Shearer, the former vice president of sales services for Wheelock, Inc., discusses
   narrow band signaling, arguing that it is a clearer option for emergency notification.
• David Schwartz, president/founder of Essential Communications, argues that size doesn't
  always matter in business, drawing from personal experiences in the field.

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June 19, 2006
Theaters and Auditoriums

• The Sunset Theater accommodates a wide, sophisticated range of performances and music
   types, and presented interesting sonic challenges. An article by Dan Daley.
• June Swaner Gates Concert Hall’s new sound system is “permanently portable,” and enables
eclectic audio, ranging from opera to jazz. An article by Dawn Allcot.
• Massive digital-signage project sets off Walker Art Center, Minneapolis MN. It recently   completed a huge expansion that literally doubled its size and spread its influence. An article
by Wendy Meincke.
• The Globe-News Performing Arts Center in Amarillo TX is home to the Carol Bush Emeny
Performance Hall, which features one of the most unusual acoustical designs in the world
today. An article by Russ Cooper.
• Doug Wilkens attempts to “unravel the mystery,” arguing that creating a credible pro power
amp output ratings standard is crucial.
• In the conclusion of a three-part series, entitled “Disney’s Imagination: A History,” Chuck P.
Davis covers projection, video and show control for entertainment.

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May 22, 2006
Schools and Colleges
InfoComm issue

• The Medical University of South Carolina’s College of Health Professions complex underwent
a $2.1 million AV install that complements instruction. An article by Jim Stokes.
• Distance learning brings the world to Central Arizona College students, who enjoy AV
excellence on par with an Ivy League facility. An article by Dawn Allcot.
• In his Architectural Perspectives column, Tony Warner, CTS-D, discusses understanding the
architectural design process, arguing that being on the same page helps expedite projects,
and relationships.
• Randy Lemke discusses InfoComm’s recent experience testifying against legislation that
would establish a state-regulated EST certification program in New Hampshire.
• David Lee, PhD, continues his series about communicating with church leaders, presenting
part three. This time, he discusses trialability – setting up a test drive.
• In his AV Café column, Joseph Bocchiaro III, PhD, CTS-D, analyzes the value of “conventional
wisdom,” wondering, “Is everything I know wrong?”
• Possessing a hopeful spirit, Technical Services Group, Inc., perseveres in the aftermath of
Hurricane Katrina. An article by Dan Ferrisi.

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April 17, 2006
Worship Centers
NAB issue

• Boca Raton Community Church augments worship with technology, all in service of
“Creating a Lovely Moment.” An article by Jim Stokes.
• Crossroads Church of Corona CA invested $14 million in building a facility designed to attract   major national touring bands, yet retained an appropriate atmosphere for worship services. An   article by Shonan Noronha.
• An $80,000 installation of sound and projection systems at Grace Church in Longwood FL   involved an office building’s transformation into an AV-equipped sanctuary. An article by
Dawn Allcot.
• Bob Pelepako and Steve Minozzi, of Monte Bros. Sound Systems, Inc., present a discussion
of digital signal processing (DSP), which crosses disparate venues.
• In the second part of a three-part series covering Disney’s Imagination, KC Wilkerson
presents a discussion of how lighting has changed during Disneyland’s 50-year history.
• David G. Myers, PhD, and Norman Lederman, MS, address hearing aid compatibility and   wireless assistive devices, extolling the benefits of induction loop assistive-listening systems.
• Lancelot Braithwaite and Stalin Calvache, both of Samsung Electronics America, analyze
the state of small storage devices, wondering how big they will get and what integrators
can do with them.
• David Lee, PhD, CEO of Lee Communication Inc., presents Part 2 of his five-part series
about communicating with church leaders, describing exactly what is necessary in order to
  win the contract.
• In his AV Café column, Joseph Bocchiaro III, PhD, CTS-D, discusses the dangers inherent to “Cranking it to eleven.”
• Clark ProMedia is adept at balancing the medium and the message in the current age of MTV   Generation worship. An article by Dan Ferrisi.

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March 20, 2006
Theme Parks and Attractions
Ninth Annual Worship Survey report, NSCA issue, ISC West issue

• Park Sports Club’s more than 15,000-square-foot stadium setting offers such complementary   AV amenities as gigantic video screens, video monitors, 20,000 watts of music power and
AV-equipped skyboxes. An article by Jim Stokes.
• Special effects technology captures a slice of history at the Spoorwegmuseum (The Dutch   National Railway Museum), a new venue in Utrecht, The Netherlands. An article by
R. David Read.
• The first article in a series of three about Disney’s Imagination, David Hatmaker, technical   director, Disneyland Resort Entertainment Productions, covers the history of audio in relation
  to the Disney brand.
• R. David Read presents a report on this year’s Integrated Systems Europe (ISE), coming to
  the conclusion that the show was a success.
• In the debut of a new column, “Architectural Perspectives,” Tony Warner, CTS-D, director
of the Audio-Visual Design group for RTKL, discusses the changing face of the audiovisual   design industry.
• In his AV Café column, Joseph Bocchiaro III, PhD, CTS-D, takes a look inside an AV
  pro’s tool bag.

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February 20, 2006
Government Facilities & Public Works

• Technology soars at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport’s new two-million-square-foot   Terminal D. An article by Jim Stokes.
• NASA recently converted a basic and somewhat out-of-date conference room in Johnson   Space Center in Houston TX into a multi-use facility capable of large-scale presentations,   teleconferencing, etc. An article by Dawn Allcot.
• Increasingly, new advanced Traffic Management Centers (TMCs) serve a critical role in the   running of a city’s streets. An article by John Stark, director of marketing, Jupiter Systems, Inc.
• Neal Weinstock, editor of IT/AV Report, the founder and president of Weinstock Media   Analysis, presents a discussion of MPEG encoders.
• Joseph Bocchiaro III, PhD, CTS-D, asks where our symbology and terminology come from,
and discovers that much of our vernacular is Greek.

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January 23, 2006
Multi-System Integration

• Hurricanes Charley, Francis and Jeanne prompted a thorough Emergency Operations
Center update in Altamonte Springs FL. An article by Jim Stokes.
• At the new $150 million University of Hawaii’s John A. Burns School of Medicine, students   enjoy AV-enhanced education. An article by Jared Rego, CTS.
• Joseph Bocchiaro III, PhD, CTS-D, discusses audiovisual companies coming together to help   the hearing- and sight-impaired with a project at the Helen Keller National Center.
• Contributing Editor R. David Read checks in with his report from IAAPA 2005, which Read   argues presents new opportunities in the evolving world of entertainment.
• Doug Fearing, of Fearing’s Electronic Systems, discusses the benefits of television
  advertising, particularly as a method by which to build name recognition.
• Taly Walsh and Cheryl Regan, of InfoComm International, explain InfoComm’s recent name   change, as well as discuss branding and raising awareness for the AV industry.
• In his AV Café, Joseph Bocchiaro III, PhD, CTS-D, argues that audiovisual systems are   universal, bridging countries, continents and cultures.
• A profile of Audio Visual Innovations, in a new department entitled “In Focus,” reveals that its   history is a classic “rags to riches” story. An article by Dan Ferrisi.

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