Sound & Communications

InfoComm 100
A step in the right direction.
I have often grumbled over the sources from which our industry receives direction. Some believe that this direction trickles up from the consumer industry. The consumer segment decides on VHS versus BetaMax, and we eventually get professional VHS decks with rack rails. Flat-screen LCDs saturate computer and home markets, and we finally get 60-inch diagonals.
Published in May 2009
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How To Make Money
The new administration’s proposed budget offers lots of opportunities.
Have you given up? Not me! The spending here in North Carolina on education and the government has already started (thank you, EPA—explained later!).
Published in April 2009
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Thoughtful Metamorphosis
The good side of bad news.
As you know, few believe that we will come out of this economic slide this year. In fact, many of the anticipated cutbacks in corporate spending that were hinted at last Fall are just now being felt in our industry because of lag effects in execution.
Published in April 2009
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The Stimulus Package Revisited
Following the money isn’t always that easy.
The economy is taking hits that it has never had to take before. The unprecedented amount of job loss has unraveled every demand model constructed. The fall in demand has severely affected spending in every economic sector.
Published in March 2009
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Opportunities In Challenging Times
InfoComm delivers actionable insights.
Are you ready to get off this economic rollercoaster? It seems that every day brings troubling news from Wall Street to Main Street. It’s enough to have even the most seasoned business professional searching for solid ground. With fluctuating moods, what is the best way to handle the pending economic uncertainty?
Published in March 2009
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Back To The ‘Drawing’ Board
Are shop drawings a necessary evil…or profit saver?
So, you got that job and it’s time to install the system. If it was a consultant-designed project, the specs probably call for submittals, including shop drawings, to be submitted for approval before you order the equipment. You might be thinking to yourself, “Why on Earth does a consultant ask for this stuff? This is going to cost me a lot of money in engineering time and I just don’t have room in the project budget for this!”
Published in January 2009
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How To Be Optimistic In 2009
In spite of challenges, the House of Worship segment should do well.
I expect 2009 to be an exceptional year for House of Worship business. There certainly are challenges facing our world and our industry. Every day, the news agencies bombard us with financial struggles on Wall Street and Main Street. We also see corporate and personal greed showing its ugly head.
Published in January 2009
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Kayye's Krystal Ball, V.09
The author reviews how he did last itme, and makes projections for the future.
Welcome to my tenth annual Krystal Ball feature, predicting the upcoming year for commercial AV (and even some home AV) technology, trends and products.
Published in December 2008
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2008: A Challenging Year
Key concepts to generate income during tough times.
2008 was a challenging year for most of us who work in the audiovisual industry. The economic downturn, along with the high cost of just about everything, has led to a challenging outlook for every industry...
Published in December 2008
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Rough Ride Out
A perfect storm outlook for 2009.
We are the world. Our economy affects every other, and every other economy affects ours. We are interconnected: a global network of finance, markets and investments. Our economies borrow from each other, sell to each other and invest in each other.
Published in November 2008
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Surveying The Digital Signage Landscape
NSCA’s Q3 MIB captures industry direction.
Within the electronics systems industry, digital signage has become something of a buzzword…and with good reason. A recent report by the National Systems Contractors Association (NSCA) showed that a majority of industry members use the technology.
Published in October 2008
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Demystifying Sustainability And LEED
How important is LEED to AV?
Perhaps more than any other topic, green issues surround us today, both at work and at home. It seems that virtually all manufacturers are now weaving green text into their marketing campaigns in some form or another
Published in October 2008
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Flight Of Imagination
Analyzing AV market trends in themed entertainment.
Where can you take a ride with the Simpsons, play virtual carnival games, escape a dragon’s lair, explore the inside of a dinosaur or rock out with Led Zeppelin? At the country’s assortment of theme parks, waterparks and museums, of course.
Published in September 2008
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AV Superheroes
Thank You, Iron Man!
When students in the AV Café recall their childhood aspirations, the usual laundry list comes up: firefighter, nurse, truck driver, animal doctor and, of course, football, baseball, basketball and hockey player.
Published in August 2008
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Striking a Balance
Design, integration and technology management must work together in today's churches.
The new contemporary church model characterized by the heavy use of technology and multimedia has provoked profound changes to such things as facility design, multimedia systems design and staffing requirements, to name just a few.
Published in April 2008
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Communicating With Decision-Makers (Part 2)
Breaking down titles, roles and responsibilities in Catholicism and Juadaism.
In Part 1 of this series last month, we glanced at Protestant/Christian churches. This time around, we’ll take a peek at Catholicism and Judaism.
Published in March 2008
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Communinicating with Decision-Makers (Part 1)
Breaking down titles,roles, and responsibilities.
In Part 1 of this series, we will focus, in general terms, on the Protestant Christian faith. We will point out some of the new decision-makers, their titles, their roles and how they impact church business.
Published in February 2008
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In the AV World, Educating Architects Benefits Everyone
Even when we do our best, the results could be even better.
Telaid is committed to following Audio Visual Best Practices. One of the frustrations in striving for the best is realizing that, even when we do our best, the results could be even better.
Published in February 2008
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NSCA: Numbers Paint A Picture of Industry Health
Breaking down the latest stats.
Each year, the National Systems Contractors Association (NSCA) takes the financial pulse of the commercial electronic systems industry. Our recent Cost of Doing Business Survey was the eighth such report in a series.
Published in January 2008
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Should 'Spec' Be A Four Letter Word?
The good, the bad and the ugly aspects of them.
In the AV industry, the term “spec” is one of those loosely used terms that frequently is misunderstood. Spec is the common short name for “specifications.” For anyone involved in the formal construction industry, having an accurate understanding and appreciation for...
Published in January 2008
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Environmental Directives
What they mean to the US construction market.
The booming construction market in the United States has spawned an increased awareness of the built environment’s ecological impact. With an estimated 118 billion buildings in the States by 2010, there has been widespread adoption by the architectural community...
Published in November 2007
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»Viewpoints from TEA - We’re living in a new time. We’ve now passed what was ubiquitously known as the “Experience Economy” and we’ve entered into what I like to call the “Content Economy.” (Sept '07)

»A lighter look at business and the economy - let’s drop the “global” identifier and try to think outside the box.. (June '07)

» When a Warranty Isn't Really a Warranty - The commercial anomaly. (May'07)

» Understanding What Architects Want - Marketing is one thing, but the design is crucial. (Mar'07)

» AV: The Next Generation, Part 2 - Spotlighting more young industry pros. (Feb'07)

» AV: The Next Generation - Spotlighting young industry pros. (Jan'07)

» The House of Worship Market - The Big Picture, as I see it. (Jan'07)

» Communicating With Church Leaders Conclusion - Promoting your organization. (Dec'06)

» Communicating With Church Leaders Part 4 - The Innovation-Decision Process. (Sep'06)

» RoHS Compliance - Environmentally friendly—and EU directive. (Sep'06)

» Understanding the Architectural Design Process - Being on the same ‘page’ helps expedite projects—and relationships. (May'06)

» Communicating With Church Leaders Part 3 - Trialability: Setting up a test drive. (May'06)