The cloud tops the list of concerns, but pattern-seeking technology, sustainability and regulations must remain front of mind, writes Bob Snyder

In his recent update, Dr Randal A Lemke, executive director and CEO of InfoComm International, says: “At the end of the next decade, it is possible the industry might be called the Information Communications Technology Industry as it completes the business convergence that is following the ongoing technical convergence with the IT industry. The industry is rapidly becoming net-centric at the same time that it grows rapidly.”

That would make this column just about the most important regular business insight you can read as we open a window (no pun, you Microsofties) into the culture and direction of the IT industry.

Many of the first AV-over-IP applications were not integrated into the customer’s network: instead they ran parallel to it. Now more and more AV (and everything else) runs over the customer’s regular IP network, and the IT department supervises (OK, ‘controls’ is a better word) our AV services.

Lemke notes: “The end user, the facilities manager and the IT department now all have a say in how AV is done, with IT often being the gatekeeper. In the Net-Centric AV Era, the customer will reflect the role and influence of its IT department. IT will be the primary decision maker, just as it deploys and oversees VoIP and other communications services added to the traditional data network.”

That shift by our clients (passengers) leaves the AV integrator ship of state in a two-sided world. On one side of the boat, we have video distribution and control, which will be mainly digital and run on IP networks. On the other side, the physical endpoints (microphones, screens, etc) required for people to hear and see will still need to be designed and installed in corporate spaces where facilities managers and architects (and others) will have to work with IT and AV integrators to meet the needs of the corporate department (end user).

For the foreseeable future, you can assume that the AV integrator will be piloting a business ship where port and starboard are equally important but have different passengers with different needs. Ignore either one and you may find yourself on the shoals.