Friday, August 27, 2010

AV System Includes the Kitchen Sink!

Grant's Perspective on ... New meaning to "everything but the kitchen sink".

I noticed the Inland AV Rental Technicians noisily working in the shop. When I asked if they were building a house they replied that they were not making a house, just a kitchen. I walked by a few hours later and was shocked to see they had in fact built a working portable kitchen!

All was clear when they explained that we were helping Zellers with a cooking exhibition at the Polo Park Centre Court. Roger Mooking, host of Everyday Exotic on Food Network Canada, worked his culinary  magic for the Saturday afternoon shopping crowd.




I've heard people comment about "they bring everything but the kitchen sink".  Now we have seen an audiovisual system that includes a kitchen sink with hot and cold running water!

Ken

Grant will be back from another week of vacation soon.

Thursday, August 19, 2010

Outdoor Rock Speakers

Grant's Perspective on ... landscaping speakers hide your outdoor audio.

Our OWI representative sent us some new literature last week and I noticed the professional landscaping speaker systems. These are great for the entrance to restaurants, lounges, hotels and other hospitality and retail venues. The 200 lb sub-woofer below is concrete reinforced with glass fiber that houses a 12" speaker capable of producing 250 watts of power.Now the audio system can be hidden from view but the audio can help set the ambiance for the venue.
 Now that is rock solid!

Feel free to contact your closest Inland AV location for more information on this and any other professional audio project you need help designing.

Grant

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Field Videoconference With Low Bandwidth

Grant's Perspective on ... LibreStream releases low bandwidth field videoconferencing.

Librestream develops portable hand held videoconference systems that stream live video, audio and data over a wireless network (see the photo at the end of the post). Due to the nature of a portable system, bandwidth availability can be a challenge.

When the pipe is wide open, you can share HD video, audio and telestration with remote experts without a worry. But if you are out in the field using a cellular network the amount of available bandwidth depends on the number of people that are drawing on the same cell tower. It is this unreliable bandwidth environment that can cause the call to drop.

Librestream’s Onsight collaboration system now provides an ultra low bandwidth video option and automatically adjusts the call to fit the available pipe. Your call stays connected and your remote expert continues to hear and see uninterrupted video coming from the field. You can also take hi-res pictures, share them with the remote experts and draw on the images to pinpoint problem areas visually.



If you are interested in more information or a demonstration of the Onsight field videoconference system, contact your local Inland AV representative.

Ken, filling in while Grant is on vacation.

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Telecommuting: A Part of Business Continuity Planning

Grant's Perspective on ... telecommuting as a part of a business continuity plan.

I have generally thought of telecommuting as a life/work balance tool. The recent article by Government Executive reminds me that telecommuting is a way to keep a business moving forward during unusual circumstances (floods and blizzards from a Manitoba perspective).

People who may telecommute for one or two days a week now have an alternative work plan in place if a major disruption occurs.

Grant