AV SuperFriends AV SuperFriends

Recorded January 7, 2022
With enrollment decreasing, some schools are looking to specialized learning spaces to match their specialized academic programs. Is this a harbinger of university learning spaces to come in the future? (Yes)
Then, we cover a topic that has been rattling around in all our heads in different ways: the gap between pedagogical development and physical operation of a hybrid learning spaces. Our schools put lots of effort into assisting faculty in developing their curriculum for teaching in hybrid spaces and as AV nerds, we work hard to make those hybrid spaces as capable as possible, but those two groups don’t often come together. It’s part of the qualitative conversation we’ve been having and one that is only evident after we’ve gotten past the “make everything hybrid” phase of the last two years.
Finally, we review the results of our first Technology on Trial on Extended Reality. It leads to some spirited discussion and not even the AV SuperFriends can agree on this one.
Article discussed: https://hechingerreport.org/facing-an-existential-crisis-some-colleges-do-something-rare-for-them-adapt/

Recorded December 10, 2021
It’s a prediction show! Educause suggests 10 IT-related trends we should all be aware of and we decide they’re not in order, so we’re starting with number 6. As with anything from Educause, it’s highly-researched and detailed, but often just a little too milquetoast for our tastes.
Then the SuperFriends each has a prediction for 2022. Some of us are suggesting general technologies (blockchain, AVoIP), others are focused more on the adoption of various technologies, and Larry is concerned that after almost two years of working, teaching, and learning from home, that “good enough” will be seen as good enough and cause all sorts of integration and quality issues. Have we really lowered the bar that much? (Yes).
Article: https://www.educause.edu/research-and-publications/research/top-10-it-issues-technologies-and-trends/2022

Recorded December 17, 2021
Have y’all heard of this Metaverse thingy? It’s exactly like Second Life from 2003, but… uh… new? And people want to live in it for some reason? I don’t get it. No one does, but we’re all playing along. So, we have a news story about a recent poll that says people want to work in the Metaverse because it’ll… uh… increase… productivity… somehow?
Then we introduce a new segment we call Technology on Trial where we select a new or emerging technology that is getting a lot of coverage and present arguments for and against. It’s like Law and Order, but the listeners are the jury. Look for an upcoming Twitter poll to determine the outcome!
Finally, we look back on our predictions for our fall semesters. Were we right in our prognostications about instructors and students having trouble adapting to hybrid learning environments? Hint: No… and yes!
Articles dicussed:
https://www.avinteractive.com/news/collaboration/nearly-half-employees-want-workplace-metaverse-08-12-2021/
https://er.educause.edu/articles/2021/12/educause-quickpoll-results-xr-technology

Recorded December 3, 2021
Are your AV devices secure? Probably not. Is your campus network secure? Fingers crossed!
We start with some recent non-AV news about campus network security and ransomware that forced two entire community colleges to simply close temporarily.
Then we discuss the current state of AV network security. How many devices do we all have out there on the network running firmware from years ago? Has that firmware been through a security audit recently? Or ever? Of course not! AV manufacturers have a bit of a cultural problem when it comes to security in that it often seems to be an afterthought-- even for native AVoIP devices or gear that requires a network connection to function.
Finally, we commiserate about campus clients who want to second-guess project estimates. Over the last two years, everyone has gotten used to "good enough AV” experiences while teaching, learning, and working from home, but is that really good enough for a university learning space? Also, we just bought this TV at Best Buy. Can you just install that for us real quick?
Article discussed:
https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2021/11/30/butler-county-lewis-and-clark-community-colleges-hacked

Recorded November 17, 2021
It’s the 2nd Annual AV SuperFriends Holiday Show! Yes, we’re recording this in November, even before Thanksgiving, which just feels weird, but such are the necessities of podcast publishing schedules. In return, we’ve added some additional production to the show in the form of not-at-all annoying sound effects and background music!
For our Holiday Show, we couldn’t decide between a standard gift exchange and a White Elephant gift exchange, so we’re doing both… virtually of course. We came up with rules: the gift must be AV-related, must exist in real life, but can cost any amount. It’s a podcast, so play along, folks!
This episode is really for us to have fun, but even so, there’s some good-natured discussion of our various podcast-from-home arrangements, challenges with supply chains, and campus network improvements.
So, a video wall for little Justin, a gold-plated microphone for little Rachel, a sound-proof booth for little Jamie, a set of packing crates for little Chris, network transceivers for little Marc, and new LED panels for little Larry.
Happy Holidays, everyone!

Recorded November 19, 2021
Have you ever wondered why you work in AV? Well, here’s the Top Ten reasons. It’s a listicle and we love that. Oddly, it says you don’t need an advanced degree but that AV is challenging. Weird.
Then to the larger topic at hand: Metric AV. Wait, no. The metrics of AV. That is, how do we measure success? Jamie kidnaps people. Larry spies on them from the bushes outside. Marc puts together focus groups. Justin tells them only what they can’t do. And Chris designs everything by powers of ten. But seriously, there are many quantitative ways to measure a functioning AV system, but what about the qualitative? Listen on!
Finally, Chris went digging under his couch cushions and found $100,000 and wants help spending it. Despite Marc’s best efforts, we’re going to focus on the stuff! But for good reasons. How would you spend an extra $100,000?
Article discussed: https://www.ravepubs.com/top-10-reasons-to-work-in-av/