We get it! Audiovisual deployments, by nature, can be flashy. And, because of the potential outcomes associated with a successful AV deployment, it’s easy to let excitement get in the way of ultimately making the best choices. The type of choices that lay the foundation for a long-term return on your investment.
Before selecting any equipment, it is crucial to first fully understand the application, as well as the many of the factors that could potentially impact the application. We recently had the opportunity to speak with Christie Digital Product Manager Ted Romanowitz, who outlines five key considerations that can play a pivotal role in realizing a successful deployment.
1. Your environment sets the stage.
Where your AV deployment resides can play a key role in guiding the entire process. Achieving the best results starts with gaining an understanding of room itself and how it will ultimately impact the experience. For instance, knowing the viewing distance from the closest viewer to the display can immediately eliminate certain technologies.
Likewise, the room’s lighting whether natural or added can significantly impact the viewing experience. Noise is also a consideration. If you are in a smaller conference room environment, selecting a product with active cooling could prove disruptive. Also, make note of any physical barriers that could create issues placing the install in danger of noncompliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
2. Understand your content and interactivity needs.
Take the time to document how you will actually use the AV deployment. Is this in a control room environment where you will have multiple feeds? If so, what kinds of content will you stream? For instance, viewing spread sheets can be quite difficult on a tiled LCD.
Additionally, if you are using protected content like HDCP, you need to know that you are using a compliant product. When sensitive materials are involved, security integration is crucial. This is when it is important to ensure that content remains security when traveling between the source and display.
3. Image quality matters.
This is often where the lowest-priced equipment falls short of expectations. The best way to address this issue is always to use your actual content when comparing multiple options. Being able to view the same content side-by-side clarifies the differences. Also, pay close attention to final quotes, and ensure that what appears lines up with what was demonstrated.
4. Consider potential project execution issues.
When making an investment in any sized AV deployment, you need to think about what the installation entails. This is especially for direct view products, which may require you to enhance existing structures to handle the added weight. You also need to plan for the power and cooling requirements for any AV deployment. Lastly, when equipment has system level certifications, it can make a difference, often eliminating the need for site surveys. Unfortunately, non-compliant equipment can create FCC disruptions that ultimately derail deployment utilization.
5. Never overlook reliability or serviceability.
Remember an AV deployment is an investment. The key component here is gain an understanding of how often the equipment will actually run. For instance, is this a 24/7 deployment or something that you will utilize 12 hours a day? The long-term reliability and serviceability of any piece of AV equipment can significantly impact the ROI. This is often where you will see the biggest difference between consumer and commercial grade products. If you really want 24/7 use, built in redundancy is crucial.
Paying attention to each of these considerations, arms you and your design partner with the knowledge needed to make educated decisions about the technology utilized.
Editor’s Note: This is the first post in a series focused on delivering a winning deployment. The next post will discuss how to effectively leverage this information to select the best-fit technology for your individual application.
