FIGURE 3: Cybersecurity cannot be understated. AV systems touch the network
(wired and wirelessly) and are susceptible to be breached for other purposes including
the retrieval of private company data.
October/November/December 2019 I 31
the ICT team is paramount to the
success of a project. While some
may say that the AV network is part
of the converged network, this may
not necessarily be true because the
network could be completely segmented
up to the core node. At some
point, regardless of how the network
is set up, AV equipment will need to
touch the outside world, and protocols
will need to be properly set up
to address potential cybersecurity
threats (Figure 3) that might take
loopholes within the equipment
to sabotage the network. Carefully
review the AV manufacturer’s network
requirements with the network
security team to get buy-in, and if
anything changes in the AV process,
notify the network security
team immediately.
Commissioning
As the implementation of AV typically
comes at the end of a construction
project, the heat is on to get
everything wrapped up in a timely
fashion, including the turnover of
systems to the end user. One process
that is often forgotten or skipped due
to this specific rush is commissioning.
Commissioning can come in a variety
of flavors. However, the most common
occur as part of an integrator’s
self-performed construction check
and functional testing. Third party
commissioning is very beneficial on
mid-to-large AV deployments. Having
a separate set of eyes on the tasks
that should be completed provide
an additional level of protection
to the end user and ensures that the
systems will perform as programmed
during the design phase of the proj-
ect. If budget is a concern, an ICT
professional may be able to work
with the end user to commission the
first instance of a project; then the
end user can repeat the functional
testing throughout all the typical
rooms. Losing capital on equipment
that does not work or will not be used
should not occur. Ultimately, the AV
integrator is responsible for the
systems functioning correctly.
AI IN AV—VERTICAL
OPPORTUNITIES
What opportunities are available
using AI in AV? Pretty much what
can be imagined and what would
most likely be used by end users.
Although the use of AI in AV is in
its infancy, tech companies are
already testing different technologies
with different groups of end users to
determine what sticks. Consider some
of the current opportunities across
some of the larger vertical industries
that need ICT professionals:
Private Commercial
Construction/Mixed Use
Retail companies are looking for
different ways to attract consumers
to brick and mortar stores and, if
possible, swing that into an online
relationship with consumers. Consumers
are constantly asked about
cookies on their applications and
whether they will allow them to be
used. Undoubtably, they are on
devices legally or illegally. Regardless,
companies are using this information
to track location and search requests.
By using this information, companies
can present just-in-time advertisements
to an individual on Facebook,
Instagram or even via a webpage
advertisement that pops up (funny
how that happens). Displays that are
installed along highways can be
turned into a marketing machine
depending on an event that might