May 2009 - Sound & Communications

A sliding whiteboard disappears into apocket in the wall, exposing the projectionscreen during video presentations.Future ProofIn addition to a consistent user interface,the client wanted assurancethat the systems in the HHSB wouldbe future proof. Corraine cited severalinstances where his company specifiedsystems that would grow with the user.For example, all the videoconferencingcodecs, cameras and projectors arehigh definition.The Crestron matrices are largeenough to accommodate interconnectivityacross the campus, with plentyof room to grow. Finally, the Crestronsystem connects all the rooms to acentral control room location, makingit easier for the university’s technicalstaff to provide support to instructors.“You’re able to support all the classroomsfrom a single point in the building,”Corraine explained.“Help-desk staff can help facultytroubleshoot. The instructor pushesThe presenter’s lectern is the same from room to room.a button and the person at the helpdesk can take control of the systemin real time, route feeds or help theinstructor get back online.”Although the design of the systempresented many challenges, primarilybased on the size and scope of theproject, Corraine prefers to view suchan undertaking as an opportunity ratherthan a challenge. He said, “Wheresomeone has a unique need—and a lotof times lately that involves the convergenceof different technologies, includingIT and AV—it gives us a unique opportunityto showcase what technologycan do.”nMay 2009 61