Pro AV Powered by Internet of Things (IoT)

The Internet of Things (IoT) can be described as a network of physical devices, buildings, vehicles, and other items that are embedded with electronics, sensors, actuators, software, and network connectivity that empower objects to collect and exchange data and thereby create interactivity.

Internet of Things and Professional AV have had close relationship for roughly two decades now. The coming together and integration of these two aspects of technology was inevitable. The miniaturization of sensors and processed has propelled growth in the number and type of device that being IoT-enabled. Self guided machine-to-machine communication is quite rampant and it has reduced human involvement in routine activities. Let’s have a high-level look at the prerequisites, concern and possibilities of this.

IoT Requirements for AV Professionals

To harness IoT’s true potential, AV integrators need to have good understanding of numerous foundational elements. Some of these requirement are listed below.

– AV professionals should possess basic knowledge of essential networking and data concepts.

– IoT deployment requires many IP address to be used and managed. AV professionals needs to have working knowledge of IPv4 and IPv4 standards. For security reason, government and strategic institutions mandate IPv6-enabled AV implementation.

– AV professional need to be proficient with wireless networking as there is rising demand for clutter free meeting environments and wireless presentation solutions.

– Power over Ethernet (PoE) has the ability to provide IoT and AV devices with power, reducing additional wiring requirements. Having working knowledge of PoE can help AV professionals immensely.

– Understanding data compression, video transport, and connectivity can help AV professionals understand flow of information thereby enable IoT effectively.

– Understanding data analytics will allow AV pros to harness IoT’s machine-to-machine communications and deliver real value to clients.

Security with IoT is Paramount
A rising number of networked devices increases susceptibility to potential security threats. Enabling IoT on AV equipment exposes them to threats AV pros may not have experienced before. Needless to say, every new product added to the matrix could create a loophole for malicious activities.

Historically, AV professionals have focused more on implementation and optimization and lesser on the security of connected devices. With hackers and cyber-threats becoming common occurrences, security with IoT is paramount. AV professionals should ensure that networks are made impenetrable by opting for VPN’s and other advanced security measures. Needless to say, a network is only as good as its weakest link. It is important to ensure that the connected AV equipment does not become the weakest link in this chain. Some easy steps to ensure for both IoT and AV network encryption, access to authenticated and authorized users only and secure password sharing protocols. It is worthwhile having a network security expert run penetration testing procedures for added security.

IoT when deployed meticulously, can provide immense value to professional audio and video installations. Industry experts say IoT will transform into a significant aspect of the AV marketplace in the near future. Doesn’t it make sense to take a head start now? Here’s to IoT powered professional AV.

For more information on getting more out of your AV installation, contact Actis at 022-30808080 or at contact@actis.co.in.

(Content and image courtesy: www.infocomm.org and www.pixabay.com)