Misconceptions of using AV-Over-IP in UCC spaces
Although AV-over-IP solutions are not often considered for UCC spaces, in our last two blogs we’ve discussed and introduced how they could be extremely beneficial in conference rooms, provided that an ultimate solution solved some common pain points.. If you have not yet read our previous posts, please check them out as it provides a great deal of context (https://www.mimomonitors.com/blogs/mimo-news/evaluating-needs-for-the-ultimate-av-over-ip-solution-in-ucc-spaces and https://www.mimomonitors.com/blogs/mimo-news/imagining-av-over-ip-in-ucc-spaces). In this post, we are going to share some common misconceptions are implementing the ultimate AV-over-IP solution in traditional UCC spaces.
Misconception: AV-over-IP displays do not make sense in the conference room space due to missing features.
Truth: While it is true that some important features that are traditionally needed are not supported today, it is not hard to imagine integrating these needed features into a solution because they already exist in dedicated conferencing solutions, albeit connected ‘traditionally’. Features such as HDMI capture, human detection, and interactive touch can certainly be implemented into a dedicated AV-over-IP solution. The ‘only’ thing that needs to happen is to figure out the engineering of how to integrate these requirements into a new product.
Misconception: AV-over-IP in the conference room space would be cost prohibitive.
Truth: There is no reason why a <$1,000 AV-over-IP product could not be developed, should someone dedicate the engineering to do it. As stated in our last post, utilizing enterprise-class equipment from traditional AV-over-IP in UCC would result in a 10.1” IP-based touch panel costing over $2,000, and it would still be missing critical features. While this cost may be justifiable in a board room, it is not at a price point where it can be deployed everywhere. However, because of some of the simplifying assumptions that can be made, as discussed in our previous blog post, many expensive features can be safely removed. Also, because huddle rooms are deployed by the thousands and are mostly identical, cost can be reduced by scale, and by eliminating the need for custom installation and programming work. While a UCC specific AV-over-IP display would cost more than a traditional touch panel, the overall installed cost will be lower. An AV-over-IP solution will not require expensive extenders, cables, and installation. It will also save cost through reduced maintenance, and it will not require the cost of an electrician to install an outlet at the table.
Misconception: AV-over-IP requires an entirely new system architecture and a complete change in the way the conference room is configured.
Truth: We do not need to completely restructure the conference room just because of implementing an AV-over-IP solution. While the misconception implies that there would need to be a huge shift in the way the conference room is designed and set up (including new learning on architecting the room, the hardware used, and changes in video systems from Google Meet, Zoom, and/or others to support it), we imagine that an AV-over-IP display in the conference room would not require anything that the PC does not already do. We imagine the PC recognizes this new architecture as a regular display, and in fact, the PC doesn’t ‘know’ that anything is different. If this could be done then there is nothing in the conference room that must be reconfigured or changed, other than to make installation cheaper and easier.
Misconception: New technology can be unreliable, rendering it risky to use in a conference room space that depends on reliability.
Truth: While it is true that AV-over-IP in UCC would integrate new technologies, it could be built on well understood networking components that have been around literally decades. Plus, there is nothing more UNRELIABLE than cables, especially cables and extenders for PC interfaces that were never designed to support long distances. Networking cables solidly lock in their connector. HDMI and USB connections do not. Networks were designed for power and data across a building. HDMI and USB connections were not. For these reasons, we believe that a properly designed AV-over-IP display should be more reliable than current technology saving cost over time because of the reduced support needs.
After reading this, I hope you can see how extending AV-over-IP into UCC spaces would make a lot of sense and that common misconceptions are either wrong, or can be solved through a properly designed and implemented solution. A properly designed AV-over-IP display could overall reduce cost, increase flexibility, and ease installation.
Continue to keep an eye out for our thoughts on AV-over-IP in UCC spaces at the Mimo Monitors blog.