ClearOne CEO and Chairman, Zee Hakimoglu was recently discussing the direction of the AV industry with some colleagues and was asked an intriguing question that we felt should be shared with the AV community. Hopefully this sparks some positive dialogue between your own colleagues and is a catalyst for new ideas and innovative thinking that will lead to new opportunities.

What do you see as the biggest trends or challenges in the coming years for AV infrastructure?

“I think the greatest challenge is not the technology itself but the psychology of overcoming that AV and IT are really, Really, REALLY converging and going to continue to converge.  The AV practitioner may no longer find himself or herself in a safe zone of pure AV without IT.  Nor will the IT practitioner find himself or herself in a safe zone of pure IT without AV.  The trend for even islands (rooms) of Audio or just Video are disappearing.  Audio and Video systems are in themselves converging even tighter than ever thru cloud and other macro IT related systems.”
Zee Hakimoglu, President & CEO, ClearOne

The AV/IT practitioner now has more and more to choose from but most of it will be strung through standard Ethernet networks.  Lots of fun and business growth ahead for those who are willing to learn and have the courage to take the leap!