iPad Use in the AV World and How the AV Manufacturers are Adapting Around This Technology
Photo by http://www.flickr.com/photos/meedan/
While the iPad 2 may seem like a catchy gadget for surfing the web, checking email, social networking, watching movies, and reading books, its usefulness extends much further as it has become a complete solution for staying connected, conferencing, control and presentations.
Apple’s forward thinking and innovations including the iPad2 have positively impacted the AV world and also have led manufacturers to adapt their products around this technology. Intuitive control, simplicity of use and interoperability define, in part, the iPad2. With its two built-in cameras, touch control, Facetime, HD video, video mirroring and myriad of apps, the iPad2 has it all.
In a survey conducted by GIGAOM and posted at Bloomberg BusinessWeek, …”97 percent of survey respondents carry two or more mobile devices and 26.3 percent said they intend to purchase an iPad within six months. Signs are indicating that after the smartphone, the future enterprise device of choice for mobile workers will be an iPad.” This trending also shows up on social and business networks such as Twitter and LinkedIn and indicates that the iPad2 is helping people stay connected at work, at home and on the go.
In addition to the iPad being its own complete solution, businesses that have made substantial investments in telepresence and video conferencing equipment, smart classrooms and executive conference centers utilizing Crestron, AMX or other control system solutions can rest easy. These and many other manufacturers have been developing integrated tools for their enterprise and newer systems that take advantage of the powerful features in the iPad2.
For example, Crestron, a leading manufacturer of advanced control and automation systems was recently awarded “Best Mobile App to Manage AV Systems” by AV Technology Magazine as a part of its first annual AV Technology End-User Awards. TPControl is AMX’s official app for iPad and is completely customizable including two-way communication and display of song lists, album art, etc. from media servers and docked iPods. Extron is continuing to develop offerings such as “Touchlink” and “Medialink” that incorporate the iPad2.
Developments in the presentation area include Apple’s Video Mirroring. New for iPad2, video mirroring allows every app., web page, presentation, video, movie, or photo to be shared with a large audience. Just plug in the Apple Digital AV Adapter or Apple VGA Adapter and your HDTV or projector becomes a bigger version of your iPad. AirPlay (fall 2011) can stream all of your media wirelessly to an HDTV or Apple TV on a Wi-Fi network. All the great stuff on your iPad streamed wirelessly.
“Open source” will continue to drive audio visual technology decisions in all vertical markets. The iPad2 offers a fluid, multi-task, simple solution for staying connected, controlling audio visual systems, and as a presentation and entertainment system. The iPad2 is having a critical impact in the AV World and in the enhancements available for unified communication.
Next time I’ll be addressing how the tools of technology are enabling collaboration among integrators, clients and manufacturers.