Once again we find ourselves at the start of a new year. With a new year come new AV technology trends. Hereโ€™s what we expect out of 2019:

1) Meeting Rooms and Spaces are Changing

Take a good hard look at your meeting room. How much has it changed? If you answered โ€œnot muchโ€ you will want to read onโ€ฆ

The workplace has changed over the last few years, and thatโ€™s especially true for meeting rooms. New technology means more and more employees have the ability to work from home or outside the office. Now, more than ever, there is a greater need for better video conferencing and AV technology solutions.

According to Commercial Integrator, a leading trade magazine for commercial technology professionals, that AV trend will accelerate in 2019 because companies are at different stages of adapting. Commercial Integrator says many companies are still realizing the value of opening up their recruiting strategies by including qualified professionals that donโ€™t live close enough to come into the office. Some are just realizing that meetings have transitioned from the tired old, rectangular and sometimes intimidating executive boardrooms to the more common smaller group, often-impromptu meetings in smaller huddle spaces.

The time may be now to totally rethink the way you meet and work, and AV has a role in every single aspect.

2) Increased Importance of Quality Audio

Can you hear me now? Video and collaboration products may be more appealing, but how far can your meeting go without a quality meeting room audio system? You might just need a little education on budgeting for better audio, and Fearingโ€™s can help. Too often, customers forget that meeting wonโ€™t take place at all without quality audio.

2.5) On the Live Event Side of Audio

As technology evolves, so does the music industry. Think about how you used to listen to music 20, 10 and even 5 years ago. Consumers have shifted from physical media and downloaded content to streaming. Due to that, big musical acts depend on live shows to make money. ย Large concert tours and local music venues, more than ever are in need of sound reinforcement systems that can reliably support and convey these acts as they hit the road to make money. Contact Fearingโ€™s to learn more about how you can outfit your venue or touring rig to meet these growing needs.

3) More Hiring of Young People

AVIXA has long been the leader when it comes to finding new and creative ways to incorporate young people into AV integration firms across the country and around the world. Commercial Integrator says itโ€™s all thanks to a grant program that splits a $4,000 cost between the association and the member company where the young person takes his or her talents for a few months.

Recently, though, NSCA has officially launched its Ignite program to add even more youth to a forever-graying tech space. EnventU in Washington, DC, has become a welcome addition to the annual InfoComm show and New Hampshireโ€™s Maverick Technical Institute has become a new player on the scene.

Itโ€™s been great to see so many new avenues to help young people become aware of AV integration as a career and then be able to try it out for themselves.

Equally exciting and in need of monitoring was the 2018 launch of the AVIXA Diversity Council, an effort that aims to help people of all backgrounds understand the opportunity a career in AV integration could afford them. If you are interested in a career in the AV and or security fields, or want to learn more, contact Fearingโ€™s.

Fearingโ€™s Audio Video Security has been designing and installing audio, video and security systems throughout the Midwest since 1997. To talk to Fearingโ€™s about your upcoming project, please call us today at 1-800-252-2253.