Neil Silver, Author at LCD

Staying Green in AV Software Development

Neil Silver on April 21, 2023

In the past as a programmer in the Audio Visual industry when I thought about the environmental impact of my activities on the earth I would think about my Travel and immediately think of physical hardware like servers and devices.

Post covid the team at LCD rarely travel to sites to deploy code and that part of our impact has largely gone away although we still do travel and are always mindful of minimising the impact.

However, the software we use regularly also has a footprint on the environment. As we usher in the era of AI and our lives move futher online, it’s worth asking: how green is your audio-visual (AV) software development?

As AV software developers, we have earned a seat at the table in efforts to reduce carbon emissions to make the earth a better place to live in.

AV Software Development as an Energy Hog

The bulk of AV software developers rely on data centres to process and store user data. These data centres require copious amounts of energy to run and cool. They are energy guzzlers!

So, how can software development be made greener?

The typical approach is to shift to renewable resources. Ask anyone about what they think a company going green is all about, and they’ll mention solar panels and wind turbines.

Some companies are jumping on the bandwagon by investing in renewable energy projects like solar farms. While this may be a step in the right direction, becoming carbon neutral is more than solar and wind energy.

Perhaps the first step towards greener AV software development is awareness. Code writers play an essential role in determining the energy cost of the software. So, it’s vital to ask, how do coders fit in the grand scheme concerning carbon emissions?

How do you pick the most energy-efficient APIs without affecting performance? For example, choosing the correct API for a file reading with a focus on efficient use of buffer sizes can save as much as 76% compared to a less efficient solution. It all boils down to how much we know about green coding.

There are helpful resources such as Green Coding Berlin and Green Software Foundation developers can use as a starting point to better awareness.

Rooting for green AV software

Possibly the most practical way to make AV software development more environmentally friendly is to design it with sustainability in mind from the outset.

Consider the environmental impact of every functionality and feature during software development. LCD are towards greener software.

Google is leading the way by optimising its cloud infrastructure and data centres to be greener. Google’s goal is to reduce energy usage and carbon emissions.

With AV software development, it should initiate with articulating strategy. Establish targets and boundaries in the AV software development cycle.

Of course, there are obviously some trade-offs to consider between business and environmental objectives. Therefore, establish the limit beyond which the development process cannot cross. For example, does increasing product quality warrant the extra energy demand? This is a higher-level management decision.

How you measure the success of the green AV software development process is part of the strategy. Determine the metrics such as energy savings through dynamic code analysis, Scaphandre, and Kepler. Next, establish a threshold and leave room for flexibility. Green software is a largely unchartered territory and some flexibility comes in handy.

You can then keep reviewing and refining. There’s always room for improvement.

But apart from the software architecture and development, delivery must also be carbon neutral. The intermediary services you use to deliver the complete AV software to the client can support your green software efforts, as well.

We at LCD use Github for DevOps and delivery. Github has achieved net-zero carbon emissions and is working towards 100% carbon-negative operations.

Choosing green cloud and hosting

Of course, not every AV software firm has the resources or expertise to design software with sustainability in mind. But steps can still be taken to reduce the carbon footprint in software development.

For instance, companies can prioritise optimisation, energy-efficient hardware, and cloud services. Keep your development environment clean by deleting any “zombie VMs” and clusters you no longer need. Efficiency begets less energy use.

Indeed, cloud services are vital for developing and deploying modern applications. But these services use data centres that require large amounts of energy.

Some web hosting firms, such as GreenWeb, have gone carbon neutral, and others, such as Flywheel Hosting (who LCD partner with ), are working towards a net-zero goal . While most of the effort by the data centres is in optimising hardware and reducing energy consumption, most of the meat in the bone is in sustainable interventions.

For example, virtual servers can conserve energy while supporting rapid scaling for data centres. AV software development firms can adopt serverless computing to go green. So far, providers such as Microsoft Functions use a pay-as-you-use cost model, which can motivate coders to focus on efficiency.

At LCD we leverage Azure Cloud for some of our SaaS. This allows us to use serverless computing to support our carbon reduction efforts.

Admittedly, staying green in AV software development is not easy. It requires inter-organisational collaboration between developers and their service providers. However, AV software developers must have a strong will to go green and stay green.

Neil Silver

Lead Developer LCD – Crestron Programmer, CSP

Managing the Development and Custom Programming Teams on a day-to-day basis and responsible for Product Design and Project Oversight.

5 things you can do to weather the supply chain Crisis

Neil Silver on January 25, 2023

Supply Chain: What Does 2023 Hold?

Even as the world starts to recover from the disruptions caused by the pandemic, the supply chain still faces hurdles affecting enterprises of all sizes.

The Economist reported on January 9th that the cost of container shipment from China to America’s West Coast had dropped 93% down from the peak in 2021.

While this drop sounds like good news, it does not mean that the supply chain will be smooth sailing in 2023. Shipping accounts for only a small portion of supply chain issues. Therefore, businesses must make adjustments to keep their projects on track.

Source: economist.com
https://www.freightos.com/

Let’s take a look at a few things you can do to mitigate the supply chain issues for your business:

Virtualise:

One way to mitigate supply chain issues is to virtualise your Audio Visual (AV) systems. With the increasing integration of AV and IT, virtualising some of your AV onto standard non-proprietary hardware can make sense.

Control processors are only one part of a solution, but virtualisation allows for a more consistent control experience that is easily deployable across enterprises or university settings. Crestron’s VC-4 expands the range of choices enterprise IT managers have for their in-room control

platform, providing a scalable software control platform while maintaining support for

existing hardware-based solutions. Capable of supporting up to 500 spaces on a single

server, VC-4 enables mass deployment of customised or standardised configurations with

the press of a button, delivering significant savings of time and labour costs while

dramatically increasing the overall control platform lifecycle.

Phone a Friend!

Reaching out to a Crestron Services Provider (CSP) can be a great way to find solutions for your audio-visual problems. LCD is a multiple CSP business and boasts industry experience that spans many years in the AV problem-solving world, including Crestron-specific knowledge that can help you find an available and deliverable solution. In the last couple of years, we have had to come up with some novel solutions to workaround the supply chain challenges and often the result is a positive innovation that stands the test of time.

Software Provides Alternatives

While the virtualisation of control processors can be a great solution, not all IO hardware in AV systems can be virtualised. In this case, integration modules can provide platforms with a broader range of manufacturers’ options for peripherals in your project. This also includes main backbone items such as audio and video transport and music streaming.

Communicate

Communicating with other AV professionals about your stock holding and shortages can help you find mitigations that stock transfers businesses can make.

Inter-business communication keeps you in the loop about stock holding and shortages elsewhere and helps identify potential opportunities for stock transfers. This can help you secure the necessary components for your projects, even in times of scarcity.

Sharing information can also help identify partners for joint procurement or bulk buying. By pooling resources and buying in bulk, businesses can reduce costs and secure the necessary components at a lower price.

Plan Ahead

Planning ahead is the bee’s knees in ensuring that your projects are not affected by supply chain issues. It entails forecasting demand, identifying potential risks, and implementing contingency plans. A proactive approach prepares your AV businesses and projects to handle any possible supply chain disruptions better. Involve CSPs in the planning stage to improve your success.

We understand that your audio-visual projects are at the heart of your business. Therefore, avoid supply chain issues by contacting LCD today. You can take advantage of Crestron-specific knowledge and vast industry experience through our CSPs. We provide available and deliverable solutions for any AV problems and go the extra mile to assist with technical issues related to the challenges of the global supply chain climate.

Neil Silver

Lead Developer LCD – Crestron Programmer, CSP

Managing the Development and Custom Programming Teams on a day-to-day basis and responsible for Product Design and Project Oversight.

Happy Hogmany Half Hour

Neil Silver on November 5, 2022

Pro Packs for Crestron Home

Neil Silver on November 4, 2022

Lots of clients have asked us about a price for all of our drivers in our catalogue, its something we have given a lot of thought. We also continue to bring new additions to our catalogue every week and we believe that our drivers add real value to your solution.

We do want to provide you with a mechanism to include our drivers into a system in the design phase.

We come from working on projects and love speaking with you about your projects and working with you to ensure that we keep providing the tools you need.

So we are introducing to our curated pro packages for crestron Home which will allow you to design in the costs of our solutions into the design phase of your projects.

Key to this is a pre-project call with one of our Crestron Home team with no commitment.

This pre-sales call allows us discuss what suite of drivers you might sensibly want to use in a project. We will guide you and give you an idea of what is good to use in what application. Our team has huge experience of working with many Crestron home dealers and many years of working on custom Crestron residential.

This budget lets you slot into one of our Packs and setup the budget for your estimates.

With LCD drivers in the budget you can confidently promise the features you need to get your name on the project with the options your client needs and a predefined way to deliver.

Choose the package that fits your project

Pre Project Call and Design

Next in the process is a pre-project call with one of our Crestron Home team.

This pre-project call allows us discuss what suite of drivers you might sensibly want to use in a project. We will guide you and give you an idea of what is good to use in what application. Our team has huge experience of working with many Crestron home dealers and many years of working on custom Crestron residential.

It might be that you need design work to be carried out to ensure that your vision is achivable and the larger project packs include an allocation of design services from our team.

A Logic Diagram for a BMS Monitor in Crestron Home.

Discount on addition add-ons

Each package included the benifit of a fixed percentage discount on LCD Products not included in the package. If required these are available at a discount for the Project. *

Terms and Conditions

*A project pack remains active for changes up to 6 months following the order.

Within the active period additional drivers and products can be purchaed for the project at a discounted rate.

The MAC Address of the project processor and the site project address must be submitted at the time of order.

Project packs are not transferrable to other properties / processors.

All licences in a project pack must be used on the same processor.

Password Management in AV Projects

Neil Silver on February 26, 2022

Password management is a challenge within an audio-visual (AV) project, just as it is for individual households and businesses. AV integrators use default admin passwords to simplify the hardware installation and credential management. But new infrastructure security laws are on the horizon, requiring AV integrators and installers to be more careful with privileged passwords.

On January 1, 2020, California implemented legislation through Senate Bill 327 that requires a unique preprogrammed password for each device. The UK is working on similar legislation called The Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure (PSTI) Bill that will take effect in 2022. Breaking these laws has significant penalties. So, AV integrators should pay attention.

Unique Password Challenges for AV Integrators

The new regulations mean that AV Integrators need to make password change management an integral part of the project planning. Integrators and installers have to set up unique passwords and have a reliable way to manage the individual passwords for subsequent administration of the controller boxes and connected AV devices.

Generally, an installer is the first person to touch an AV controller. But after the setup, the installer should not have visibility of the newly set password. So, AV integrators need a method to set passwords securely for multiple devices.

But multiple unique passwords create a scalability problem. When AV integrators connect to the hardware remotely for maintenance, they have to factory reset the units and start with default passwords. It can complicate hardware maintenance and become a bottleneck.

Our approach for More Efficient Password Management

At Lighting Control, we set up a complex common password for all devices during the commissioning phase of an AV project. We can work faster without dealing with unique passwords at this stage. Then, at the end of the commissioning process, we use scripting tools to improve the security of the systems and add multiple user accounts.

But if the scripting tools use plain text configuration files, the control passwords and IP configurations are easily accessible. It can become a potential security risk. So, we found that the best solution is to use PowerShell scripts with Active Directory (AD) accounts. As a result, the passwords are encrypted. It ensures that installers and users can run the scripts without accessing the credentials directly.

We hope our password management best practices help you with your AV projects. If you are interested in our AV products and AV consultancy services, please feel free to contact us today.

Neil Silver

Lead Developer LCD – Crestron Programmer , CSP

Managing the Development and Custom Programming Teams on a day to day basis and responsible for Product Design and Project Oversight.

Interfacing with Technology Trends in Touching Less

Neil Silver on January 29, 2022

Seven years on from the launch of the Amazon Alexa, we are still finding our way into touchless control of hardware and software. Voice technology has matured, and so has our understanding of when and how to use it. Other touchless solutions are now emerging and provide options in many situations. Implementing these new solutions and seeking acceptance and adoption from users is key to the evolution of touchless interfaces.

The Changing Landscape of Touchless Technology

Touchless technology allows users to control systems and devices without physical contact. In a post-pandemic world, audio-visual (AV) manufacturers are using existing and new technologies to create solutions that can help people return safely to public facilities like offices, hospitals, schools, hotels, and restaurants. The 2020 estimate for the gesture recognition and touchless sensing market was around 23.6 billion US dollars.

Like AV manufacturers, AV system integrators are also thinking creatively. Integrators are combining multiple technologies to create more holistic solutions for their clients. They are designing touchless systems to automate door access, control meeting room equipment, and manage lighting, video, and digital signage.

Here are a few noticeable trends in touchless experiences:

QR Code and BYOD Control Apps

Shared screens, buttons, and remote controls are popular control mechanisms for building management systems. But shared devices spread germs, and they are vulnerable to vandalism, theft, and displacement. So, AV manufacturers and system integrators are harnessing the power of QR codes, custom apps, and bring-your-own-device (BYOD) philosophy to build touchless AV systems. These systems require minimal infrastructure investment.

Mobile apps, phone cameras, and wearable devices are replacing shared control devices. For example, A QR code can be placed in the room in printed form and displayed on one of the screens. Users can download an app on their devices and scan the QR code to gain control of the meeting room equipment. It eliminates the need for touching the equipment controls to activate the screens, microphones, and cameras. Crestron One and Atlona Velocity are examples of QR-based BYOD control.

Touchless Access Control

Public facilities require access control for physical and digital security. But keycard-based access control adds a lot of bureaucracy. Issuing keycards to employees and visitors takes up time and resources.

Mobile app-based access control systems are faster and more efficient. Multifamily, commercial, and office spaces can use the apps to issue visitor permits, log visitation information, and track arrivals and departures. The systems can be enhanced using face recognition technology. A robust software-based access control solution automates the processes and decreases security errors. No more dangling keycards that someone forgot to deactivate.

Voice-Controlled Scheduling Systems

Digital assistants like Amazon Alexa and Google Home are crossing over to commercial applications. Businesses are using these voice technologies to install AV systems that respond to scheduling requests. Whether users want to book a conference room or connect to a remote location during a meeting, voice assistants are becoming part of modern enterprise infrastructure. AV Integrators are installing voice controllers in conference rooms and shared public spaces. The no-touch automation of scheduling tasks is providing a better user experience for AV customers.

AirPlay for Touchless Content Sharing

Apple AirPlay has made video streaming, screen mirroring, and file sharing easier over wireless connections. Meeting attendants can share content without using a dongle or a wired device. Also, users are already acquainted with the AirPlay user interface. So, familiarity has led to more customers using touchless content sharing.

For AV integrators, wireless and touchless content sharing has simplified equipment installation and maintenance. Integrators have fewer wired connections and proprietary software to consider. It has decreased their workloads and freed up resources.

Evolution of Audio Control with Alexa and Other Voice Assistants

Voice assistants like Amazon Alexa and Google Home are becoming central control systems for enterprises and small businesses. Voice assistants started as simple audio search engines, and they were initially useful only for digital information queries. But, they have entered the realm of the physical world with the help of the Internet of Things (IoT).

Today voice assistants have become a crucial part of controlling smart homes and offices. With voice assistants, users can control lighting, elevators, conferencing systems, digital displays, security cameras, door locks, and more. Voice technology providers let organizations integrate custom AV control systems through application programming interfaces (APIs) and software development kits (SDKs).

The Impact of Voice Assistants In the Professional AV Environment

For AV integrators, voice technology has changed the design, installation, and implementation of AV systems. Initially, AV integrators assumed voice assistant integration would require more proprietary hardware and software installations. However, as the technology matures and more wireless and IoT-based solutions come into the market, voice assistant technology makes AV integration easier.

AV manufacturers are using Amazon Alexa, Google Home, and Google Nest as an integral part of their design. It is leading to more standardized solutions and opening new opportunities. AV integrators can use the standard APIs and SDKs to design customized solutions compatible with multiple AV vendors.

Touchless Solutions for Assistive Technology

A side benefit of touchless user interfaces is that the solutions provide more accessibility. Disabled people can use voice-activated controls to open doors, turn on lights, or activate and control AV equipment.

The Future of Touchless Solutions

Touchless technology has come a long way. But it is still an evolving field. New and exciting developments are already on the horizon. Here are a few things that might be interesting:

Motion Capture and Gesture Recognition: Advanced motion sensors will make it easier to control AV environments without any additional control devices. It might remove the necessity for BYOD devices. Combining voice recognition, face recognition, and gesture control will make the new systems true touchless experiences.
Mind-Controlled Interface: Scientists are developing brain-computer interfaces. These interfaces will allow users to issue commands without using voice technology. It will open new avenues for no-touch applications.

Haptic Interface: A challenge of using touchless technology is the absence of touch. Our brains have a difficult time understanding objects without tactile sensations. Haptic interface generates the feeling of touch, allowing users to manipulate objects more accurately. Imagine drawing on-screen using your fingers and having more tactile feedback during the process.

Touchless technology has already transformed the AV industry, and we can expect more innovations to bring better solutions in the future. If you want to learn more about implementing touchless technology and our consultancy services, please feel free to contact us today.

Software Developers might not know what a DSP is!!!

Neil Silver on November 4, 2021

How to integrate software developers into your AV team

The AV industry is going through a paradigm shift. New technology, APIs, drivers, and control modules have decreased the need for custom AV control programming. So, the industry is moving towards more holistic solutions.

Software developers are coming into the AV industry to help develop comprehensive AV applications. However, the software developers do not have the same depth of knowledge about AV control systems. They might not even know what Digital Signal Processing (DSP) is or how to optimize AV installations!

In this new hybrid environment, where control programmers and software developers have to work side-by-side, AV integrators must understand the differences between the two disciplines.

Traditional AV programmers vs. software developers

Traditional AV programmers are domain experts in the AV control space. They have deep knowledge about proprietary AV languages. An AV programmer might know the ins and outs of a language like Crestron SIMPL or AMX NetLinx as proprietary languages are not well-known outside of the industry, AV programmers learn through years of hands-on training, experimentation, and experience.

Software developers have more knowledge about developing larger applications to meet user specifications. Developers program in languages like C#, C++, JAVA, PHP, HTML5, CSS, etc. They might not understand the inner workings of AV hardware, but they have more experience interfacing various components (hardware and software) to develop for more complex user experiences.

Defining scope of work for software developers in an AV project

As AV integrators start working with more software developers, it is crucial to understand integrators might not find the same AV industry-specific expertise in software developers.

Software developers work in various industries to develop applications. For example, a software developer might develop a stock application for a stock brokerage firm without having financial training. The brokerage firm has to clearly define the scope of the application to get the best outcome.

Similarly, in the AV industry, integrators need to define the objectives of the AV application clearly. Due to the advances in modern AV products, system-level knowledge like DSP programming might not be necessary to develop applications that serve the customers.

The future of AV control development

Even though the AV industry is trending towards software development, control programmers will still have a part to play. Manufacturer’s APIs, drivers, and control modules might ship with bugs. Control programmers can deal with these hardware-level issues more efficiently.

Software developers and control programmers could share knowledge to increase their expertise. Developers can learn from control programmers about custom control management, while control programmers can learn from software developers about full-stack application development.

Ideally, a development team with control programming and software development expertise can provide the most elegant solutions.

If you want to learn more about our AV consulting services, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We have cultivated a culture of developing custom solutions with the best software life-cycle practices.

TECCO MDU

Neil Silver on September 27, 2021

Client: TECCO, an Australia-based Smart Building and Home System Integrator

Controls Manufacturer: Crestron Home MDU integrators

We recently helped TECCO, an Australia-based Smart Building and Home System Integrator, with a large 130-unit MDU system implementation.

We provided software solutions and consultancy services
Our extension drivers made new functionalities possible without costly additional wiring
We adapted our solutions to make the deployment simple and effective for the MDU

How Scalable Software for Multi-Dwelling Units Can Add Value to Your Crestron Home Integration

Neil Silver on September 22, 2021

As the demand for smart home automation grows, AV system designs for multi-dwelling units (MDUs) become more complex. AV system integrators need simple, repeatable, and configurable solutions to provide more functionalities faster.

Custom software and extension drivers can help. Software solutions are more scalable and easier to maintain. So, a system designed with software components can help you serve your Crestron Home MDU customers better.

Below are some reasons to use extension drivers:

Simplify Your Commercial and Residential MDU Integration

Deployment-ready Crestron Home extension drivers can improve the development, implementation, and support of your MDU systems. You don’t have to start from scratch every time you add a device or functionality.

After installing the base infrastructure, you can leverage the power of available software packages to extend system features. You will be able to provide more value than your competitors without complicating your Crestron Home MDU installation process.

Create Unique Smart Home Experiences

The plug-and-play nature of extension drivers gives you the option to develop new experiences for your customers quickly. You can combine software packages to tailor solutions that feel custom-made.

New Crestron Home extension drivers for lighting, heating, shading, audio, and video can open up new possibilities. Your Crestron Home MDU system will be more adaptable to the changing needs of your customers. When a new device is available, you can integrate it into the system without costly rewiring.

Easier Path to New Revenue Streams

You can use software-based solutions to create multi-tiered upgrade options for your customers. Homeowners in the same MDU might have different preferences.

One homeowner might want a fully automated shading and lighting system to control ambiance, while another owner might want to stick to basic on/off features. With software-based controls, you have more leeway to craft various solutions for your customers and open new revenue streams by upselling solutions.

Our Experience with Crestron Home MDU

We recently helped TECCO, an Australia-based Smart Building and Home System Integrator, with a large 130-unit MDU system implementation.

We provided software solutions and consultancy services
Our extension drivers made new functionalities possible without costly additional wiring
We adapted our solutions to make the deployment simple and effective for the MDU

We have also worked on a 15-unit MDU to implement a similar solution.

Our experience with extension drivers makes us one of the premium development consultants for Crestron Home MDU integrators. We can help you develop unique and value-added solutions for your customers.

If you want to learn more about our Crestron Home extension drivers and our consultancy services, please feel free to contact us today.

Please feel free to subscribe to our newsletter to learn about our Crestron drivers and other products.

AV Control Integration Modules: Why Developing Drivers For Your AV Hardware Makes Sense

Neil Silver on September 14, 2021

A high-quality audio-visual (AV) system is an essential feature of today’s luxury home or office. The AV industry is benefitting. Even with the COVID-19 slowdown, the global pro AV market is expected to grow from $159 billion in 2020 to $304 billion by 2027.

When purchasing AV equipment, homeowners look for solutions that are easy to install, maintain and upgrade. Better control integration modules improve AV hardware usability. So, AV manufacturers and integrators who provide a better user experience gain more market share.

Benefits of Developing AV Control Integration Modules/Drivers

Customized drivers make life easier for everyone. Here are some potential upsides:

Faster Installation and Integration

With ready-made drivers, AV system integrators can quickly put the hardware together. So, system integrators like working with manufacturers who provide high-quality control drivers.

In case there are no drivers, integration companies can work with third-party developers to build a custom suite of drivers. Then, integrators can reuse these modules for new projects. It speeds up the integration process.

More Market Share and Lower Cost

Hardware manufacturers provide drivers to entice system integrators and consumers. So, a user-friendly integration module is a competitive advantage.

AV system integrators like to create their custom drivers because it saves money for future projects. System integrators can pass the cost savings to the home and office space owners.

Ease of Use for Customers

A professional driver developer can write integration modules for your hardware that meet the needs of the end-users. Users do not have to deal with out-of-date or complicated interfaces. Developers can help create modern interfaces that users can easily configure and control.

Crestron Drivers to Meet Homeowner Needs

We specialize in developing Crestron drivers. From our personal experience, we have seen homeowners appreciate our control modules.

Homeowners can easily set up and control their Crestron-supported home devices from the Crestron Home app. They are in control of the AV system. When system integrators help homeowners install a new system, integrators can pick and choose the drivers. So, it is easier to set up a new customer.

Our Crestron drivers help create a scalable and sustainable AV ecosystem. We work with manufacturers, system integrators, and homeowners to develop adaptable integration modules.

Please feel free to subscribe to our newsletter to learn about our Crestron drivers and other products.