AV: What’s New and What’s Next

The audio-visual is complex and changing fast, so Hunt Electric’s Audio-Visual Department, a specialized group in our Technology Division, strives to be ahead of the curve. The demand for immersive experiences, better collaboration, integration of artificial intelligence, and streamlined digital platforms all fall under the AV umbrella. Businesses are increasingly integrating AV scopes to increase productivity and foster better collaboration. Hunt Electric Technology Division’s focus on continuous improvement and education positions us as a leading expert in the field. Here’s what the Hunt AV team has been up to and what we’ve been keeping up with in the AV industry. 

Immersive Experiences
AV plays a significant role in transforming how businesses operate. Strides in AR (augmented reality) and VR (virtual reality) offer exciting new ways for businesses to interact with their employees and customers. At Hunt, we incorporate AR and VR into our process, using BIM (Building Information Modeling) to provide clients with a virtual preview of their space. Clients can also use an AR/VR setup for an immersive employee training approach.

AI (Artificial Intelligence)
When AI appears in every major industry, AV helps businesses seamlessly integrate this technology into their systems. Hunt’s Technology Division AV team can implement automated transcription during presentations and video calls, enhancing communication efficiency. With AI-assisted analytics, presenters can adjust their presentations in real time and create personalized content for their audiences. 

Environmental Sustainability
In the past, technological innovation meant increased power usage. If a system is used to running on one hard drive but then converts to a system that requires two, the system needs double the power to run effectively. Recent advancements in AV technology focus on energy efficiency, with devices designed to use less power. LED video walls, unlike traditional LCD technologies, use significantly less power. Hunt often employs ADAPT panels for added sustainability. Companies producing this cutting-edge technology are also finding ways to cut their product’s carbon footprint, striving to create more energy-efficient solutions. Hunt strives to be ahead of these trends, and we implement sustainability as part of our mission.

AI-Assisted Environmental Sustainability
AI helps by anticipating needs and automating tasks to support and enhance human productivity. By integrating AI into a building’s network, Hunt’s AV team helps improve the building's operational efficiency. AI can track air quality changes and turn on purifiers to keep the air within the building healthy. The AI also tracks the sun's path and can adjust shades and lighting to accommodate heat and light changes. With a proper setup, the AI can kick on the HVAC system without human interaction, managing the facility independently. When AI controls these systems, the system can manage the devices so they run optimally, extending the life of the devices and systems by managing their power usage and output. 

Communication and Collaboration
Unified communication and collaboration platforms are essential for helping businesses stay up-to-date and efficient. Emerging platforms that combine audio and visual elements into user-friendly interfaces are becoming increasingly popular. These technologies connect a business’s communications to a cloud-based server. This connection backs up any data lost in a hard drive failure so that business communication can stay online. Hunt’s AV team is experienced in implementing and enhancing these new technologies; our team recently upgraded the communication and collaboration systems in the Security National and Hexcel conference rooms, ensuring their communication remains modern and practical. 

Integration with Smart Devices
The IoT (Internet of Things) and smart devices are popping up in every sector of the economy, from home products to manufacturing equipment. Integrating these technologies allows AV systems to work seamlessly with other connected devices. Hunt’s AV team installs the “brain” to talk to all these connected devices. This “brain” streamlines connection into one central point of contact. When all these devices are connected to the same system, they can automate without human effort. Businesses can benefit from smart technologies by reducing work hours and utilizing automation to manage everyday to-dos.

The commercial audio-visual market is thriving, bringing benefits to businesses. Hunt Electric’s AV team is committed to staying informed about emerging technologies and providing our clients with the latest tools and solutions. With a savvy AV system, new technology can be incorporated into the existing framework and further automate business. The future of AV is rapidly changing. Advances in AI will soon find their way into every facet of business, and the sustainability of these technologies will only continue to improve. Hunt Electric’s AV team will remain at the forefront of industry developments, ensuring we consistently offer our customers the latest and most advanced technology solutions.