University Business - May 2007 - (Page 53)

Last year’s EduComm and InfoComm attendees saw demonstrations of turnkey video capture solutions from companies like Sonic Foundry (left), while Dell’s Intelligent Classroom displayed a variety of audiovisual technologies designed for more effective learning. Market Drivers The higher education construction boom is accompanied by strong A/V product and service buying. New construction and major renovations account for 75 percent of the education market, while upgrades account for the rest. The strong buying activity is reflected in the fact that, according to InfoComm’s 2005 market survey, more than 90 percent of respondents indicated they manage more than 15 A/V spaces. Who’s buying it all? The largest buyers of A/V products and services are four-year public institutions located in the North Central and South Atlantic regions, with 300 to 400 classrooms. Not surprisingly, that’s where much of the construction is healthy. “Four or five years ago, higher education was really buying A/V in a big way,” says Lemke. “We thought there would be a dramatic drop off of purchasing, but it didn’t come to that at all. If you talk to our members, higher education has continued on the same pace, if not a faster pace, as two years ago.” Lemke attributes that pace to the continual investment in A/V technology. Higher ed has long been a driving force in A/V development, he says. Indeed, at many institutions, A/V and IT installations have become a matter of pride, proudly pointed out to prospective students. Survey after survey of today’s tech-savvy generation shows that students firsthand as his daughter visited colleges. “People are really competing as they talk with prospective students about what they have for A/V and IT technology.” The Tipping Point The key to the continued purchasing and investment is that—as with computers— A/V technology has finally crested the learning curve that kept so many people from using it in the past. “I think there are more professors who embrace it in a big way. Not too long ago you had those early adopters—people who wanted to try new technology. They would try anything no matter how bad it was, and how good it could be, because they were into technology.” They were the beta testers, the ones who found the bugs and suggested design improvements to the manufacturers. “They were great to work with,” says Lemke. “That’s how we learned a lot of things about how to use technology in higher education.” As a result, the equipment has become more mainstream and easier to use, IT staffs are better able to support the technology, and educators are finding new ways to incorporate A/V into their teaching. ‘We thought there would be a dramatic drop off of purchasing, but it didn’t come to that at all.’ —Randy Lemke, InfoComm International taking place as well. That’s a lot of projectors, whiteboards, and accessories. Randy Lemke, executive director of InfoComm, says the A/V market is strong and, despite a decline in state funding, the higher ed buying market remains expect their schools to be on the leading edge in technology. “A/V and IT technology is no longer seen as ‘nice to have’; it’s no longer seen as just a cost. It has become competitive,” Lemke says, adding that he saw this universitybusiness.com May 2007 | 53 http://universitybusiness.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of University Business - May 2007

Contents
College Index
Advisory Board
Company Index
Editor's Note
Behind the News
Viewpoint
Money Matters
Marketing
Human Resources
Financial Aid
Community Colleges
The Innocents Abroad
The Big Business of Research
What’s New in A/V
The Kids Are All Right
Designing a Unified Campus
Business Technology
What's New
Calendar of Events
Direct Connect
End Note

University Business - May 2007