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--cont'd---
Custom programming is what will make any system unique. Any vendor can
sell the hardware and
hook
it up in an equipment rack (and they do), but it is the programming will
customize the system to meet
your
customer’s specific needs and requirements.
A
control system can be compared to building a house. How much does a
house cost? Think about all the
possibilities
involved with building a house. As you can see, it is not the simple
question that it appears to
be.
Industrial
Video Corporation, as a full-service systems integrator, has the
resources to accurately design,
install,
program, and support remote control systems manufactured by AMX
Corporation and Crestron.
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IVC Cleveland Office:
phone: 440-891-9440
fax: 440-891-9450
toll free: 800-352-6150
web editor: Nellie
K. Blair
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by Tracy Brletich, ACE
Design & Control Services, Manager
Question:
How much is a control system?
This
is a question that I get frequently from many people including
customers, co-workers, and vendors.
The
only way to accurately answer this question is to return a series of
questions to them:
What
do you want to control?
What
type of interface do you want to control it with?
What
method of control is necessary?
Who
is going to use the system?
Where
is the equipment located?
Where
is the user located?
Everyone
always responds with the same comment; “don’t you just have a cost
for a standard system”?
That’s
where the problem lies. In the world of control systems, there is no
such thing as a “standard” system.
In
today’s marketplace, there are dozens of user interfaces, control
processors, and methods of remote
controlling
multimedia equipment. The merging worlds of A/V and IT don’t make the
process any easier.
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--cont'd---
Years
ago, people only wanted to control a VCR in their conference room.
Today, they want to control
a
device located at the other end of the country.
The
process of accurately designing the average size remote control system
takes more time that most
would
admit. Vendors would like you to believe that it is simple enough
for any salesman or representative
to do, but the reality is that these systems require much more attention
to precise detail than
your
average A/V system.
Today, there are many more factors to consider when designing a control
system. The most critical
factors
to consider are cable distances, protocols, networks, power factors,
connectivity, and the user
interface.
Paying
detailed attention to all of these factors along with many more
will ensure that the system you
design
will integrate smoothly and perform all functions required by
the customer.
Oh
yeah, the customer! The customer can be the most critical factor
involved. After all, they will be the one
using
the system that you recommend, design, and install, and they are
paying for your professional
services.
Meeting the customer’s needs is the primary goal in this
entire process. If they are left out of the
process,
it is almost guaranteed that they will not be satisfied,
resulting in lost time and money for your
company,
not to mention an unhappy customer.
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Rights Reserved. 