ComSpark's integrated AV solution iVALS

A futuristic vision to deliver students an integrated audiovisual (AV) experience, from the new ‘Food-tech’ department of their new technology and enterprise building, drove John Wollaston Anglican Community School (JWACS) to seek specialist service and advice.

JWACS appointed a team of local independent partners, including SMA, Wallace & Co and NDY Engineers, to deliver the highly innovative and anticipated building.

“It was an ambitious proposition but one we were confident would yield the results we wanted,” said Gailene Shore, JWACS business manager. The school, architect and the engineer originally collaborated to devise planning for each kitchen, with priority given to the function of each area, but without the benefit of technical communications expertise to establish the viability of each system.

Engaging ComSpark initially in 2011 to relocate the school’s entire communications network gave JWACS an opportunity to verify ComSpark as the professional and timely service provider it was seeking.

It was some months after installing the fibre-optic cabling, elsewhere on-site, before the design and construction team sought further consultation from ComSpark Operations Manager Mark Rooney over how he thought it best to approach integrating the technology to its best capabilities.

With fewer elements to each workstation, the limited contents of the domestic kitchen ensures it can nurture basic cooking skills in a low-risk environment with a focus on offering lessons with simultaneous demonstration from the front of the room. As such, the requirement was to display the educator’s tuition via large screens positioned at the front and rear of the room - with vision coming from two cameras fixed to the ceiling along with the option to switch to a data stream via a laptop, tablet or mobile device.

The client had envisioned a similar AV set-up for the commercial kitchen, a more formalised setting similar to that of the country’s top restaurants, hotels and caterers. It was realised post-construction that the varied layout with both larger and additional workstations dividing the room had impacted visibility. On closer inspection it was discovered that the proposed individual monitors at each workstation would be adequate, removing the need for the two large screens at the front of the room altogether.

“The team brought me a plan for what, where and why,” said Rooney. “It was the ‘how’ they weren’t quite clear on.” Subsequently, after a period of vigorous consultation with all stakeholders, original proposals for both kitchens were re-evaluated, revised and presented for consideration.

“Product knowledge became vital to procurement on this project,” Rooney said. “Acquiring the right mix of products to deliver the functional requirements, at the right price, was important to everyone involved.”

Using VGA as opposed to the HDMI with a TCP/IP connection equated to a lower cost, higher effectiveness for cabling and associated parts. For the commercial kitchen, 21″ wall-mounted monitors became the agreed alternative for each of the 16 workstations after also considering tablets. Sending the video signal via Cat 6 over HDMI cabling negated the proposed inclusion of media converters at each screen completely (saving around $200 each) - these were replaced with inexpensive splitters and repeaters as required. Choice of cameras to capture the visuals was also rethought accordingly - switching from expensive high-spec HD video cameras to high-spec colour security cameras.

“We simply aren’t in the business of proposing any products for our clients that don’t reach our high standards for quality or longevity,” says Mark. “In our game, you get what you pay for and we just aren’t willing to stake our reputation on shoddy equipment or materials.”

Providing greater practicality at reduced cost as a direct result of consultation was a particular achievement in unique circumstances. In this instance, effective communication and problem-solving skills were considered the essential ingredients in navigating the obstacles to the outcome. The client was pleased with a re-engineered solution that surprisingly saved money on an innovative investment. “We wanted to advance to technological apparatus after using mirrors for this function previously,” said Shore. “We’re certainly happy with the outcome.”

The project has already received the NECA WA Excellence Award for Best Small Communications Project.