Focus on Technology: Build the Perfect Teaching Station
February 1, 2009
The perfect teaching station reflects the needs of the faculty; the facilities design group, and the technology maintenance people at the educational facility for which it is built. The instructors need a simple, no-hassle, minimal maintenance system that feels like
Focus on Technology: AV & IT Convergence
December 1, 2008
Convergence seizes two different technologies that originated with different purposes, and integrates them to have a common function in a common environment. In the current evolution of the Audiovisual industry, there is a convergence with the Information Technology Industry, so
Product Review: InfoComm, Were You Audio-Immersed?
August 1, 2008
Nearly 35,000 AV professionals from almost 100 countries attended the 2008 InfoComm show in Las Vegas this past June – the largest InfoComm gathering ever, in fact. Thorburn Associates has had a longstanding presence at InfoComm as an educator. This
Project Highlight: City of Raleigh Wastewater Treatment Training Centers
August 1, 2008
CHALLENGE: The City of Raleigh sought to create three new training spaces at three separate wastewater treatment facilities. Two of the spaces were new construction, while the third was a renovation of existing space. The city wanted each of the
Product Viewpoint: For Small Theaters, Digital Cinema Has Benefits For Big Theaters, Stick with Film (for now)
April 1, 2008
The needs of museums, educational institutions and conferencing venues differ from those of the cineplex, and digital cinema as it is right now does not always meet them. There are benefits: print cost goes away, the last run of the
Focus on Acoustics: ClearSorber Lets the Light In
February 1, 2008
As acoustical consultants, we incorporate a wide variety of finishes to the walls, floors, and ceiling of a space to meet the design criteria. But what about glazing? Windows, skylights, glass partitions and doors and decorative glazing are all part
Focus on Technology: Analog-to-Digital: The New Y2K? Part I
February 1, 2008
February 17, 2009 should be an interesting time in the US. Any TV stations still operating analog (NTSC) transmitters that day must shut them down at midnight. Without a converter box or a television, DVD/VCR, DVD Recorder with a digital
Product Review: LiveWires—Custom Fit In-Ear Monitors
December 1, 2007
LiveWires, from Earpeace Technologies, is a truly unique holiday gift for the music lover in your life. Because Livewires are custom fit (an impression is made of your ear by an audiologist) these in-ear monitors are amazingly comfortable and produce
Project Highlight: University of South Florida Joint Military Science Leadership Center
December 1, 2007
Our military forces require more collaboration between branches than ever before. At the University of South Florida (USF) Joint Military Science Leadership Center (JMSLC) the goal is to provide the skills that facilitate that collaboration with a commitment to educate
Digital Signage Update
December 1, 2007
Digital Signage is gaining widespread acceptance. When Eric Cronwall, one of TA’s Senior Audiovisual Consultants, first presented a technical session on digital signage at InfoComm in 2003, digital signage was in its infancy in the U.S. Back then, this new