Even audio visual geeks like to take occasional strolls down memory lane – remembering brands and pro AV products that at one time were cutting edge but are now sort of head-scratching.
Technology is a great topic for hindsight because it changes so rapidly. You don’t need to be an AV geek to know that.
It’s one thing to recall old-school fashion or pop culture fads. As anachronistic as they sometimes seem in retrospect, they often cycle back into mainstream. Think of everything Don Draper or Joan Holloway wore on Mad Men and the fact that kids are playing with Rubik’s Cubes.
Well, it’s not really the same with audio visual technology. It doesn’t matter how nostalgic you might be, you’re not likely to sit through a movie on an old-school CRT television set.
During your next vacation, you’re not likely to scrap your iPhone and Instagram app in favor of a 20-lb. camcorder and convenient VHS cassettes.
Some people might find that today’s Samsung Galaxy phones are a little large for their tastes, but that’s nothing compared to the whopping cellular phone that Gordon Gekko rocked in the 1987 film Wall Street.
Click for gallery of nostalgic pro AV products
AV Professionals Recall Brands, Pro AV Products of Yesteryear
So we surveyed folks who work for professional AV firms to help us recall brands and AV products that in looking back seem, well, dated. [related]Not surprisingly, they had some ideas on the tips of their tongues.
A lot of the AV professionals we surveyed referenced projection-related products. Indeed, projection has evolved a lot over the past couple of decades. The meteoric rise of flat-panel displays has altered demand for projectors and screens.
However, projection itself has also evolved, carving out new needs and applications.
Still, with flat panels so often replacing projectors one wonders if there will never be another generation of audio visual geeks pushing AV carts through their school hallways. A sad thought, indeed.
What old-school AV brands and products do you recall?
Suggest them in the comment section. (Maybe we’ll add them to the article and give you credit.)
