What You Need To Know:
- The videowall has shifted from a static display to a dynamic tool that pulls content from computers, IP video, virtual machines and websites, often across multiple countries.
- Interoperability and cybersecurity now go together, and integrators should look for products that mold into a client’s existing security standards.
- Distributed, follow-the-sun operations put a premium on efficient design, one-gig infrastructure limits and low-latency protocols like SRT.
- Human factors, from lighting to UI reliability, often separate a good command center from a great one.
- AI delivers real value today in provisioning and support, but it isn’t ready to make autonomous content decisions.
Commercial Integrator recently sat down with Aaron Leiker of Haivision for a practical conversation about one of the fastest-moving corners of the integration industry: the command-and-control room market. Leiker brings more than a decade of experience to the discussion, which is part of Commercial Integrator + Security Sales and Integration’s Command-and-Control Deep Dive Report. Here’s what integrators should take away.
How Has the Role of the Videowall Changed?
The videowall has moved from a static reference tool to a dynamic engine that pulls content from wherever it lives. In the earliest days, it replaced map boards and other fixed displays with a mostly staged set of sources. Today, access to 10 or 12 local computers is no longer enough. Those sources might be in another country, or they might be IP video, virtual machines or websites.
“The tool set that’s behind that display has had to get much more sophisticated in its ability to grab content where the user needs it,” Leiker says. He points to standards-based tools as the foundation, noting that a wide array of nonstandard assets makes quality access difficult. The goal is a videowall that showcases whatever users need, whenever they need it, without reconfiguration or recabling.
How Should Integrators Balance Interoperability and Cybersecurity?
Integrators should treat interoperability and cybersecurity as opposing forces that must be managed together, responsibly. Getting standards-based content off the IT network brings instant access, but it also removes the comfort of an isolated environment. “You can’t hide behind the idea that this is an isolated environment,” Leiker says. “That doesn’t work in this case.”
The key is to match the manufacturer’s security posture to the client’s. Some vendors build their own security mechanisms, which work when it fits but forces the customer to adapt to the product. Leiker says Haivision designed Command 360 to mold into the customer’s established security environment instead. That approach aligns with guidelines like NIST and the Risk Management Framework, which many North American organizations follow while still setting their own standards.
What Do Distributed Operations Demand from Command Center Tech?
Distributed operations demand designs that respect network limits and move content efficiently across sites. IP video isn’t all created equal, and large data signals can overwhelm traditional one-gig IT infrastructure. Leiker says Command 360 is built to stay within that one-gig limit so it integrates into more locations without asking IT to rebuild infrastructure.
Compression choices matter too. “We might only ship video when the screen changes, or we might only send video when that particular situational asset is on the videowall,” Leiker says. For follow-the-sun models spanning North America, Europe and the Asia Pacific region, he points to SRT as the protocol Haivision champions. It sends content securely with low latency and stays reliable even in imperfect network conditions.
What Separates a Good Command Center from a Great One?
Optimizing human factors is what separates a good command center from a great one. Space planning, ingress and egress flow, and workstation placement all shape how well operators work together. Lighting plays a major role. The dark, movie-style command center looks dramatic, but the contrast fatigues the people who work there.
Proper display calibration and reliable technology round out the picture. Leiker points to AVIXA content and control room design groups for guidance on display brightness, angles and head movement. Reliability is essential. “If you don’t trust the tool, it’s going to be frustrating,” Leiker says. He adds that too many products put features first and the user interface second, which creates friction when the system is hard to use.
Where Does AI Create Real Value in Command Centers?
AI delivers real value today in provisioning and support, not in autonomous content decisions. Leiker says AI models can be trained to provision systems well, which matters for integrators who want faster, smoother deployments. Support is another strong near-term use case.
Content decisions are a different story. “My philosophy right now with AI is to hold back on letting AI make decisions on content,” Leiker says, noting that early tools can feed false information and create negative situational awareness. He sees a future where AI reviews everything and reshapes the videowall to prioritize what matters based on trained parameters. For now, he says, that level of proficiency remains a ways off.
Watch the Full Q&A
The full conversation digs deeper into each of these topics and offers practical context integrators can apply to current and future projects.
Watch the complete video Q&A below to hear Leiker’s full perspective on where command-and-control rooms are headed.
