Systems Integration

Now there's a term we throw around often. What does it mean to you?

Our industry should be known as a group of Systems Integrators, not Systems Contractors. As stressed in my column on Apprenticeship, contractors and the contracting industry are not thought of as a very glamorous, exciting occupation. In fact, a survey once reported that contracting as a profession was only one notch above being a cowboy on the popularity scale. To attract young bright-eyed talent into our work force, the description of our industry needs to project the high-tech image that is the reality of the work we do. Electronic Systems Technicians working in the Systems Integration Industry just sounds right to me.

So...Systems Integration is something done by Systems Integrators, not Systems Contractors...but what is Systems Integration?

May I offer - Systems Integration is combining two or more discreet systems to form one "integrated" system. I know you should not use a term in its own description, but that sounded like a logical first step.

Expanding on that first definition, my friend Steve Olszewski has suggested, "Systems Integration adds value, elegance, and simplicity to achieve a system whose result is greater than the sum of its parts." The key elements to this definition are simplicity and greater than the sum of its parts. It is fairly easy to stick two systems together, but often the outcome is nothing more than exactly that - two systems stuck together - and the result is more complicated to operate and understand than if left as stand-alone systems.

What types of discrete, dissimilar systems can be integrated? Anything! But let's start with this list:

• Audio
• Video
• Lighting
• Life Safety
• Security
• Access Control
• Telephone
• Data
• TV

Let's look at some integration applications. Most everyone is familiar with the simple Boardroom Automation integration model. When the Chairman pushes "play," the lights dim, the drapes close, the projection screen lowers, the video projector warms up, the audio volume is adjusted, and the appropriate segment from the Digital Video Server begins streaming. Now consider adding an astronomical calendar programmed to operate the drapes and general lighting to compensate for sunrise, sunset, and the azimuth of the sun in the sky. Or, imagine the HVAC system, intelligent window glass to detect sunlight and heat, and intelligent roofing systems to also sample external environmental conditions, all working together to adjust the temperature and humidity in the boardroom to compensate for these environmental factors as well as the number of guests in the room.

For patient-caregiver communications in a Health Care environment, the nurse call system is integrated to low power cellular telephones, allowing patient calls to be routed directly to a caregiver's wireless telephone, where he or she sees the room, the bed calling, and the urgency of the call on their telephone display. The caregiver can answer the call and talk to the patient from their phone or dispatch assistance to another caregiver or aid, directly to their wireless phone or pocket pager. Also consider automatic staff registration into a patient room and equipment location using Bluetooth technology, or Telemetry integration to nurse call, or wireless bedside charting integrated to nurse call information systems and automated medication dispensing.

How about integration of technology in the worship environment? Automatic gain microphone mixing systems for simpler services or portions of a service, integrated with larger consoles for more elaborate services. Computer and video files indexed and available for instant recall for large screen video applications. Automatic, remote controllable video cameras integrated to follow the pastor or praise team leader. Theatrical and house lighting integrated for simultaneous control. Show automation to allow simple hand held wireless control of sound, lighting, and video applications.

Wow! We're having fun now. Think about the markets you serve and consider integrating just two systems within that market. If your integration is simple and elegant, your solution will be better than the sum of the parts. You will be rewarded financially, because the value of your solution is also greater than the sum of its parts. You will be rewarded with market share, because you now offer something unique, not offered by your competition.

Happy integrating!

• Apprenticeship
• Are You Certified?
• Systems Integration
• Training
• Killer Proposals
• Good To Great
• The Systems Integration Industry - Who Are We?
• Technology for Schools
• Healthcare Market