Convergence isn’t a new word, but it’s quickly becoming overused to the point of cliché. Yet type the word “convergence” on an MS Word document, highlight and use the thesaurus tool to find other words meaning roughly the same thing. You’ll get three alternatives: meeting, junction and union.

Like any of these better than convergence? And, do they really convey the same meaning? For our purposes, I don’t believe so.

What we’re going to be regularly addressing in this new section of Pro Sound Web is the relationship between technologies and systems, where they are increasingly enabled to work together, to communicate, to be merged and combined for greater (and hopefully) more effective functionality. This relates both to the “external” side (what we provide our customers) and the “internal” side (what we provide ourselves and our companies).

My new role at Group Signal has increased my interest in both external and internal convergence. While my background is primarily with A/V systems, this experience now joins an existing, successful operation specializing in the design and implementation of structured cabling, data networks, telephone systems, fire, security, access control, CCTV, CATV, paging, intercom, and more. Thus as a company we look at ways of “converging” as many of these facets as possible into singularly seamless, easy-to-use solution for our customers or ourselves, based upon particular needs.

Yet even in my prior work with an A/V contracting firm, we were implementing convergence solutions. For example, we implemented several sound, lighting and video packages that were all centrally interfaced and controlled via a Crestron system. Many of you have probably done the same. And no one can argue that - when properly implemented – these solutions hold powerful benefits for the customer and system provider alike.

Convergence refers to items and ideas that were formerly mutually exclusive. For example, note Craig Janssen’s remarks about the need for convergence among concert, theatrical and install sound professionals. Each of these market segments does certain aspects well, things that can (and often should) be applied to improve virtually any sound system regardless of its particular application.

What JBL has accomplished with its EVO System serves as another prime example of convergence. While the concept still seems to need refinement, they’ve managed to marry the formerly exclusive functions of system analyzation with tuning and adjustment into a combined, automated scenario.

I referred to “internal” convergence. We’ve just added “web call” to our company web site, merging phone and Internet. So click on the “web call” button on our home page and let’s talk!

Microsoft will soon be bundling Windows Messenger, a voice-enabled instant messaging platform, into Windows XP, Slated for late October release, this combined platform will allow users to participate in voice and video communication, text chat, and data collaboration, and like Instant Messenger it will notify users when their contacts are online.

A possible scenario: let’s say I need a marketing data expenditure report, so I “text chat” my group assistant, asking for the report. He posts the report on our linked computers, and then we “call” to discuss it, as we view it. Powerful!