Hello Everyone!
I am particularly excited to be attending the AAJ Annual Conference this year for the Court Technology presentation. Four key members involved in creating the AIA/InfoComm Technology will be presenting the brand new guidelines and discuss the emerging technologies being seen in new judicial facilities across the world. This is a first BIG step for everyone involved in judicial facility planning and I'm looking forward to using this guide in the next justice facility that I'm involved with.
For those that have careers involving courthouses, whether you work in one or are designing one, you know that the popular TV programs do not completely represent a courtroom the way you’re used to seeing one. Programs like Law and Order or one of the twenty different versions of CSI are typically missing the most important and critical aspects what allows a modern day courthouse to be a facility of justice, the AV technology.
In a REAL modern courtroom, you typically have an integrated AV system involving technology and these systems have been evolving over the past 20 years. Systems may include evidence presentations, court recording, remote appearance, assisted listening, or electronic filing. All of which have complicated aspects that must be addressed early in the planning of a Courts facility. Without coordination and consideration of the AV systems early the potential result is additional cost, possible delay, and sacrifice of aesthetics. Short and long term consideration for AV systems should also be considered early on in the design process.
Through the years, there have been lessons learned as technology has developed within courthouses. There has been a lack of a comprehensive guide to help in the implementation of AV as effectively as possible. Now, for the first time, a special committee comprised of members of the AAJ Technology Committee and InfoComm, the international audio-visual trade organization for technology specialists have developed and will publish the AIA/InfoComm Court Technology and Infrastructure Guidelines. This important guideline will be highly useful for architects, technologists, judges, court administrators or any other specialists working to integrate technology into a judicial facility design.
The presentation will be held this Thursday morning and it will cover the overview of the guidelines and delve into the details. It's an exciting topic and a great way to kick off the 2013 AAJ Annual Conference!