InfoComm 2021: USC Invested in the Cloud During COVID. Will it Pay Off Long-Term?

 

Universities have made some sweeping changes and added new capabilities to their offerings after the pandemic forced most schools to adapt. Now networks and systems are preparing to support hybrid and in-person learning, as well as synchronous and asynchronous choices for nontraditional students. While at this year’s InfoComm, we asked Lex Peters, UX Designer for the University of Southern California, to explain why USC has been working so diligently on creating a cloud based ecosystem and the benefits that resulted.

Abridged Thoughts:

“We wanted to create a solution where we could fix problems for our users faster. So the idea was to be able to have the entire system be cloud based so that we can correct majority of the problems from our office and take way less time from classes. Our priority, of course, is the student students and the faculty and making sure that their teaching time and their learning time isn’t interrupted.”

How many times have you been in a meeting where somebody is like, OK, wait, let me just figure out this technology really quick, or they have to have a technician come in and all that? What better way to empower them than just to have a device that they can look at and recognize and be familiar with and just use it?

Cloud sharing like airplay, for example, people are used to airplay. Yeah similar solutions of being able to just share, maybe from your phone really quick and not taking away time from what people really want to communicate in their meetings or whatever settings with the technology, but just helping or have the technology assist them.

We want to ideally have the entire University under our same solution and just really unify that. So that’s our plan there. And then our other big project we’re looking for is a really cool esports arena. So that’s in the works right now. I can’t say too much about it, but that’s going to be really cool. There’s such a big world there that we have yet to jump into, so we’re super excited about that. And creating a cool atmosphere for the students there.” – Lex Peters

More Stories From InfoComm 2021:

MarketScale Counts Down the Best Moments of InfoComm 2021: Part 1

How The AV Industry Is Surviving The Year of COVID

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Image

Latest

Portable AV system
AV Anywhere: Portable AV Systems Are Now Essential for Mission-Critical Response in Unpredictable, Connectivity-Challenged Environments
July 7, 2025

In crisis scenarios, portable AV systems must perform under pressure because failure is not an option. As Keysight Technologies notes, the evolution of mission-critical communications now depends on low-latency, mobile-ready platforms that can operate reliably in unstable, infrastructure-poor conditions, making portable AV systems essential for real-time response and public safety operations. These are the…

Read More
future of marketing
Vibes and the Future of Marketing with Adbloom Founder and CEO Andrew Abony
July 7, 2025

Affiliate marketing is shedding its outdated reputation and entering a new era—one centered on authenticity, emotional resonance, and genuine human connection. As the future of marketing becomes increasingly relationship-driven, this shift is impossible to ignore. In fact, during the 2024 U.S. Cyber Monday, influencers and affiliate marketers were responsible for driving around 20% of…

Read More
brand identity
The Branding Balancing Act: Reinvent Without Losing Your Brand Identity
July 7, 2025

The recent resurrection of the Pac-12—reborn with new members and a possible rebrand—raises critical questions about what keeps a brand relevant in the face of disruption. According to Yahoo Sports, the rebuilt conference has signed a five-year media deal with CBS despite fielding just two original members, underscoring how legacy names must evolve to maintain…

Read More
own path
No Permission Needed: Forge Your Own Path Forward Through Bold Moves, Clear Focus, and Continuous Growth
July 3, 2025

What happens when you stop waiting to be chosen—and choose yourself? In this episode of PQ: Conversations that Build Equity, Jason Winningham talks with Amy Chavez, a seasoned marketing professional and graphic designer who boldly forged her career in commercial real estate, even before she had the credentials. Amy shares how a gutsy cover…

Read More