Airship DVR / NVR Video & Video Management Blog

Better, Faster, Stronger...

Yesterday, one of our Master Craftsmen, Sam VanDalfsen, and I, went to do some custom installation work for Angel of the Winds Casino in Arlington, WA. (Angel of the Winds has been working with us for the past year on their new surveillance technologies project and business expansion, a project that our customer North American Video is a big part of.)

While we were there, things went very well. Sam was there to get the automated DVR failover system installed and working. This is a multi-day project, so we knew that no matter what happened on the first day, we have plenty of time to get the required work done. Airship Failover works by connecting with the analog video matrix to switch video signals from a troubled DVR to a standby DVR.

Well here's the big story: Sam got done. It worked as far as it needed to for the first day of work. The operation to switch analog camera signals to the standby DVR took about 7.6 seconds, within spec for 24 channel failover. Sam had some spare time and says, "Hey, should I work on making it go faster right now?" Naturally, I said, "Sure!" Faster is always better, especially when were talking about switching live video signals. We talked about any risks associated with making it go faster. None. And so Sam got to work. When he was done it was switching all 24 signals in under 2 seconds.

So, the next time your technology vendor is on site and seems to not be working diligently, ask them to make that new thing they just got working to work faster. Make 'em sweat. Tell them this story. Tell them that faster is better and then ask hard questions.

by Gryphon MacThoy

First person to mention..

First person to mention "Human Factors Engineer" to me gets a whole batch of fresh homemade cookies.

Sharing Public Workspace

Sharing public workspace in the afternoon in the summer. Laptops out, working independently, but occassionally stopping to chat. Words of wisdom gained.

"Never apologize. Skip directly to how you are going to fix the problem. Failing that, compliment them in patience or tolerance in dealing with the thing you would have apologized for. Let them walk away with whatever they came to you for and a compliment. They didn't come for an apology. Don't burden them with it."

AIRSHIP 4.24 Released!

Airship 4.24 is now available.

You can see the updated User Guide online at:
http://www.airshipdvr.com/airshipdoc/

To obtain the software update CD, please contact support at 877.462.4250 or submit a support request online at:
http://www.airshipdvr.com/support.php

by Gryphon MacThoy

Caught Ya!

 Wow. Just, Wow.
I thought this was the sort of thing only small fly-by-night technology providers do.

by Gryphon MacThoy

eNVy

My trip to Las Vegas was really good. I got to meet a new integrator that seems very interested in providing Airship systems to their customers. They have a range of customers, from small to medium and large retail, and even casinos. That's good news for them and us, because our systems cover all of those needs.

I also got to update another integrator's demo room with our newest Airship Server and Client software. Some recent added features that helped us get certified by the Nevada Gaming Commission are now available for their sales guys to demo to customers. We'll be adding more capabilities to their demo room, which not only make Airship look good, but also make thier demo room MUCH more impressive to their customers.

Speaking of NGC, why is this blog post titled 'eNVy'?

We have a surprise coming for the Nevada market - an Airship DVR Server designed SPECIFICALLY for the regulations required by the Nevada Gaming Commission. It will meet the 'letter of the law' in those regulations and meet their true INTENT without trickery or shortcutting. In many ways we even BEAT those requirements without adding unnecessary cost. It's all just a part of the design...

Stay Tuned - or give us a ring to find out what we are working on before the official announcement.

by Gryphon MacThoy

All Work, No Play

You might pick up from reading this blog that, while we do work hard, we also like to have fun here.

It's summer, and recently I hosted an afternoon cocktail party at my joint in Seattle. Here was one of the featured cocktail receipes:

Kiwi Drop (by G-Mac)

1 vodka
1 simple syrup
1 shakka Kiwi
Kiwi fruit
Dry vermouth

Wash inside of glass in dry vermouth.
Ice hard-shake vodka. Pour in.
Add syrup, mixing slightly.
Add shakka slowly down side so it settles in bottom.
Garnish with a kiwi slice.
Dropper syrup down the garnish.

You can make iced pitchers of it, but it's powerful so serve small glasses.

Messy, sweet, green and summer-cool.

And here's the recipe book photo - except that this is actually my kitchen table...

by Gryphon MacThoy