Al Kovalick worked in the field of hybrid AV+IT systems for 25 years. Previously, he was a digital systems designer and technical strategist for Hewlett-Packard. While at HP, he was a principal researcher and architect for a new product-class of RF signal synthesizer. He was also the principal architect of HP’s first VoD server. Following HP, from 1999 to 2005, Al was the CTO of Pinnacle Systems. After Avid acquired Pinnacle, he served as a Corporate Fellow for six years.
He wrote the 583 page book "Video Systems in an IT Environment: The Basics of Professional Networked Media and File-based Workflows" in 2006 (2nd edition 2009). It was the first book to consider the convergence of media and IT systems. It set the stage for using Ethernet, IP, networked storage and server compute to build AV systems. In 2011, Al founded Media Systems Consulting in Silicon Valley. His work focuses on all aspects of media systems, file-based workflows and cloud migration for media facilities. His clients are among the most respected broadcast, post and media vendors in the Americas, Asia and Europe. His work has influenced a generation of technical staff, VP's and CTO’s in the understanding and value of leveraging networked media.
Al is an active speaker, educator, author and participant with industry bodies including the Society of Motion Pictures and Television Engineers (SMPTE) and the Video Services Forum (VSF). He has presented over 50 papers at industry conferences worldwide and holds 13 patents across a broad range of technologies. He has authored 21 peer-reviewed articles in the SMPTE Motion Imaging Journal. In 2009 Al was awarded the David Sarnoff Medal from SMPTE for engineering achievement. Al has a BSEE degree from San Jose State University and MSEE degree from the University of California at Berkeley.
He is a life member of Tau Beta Pi, a SMPTE Life Fellow and former SMPTE Director of Education. Al started the Cloudspotter's Journal column for TV Technology magazine and authored articles for ~15 years.
For science and physics enthusiasts:
See UFTmachine.com to learn about the fine-tuning of nature's constants. It's a video game-like simulator with controls to tune in 6 constants.
See TinyURL.com/TAPcarbon for a demo of how carbon is synthesized in stars.
Check out a STEM demo video on the four fundamental forces of nature at TinyURL.com/4forcesdemo. No forces, no matter, no us.
You may enjoy an explainer site dedicated to the electro-mechanical age of telephone systems. There are 70 articles alongside 250+ images and videos. It's non-commercial. It covers inventions from 1892 until the 1960's.
Before the internet, before the transistor, before the vacuum tube, there were electro-mechanical, rotary-dial, telephone systems.
https://www.calling315.com/heirarchial-toc-graph