Author(s): Sofia R Almeida and Matthias K Vogel

Abstract: Audio-visual (AV) technologies have become essential components of contemporary teaching-learning environments, supporting interactive pedagogy, blended learning, and effective content delivery. However, small educational institutions often face persistent challenges in deploying and managing AV systems due to budget constraints, heterogeneous hardware, lack of technical expertise, and limited scalability. Existing commercial AV integration solutions are frequently expensive, complex, and designed for large-scale enterprises, making them unsuitable for smaller institutions. This research proposes a simple middleware framework aimed at integrating disparate audio-visual systems within small educational institutions in a cost-effective, flexible, and manageable manner. The proposed framework acts as an intermediary layer between AV hardware and user-facing applications, enabling seamless communication, centralized control, and standardized data exchange. The architecture is designed with modular components that support device discovery, protocol abstraction, media synchronization, and basic fault handling, while remaining lightweight and easy to deploy on commonly available computing infrastructure. Emphasis is placed on interoperability with heterogeneous devices such as projectors, microphones, speakers, cameras, and display systems, which are often procured incrementally over time. The framework prioritizes minimal configuration requirements and reduced dependency on proprietary software, allowing institutions to leverage open standards and existing network resources. Through conceptual validation and design analysis, the research demonstrates how the middleware approach can simplify AV system management, improve reliability, and enhance classroom usability without imposing significant financial or technical burdens. The proposed solution contributes to the ongoing discourse on educational technology integration by addressing the specific operational realities of small institutions. By focusing on simplicity, scalability, and maintainability, the framework offers a practical pathway for improving audio-visual infrastructure and supporting technology-enabled teaching practices in resource-constrained educational settings.

DOI: 10.33545/2707661X.2026.v7.i1a.176

Pages: 44-48 | Views: 33 | Downloads: 15

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