Beyond Command and Control: The Expanding World of IP KVM

When most people think about KVM technology, one image tends to come to mind: command and control rooms. Rows of screens, operators managing critical systems, and real-time decision-making, it’s the classic use case.

As Mark Pescatore, Content Director, Systems Contractor News (SCN) asked in the recent SCN Punchlist podcast, “That’s what KVM is all about, right?”

Well, not anymore.

From Control Rooms to Creative Studios
Jamie Adkin, VP EMEA Sales at Adder, explained that while KVM has its roots in mission-critical environments like transport, defense, energy, and oil and gas, the story has evolved dramatically.

“…[the] KVM world has led from data center[s] and directly to command and control applications. So, we’re doing an awful lot of that in transport, defense, energy, and oil and gas environments, where we’re controlling critical infrastructure. But there are a whole range of use cases.”

One of the biggest emerging markets Jamie noted is media and entertainment.

“We do a lot within live broadcast production, sporting environments, news environments, and live television studios. We do a lot in filmmaking and visual effects as well. And that’s a unique area for us because we have developed unique codecs that handle video across those networks in ways that others haven’t.”

These innovations provide color-accuracy, ultra-low latency and pixel-perfect video. And these capabilities are vital for creative professionals in color grading, editing, and visual effects, where precision is everything.

Imagine a colorist in Los Angeles, USA grading a film scene captured in London, or a graphics operator in a live sports studio switching seamlessly between systems mid-broadcast all without delay, distortion, or compromise. That’s the kind of flexibility IP KVM makes possible.

The Rise of Virtual Production
One of the growing applications for IP KVM is virtual production with the technology required behind LED volume stages. Studios such as Dimension Studio and NantStudios have adopted Adder’s IP KVM solutions to give artists and technicians real-time access to systems controlling cameras, lighting, and visual effects.

Because these productions often run at cinema frame rates (24Hz) and demand perfect synchronization, Adder’s purpose-built codec and open API integrations make it easy to connect seamlessly into existing control systems.

The result? Creative professionals at all stages of their unique production workflows can collaborate in real-time, whether they’re on set or halfway around the world.

Expanding Into New Frontiers
Beyond media, IP KVM is also making waves in healthcare and industrial automation. In hospitals, it is helping specialists monitor and control imaging or diagnostic systems remotely, while in manufacturing, engineers can operate precision machinery from safe distances.

Jamie said that “There’s always an element of control and monitoring with KVM… but now we’re talking about quite different signals, where people are making consultancy decisions or controlling a piece of machinery that’s performing an operation.”

In every use-case, it’s about secure, reliable control, and enabling professionals with instant access to the systems they depend on, no matter where they are.

Technology That Adapts to Any Market
KVM may have a large presence in the world of command and control, but IP-based solutions are also powering creativity, safety, and innovation across numerous industries.

As Jamie concluded, the technology is about “making sure you still have that level of control over a computer, but what that computer is doing is drastically different from a typical command and control room.”

Want to hear more?
Listen to the full podcast episode with Mark and Jamie as they explore how IP KVM is redefining what “control” really means in today’s connected world.

Watch here: SCN Punchlist Podcast

Discover the Adder portfolio: www.adder.com

Contact a KVM expert: https://www.adder.com/en/sales-enquiry-form