Category: Audio Visual Equipment

U.S. students are having trouble competing on the world stage in math and engineering. According to data collected by the National Science Board, U.S. students’ math and science scores are in the middle of the pack globally, and dead last among G-7 countries, China and Korea. This poor performance means America’s students are at risk of falling behind in the global, tech-charged economy.

The answer is better STEM education for K-12 children, and that can be achieved with AV solutions. AV technology fits perfectly into K-12 STEM initiatives, as they can engage students of all ages and relate complex mathematical and scientific concepts in a compelling way.

Why is K-12 STEM Education Important for Students?

The benefits of STEM education go beyond career preparedness. In addition to giving students a better footing in the workforce, K-12 STEM can help students build the following skills:

• Problem solving – STEM lessons require students to solve complex problems that they don’t encounter in other subjects. These problems require strategizing, planning, teamwork, and execution to handle, and this requires students to think about problems in-depth. STEM lessons don’t just transmit knowledge to students, they show people how to think for better problem solving.
• Creativity – While STEM is math and science heavy, that doesn’t mean there isn’t room for creativity in STEM. Some forms of engineering, like robotics for example, require students to stretch their imaginations and produce unique solutions for unique problems. In doing so, children get better at tackling a wider variety of obstacles with a greater variety of tools – a skill the modern fast-paced economy demands.
• Collaboration – Many STEM projects require teamwork to execute properly. Students must work together to visualize solutions, plan out execution, divide tasks among the team and collaborate with each other to solve issues that come up during the process. In this way, STEM content provides opportunities for individuals to function as a group. Something that professionals are expected to do in their jobs.

Students also get familiar with a wide range of technologies while they’re engaging with STEM lessons. Those technological tools may be relevant for certain job tracks, giving students a leg up in nailing down a fulfilling career.

Three AV-focused Ideas That Can Drive Better STEM Learning in K-12 schools

AV systems make STEM learning more effective and more engaging by delivering lessons in a multimodal format. Compared to a traditional stand-and-deliver approach, AV solutions are much more visually and aurally interesting for students. Some solutions also include a tactile element that enhances the multimodal approach further.

There are many ways to leverage AV for STEM initiatives, even for schools operating on a restrictive budget. Here’s three of our favorite approaches:

Break Makerspace into Pods and Pair Each Pod with a Quality Display

If your school has an interest in STEM, it may already have a makerspace in place. Makerspaces are dedicated areas for students to pursue STEM-related projects individually or with other students. Some makerspaces are designed for open accessibility, so students can work on their projects when not engaged in other classwork.

Others, though, are designed to function much like a traditional classroom, with educators providing STEM lesson content while students follow along.

If this is your school’s preferred approach to STEM learning, consider dividing your makerspace into pods and fitting each pod with a display. This is convenient for both students and teachers, especially if there is a document camera or other presentation technology in place. The document camera can be networked to the displays, allowing teachers to present various objects, paper handouts and notes to every display at once.

With this approach, students get a close look at everything, which can be extremely helpful for science experiments and engineering projects. And the instructor can demonstrate important lesson concepts to every student, including those in the back of the room.

Create a Mobile STEM Station Loaded with Primitive Crafts and Instructional Displays

If your district needs to boost STEM learning for multiple schools, consider going mobile with your STEM resources. This could be as simple as rotating portable AV technologies from building to building. The approach could be scaled up, though, if your school is willing to invest in converting a school bus into a STEM bus.

STEM buses are gaining in popularity, as they allow multiple schools to cover their STEM lesson needs. And when the STEM bus pulls up, it’s instantly engaging to K-12 students.

Enhanced audio technology and digital displays can drive a high-tech STEM bus and outfitting your bus with multiple primitive craft stations can also communicate important STEM concepts. Stick a small digital display at each station and teachers can run crafting demonstrations that help younger students step by step.

Provide High School Students with Professional-quality Training with AR and VR Solutions

Older learners will need something a little more sophisticated to engage them. For high schoolers, AV can introduce complex, even professional-level content through augmented (AR) and virtual reality (VR) technology.

The challenge with some STEM learning is that it requires a tactile component to really take. It’s difficult to learn how to make something, for example, without actually making or working on that item. AR and VR gives students opportunities to get hands-on, virtually, with the kind of the equipment or technology they’ll encounter in the working world.

If your school invests in vocational options for its students, AR and VR solutions provide your students with tactile-rich multimodal learning, giving them an edge during future professional training.

Is Your School Prioritizing STEM Learning? AV Technology Can Support It

If your school’s STEM education needs to be addressed, a certified AV integrator can help you get started. Certified integrators are experts in system design, installation, and support, including systems built to support K-12 STEM programs. Your AV integrator can take your school’s STEM needs and develop a customized solution that meets those needs, even if your school needs to be creative with its budget and space.

Interactive display technology adds value to a variety of applications, including retail. With their vivid colors, interactive features, and ability to output an array of media, displays like the Clevertouch are leading the way toward a better retail experience.

With the rapid rise of e-commerce around the world, brick and mortar shops have more competition than ever before. That means retail business owners need every advantage they can get, and for many businesses, the Clevertouch can be a powerful factor.

Large Format Displays: Capture Attention Around Storefront and Product Displays

The Clevertouch is available in a range of sizes, from 43-inch to 86-inch screens. Each one outputs at 4K resolution and with a near-180 degree viewing angle – so they’re sharp and vivid no matter where customers are standing. Since the Clevertouch is commercial grade, it is built with onboard fans and larger heat sinks that allow it to operate continuously without hardware failures.

How can that visual power be leveraged for retail applications? It’s most effective when incorporated into product displays, including storefront displays. Here, Clevertouch displays can deliver bright colors, eye-catching animation, brand messaging and decision-influencing information. Use the Clevertouch in the storefront to advertise ongoing specials or announce new arrivals. Run images or videos of people using, wearing, or eating the product.

The first goal of any business is to attract potential customers. Front-facing displays are effective in this role. They’re also effective inside retail shops, where they can be used to drive interest when grouped with a product display. Inside, the Clevertouch can help people navigate around the store, identify products on sale, or keep customers around longer. When used in these roles, Clevertouch displays increase foot traffic and sales.

Media Players and Central Control: Adjust your Clevertouch in Real Time to Optimize Impact

Displays are the most visible component in any digital signage system, but there’s more going on under the hood. Clevertouch signage is no different, as each display is powered by a media player. Each one houses all content, including layouts, images, videos, and software.

Clevertouch offers several media players for use with its displays. The Pro-V4 is one of its standout models and is designed for reliable, continuous operation. With the Pro-V4, Clevertouch displays can output in landscape or portrait mode. Further, Clevertouch’s media players can operate through the cloud or on LAN, which offers tighter security.

You can think of media players as the brains of every display, and this brain power means more than content storage. Through the Pro-V4 and other Clevertouch media players, retail businesses can control and maintain an entire network of displays. This includes switching out signage layouts instantly, pushing over software updates, locking the display from use, or powering individual displays on or off.

Better yet, this can all be done remotely, so users can update dozens of Clevertouch displys at once with a few taps. And preprogrammed, backup layouts can be pushed to every display with a few taps as well. For example, if the weather suddenly takes a turn for the worse, retail owners can switch up their signage to advertise a different set of products.

CleverLive: Quickly Create and Upload a Variety of Content to Any Clevertouch

CleverLive is Clevertouch’s proprietary digital signage software, and it offers the same advantages that other signage software solutions offer. Specifically, CleverLive can be used to quickly build impactful, unique layouts that require no specialized design knowledge to manage.

CleverLive is designed with user friendliness in mind, so the learning curve is minimal, even for people who have never designed a layout in their life. The layout-building software is similar to lightweight applications like Canva, where users select a template that closely matches the desired layout, and then is used as a foundation to arrange custom content. CleverLive includes more than 200 templates, so there’s a deep well to draw from. The interface is drag-and-drop, making it easy to use.

Once a layout is created, it can be scheduled for certain times or days well in advance. Layouts can be pushed to all displays at once, or to pre-defined display groups. This broad layout management can span across multiple business locations as well.

CleverLive also allows for live feed integration and QR code reading, so additional layouts can be reserved for when users scan a code with their own device. This is a good way to open up the conversion funnel and encourage people to hand over contact information or set up a rewards account.

CleverLive also allows users to send instant messages to networked displays. This is typically reserved for emergency situations but can be a decisive safety measure when an emergency does arise.

Additional Retail Applications: Create an Immersive, Conversion-Rich Experience for Customers

There is a world of retail-focused applications available to businesses. Beyond layout creation and scheduling, retail display applications can be used for completing transactions, exploring store inventory, looking up product guides or specifications, or even more advanced functions like modeling clothing or furniture.

These interactive functions add novelty to the shopping experience and encourage customers to consider every option before deciding whether to make a purchase or not.

Most retail applications are also inexpensive and customizable, so they can be easily integrated into a Clevertouch display strategy while retaining the brand’s messaging and visuals.

Versatility Means the Clevertouch Can Work in Any Retail Setting

Digital signage is an extremely versatile solution, making it ideal for retail settings. With brick and mortar businesses now competing on a national or global level, the visual impact of the Clevertouch means it can level the playing field.

Makerspaces are sprouting up everywhere in K-12 schools, and for good reason. Makerspaces engage students in ways that standard classrooms can’t. With a makerspace, students are encouraged to try new things, persist through their failures, stay focused on a single project, and work with their hands. These are important behaviors for young learners.

The benefits of a makerspace are considerable, but some districts have questions about how to set them up and how to afford them. Part of the makerspace magic, though, is that schools can be creative in how they put one together. No matter what your school’s budget or floorplan looks like, there’s a space somewhere for making.

Here, we’ve included four makerspace ideas that can be adapted for most K-12 schools, even if you’re just getting started with makerspaces.

Idea 1: Combine a Digital Display with Low-Tech Tools and Projects

If you can make something with it, you can use it in a makerspace. That includes low-tech learning materials like:

• Paint
• String and yarn
• Paper products, like construction paper and cardboard
• Modeling clay
• Pipe cleaners
• Duct and scotch tape
• Toothpicks
• Straws

The list goes on, and you can include as many or as few materials as your space allows. Once you’ve got your materials together, consider adding a digital display to the space. A digital display makes it simple for educators to find and deliver creativity-focused projects. As long as a teacher is available to curate the videos, a digital display provides students with multimodal learning opportunities.

Even with a digital display, you don’t need much room to pull this idea off. If your school can’t dedicate an entire room for makerspace purposes, this idea can work just as well in the library or even in the corner of a classroom. Many teachers like to rotate their students through multiple activities during class, and making something can be one of those activities.

Idea 2: Turn a Library into a Research and Collaboration Hotspot

Libraries are the ideal starting point for any project that requires research. Whether it’s engineering, science, design, architecture, or just plain crafting. Libraries offer a treasure trove of information for makerspace students.

Unsurprisingly, many schools are making their libraries the focal point for makerspace activities. It helps that the typical school library is a large place with room to fit a lot of kids and a lot of makerspace supplies.

If your school is also targeting its library for makerspace purposes, consider establishing a room-within-a-room just for creating. There are two reasons for this. One, separating the makerspace from the rest of the library will contain any making-related messes (easier clean up). Two, with a space for making and a space for research, students are encouraged to gather information from the library’s research resources and then put that information to use.

An interactive display is the perfect AV solution for this idea. With an interactive display, students can work together while whiteboarding their projects. Sketch them out, put together a project plan, delegate parts of the process to each student, and watch them explore as a team.

Idea 3: Encourage Group Work by Dividing a Makerspace into Pods

Teamwork and group work are points of emphasis in many makerspaces. AV technology and makerspace furniture can help reinforce those points by encouraging better collaboration.

If you’ve got an expanded space to work with (the school library is, again, a good choice), then create pods where small groups of students can work together. There is even makerspace furniture designed to facilitate this. One example is Spectrum’s Aspire line of desks, which are shaped to fit together in a variety of combinations, no matter how many students are in each group.

At each pod, an interactive display can be used to visualize project details, like in the example above. If you don’t have budget room for interactive displays, standard digital displays and a document camera at the front of the room can also be effective. The document camera’s feed can be routed to each pod’s display, so instructors can introduce concepts with up-close physical examples that everyone can see.

This idea takes a bit more room to pull off. And in large spaces, audio enhancement is another technology to consider. Audio enhancement solutions can be as simple as a worn microphone and a speaker sitting on a shelf. The effects of better audio can’t be overestimated as high activity spaces (like a makerspace) will drown out a teacher’s best attempts to speak above the noise. Audio enhancement solutions allow educators to teach without straining their voice.

Idea 4: Add Another Dimension to STEM Instruction with AR and VR Technologies

Augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) solutions are already establishing themselves in the professional world, where they make excellent training tools.

ClassVR and zSpace are two examples of AR and VR in the classroom, and while they can be used for a variety of lessons, they are particularly effective makerspace tools.

With AR and VR technology, your students can visualize engineering and technical concepts in a way they’ve never seen before, with detailed, 3D exploration. AR and VR can be an engaging and inspiring primer before each makerspace lesson, as they can introduce concepts relevant to the lesson and provide a starting point for creation.

You Don’t Need a Big Budget to Bring Big Makerspace Ideas to Life

Makerspaces are an effective way to deliver STEM curriculum, providing students with a different approach to learning than they would get in a traditional classroom. Even better, makerspaces are infinitely customizable. If your school is just getting started, low-tech materials may be plenty. As your makerspace efforts develop, adding in AV solutions like interactive displays, robotics kits, document cameras and supporting furniture can take it to new heights.

Every day inside courtrooms, a lot of important information is delivered through audio and video channels. Most of those courthouses are operating using outdated technology, or no technology at all.

These courts aren’t functioning with the efficiency they could, but AV solutions can help. Modern AV technology can improve the courtroom experience and with courtroom management. Even better, such solutions are easy to use and can be set up quickly with the help of a certified integrator.

There are plenty of AV solutions that are an ideal fit for courtrooms, no matter the room’s size or layout.

Virtual Arraignment Is A Convenient AV Solution For Busy Courts

There are some courtroom tasks that can be handled virtually, as long as you have the right technology in place. Virtual arraignments, for example, are becoming a popular way for courts to reduce crowding and expedite routine court tasks.

Virtual arraignments are made possible with a video conferencing setup, which includes cameras, displays, and microphones. These solutions are typically packaged with a secure means of transferring legal documents online.

With a virtual arraignment in place, the judge, defendant, and attorneys do not need to be physically present. This helps with courtroom efficiency and security, as there are fewer people to account for at the court.

Video Conferencing Can Improve the Voir Dire and Jury Selection Process

It’s critical for attorneys to select impartial jurors for their cases, and video conferencing solutions can help here as well. How?

• Attorneys can see all potential jurors at once – An attorney may be required to voir dire more than a dozen people at once, and it’s inevitable that some of those potential jurors will be outside of the attorney’s vision during the process. That, of course, makes it more difficult to assess each person’s fitness for jury duty. With video conferencing solutions, though, attorneys can monitor the entire group’s reaction to every question at a glance.
• Attorneys get a close-up look at every potential juror’s reaction – The quality of each person’s reaction is also different when it’s delivered virtually. In a courtroom setting, attorneys have to take in an enormous amount of information after everything they say. Some of this information, like facial expressions, may be impossible to pick up in an in-person setting, especially if potential jurors are wearing masks. Virtually, though, attorneys have a close look at everyone during the process, and it’s less likely that any of those potential jurors will have a mask on.
• Virtually, jurors are more likely to be candid with their responses – An amazing thing happens when people aren’t forced to dress formally, commute to the courthouse and deal with security protocols. When people are allowed to handle the process from home, they’re more relaxed and, therefore, more candid with their responses. An experienced attorney can leverage this added comfort to get more thorough answers from their voir dire candidates.

What Video Solutions Can Help Courtrooms Run Better?

Not everything can be done virtually, and for in-court proceedings, better display technology is needed. Some of those solutions include:

• Enhanced display hardware – Large, LED-powered digital displays are an effective choice wherever they go. Whether it’s the courtroom itself or in waiting areas, digital displays can be used to track court schedules and dockets. Courthouse clerks are constantly asked for the kind of information you can output to a display, so installing displays can free up your clerk staff for more important work.
• Annotation displays – Annotation displays are installed inside courtrooms and can be used by attorneys or witnesses to make important notes during evidence presentation. Annotations can be made using a finger and saved for review later, so they’re a simple device to integrate into courtroom proceedings.
• Evidence presentation technology – Evidence presentation can be tricky in large courtrooms, where the jury may not have a clear viewing angle. Evidence presentation solutions are an easy way around this problem.
  Evidence presentation systems are standalone units that include multiple presentation-enabled components. Some of these components include high resolution document cameras, LED lighting for enhanced visibility, a small display that outputs the camera feed, and audio enhancement.
  Consider installing small displays at the jury stand so jury members can get the best view possible of all presented exhibits. The document camera feed can be routed to these displays for detailed viewing.

Audio Is Also Important, So How Can Courts Improve Their Sound Technology?

Courtroom conversations are packed with extremely important content, so quality audio capturing and delivery technology is essential. If courtroom activities are being held back by poor audio, here are some solutions that can help:

• Sound reinforcement systems – Audio reinforcement boosts the overall quality and volume of sound in the courtroom, and is delivered through a mix of signal processors, amplifiers, and speakers. When it comes to audio reinforcement, the trick is arranging the equipment for even sound distribution. That takes an experienced integrator to pull off properly, as acoustics are a concern in many courtrooms.
• Assistive listening solutions – Assistive listening solutions are required in courtrooms and help people with hearing difficulties follow what’s being said. Assistive listening solutions utilize transmitters and receivers to deliver audio directly to an assistive listening device like a hearing aid.
• Audio masking systems – Audio masking systems output unintelligible white noise, effectively creating a sound-based barrier through which audio cannot pass. In the courtroom, audio masking is effective for masking jury discussions, so jury members can deliberate comfortably and without fear of someone eavesdropping or recording audio.

AV Control Systems Are Essential For Efficient Courthouse Management

The best audio and video in the world won’t mean much if it can’t be easily managed. That’s where AV control systems can make an impact.

AV control products give courtroom deputies complete oversight regarding courtroom proceedings. With an AV control solution in place, deputies can alter audio output levels and switch between multiple sources.

AV controls are operated on the user’s end through touchscreens, typically small enough to mount on top of a desk or even integrated into courtroom furniture. Touchscreens allow for ease of use regardless of the user’s ability to handle technology.

Audio And Video Recording Ensures No Valuable Court-Related Information Is Lost

All courtroom communication must be recorded for future reference, and that communication must be recorded as accurately as possible.

Modern courtroom recording systems leverage AV technology to its fullest. For example, courtroom recording technology can capture video in 4K resolution and can capture that video from multiple cameras. During playback, users can switch between cameras to view the proceedings from a variety of angles.

Some recording platforms also allow users to tag specific parts of the video for quick reference and playback.

Room Scheduling Solutions Can Optimize How Your Courtrooms Are Used

If you’re running a busy courthouse, you may have trouble matching your room resources with your room needs. In other words, your courtrooms and conference rooms may not be optimally utilized.

Room scheduling solutions can solve this issue. With a room booking solution, courtroom deputies can reserve particular rooms for particular times, ensuring there are no issues with double-booking and no need to find a space at the last minute.

Also, courthouses can monitor the distribution of rooms and their utilization. If some rooms are frequently empty and others frequently booked, you can use room scheduling software to reallocate your room-related resources appropriately. That’s a big efficiency boost.

A Certified AV Integrator Can Design, Install And Support Your Court’s AV System

Courtrooms are one of the biggest challenges for AV integration, as courthouses tend to be older buildings with older infrastructure in place. Further, AV courtroom solutions can scale up quickly, as there are many technologies for courts to consider. It’s likely that, during integration, the AV crew will need to remove, replace, or integrate existing technologies with new ones.

Given the complexity involved, you’ll want to work with a certified AV integrator as they will be more familiar with solutions built for courtroom environments and will have the expertise needed to implement them. Also, with their advanced knowledge comes adaptability, so experienced integrators will be able to adjust to your project’s needs as they develop.

In short, with a certified integrator, your courtroom will have a full-fledged technology partner supporting your efficiency-enhancing AV projects.

In terms of AV, bigger is often better, which is why video walls are one of the most popular products for a variety of businesses. Video wall technology has come a long way since it was first introduced, but the concept remains the same – tying several (or several hundred) displays together to create a single, dynamic image.

Modern video wall solutions can be designed to any size and nearly any shape, giving businesses incredible flexibility in how they present their brand and valuable information. In terms of making a visual impact, nothing is as effective as a well-designed video wall, and here we’ve detailed what makes the video wall a top AV solution for businesses.

Video Walls Offer Superior Image Quality And Resolution

The first thing most people notice about video walls is their size. Video walls are capable of going big with content, to the point where they can deliver content to an entire stadium full of people.

The sheer scalability is only matched by some large format projectors, but video walls have the advantage of producing clear, crisp images even when they span vast distances.

If you’re relying on a projector, you’ll need to focus the lens and calibrate its optics for optimal image quality, which can be tricky. Further, you’ll need the right surface to project the image onto, and if you don’t have a projector screen or high contrast surface to bounce off of, the result may be lacking.

Video walls, though, are powered with leading-edge LED technology. They create their own light, output at ultra-high resolution and can output a full range of colors. The result is a strikingly large, but strikingly vivid and engaging picture.

Video Walls Offer Content Outputting Versatility

Video walls are a blank canvas for your organization, capable of delivering just about any type of content you’d want to deliver. Whether it’s to inform customers about current specials, demonstrate products in action, display social media posts or run documentary-quality video of the company in action.

You can also be creative with how this content is displayed on the video wall. This is done through the use of media players, which can be attached to each display or run from a single media processing unit that’s located elsewhere. In either case, media players provide features like content programming and source selection, so your video wall can seamlessly switch from outputting a single image across the entire wall to outputting from multiple sources to multiple outputs.

Video Wall Hardware Can Also Be Positioned And Arranged However You Want

The AV industry has seen a wave of new video wall technologies hit the market in recent years, and they’ve greatly expanded what a video wall can do.

For example, modern video walls can still rely on the grid-like arrangement of past video walls, but with ultra-thin bezels that don’t interfere with the image. Even better, though, is the rise of direct view LED walls, which can be incorporated into impressive AV applications.

Direct view LED video walls have no bezels. Instead, they’re made up of edgeless LED tiles that are linked together to create a single, large screen. The LED tiles can be easily removed from the wall for quick servicing and used to build video walls of any size of shape.

Imagine a space where vivid screens wrap around corners and trail up to the ceiling. With modern video wall technology, you can now arrange digital screens the same way you would with fabric or canvas.

Video Walls Can Drive A Memorable Interactive Experience

Some types of video walls are also built with interactivity features, and interactivity is something people are naturally drawn to. This is a major reason why businesses are considering their own investment in video walls.

For instance, an interactive video wall can be used by customers to quickly search through a store’s inventory. They can be used to find certain parts of the building or model clothing or furniture before it’s purchased. Interactivity is a valuable tool that gives customers the ability to browse and buy the way they prefer. Giving customers what they want is usually a good way to keep them coming back.

Nothing Beats A Video Wall In Terms Of Customer Engagement

The sheer size and vividness of a video wall is impossible to compete with. Multiple studies show that people respond better to digital signage than static signage, and video walls can make the most out of this fact. Everything is more effective when displayed through a video wall, whether it’s strictly information, entertaining, or brand-positive content.

Couple the visual advantage of a video wall with interactivity, and not only will you capture and retain customer attention – you will leave them with a positive experience that either could mean an instant sale or future business. In this way, a video wall isn’t just a visual flourish, but a conversion and brand-building platform.

A Certified AV Integrator Can Help Your Company Develop Its Video Wall Projects

As effective as video wall technology is, it works best when designed, installed, and calibrated by a reputable AV integrator. Experienced AV teams know what digital displays to choose for video wall applications, along with supporting devices and software. An integrator will also be able to source all the necessary hardware and software, which can be quite job in itself.

If your organization wants to go big with its AV, a certified integrator can help visualize your video wall options, map out timelines, execute the project as planned, and even support the system following installation.

Professional teams are doing everything remotely these days – work, meetings, collaboration, you name it. It’s a trend that’s only accelerated since the 2020 pandemic, but the transition to remote work was already in full swing among many companies.

That transition is an important one for every business to consider now, as people value work-from-home opportunities. Businesses have also noted improved productivity from employees who work remotely, so the arrangement benefits both sides.

The challenge is how to unify your remote and onsite workers together, so that everyone feels like they’re part of the team.

AV is what helps companies take this challenge on. In the last few years, AV manufacturers have created a plethora of collaboration tools, many of them designed for remote and hybrid teams. With these tools, your teams will be able to communicate and collaborate wherever they are.

Video Is The Foundation Of Every Remote Collaboration Solution

Video conferencing technology is the primary tool backing any remote workflow. It’s been around for decades, but once millions of people were pushed out of the office, video conferencing became vital for operational purposes. This, along with the rise of Zoom, Microsoft Teams and other usability-first platforms, has helped professionals get comfortable with being on camera and discussing projects with colleagues.

Popular video conferencing platforms are also designed to fit perfectly into a unified communications (UC) approach. Zoom, Microsoft, Cisco and Google all have apps for mobile conferencing, so users can collaborate and exchange ideas wherever they are.

Video Conferencing Software Is Designed For Interoperability

Your organization likely has existing hardware it would like to leverage for any new video conferencing solution. Fortunately, some of the historical leaders in video conferencing hardware – brands like Poly and Crestron – are partnered with Zoom, Microsoft and others. If you’ve already got an existing Poly or Crestron system in place, it’s likely compatible with the most popular software solutions available.

And while it’s more difficult to maintain multiple conferencing solutions, many organizations do rely on two, three, or more collaboration tools for their remote and hybrid meetings. That way, companies can combine new solutions with what already works.

The Modern Meeting Space Is Designed For Small Teams And Efficient Communication

The typical meeting involves fewer team members. It also involves onsite and remote groups. Together, this has reduced the need for traditional meeting rooms, which are now too large and inefficient for the modern workplace.

Instead, businesses are carving out smaller collaboration spaces like huddle rooms and focus rooms. Instead of one large, cumbersome collaboration space, you can get two or three huddle rooms in the same area.

What is a huddle room, though? These compact meeting spaces typically include the following:

• A digital display, which may be interactive.
• An all-in-one conferencing solution, like a video bar. The Poly X series and Crestron Flex are popular examples.
• A small table and a few chairs. Some feature lounge furniture instead for more comfortable collaboration.
• Accessible cable ports for easy connectivity. This can be built into a small conference table.

Huddle rooms allow small onsite teams to instantly jump into a meeting that includes remote participants. It’s a convenient way for teams to handle project management, brainstorm, provide feedback, and generally ensure they’re on the same page.

Wireless Presentation Systems Simplify Content Sharing And Hybrid Meetings

Wireless presentation solutions are a purpose-built tool for hybrid meetings. They emerged right when the pandemic did, in response to the need for a touchless presentation system.

With a wireless presentation solution, anyone can connect to a room’s presentation and conferencing technology from their own device. And like the name suggests, it’s all wireless. All the user must do is follow on-screen prompts from the room’s display to connect, a process that can be completed in seconds.

Once connected, users have access to the room’s conferencing technology and features. They can start a conference from their device, share media files from their device to the display, and configure lighting or audio levels. This can all be done with minimal knowledge of the room’s technology, so it’s perfect for employees who are rarely in the office.

Interactive Whiteboards Turn Collaboration Into A Hands-On Experience For Everyone

There are a number of ways that interactive whiteboards can improve your meetings. Interactive flat panels like the Clevertouch can be used with remote and hybrid collaboration efforts, as anyone who is connected can see and annotate on the whiteboard as needed.

Whiteboarding sessions allow for that free-form kind of collaboration where people can exchange ideas and a lot of information visually. When the session is over and the whiteboard is marked over, interactive flat panels allow users to save an image of it. Months after the meeting is over, anyone can pull up the whiteboard again to track progress or just refresh their memory.

Certified AV Integrators Are Remote Collaboration Experts

The modern workforce is a remote workforce, and there’s every reason to believe that remote and hybrid workplaces are here to stay. If your organization hasn’t adapted to this new reality yet, it’s time. Fortunately, the time has never been better to adopt remote collaboration tools into your company’s kit.

A certified AV integrator can oversee this process. Once the integrator has a full understanding of your company’s collaboration needs, they can design a system, source its components, install the hardware, set up the software and provide ongoing support. There’s no easier and more cost-effective way to support your remote teams.