A/V Technology That Can Save You Money, Increase Productivity and/or Generate Revenue in Your Meeting Space, Part 2
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Video/ Audio Teleconference Q&A
Q: Does your video teleconference system consist of a camera with a fixed, wide-angle shot of the whole room?
A: Whether you use hardware or software-based video conferencing for your organization, there are cameras available to help you better manage video conferencing. High definition (HD) PTZ cameras (pan, tilt, zoom) are available to plug right into the USB port on your dedicated computer. These cameras are easy to use and will allow you to use presets to have pre-determined camera views within the room or you can adjust the camera as needed.
Q: Do the people on the other side (far end) of your video or audio conference calls frequently say that they are struggling to hear you and what is happening on your side of the conference call?
A: Neither video nor audio conference calls could possibly work without the audio portion of the system. Consider purchasing microphones for your room – ceiling or desktop, wired or wireless, gooseneck or boundary mics – to help with increased audio intelligibility and comprehension during your audio and video calls.
Q: Do you have to call the AV or IT department every time you need to have a video or conference call?
A: A tabletop touch panel control system will assist you with setting up camera presets or changing the camera angle with the push of a button. The control panel may also be programmed to dial audio teleconference calls using a phone hybrid system.
Q: Do you have a "starfish" conference phone in the center of the table and/or extension mics, but you have 15 people around the table?
A: It is definitely time to upgrade! Your ability to engage those on the other end of the call just plummeted if they cannot hear you, and the engagement of the other attendees in your room will also lessen if they cannot hear the far end of the call. Adding ceiling speakers and a phone hybrid system into this meeting space will allow everyone inside of your room to hear what is happening on the far end of the call.
Audio Sound Systems
There are many different applications when it comes to permanently installed audio sound systems. Have you worked or attended meetings at a hotel where the overhead ceiling speakers no longer work and they snap, crackle, and pop? Fixing or upgrading your overhead ceiling speakers/ control system will save your venue money down the road because you’ll be able to charge for the sound system’s use and retain this revenue. Clients won’t need to bring in external sound systems for basic presentations if your overhead sound system works.
Sound Masking
There are many offices these days with cubes or open-floor plans. This is something that is happening a lot more these days in an effort to increase collaboration between employees/ work groups. During the times that you don’t want to hear what is going on at your neighbor’s cube, a sound masking system can be employed to assist.
Sound masking consists of small speakers placed in the ceiling that generate a background noise that can help make the human voice unintelligible. The speakers emit a noise that would sound similar to an HVAC vent in the background. If the voice is less intelligible in these spaces, productivity will increase and distractions will decrease. These systems can be placed in the ceiling above your open spaces or outside of conference rooms or offices where sensitive conversations may be held. Sound masking systems allow your team to be more productive in their respective workspaces.
Hopefully one, or a few, of these ideas hits home with you for the meeting spaces in your office or venue. The time is now to incorporate these technologies in your space in order to increase productivity and engagement, and/or generate revenue for your venue.
Alexis B. La Broi, MBA, CMP, CTS, is a Systems Consultant for Avitecture, Inc., an audiovisual integration firm based in Sterling, VA. She can be reached at alexis.labroi@avitecture.com.
