CONFERENCING AND COLLABORATION
Bold, bright pictures with wide customization possibilities
Sony’s BRAVIA Professional Display BZ35L series is a truly professional display that’s designed for flawless round-the-clock operation in retail, corporate and educational environments. Add impact to digital signage and employee communications with bright, colorful high-contrast 4K HDR images. Pro-friendly features simplify integration, ease operation and provides seamless content sharing in today’s connected AV environments. Flexible customization options and 32 GB of storage make BRAVIA Professional Display BZ35L series the ideal LED display for any of your business needs.
Available in screen sizes 55”, 65”, 75” and 85”, BRAVIA Professional Display BZ35L series grab your audience’s attention with high 550 nit screen brightness for punchy, high-impact visuals that are always seen clearly. Advanced Sony picture processing technologies ensure your content looks its very best. The panel’s extrawide viewing angle ensures that everyone in the room can enjoy clear, bright images wherever they’re positioned.
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Contact your Sony Representative or visit our website to learn more.
CONFERENCING AND COLLABORATION
THE INTEGRATION GUIDE TO CONFERENCING AND COLLABORATION
Meeting Spaces of the Future
Immersive Spaces Bring Unique Advantages to Collaborative Process
By Carolyn Heinze
At InfoComm last year in Las Vegas, the Panasonic Connect booth featured an immersive meeting room demo that demonstrated the benefits of an enhanced collaboration experience.
We’re talking a conference table surrounded by wallto-wall, floor-to-ceiling projected content showing everything from scenic backgrounds to flowcharts and apps. It was the result of a partnership with U.K.-based immersive spaces developer Igloo Vision, which also partnered with Christie and Fuji to showcase immersive spaces in their booths at the show.
So, are these the meeting spaces of the future? No—according to Igloo Vision, these innovative areas are already the meeting spaces of today.
Streamlining Cooperation
Immersive collaboration spaces allow meeting participants to view and manipulate data in new ways, explained Kerry Head, CEO at Igloo Vision. She said the AECO (architecture, engineering, construction, and operations) disciplines are using the technology to streamline the collaborative process, most notably by leveraging the ability to view digital twins of construction sites and engineering projects—and make design modifications on the fly, in real time, while meeting.
These collaborative spaces can offer immersive experiences to both onsite meeting contributors and remote participants. “This is another really powerful tool, as you can see scale far beyond what a 2D render can provide, whilst also not compromising in-person meetings, which is a big advantage over using VR headsets,” she added. “We’ve seen this used by clients
to conduct things like virtual site visits, completely eliminating the need to travel and the associated cost, time, and carbon footprint that comes with that.”
Immersive collaboration space deployment involving Igloo Vision’s technology consists of three primary components. First, there is the Igloo Core Engine (ICE), a software platform that Head likened to an operating system. Next is the hardware, which must be chosen with care based on the specific use case requirements for pixel density, audio, and even the application of sensors and head-tracking capabilities.
Igloo Vision has partnered with several OEMs that produce systems suitable for these environments; it also offers the Igloo Media Player (IMP), a single solution for Igloo Vision spaces. “Previously, to run a space like this you would need a combination of bulky technologies, but with an IMP it’s all run from one sleek box,” she said. (The IMP is available in Pro and Lite versions, based on customer needs.)
Content formatting is the third core component of an immersive collaboration space rollout, an important consideration if meeting participants are to view materials as they should. “This can often be trickier than you might think, as many solutions suffer from distortion if they’re not programmed properly—and that programming to make sure it’s correct can be a very complex job,” Head explained. Igloo Vision’s True Perspective feature is designed to facilitate this process by enabling users to perform content formatting with the click of a button, she added.
Location, Location, Location
Igloo Vision executes projects directly for end clients, but also works with AV designers and integrators. Immersive collaboration spaces from Igloo Vision can be custom, prefabricated, or installed into an existing
facility that has been retrofitted for this purpose. Head said that prefabricated spaces—commonly in the form of a freestanding cube or cylinder that is mounted into an existing room—are the most popular among her company’s customers, but that clients can achieve immersive collaboration in spaces of all sizes and shapes.
In fact, she recalled a project for a well-known real estate firm where an old broom closet was converted into an immersive collaboration space. “On the opposite end of the spectrum, we’ve installed bespoke designs that are much, much larger,” Head noted. “It’s all down to the client’s preference, what they want to achieve, and what they have available, [and] we work with whatever that might be.”
One challenge in delivering a true immersive experience is when the space features glass walls or windows. Head argued the problem is easily resolved: “We’ve had clients in the past that required dualpurpose rooms, so it was both an immersive space and a conventional meeting room,” she said. “To achieve this, we install blinds over the windows that are color-graded in the specific tone we know is most effective for projection, and these can be extended or retracted based on the needs of the room at the time.”
That said, the best immersive collaboration experiences are those that are as distraction-free as possible, according to Joe Whitesides, CTS-D, director of experience technology (XTG) at AVI-SPL. “You need to pick places where there’s less stimuli—fewer windows or no windows,” he said.
For a space to be immersive, all aspects of the environment should be controlled, including acoustics. “You don’t want to be able to hear anything outside [of the space] that would distract you from the message [that’s being delivered in the space],” Whitesides said.
Many professional fields are using immersive spaces to streamline collaboration on projects.
CONFERENCING AND COLLABORATION
When immersive collaboration spaces incorporate videoconferencing capabilities, Whitesides warned they run the risk of compromised camera performance. “You’re not going to get great exposure in a dark environment,” he explained, “so [during a videoconference] you’re not going to look your best.”
Let Me Show You Something
Display technology is a primary element of an immersive collaboration environment, and whether to specify dvLED or projection depends, once again, on the use case. According to Whitesides, the problem with dvLED is the heat, which can render a space uncomfortable for long collaboration sessions. At the same time, ambient light issues could complicate the delivery of an optimum experience that’s projector driven. “But there’s a cool factor to that, where you’re in a kind of theatrical mode,” Whitesides conceded. “People change their behaviors in these theatrical modes.”
transform entire walls or conference tables into giant interactive tablets. In these spaces, Whitesides suggested the interactive walls need to be flat. When the space features curved displays, a table with interactive capabilities may be a better solution.
The need for interactivity is another factor to consider when designing these environments. When integrated with displays, sensor technology can
One of the challenges associated with selling immersive collaboration spaces is that it’s difficult to describe to clients the possibilities the technology has to offer. What’s more effective is when customers can experience these environments themselves. This is why tech developers and manufacturers are focusing on
building showrooms that clients may visit to gain insight into the options that exist.
“Having a place where you can take customers—either physically or virtually—to experience the room is really important because people don’t realize what can be done,” said Petro Shimonishi, director of new business development at Panasonic Connect.
For these deployments to be successful, Shimonishi underlined the need for good communication between all project stakeholders. “Communicate with your industrial designer or interior designer,” she advised, noting that a siloed approach to project execution will produce unnecessary obstacles. “Having good communication amongst the different disciplines that are doing the construction is extremely important.”
Shimonishi also encouraged AV designers and integrators to lean on their manufacturer partners for guidance and support when it comes to equipment selection, placement, and configuration. “You don’t need to do this on your own,” she said. “We’re here to help as people start easing into fully immersive spaces.”
Panasonic hosted an immersive collaboration meeting room demo using Igloo Vision technology at InfoComm.
At Issue
How close is the Pro AV industry to providing true meeting equity for hybrid workforces?
Garth Lobban Director of Marketing, Atlona
Meeting equity remains an essential goal for any business with a hybrid workforce. Corporate IT/AV teams need to work with integrators to ensure meeting spaces are equipped with cameras that can see all the participants in the room as well as audio gear that can capture the voices of those participants. Those signals need to be properly routed to the meeting platform for the participants on the other end of the conversation. The same is true with respect to the AV gear used by the remote workers. PTZ/ePTZ cameras for meeting rooms and linkable speakerphones are part of the AV solution. These peripherals must be connected to AV switchers with advanced USB capability that can switch these signals to the PC or laptop used to facilitate the meeting.
Troy Jensen Associate Director of Global Accounts, Shure
Building a productive collaboration environment requires a thoughtful combination of the right communication technologies and well-designed physical spaces. The responsibility of creating these spaces falls on Pro AV teams who need access to hardware, software, and accessories that work together to enable collaboration between remote and in-person employees. The technology must be user friendly, providing the installer with a method for quick configuration while ensuring meetings run without issues. While achieving true meeting equity remains a work in progress, meeting spaces equipped with easily deployable technology enable hybrid workforces to collaborate effectively and integrate into a shared work experience.
Steve Brauner Senior Product Manager, Professional Displays, Sharp Electronics
Sharp Electronics is actively advancing meeting equity for hybrid workforces by creating seamless and inclusive collaboration experiences by combining hardware, software, and cloud services. Notable products include SHARP AQUOSBOARD interactive display systems and SYNAPPX GO meeting room software, which integrate touch displays and Microsoft Teams functionalities to enhance productivity in hybrid meeting environments. These tools address challenges like inconsistent access to meeting resources and unequal participation opportunities for remote attendees.
David Missall Insights Manager Consultants and Technical Application Engineer Manager, Sennheiser
While there certainly have been recent advancements in the AV industry to move closer to true meeting equity, there is still some work to be done. The most foundational element to creating an exceptional, equitable, and inclusive work or learning environment is audio. Simply put, when speech is intelligible, people can collaborate. For everyone in a room to participate in discussions with ease, meeting rooms require not only a voice lift system, but also a bi-directional solution that enables both assistive listening and the ability to talk back. These systems enhance audio clarity and enable seamless communication for in-room and remote participants by evenly distributing sound and integrating with video systems. At Sennheiser, we’re focused on creating these equitable work environments in hybrid setups. Ensuring that everyone can hear clearly is not only about inclusion; it’s about fostering community and connection.
Scott Norman Commercial Market Senior Director, Snap One
In many ways, the industry and our company are providing enhanced meeting equity for all hybrid workforces. Constantly improving technology and expanded connectivity has made this a reality. We’ve made a ton of progress since COVID-19, and we now live in a world where we can instantly jump on a video call with attendees worldwide, in offices, from home, and virtually anywhere. These are productive meetings where everyone has an equal seat at the virtual table and isn’t bound by travel or budgets. In some ways, remote attendees are even more empowered to express their views through the chat or emoji features that can be less comfortable in person, and they can choose which meeting space works best for them.
Sean Carolan Technical Sales, Holosonics
I believe that the industry is getting closer to creating equity for hybrid workforces. However, further improvement still needs to be made both visually and sonically. The visual aspects such as framing, lighting, color, and re-framing still need development. But not just those elements are important—audio is essential too, if not more so, and still requires improvement with limiting invasive noise such as stationary sounds (such as HVAC) and extraneous user-introduced sounds. Solving the equity hybrid problem is an all-encompassing mission; it depends on an organization’s willingness and an integrated approach to solving both the Pro AV technology and human aspects alike.
CONFERENCING AN D COLLABORATION
Sharp PN-LC652
Elevate your collaboration with the SHARP PN-LC652 AQUOS BOARD display, featuring 4K Ultra-HD resolution and an intuitive “Pen-onPaper” experience. With a single USB-C connector, setup is a breeze—just plug in and start working. Its built-in multimedia player and integrated controller enhance productivity, while three HDMI inputs ensure connectivity with multiple devices. Built-in speakers, easy scheduling, and flexible control options make this display ideal for any professional environment.
Snap One WattBox 150 Series
Remotely monitor and manage customer devices with the WattBox 150 Series IP Power Controller. This device can be added to the network via wired LAN or Wi-Fi, and can remotely reboot equipment on demand and automatically ping devices for proactive auto-reboots. This compact controller is ideal for many projects and can be discreetly installed behind displays and other tight locations.
Shure MXA902 + ANIUSB-MATRIX
Shure’s new MXA902 + ANIUSBMATRIX Audio Conferencing Kit is a pre-routed, ready-to-go package that includes the MXA902 ceiling array microphone with built-in loudspeaker paired with the ANIUSB-MATRIX audio network interface for seamless connectivity to popular conferencing platforms. The kit is certified for Microsoft Teams Rooms, Zoom Rooms, and works with Google Meet. The Audio Conferencing Kit is a complete, single-vendor, networked solution designed for small and medium-sized rooms that offers superior conferencing audio experiences.
Sennheiser TeamConnect Bars
Part of the TeamConnect Family, the TC Bars are feature-rich, all-in-one conferencing devices. Available in two models for different room sizes—TC Bar S and TeamConnect Bar M—they scale to the largest meeting rooms. The TC Bar S has four microphones and two speakers, while the Bar M has six microphones and four speakers. Both deliver trusted Sennheiser audio quality. With plug-and-play setup via USB and advanced beamforming technology, they ensure freedom of movement. A 4K Ultra HD camera with AI features enhances video quality. They also offer flexible setups, onboard Dante port, multiple mounting options, remote management, brand-agnostic integration, and advanced security.
Holosonics Audio Spotlight AS-24iX
Holosonics’ Audio Spotlight AS-24iX directional speakers create sound in a narrow beam precise enough for a single listener, eliminating unnecessary sound bleed or the need for headphones/headsets—even in open, shared spaces. Featuring a built-in amplifier/ processor and flexible IO, the product is compatible with any line-level audio feed, and also includes an output for daisy-chaining multiple speakers to extend the focused sound field for larger groups. The flagship AS-24iX model conveniently replaces a standard 2x2-foot ceiling tile without any additional hardware, making it an excellent choice for conference rooms and collaboration spaces.
Sony BRAVIA Professional BZ35L Series
Sony’s BRAVIA Professional BZ35L Series is a truly professional display that’s designed for flawless round-the-clock operation in retail, corporate, and educational environments. Add impact to digital signage and employee communications with bright, colorful, high-contrast 4K HDR images. Pro-friendly features simplify integration, ease operation, and provide seamless content sharing in today’s connected AV environments. Flexible customization options and 32 GB of storage make BRAVIA BZ35L the ideal LED display for
The AT-CAP-FC110 ePTZ camera is part of Atlona’s Captivate Series, developed for videoconferencing and hybrid meetings within small to medium-sized meeting, learning, and gathering spaces. The camera delivers high-quality imaging at resolutions up to 4K@30Hz, with a generous 110-degree-wide horizontal field of view for coverage of compact spaces such as huddle rooms. Along with electronic pan, tilt, and zoom capabilities, it offers auto-framing functionality based on detection of up to six participants.
