The modern meeting room. We’ve all been there. We arrive early for our scheduled meeting, thirty minutes early to be exact. Today is an important day. It’s our responsibility to present a project, presentation or other key messages to our established colleagues and team members. “Thirty minutes should be plenty of time to prepare for the start of the meeting,” we tell ourselves confidently. This should be the case. Meanwhile, we spend hours, days and sometimes even weeks of personal preparation.
Unfortunately, this is just not the case.
AV Equipment In The Past
The AV equipment in the modern meeting room we’ve been assigned or scheduled is just simply not cooperating. The television display won’t turn on, the remote control is not working; or missing entirely. The messy bundle of interface cables required to connect is nothing more than a rat’s nest of incompatible cables. Once you meticulously search the rear of the TV to find the power and input source selection button. However, you realize that in your mad rush to make it to the office in the morning. It slipped your mind to grab that proprietary adapter from your home office desk that enables you to connect to the television.
Your colleagues and clients are here. Sitting patiently waiting for the presentation to commence. Now it’s quarter past. Patience is wearing thin. You’ve called the IT department, who seem to be uninterested in assisting in any form of a quick capacity. Finding an alternative operational meeting room is becoming difficult. “Have you tried turning it off and on” is the question being asked by three separate well-intentioned individuals.
AV Equipment Now
Let’s be honest, this is 2017. We are nearly in 2018! We have complex, ultra-compact, powerful devices that we use on a minute by minute basis daily. However, our meeting rooms just seem to always have annoying issues. Complicated control systems, dated legacy hardware that is incompatible with the majority of modern devices we utilize. Another example, the complete lack of cabling and adapters. Even the most basic form of a controller can complicate things.
Above all, the common misconception today is that these perfectly simple, frustration-free meeting room systems don’t exist. They are wildly expensive. They sacrifice functionality or key features that are deemed necessary. However, this is simply not the case. Five, maybe even four years ago this may have been the case. Video conferencing systems would cost upwards of $10,000 for the hardware alone. That’s not to mention the professional services required to implement. These systems were reserved for the wealthy, million, even billion-dollar organizations.
Different AV Solutions
Today, solutions exist that offer 100 times the functionality, convenience, and simplicity at a fraction of the price. The evolution of video conferencing, interactive and wireless technology, increased internet bandwidth and smartphones have allowed powerful AV. From meeting rooms, huddle spaces and classroom technology now can be accessible. Even to small and mid-sized business alike.
An innovative product like the Barco Clickshare allows room users and presenters to collaborate together. This allows sharing content to be wireless on any display or projector. By only using a small USB dongle or an iOS or Android device. There’s no software to worry about. It takes mere seconds to connect, launch and go.
The Crestron Mercury combines a powerful conference phone, with vibrant built-in touch screen control. In addition, it has wireless presentation capabilities, room occupancy sensor, and a high-definition web camera. This provides an all in one solution that gives expensive video conferencing systems a run for their money. For example, Lifesize, Cisco & Polycom.
In addition, premium AV systems and solutions still exist. They offer some fantastic features catered towards larger boardrooms, event spaces and lecture theatres. However, the reality is for the vast majority that simplicity is key. Focusing on a few key features like video conferencing. For example, Zoom and Skype. Also, wireless presentations and tidy cable management solutions. These are affordable and entirely beneficial for the modern meeting room.
Reduce Frustration
So, let’s make meeting room frustration a thing of the past. Let’s provide our employees, colleagues, and clients with the tools that promote communication, connection and sharing of ideas.
For all your meeting room AV needs, contact Limitless AV. Also, don’t forget to follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter @LimitlessAV for daily updates and more.
