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Poly’s “Power of Many” Message for Businesses

Alexa for Business

Poly made noise in the AV and workplace collaboration industry this week as it became the new face of the combination of Plantronics and Polycom.

The company is supporting its first marketing campaign, “The Power of Many,” with some high-profile announcements that focus on product integration with technology from Microsoft, Amazon, and Google. Poly made these announcements while at Enterprise Connect in Orlando.

In the days that followed the rebranding as Poly, the company announced:

The Power of Many

Common to these products is their emphasis on bringing people together, which is the message of Poly’s “Power of Many” campaign. The “power of many” also describes the functions that are brought together in a solution. Systems that combine useful functions are what you might envision when you hear the term “unified communications” — the ability to review one’s calendar, join a meeting, and make video calls from one device.

Along with this versatility, the goal is simplicity, which is key to the user experience of solutions that combine multiple functions. You could say that’s the main appeal of a solution that includes Alexa, making it possible to manage meetings and room devices through voice.

Poly’s solution announcements this week indicate their focus on a positive user experience. Common to each of them:  These solutions integrate with systems that people are comfortable with and want to keep using in a way that isn’t needlessly complex. One phrase on the Poly website touts the ability to “concentrate on ideas in the air, not devices in the room.” When people use workplace collaboration solutions, they shouldn’t notice the technology to an extent that is disruptive. Rather, they should be able to give their attention to the collaboration that the technology is making possible.

As new solutions enable us to do more from more places, companies are wise to incorporate those solutions in the workplace to attract talented people who want to be able to collaborate in a variety of ways and do it on demand.

The solutions that are easiest to use will be the most attractive, as long as they have the capabilities that people expect. Those capabilities are with us in a variety of solution packages. The power of Poly’s message is in its focus on how its solutions make it easier for people to produce the products, ideas, services and innovations that keeps their businesses growing.

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Learning Solutions for Hearing-Impaired Students

Audio Conferencing

The following is a guest post from Sennheiser, an AVI-SPL partner that specializes in audio solutions, including those designed for business and education applications.

In order to promote integration at universities and other educational institutions, ever better technical solutions are being developed that enable all students to have barrier-free access to research and teaching. Inclusion means that no one is excluded; inclusion technology means, for example, that there are no separate places for hearing-impaired students in lecture halls and that everyone can sit wherever they want. Of course, the prerequisite for this is that the hearing quality is the same in all places.

Learning requires listening. In the course of the global digital transformation, the digitization of AV devices affects universities in particular, because they need the best tools for exchanging thoughts and words. Students are best supported in their personal development by creating ideal conditions for the exchange of knowledge and ideas in lectures and discussions.

Audio barriers can be costly for universities in the context of growing societal demand for true integration. Audio streaming on top quality intelligent devices perfects the integration of hearing-impaired students.

In order to make inclusion at universities possible, Sennheiser has developed MobileConnect: Sennheiser MobileConnect transmits audio content via WiFi live and in top quality directly to any smartphone. Using the free MobileConnect app, you can intuitively adjust the sound properties.

Personalized accessibility for students
MobileConnect is Sennheiser’s WiFi-based system for barrier-free hearing. It is optimized for use at universities, where it best meets students’ wishes for state-of-the-art and easy-to-use audio technology.

The system for assistive listening
MobileConnect streams audio content via WiFi live and in excellent quality directly to your smartphone. The audio signal is forwarded to the headphones, hearing aid or cochlear implant.

Personal hearing assistant
The Personal Hearing Assistant developed by the Fraunhofer Institute for Digital Media Technology IDMT makes it easy to adapt the audio signal to individual hearing needs. This intuitive touchscreen control provides hearing aids for the hearing impaired and improves speech intelligibility and sound quality.

How it works
With MobileConnect, the innovative assistive listening system, lectures are transmitted to mobile devices and smartphones via WiFi in real time and in high quality. To access a livestream, students simply download and install the free MobileConnect app (available for iOS and Android) and use their own device to connect to their university’s WiFi network.

Fast amortisation – bring your own device
Students use their own smartphones, so no additional hardware is required. MobileConnect requires no maintenance or operating costs, resulting in lower total cost of ownership and a faster return on investment. This eliminates the need for device handling, headphone hygiene or battery management.

Quick setup, easy operation
MobileConnect integrates easily with any existing audio infrastructure and can be installed within a day. The ConnectStation is simply connected to the existing audio system and WiFi and the app is then launched. The entire system is easy to maintain and quickly configured via the Admin Web Interface.

In order to further develop innovative streaming solutions, audio specialist Sennheiser has founded Sennheiser Streaming Technology GmbH (SST) as a competence centre for innovative streaming solutions.

Sennheiser Streaming Technologies combines the 70-year audio expertise of the German family-owned company with future-oriented developments in the field of streaming. The Hamburg-based subsidiary will initially focus on low-latency audio streaming to mobile devices (MobileConnect).

Shaping the future of audio and creating unique sound experiences for customers – this aim unites Sennheiser employees and partners worldwide. Founded in 1945, Sennheiser is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of headphones, microphones and wireless transmission systems. With 21 sales subsidiaries and long-established trading partners, the company is active in more than 50 countries and operates its own production facilities in Germany, Ireland, Romania and the USA. Since 2013, Sennheiser has been managed by Daniel Sennheiser and Dr. Andreas Sennheiser, the third generation of the family to run the company.

 

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Webinar Recording: Improving Your UCC Meeting-Room Audio

Audio Conferencing

In this webinar, recorded on March 6, learn what it takes to deliver high-quality audio throughout your organization’s meeting rooms so that all participants — including those joining remotely — have an effective, productive experience.

The most important part of any video call or conferencing meeting is the audio. Without good audio, there’s no meeting. Get the recording of this free Commercial Integrator and MyTechDecisions webinar, and learn how Biamp audio solutions provide a high-quality experience. Zach Snook, product manager for Biamp, covers:

  • Beamtracking microphones
  • Power-over-Ethernet amplifiers
  • desono™ conferencing speakers
  • Soundmasking
  • Bluetooth and USB connectivity
  • DSPs
  • VoIP deployment tools

You’ll also hear from Charlie Salto, a project engineer for AVI-SPL. Charlie gives his insight into audio design for meeting rooms. Whether you’re refreshing a meeting room or designing and installing a new solution on a tight timeline, experts from Biamp and AVI-SPL explain how they can address these challenges quickly and efficiently.

Get the Recording for “Improving Your UCC Meeting-Room Audio” >

 

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Webinar Recording: Audio Basics for Meetings and Conferences

Audio Conferencing

AV is about adaptation and being able to support legacy meeting and conferencing equipment while designing systems for the ever- changing workplace environment. During this webinar, learn how to ensure good sound quality in typical business situations by bridging the gap between your own technical background and the world of professional audio. Gino Sigismondi, Shure’s Associate Director, Technical Support and Training, covers:

  • Basic components of a sound system, key audio concepts, and the differences between digital and analog audio.
  • How room acoustics and noise affect the intelligibility of the audio, what feedback is and what causes it.
  • Basics of microphones – how they work, the use and placement for different microphone types and the pros and cons of selecting and using either wired or wireless microphones.
  • How different-sized rooms relate to the sound system that would be selected and how to distinguish between a discussion and conference system.

Get the recording for “Audio Basics for Meetings and Conferences” >

About the presenter

Gino Sigismondi has been a Shure Associate since 1997 and currently manages the company’s Technical Training division. He brings over 15 years of practical experience in professional audio to the product training seminars he conducts for Shure customers, dealers, distribution centers, and internal staff. Gino spent 10 years as a member of Applications Engineering, assisting Shure customers with choosing and using the company’s vast array of products. He is also the author of the Shure educational publications “Selection and Operation of Personal Monitors,” “Audio Systems Guide for Music Educators,” and “Selection and Operation of Audio Signal Processors.” He was recently awarded status as an “Adjunct Instructor” by the InfoComm Academy.

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AVI-SPL Case Study: Canada Science and Technology Museum

Audio Conferencing

The three-year renovation of the Canada Science and Technology Museum includes an array of technology — including edge-blending projection and video collaboration — that creates an immersive experience for visitors, improves outreach programming, and improves the meeting experience for staff. Audiovisual technology like wireless microphones and conferencing solutions empowers the museum to provide educational events that can include remote participants.

Read the case study of AVI-SPL’s work for the Canada Science and Technology Museum >

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AVI-SPL TechXchange Comes to Five Cities This Fall

Audio Conferencing

You’re ready to take action that improves your workplace, and AVI-SPL is ready to help. This fall, AVI-SPL will host five TechXchange events at locations in the U.S. and Canada. At each venue, guests will learn from experts how space, design, technology, and people are coming together to define new and better work experiences. Each TechXchange runs from the morning into the afternoon — though you can stop in whenever convenient — and includes talks, a Q&A panel, and an expo featuring the latest AV and collaboration products from vendors like Biamp, Crestron, HARMAN, Milestone, Scansource, and many others. Our fall lineup will visit the following cities and location:

Atlanta TechXchange, Wed., Sept. 12, Mercedes-Benz Stadium

Washington, D.C. TechXchange, Thurs., Sept. 27, Nationals Park

Twin Cities TechXchange, Tues., Oct. 2, U.S. Bank Stadium

Calgary TechXchange, Thurs., Oct. 11, TELUS Spark Science Center

Denver TechXchange, Tues., Oct. 30, Downtown Aquarium

Why You Should Attend

  • Improve your workplace engagement through space, design and technology
  • Learn how to apply better work experiences in your organization
  • Learn about the latest technology to streamline workplace collaboration
  • Meet with peers and share challenges/solutions
  • Get expert advice on your specific workplace challenges

If you’ve been tasked to do more with less, increase business agility, or help create the workplace environment that gives people the tools to innovate and collaborate, treat yourself to a valuable day of learning from experts and networking with peers—where the lunch is on us

To view our Partner blog, click here