Category: Videos

ISE is a big opportunity for people like me to come and have a look at what the rest of the world, and specifically Europe, is doing in the field of AV. A lot of AV companies have decided to put all of their video and audio over the network. And this has been talked about for quite a long time but we’re really getting to a point where almost every single manufacturer actually has a solution all buying for that new sector of technology space.

This is really the big topic for this year’s show: The Convergence of AV and IT. I’ve seen a lot of cool products here but what’s a little bit disappointing is the lack of focus on user experience. However, there’s a lot of focus on technology and functionality. Interestingly, manufacturers don’t seems to be thinking about user experience which is a great critical part of a whole technology solution. That’s why it’s so important that you pick the right pieces of technology and think about how they actually work together.

Adrian – We’ve always wanted a wireless presenter that doesn’t force you to download another app. Why can’t it just work like at home with Apple TV? Pano is Polycom’s answer to this problem. Today we’re going to look at what others deem the last wireless presenter you’ll ever need.

So, the market is flooded with different wireless presenters: there’s Crestron, there’s Extron. But they always require you to do something extra like plugging a dongle or download some software. At home it’s easy like a Chromecast and Apple TV, you just swipe up and present. Why can’t it be like that at the workplace. Polycom were claiming to have solved this problem whilst still maintaining network security that businesses, schools, and universities need. So, Jonathan you’ve spent the last month with Polycom Pano. How do these claims stack up?

Jonathan – I took a deep dive in to the Polycom Pano and spent quite a bit of time and what I quickly realised was Polycom thought about this in a very different way. All those products that you were talking about before, Airtame, Crestron, Extron, they try to reinvent the wheel. They developed their own technology and their own way of doing things which is why you have to download that app or plug in a dongle.

Polycom looked at it differently and they said, “Okay what’s already available?”. You mentioned Apple AirPlay. That’s already available and they implemented that. What’s available for Microsoft laptops? Miracast. So, they used the existing technologies and that means it’s very easy for people to use. They already know how to do AirPlay. Swipe up, press AirPlay. Windows? Windows + K and you’re presenting. No extras required.

Adrian – I do know that there are some people who use Samsung phones and the Google Pixel. You were talking a lot about Apple and Microsoft. How does the Pano work for these devices?

Jonathan – Look, that is the limitation of the Pano and it’s the problem with using existing technology. There’s no technology available for those products. So, they weren’t able to implement it. So, that’s where they had to develop their own and for those products and devices, you have to download an app.

Adrian – To be honest though, I don’t know if I want to present on my phone anyway. I know I have an embarrassing wallpaper and if I put that on the big screen, I’d be a bit uncomfortable. So, I do know that the Apple iPad Pro, and the Surface Pro 3, and all those other Surface Pros they’re generally what are used in the workplace anyway and I think it’s kind of smart to use those technologies for wireless presenting. But I do know, generally, with ease of access there’s generally some network security tradeoffs. How does the Polycom Pano deal with that?

Jonathan – Yes, so that’s a good question and at home security is not really an issue but, in the workplace, absolutely is. And Polycom have actually done the same approach. They’ve used industry standards for information security like 802.1x, Wi-Fi certificate management and even AES encryption.

Adrian – Okay, so for the standard person who doesn’t know what those things mean, could you explain that in layman’s term?

Jonathan – Sure! So essentially, they’re all the tick boxes that the IT Department wants to be able to get it onto your network easily and simply.

Adrian –  So, we were talking about the network. I do know that sometimes when the network goes down, you can’t present. I know I’ve been to installations where it’s just an LCD and just a network presenter and when the network goes down, all of the Meeting Room shut down. How does the Pano deal with a situation like this?

Jonathan – So that’s a valid concern and depends on the technologies. For Windows devices, you can still use it. Miracast, Windows + K it works. Apple devices won’t work. They need to be connected to the network. But Polycom did think about this. They provided the option to connect the hard cable as well and the nice little feature there is when you connect the hard cable, it actually automatically switches for you as well.

Adrian – So, is this the best wireless presenter on the market?

Jonathan – Polycom have really outdone themselves and they’ve made it super simple to present and made it easy for the Network Department to actually approve it for use. So, I think for modern environment with new technology and new hardware, you’d be very hard-pressed to find a better wireless presenter.

Adrian –Well, there you have it. You’d be hard-pressed to find a better wireless presenter. It’s still important, though, to consider that each business has their own unique requirements. This product is not the end for everything. If you want to talk about the Polycom Pano, or any other network presenter please feel free to contact us at konnectus.com.au. Thank you!

David – Huddle spaces are so popular in workspace. So we want to look at some trends we’re seeing in 2018?

Alex – I think everyone expects wireless presenting for huddle spaces. We have it in our homes. Everyone is used to casting up to the screen. In the workplace, we really want to be able to do that quickly with our colleagues. Just get your screen up and share your ideas with everyone. Technologies like the Crestron AirMedia, Polycom Pano, and my favourite, the Barco ClickShare.

David – Why is that your favourite?

Alex – Well, the buttons are perfect. It works for everybody whether you’re a Mac person, a Windows person, or a Chromecast. You just come in, plug in, and away you go.

David – There are so many customers that are very apprehensive about those buttons, I have to say. All over the technology is very simple. However, those buttons, they’d get lost and they’re expensive to replace.

Alex – Yeah, that’s true Dave they are. That’s where things like the Crestron AirMedia, or the Polycom Pano…

David – But I’ll stop you there, because they’ve got software that you have to download on your machine, or your device. If I’m a guest coming in, I don’t know anything about Crestron AirMedia, or Polycom Pano. They’re strange words to me and I’ve got some software I’m going to work with. That’s no good.

Alex – Yeah, that’s true. You do have to download some software. There is software built into our machines nowadays. There’s the Miracast, or the AirPlay, and these things are built into your Operating System. The problem is you got to cross those Operating System barriers. So, if someone comes in with a Mac, or Windows environment, you can’t share.

David – Yeah, but if you’ve got a solution which has both built in, that’s pretty good. If you consider the Polycom Trio as an example and this has another level which I just want to talk about because in these types of spaces, I don’t think it’s really about that physical space anymore. What I’m hearing is that people want to be able to collaborate and communicate with the people outside of the room. So, video and audio are important. The Polycom Trio, for example, has built in Skype for business. So, all of a sudden with a touch of a button, you can be calling colleagues within your other offices, or around the world and having a truly collaborative session with multiple teams. The wireless presenting, that’s got built in Apple AirPlay and built in Microsoft Miracast. So, it covers both your basis there.

Alex – It’s true David, it’s true but once you’re sharing wirelessly on the screen and you want to share with your colleagues outside on a remote call, that’s a really difficult and convoluted process at the moment.

David – Yeah, it becomes at the moment I give you that one. They’ve got something to watch and work on there, Polycom. Yeah. Hopefully they’ll fix it up in a not too distant future. But a product which does kind of solve that problem at the moment is the Crestron Mercury. Yep. Okay. That’s really elegant. You’ve just got a cable which you can connect your device. And you can be in that Skype call. It doesn’t have to be skype either. It can be content sharing straight away. Very simple. It can be other platforms of communication tools which is pretty good.

Alex – That is an advantage and having those other platforms is great too. But I hate the fact that your stuck with Crestron AirMedia as your wireless presenting. You’re just talking about the Miracast and the AirPlay. Those are must haves nowadays. So, I think if you’ve gone to all this work to have a big unit on the table, you’ve probably got some controls on the wall. Now, these people just want something simple and easy to use like an all in one screen. Has the controls, the microphone, the camera, all on it and it’s got, probably, the same Operating System you’re already used to using. Something like the Surface Hub, or WebEx Board, and these things can go on a trolley. So, you can make your Huddle Space flexible. Yeah, true.

David – But do you really need all the features that are built into those? They’re quite expensive. Yeah, that’s true. Do you need that whiteboarding and annotating? Not many people really use that. I really don’t think.

Alex – Yeah. Well, I think lots of creatives or project teams do use annotation and whiteboard. They really loved it, to be able to sketch out ideas. Particularly with the people remote, like we were just talking about, and share those events after the meeting. But, you’re right. It’s not necessarily for everyone.

David – Bit of a niche. I guess we’re agreeing and disagreeing on a few things but maybe there’s three absolute key things that the Huddle Space needs in 2018. Wireless presenting?

Alex – Definitely, must have.

David – Some form of communication tool which can enable video and audio.

Alex – Yeah, I think people expect it.

David – And also, some teams, some niche circumstances, would like that Collaborative annotating or digital whiteboarding. Well, best of luck with your Huddle Spaces and if you’ve got any questions, feel free to get in contact.

David – Today I’m delighted to be with a special guest, Jim Seretis, from Biamp Australia. I’ve known Jim for about 10 years now. He’s an Audio Expert and has so much experience in professional audio in many different fields and industries. I know you’ve given me some great advise along the way. So, it’s great to have you here. Today, we’re going to be talking specifically about workplace. And even more specifically about huddle or collaboration spaces in workplace and the importance of audio. I think you’ve been seeing some trends in recent times in this area. Can you tell us a little bit more about that?

Jim – Sure! Well, thanks for having me. You are right. It’s a bit of a passion of mine as we now see spaces going from what we call static spaces to dynamic spaces. And the biggest trends are driven by the personal devices we have like through our phones, our laptops, etc. And also the metrics of the end users and customers who are wanting to utilise those spaces as possible as they can. We know for a fact that the estimate is about a million rooms a year that get refreshed worldwide, and we’re not talking new rooms. People want these type of flexible, collaborative huddle spaces etc. Effective what they are, the spaces are where people are away from their desks of their normal workplace and actually having a meeting but most importantly trying to have it very effectively and naturally.

David – So how do you see the importance of audio in this type of space because quite often they are out of the open and collaboration, over some sort of a conference call environment is what people are expecting or wanting. How hard is that to achieve or what’s important for them to consider to achieve that?

Jim – As a one on one, we use our phones with soft codecs like Skype for Business, Zoom these days and many many other of those technologies. And on one to one, it works really well with a computer, or a laptop, or your phone. But as we start to bring more people in to that Meeting Room, we’re starting to share information and have a different conference call. The audio does not really behave the way you wanted to because of the physicality of the room, the acoustics, noise and the simple fact that we’ve got very small microphones and speakers in the products we use that don’t adhere nicely to a bigger space. So, those are challenges we need to address.

David – Do you have any specific recommendations, or how to address those challenges, or product types that we are aware of?

Jim – It’s interesting, probably, luckily what’s happening these days is technologies becoming more advanced. We’re becoming more networkable in terms on how we do IP network product for video and audio but also we’ve seen huge advancements in beamforming like with microphones and speakers where we can electronically steer that particular device. Let say, microphone with its elements as needed in that space. Now, that works really well. There are many technologies out there that allow you to create, let say, a footprint of a particular environment. And that’s based on the information and the technology we have but Biamp are a firm believer that technology shouldn’t dictate where you can have a meeting. We see it the other way. The people should dictate where to have a meeting and hence, the technology should follow you.

So, Biamp address this by bringing out a Beamforming Microphone which is, and I state in this in a strong word, a TRACKING MICROPHONE. So, this particular device will lock on to your voice and follow you in the room. So, naturally the idea being that you walk in a room, you can stand up, you can do whatever you need to do and you know you’ll be heard in a way that’s natural on the far end or locally but also doesn’t feel distance. The biggest problem I’ve seen that in Meeting Room is, besides the acoustics, people always sound distant. And the reason is because physics dictate that the best way of the microphone is right next to your mouth. Where, this technology basically follows in the room but also dynamically lift and lower levels accordingly as needed. So, if someone’s shouting, if someone’s quiet, i’s always dynamically chasing them which is fantastic.

David – Yeah, absolutely. I guess, that opens up now a realm of possibilities which weren’t really there before. So, if I’m a designer such as an architect, or maybe a builder looking at workplace at the moment, I could conceivably be considering these more open spaces as Video Conferencing or Teleconferencing Spaces for small teams.

Jim – Absolutely! I think that the other things driving you too, there are lots of times we’ve seen these ad hoc spaces or new enterprises having their lighting, and their ceilings are part of the architecture now. And so, sometimes you can’t put products where you need to. You need to put a product where they suggest it needs to go and having a product that will actually follow you in the room instead of having something that physically just covers an area has its advantage.

David – Well Jim, how can people find out more about some of these products that Biamp has to offer?

Jim – Well, I guess, we obviously do a lot of things like YouTube TV, we have a lot of fantastic articles, through yourself, of course, and knowing the technology and what’s been used. But the technology is available. There are show rooms here in Sydney with certain integrators, obviously with the distributor as well. But the technology, if you need to have a look at it, the best way is to listen to it. And so, I probably suggest and invite anyone, through yourself and others, to give us a call and we can actually set up a demonstration and you will seriously hear the difference.

David – And that’s what we want with audio, to hear the difference. Sounds like a great plan. Well thanks for coming in Jim. We really appreciate your time and your expertise today. And for those watching, that’s definitely the new way to design your collaboration spaces. Focusing on the audio and taking advantage of this new beamforming technology. That companies like Biamp have to offer.