Business opportunities


ning of video cameras to see the whole room. The Yamaha CS-700 has a 120-degree ul- tra-wide angle camera captures all meeting participants in one field of view. The CS-700 cam- era covers 80% more area in the whole room, removing the hassle of panning and zooming


that every word spoken at the far end is heard. Combine that with the award-winning audio processing technology integrat- ed in the CS-700 and it adds up to easy, natural conversa- tions between meeting partici- pants with clarity and intelligi- bility for all.


portunity that Huddle Spaces represent, and have announced compact and cost-effective solutions to suit. We touched on Kramer’s VIA GO and Cre- stron’s SR last month. This month, we also include Star- Leaf’s GTm range. Kramer’s VIA GO offers iOS,


look of this and the simplicity of the interface. By the way, the


manufacturer’s SRP will be €2649.00 with the product available across Europe later in the Autumn 2017.


StarLeaf is also responding to client desire for compact units. The new GTm range aims


either a Microsoft Skype for Business server or Office 365 installation to take advantage of Microsoft’s video capabili- ties, StarLeaf CEO Mark Loney explains:


“Digital transformation at the desktop and the move to Mic- rosoft’s UC platform is creating a huge and growing demand for professional quality vid- eo conferencing in all rooms throughout an enterprise. But the biggest requirement is for a hardware appliance for small team meeting spaces. We’ve developed the GTm Huddle to meet this need and, as with ev- erything we do, we have kept it simple, so that our system just plugs straight in and users only have to press one button to call or join a conference.”


Brainstorming


With the trend currently in fa- vour of packing the capabilities of larger meeting rooms into smaller form factor devices – perhaps with smaller displays – is there not a case for solutions with yet lower cost with an ed- ited set of capabilities? At the recent Sahara Showcase event, AV News saw the latest incar- nation of eBeam technology – the eBeam SmartMarker. This is an ideal solution where you have a huddle space where two or three colleagues want to go offline to brainstorm a problem or sketch out an idea.


StarLeaf has announced the release of a dedicated Huddle Space model, the GTm 5140 Huddle.


cameras to see everybody in the room. The high pixel count of the CS-700 ensures that every expression is captured clearly for people up to 10 ft/3m from the camera.


The CS-700 features a beam- forming microphone array that is said to pick up every word spoken in the room. A four-el- ement speaker bar provides audio in the room, ensuring


Just as we were going to press, Yamaha announced that its YVC-1000MS companion microphone and speaker prod- uct system passed Skype for Business Certification Version 3 tests.


AV heritage


A number of established AV brands have recognised the op-


eBeam SmartMarker: This is an ideal solution where two or three col- leagues want to go offline to brainstorm a problem or sketch out an idea.


P10 AV News November 2017


Android, Chromebook, PC, and Mac users instant wireless con- nectivity with advanced presen- tation capabilities. The product features content streaming with mirrored images and stunning video playback and includes iOS, Windows and Android mir- roring. VIA GO is easy and flex- ible to install with both built- in Wi-Fi and LAN connectivity and includes industry-leading 1024-bit encryption for secure use on the internal network. This is one for the systems integrators who can not only configure the hardware but also the interface to the users’ pre- cise requirements. Up to two participant screens can be dis- played simultaneously on main screen. With iOS and Android mirroring, VIA GO has seamless integration with VIA Site Man- agement (VSM) software and the VIA Pad Crestron’s SR is described as ‘a powerful, professional solution built for Skype for Business which offers a sim- ple-to-use, HD audio-visual experience which can be easily deployed and managed on the network’. It is easy to join meet- ings, make calls and instant- ly share content locally and remotely, all from an elegant touch screen device. Some of its key features include a touch controller which manages the Skype Meeting; HDMI inputs and outputs; six USB ports to connect audio devices and a port to add an occupancy sen- sor for automation and room usage reporting. We like the


to pack as many features as it can in a small space. Although meeting rooms may be rising in popularity, they are not neces- sarily rising in physical space. Companies strapped for space may need to fit a dozen or more people in the same space that could only be the same size as a small office. In that case, a compact microphone and speaker can keep out of the way of business operations and make the room feel larger than it ever had before. StarLeaf’s GTm range deliv- ers advanced business video conferencing features within a simple and intuitive user in- terface. For security, GTm has end-to-end encryption with se- cure connection at all times. It works with Active Directory and Exchange and allows the user to capture, share and stream live notes from any white- boarding surface to a preferred device. You can bring those long-distance colleagues right into your space, letting them see board notes live, mark- ing up notes remotely. Users can share


everything written


or drawn in real time pairing perfectly with communication applications including Skype, Webex, or GoTo Meeting. StarLeaf has announced the release of a dedicated Huddle Space model, the GTm 5140 Huddle.


This provides users


with a touchscreen controller, USB camera, and USB micro- phone to capture and transmit the voices of all members of a videoconference. It syncs with


So what exactly is a Huddle Space?


Huddle Space, Huddle Room or Huddle Zone? We’ve gone for Huddle Space, because it doesn’t have to be a ‘Room’ – it could be in a corridor, or in a covered terrace or the works canteen. To us, ‘Zone’ sounds too fixed – the trend in Huddle Space technology is towards compact, multi-function solu- tions which can quite easily be portable.


The Huddle Space has de- veloped as a result of changes in working methods and tech- nology. Location, today, is rel- atively unimportant – so long as the location has the capa- bility to support the process of work. To that end, Huddle Space technology has become a feature of workspaces that support team working, or ‘col- laboration’.


Proving these capabilities in a cost-effective manner at a time when the floor area per employee today is less than half what it was in 2010. Space efficiencies have led to a greater reliance on re- mote and mobile working, in tandem with open plan offic- es and ‘hot-desking’. Meeting with colleagues frequently re- quires more than just popping round to the next-door office. What has emerged is a greater reliance on meetings, either face-to-face or virtual, formal or informal.


Efficient use of meeting spaces depends on matching not only the size of the space to the requirement but also


its capabilities and access to content resources. Being ‘on the grid’ is essential for both meeting rooms and Huddle Spaces. The distinguishing feature of the Huddle Space is that these not only provide a space where employees who work in open offices may go for brief meetings, but also an online hub for collaboration, contemplation, presentation and problem solving.


Demand for Huddle Spaces, according to Wainhouse Re- search, might total as many as 50 million installations glob- ally. Typically, Huddle Spaces accommodate up to around six people and provide an in- formal space for ad hoc meet- ings. Technologies installed in these spaces usually supports the sharing of information be- tween mobile devices. There is frequently a display as a focal point for viewing and sharing of content, audio and video- conferencing for collaboration with remote colleagues. Because of the informal and ad hoc nature of Huddle Space meetings, the installed technology should be easy and intuitive to use, with minimal set-up time – and no require- ment for an AV technician. As the workplace and workforce continues to evolve, Huddle Spaces will play an increasing- ly important role, maximising the use of space to increase productivity, save time and reduce the spend on office fa- cilities.


SmartMarker enables users to write, draw diagrams, or ex- press themselves on any type of paper, automatically saving and syncing notes and drawings to an Android, iOS, Mac OS or Windows device. They can cap- ture and store written notes, enhance them with additional content, and tag them for re- view. They can create illus- trations, import backgrounds, draw and paint with multiple brushes, work in layers and ex- port to Photoshop. SmartMark- er Apps are integrated with Dropbox, Evernote and iCloud, allowing users to sync digital content in the cloud.


OK, so it doesn’t do every- thing, but for a price of around £900 just think of how many Huddle Spaces you can bring into your customer’s collabora- tive network?


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