Productivity in collaboration BETT 2020 Preview Edtech and the Total Costs of Ownership


With education budgets under continuing pressure, buyers are increasingly aware of the Total Cost of Ownership when considering current hardware options. This month, AV News looks at education solutions as a total value proposition, including not just the hardware but also any software. Services and content resources. While these resources are not always expressed as a monetary value, there are often teaching and learning benefits associat- ed with the resources and services bundled with the hardware. These can include services such as warranty, support and training - anything, in fact, that a school would otherwise have to pay spend money on.


While some hardware vendors have bailed out from the educa- tion sector in pursuit of the riches on offer from the corporates, oth- ers continue with a commitment to the education foundations of the market for interactive hard- ware. While education specialists like Promethean continue to play a strong role in the market, some challenger brands are taking share rapidly. Tony White, ViewSonic Europe’s country head for the UK and Ireland, with ViewSonic re- cently reported as number three in education sales of IFPs (Interac- tive Flat Panels), believes that the key requirement on the software side is that it is agnostic and can easily integrate into pre-existing hardware in the classroom – such as Android and iOS tablets. Not only does this prevent teach- ers and IT teams from having to learn and implement a whole new way of working, but it means students can benefit from the technology; sharing content and actively participating in group dis-


Technology news


Nureva to debut new audio at ISE Allstate Insurance and


Nureva has announced the world- wide debut of new audio-con- ferencing products that will be announced in January. Visitors will learn how the company’s game-changing audio-conferenc- ing systems make it easy to solve the common and persistent prob- lems of poor conference call audio. Powered by patented Microphone


Mist technology, Nureva systems are the only audio-conferencing products that


fill a space with


thousands of virtual microphones to provide unparalleled full-room


base over the past year, including the addition of Google, Intel, MIT, VMWare,


Deloitte. Customer feedback con- tinues to guide the expansion of Nureva’s audio platform with the goal of making it easy for IT pro- fessionals


to achieve consistent,


hassle-free audio performance throughout their spaces. This includes the development of systems that are painless to im- plement and maintain and that are flexible enough to grow with the organisation’s changing needs. It


Philips announces collaboration with Airtime


Philips MediaSuite, the first-ev- er range of dedicated Pro TVs to offer Chromecast built-in, enables users to cast their own content – whether photos, mov- ies, music or even presenta- tions – instantly, in up to 4K, from their compatible laptop or mobile device (IOS, Android or Windows), with just the touch of a button. Now, with easy access to the features and benefits of Air- time, hoteliers can offer guests the option to stream movies from major Hollywood studios weeks before they are available from other consumer services. Airtime also offers dramas and award-winning documentaries from leading TV broadcasters – all with no up-front subscrip-


ing for new features to add to our MediaSuite Pro TVs and we are delighted to be working with Airtime to bring this new streaming option to the range.” Richard Excell, Airtime’s Product Manager, added: “We are delighted to be working with Philips Professional Dis- play Solutions to bring the benefits of Airtime to hoteliers using MediaSuite Pro TVs. Ho- tel guests can access our media rich library of over 150 titles multi-language titles, there is a zero OPEX model available for hoteliers making in-room entertainment hassle free for both hotels and guests. Hotels can also offer a premium pack- age to their guests comprising a complimentary selection of


AVer Europe launches visualiser for educators


“The growing depth and breadth of our audio platform continues to address the needs of our expanding customer base for simple, reliable audio solutions that can be deployed throughout the organization,” said Nancy Knowlton, Nureva’s CEO.


pickup. This allows meeting partic- ipants to be heard throughout the room regardless of their location, the direction they face or the pres- ence of unwanted sounds such as HVAC fans or keyboard tapping. Each year, ISE is the destination for the world’s AV industry. At this show, Nureva will continue to re- cruit new distributors and resellers to expand its channel and acceler- ate global market adoption of its audio-conferencing systems and engage with end-users to discuss how the company’s line of products can solve their audio challenges. Nureva has experienced contin- ued rapid growth in its customer


also includes integration and bun- dling with complementary products and platforms and expansion of the patent portfolio supporting Micro- phone Mist technology. “ISE continues to be an import- ant event for Nureva, and we are delighted to give attendees a first look at the latest additions to our expanding audio conferencing product line,” said Nancy Knowl- ton, Nureva’s CEO. “The growing depth and breadth of our audio platform continues to address the needs of our expanding customer base for simple, reliable audio solu- tions that can be deployed through- out the organization.”


P8 AV News November 2019V News December


“Hotels can also offer a premium package to their guests comprising a complimentary selection of content,” said Richard Excell, Airtime’s Product Manager.


tions – guests simply pay for what they watch. Commenting on


this latest


exciting collaboration, Jeroen Verhaeghe, Pro TV Product Manager, said: “The team here at Philips Professional Display Solutions is continually look-


content. We see many systems integrators now adopting Air- time as the most efficient way to provide movies and other specialist TV content to their guests.”


AVer Europe has announced the launch of the M17-13M, its new mechanical arm visualiser, to the UK market. Boasting a 13-megapixel camera, 35.2X total zoom and full HD quali- ty, the M17-13M offers one of the highest visualiser specifica- tions available to education in- stitutions to transform teaching and learning practices. Operating as a document camera with impressive angle control, the M17-13M visual- iser enables users to capture the best image clarity and de- tail. The onboard annotation capability provides users with the opportunity to add notes, highlight important information or add captions to presentation material easily, making explain- ing a tricky concept or a key point to a classroom simple. Designed with a fully adjustable neck and head, the M17-13M visualiser can rotate, swivel, expand and collapse for the per- fect angle to display presentation materi- als, including paper or 3D models. Its ver- satile compact design means it can be neatly folded away, making it ideal for quick stor- age or sharing between classrooms and practi- tioners. The product is bundled with AVER’s A+ Suite classroom software for visualisers and comes with a five- year warranty.


The M17-13M offers live video at 60fps and


its one touch recording func- tion means that users can re- cord entire lessons to review with the class or provide to absent students or substitute teachers. Additionally, users can live stream the video to en- able classes to be held remote- ly, increasing engagement and ensuring all learners are up to date on the lesson at hand. “The M17-13M has the capa- bility to transform the learning experience, providing new op- portunities for teachers to in- crease collaboration, creativity and engagement in teaching,” said Rene Buhay, AVer Europe Vice President of Sales & Mar- keting. “The specification for this visualiser is unparalleled and offers a fantastic combi- nation of quality, versatility and functionality.”


cussions. For example, the cloud- based myViewBoard platform – launched in 2018 and with more than 1 million teachers using it ev- ery day – is offered free of charge to schools who invest in ViewSon- ic’s IFP displays. Alongside the free demo and teacher training we offer as standard, myView- Board is compatible with the Mi- crosoft suite and makes it easier for teachers to include immersive content in their lesson plans.


Teaching methods With


the emphasis increasing


directed to ‘flipped classroom models’ and use of rich media resources in lessons an import- ant consideration, hardware must have the relevant video and au- dio capabilities. In fact, 70% of teachers use videos in the class- room every week. ViewSonic soft- ware enables them to source ad- free, age-appropriate content in just a few clicks.


Making videos more easily ac-


cessible helps create dynamic and engaging lessons for pupils – especially visual learners. It also means learning resources and an- notated content can be shared to the cloud and accessed remotely, at a later date –incredibly helpful during revision periods and for SEND pupils who may not always be able to attend lessons. Looking ahead, software will continue to be vital for schools transitioning to ‘front-facing’ classrooms. With Adobe Flash player support ending in 2020, there will be schools tied into solu- tions that are not as flexible and open as ViewSonic’s - meaning teachers will soon potentially lose access to a vast library of lesson plans.


The complete ViewSonic pack-


age has been purposely built for longevity - with durable hardware and open software. “We believe that by making the latter free, our EdTech is more powerful and bet- ter caters to a teacher-led educa- tion system,” says White.


Confidence through familiarity


According to Alistair Hayward, Promethean Head of UKI and ANZ, the road to success in edu- cation technology for Promethean has never simply been about sell- ing panels. With over 20 years’ ex-


perience in the education sector, Promethean has long recognised the extended value schools look for when making investments in edtech.


Where many schools are fac- ing budgetary pressures, they are seeking to get the most out of investments. Through a commit- ment to education and deep-root- ed history in the sector, Promet- hean is constantly investing in initiatives that help maximise the impact of edtech on teaching and learning.


Recognising that technology is used best when educators feel confident using it, Promethean provides schools with free training opportunities so that teachers un- derstand the fundamentals of the ActivPanel before they start using it.


The confidence acquired in these sessions is a springboard for teachers to go on and create inter- active and engaging lessons using the ActivPanel. Depending on the level of school investment, Pro- methean offers free online training programmes via the Promethean Academy and in-school orienta- tion sessions.


Adding value


Stemming from a passion for the education sector and a unique


Every IMPACT screen includes licences for popular education software pack- ages, Snowflake and Lynx. With Cloud logins so that teachers can prepare their lesson activities anywhere, and colleagues can easily share lesson content.`


position to be able to invest in programmes that add value for schools around the UK and Ire- land, Promethean has invested heavily


in education initiatives.


For example, the Promethean State of Technology Report which is now in its fourth year - surveying over 2,000 educators and plotting trends on topics high on the ed- ucation agenda such as budgets, school strategies and use of tech- nology.


The report is providing a valuable insight into the successes and challenges faced by schools and opening dialogues about edtech so that manufacturers, channel partners and schools can enhance provisions.


Another shining example of Pro- methean’s commitment to initia- tives that aim to give something back to the education sector is the ClassroomStory competition - an alternate to the Promethean Grant. Acknowledging that bud- gets should never be a barrier to edtech that can help improve teaching and learning environ- ments, Promethean has pioneered the competition to allow educators to win an ActivPanel by sharing their ClassroomStory, a classroom experience that stays at the fore- front of their minds and could in- spire others.


The M17-13M offers live vid- eo at 60fps and its one touch recording function means that users can record entire les- sons to review. The AVer M17- 13M MSRP is £419 ex VAT.


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