More and more often, videoconferencing is being used to connect students, professors, and education leaders to people all over the world. It’s also being used to connect students in underserved communities as well. With the aid of A/V technology, professors and industry leaders are able to reach out to students and schools that are lacking in resources. And the nonprofit organization, ScholarCHIPS, is one of the driving forces making it happen. “Our digital media broadcast experiment in delivering world class role models to both gifted and disengaged students in underserved school districts in inner cities, rural and small town school districts across America is only possible because of [videoconferencing],” said Victoria Smith Downing, founder and host of ScholarCHIPS. The flexibility and wide-range of benefits that comes with videoconferencing are allowing Downing and her colleagues to interview experts from institutions like Harvard, the Smithsonian, and National Geographic. Then the discussions are [...]

After your videoconferencing system is set up and ready, you may think all that’s needed next is to flip the switch and get to work. Although that’s true in the technical sense, keep in mind that it’s not a phone call – the people on the other end can see you now! And a little training and proper etiquette goes a long way. Here are some tips that can help you prepare for your videoconferencing meetings. First, just like any other face-to-face meeting, you want to make sure you’re professionally presentable. That doesn’t only mean dressing up and looking nice: Email participants copies of any files or presentation materials ahead of time. Have all your notes organized and readily available. Have a list of references or additional sources you may need with you. Bottom line, be prepared and have everything you might need close by. After the meeting has begun, [...]

Lately, it seems like this is happening much more often: whenever people see a digital signage display, their first reaction is to touch the screen. (It’s more common among younger audiences.) The reason isn’t very surprising. As a society, we now have easy access to amazing technology that is used every day, and technology like touch-screen kiosks can be found where you might least expect. So when someone sees a digital signage display, they often assume it should have some kind of interactive element to it. This new expectation is intriguing for several reasons – and it’s something companies considering digital signage displays shouldn’t ignore. First, it shows that people think more highly of digital signage than a simple replacement for printed content. In fact, it has become a medium in its own right. Second, it shows that audiences are willing to take the time out of their day to [...]

A videoconferencing system can do a lot for businesses both large and small. It can help connect employees, expand collaboration with managers and partners, and improve customer service. However, like many other technological solutions, it’s important to choose a system that addresses your business’ needs. But don’t worry – there’s an app for that! Just kidding. There are, however, a few questions to ask yourself that can help you decide on the right videoconferencing solution for your company. Can your current network support a videoconferencing solution? It might seem straight forward, but it’s not uncommon for this to be overlooked. Before you buy anything, first make sure you can support the system you want. Do you have all the equipment you’ll need for installation? And once installed, how will the increased traffic across your network and Internet connection impact your existing infrastructure? If you’re not sure your current setup is [...]

The Legends Entertainment District in Phoenix, AZ is big. Really big. It spans all the way from the U.S. Airways Center (which is home to the Phoenix Suns for those not into sports) to Chase Field (home to the Arizona Diamondbacks). And at the heart of it all, there is a key feature that keeps visitors entertained and passersby intrigued. A state-of-the-art digital LED network. The digital LED network, completed in December 2011, has made updating advertisements and district information a breeze. It consists of four main areas: two 50’ LED towers (one outside each stadium facility), an LED board on the façade of Chase Field, and large tickers at the district’s light rail stop. And it’s all driven by digital signage software. This vast digital network came from a simple need – staff needed to have the ability to update content quickly in order to capture (and hold) the [...]

Today, more and more schools are adopting A/V technology for a more engaging learning environment for students. And some, like the Shoreline School District in Washington, are thriving on it. The success with A/V technology has been so prevalent that the school district decided to expand efforts by upgrading roughly 400 of its classrooms with LCD projectors. Depending on the grade level, the digital projectors are used in combination with a digital video-on-demand service that teachers use to improve specific lesson plans. In addition, Shoreline also chose to upgrade its presentation systems as well, equipping mounted cameras and powered loudspeakers for increased clarity. Since installing the A/V system, teachers and technical staff members have enjoyed the versatility that came with it. Jason Maher, Video Specialist for the Shoreline School District, said the teachers quickly embraced the new technology. Basically, general school processes became simpler and students were benefiting greatly. Jim [...]

The question was: How do we reach visitors with up-to-date news and information about the hospital’s services? It was left to the Audio/Visual Services Department of Kentucky’s Central Baptist Hospital to figure it out. They decided digital signage and telemedicine was the answer. As part of the Baptist Healthcare System, the hospital already had an advertising campaign that came with TV spots, posters and other printed pieces. However, they wisely expanded their efforts to include in-facility displays to reach a more targeted audience. With displays in their lobbies, reception areas and waiting rooms, they were able to speak directly to their visitors in an environment where they would listen. Today, the hospital has nearly 30 LCD displays throughout its facilities. With screens ranging from 22” to 54”, the displays are hard to miss and capture the attention of their visitors. And the displays also provided the hospital with a way [...]

At Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business in Durham, NC, students are learning from professors, industry leaders, and various guest speakers from around the globe. And they’re not doing it with text books or videos. With the help of a new telepresence system, they’re learning from these experts face-to-face. How do they do it? It’s simple. When a lecture is scheduled, the students gather in the “virtual lecture hall” powered with the telepresence system. Moments later, the lecturer appears on the 103” plasma display and the lesson begins. With a combination of high-definition display and audio, the lesson is no less engaging to students – revealing both body language and vocal nuances as if the speaker was standing in the room. What’s more, students from other universities can actually join the live lecture as well (up to 3 different telepresence rooms anywhere in the world!). It’s an ideal way to [...]

You might have seen yesterday’s post about AVTEQ’s new unified communication product, TeamSpace™. Basically, it’s a unique, freestanding workstation that is engineered around A/V equipment. TeamSpace is ideal for cubicle environments because it combines table space, a screen mounting system, equipment storage, and a videoconferencing camera shelf all into one unit. (And it’s specially designed to provide plenty of ventilation for A/V equipment.) All the units come with features like 20 total rack units of equipment storage and adjustable videoconferencing camera shelf. Just like many of the products AVTEQ offers, customers can also customize the color and wood laminate to match the design elements of their office. TeamSpace will have a lot of appeal to businesses and companies that have cubicle settings; it’s the perfect solution for a changing workplace environment. If you want to learn more about the benefits TeamSpace can offer your business, be sure to visit http://avteq.net/shop/teamspace [...]

The AVTEQ Communications Pedestal provides an innovative solution for housing multimedia equipment – and now it’s up for an award! The 2012 SCN-InfoComm Installation Product Awards takes a close look at the industry and recognizes the most innovative commercial A/V products of the year. This year, they’ve chosen AVTEQ’s Communications Pedestal as a finalist in the category for Most Innovative Equipment Rack/AV Furniture Product. At AVTEQ, we’re passionate about developing innovative furniture solutions – with customer-driven designs – that offer real-world usability for businesses. Our Communications Pedestal is one of the many products that reflect our enthusiasm and dedication for what we do, and we are thrilled that it’s been chosen as a finalist for such a reputable award. If you would like to vote for AVTEQ’s Communications Pedestal, please click here. Voting is open to everyone and ends Wednesday, May 11th. Thank you for your support!