Generally, when someone talks about Microsoft collaboration screens, your mind will probably go to the Surface Hub. However, all that is about to change. During the Computex event, Microsoft revealed a new type of display in the form of “Windows Collaboration Displays.” Essentially, the systems work by hooking into existing Windows 10 PCs in a business environment, and they come with built-in sensors that ensure that they can connect to Azure IoT intelligence features too.
The sensors in the Windows Collaboration Displays detect presence in a room to give companies more opportunities to improve the comfort any huddle room or meeting space. When you know if someone is using a conference room, and when people are most likely to book into one, you can manage calendars more effectively, save energy on heating and cooling, and more.
What are Windows Collaboration Displays?
The Windows Collaboration Displays are simply high-resolution touch screens that come with all the features you might expect to see on a Microsoft Surface Hub. The devices will even come with things like Cortana enablement, and cameras so that you can engage in video conferencing if you want a more immersive meeting on Microsoft Teams.
The primary difference between the Surface Hub and the new platforms available from Windows is that Collaboration Displays ask you to supply your own hardware. Essentially, these are displays with extended features that allow you to hook in a system, and obtain a great collaborative tool, without paying heaps of cash.
What to Expect from the Collaboration Displays
Though details about availability and pricing are still up in the air, what we do know is that Redmond, Avocor, and Sharp teamed up to make the hardware, and the displays are set to be released by the close of 2018. Microsoft indicated during Computex that it would be rolling out different types of collaboration displays for different companies. The model shown at Computex was about 70 inches in size and designed by Sharp.
The most exciting thing for most companies will be the inclusion of the Azure IoT spatial recognition feature. According to Microsoft, these new IoT capabilities will come with advanced sensor processing features, support for multi-tenant situations, and advanced role-based controls for accessibility.
Overall, the Windows Collaboration Displays were designed to help enhance the conference space experiences that companies have today. Up until now, many companies have been using standard projectors and TVs for their presentations, but these displays offer next-level interactivity, with multi-touch solutions, sensors, and stylus input.
