While the peak of the COVID pandemic is becoming a distant memory, for many businesses, the hybrid working model is here to stay. Technology continues to evolve to meet our quickly changing societal needs. With that comes the requirement to seamlessly connect hybrid and/or remote employees with their in-office colleagues. AI – as expected – is powering the next generation of smart conferencing solutions.
Logitech has launched a new update, CollabOS 1.13, which matches these new requirements in quality, functionality, and flexibility for video collaboration and workspace management.
AI-Driven Features for Meet Up 2
Logitech’s MeetUp 2 delivers productivity and equity in small meeting rooms and huddle spaces, and the CollabOS 1.13 update brings a range of new features to supercharge the platform.
The MeetUp 2 video bar connects to a meeting room system or directly to a laptop for BYOD meetings. CollabOS 1.13 unlocks new, powerful AI video and audio features, including:
RightSight 2 – which delivers four views:
- Group View to automatically frames the group in the room
- Grid View which automatically crops into individual participants
- Speaker View to crop onto the active speaker and display the entire room view for context
- Camera Zone, which enables the user to set what area should be within frame and exclude unwanted distractions like people passing behind glass walls.
RightSound 2 – which elevates the audio experience with:
- Voice Equalization, which auto-levels loud and soft voices from varying distances from the camera
- AI-powered Noise Suppression, which distinguishes between voices and unwanted noises, like fans or keyboard clicks, and applies advanced audio processing so voices are heard clearly while noises are suppressed
- AI-powered Echo Suppression, which removes the unwanted effects of echo or poor acoustics in larger spaces or in rooms with hard surfaces, to make voices clearer and crisper.
Smart Switching
In 2023, Logitech showcased Logitech Sight to enhance meeting experiences by adding a companion camera in the middle of the meeting action. Using a Rally Bar or Rally Bar Mini at the front of the room with Logitech Sight at the center of the table, the company transformed how participants connect – ensuring everyone is seen and heard clearly, and all participants (regardless of location) feel involved. As Logitech’s Head of Product Marketing, Software and Services Craig Ishii explains, this approach gives remote guests a “front and center experience”.
With a continued appetite for innovation, Logitech has now beta launched Smart Switching. The feature uses AI in both devices to intelligently switch camera feeds based on the direction each participant is facing. When the discussion shifts to remote participants on the front-of-room display, the camera feed automatically switches to the Rally Bar as participants face the front. When they turn back to the center, the feed returns to the center-of-table camera from Sight. Smart Switching happens automatically, allowing employees to stay fully engaged, no matter where the conversation goes.
Vivek Sekar, Senior Director of Product Management at Logitech, explains that both the Rally Bar and Sight use AI to locate people and determine their positions. The AI creates a map of where people are in the room. This spatial context is called scene understanding and allows the AI to determine which camera has the best angle and switches to it, providing remote participants with the best view of all participants as the meeting evolves. No manual intervention is required – so all participants can focus totally on bringing their A-game to the meeting.
As hybrid working becomes the new norm, technology vendors need to continue to innovate to bring the best meeting experiences to colleagues across a range of locations. Logitech’s CollabOS 1.13 delivers unmatched audio and visual experiences, powering best-in-class collaboration so you can focus on what you do best.
Find out more about Logitech here.
