How’s your meeting room experience?
Laptops, microphones, speakers, cables? Sometimes there’s no room on the table for notebooks, right?
And how busy are your technical support staff, dashing from meeting room to meeting room connecting and configuring?
Of course, it doesn’t have to be that way. The modern meeting room experience should be calm, simple, and function-rich. Online participants should be dialled in effortlessly. The highest quality audio and video should ensure everyone is seen and heard equally. And there should be no need for expert help to get it all up and running.
In today’s modern meeting room, the video bar brings camera, microphone, and speakers neatly together into one plug-and-play, easy-to-use device that delivers all of the above and more besides.
All enterprises must do is pick a provider whose solution packs the biggest punch.
“Video bar systems are revolutionizing the way we take hybrid meetings and collaborate – their integrated audio and video capabilities, comprehensive features, ease of use, and ability to enhance virtual meetings and remote working means they deliver the kind of seamless and immersive experience that is not otherwise possible,” says James Spencer, Video Solutions Director at leading global audio and video solutions provider Jabra, whose newly-available PanaCast 50 Video Bar System is the perfect example.
“We know from Jabra’s recent report into hybrid working that nearly a third of employees are hesitant to take meetings in a meeting room because they’re less comfortable with the technology compared to just using their own laptop. With a video bar system, gone are the days of dealing with complex audio and video equipment setups and the hassle of multiple devices and cables.”
These compact, all-in-one video solutions incorporate speakers, a microphone array, and a camera. In the case of the Jabra PanaCast 50 Video Bar in particular, it is specifically engineered to work optimally in small to medium-sized rooms, offering a simplified setup that supports rapid adoption.
Four high-quality, zero-vibration stereo speakers ensure every word of a meeting or presentation is delivered into the room with clarity – for both in-person and remote participants.
An array of strategically-placed advanced microphones capture voices from different directions and automatically remove background noise, enhancing the audio pickup range and ensuring that every participant’s voice is heard loud and clear.
And a built-in, 180 degree field-of-view camera delivers high-definition ‘pan, tilt and zoom’ video, enabling users to adjust camera angles and focus on specific participants or areas of interest, and ensuring everyone in a meeting is and seen and included.
How many times have you joined a video call remotely and not been able to see the person at the back of the room speaking? Jabra’s Dynamic Composition feature solves this issue by providing a close-up view of the four most recent speakers in a meeting room. This provides a more inclusive experience, especially for remote participants who aren’t in the room.
In addition – and one of the standout features of the system – a remote control unit simplifies meeting management. Users can easily adjust camera angles, zoom levels, and audio settings with just a few presses of a button.
So, what should an enterprise consider when choosing a video bar system?
Firstly, it should address any unique interoperability and security demands; and, as in the case of the Jabra PanaCast 50 Video Bar System, it should be certified by major collaboration platforms such as Microsoft Teams or Zoom Rooms.
Room size and layout should be assessed to determine whether the camera maximizes field of view, and to ensure a clear line of sight to each participant.
Systems should feature advanced audio processing technologies that deliver crystal-clear sound and ensure each participant, no matter how far back in the meeting room, can hear and be heard.
And, because collaboration technology continues to evolve, it’s relevant to consider an all-in-one video bar – like the PanaCast 50 Video Bar system – that is future-ready, with Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered features baked in such as face and voice command recognition, intelligent camera framing, and multiple video streaming capability.
The Jabra system also incorporates a user-friendly interface that simplifies setup, operation, and customization, and enhanced security features such as data encryption and secure authentication protocols.
“By understanding the basics, exploring key features, and considering key factors when choosing a video bar system, enterprises can make an informed decision that aligns with their collaboration needs,” says Spencer.
“Whether upgrading outdated equipment or equipping meeting rooms from scratch, the benefits of an all-in-one video bar solution are clear and represent a solid return on investment.”
To learn more about how the Jabra PanaCast 50 video solutions can help your and your customers’ businesses enhance the meeting room experience, click here.
