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Table of Contents
Editors Note ...........................................................................................................................................................................A2
FEATURES
CREATivE CoNFERENCiNg: iNTimATE, FlExiblE CollAboRATioN hAS pEoplE hUddliNg Up. hERES whATS NEw iN
ThE hUddlE CATEgoRy. ........................................................................................................................................................A4
CollAboRATioN Av SySTEmS iN ThE AgE oF byod: ShARiNg iS CARiNg, bUT iTS NoT AS EASy AS iT SoUNdS. ............ A10
SmAll, bUT SigNiFiCANT: whEN iT ComES To Av SySTEmS, oNE SizE doES NoT FiT All, EvEN FoR SmAllER hUddlE
RoomS. ................................................................................................................................................................................. A12
ACTivE lEARNiNg iN ThE ARTS: NoRThERN ARizoNA UNivERSiTyS CollAboRATivE ClASSRoom givES STUdENTS AN
impoRTANT voiCE iN iNSTRUCTioN. ................................................................................................................................... A14
whEN CollAboRATioN iNFlUENCES bEhAvioR iN EdUCATioN: ThE STRATEgy FoR diSCovERy AT ThE pRiNCEToN
ACAdEmy oF ThE SACREd hEART........................................................................................................................................ A16
A2
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Guide to in Education
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huddle rooms
Creative Conferencing
Intimate, flexible collaboration has people huddling up. Heres
whats new in the category.
By Carolyn Heinze
Star Trek fans will recall that in practically every episode
(and practically every version of the franchise), theres a
scene in the observation lounge. The Borg appear in the
not-so-far distance, and the captain and senior members
of the crew need to come up with an action planand
quick!before theyre assimilated. And so off to the observation lounge they march, where they share data, call up
visuals, and collaborate on their action plan. The space is
small, but its equipped with everything they need to make
informed decisions.
Sound familiar? While some (the author included) are hesitant to openly admit
to Star Trek fandom, you dont have to (even secretly) watch the series to draw the
parallel: real-life huddle rooms are like Star Trek observation lounges. And, thanks
to their immediacy (in many organizations, there are several, eliminating the
need to book them), intimacy (you can work side-by-side with key members of a
team without having to worry about the formality required for larger meetings),
and flexibility (once again, you can walk in anytime, to collaborate on anything),
theyre growing in popularity. While just a little while ago there were only a couple
of solutions that enabled people to huddle up, this year the offerings have shot
into the double digits. Here are some of the new, the notable, and the notorious:
AMX Enzo & SErAno
AMX approaches huddle room connectivity a little differently than the rest of the
industry, and hopes to lead the pack in collaborative huddle space technology.
AMXs Enzo offers users the ability to connect wirelessly, or access files from a number of cloud storage
providers (e.g., Google
Drive, DropBox, etc.).
Enzo also has
the capability to add
video to any web conferencing meeting, thanks to the addition of the Sereno camera to the AMX product line, this device interfaces directly with the Enzo to provide
quality audio as well as video for all online meetings, said S. Kyle Davis, technical marketing specialist for AMX. This small, all-in-one solution packs a powerful
punch, and with a MSRP of $1,995 for the Enzo (Sereno lists for $250), it could
be the ideal olution for cash-strapped companies wanting to maximize efficiency
with huddle room technology.
Introduced last year, the Enzo Content Sharing and Conferencing Platform
A4
is designed to give users choices in how they want to present and share content
in meetingsnamely the ability to access data from the cloud, the Internet or a
USB drive. The company announced several new features at InfoComm this past
June, including the addition of instant screen mirroring from laptops and mobile
devices. AMX will also be providing upcoming support for Web conferencing (via
its Sereno Video Conferencing Camera, which debuted in 2014), as well as a more
simplified process for launching Enzo sessions from a touch panel or keypad.
BArco clickShArE
Barco launched its collaboration
solution, ClickShare, in 2012,
enabling up to four meeting attendees to simultaneously share information on a large display. A standard configuration features four
USB devices (ClickShare Buttons,
which connect to PCs or Macs), the
ClickShare Tray (a storage basket
designed for when the Buttons are
not in use); and a Base Unit, which connects to the spaces AV system and performs
all of the processing. Earlier this year, Barco unveiled the CSM Base Unit, which
is compatible with both the ClickShare Button as well as free apps for iOS and
Android. A standard set is comprised of one CSM Base Unit and two ClickShare
Buttons; only one user may display images at a time, however, eight Buttons can
be wirelessly connected to the base unit so that those users are ready to share at,
well, the quick click of a button.
chriStiE Brio tEAM
Christie announced an addition
to its Brio family of collaboration
solutions at InfoComm 2014, the
Christie Brio Team. Designed for
smaller meeting spaces, the product supports wireless connection of
up to five computers, smartphones
and tablets, enabling informationsharing on a larger display while
streaming audio through the rooms sound system. No LAN access is required,
nor are any additional apps or external dongles needed. Users can annotate over
live content or use the touchscreen as a whiteboard and save the results for future
reference.
huddle rooms
Crestron ConneCt It and aIrMedIa
Crestron recognizes the need to be
able to support all sources, including
mobile devices and laptops, so users
can get their content on the display
regardless of the device its on, said
Tom Barnett, director of marketing
communications for the New Jersey
based manufacturer. The Crestron
Connect It solution allows for multiple devices to be connected and selected with the push of the button, complete
with LED feedback. Crestron AirMedia enables presenters to connect wirelessly
and share content from mobile devices, as well as wirelessly mirror laptops, simplifying the already simple plug-and-play strategy. AirMedia has users presenting HD content from their laptops and mobile devices. AirMedia connects via
Ethernet to the LAN, and no additional software or control is necessary. For its
related DigitalMedia AV distribution system, Crestron recently introduced its 4K
Certification Program in an effort to help integrators and end-users make a smooth
transition to the new format.
da-LIte VIewshare
Positioned to bridge the gap between expensive, high-end videoconferencing systems and
consumer-level solutions, Da-Lites ViewShare
conferencing system features an HD video camera that is incorporated into the weight bar
of the companys Tensioned Advantage Electrol
projection screen, a tabletop speaker, as well as a
microphone. Users connect their computers via
USB. Want to use what youve already got? A retrofit model is available that updates the manufacturers older Advantage Projection Screens, converting them into an HD surface.
extron teaMwork
Supporting four to six users respectively, Extrons TeamWork 400 and 600 supports
laptops and mobile devices connected via an HDMI Show Me cable. Users share
their information simply by pressing the share button, and the system automatically turns off when the meeting is over. The entire system is made up of the HDMI
cables, a switcher, a system controller, a Cable Cubby enclosure with four AC
outlets, and various other system cables. An optional TeamWork VGA Kit supports
legacy analog computer sources.
Extron Electronics says that this system is ideal for collaborative study rooms,
or similar huddle spaces, on university campuses because the cables cant be
removed, stolen or lost. Extrons Joe da Silva, director of product marketing, notes
the importance of stable, wired connections: Mobile device proliferation is rapidly
driving huddle room technology toward wireless connectivity, but the bandwidth
demands for high resolution computer mirroring and 4K video will continue to
make wired connectivity a requirement for the next few years.
VaddIo huddLestatIon
Vaddio addresses huddle rooms outright with HuddleSTATION, which incorporates a camera with a sound bar, loudspeakers, microphones, and a control
dock to let users collaborate via their PCs. Connection is via USB, transforming
HuddleSTATION into the I/O for whatever application that the user desires,
A6
huddle rooms
video streaming and the main unit even has an HDMI input to allow the integration of an external video source to a meeting. Up to six presenters screens can be
displayed on a single display device and up to 12 can be shown simultaneously
when two display devices are used. The VIA Collage also supports third party applications such as Skype, Go To Meeting, Lync, WebEx and more.
FSR HuddleVu & FSR duGOuT
Just like its name suggests, FSRs HuddleVu is
the companys way of getting people huddling
up. The system allows multiple users to see and
share the content on their laptops and mobile
devices on a main screen, and any participant
can be either a presenter or a member of the
audience at any given time. LEDs signal
which user is currently live, or when the system
is busy. No software or programming is required, and set-ups with four inputs or
less can be controlled by an external system. With education and corporate clients
moving toward pre-packaged, scalable solutions the more flexible these systems
can be with regard to space, users, time and connectivity the better, Gina Sansivero,
director of educational sales for FSR Inc., points out. HuddleVu allows users to
simply plug in a device and press the corresponding button. All cables, power, and
buttons are housed inside a durable steel table box.
MeRSiVe SOlSTice 2.0
Mersive recently introduced the next-gen of its collaboration software, Solstice,
which allows instant wireless connection of laptops and mobile devices for
display control, content sharing, and collaboration. The developer underlines
that Solstice is a pure software solution, running on a standard Windows computer on an existing WiFi or Ethernet network, and supports Windows, Apple, and
Android devices. The system offers centralized management via an IT dashboard.
ReVOlabS FlX uc 500
Looking at a different element of huddle
room technology, check out Revolabs
FLX UC 500. The kit provides echo cancellation for all of its microphones in
the box, so no additional processing is
required on the PC for a quality audio signal. The FLX UC 500 supports full duplex
audio at alltimes, allowing for audio play back and audio capture simultaneously.
Benefits include: improved PC communication application performance for meetings and online collaboration; Tweeter and midwoofer speaker elements for audio
quality, clarity, and volume; and four corner microphones provide full 360-degree
coverage of audio capture.
epSOn bRiGHTlink pRO 1430Wi
The BrightLink Pro 1430Wi from Epson
can transform whiteboards, plain walls, or
tables into interactive spaces for increased
collaboration and immersive learning.
Delivering features for meeting room efficiency and productivity, the 1430Wi offers
whiteboard sharing mode to connect
and display from multiple devices, finger
A8
InfoComm 2014
ELECTRIC
LIFT
T324
www.video-furn.com
T526
T628
huddle rooms
Collaboration AV Systems
in the Age of BYOD
Sharing is caring, but its not as easy as it sounds.
By Peter H. Putman
Halfway through the second decade
of the 21st century, two clear trends
have emerged with respect to meetings: First, meeting presenters and participants are relying more on tablets,
smartphones, and phablets than traditional computing platforms to display slides, photos, and videos. And
second, meetings are taking place in
unusual spaces, including areas without traditional desks, chairs, whiteboards, and projection screens.
Sales of tablets and smartphones, also known
as bring your own device (BYOD) products, have
grown at exponential rates in the past four years while
cutting into the sales of traditional notebook and
desktop computers. That should be no surprise, as
BYODs are actually powerful computing platforms
with fast CPUs, gigabytes of flash memory, sophisticated operating systems and touchscreens, and highresolution display screens.
Unlike notebook computers, BYODs can easily
travel anywhere with their owners. As a result, many
of us use our tablets and phones around the clock and
feel lost without them (particularly Millenials!). So
its logical that wed want to share the contents of our
BYOD display screens with others in meetings, rather
than drag along and boot up a laptop.
Its nIce to share, but
Until recently, the most practical way to show
PowerPoints, documents, and photos from a tablet or
smartphone has been to employ a Wi-Fi connection
and some sort of bridge device, a.k.a collaboration hub, to display them on a projection screen or a
A10 O c t o b e r
huddle rooms
A12 O c t o b e r
Epson BrightLink
Extron TeamWork
FSR Inc. HuddleVu Dugout
Kramer VIA Collage
Vaddio GroupSTATION
Look for the best fit
This is a small sample of the products available to
help outfit a room with flexible huddle
technology. Although huddle rooms are
the latest technology, and arent going
anywhere, for some organizations, technology managers must measure whether
or not implementing huddle rooms at
allregardless of technology availableis
the best fit for their organization.
first: focus on bYoD
Huddle rooms are designed largely to
operate with BYOD technology. A user
brings their laptop into the room, sets it
on the table and with a plug-in here and
a few clicks there their content is displayed
on the screen. This is exactly what huddle
rooms are designed forquick and easy
presentation and collaboration designed
to increase efficiency. For an organization
which relies heavily on meeting spaces
with a built-in AV operator, these rooms
can be confusing, challenging, and ultimately wont be utilized as frequently, limiting the
ROI.
How can tech managers deal with managing
BYOD when we are still also using more traditional technologies, such as PCs? According to Tom
Barnett, director of marketing communications at
+1 800.326.1088
info@revolabs.com
The ideal collaboration system of the future will support a variety of mobile devices, as well
as digital and legacy analog signals. Extron says that its TeamWork solution was designed
to meet any huddle room or collaboration need.
FLX UC 500
Four microphones with 360 degree
audio capture make the award-winning
FLX UC 500 USB conference phone
perfect for huddle room collaborations.
www.revolabs.com/uc500
huddle rooms
Active Learning
in the Arts
Northern Arizona Universitys
collaborative classroom gives students an
important voice in instruction
By AV Technology Staff
Its the ultimate challenge for higher education: finding ways to help students
develop thinking, learning and problem-solving skills, while at the same time
absorbing the fundamental facts of a given profession or field of study.
Thats especially true in the arts, where the univer- seats students together in five groups of four, rather
sity must impart a detailed knowledge of art history than individually in rows of tables. Each student uses
and current practice while helping students embrace an iMac connected to the university network as well
their creative natures and develop an ability to work as to a shared 55-inch monitor through a Crestron
skillfully in a variety of media.
DigitalMedia system. Each workgroup is also conAt Northern Arizona University (NAU), profes- nected to a DM switching system, so the instructor can
sors in the School of Visual Communication have send workgroup images to a classroom projector and
begun experimenting with a new tool, a collaborative to any or all of the shared screens.
graphic arts classroom, that promises to help
Our goal was to get students more involved
with both challenges. The technology in
in the learning process, so that classes
this room encourages a more demowould be less lecture-based and more
cratic approach to education, where
hands-on, sharing material while
integrator:
students can learn more actively,
working on various projects duraVdomotics
retain knowledge more effectively
ing class, Williams explains. Some
www.avdomotics.
and develop higher level thinking
com
skills.
Andy and Charlie White of
Sedona, AZ-based AVDomotics provided the system designs, relying on Crestron
DigitalMedia and AirMedia to provide a platform on
which the technology in the room is based.
info
Understanding edUcational
User needs
According to Taryn Williams, Interior Design Project
Manager for NAUs Facility Services Department,
plans for the new classroom evolved over the last
two years as she studied collaborative learning spaces
at various universities, then visited one at Phoenix
Biomedical, part of the University of Arizona. The
new classroom she designed, in collaboration
with its users, is the first of its kind at NAU. It
A14 O c t o b e r
Crestrons AirMedia
huddle rooms
image on any combination of the rooms displays.
An AirMedia gateway can connect up to 32 Apple,
Android or Windows devices and offers quadview,
the ability to show up to four images simultaneously on a split screen delivered to any combination
of displays.
In addition to the iMac connections, AVDomotics
installed Crestrons new FT-TS600 five-inch flip-top
touch screen to control local table switching and
volume levels and allow students to connect their
own laptops and video devices. Theres a Planar
55-inch commercial display for local viewing and a
SoundTube 30-inch sound-focusing speaker above
each worktable for localized sound. AVDomotics
technicians also installed a BenQ 1080p-resolution
projector and an 8.5-foot wide projection screen, a
lectern with a podium mic, and a 10-inch Crestron
touch screen for the instructors use. Two Crestron
four-channel amplifiers provide audio for each of
the worktables and the classroom as a whole; four
Crestron Excite ceiling speakers provide overall classroom sound.
InteractIve learnIng partners
An unusual service that the Whites provide has been
particularly helpful in launching this new classroom.
Most AV integrators will only allow the client to
ask for programming changes for 30 days after installation, unless they buy a service contract, Charlie
White notes. Yet a truly custom solution like this
takes time to develop in an educational environment,
with many iterations of changes needed to optimize
workflow. In this case, NAU can request changes to
the user
interface throughout the spring semester. De
Toledo says he is excited about the chance to teach in
the new classroom, as are others in the department.
Its a big step for us, Williams adds. Its a great
addition to what we offer as a university. Andy White
says that AVDomotics is so committed to this project
that they are offering NAU a unique partnership in a
class to be taught next fall. One of their curriculum
areas is interactive user interface design. We have
offered the Crestron user interface we created as the
basis of a class project.
We worked hard to provide the best operational
workflow, but these students will take apart our interface and see if they can improve on it, Charlie White
adds. We see this as a tremendous opportunity to
get a fresh perspective on what we do every day.
Thats what this collaborative classroom is all about:
taking bright, creative people and giving them the
opportunity to develop their skills, their abilities and
their minds.
Collaboration AV Systems
(continued from page A10)
and frozen images. And it will do this over conventional TCP/IP wired and wireless networks with no
special protocols required.
While were at it, why not include the ability
to show the main display screen on our tablet or
smartphone? (And all simultaneous images, too.)
That function is easy enough to implement, as is
an electronic whiteboard overlay for annotation
and picture-in-picture (PiP). If our primary display
is a touchscreen monitor, then its functions should
also be supported by our hub.
Lets finish off the package with native app hosting, multi-user file editing and manipulation in
real time, and quick file sharing capabilities. If one
user wants to send another a file, they simply send
it while a session is in progress. If several members
want to mark up or edit a document, they simply
edit it. And we can also support remote users who
log in via Skype, Lync, WebEx, GoToMeeting, and
other conferencing programs.
a bIg leap forward
The system weve created looks and works a lot
differently than any collaboration hub product
offered today. But the truth is; none of the technology it relies on is exotic. Whats different about our
collaboration hub is that it mixes and matches
apps, protocols, image processing, and interactivity to best advantage. Its just a more intelligent
approach.
Now, we have a collaboration hub product that
is really designed for end users, and not for engineers who appreciate technical complexity. Whats
more, we can use this new hub with existing AV
switching and distribution equipment to expand
its capabilities, such as connecting multiple digital
display inputs and outputs, or using wireless HDMI
to connect our collaboration hub to displays that
are mounted in in so-called ad hoc meeting
spaces with no walls and high ceilings.
Best of all, our collaboration hub is platformagnostic: Mac Os, Android, or Windows will all
work with this system, free of dongles or other
hardware plug-ins. Logging in is an intuitive process, as is file sharing, annotation, and exchanging
ideas. All of these features and advances add up to
define a big leap forward for collaboration systems
in the age of Bring Your Own Devices.
Peter Putnam is a technology consultant with
Kramer Electronics USA.
A15
huddle rooms
When Collaboration
Influences Behavior in
Education
The strategy for tech & discovery at the
Princeton Academy of the Sacred Heart.
By AV Technology Staff
When the Princeton Academy was planning their massive school renovations, one of the new technology rich spaces Michael Taggart, Instructional
Technology Coordinator at Princeton Academy of the Sacred Heart, envisioned
was a small group collaboration area that would allow for intensive cooperative sessions for both students and faculty. Princeton Academy is an innovative
school, emphasizing technology and active learning in all their classrooms.
They wanted an extension of their technology rich classrooms in other areas of
the building; one in the form or a modern group collaboration space.
Princeton Academy
of the Sacred Heart
Princeton Academy of the Sacred Heart is an independent Catholic school for boys in Princeton, NJ, supporting Junior Kindergarten through Grade 8. They are
committed to academic excellence within the context
of a faith-based community. AV and technological
info
A16 O c t o b e r
All brand names, product names and trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Certain trademarks, registered trademarks, and trade names may be used to refer to either the entities claiming the marks
and names or their products. Crestron disclaims any proprietary interest in the marks and names of others. Crestron is not responsible for errors in typography or photography. 2014 Crestron Electronics, Inc. AD2014_09