The Tech Challenge

When COVID threw a wrench into in-person classes, we quickly recognized the need to develop hybrid learning environments that support the ongoing success of our staff and students,” said Director of User Support Services Jon Bannan. “The most critical need we identified was that any solution must be dead simple to operate, or otherwise risk introducing interruptions and frustration into educators’ daily schedules. The ClearOne COLLABORATE Versa Lite CT system stood out as a high-performing solution that’s compatible with virtually any computer, mobile device or collaboration platform, making it easy to deploy in multi-use spaces that host different educators throughout the day.”

ClearOne Solutions

Featuring the ClearOne BMA CT, a beamforming microphone solution that blends in with drop ceilings, the COLLABORATE Versa Lite CT system provides clear audio pickup and while simplifying connection of AV peripherals and computers through the ClearOne Versa USB Hub. It offers powerful features including acoustic echo cancellation and adaptive steering, which intelligently switches between the unit’s multiple directional microphones to optimize pickup based on the current location of speaker or meeting host.

To date, MTSS has installed 53 Versa Lite CT systems in small- and medium-sized classrooms in conjunction with a variety of camera solutions that offer automatic tracking to keep the presenter in frame as they move around the room. Combined with the adaptive steering capability of the BMA CT, these systems provide educators ultimate flexibility and allow them to step away from the front of the room white maintaining consistently excellent audio and video quality for remote learners. Most rooms also include a projection system, while some feature a digital display.

“Three years after we began this project, we would be hard pressed to find a student, parent or educator who expects anything less – it’s essentially a requirement now,” Bannan explained. “In the competitive college landscape, staying ahead of technology trends is vital to achieve enrollment goals and provide all students equitable access regardless of individual situations or external disruptions. Additionally, using the same solutions across campus has raised the tech confidence of staff and offers a simple, intuitive setup that even guest speakers or event hosts can operate with ease.”

After witnessing the widespread success of the Versa Lite CT solutions, MTSS turned its focus to the college’s lecture halls. In order to deliver the same simplicity and quality for its larger classes, the tech team developed a solution that combines multiple powerful BMA 360 ceiling microphones with a Converge Pro 2 DSP mixer, again in conjunction with a variety of tracking cameras.

The solution ensured the complete coverage for the larger rooms while enabling connection of up to 12 additional lavalier, lapel or other types of microphones commonly used for panel discussions and multi-speaker scenarios. The BMA 360 makes system design even easier by allowing up to three distant units to be daisy chained together using P-Link, requiring only a single home run cable to the DSP.

“As we began deploying the new audio capture solutions, we worked closely with ClearOne’s knowledgeable reps to ensure each space operates smoothly and delivers a consistent experience for staff and students,” Bannan added. “The high level of support we received from the very beginning was a determining factor in our product selection, and has provided us with assurance that any issues we encounter with installations or operations can be quickly remedied.”

Ongoing Sound Reinforcements

The deployment is ongoing, with each year’s budget providing additional funds to integrate more classrooms and spaces, including conference rooms. The first to be upgraded was the President’s conference room, which houses BMA 360 and BMA CT systems that effectively solve for the room’s challenging acoustic environment that includes many hard surfaces. This specific room also utilizes the BMA 360 Voice Lift technology that delivers equalized sound reinforcement to all areas of the room, so no attendee is left straining to hear the speaker.

“The College of New Jersey moved deftly to provide all stakeholders with the latest innovative solutions for remote learning and hybrid classrooms, and their efforts to standardize the campus’ technology are already paying dividends for staff and guests,” said ClearOne Regional Sales Director Jason DiCampello, who worked directly with Bannan. “The need for reliable, high-quality audio and video solutions in education is only going to grow, and we look forward to continuing to work with TCNJ to provide long-lasting solutions that support staff and help the college meet its goals.”

The post TCNJ Deploys ClearOne BMA Audio Solutions Across Campus to Streamline Remote Learning appeared first on My TechDecisions.

“The new lineup of COLLABORATE Versa solutions offers an ideal package for every small-to-medium sized conferencing space or personal office, giving business owners and IT staff mission-specific options that ensure maximum value, utility and performance in any room,” Graham says. “Whether a company is upgrading technology in existing spaces, opening a new location or undergoing construction and design changes, these packaged solutions can help them quickly and efficiently deploy industry-leading audio and video quality combined with powerful special features that make hosting meetings easier than ever.”

ClearOne’s COLLABORATE Versa Conferencing Bundles

ClearOne’s COLLABORATE Versa Room CT 160, uses the USB audio-enabled Beamforming Ceiling Tile (BMA CT) microphone to bring professional conferencing audio to medium and large-sized meeting rooms. The microphone array has an integrated two-channel amplifier that provides 20W of audio power and makes it easy to connect the two included in-ceiling speakers, say the company.

The BMA CT delivers automatic echo cancellation, noise cancellation and adaptive microphone steering, while the UNITE 160 4K camera offers AI-controlled video auto-framing and smart face tracking with 12x optical zoom. The automatic tracking features keep the speaker or meeting host in the frame, and the powerful zoom creates greater flexibility for camera placement.

COLLABORATE Versa Room CT

For spaces where camera zoom is less important and a wider angle is desired, buyers can deploy the COLLABORATE Versa Room CT, which offers the same audio using the BMA CT but swaps in a UNITE 60 4K camera to capture a wider 120-degree field of view with 3x digital zoom. All automated functions are included as well.

COLLABORATE Versa 20 Bundles for Smaller Rooms

For smaller rooms or personal offices, the COLLABORATE Versa 20 combines a 1080p UNITE 20 Pro Webcam with a CHAT 50 portable personal speakerphone to create an ultra-simple option that can be used on-the-go. The 100-degree wide-angle camera can be secured onto any display or monitor using the included dampening clip. For rooms requiring simplicity and BYOD flexibility, the COLLABORATE Versa 20 Plus solution adds a Versa USB Hub that provides single USB connections for simple, ergonomic connection of peripheral devices to room PC or laptops.

ClearOne’s COLLABORATE Versa 160 Conferencing Bundle for Small to Medium Sized Rooms

The COLLABORATE Versa 160 solution gives small-to-medium rooms plug-and-play connectivity with high quality audio and HD video that enhance the BYOD meeting room experience. This solution combines the aforementioned UNITE 160 4K PTZ camera with a Versa USB Hub and the robust CHAT 150 speakerphone that is equally at home in a small conference room as in a personal or home office. To ensure every unique space has an optimized solution, the COLLABORATE Versa 60 also offers the CHAT 150 and Versa Hub but swaps out the UNITE 160 4K PTZ camera for the wide-angle UNITE 60 4K.

COLLABORATE Versa Pro 160 improves the BYOD experience in mid-sized conference rooms by adding professional quality audio and video. Comprising ClearOne’s Ceiling Microphone Array, CONVERGE Huddle DSP mixer and UNITE 160 4K PTZ camera, this solution improves BYOD experiences for flexible use rooms with AI processing that can track an individual or frame an entire group for perfect framing and focus.

Spaces requiring a wider camera angle can be outfitted with the COLLABORATE Versa Pro 60, which offers the same audio quality paired with the wider field of view captured by the UNITE 60 4K camera.

ClearOne’s solutions are designed to support all leading collaboration platforms, including Microsoft Teams, Google Meet, GoToMeeting, Zoom and Webex.

Another version of this article originally appeared on our sister-site Commercial Integrator on May 4, 2023. It has since been updated for My TechDecisions’ audience.

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The post ClearOne Launches COLLABORATE Versa Conferencing Bundles appeared first on My TechDecisions.

“Our partners rely on ClearOne to lead the way in the development of real-world solutions that meet the needs of today’s ever-changing meeting and collaboration customers across all vertical markets. And we intend to meet their highest expectations in this regard,” ClearOne CEO Derek Graham emphasizes. “We will continue to evaluate the needs of businesses and individuals working in today’s complex office and learning environments. And we’re proud to deliver innovative features and benefits to make every meeting easier and more productive.”

Features of Versa UCS2100

According to ClearOne, the Versa UCS2100 is apt for small to mid-sized meeting rooms, board rooms and executive offices. Here, the new Versa UCS2100 automatically detects HDMI and USB-C sources, such as a dedicated in-room PC or a Bring-Your-Own-Meeting (BYOM) laptop. It also offers the flexibility for users to access the same set of in-room AV peripherals. These include cameras and audio devices. Its USB-C input provides up to 60 watts charging. The Versa UCS2100 also provides simultaneous 1 x HDMI output and 1 x HDBaseT output.

When combined with ClearOne UNITE series PTZ cameras, INTERACT, CONVERGE Pro 2, CONVERGE HUDDLE, and CHAT series audio conferencing devices, the Versa UCS2100 delivers guaranteed performance. It also ensures a streamlined user experience that supports automatic source detection and switching. The Versa is also controllable via RS-232, TCP/IP, or front-panel buttons.

Bi-Directional HDBaseT 3.0 allows the remote peripherals to be placed at a distance of up to 328 feet (100 meters). Here, it provides 48 V PoE. It also features Dual USB hosts (USB-B and USB-C) for in-room PC and Bring-Your-Own-Meeting (BYOM) Laptop connectivity. The Versa UCS2100 also supports up to 4K 60 Hz 4:4:4 resolution, HDCP 2.2, HDR 10 and Dolby Vision, says ClearOne.

Another version of this article originally appeared on our sister-site Commercial Integrator on April 26, 2023. It has since been updated for My TechDecisions’ audience.

The post ClearOne Launches Versa UCS2100 Collaboration Switcher Kit appeared first on My TechDecisions.

The Tech Problem

“As schools across the country searched for ways to deliver educational instruction to remote students, we had a strong sense that classroom technology had shifted from being a special feature to a basic requirement,” says David Kollar, MCC tech support specialist for Tech Services Media. “Our team in the Media Department recognized that temporary school closures presented an opportunity to transform classrooms with new systems that deliver superior quality audio and video for remote learning. Based on colleagues’ prior positive experiences with ClearOne audio and video products, we tested and eventually selected multiple ClearOne audio solutions to provide reliable, cost-effective audio capture and guarantee every remote learner can hear each word spoken in the classroom with outstanding clarity.

ClearOne Audio Solutions

The school began evaluating its existing classroom solutions in the spring of 2020, and before long acquired a demo system from ClearOne using the company’s COLLABORATE Versa Pro CT beamforming in-ceiling microphone and CONVERGE Huddle DSP mixer. After testing the solution and inviting staff to comment on its performance, the school purchased 28 Huddle mixers to improve the quality and simplicity of some existing room systems. By May 2023, approximately 200 rooms will offer educators the power and reliability of the Versa Pro CT solution, while eight larger rooms are upgraded with the enterprise-grade ClearOne Converge Pro 2 DSP.

“As a forward-thinking institution that happens to be one of the nation’s largest community colleges, we strive to provide maximum value to our students, no matter how they attend courses or where they are physically located,” adds Jeff Foster, MCC senior tech support specialist for Tech Services Media. He continues, “remote learning provides an excellent option for any students who can’t attend a class while also greatly increasing opportunity for parents or working professionals who rely on our courses and programs to advance their education and careers. Combined with the upcoming launch of our very first four-year degree programs, we are once again proving our commitment to innovation in education and providing options that allow more prospective students to pursue learning where, when and to what degree they choose. Innovative technologies such as ClearOne’s powerful audio products are crucial to our continued success and ability to attract students in a highly competitive market.”

When the installations are completed, approximately two-thirds of existing classrooms will house ClearOne audio capture solutions, with some existing tech infrastructure being retained and integrated through analog connections on the ClearOne DSP mixers. Like many colleges, the campus designates some classrooms for open booking, while others are assigned to specific professors. Standardizing these easy-to-use systems across the entire campus allows for much greater reliability and ensures educators can quickly utilize remote tools without requiring IT assistance or encountering obstructions.

To help the school get up to speed and optimize use of the new solutions, ClearOne provided in-depth training to the technical staff and helped ensure teaching staff could be quickly trained to use advanced features such as Auto Echo Cancellation (AEC). A combination of new and existing PTZ cameras provide video capture, while a select number of legacy microphones were integrated into the Converge Pro 2 systems in larger lecture halls.

“Students of all disciplines can now enjoy crystal clear lectures and lessons wherever they choose, eliminating barriers for non-traditional students and enabling greater access to life-changing education,” says ClearOne rep Jason Wiley.

The post Mesa Community College Boosts Online Learning Experience with ClearOne’s Audio Capture Technology appeared first on My TechDecisions.

Working with integration firm Chrismin Communications, McGuire Sponsel chose to integrate ClearOne conferencing solutions including the BMA 360- Beamforming Microphone Array Ceiling Tile, Unite 200 12x zoom PTZ video camera, and  CONVERGE 2 Pro DSP. These solutions combine to elevate the company’s meetings and collaboration capabilities through audio clarity, superior rejection of reverb and noise, camera tracking and a clutter-free room aesthetic.

“Our initial involvement with this project focused on upgrading the existing data infrastructure and office expansion, and once on site, discussions with the owners quickly identified videoconferencing as a sore spot in daily operations,” says Chris Freeman, president of Chrismin Communications. “As a longtime ClearOne dealer and proponent, I knew ClearOne’s flagship BMA 360 microphone and Unite 200 camera would deliver vastly improved audio and video performance while adding valuable special features that simplify running a meeting and ensure consistent clarity, even in busy or dynamic meeting environments.”

The Conference Room Upgrade using ClearOne Solutions

McGuire Sponsel’s main conference room had existing AV equipment that was showing its age and had become troublesome to operate, discouraging use and causing frequent interruptions. The revamped space with a full ClearOne conferencing solution now offers employees simple, reliable operations and vastly improved audio and video quality. One of the client’s specific challenges was that the pickup pattern of their existing microphones was too wide, so passing fire trucks from a nearby firehouse would frequently interrupt meetings. Since installing the BMA 360 with noise and echo cancellation, the company says external noise pickup is minimized and meeting hosts can breeze through presentations or discussions without worrying about interruptions.

The main conference room system also includes four 6-inch in-ceiling speakers to ensure every participant can hear clearly. In order to optimize the simplicity and functionality of meetings, Chrismin Communications chose to specify the ClearOne CONVERGE Pro 2 48VT DSP, which enables integration with VoiP audio services so the ClearOne microphone audio can be routed to McGuire Sponsel’s familiar VoiP service. The room includes a control system as well, and a wireless tablet to provide fast access and control of all the room’s equipment.

For convenience, a ClearOne Bluetooth Wall Panel allows users to instantly connect their mobile device or laptop to the room’s audio equipment and enjoy superior sound quality through whichever mobile collaboration platform is utilized. The Bluetooth pairing name for the room can be customized for quick selection and assurance.

The BMA 360 beamforming microphone array uses over 100 MEMS microphones to achieve stunning accuracy, range, pickup quality and differentiation. It’s designed to look like a traditional ceiling tile and blend into drop-ceilings, making it an aesthetically pleasing solution that can be easily integrated into almost any space without impacting the feel of the room. With the option to use power over ethernet (PoE), P-link cables that can connect multiple BMA 360s up to 200 feet apart, and the included onboard 15-Watt amplifier enabling speakers to connect directly to the ceiling tile, installation can be greatly simplified.

Less Clutter

“They also wanted to eliminate as much tech and wire clutter as possible, which included keyboards, computer mice and a tangle of cables under the table,” Freeman added. “So, we added wireless PC peripherals, housed the PC inside the leg of the new conference table, eliminated all visible wires and installed the ClearOne app on the tablet to enable instant meeting setup and use of ClearOne’s free COLLABORATE Space videoconferencing and meeting platform.”

Chrismin Communications also used ClearOne conferencing solutions to outfit a second, slightly smaller meeting space, dubbed the War Room. The room’s technology includes a ClearOne BMA CT, like the BMA 360, along with a controller that enables BYOD connections, so anyone can plug in their laptop via USB. A Unite 50 4K ePTZ camera provides excellent coverage, quality, and remote control, while two, 4 inch in-ceiling speakers ensure audio playback is legible throughout the room. A Bluetooth Wall Panel adds instant connectivity for audio meetings, offering the same setup and capabilities as the main conference room.

Both the main conference room and the War Room include a flat panel television that connects with the room’s system. ClearOne conferencing solutions are compatible with all major online collaboration platforms including Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Google Meet and COLLABORATE Space.

“All other concerns aside, the greatest need for this client was superior audio performance, both in terms of microphone pickup and speaker playback, so that all parties in all locations can hear speakers and discussions clearly,” Freeman says. “The BMA 360’s innovative technology and design delivers up to 20 decibels of extra gain boost before feedback compared to omni-directional mics, can accurately identify and track the location of a moving speaker, and combines with tracking cameras to provide automated meeting capture without requiring a human to control angles or zooms.”

The post ClearOne Conferencing Solutions Help Clarify Audio and Reduce Clutter in Videoconferencing Spaces appeared first on My TechDecisions.

Technology professionals can jump start their 2023 sales by freshening their knowledge of ClearOne products and bolstering their ability to realize the full benefits of the company’s professional audio, video, streaming and collaboration solutions for customers.

The January course schedule includes dedicated classes for newly released products, such as the UNITE 60 4K Camera and UNITE 160 4K Camera, as well as long-established offerings like the CONVERGENCE AV Manager Certification, AV Conferencing Certification, Pro Audio Conferencing Certification, Advanced Pro Audio Conferencing Certification and Design Library Training.

For those interested in participating, the January course schedule of instructor-led and live webinar classes is now live and open for registration here.

The schedule of topics and times is as follows:

CONVERGENCE AV MANAGER CERTIFICATION

• January 3 from 9:00 to 10:30 AM EST
• January 4 from 9:00 to 10:30 AM EST

AV CONFERENCING CERTIFICATION

• January 3 from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM EST
• January 4 from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM EST
• January 24 from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM EST
• January 25 from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM EST

ADVANCED PRO AUDIO CONFERENCING CERTIFICATION

• January 5 from 9:00 to 11:00 AM EST
• January 26 from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM EST

UNITE 60 / 160 4K CAMERA TRAINING

• January 10 from 10:00 to 10:30 AM EST
• January 18 from 8:00 to 8:30 AM EST

VIEW LITE TRAINING

• January 12 from 9:00 to 10:00 AM EST

DESIGN LIBRARY TRAINING

• January 17 from 9:00 to 9:45 AM EST
• January 25 from 10:00 to 10:45 AM EST

CONSOLE AI SOFTWARE CONFIGURATION CERTIFICATION

• January 9 from 9:00 to 10:00 AM EST
• January 23 from 10:00 to 11:00 AM EST

PRO AUDIO CONFERENCING CERTIFICATION

• January 17 from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM EST
• January 18 from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM EST
• January 19 from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM EST

This article originally appeared on MyTechDecisions’ sister-site CommercialIntegrator.com.

The post Kick Off the New Year with ClearOne’s Latest Training Courses appeared first on My TechDecisions.

Per a statement, the collaboration leverages the capabilities of ClearOne’s BMA 360 ceiling-tile beamforming microphone arrays to direct the tracking features of the AVer cameras through their PTZ Link software.

Features of ClearOne + AVer Collaboration

“Through this collaboration, ClearOne and AVer have expanded the functionality of the AVer PTZ Link software to provide compatibility with ClearOne’s CONVERGE Pro 2 Series DSPs and BMA 360,” says Derek Graham, ClearOne’s interim CEO.

Graham continues, “This allows our integrator partners to offer their customers real-time voice-activated camera tracking while using Microsoft Teams, Zoom, WebEx and other popular PC-based conferencing services.”

The ClearOne BMA 360 beamforming-microphone array incorporates over 100 high-quality MEMS microphones. It also uses advanced digital signal-processing algorithms to form a frequency-invariant beam pattern with extremely low sidelobes. This enables it to pick up and track audio from the active talker.

AVer’s PTZ Link software and Pro AV Cameras provide tracking functionality for the video side of the conferencing equation. Integrators can thus design and implement fully automated solutions that are simple to operate and provide high quality and performance.

Providing Seamless Compatibility

“We leveraged AVer’s PTZ Link software to provide seamless compatibility between our companies’ hardware and software. Now, whenever a BMA 360’s microphone zone is activated, an automatic command is sent to the PTZ functions of AVer’s Pro AV Cameras to pan and zoom to perfectly frame the desired subject,” Graham adds.

“ClearOne is always striving to provide end users with the best experiences.” he notes. According to Graham, one of the unique features of the CONVERGE Pro 2 DSPs is the ability to manage up to three BMA 360 microphones with one DSP. With AVer’s cameras and PTZ Link software, a room as large as 100 feet can have a design that incorporates voice tracking.

This then gives the integrator partners the ability to offer voice-tracking capability with fully compatible camera and audio gear for different applications. These include small, medium, large and very large conference rooms, classrooms or other types of meeting spaces.

The key to the compatibility is AVer’s PTZ Link software, which can be hosted on a Windows or Mac OS X computer. It also provides data communication between signal processors and peripherals without requiring a separate controller unit.

“AVer is excited to help advance the state of video collaboration through partnerships that encourage broader use and break down barriers to adoption,” adds AVer CEO Andy Hsi. “We look forward to working with ClearOne to continue pushing the industry forward and making it easier for integrators and their clients to achieve their dream installations and optimize meeting efforts.”

The collaboration resulted from direct demand among distribution and integration partners. ClearOne is now actively pursuing partnerships with hardware manufacturers to improve cross-platform performance. It also hopes to raise the standards of virtual collaboration industry-wide.

This article originally appeared on MyTechDecisions’ sister-site CommercialIntegrator.com.

The post ClearOne Teams Up With AVer for Seamless Compatibility appeared first on My TechDecisions.

The camera offers organizations 4K UHD performance with 12x optical zoom capabilities, remote-controlled mechanical pan and tilt as well as AI-powered smart face tracking and auto framing. It is designed to capture all participants in large rooms while enabling automated focus on a moving presenter, making it ideal for larger spaces including board rooms, training centers, conference rooms and classrooms.

“Modern expectations for efficiency and flexibility require businesses, government entities and educational institutions to ensure employees, educators and students have access to clear, uninterrupted virtual communications solutions,” says ClearOne’s interim CEO Derek Graham. “The new  UNITE 160 4K camera enables integrators and  technology buyers to implement enterprise-grade video communications that can be paired with our innovative conferencing systems, such as the Versa. Lite CT, to deliver easy-to-use meeting rooms with impressive performance.”

Camera Tracking Solutions

Previously, ClearOne’s solution for camera tracking included the CONVERGE Pro 2 DSP mixer, one or more BMA 360 ceiling-tile microphone arrays, and a camera-tracking module for Crestron, AMX, or  Extron. ClearOne’s UNITE 160 4K camera offers an integrated AI-based camera tracking solution for rooms that are a fit for a single Versa Lite CT and a single camera. This new lower-cost camera-tracking configuration eliminates the need for a DSP mixer and a control system.

The UNITE 160 4K camera supports all leading virtual-meeting platforms including Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Google Meet, WebEx and GoToMeeting.

According to ClearOne, challenging lighting conditions are no match for the camera’s advanced 2D and 3D noise reduction, which ensures excellent visuals free of artifacts or grain. Camera control is attained through an IR remote, RS-232 connection, or UVC/UAC protocols, offering broad integration with control and automation systems.

A version of this article originally appeared on our sister site Commercial Integrator. 

The post ClearOne Launches UNITE 160 4K PTZ Camera appeared first on My TechDecisions.

There is an increased interest in professional-grade technology as businesses and classrooms return from the summer. According to ClearOne, it is therefore of paramount importance that technology professionals have a full understanding of all products and their services.

In its continued dedication to partners worldwide, ClearOne University thus supports technology professionals in their learning with a variety of course offerings and professional development opportunities.

Fall Courses

Those interested in participating can sign up for a wide range of courses that cover the latest technological developments at ClearOne. This is in addition to industry-favorite solutions. These include the CONVERGENCE AV Manager Certification, UNITE 200 Pro Camera Training, AV Conferencing Certification, Advanced Pro Audio Conferencing Certification as well as the Design Library Training, CONSOLE AI Software Configuration Certification, and Pro Audio Conferencing Certification.

Also Read: ClearOne Enhances CONVERGENCE AV Manager Platform with New Features

ClearOne October Courses

CONVERGENCE AV Manager Certification

• October 11th from 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM EDT
• October 12th from 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM EDT
• October 25th from 9:00 AM to 10:30 AM EDT
• October 26th from 9:00 AM to 10:30 AM EDT

UNITE 200 Pro Training

• October 5th from 1:00 PM to 1:30 PM EDT
• October 18th from 10:00 AM to 10:30 AM EDT

AV Conferencing Certification

• October 10th from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM EDT
• October 11th from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM EDT
• October 25th from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM EDT
• October 26th from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM EDT

Advanced Pro Audio Conferencing Certification

• October 13th from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM EDT
• October 27th from 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT

Design Library Training

• October 4th from 10:00 AM to 10:45 AM EDT
• October 19th from 9:00 AM to 9:45 AM EDT

CONSOLE AI Software Configuration Certification

• October 3rd from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM EDT
• October 17th from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT

Pro Audio Conferencing Certification

• October 4th from 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
• October 5th from 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
• October 6th from 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
• October 18th from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM EDT
• October 19th from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM EDT
• October 20th from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM EDT

This article originally appeared on MyTechDecisions’ sister-site CommercialIntegrator.com.

The post ClearOne University Fall Training Courses Now Open For Registration appeared first on My TechDecisions.

As the arbiters of decisions on office technology and room-based communications systems, IT departments and employees have a major role to play in facilitating a return to traditional office work. In order to minimize interruptions in daily operations due to technological shortcomings or lack of worker familiarity, IT staff can take steps to standardize equipment and procedures so every meeting host can ensure collaboration is smooth and the technology is predictable.

With the growing use of bring your own device(BYOD) practices that necessitate highly adaptable and interoperable systems, the pre-COVID technologies found in many meeting rooms may be insufficient or even unusable for some employees. For instance, a conference room that requires presentations to be run from a standalone PC and codec may be unrecognizable to those accustomed to plug-and-play solutions that allow their own laptops or even mobile devices to run a presentation wirelessly or through a simple USB or HDMI cable. Additionally, a business that utilizes both virtual and in-person meetings must account for technologies in both types of work environments to ensure smooth communications.

Some business leaders may underestimate the vital nature of this technological reality. In such organizations, it’s critical for in-house IT managers to have thoughtful discussions with executives to identify the full scope of needs and ensure all returning workers can complete their assigned tasks without requiring significant technology training or assistance from IT.

Luckily, technology manufacturers saw these practices changing and subsequently designed and launched new cameras, microphones and communications tools to suit every type of work arrangement and environment. At ClearOne, the focus has been on delivering tools for both the office and the home that can communicate flawlessly and provide simple use and connection with third-party devices, systems and online platforms to make the transitions between home and office as seamless as possible.

The last thing workers want is to have one set of rules and procedures for communication at home, another for their personal workspace at the office, and yet another for conference rooms. It’s also possible that a company’s different meeting rooms in the same building or across multiple locations may require unique setup or operations, which can cause interruptions or delays and waste valuable time for both meeting attendees and IT staff.

Companies that provide workers with laptops or other equipment to conduct remote work can enhance cross-location productivity by maintaining consistency between home and office technologies. Manufacturers know this and have developed tailored AV solutions for every size business to provide improved home and office communications with simplified setup and enhanced audio and video quality.

For instance, affordable tabletop or PC-mounted cameras and speakerphones can significantly raise the quality of one-on-one virtual meetings for home offices and individual in-office workspaces. They do so without introducing added complexity, and if they are from the same manufacturer as a company’s conference room systems, user expectations and operations can be consistent and stress-free. Class-leading options like ClearOne’s CHAT 150 USB speakerphones and UNITE 4K cameras check all these boxes by offering plug-and-play connectivity with a user’s computing platform of choice and working equally well in a wide range of office and home environments.

As a company’s workplace technology experts, IT practitioners have a responsibility to suggest and procure technologies that can improve workflow and respond to changing needs and expectations. Through education about the latest collaboration tools and solutions, IT staff can bring valuable recommendations to company executives that simplify daily processes for employees and minimize the need for real-time IT assistance by users. In today’s world where efficiency and collaboration are the cornerstones of global business operations, IT serves a vital role in helping maintain consistency and reliability, regardless of worker location.

The post IT Support Of Collaboration Technology Is Crucial For Employees’ Success During ‘The Great Return’ appeared first on My TechDecisions.