The smaller the meeting room, the more important it’s to configure the videoconference correctly to get the best possible experience. From Bose Professional, which with its new Videobar VB-S offers an excellent option dedicated to small conference rooms, some interesting technological considerations.
Corporate IT managers today find themselves having to optimize the configuration for a wide variety of spaces, no longer for “classic” meeting rooms but also for smaller rooms, reconfigured by necessity or by choice. Furthermore, with the emergence of the hybrid workforce, videoconferencing configurations have also become necessary for different spaces such as offices, domestic rooms, reading rooms, multipurpose spaces and even bedrooms, which can occasionally be transformed into workplaces.
Increasingly today, teams need to have the ability to be productive and connected from anywhere. A recent study found 83% of workers prefer hybrid models, which means organizations need to master the art and science of video conferencing for small spaces, with a different approach than when using larger areas. So let’s start with the questions that need to be asked: How big is the space? Does it need to be optimized for one or more participants? Will attendees bring their own device (computer, phone or tablet) or will they use an integrated meeting room? And again: is the space shared? Will there be background sounds or unavoidable disturbing elements? There are connectivity solutions that offer integrated audio, video, and collaboration software designed for medium to small conference spaces. For example, for spaces up to 3×3 meters, the new Videobar VB-S offers high-quality audio, microphones and image capture in one device, a conferencing solution so simple that you can set it up between meetings and ensures a meeting experience that is so engaging and clear that remote participants can feel as if they are in the room.
Another common case is that employees have to multitask from home or from a room where other people work. In this case, it’s even more important to think thoroughly about the audio solution, for example by choosing noise canceling headphones. With the right headphones, users can customize their audio experience in many ways, from volume to sound cadence, and can avoid external distractions and let anyone nearby know that a conference call is in progress (think about the most frequent case: the need to connect and work from an airport or train station). Of course, training employees on how to make the most of their devices is also very important. Using products that allow you to act on audio, video and microphone settings allow users to customize the performance of their devices, improving the experience and increasing the dynamism of videoconferencing.
Finally, another important factor in videoconferencing is the quality of connectivity. Suffice it to say that the transmission of an HD video conferencing image requires a bandwidth of around 2 Mbps, but a 4K image is closer to 20 Mbps. IT managers can work with remote employees to maximize existing connectivity. Working from anywhere does not have to mean sacrificing sound or image quality. Videoconferencing allows today’s hybrid and remote workforce to stay connected, and strategic technological choices can improve videoconferencing, regardless of where the teams work, with positive repercussions on the quality of everyone’s work and on the company itself.
