Now that an increasing number of organizations are adopting a hybrid staffing model — a blend of on-site and remote work — the flexibility offered by these solutions has guaranteed that this technology is here to stay.
“Wireless conferencing really brings a lot of opportunity for non-traditional spaces and BYOD solutions,” says Lauren Simmen, Crestron’s director of product marketing.
Every Space is a Collaborative Space
As hybrid work becomes the new normal, fewer coworkers are collaborating in four-walled rooms. Any nook where people can get together and “riff” is now fair game, says Simmen: “We’re seeing wireless conferencing go into those spaces that weren’t traditionally thought of as AV rooms or video conferencing rooms. If we can take the peripherals to those non-traditional spaces, it allows us video conferencing in every space.” The freedom that comes with this technology — technology that was seen as a novelty until recently — is now something expected by employees in a modern hybrid workplace. “Everything needs to be equipped for video conferencing,” says Simmen.
There are two problems with that expectation, both of which are solved with wireless solutions: infrastructure and cost. “To hardwire every meeting space that you have in an organization to be video-conference-capable, that’s a huge expense — and not just hardware. You’re talking about running cables, installation, set-up, provisioning,” Simmen explains. Most meeting spaces likely have some kind of display in close proximity — even if that screen is primarily used for, say, a digital signage application — and that becomes something of an “entry point” for the peripheral devices. “There’s an ethernet cord that’s probably most likely already attached to that display,” Simmen explains. “There are no new wires that need to be run at that point. When you add your soundbar, you add your camera, whatever it might be — they connect to the immediate device, that device connects to the network, and you’re done.”
Interoperability and Security
When more devices are added to any system, or when guests arrive with their own machines, or a staffer decides to present some content in a BYOD situation, a constant worry is interoperability: Will all this stuff work and play well together?
“When we talk about these peripherals, it’s essentially USB devices. There’s not a ton of different ways that they operate when it comes to peripherals like this,” says Simmen. “With Crestron’s AirMedia system, we anticipate very few interoperability issues, just because of the general nature of USB connection.” That focus on interoperability — and the ease of connectivity for BYOD solutions — is brilliantly expressed in new solutions such as the Crestron AirMedia® Connect Adaptor.
The other concern: security. Although she’s got an ever-growing list of examples in this regard, Simmen provides one of the biggest: “The AirMedia AM-3200 receiver has two separate LAN ports, one to support a guest network and one for the internal network —so if you have a guest network, that’s how you want people to connect.”
Ultimately, these solutions are one more tool to help achieve what Simmen and the rest of the Crestron team have been evangelizing for: meeting equity. “When anyone can collaborate from anywhere — from a remote location, a big, purpose-built conference room, or a little alcove with a couple of comfy chairs — that’s when the digital workplace is achieving its true potential.”
Want to learn more about Crestron’s AirMedia® Wireless presentation and conferencing systems? Find all the info here.
