Companies looking to incorporate technology that enables them to better compete on a local or global scale can build a smart conference room, which provides the capability needed for sharing information. The cost of building such a room depends primarily upon the level of sophistication that is desired.
Fifteen years ago, smart conference rooms predominantly were found in large corporations because the investment in such technology was prohibitive for smaller companies.
Technology has since evolved to become better, faster, cheaper and more advantageous to small-business end-users, and it has contributed to redefining the small-business world. Information now is easily stored, obtained, shared and utilized. Big and small businesses already have converted to paperless systems and many are in the process of doing so, which is yet another indicator of the crush of technology in businesses of all sizes.
Videoconferencing, previously utilized by large corporations so senior executives didn’t have to travel to their offices in Asia to meet with their managers, might now be prevalent in the conference room of your local law firm. Real estate firms can give sales seminars to their Realtors via Webcasts from their smart conference rooms. Editors can gather their staff in a smart conference room to create, revise and review the layout of their publication. Technology is not just for Fortune 500 companies anymore. It has enabled smaller companies to truly compete on a global scale. That being said, it’s now even more important for businesses to have the right technologies in place, and that may include the installation of a smart conference room.
In the old days, pitching a potential client would have involved handouts, flip charts and even a wall-sized white board, all of which are now regarded as dated elements of communication. Today, presentations can be made via laptop hooked up to a display device and speakers. No shuffling of papers or annotating with white-board markers. With the right technologies in place, even small businesses can deliver superb visuals and crystal clear sound in a dynamic presentation.
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Companies looking to incorporate technology that enables them to better compete on a local or global scale may want to consider a building a smart conference room. Not only does a smart conference room provide the capability needed for sharing information, it also offers an element of control over everything in the room. From visuals to sound and lighting, all aspects in the room can be controlled by a single remote or touch pad, which makes for very eloquent sales pitches and board meetings.
The cost of building a smart conference room depends primarily upon the level of sophistication that is desired. A simple smart conference room can be designed and built for as little as $5,000 and typically will have a single, center table hook-up that enables a computer, laptop or DVD player to be connected to a display device, such as a 32-inch liquid crystal display (LCD) screen. It also will feature an AC outlet, speakers for clear audio and ambient light control on the windows.
This type of smart conference room has become popular with accounting firms, law firms and small businesses because it enables them to give state-of-the-art audio/video presentations to staff, clients or other audiences.
On the flip side, mid- to larger-sized companies often require greater sophistication. It’s not uncommon for these companies to “build out” in preparation for future technologies.
Greater sophistication means greater consideration must be given to back-end details, such as wiring. The amount of information expected to pass through the conference room, coupled with a business’ needs and future plans for technology, will dictate the type of wiring that will be required. Whereas a smart conference room in a small company would simply require structured wiring, a large corporation may require fiber optics.
While we’re on the topic of back-end details, soundproofing and good acoustic design should not be overlooked no matter what the level of conference room sophistication. A presentation is not effective if the speaker cannot be heard, if sounds in the room reverberate or if wireless signals get in the way. Acoustic design will get rid of poor acoustics and bad frequencies that would otherwise interfere. Specific treatments made of proprietary absorptive and diffusive materials can be applied to the walls and ceiling of a smart conference room of any size to enhance the acoustics and further block out external noise and other interference.
Mid- to large-sized companies may demand the capability to hook up any number of laptops/personal computers to a display device and require 10 AC power outlets around the conference table. This type of capability is ideal whether the company is holding a high-profile meeting with investors or a monthly meeting of department heads. Attendees would be able to hook up their laptop and have information readily available to share.
All aspects of the room, from display devices and volume to the dimming of the lights and closing of blinds, could be run from a tablet touch PC screen. The fully integrated tablet touch screen would even enable a speaker to annotate points on the display while giving a presentation.
Videoconferencing and cameras for tele-videoconferencing also could be installed strategically around the room. This would better enable companies with multiple offices, whether they are just a few states away or across the globe, to meet face-to-face via one or more display devices.
A smart conference room that includes a 60-inch plasma screen, multiple computer connections, cameras, wiring, soundproofing, special motorized window treatments, ultraviolet window coverings on glass to protect the equipment and leather furniture as well as special lighting and controls, can be a $150,000 investment, if not more. Initially, this may seem costly, but the capabilities that are obtained facilitate productivity as well as the ability to better compete, which ultimately will provide tremendous return on the investment.
A smart conference room provides the integrated systems and technologies that will not only enrich large and small business and give them a competitive edge, but also will make conducting business easier by simplifying technologies. Any way you look at it, a smart conference room is a smart business investment.
