Why Having a Videoconferencing Camera is So Important

Sep 28, 2023 6:45:00 AM / by Smarter Systems posted in Video Conferencing, Work From Home, Live Streaming

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It’s Tuesday morning and you’ve got a big meeting coming up first thing at 9 AM. A prospect is not only super interested in what you have to offer, but they’re bringing along some of their key decision-makers to the meeting as well, so it's crucial that you make a great impression.

 

But later, you find that no one has their cameras on during the meeting. Half of the people there are muted anyways.

 

As you present to them, you stumble a little bit while critically thinking to yourself – do they seriously have an interest in what I have to offer to them? The emails before the meeting were spectacular. But now you’ve got a cloud of doubt over the whole deal because they had their cameras off.

 

Cameras on or off, both can have pros and cons to the situation that you’re in. Maybe you’re having a bad day and forgot a hair tie, or you simply don’t have a camera.

 

But if you don’t have a camera to begin with, you’re missing out on some fundamental benefits.

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Ultrawide Displays - What Are They?

Sep 7, 2023 7:00:00 AM / by Smarter Systems posted in Audio Visual, Conference Room, Training Room, Video Conferencing, AV Integrator

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Widescreen seemed revolutionary when it first came out in the mid 90s.  It almost seemed like we had one eye shut when we watched movies in 4:3!

 

What you didn't realize though is that 16:9 isn't as wide as we can get.

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Privacy in the Digital Age - Why You Should Encrypt Your Videoconference

Aug 17, 2023 7:30:00 AM / by Smarter Systems posted in Conference Room, Video Conferencing, Live Streaming

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Whether for business meetings, virtual classrooms, or catching up with loved ones, we rely heavily on video conferencing platforms to connect and communicate.
 
However, with the increasing prevalence of cyber threats and surveillance, protecting our digital privacy has become a paramount concern.  Thus, encrypting your video conferences is no longer an option, but a necessity.
 
 
If you're confused about what encryption is, here's a crash course in how it works, and how your videoconferencing is protected by it.
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Cable Management: Why It Matters

Aug 3, 2023 7:30:00 AM / by Smarter Systems posted in Video Conferencing, AV Integrator, Additional Services

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Cables - we've dealt with them since the invention of the telegraph.  We've figured out interesting ways to dress, coil, and place them all around the world to facilitate communication.

 

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Everything Everywhere All At Once

Jul 6, 2023 7:30:00 AM / by Steve Tripi posted in Audio Visual, Conference Room, Huddle Room, Training Room, Barco, Wireless Presentation, Video Conferencing, Live Streaming, AV Integrator, Additional Services

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When it comes to A/V, can you really have Everything Everywhere All At Once?

 

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Projector or Display: Which One Is For Me?

Jun 8, 2023 7:00:00 AM / by Smarter Systems posted in Audio Visual, Video Conferencing, AV Integrator

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When it comes to displaying content in a commercial environment, two notable options are projectors and displays.  Both have their pros and cons, and the decision on which to use ultimately depends on the specific needs and requirements of the setting.  Here, we will discuss the technical differences between projectors and displays, and when each is best suited for commercial environments.

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AI in AV: What's it Improving?

May 4, 2023 6:15:00 AM / by Smarter Systems posted in Audio Visual, Video Conferencing

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Artificial intelligence!

It may seem like more of a buzzword in recent years, but the truth is AI is trending because it's changing the way we work, find information, and collaborate.

Not only is it automating mundane tasks, but it's also being used by companies of all sizes to aid in decision-making,customer service, and product development.  The rigorous process of data collection is becoming more streamlined every day, allowing for companies to increase their productivity and accuracy.

As an audio-visual company, we've felt the aftershocks of the AI boom in the audio-video world too.  More often we're installing conferencing solutions with AI capabilities like facial and speech recognition.  But that's just the tip of the iceberg - here's a much broader scope of what it's improving.

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Considerations You May Miss When Designing a Conference Room

Apr 27, 2023 7:00:00 AM / by Smarter Systems posted in Audio Visual, Conference Room, Sound Masking, Wireless Presentation, Video Conferencing, AV Integrator

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Soft vs Hard Codecs - Which Works For Me?

Mar 23, 2023 7:45:00 AM / by Smarter Systems posted in Conference Room, Video Conferencing, AV Integrator

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As full, room-based audio-video conferencing systems becomemore popular, questions arise about the differences between soft and hard codecs.  While both types have advantages and disadvantages, each may be better suited for different types of applications.  In this article, we'll explore the differences between soft and hard codecs, and discuss which type is best for you.

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3 Factors to Getting a Clean Audio Transmission in a Conferencing Call

Mar 9, 2023 6:45:00 AM / by Smarter Systems posted in Audio Visual, Video Conferencing

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In virtual conferencing, it's not optimal, but it's certainly achievable to do an audio-only conference call.  But the second your audio ends up going out, even if you have a video stream going through, you're relegated to using the chat.  Don't let your meeting eventually become a long email!  Here's a few steps to success to getting a clear audio transmission.

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