3 Advantages of an Intelligent Multi-Camera Meeting Room

Video conferencing bars are an unmistakable AV trend in the modern workplace, and it’s not hard to see why. These all-in-one solutions address many day-to-day challenges and set new standards for ease of use. But what if your use case requires more than what a video conferencing bar is designed to deliver? In this post, I share some background about the strengths and weaknesses of video bars and an alternative to consider if a bar isn’t meeting your needs.

Video Bar Strengths and Weaknesses

Video bars are popular because they combine a camera, microphone, and speaker into a single unit with a simple workflow. Users typically click one button to join a meeting; the video bar takes it from there. These innovative solutions work well in conference rooms that:

• Hold up to 12 people 
• Are small to medium in size and uniform in shape (i.e., square or rectangular) 
• Have a fixed and unobstructed field of view 
• Have a single purpose and are used in a similar way for each meeting 
• Have fixed furniture placement 
• Have good acoustics 

Unfortunately, other scenarios can cause video bars to deliver a less-than-ideal experience for meeting participants, making them feel left out or unable to engage in the conversation. For example, have you ever been in a meeting when the camera fails to show the speaker? Or how about being able to see the speaker but not understand what they are saying? These types of scenarios disrupt the meeting flow and create a sense of disorientation.

In general, video bars tend to struggle when conference rooms:

• Hold 12+ people (e.g., large training rooms, all-hands rooms, multi-purpose spaces) 
• Are an unusual shape or have a broader field of view 
• Have flexible seating arrangements or movable furniture (e.g., combine/divide rooms) 
• Need ability to function in multiple modes or use cases (e.g., classroom, conference room, lecture style, panel discussion, audience Q&A) 
• Require prioritization of a particular presenter, participant, or physical location 
• Include architectural elements that obstruct the view for some participants 
• Have more challenging acoustics

We recommend moving beyond the bar into an intelligent multi-camera meeting room solution in these cases. While that may sound more complicated, you don’t have to sacrifice ease of use!

An Intelligent Multi-Camera Meeting Room Solution

Recently, our Enterprise AV Practice team created a live demo of an intelligent multi-camera presenter and active speaker-tracking solution that layers several different technologies into one workflow: 

• Multiple intelligent cameras work together to track the action and create a cohesive experience for remote participants. 
• Intelligent microphones able to triangulate and provide speaker location within a physical space 
• AI-Driven Presenter Tracking solution providing full-body autonomous camera tracking of individuals. 
• Defined action zones within a room monitored by intelligent cameras to create different outcomes based on action within that zone. 
• Fully automated experience driven by pressing a single “join” button on a touch panel (simple like the conferencing bar!)

This solution picks up where video bars leave off and delivers an improved user experience across multiple use cases. Here are three key benefits of an intelligent multi-camera meeting room:

1. Tracks the action automatically – AI-driven cameras and microphones are increasingly sophisticated, especially in tracking and focusing on meeting participants in real-time. These systems use advanced algorithms to automatically point the optimal camera at a speaker’s location, detect individuals within the camera's field of view, and adjust the shot accordingly. Additionally, dedicated cameras actively and fluidly track presenters to support classroom or presentation scenarios. Finally, these cameras can prioritize specific areas within a room, like a whiteboard or a lectern, ensuring these zones remain in focus when someone utilizes them. 
   
   
2. Adapts to different room layouts and seating arrangements – strategically placing multiple cameras ensures that all participants are visible and the conversation flows smoothly. This is particularly important in larger or more irregularly shaped meeting rooms where multiple angles are required to ensure that each participant is seen clearly. 
   
   
3. Provides a more immersive, equitable experience – by capturing the room from several angles, multiple cameras create a sense of presence and connection often lacking in traditional or video bar solutions. In addition, multiple microphones can improve audio quality for all participants, ensuring everyone's voice is heard clearly and distinctly.

Your IT Team Benefits, Too 

The benefits of an intelligent, multi-camera meeting room don’t stop with the user. These custom solutions can also make life easier for your IT team. 

The solutions can have a modular and software-based set-up that grows with you as platforms add new features. 

In addition, the solution can be platform agnostic, so it works with whatever tools your company already uses and your support team is familiar with (e.g., Microsoft Teams).  

Best of all, our designs are always built on a certified backbone using enterprise-grade AV designed to withstand heavy usage and deliver consistent, reliable results in demanding environments.

Custom AV Solutions from a Trusted Systems Integrator

While video bars are an off-the-shelf solution, the intelligent multi-camera meeting room solutions I’ve described here are not. This is where AVI comes in as a systems integrator focused on delivering the right solutions for your situation and needs. Our team is dedicated to staying updated on available products and solutions, their pros, cons, and tradeoffs, and how they integrate with other tools in the marketplace. With this market and industry knowledge, we work closely with our clients to design custom meeting rooms that meet your unique priorities and goals. 

Through our development process, we collaborate with you to understand your use cases, priorities, and goals. We also take the time to understand your workflows and any environmental features that should be considered (e.g., room configurations, acoustics, lighting, furniture). Together, we agree on what a successful outcome for the system looks like, which then drives the logistical decisions that impact functionality (e.g., camera and microphone placement).  

Based on this information, one of our Engineers will create a detailed design and specification for the system, including hardware selection, network configuration, and control system integration. Then, our project team will install and configure everything to meet your requirements and ensure the system functions properly. Finally, we will work with you to provide the right ongoing maintenance and support plan for your needs.

Ready to level up your meeting room?

While intelligent multi-camera systems may require a more complex setup than video bars, their benefits are significant. If you’d like to learn more about how an intelligent multi-camera solution can improve communication and collaboration at your organization, our experienced team would be happy to answer your questions. You can also see this solution in action at our upcoming AVI Live events. 

©AVI Systems, Inc., 2024