Unified Communications & Education Technology Zone

In the education sector, AV technology is proven to increase student engagement and retention across all levels of study. While this could be as simple as projectors or interactive displays to enable students to access and engage with their learning materials, many institutions are going way beyond this. Virtual classrooms, online assessment systems and collaboration tools are enabling students to access learning materials wherever they may be, working independently or in small groups, while allowing institutions to reach a wider audience too.

While research suggests hybrid learning continues to be popular with students, the experience for some hasn’t always been of the highest quality. A few years down the line from those initial Covid-inspired investments in hybrid tools, the focus for many institutions, particularly at the higher and further education level, is ensuring the technology is in place to deliver a high-quality experience. This could include multiple cameras in lecture spaces and auditoriums to capture multiple feeds for a more engaging presentation, high-end microphones and speakers so students can clearly hear what is being said, and streaming platforms that allow students to ask questions and engage with the subject matter.

In addition, big data and artificial intelligence is helping educators to understand the impact of their teaching, identify those falling behind and shape lessons to enhance their appeal, while AR and VR devices continue to bring topics to life and offer new perspectives and gamified experiences. Looking further ahead and these devices will become more integrated into classrooms, with haptic devices also becoming a more common sight in learning spaces.

Collaboration solutions are having a positive impact in the enterprise space too. As workers continue to embrace hybrid and remote working, unified communications technology is crucial to creating a cohesive, productive and satisfied workforce. Videoconferencing systems, wireless content sharing tools, interactive displays and whiteboards are all being utilised to facilitate collaboration and bring teams together. But, while this more visible side of UC takes a lot of the attention, much of the innovation is happening behind the scenes. Cloud and data technologies are transforming how enterprises manage their estates, providing valuable information on how buildings are operating and if spaces are being fully utilised. Remote management of devices is also helping to ensure a reliable, consistent experience for users who increasingly rely on UC tools to carry out their daily tasks.

The convergence between AV and broadcast is also in evidence here, with cameras, switching equipment and green screen systems a more regular sight in the corporate world as production standards move way beyond a simple Teams call.

Zoom, Cisco, Google, Jabra and Microsoft continue to lead the way when it comes to communication and collaboration tools, while Clevertouch, ViewSonic and Avocor offer those all-important display solutions. On the audio side, QSC and Shure have offerings for rooms of all shapes and sizes, from simple microphones and headsets to fully integrated solutions.

All of these companies and more will be at ISE 2024. To find out more, visit the Unified Communications and Education Technology Zone in Hall 2.