notacomputergeek

For decades the projector was king if you wanted to do office presentations. Though they are still preferred for mobile presentations and very large rooms, displays are really the way to go. Displays have the added benefit of being a self-contained meeting device for Zoom, Microsoft Teams, or Google Meet.

For presentations, displays can be connected to a computer via cable, such as HDMI, or through a dongle, such as Barco ClickShare. Displays also have the option of adding a computer to the back of the display which integrates directly with the display, so there is no need for a separate computer if the presentation material is accessible from the built-in computer. Optional Bluetooth keyboard and mouse are recommended. Another advantage is that it has a brighter picture in ambient or bright light – no more dimming the lights and putting your attendees to sleep.

For meetings in smaller rooms, displays can be purchased with a built-in camera and microphone. Typical setups are good for up to 30’. If you have a larger room, you will need to look into external microphones, speakers, and cameras. Ceiling microphones can also be combined with a DSP mixer to reduce distant noises, echo, and people talking over each other. The larger room equipment can be placed in a rolling rack and managed through a custom app on an iPad, creating a cleaner look and easier interface.

If you have staff that aren’t afraid to touch and learn new technology, purchase a touch display, which is helpful during PowerPoint presentations to advance slides. Drawing tools can be used to highlight parts of the presentation, such as drawing a circle around something. Touch displays are also great for collaboration during a brainstorming meeting, then save the screen for later distribution. However, personal experience says this won’t get used unless you have a champion who will embrace this technology and perform sufficient training and re-training.

Products I like can be found at www.maxhub.com and I suggest finding a consultant, especially for those larger rooms.