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In my last blog post, I explained what audiovisual technology is and briefly touched upon how it can benefit the user. In that post, I demonstrated that the benefits of audiovisual technology depend on the industry and the type of equipment being used. Generally, audiovisual solutions simplify everyday life while simultaneously enhancing any experience. However, choosing the right equipment for your needs is crucial to producing the best results: cell phones are a useful tool, but you wouldn’t expect a plumber to fix a toilet with one.
Because each industry requires different equipment, it might be difficult to imagine the full extent of the benefits of audiovisual technology without specific examples. Check out the different sections below to learn more about the types of audiovisual equipment you need for your industry and how that equipment will strengthen your business.
Healthcare
Audiovisual technology can significantly improve the level of healthcare a patient receives in a number of ways, starting with staff training. Presentation equipment, such as monitors or projectors, allows trainers to display the same information to each group of trainees. Furthermore, these products enable trainers to bring in pictures or even videos to ensure their trainees are presented with concrete examples that will help them accurately understand the information. This ultimately guarantees that each staff member receives the best possible training, which will ensure exceptional healthcare for each patient.
In order to train large numbers of staff at once, healthcare providers should also consider configuring multipurpose rooms—adjacent rooms that can be used either individually or together as one combined room. Multipurpose environments are made possible thanks to control systems that communicate with other audiovisual equipment throughout the rooms to ensure the equipment works seamlessly when the rooms are combined and independently when they are separated. This will allow hospitals and clinics to utilize their space to its fullest potential and undergo mass training as quickly as possible. For more information on control systems, check out Crestron, one of the world's leading control system manufacturers.
Training is not the only aspect of healthcare that will improve with the right audiovisual technology. Overall patient care would greatly benefit from videoconferencing materials—cameras, microphones, speakers, monitors, etc.—as well. With this equipment, doctors, nurses, and other hospital staff will be able to communicate effectively with remote colleagues no matter where they are. This will be very useful in treating rare diseases or patients who have recently moved, as doctors will be able to reach out to specialists or a patient’s previous doctor to ensure they can provide the appropriate care. Of course, doctors could simply call their remote colleagues on the phone; however, given the importance of healthcare, face-to-face meetings are ideal as they allow participants to pick up on vital visual cues, ensuring their communication is as successful as possible.
Another way in which audiovisual technology can benefit the healthcare industry is by keeping patients entertained. PDi makes individual, interactive monitors that provide patients with education and multiple forms of entertainment, including games, social media, streaming sites, and more. These monitors ensure patients—both short- and long-term—are entertained and up to date on the news and their lives throughout their stay. In addition to PDi displays, hospitals can build theatre rooms using projectors or LED walls. These rooms would be sure to keep patients, especially children, engaged and happy.
Education
In educational settings, audiovisual technology can be used to increase student engagement, both when they are in person and online. Inspiring participation among students, whether online or in person, is necessary as most students learn better when they are actively engaged in the lesson. As mentioned in a previous post, videoconferencing, livestreaming, and recording equipment are all necessary for online learning. For more information on types of audiovisual equipment to incorporate into online education, check out that post.
As for in-person learning, interactive whiteboards are a fantastic tool for K–12 schools (for examples of interactive whiteboards, check out Viewsonic). These whiteboards encourage in-class participation and facilitate notetaking by enabling students to take notes together, allowing them to build on each other’s ideas and enhance the overall learning experience. On top of increasing in-class involvement, this process will also teach students how to become better notetakers in the future. Once students are done their collective notetaking, teachers can then upload these notes to a cloud-based system, such as Google Drive, for students to review. This will give students easy access to study materials, ensuring they are equipped with the proper resources to fully grasp each concept.
Additionally, document cameras are another useful option for improving student participation, both in K–12 schools and post-secondary environments. A much more high-tech version of overhead projectors, document cameras allow teachers to display any document, textbook, or object to the entire class. Students will be able to complete worksheets easily as a team, and more importantly, this gives teachers the opportunity to go over tests as a class to make sure students know exactly where they went wrong, so they can learn from their mistakes.
Incorporating presentation equipment, such as projectors or displays, into classrooms can also promote participation in K–12 and post-secondary schools. Giving students access to presentation equipment allows them to share their own insights and teaches them to present those insights in a comprehensible way. Furthermore, this equipment encourages students to engage with the class material, as they can only deliver a successful presentation if they truly understand their topic.
Corporate
Corporate offices can also benefit from various types of audiovisual equipment. This equipment can help businesses increase efficiency, enhance meetings, and create an inviting environment for their employees and guests.
In terms of improving efficiency, videoconferencing equipment is required in a corporate environment, especially for larger businesses. Videoconferencing technology saves time and money by allowing colleagues to collaborate face to face with each other and clients no matter where they are in the world. With less travel time and the ability to see who they’re speaking with—rather than constantly dealing over the phone—employees will make better use of their time. And thanks to the visual component of the meeting, misunderstandings will occur less often than they do in emails or regular phone calls.
Corporate businesses can also use audiovisual technology to amplify any presentations, making them more engaging and easier to follow. Offices can install projectors or monitors, which will enable employees to enrich their presentations with a visual component. For offices that want a cleaner, less cluttered look, wireless presentation equipment can be installed to reduce the number of cables needed in the room. And like the healthcare industry, corporate offices can configure multipurpose rooms. As mentioned above, these rooms make an efficient use of space and allow employees to present their ideas to larger groups of people, effectively saving the time of having to repeat the same presentation.
Furthermore, audiovisual equipment can transform offices into welcoming spaces, ensuring employees enjoy coming to work every day. Using digital signage or LED walls, the corporate industry can energize their offices, and their employees by extension, with slideshows of virtual art. The ability to change the displayed art guarantees that each employee will find something they love. Because of this, incorporating art into the workplace could help boost the company’s overall productivity, as people tend to work more efficiently when they like their environment.
Food Service Industry
The food service industry is made up of two different environments—sit-down restaurants and fast-food restaurants—both of which require specific audiovisual equipment, depending on the restaurant’s characteristics. This industry should use audiovisual technology mainly as a way of upgrading their guests’ experiences; however, depending on the size of the business, restaurants may have to implement additional equipment.
For example, larger chain restaurants can benefit greatly from implementing videoconferencing equipment. As aforementioned, videoconferencing helps to reduce misunderstandings when collaborating remotely. Instead of communicating with other locations or with headquarters over the phone or through email, chain restaurants (both sit-down and fast-food) should consider installing videoconferencing equipment to make sure they are communicating effectively so that each location is on the same page.
Other than equipment that facilitates collaboration, the food service industry should focus on acquiring equipment that enhances their guests’ experiences. Keeping this in mind, the most important and versatile pieces of audiovisual equipment in any restaurant are the digital signage displays. With screens scattered throughout the establishment, sit-down restaurants can keep their guests entertained with sports or any other television programs. To amplify the experience even further, restaurants can consider implementing an audio system throughout their restaurant, giving their guests the illusion of being at the game. These restaurants can also keep guests engaged by displaying trivia or other interactive games on certain screens. Placing monitors around the restaurant also gives the owners the opportunity to get creative in their marketing: they can bring their guests’ attention to their menu, promotions, and even limited-edition dishes with original, funny videos.
Meanwhile, in a fast-food environment, monitors can be used at the ordering counter to display the menu. This allows the restaurant to pair each food description with a picture and switch between a slideshow of screens to ensure each menu item is properly displayed to guests. Much like their sit-down counterparts, fast-food restaurants can also experiment with their creativity and advertise certain items with short promotional videos. On top of this, these restaurants can install interactive screens for guests to order from, alleviating some of the employees’ workloads, especially when busy.
Live Events
For optimal success at live events, organizers should implement a combination of audiovisual and broadcast equipment. This will ensure that all guests enjoy the event as much as possible no matter the event type or their placement in the stands.
On the broadcast side of things, professional cameras are a must for two reasons. First, production-grade cameras allow event organizers to increase their revenue by broadcasting the event to remote attendees. And second, these cameras enhance the in-person experience by giving all spectators a chance to see the action up close, even if they’re in the nosebleeds or buying snacks at concession. In addition to cameras, intercom systems are necessary for live events. Without some sort of intercom system, communication among the production team would be almost impossible, and thus, production would surely break down.
As for the audiovisual side, much like the food service industry, displays are the most essential pieces of equipment for live events. After all, without screens, the videos produced by the production team are useless for in-person guests. Larger displays should be used above the action to provide close-up views for guests sitting farther away, and smaller displays should be available throughout the venue in case any spectators want to leave their seats without missing anything. Smaller screens can also be placed at each concession area to display food and drink items as well as corresponding prices. Once again, food vendors can even get creative with their digital signage and make inviting videos to lure people in and entice them into buy their products. And, during intermissions, the larger screens that usually provide close-up shots of the action can be used to keep guests engaged throughout the break, further enhancing their overall experience. For example, as many sports fans know, these screens allow live event organizers to bring in “dance cams” or interactive trivia that guests can answer on their phones. This will be sure to keep audience members entertained throughout the entire event.
In addition to incorporating a visual aspect, live events require an audio component as well. Audio systems are especially important for concerts, speeches, and stand-up routines, as they are they only way the entire audience will be able to hear and appreciate the event. For sporting events, audio systems play a less significant role; however, they are still vital for success. In these types of events, implementing an audio component, such as “pump-up” music, can help increase audience engagement and excitement.
Real Estate/Hospitality
For the real estate and hospitality industry, audiovisual equipment can help create an inviting, practical space that is sure to impress clients and guests. With the help of digital signage and LED walls, this industry can transform their buildings into exceptional spaces that help to attract customers. In a previous blog post, I explained how LED screens can be used to improve business in the real estate industry. For more specific examples, please refer to that post.
In addition to digital signage, larger businesses in this industry will also benefit from videoconferencing equipment. This equipment will facilitate collaboration among coworkers, especially for businesses that have multiple branches across different cities. Furthermore, videoconferencing equipment will allow real estate agents to show spaces to prospective clients remotely. This gives busy clients the option to quickly view multiple properties before narrowing down which ones they’d like to make time to see in person.
Retail
No matter the type of store, all retailers have one common goal: to encourage people to walk into their store. Retail business owners can go about this in multiple ways, and the more creative they get, the better.
With digital signage or LED walls, retail business owners can redecorate their entrances to increase the likelihood of passersby entering their stores. And because the content is digital, they can easily switch between messages, pictures, and videos to create a truly welcoming atmosphere. They can even change up the entire slideshow every couple of months to keep up with new products and make sure their customers aren’t bored with the same displays. Retail business owners should also consider installing digital signage throughout their stores. Displaying digital art inside or using screens to bring attention to certain products will give the store a professional feel and appeal to a range of customers.
The above examples are just a few suggestions for each of these industries. Audiovisual technology can be used in other ways in the abovementioned industries and can also benefit other industries as well. Contact us via the link or at sales@mvcc.ca for more information on how audiovisual equipment can benefit your business!