With all the glitz and glamour of consumer technology, it can be easy to overlook some of the cool stuff that’s happening with workplace technology. Recently, I saw the Jabra PanaCast 40 VBS in action at Integrate, Sydney’s big AV expo, and I think it’ll drastically improve video meetings.
Designed for small meeting rooms, the PanaCast 40 VBS looks like a soundbar with a set of built-in cameras. Which, to be fair, it is, albeit with more smarts on the inside. Its two cameras seamlessly stitch together an image spanning 180 degrees, easily viewing everyone in a meeting room.
Jabra’s device cleverly avoids the impersonal and detached nature of videoconferencing meet-ups by recognising up to four people at a time and creating close-ups for each person via a 4x digital zoom. Internal beamforming microphones then identify who’s speaking, ensuring they’re heard over any background noise.
It’s smart technology that I think could make a positive difference in shared offices.
