Technology at work

Coupled with the indelible mark that computers have left on our lives, it is hardly surprising that audio-visual, or AV, communication is a huge industry.

Software advances have made communication easier and more interesting than ever before. After the use of training films and other visual aids during World War II, the AV industry became more sophisticated.

With the boom the presentation market experienced in the 1990's, electronic projectors became integral to corporate presentations, replacing the traditional slide or overhead projectors. In the early years of the 21st century LCD and DLP projectors joined the catalogue of devices being sold in mainstream computer stores.

With two recently-released models in the 4000+ ANSI lumen category, BenQ, a leading global DLP projector supplier, is wholly committed to meeting the rapidly growing consumer demand.

General Manager of BenQ Technology Product Center, Peter Chen explains, "With 13 years of expertise in projector engineering, BenQ has incorporated the best technologies into our SP Series for presentations that are unmatched in colour accuracy, clarity and convenience features, even in fully-lit settings."

In addition, the Internet and IP network availability enhance the current technology base of the industry and have allowed the production of sophisticated multi-media presentations incorporating text, computer graphics, sound and video. D.S. Krishna Murthy, General Manager of Almoe Digital Solutions LLC, explains, "Organisations are increasingly using videos and websites for their presentations.

This reinforces understanding of facts and ideas and [if] followed by a discussion it can include active audience participation." It seems that audio visual systems are no longer a luxury but rather a tool of survival in contemporary business.

Corporate environments have diverse needs, from internal uses such as board meetings and executive communications to external uses like targeting potential clients.

Murthy adds, "Depending on specific requirements, AV solutions are provided but [it is] mainly AV-IT based solutions, Conference technologies and Digital Signage being implemented".

In the fast-paced corporate world, one significant growth area is video and audio conferencing. Used effectively, these methods of communication can have dramatic effects on the way people do business and "maximise the level of collaboration" according to Murthy.

To offset any problems associated with Internet delivery of real time audio and video, many companies often deliver presentations using a combination of web and telecommunications.

Splitting the visual and audio feeds allows for smoother presentations since the conference participants' computers need only process the visual material.

The capacity to share any type of information with ease has added another dimension to this method of communication; that decisions are made faster. This allows products or services to reach the market quicker; and enables a business to stay ahead of its competitors.

Although productivity increases are the most valuable, an additional tangible effect of using conferencing is substantial money and time are saved due to reduced travel.

Video conferencing

Video conferencing is a tool that educational institutions are also looking to develop and integrate more thoroughly into teaching programmes. Apple Corporation has already launched the iChatAV and the accompanying iSight camera, targeting schools and colleges specifically.

The benefits of using such equipment are huge. It allows students in different locations to connect and work together with the potential to learn about different cultures and understand different social perspectives.

As a result, the concept of distance learning can be redefined and students need not be as remote as they once were. Conferencing has the added advantage of facilitating sign-language communication for hearing impaired students and allowing experts to be brought into the classroom without huge inconvenience.

Teachers can also use conferencing as a professional development tool — either to share their teaching practices with newly qualified teachers or to mentor teachers in other classrooms.

However, the most common use of A/V in the classroom still remains the interactive whiteboard and it is being used to retain the attention of increasingly tech-savvy students.

There is also the added advantage that interactive whiteboards allow teachers to record their instruction and post the material for review by students at a later time.

This can be a very effective strategy for students who benefit from repetition, for struggling learners, and for examination revision.

Many manufacturers are providing classroom response systems in conjunction with their interactive whiteboard products. With these systems, teachers can present material and receive feedback from students.

Students can solve puzzles and demonstrate their knowledge while the teacher keeps notes, as an electronic file, on the lesson for later distribution.

Founded in 1987, Smart Technologies which supplies stylus-based, electromagnetic (Promethean Activboard) and touch based, Resistive Interactive Whiteboards (or Smart boards for short) currently dominate the market.

With the advent of multimedia computer programs learning has become even more individualised, as students gain the ability to participate in the creation of their own materials and learning programs.

As Murthy explains, "Integrating today's technologies to expand teaching options [means] audience learning and retention increases".

Teachers can use Conferencing as a professional development tool - either to share their teaching practices with newly qualified teachers or to mentor teachers in other classrooms

Apple Corporation has already launched the iChatAV and the accompanying iSight camera, targeting schools and colleges specifically. The benefits of using this equipment are huge. It allows students in different locations to connect and work together with the potential to learn about different cultures and understand different social perspectives