Our world revolves around media, from screens in airport terminals telling us the flight status to interactive digital signs in the mall to guide you to your favorite store. No matter your industry, audiovisual systems are a benefit to most experiences for your clients and your team members.
Audiovisual systems consist of various electronics used for transmitting sound and displaying images. These configurations are extensively customizable, from a simple speaker system to a fully integrated audiovisual interactive experience.
To best understand all the most popular implementations of AV systems in your operation, it’s good to understand the latest technology and how it can work for your business. This guide will do just that and offer some exciting tips to help you on your audiovisual journey.
Types of Audiovisual Systems At Your Disposal
As technology adapts and evolves, it leaves an ever-expanding lineup of technology and possibilities in its wake. With such a vast amount of options and the ever-changing nature of technology, it can be a veritable jungle of possibilities. Let’s help by lending a machete to our thicket of choices and drilling down on what you should be looking at for your business.
- Communication Systems
- Display Ad Screens and Video Walls
- Meeting Room and Conferencing Solutions
- Digital Signage and Interactive Displays
- Customer Direction Signage
- Training Screens and Touch Screens
- Wireless Presentation Systems
Communication Systems
In the business world, information is power. The more quickly and efficiently a company can share information internally, the more competitive it becomes in its market.
Until recently, outdated communication systems have been a bottleneck to companies looking to modernize their information-sharing practices. However, thanks to the advent of new communication systems, this is no longer the case. You can now take advantage of these systems to help your business run more smoothly and efficiently.
Some of the most popular types of communication systems include:
Intercom Systems:
Intercoms are a great way to improve communication within your office or between multiple offices. They allow you to quickly and easily send messages to specific individuals or groups. You can also use intercoms to broadcast announcements to everyone in your office.
PA Systems:
PA, or public address, systems typically find use in larger businesses and organizations. They allow you to make announcements to a large group of people all at once. You can use PA systems for everything from making announcements to holding meetings and conferences.
Telephone Systems:
Telephone systems are necessary for any business that needs to communicate with customers and clients. They allow you to make and receive calls and transfer calls to different extensions. Telephone systems can be analog or digital, and they can be standalone or integrated into your computer network.
Display Ad Screens and Video Walls
Digital signage has grown to become one of the most popular and effective ways to reach your target audience. You can display ads, information, and even video content on screens throughout your office or store with digital signage.
Digital signage is an excellent method to grab the attention of passersby and promote your products or services. You can also use digital signage to provide information about sales, events, and other happenings in your business.
Some of the most popular types of digital signage include:
Displays:
Displays are the most common type of digital signage. You can use them to display ads, images, and even video content. Displays come in various sizes, from small screens that can reside on desks to large screens hung on walls.
Video Walls:
Video walls consist of multiple displays placed side-by-side in various configurations. They provide a larger viewing area and can be used to display video content or live feeds.
Touch Screens:
Touch screens are the interactive medium between your clients and digital signage content. You can use them to display information, play games, and even make purchases.
Meeting Room and Conferencing Solutions
When it comes to meeting rooms, audiovisual equipment is a must. With the right equipment, you can make sure that your meetings run smoothly and that everyone in the room can see and hear what’s going on.
Appropriate meeting room system design is essential to ensuring that your meetings are productive and successful. Some of the most popular types of meeting room systems include:
Projectors and Screens:
Projectors and screens are a must for any meeting room. They allow you to display presentations, images, and even video content. Projectors can be mounted on the ceiling or placed on a table, while screens can be hung on the wall or placed on a stand.
Sound Systems:
A sound system is essential for any meeting room used for presentations or conferences. With a sound system, you can make sure that everyone in the room can hear the speaker. Sound systems can be standalone or integrated into your existing computer network.
Video Conferencing Systems:
Video conferencing systems allow you to connect with people in other locations. With a video conferencing system, you can hold meetings and conferences without leaving your office.
Interactive Whiteboards:
Interactive whiteboards are a great way to get everyone in the meeting room involved. With an interactive whiteboard, you can display presentations and images, write notes, and draw diagrams.
There are a variety of other types of audiovisual equipment that can work well in meeting rooms, including:
Microphones:
Microphones are essential for any meeting room that you will use for presentations or conferences. With a microphone, you can make sure that everyone in the room can hear the speaker.
Speakers:
Desk placed, wall-mounted, ceiling-mounted, and even invisible wall speakers work great in meeting and conference rooms. Invisible or ceiling-mounted speaker systems add a deep sense of professionalism to any well-laid-out meeting room.
Cameras:
You can use cameras to record meetings and conferences. You can also use them for video conferencing.
Control Systems:
Control systems allow you to control all of the audiovisual equipment in your meeting room from one central location. You can turn on and off the projector, screen, sound system, and other equipment with a control system.
Digital Signage and Interactive Displays
Digital signage is a great way to grab the attention of passersby and promote your products or services. You can also use digital signage to provide information about sales, events, and other happenings in your business.
Some of the most popular types of digital signage include:
Displays:
Displays are the most common type of digital signage. They can display ads, images, and even video content. Displays come in various sizes, from small screens that you can place on desks to large screens that you can hang on walls.
Video Walls:
Video walls consist of multiple displays oriented in various positions. They create a large viewing area and can be used to display video content or live feeds.
Touch Screens:
Touch screens allow users to interact with the digital signage content. You can use them to display information, play games, and even make purchases.
Customer Directional Signage
Directional signs are a great way to guide customers and clients to your business. With directional signs, you can ensure that everyone knows where they need to go.
Directional signs come in a variety of types, including:
Window Signs:
Window signs are a great way to grab the attention of passersby and promote your business. You can use window signs for advertising sales, events, and other happenings in your industry.
Wall Signs:
Wall signs are a great way to grab the attention of customers and clients who are walking by. You can use wall signs to promote your business or provide directions to your office.
Standalone Digital Signs:
Replacing the traditional a-frame signs with digital displays is a great way to grab the attention of passersby. They can display ads, events, and other information about your business.
Menu Boards:
Menu boards are a great way to promote your products and services. You can use menu boards to provide information about your business and list the prices of your products and services.
Training Screens and Touch Screens
Training and touch screens are great ways to get employees up-to-speed on new products, services, and procedures. Similarly, interactive teaching is becoming a new norm, so this technology works well in the classroom and the training room at work.
With training screens, you can provide employees or students with step-by-step instructions on using new software or equipment.
Video and Audio Conferencing Systems
As mentioned regarding meeting rooms, video and audio conferencing systems are changing the business communications landscape. But these systems aren’t limited to only meeting rooms! Conference rooms of all sizes can benefit from having a video and audio conferencing system.
With a video and audio conferencing system, you can connect with clients, employees, and customers worldwide. Dedicated AV systems for organizational communications are becoming more popular with the explosive growth of work from home.
Setting up a dedicated video conferencing area at your facility is an excellent way to maintain brand integrity for company video communications. By controlling your exterior background environment, you can even add supplementary branding to your surroundings to increase the effectiveness of video communications with your clients.
Wireless Presentation Systems
A wireless presentation system is a great way to share content with a group of people. With a wireless presentation system, you can connect your laptop or mobile device to a projector or display without wires or cables.
Wireless presentation systems are becoming more popular as they offer a hassle-free way to share content. They are also a great way to keep your meeting space clean and clutter-free.
There are a variety of wireless presentation systems available on the market, so you can find one that fits your specific needs.
Digital Signage Content Management Systems
Digital signage content management systems (CMS) are software applications that help you create, manage, and deploy digital signage content. A CMS gives you the ability to control your digital signage network from a central location.
There are various digital signage CMS platforms available, so you can find one that fits your specific needs.
Digital signage CMS platforms typically include features such as:
- Content Creation Tools: Content creation tools allow you to create digital signage content using a variety of templates and tools.
- Content Scheduling: Content scheduling allows you to schedule when you will play your digital signage content.
- Content Distribution: Content distribution allows you to distribute your digital signage content to a network of displays.
- Reporting and Analytics: Reporting and analytics allow you to track the performance of your digital signage content.
Controlling Your AV Systems With Ease
Technology is quite incredible. At least, the speed with which it has changed is excellent. Take controlling your AV system, for example. Gone are the days of old VCRs hooked up to many wires in a closet to play a video on display. Remember when those screens were big, heavy, box-like things?
Controlling new AV systems is easy with the latest audio and video controllers. Let’s look at one such brand that we work with quite often here at Century AV – BrightSign Media Players.
BrightSign – A modern media player for digital signage with modern needs in mind. There’s a reason we use BrightSign equipment – it works great! Some of the features of the BrightSign digital media controller lineup include:
- Multiple devices to choose from to suit any need
- PoE (Power Over Ethernet) technology means you don’t have to run extension cords and power – just your powered ethernet cable and the HDMI from the controller to the screen. Eliminating the excess (and unnecessary) extra power cable makes routing more straightforward.
- A durable aluminum casing makes these devices rugged. They are also rated from -20 to 70 degrees Celsius (-4 to 158 degrees Fahrenheit), so they meet the demanding needs of almost any environment.
- Extraordinarily versatile and easy-to-use technology built-in means you start with a winning device and don’t need to add excessive layers of technology to make it work.
BrightSign media players are just one of the many solutions we can offer at Century AV. Talk to our experts today to find the perfect solution for your business!
Use Cases For Audiovisual Equipment At Work
Conference Room Audiovisual Systems
Conference room audiovisual systems have come a long way in recent years. They are now easier to use and more versatile than ever before.
There are several benefits to using modern conference room audiovisual systems for your organization. Some of these benefits include:
Ease of Use:
Modern conference room audiovisual systems are designed to be easy to use. It means that you can set up and operate your system with little to no training.
Improved Collaboration:
Conference room audiovisual systems allow for improved collaboration between employees. It is because you can share documents and presentations easily with everyone in the room.
Increased Productivity:
Conference room audiovisual systems can help to increase productivity in the workplace. You can use them to hold meetings and training sessions more efficiently.
If you are looking for a conference room audiovisual system, keep a few things in mind. First, you need to decide what type of system you need. We can help. Our design team specializes in finding you the perfect solutions for your business.
The Latest In Conference Room Screen Technology
Spotlight: Quantum Dot OLED – introduced at CES 2022 (source)
What is QD-OLED?
QD-OLED, or Quantum Dot Organic Light Emitting Diode, is a new (2022) display technology. The tech combines the best OLED and QLED technologies to form a more recent version of the OLED system with improved brightness and color.
QD-OLED technology has several benefits for business meetings.
- First, it is exceptionally bright and vivid, making it perfect for displaying presentations and documents.
- Second, the color accuracy is exceptional, ensuring that all of the details in your presentation are visible to everyone in the room.
- Third, QD-OLED technology is very energy efficient, meaning that it will not add to your organization’s carbon footprint.
If you are looking for a conference room audiovisual system that uses the latest display technology, QD-OLED is the way to go.
Video Walls
Video walls can leave clients speechless with their beauty. And we’ve got the tech you need to make them a reality at your organization.
We mentioned a few of the incredible features of BrightSign players, which offer enterprise video and HTML performance. The system boasts up to dual 4k video decoding and support for 4k graphics in their top player.
Eight different model configurations make it easy to get the exact player needed to match your requirements. And don’t worry, these players can play 24/7 – as we said, they are VERY durable.
Restaurant or Boutique Menu Signage
Almost all newly constructed restaurants are turning to digital menus and other digital signage to replace the menu boards and posters of old. You can cash in on this relatively inexpensive technology to add a sense of flash and professionalism to your establishment.
Combine a player/controller like BrightSign married to a QD-OLED display, and you’ve got a winning combination that will turn heads (and open wallets). Let Century AV help design and set up your digital menu displays for the optimal digital signage set up to win the hearts of your clients.
See the digital display case study here.
Corporate Broadcast and Live Streaming Systems
More and more businesses realize the power of streaming and corporate broadcasting. We can help you navigate the world of streaming and corporate broadcast with the right system design and setup.
In order to have a successful corporate broadcast or live stream, you need two things: high-quality equipment and a specialist to install it and support it down the road.
Century AV has both. We can provide you with the latest and greatest in streaming technology and the expertise to set it up and make sure it runs smoothly.
Interactive Displays
Our world is interactive. Our media is interactive. Interactivity is the new metric to assess customer involvement. And if you don’t take advantage of interactivity, you’ll be left behind with the paper posters and print media.
Interactive displays and signage are used in a variety of applications. These applications include (but are not limited to):
- Menu and order boards
- Maps and navigation kiosks
- Information stations
- Sign-In kiosks
If you can think of how you want clients to interact with a display or screen, we can help you get it designed and set up to work just the way you need it. Contact us today for a free estimate.
Video Surveillance Systems
In the age of porch pirates and hard times, we all have to do what we can to protect our property and business. A robust security surveillance system is just what the doctor ordered.
Please leave it to our team to find you the best-suited surveillance system to suit your business and budget. We won’t recommend the most expensive system – we’ll recommend what makes the most sense. Straight answers – period!
Wifi Systems
Most businesses offer Wifi within their facility, if not for clients, then to expedite internal communications. Many modern companies are utilizing the mobility of laptop technology. With an army of laptop staff, it only makes sense to set up a robust Wifi system to handle internal communications wirelessly and effortlessly.
At Century AV, we understand the need for fast communications. That’s why our experts have designed some of the most intelligent Wifi system setups in the country. Let us get your communications un-wired and up to speed.
The Final Word on Modern AV For Your Business
We’ve discussed the different types of digital signage available for businesses. We’ve talked about how you can use digital menus to attract customers and use interactive displays to engage them.
Our guide also mentions video surveillance and wifi systems as other business options, including conferencing and audio solutions.
When looking for AV solutions, look no further than Century AV – Your audiovisual specialists in Southern Ontario, ready to help you on your next AV project.
