Commercial Integrator December 2021 - 8

#TECHTRENDING THE BUZZ ON TECHNOLOGY AFFECTING INTEGRATORS
#Augmented
Reality
Cisco Announces
AR Collaboration
Platform, Devices, AI
Features at WebexOne
CISCO ADDED new Webex
features which include new
integrated devices, a portable
collaboration device, and an
augmented reality platform.
Cisco implemented the new
features after nearly two years
of rapid innovation in the videoconferencing
and collaboration
sector that made Zoom a
household name and elevated
other unified communication
platforms like Microsoft Teams,
Slack, and Google Meet, along
with Webex.
Like others in the collaboration
space, the new features
and products largely focus on
hybrid work and making it easier
for employees to connect
internally and with customers
- regardless of where they're
logging on from.
Webex Hologram
The Webex Hologram is a
new solution that combines
the Webex platform and new
features with immersive 3D
holograms. According to
Cisco, this solution leverages
augmented reality to close the
gap between virtual and in-person
collaboration, providing
real-time photorealistic holographic
experience to improve
remote collaboration.
Hailed as a next-generation
hybrid work product,
Cisco calls Webex Hologram
the industry's only real-time
meeting solution that leverages
AR headsets and Webex
meeting functionality with 3D
holograms.
The company also cites data
from its Hybrid Work Index
8
Designed to cater to hybrid work environments, Cisco's new Webex Hologram combines the
Webex platform with immersive 3D holograms.
that found employees value
remote work so much that
64% said the availability of
remote work directly affected
job retention.
Jeetu Patel, executive vice
president and general manager
of Cisco Security and Collaboration,
comments that Cisco
has a responsibility to help digital
workers participate equally
regardless of where they are.
" Webex Hologram represents
a large step toward our
mission of delivering a work
experience so seamless that
there is no gap between virtual
and in-person collaboration, "
Patel says.
Cisco says Webex Hologram
users can share physical and
digital content. For example, an
auto manufacturer can use the
platform to interact with a physical
prototype of a vehicle to
examine and provide feedback
on the design.
The platform also provides
for multi-dimensional support
for multiple users, which enables
remote participation from
multiple users and provides a
multi-dimensional experience,
according to Cisco. The platform
is also headset agnostic
Commercial Integrator DECEMBER 2021
and compatible with several
industry-leading AR headsets,
including Magic Leap and
Microsoft HoloLens.
AI Camera, Audio Features
Additionally, Cisco's new
People Focus camera feature,
available in December, is designed
to provide better clarity
and optimize visuals of in-room
attendees and their facial gestures
and body language.
Other camera intelligence
features coming early next
year are expected to improve
the view of people in meeting
rooms, including showing
conference room participants
individual boxes, regardless of
meeting service used.
New audio intelligence features
help remove background
noise and isolate only the user's
voice. However, the company
will soon release a feature that
allows each person to be heard
equally in group settings.
Webex Board Pro,
Room Scheduling
Furthermore, the company's
new Webex Board Pro,
a collaboration display is
available in 55 inches and 75
inches, that comes with dual 4K
cameras, two active pens and
more. There will also be a new
room scheduling feature in the
Webex App, new wellness features,
and expanded interoperability
with Google Meet,
Microsoft Teams, and Zoom.
#LED
PPDS Launches
New Corporate
Configurator Tool
Provider of Philips digital
signage, LED and pro TV
products, PPDS launched a
new online configuring tool designed
to enable end users and
integrators in North America to
research and select audiovisual
products for upcoming
installations.
Announced at InfoComm
2021, the PPDS Corporate Configurator
is designed to make
the AV selection process easier,
saving time and money for
both integrators and end users.
Already available in the EMEA
markets, it is now being rolled
out to North American markets.
According to PPDS, the tool
is specifically designed for
corporate end users, including
commercialintegrator.com
http://www.commercialintegrator.com
Commercial Integrator December 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Commercial Integrator December 2021
