Ohio Manufacturers’ Association

Owls create immersive experience for remote meetings

For over 100 years, the Ohio Manufacturers’ Association (OMA) has helped its member companies succeed and grow. Today, OMA provides advocacy in the statehouse, workers’ compensation support, and a variety of information services for members.

Like many businesses in the new-normal of a hybrid workplace, OMA needed to update its conference room technology. With more time spent in video conferences, the OMA team needed an AV system that helped remote participants to see faces clearly and feel like they are in the room. OMA turned to its technology partner Integrated Building Systems for a solution.

The main challenge in OMA’s board room was the configuration of tables in the space, meant to seat 10 or more people on each side. The existing camera could capture participants near the front of the room and at the far end, but as people leaned in and out from middle seats, they could be obscured from view.

Integrated Building Systems recommended two Meeting Owl Pros to solve the problem. These cameras create a 360-degree view of the room at the top of a digital screen. The Owls also use audio recognition to zoom-in automatically on whomever is speaking and show that person’s face in a square at the bottom of the screen. More than one speaker can be shown simultaneously on the bottom. Together, the top and bottom views create a more immersive experience for remote participants.