Poly Studio Enhances Hybrid Meeting Experiences
The Poly Studio X50 lets you share content over wired or wireless connections using dual monitors, and the solution also does an excellent job of simplifying and enhancing the hybrid meeting experience in medium-sized rooms, which I tested by taking meetings for two months with the unit.
The result of those two months of tests was a seamless alignment of hybrid, in-office and remote workforces for a staff of 15 people. The Poly Studio X50 achieved an unhindered and congruous experience for all of us and allowed us to use our existing tools and technology to enable seamless collaboration and productivity without requiring a PC.
It’s a game changer for businesses, where midsize conference rooms are common, and features such as the NoiseBlockAI technology and Poly DirectorAI smart camera technology are necessary for creating an immersive and inclusive collaboration space.
LEARN MORE: Discover what's in store for remote and hybrid workplaces.
AI Filter Can Block Distracting Noises
NoiseBlockAI uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to reduce distracting noises and reverberations during meetings and video calls. This feature automatically mutes the microphone when it detects background noise and unmutes the mic when it detects a voice.
I tested NoiseBlockAI by hosting people in a meeting room and asking them to type on their keyboards or make other annoying and loud noises, such as eating chips from a bag or opening sodas. Despite the best efforts of the noisy team, the presentation went off without a hitch, and the NoiseBlockAI feature ensured that we could all hear the presenter over the audible crunching of our audience. People on the other end of the presentation did not even notice those loud background noises.
Poly recommends using NoiseBlockAI in rooms with reflective surfaces such as glass walls or tables because those surfaces tend to amplify sound. It should be noted that in my tests, I used it in rooms with various surfaces and didn’t notice a difference at all with respect to meeting quality.
UP NEXT: What is meeting parity and why is it important?
Smart Camera Gives Everyone a Seat the Virtual Table
Another key feature of the device that shined during my testing is Poly DirectorAI, a smart camera technology that helps ensure everyone is seen clearly and has a seat at the virtual table in each meeting.
This feature is especially helpful during hybrid meetings to help remote and in-person teammates all focus on the person speaking, with nobody fading into the background. This feature is also very useful when a presenter is moving to and from a whiteboard because it keeps them in focus at all times.
Perhaps the most important feature of the Poly Studio X50 video bar is the fact that no PC is needed. Similar devices often require a long and onerous installation, which needs to be repeated each time they are brought into a new room or environment. With the Poly Studio, anyone can connect to any cloud video service with a couple of clicks and get meetings up and running, regardless of location or what other equipment is available.
SPECIFICATIONS
PRODUCT TYPE: Conferencing system video bar
DATA LINK PROTOCOLS: Gigabit Ethernet
ADDITIONAL PORTS: USB
GRAPHICS MODES (CONTENT): 4K UHD
ADDED FEATURES: Kensington lock, noise reduction
