Where to put the camera…
Some interesting possibilities opening up for VC camera placement in Microsoft Teams Rooms and hybrid meeting spaces. In the screen itself?
In Greg Jeffreys Consulting, camera positioning occupies us internally and with our clients. For the record, until something shifts in demonstrable and sustainable ways, the need to have a single, well specified and well positioned camera that can capture all participants is a non-negotiable requirement for us.
As technologists, we’d like to think that multiple cameras, powered by AI algorithms, will be able to conquer all needs and problems. Even assuming that glorious day comes, does the need for a great single whole-room view ever go away?
The best current option - or the least worst anyway - is to use a high-res small form factor camera in free space in front of the display. It’s simple, effective - and users are intuitively helped in communicating with remote participants.
However, the advent of ‘super ultra-short-throw’ projectors like the Epson EB-810E, launched at ISE this year, opens back up the possibility of embedding the camera in the screen itself. Having such an acute projection angle, it makes positioning a small VC camera in the centre of the DNP Supernova projection screen a more feasible option.
We’d been working on this before, but had to table it for lack of camera options. Recent developments in cameras and projectors like this, means this project is rising to the top of our list again - as part of supporting users, AV consultants, integrators and manufacturers provide ever better hybrid meeting and teaching experiences.
Posted: 5th June 2023