Managed.IT - issue 60

11 www.managedITmag.co.uk COLLABORATION aperture enables it to let in more light than an in-built laptop camera, for better image quality in low-light conditions. It also boasts a status LED, so you can see at a glance whether you are muted or unmuted, and integrated privacy shutters – important for people with a home office in the kitchen or bedroom. Other useful features are direct pairing with a Poly headset and a built-in USB port so that the user can connect the camera and headset to his/her laptop with a single USB cable, reducing cable clutter and freeing up a laptop USB port. The P5 is available on its own or in a choice of four specially packaged Work from Home bundles (mono, stereo, Bluetooth, speakerphone) containing the camera, a Poly headset, single manual and management software for the user or the company IT department. 2 The Poly Studio P15 For executives, people who do a lot of video calls or for those who have a big screen set up in a dedicated home office, Poly recommends the Poly Studio P15. Placed on top of a computer monitor, this all-in-one audio and video bar combines a 4K camera, offering exceptional low- light performance, built-in speakers and microphones. It can be used with or without a headset. The P15 uses AI to improve video, through automatic camera tracking and framing, which keeps the user in shot as they move around; and audio, through Noise Block technology, which completely blocks background noise, e.g. how many network hops I am going over at Virgin or BT; they can look at my CPU usage, the memory usage on my device. When I am having problems with my video systems, rather than saying try turning it off and on again, IT can provide a level of remote diagnostics to help me,” explained Fluester. “What’s also powerful is that HR and the employer can set up compliance for me as a home user, programming things like hydration reminders to remind me to have a drink every 30 minutes or to take a break away from my screen or to take a break away from my desk. We have also added in some best practices, telling home users how to set up their headset, how to mount and centre their camera, how to get the best lighting for their camera or the best background. There are also some ergonomic settings. We can limit the amount of noise people are exposed to through their headset, so they don’t damage their hearing.” This capability, suggests Fluester, elevates the Poly Studio P Series from a set of hardware into business-grade tools that employers can deploy to a remote workforce. All needs catered for The Poly Studio P Series includes three main products: 1 The Poly Studio P5 A level up from cameras built into laptops and monitors, the Poly Studio 5 features a 1080p camera with a directional microphone that can cut out background noise, such as the sound of typing or a barking dog. The P5’s larger vehicles, leaf blowers, rustling, keyboard taps, when it detects no human voice – this overcomes the problem of extraneous noises from non-speakers who have forgotten to mute their microphones. If a user is speaking, noises picked up by a P15 at their end will be muted. In addition, the P15 makes use of acoustic fence technology, which automatically suppresses noises that emanate from beyond a pre-set acoustic arc in front of the soundbar. Although the P15 is designed as a personal device, a 90-degree field of view means it is also suitable for use in small meeting rooms and private pods in offices. For larger spaces, Poly recommends other soundbars in its portfolio, like the Poly Studio USB, which has a 120-degree field of view, 4 speakers, 6 microphones, WiFi, Bluetooth and an extension microphone. 3 The Poly Studio P21 This fully enclosed unit integrates a 21in USB-C monitor, the camera of the P5 (with privacy shutter and LED status light), the soundbar of the P15 (including Noise Block and Acoustic Fence technology), a lighting ring (for illuminating the speaker), control buttons on the front of the device, a wireless phone charger in the base and a built-in USB hub for simpler cabling. With a single USB cable to the laptop, the P21 is designed for people who don’t have a dedicated home office space with a dual screen set-up, who might require a second monitor for a small Surface laptop or Macbook that also has great audio and video. It can also be used in offices, for hot desks and personal spaces. On their own, Poly Studio P Series devices are attractive options for home workers and prosumers, one reason why Poly plans to sell them through retail as well as its reseller network. For enterprise customers with a large number of home/remote workers, they have the added attractions of remote visibility and control, plus 24/7 support, that will help them stand out in a crowded marketplace and give business buyers confidence that their remote workers are properly looked after.