Business Info - issue 137

01732 759725 magazine 39 wirelessly connect a tablet or smart phone) and users are connected with their own familiar software. Because the user’s own device is displayed on theWCD, all files, data and collaborative changes are at the user’s fingertips on the device.” Spatial intelligence Another distinctive feature of the displays, says Avocor’s Mason, are built-in sensors that capture environmental and usage data that facilities managers can use to optimise their workspaces. “That data can include what time meetings start; if they end early; peak utilisation times; room temperature; how many people attend a meeting; and many other things. All of this information can help managers make decisions about heating and cooling in particular areas and identify if rooms are under or over-utilised as meeting spaces, if a room is too large or too small to serve typical meetings and requires modification, and many other drivers toward maximum ROI around facilities,” he said. Angela Evans adds that by incorporating sensors that can connect to Azure IoT, Microsoft is making it easier for partners to develop solutions for customers (see below). “One growing area of opportunity for IoT is in smart buildings, to create greater efficiencies in energy use and to create environments that best fit an organisation’s culture.We’re building spatial intelligence capabilities in Azure IoT to democratise smart spaces for our partners. These features enable partners to focus on innovation at the application level, instead of spending considerable time on foundation and connective tissue that is invisible to their customers. The ability to query data in the context of a space, rather than from disparate sensors sets our partners up for building repeatable and scalable solutions, now and in the future,” she said. www.microsoft.com/en-gb www.avocor.com www.sharp.co.uk ...continued Putting IoT to work Office furniture manufacturer Steelcase is using Azure IoT to design solutions that improve the employee experience. Last year it introduced theWorkplace Advisor solution, built on the Microsoft Azure IoT platform, which collects and analyses anonymous data to provide organisations with insights into how people work and how their office is performing e.g. the amount of overused/ underutilised spaces. It is now leveraging Azure IoT again, this time in its new Find app, which helps employees find and reserve spaces to meet or work. Users can enter specific space requirements, such as room capacity, and view the amenities available, such as technology, whiteboards and the availability of natural light. www.steelcase.com The natural touch Avocor recently launched the F50 series, an ultra-fast, optically bonded 4K interactive display range with a natural touch and writing experience, thanks to super-thin InGlass technology. The Avocor F-50 series is available in three sizes – 86-inch (AVF-8650), 75-inch (AVF-7550) and 65-inch (AVF-6550) – and supports four passive pens or up to 20 points of simultaneous touch, for enhanced group collaboration. The 3mm tipped stylus pen provides an accurate, realistic writing experience, while object awareness enables the display to recognise whether the user is touching the screen with a pen, finger or palm and respond accordingly. F50 displays include a soundbar module and an active microphone array, making them audio- conference ready, and like all Avocor products, they are tech-agnostic, making them ideal for use with any UC hardware or software, including Zoom Rooms, Skype for Business, Logitech, Huddly and others. With 4 x HDMI 2.0, Display Port, VGA inputs and guest HDMI input, the displays feature a comprehensive range of connectivity options. www.avocor.com DISPLAYS