The Modern Training Room Needs An Audio And Visual System

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Training room audio visual systems enhance communication between instructor and trainee, driving engagement and material retention. It’s well-known that people process images faster than text or voice - about 60,000 times faster, according to research gathered by 3M. That means an effective training room should engage people visually and with clear audio that improves ease of understanding. AV solutions can provide that for a training room, as long as it has the right technology and the right people supporting the solution.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

What a Training Room AV Solution Should Include

To provide an optimal training space, one where trainees are engaged, your organization will need several AV technologies working in concert. Some of those technologies include:

1. One or more quality digital displays - The most important function of a training room is conveying important information in a way that trainees will pay attention and remember. To do that, your training room will need a strong visual component. There are a few options here, including digital projectors, digital displays and videowalls. The right choice for your training room will depend on the size and layout of the training room, among other factors, so there isn’t always a clear winner. Digital projectors can output larger images than digital displays, but digital displays tend to be brighter and more vivid. They also require less maintenance and last longer. Videowalls combine the advantages of both, but require more expertise to install and configure.
2. Interactive displays - Interactive displays are a powerful collaboration tool for meeting rooms and a powerful teaching tool in classrooms. That also makes them a valuable technology for training rooms, where teaching and collaboration are the point. With an interactive display, the trainer has access to another set of presentation and teaching tools. During a lesson, the trainer can stand at the display and operate it like a tablet using touch, so they can pan through a slideshow, annotate over images or open up whiteboarding software and use the display like a dry erase board. An interactive display can also be paired with industry-specific software, like 3D modeling and design programs, so technically detailed material can be delivered with ease. Interactive displays also drive collaboration, and in a training room, it’s common to see the space laid out in pods, with a display at each station. Trainees can use these to collaborate among themselves and get hands on with problem solving.
3. Wireless presentation systems and video conferencing - Wireless presentation systems allow the trainer and trainees to share content from their own devices and do so easily, without touching a single piece of equipment. With a wireless presentation solution, users can connect their devices to the room’s AV technology and immediately begin sharing. Several top AV manufacturers, including Crestron, Barco and Mersive, have all developed wireless presentation systems in just the last 18 months, so there are a variety of innovative and feature-laden systems to choose from. Pair your wireless presentation system with a leading video conferencing solution and your organization can deliver training remotely, to many locations at once. Video conferencing can also be used to bring in a distinguished instructor on occasion, which can greatly drive engagement among trainees.
4. Enhanced audio capturing and output hardware - Video may be the dominant part of the AV equation, but it’s not the only one. Better audio means better training, as clear audio improves information recall. Quality audio relies on good sound capture and production, so well-positioned microphones and speakers are important. This is where having an experienced AV integrator is so important. It’s not always obvious which audio capturing and production technologies are best, as the room’s acoustics, composition and layout will have an effect on how sound travels through the space. Solutions range from something as simple as a microphone at a lectern, to sophisticated beamforming microphone arrays that fit best in a large auditorium.
5. Furniture that improves connectivity and organization - With more devices than ever to keep track of, many businesses and schools are also switching to desks and tables that can help with device organization. In addition to cable and device storage, AV-friendly furniture can extend connectivity for the room’s technology, with built-in inputs that can access from workstations. This streamlines content sharing further and makes it simple for trainers to offer a collaborative learning experience.

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Some Common Training Room Layouts

AV technology can be adapted for nearly any space, no matter the room’s layout, seating arrangement or size. Here are a few standard approaches to putting together a training room:

• The lecture theatre – Traditional lecture theatres are still a common sight in corporate settings. Seating is on one side, ideally arranged like university seating, and the presenter is on the other. With this layout, the presenter can be backed up by large digital displays that are mounted well off the ground. In smaller spaces, a set of boundary mics or a microphone mounted to a lectern may be sufficient for audio capturing. In larger spaces, opting for beamforming or beamtracking microphone technology will preserve voice quality better.
• The U layout – Resembling a horseshoe, the U layout has the seating forming three sides of a square. The presenter is essentially surrounded, allowing them to approach and make direct contact with each trainee. This layout is normally reserved for smaller spaces and smaller groups, which makes an interactive display a good choice. In this more compressed space, trainees can get up and access the display quickly.
• The pod layout – When training is designed to be a back and forth experience, breaking everyone out into small groups is a popular choice. With this approach, the idea is to set up multiple stations where trainees can work with each other and with instructors to further their studies. Interactive displays are valuable in this layout, as are modern presentation systems. An interactive display allows trainees to collaborate together using visuals and touch, and presentation systems allow trainees to easily connect their own devices and share content through the room’s own collaboration technologies.

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Training room AV solutions are designed to take the lesson to another level. They do so by combining compelling visuals and audio, which engages trainees in ways that traditional lecturing cannot match.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]