Toray Launching TorayvinoTM Super Slim 607V Faucet Mount Water Purifier with Color Digital Display
Re-inventing everyday items to live more efficiently
Yamaha UC and Mersive Technologies Introduce BYOM Room System for Conferencing
OVAL Digital, Inc. Announces Major App Update and Participation in Amazon Prime Day
Yamaha UC Partners With HuddleCamHD to Enable Clear Collaboration in Meeting Rooms and Classrooms
Yamaha Announces New Enterprise Sound Bar for Conference Rooms, Classrooms, and Hotels
L-S Academy Chooses the Yamaha CS-700 for Successful Remote Learning
T-SPA STUDIO Launch New Card-Size Mouthwash To Help Freshen Breath And Improve Oral Health On The Go
Biamp Supports Hybrid Learning with Simple, Affordable Audiovisual Solutions for K-12 Classrooms
Yamaha UC Expands ADECIA Family With Tabletop Microphone Option
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Avalue Technology RENITY ARTEMIS Solution Solve the Management Problem of Health Examination Center
Avalue Technology Inc. (TAIEX: 3479-TW), a global industrial PC solution provider and an associate member of the Intel® Internet of Things Solutions Alliance. With the rise of people’s health awareness, arranging health screening in health examination center is common in modern society, and the subsequent impact is making the health examination industry flourish. With more and more competitors in the market, in addition to basic checkup items, how to segment the market to attract customers has become extremely important for every health examination center. Solve customer demands and meet core values The purpose of the health examination center of Avalue Technology’s cooperation is to offer a high quality equipment and extensive experience in comprehensive precision preventive health management. Integrating the core values of "Innovative technology", "Thoughtful service" and "Human-centered" to provide customers with accurate, efficient and sincere experience. However, with the increase of members, they are facing the problem of gradually insufficient manpower and rising management costs. This not only tests the wisdom of the management and all staff, but is also the only way to promote the advancement of the health examination center. After adopting Avalue’s solutions, they are glad that ARTEMIS has solved their problems while meeting the core value goals. Locating system assists staff to optimize the overall process time The manager said that the greatest challenge encountered in the management is the increase in members with the development of the center, which caused to a staff member who often needs to be responsible for multiple health check objects. Not only does the workload increase, but it is also difficult to find the target immediately when the members are scattered in various corners. The staff have to run around the center to find different members, resulting in the compression of service quality and the deterioration of the member experience. ARTEMIS imports the real-time locating management technology from GIPS Technology to help the health examination center solve this problem. The real-time location allows the staff to find the accurate location of the target on the dash board in real time. For the staff, it is like Google maps for indoor use, which can directly find the location of the target. In addition to reducing 90% of the staff’s time on search targets, it also indirectly reduces the waiting time between members and the time of the overall membership process, improves the management efficiency of staff, and thereby enhances the experience satisfaction of members. In the future, center also intends to develop the indoor locating system into an APP that is compatible with mobile phone. Members can see their current location through their dash board and know where to go to their next destination, so that members can be guided to the next destination by themselves. In addition to greatly reducing manpower, it can also shorten the overall process time and optimize the fluency of the process. Review historical traces to optimize schedules to improve customer satisfaction with the fluency of the process On the other hand, managers mentioned that members’ appraisal of schedule fluency is not high, and sometimes even received complaints. Some members expressed that the waiting time for each part of the schedule was too long and always run up and down the stairs, which caused the satisfaction cannot be improved. After installing ARTEMIS, the background can record the path and status of all tags to facilitate review of historical traces. The optimized process calculation through big data greatly reduces unnecessary journeys, processes and waiting, and optimizes the efficiency of health inspections. Efficient integration of various internal platform systems Besides installing sensing components for real-time locating, the ARTEMIS solution also provides a backend platform that combines advanced technologies such as ultra-wideband (UWB) wireless communication, accurate floor mapping, TDOA processing and data science computation, it also provides application programming interface API, so that the center can integrate existing systems and new systems that will be introduced in the future, such as health check scheduling system, inventory systems, etc. In the past, the staff had to check all the equipment and take inventory one by one, which wasted time and energy; by introducing the ARTEMIS indoor locating technology, combining the inventory system, installing asset-type tags on each important equipment, combined with geofencing technology and path tracking, when the asset goes out of the fence, it will automatically notify the manager, which can effectively manage the asset, and automatically inventory, shorten the waste of activities. The world is not see an end of epidemics, which has led to a surge in medical pressure. How to reduce medical costs and man power has become significant. ARTEMIS can effectively help the health field to reduce management costs and personnel pressure, and become the supporter behind staff in the era of epidemics.
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AVTECH’s NDAA-compliant CCTVs, The Best Non-China Surveillance Solution In The Market
AVTECH is one of the world’s leading CCTV manufacturers and public-listed in Taiwan since 2005. Based on its strong in-house R&D, design, and hardware/software integration capabilities, AVTECH offers a complete CCTV product line and peripherals as well as providing a strong OEM solution to meet clients' custom needs. In response to the recent US-China trade war and increased cybersecurity awareness, AVTECH has released a series of NDAA-compliant CCTV products. In 2020, the company has proudly fulfilled its on-time delivery promise while the global supply chain has been severely affected by the pandemic. AVTECH’s NDAA-compliant (National Defense Authorization Act) CCTV products are 100% made in Taiwan, including product main chipsets and hardware/software designs and manufacturing. With the rising awareness of data protection and cybersecurity, AVTECH’s solutions are the best alternatives to Made-in-China surveillance systems, especially for distributors, system integrators and installers with strict security requirements. Besides, the company has also built a stable and reliable supply chain to ensure timely delivery. As one of the few manufacturers in the market capable of offering NDAA-compliant CCTV solutions with sustainable quality, AVTECH is well positioned to meet the increasing demand for MIT SoC solutions and other system integration services following U.S. prohibited use of surveillance products from China-based manufacturers. Competitive Advantages: • High quality products manufactured only in Taiwan • One-stop-service solution - hardware, software and mobile app • Diverse product lines for different surveilling scenarios and customization requirements
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Sonnet Announces Single-Slot Thunderbolt 3 Card Reader for SxS PRO X Media
Sonnet Technologies today launched the Sonnet SxS™ PRO X Thunderbolt™ 3 Single-Slot Card Reader, the latest model in its expanding family of professional media readers. The rugged Sonnet SxS PRO X card reader features a 40Gbps Thunderbolt 3 interface and is powered through the same cable that connects it to the computer. SxS PRO X is the latest version of SxS memory cards developed by Sony® for use as onboard recording media in many past and current Sony and ARRI pro digital video cameras and camcorders. What It Does: Compatible with Mac® and Windows® computers with Thunderbolt 3 ports, the SxS PRO X Thunderbolt 3 Single-Slot Card Reader ingests footage from all SxS media at their maximum supported speeds. Designed for demanding workflows, the Sonnet card reader is built with a pocket-size, rugged aluminum enclosure and includes a separate Thunderbolt 3 cable. These features enable users to integrate the reader into any workspace or workflow and pack it easily into a computer bag or backpack. Why It's Important: SxS PRO X cards feature an upgraded interface (PCIe® 3.0), enabling them to deliver nearly 3x faster read speeds compared to last-generation (PCIe 2.0) cards. But for a user to take advantage of the performance gains, a card reader with the new interface — such as the Sonnet SxS PRO X Thunderbolt 3 Single-Slot Card Reader — is also required. Not only can the Sonnet reader deliver maximum SxS PRO X ingest speeds of up to 1,250 MB/s — cutting ingest times by more than half compared to previous readers — but it also supports every previous generation SxS card at the card's maximum rated speed. Enhancing its usefulness, the Sonnet card reader also ingests from XQD™ and SD™ memory cards when used with XQD and SD card adapters, respectively (sold separately). How It's Distinctive: Measuring 2.8 inches wide by 4.1 inches long by 0.8 inches high, Sonnet's SxS PRO X Thunderbolt 3 Single-Slot Card Reader is the smallest SxS PRO X card reader available. Along with a 0.5-meter-long Thunderbolt 3 cable, Sonnet also provides a Thunderbolt connector retainer clip that prevents accidental cable disconnections from the reader. The clip slides over one end of the cable and, by turning a thumbscrew, secures the plugged-in connector. Because of its unique design, the clip remains on the cable when it's unplugged so it won't get lost when not in use. When You Can Get It: The Sonnet SxS PRO X Thunderbolt 3 Single-Slot Card Reader (part number TB3-1SXSPX) is available now from Sonnet at a suggested retail price of $249.99.
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Inkplate 10 Uses Recycled E-Paper Displays with Wi-Fi Support and Low Power Performance
Crowd Supply, the leading product development platform connecting hardware creators with early adopters and enthusiastic backers, announces the launch of Inkplate 10, a Wi-Fi-enabled, ESP32-based board with a recycled 9.7-inch e-paper display. Inkplate 10 uses recycled e-paper screens from Kindles and other e-readers, delivering benefits such as high contrast, impressive energy efficiency, and daylight readability. Inkplate 10 can be used in a variety of creative applications including high-latency information panels, e-paper typewriters, collaborative task trackers, and even art projects. Inkplate 10, developed by e-radionica and launched with support from Crowd Supply, is built using the Espressif ESP32 WROVER microcontroller, including 8 MBytes of RAM, 4 MBytes of flash, and integrated Wi-Fi® and Bluetooth® 4.0. The e-paper board features extremely low power consumption and is capable of sleeping for months on a single battery charge. The device’s display supports partial updates, grayscale, and quick refresh cycles, including a 1.61-second refresh time in black and white mode, and a 1.81-second refresh time in grayscale mode. Inkplate 10 includes a microSD card reader for storing images and a USB Type-C port for power and programming.
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Yamaha UC Now Shipping ADECIA Ceiling Solution for Complete, Touchless Meeting Audio
Yamaha Unified Communications is now shipping the ADECIA ceiling solution, an innovative family of communication products designed to work seamlessly together to provide a complete and customizable audio solution for any enterprise or meeting space. As employees head back to the office, ADECIA is the perfect touchless solution for crystal-clear and socially distanced meetings. It includes the brand-new multi-beamforming RM-CG ceiling microphone and RM-CR audio processor, as well as Yamaha's long-trusted PoE switches and VXL Series line array speakers. "Today's meeting environment calls for flexibility and absolute clarity from anywhere in the room," said Michael Fitch, vice president of sales and marketing at Yamaha UC. "ADECIA is the first solution of its kind that helps companies safely welcome employees back into meeting rooms while ensuring they have a system that's ready for communication demands now and in the future. It intelligently tracks conversations around the room without programming or labor-intensive setup while applying Yamaha technologies that provides a great audio experience for everyone." ADECIA enables organizations to overcome implementation, configuration, and room acoustic challenges by providing all the equipment required for a successful installation with the highest audio quality. Every component of the system, from the microphones to speakers as well as the required networking and communication equipment, automatically integrates thus reducing time, costs, and installation complexities. The complete solution immediately detects all components of the system and configures them to be optimized for the room environment, accounting for the location of speakers and microphones, reverberation, and echo behavior. Setting up a room is done through the system's configurator in four effortless steps. With USB, Bluetooth®, Dante, and analog connections, this flexible system can fit a variety of enterprise or meeting spaces.
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Sonnet Announces Echo™ 11 Thunderbolt™ 4 Dock
Sonnet Technologies today announced the Echo™ 11 Thunderbolt® 4 Dock, the latest offering in the company's popular Echo family of Thunderbolt docking stations. The Echo 11 dock features four Thunderbolt 4 ports, three USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10Gbps) Type A ports, one USB 2.0 Type A charging port, one RJ45 Gigabit Ethernet port, one 3.5 mm combo audio port, and one SD™ 4.0 card slot. Sonnet's dock is compatible with all computers with Thunderbolt 4 ports, M1 Mac® computers with Thunderbolt/USB4® ports, Intel® Mac computers with Thunderbolt 3 ports, and late-model Windows® computers with Thunderbolt 3 ports. What It Does: A Thunderbolt docking station provides users a central place to connect their computer peripherals — such as storage devices, input devices, headphones, etc. — instead of directly to a computer that often has fewer ports than necessary. Sonnet's Echo 11 Thunderbolt 4 Dock enables notebook and laptop computer users to connect to all of their peripheral devices at once through a single Thunderbolt cable. Through the same cable, the Echo dock can also charge compatible computers with up to 90 watts of power. Depending on the computer to which it's connected, the Echo dock also supports connecting one (always 4K, up to 5K, 6K, or 8K) or up to two monitors (4K + 4K, or up to 5K + 5K). Why It's Important: Most current notebook and laptop computers offer far fewer peripheral ports than the models of the past — examples include the latest portables from Apple®, with each including only two ports — limiting the number of devices that can be plugged in directly. Also, one computer port is often used for charging, further reducing connectivity. Sonnet's Echo 11 Thunderbolt 4 Dock moves beyond these limitations by enabling the connection of up to 16 devices at once (including up to two monitors), charging the computer, supporting wired network connectivity, and providing the ability to read SD™ memory cards. With its mix of three 10Gbps USB Type A ports and three 40Gbps Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C®) peripheral ports, the Echo dock connects the vast array of devices available from the past, now, and in the future, and supports high-performance peripherals with ease. How It's Distinctive: Featuring four Thunderbolt 4 ports (one for connecting and charging the computer, three for peripheral connection), the Echo 11 dock fulfills users' most frequent request: the ability to connect multiple Thunderbolt peripherals directly. Although Thunderbolt computers support the daisy chain connection of separately powered Thunderbolt devices, the capability to plug in three bus-powered end devices at once can be game-changing for users. While the dock's Thunderbolt 4 ports support Thunderbolt 4 and Thunderbolt 3 peripherals (including monitors) by direct connection, Thunderbolt 2 devices are supported by macOS when used with an adapter (sold separately). For users with more USB than Thunderbolt peripherals, the Thunderbolt 4 ports do double duty — they support USB4® and USB 3 devices (including monitors) when connected with the correct cable or adapter, even at the end of a Thunderbolt device chain. The Echo dock's 10Gbps USB Type A ports support the vast majority of USB peripherals, including superfast USB NVMe SSDs, at up to full speed. Unlike some other docks, each port on the Echo 11 provides up to 7.5 watts of power to ensure bus-powered devices will operate without fail. The included Gigabit Ethernet port is perfect for connecting broadband internet directly to the user's computer without another device competing for bandwidth on their WiFi setup. The SD card reader reads the latest SDXC™ UHS-II memory cards at up to 300 MB/s. When You Can Get It: The Echo 11 Thunderbolt 4 Dock (part number ECHO-DK11-T4) is expected to be available from Sonnet in early April, and internationally in May, at the suggested retail price of $249.99. Special $199.99 Introductory Price: For a limited time, customers in the U.S. and Canada who visit the Echo 11 Dock product page on the Sonnet website may sign up to receive a promotion code enabling them to purchase the product through Sonnet's online store for the introductory price of $199.99, when it becomes available.
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Mad Catz announces the B.A.T. 6+ Gaming Mouse at CES2021
Mad Catz Global Limited, the leading innovators in gaming hardware, are excited to announce a new gaming mouse, the B.A.T. 6+. Combining the elements of fast and powerful design, the truly ambidextrous gaming mouse offers the ultimate customizability and comfort, allowing every gamer to swap the side skirts and palm rests at will under each circumstance. Equipped with a high-end 16K DPI sensor and the 2ms response time of the DAKOTA™ switch, B.A.T. 6+ makes you become the mobile armory. B.A.T. 6+’s design cues were inspired by spaceships, hypercars, and batmobiles. The side vents design was obtained from the speediest hypercar. This design prevents the gamer's hands from overheating during long hours of play. The B.A.T. 6+’s various sizes of swappable backplates and side skirts are all expertly engineered to accommodate grip, claw, or finger-tip styles of play, allowing for a personalized gaming experience that adapts seamlessly to different gaming situations. B.A.T. 6+ is the first gaming mouse to implement the Mad Catz Cyborg Engine. The Cyborg Engine is designed to have less impact on your gaming mouse while handling all of your important game settings. The software aims at combining your complex setup into an extension of the game with one integration while giving vivid lighting effects throughout the mouse chassis. B.A.T. 6+ also features the Mad Catz DAKOTA™ mechanical switch. The DAKOTA™ Mechanical Switch adopts a new signal detection technology, enabling an instant response to be made by any of two contact points. This technology precisely processes signal registration and accelerates the switch’s response time to within only 2 milliseconds - 60% faster than other mechanical switches! Empowered by the Pixart PMW 3389 optical sensor, the B.A.T. 6+ will be able to detect all of your adversaries in every step that they take, giving you critical strikes with incredible levels of accuracy. The 10 programmable button layout is specially designed to help you to become accustomed to different games. With up to 5 storage profiles, you can have the best optimization available for your current gameplay with just a click through the software.
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Yamaha UC Releases Holiday Gift Guide for Remote Workers and Learners
Yamaha Unified Communications has compiled a list of gift ideas for remote workers and virtual learners to help create a more comfortable and productive workspace from home. The gift guide includes unique and affordable ideas, including Yamaha's YVC-200 speakerphone for pristine conferencing audio. "This year, so many people are in unique situations when it comes to work or school," said Meghan Kennelly, Yamaha UC's director of global marketing and communications. "Our list gives some practical, yet thoughtful and fun gift ideas that will serve the recipient for years to come." The official list includes 12 gift ideas all under $200 that are available from a variety of companies, from gifts that enhance the workspace, to those that maximize comfort and efficiency, to those that encourage relaxation and fun. Ideal for remote conferencing, the YVC-200 portable speakerphone was specifically designed to provide superior audio when conducting calls from a laptop or smart device. High-quality audio is critical for productive meetings and classes. However, laptop audio is known to deliver a poor audio experience. Over time it can cause audio fatigue, misunderstandings, and a frustrating experience overall. The YVC-200 personal speakerphone easily connects to a laptop via USB cable or a device via Bluetooth®/NFC. Available in black or white, it features a portable, low-profile design and a 10-hour talk time, allowing users to take their most important conversations and classes anywhere.
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Yamaha ADECIA Ceiling Audio Solution Now Available for Preorder
Yamaha Unified Communications is now taking preorders for its new ADECIA, a family of communication products designed to work together seamlessly to provide a complete and customizable audio solution for any enterprise or meeting space. Comprising the brand-new multi-beamforming RM-CG ceiling microphone and RM-CR audio processor, as well as Yamaha's long-trusted PoE switches and VXL Series line array speakers, the comprehensive solution will ship in Q1 2021. "Superior, dynamic audio quality and touchless technology is a must have in today's meeting-intensive environment, but it can be difficult to balance quality and the time and costs involved to design, install, and set up an audio system for large conference rooms and boardrooms," said Michael Fitch, vice president of sales and marketing. "ADECIA checks all the boxes for users, designers, programmers, and integrators. As organizations look ahead to the new year, they can welcome employees back to the office with a new product engineered to overcome all the challenges to a successful meeting experience." ADECIA enables organizations to overcome implementation, configuration, and room acoustic challenges by providing all the equipment required for a successful installation with the highest audio quality. Every component of the system, from the microphones to speakers as well as the required networking and communication equipment, automatically integrates thus reducing time, costs, and installation complexities. The complete solution immediately detects all components of the system and configures them to be optimized for the room environment, accounting for the location of speakers and microphones, reverberation, and echo behavior. Setting up a room is done through the system's configurator in four effortless steps. With USB, Bluetooth®, Dante, and analog connections, this flexible system can fit a variety of enterprise or meeting spaces.
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Portland Barber Shop Enhances Services With Glory Star TAURI Temperature Check Tablet
Glory Star, the leading provider and manufacturer of commercial-grade tablet solutions, is helping barber shops and salons welcome back clients with worry-free, noninvasive temperature scans. Using the patent-pending TAURI Temperature Check Tablet, Northwest Barber Association in Portland, Oregon, eliminated anxiety-inducing temperature guns and uniquely enhanced its safety protocols with the intelligent, contactless self-service solution. "Like many small businesses, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, we've had to rely on a temperature gun to scan our clients," said Cory Lee, barber and co-owner of Northwest Barber Association. "However, we have a lot of customers who have mental health conditions, such as post-traumatic stress disorder. Using a temperature gun raised their anxiety level. We're in the business of self-care and helping people feel good about themselves. With TAURI, we're able to provide a safe, comfortable experience without interrupting the flow of business." Prior to installing the TAURI, when a patron walked into Northwest Barber Association, staff had to interrupt service to a client already in a chair, disinfect their hands and the temperature gun, and check the temperature of the new arrival. Now, guests simply walk up to the screen and it immediately scans their temperature, completely contact free. TAURI features a professional, high-quality infrared sensor that immediately detects and issues an alert when a person is running a temperature and, therefore, should leave the premises. The system has different chimes and messages depending upon the person's temperature. If a fever is detected, owners can customize the message according to their response plan. For example, it might read "Please wait for one of our barbers or service providers." TAURI combines a best-in-class sensor and body heat algorithm for fast temperature accuracy with a tolerance of +/- 0.5 degrees Fahrenheit (+/- 0.3 degrees Celsius) and a refresh rate of 64Hz. Based on a vast amount of biological and environmental factors that can impact temperature data, the system's self-calibration feature automatically attunes to the environment of the room. Guests are scanned in three seconds and from up to 3 feet away, providing an efficient process. TAURI is available in 7-inch, 10.5-inch, 15.6-inch, and 21.5-inch models and can be deployed anywhere using Glory Star's VESA standard wall mounts, desktop mounts, or floor stands, which are available as options. Each tablet is embedded with the TAURI Application, which immediately launches upon start-up. Northwest Barber Association was able to set it up in minutes using the clear and simple interactive user interface. It also has intelligent features, such as face detection and optional face recognition. The company's team of engineers continuously writes free firmware over-the-air updates, which add new tools to address arising concerns and recommendations. To provide greater ROI, TAURI is also designed as both an immediate and long-term communications tool. When not being used to scan customers, it doubles as a contact-free, affordable digital signage screen. Businesses can run their own advertising or feature their products and services. "Barber shops and hair salons are in a unique position to help customers feel safe in resuming their self-care regimen," said Cindy Cheung, chief commercial officer of Glory Star. "Northwest Barber Association is a great example of how community businesses can reopen while keeping physical health, safety, and mental health in mind."
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RTI VXP-82 All-in-One Presentation System Now Shipping
RTI today announced that it is now shipping the new VXP-82 All-in-One Control Processor and Presentation Switcher, a single-box presentation solution for conference rooms, meeting spaces, classrooms, and lecture halls. The all-in-one device combines an 8x2 multi-format video switcher with an RTI control processor, achieving exceptional performance while simplifying installation. The VXP-82 handles video signals from up to eight sources and enables presentations on two monitors or in two rooms simultaneously, making it ideal for BYOD settings and social distancing office configurations in the COVID-19 world. "The VXP-82 is designed for integrators to quickly deliver a common installation configuration in boardrooms, lecture halls, classrooms, and conference rooms," said Neal Ellsworth, RTI Director of Product Management, AV. "The combined control processor and 8x2 switcher reduces cabling, plus its preprogrammed APEX file significantly reduces on-site configuration, minimizing setup time in the customer's facility." With its built-in video switching, 4K downscaling, audio mixing, HDBaseT extension, and a control processor in a single 2RU rack-mountable chassis, the VXP-82 provides exceptional value for integrators and their clients. With the new presentation system, meeting presenters simply plug in a laptop or other source, which can then launch preset adjustments to the room's lighting, HVAC, external audio amplification, video conferencing, and more. Its easy interface makes it simple for users to route sources and outputs without relying on the IT department. The VXP-82's two microphone inputs are ideal for large spaces and those with partitions. KVM control over USB allows for multiple presentation control options using USB keyboards and mice in different areas of the same room or a secondary room. Existing in-room USB web conferencing cameras and speakers can be connected and switched, as well as traditional analog or digital audio and video sources such as laptops, media servers and streamers, DVD players, and microphones. "Ultimately, we're making the presentation space more intuitive by combining control and video switching in a single unit," concluded Ellsworth. "From the boardroom to the lecture hall, the VXP-82 allows integrators to elevate the experience while minimizing the installation time." To extend the reach of the VXP-82 Presentation Switcher & Control Processor, RTI has also introduced the VXP-T (transmitter) and VXP-R (receiver). These two new units extend high-resolution video, audio, Ethernet, control, and KVM signals over long distances up to 492 feet (150 meters) via a single Cat5e/Cat6 cable.
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Chili-shaped device could reveal just how hot that pepper is
Some people love spicy food –– the hotter, the better. Others go out of their way to avoid the palate-singeing burn of capsaicin, the compound that gives chili peppers their kick. Now, researchers have developed a portable device (whimsically shaped like a chili pepper) that can reveal how much capsaicin a pepper contains, before biting into it. They report their results in ACS Applied Nano Materials. Chili peppers are a popular food ingredient around the world. In addition to imparting a spicy flavor, the capsaicin in chili peppers has several health benefits, including anti-oxidative, anti-carcinogenic and anti-inflammatory activities. Therefore, the demand for capsaicin as a food additive and pharmaceutical agent is growing. Warakorn Limbut and colleagues wanted to develop a simple, accurate and cheap method to quantify the capsaicin content of chili peppers and food samples. Other methods that have been developed for this purpose are complicated, time-consuming or require expensive, bulky instrumentation. The researchers made a portable device shaped like a small chili pepper that could be connected to a smartphone to display the results of the analysis. The paper-based electrochemical sensor within the device consisted of graphene nanoplatelets doped with nitrogen atoms to improve their electrical conductivity. When the team added a drop of diluted capsaicin to the sensor, the compound underwent oxidation and reduction reactions, producing an electrical current that the device detected. After optimizing the sensor, the researchers used it to determine capsaicin concentrations in six dried chili samples. They added the chilies to an ethanol-containing solution, shook it up and then introduced a drop of the sample. The device accurately measured capsaicin concentrations from 7.5-90 μM in the six samples, and could detect down to 0.37 μM in the diluted samples.
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Yamaha YVC-330 Speakerphone Certified by Zoom
Yamaha Unified Communications has announced that its YVC-330 portable USB and Bluetooth® speakerphone is certified by Zoom Video Communications Inc. for use with Zoom. The certification verifies that the YVC-330 is interoperable with Zoom, making it seamless for users to connect and control audio directly from the Zoom interface while benefiting from crystal-clear, natural conversations. "These days, everyone is spending more time on Zoom conference calls, and it's important that users feel supported and be productive," said Michelle Baeza, Director of Strategic Partnerships for Yamaha UC. "The YVC-330 allows users to conduct calls in places they normally wouldn't have been able to, which is especially important during this time, while benefiting from a simple Zoom experience." The YVC-330 features various expandability and connectivity to fit any Zoom collaboration situation with USB, Bluetooth, NFC, and audio in/out connections. Its portable design makes it the ideal communications solution for setting up high-quality calls from any area or workspace. The YVC-330 virtual meeting solution features SoundCap technology, Yamaha's innovation that converts background noise prevalent in open workspaces into a signal that makes the meeting sound as good as being in a quiet conference room. The device also features an automatic mute function, which engages when participants are not speaking. This self-silencing feature enhances the performance of Yamaha's Human Voice Activity Detection technology, which instantly distinguishes human voices from other sounds. In addition, the SoundCap technology offers an auto-speaker volume adjustment, which regulates the volume to ambient noise levels and is suited for maintaining speech privacy. With the self-volume balancer function, remote conferences can be conducted seamlessly without being intrusive to those in the vicinity. "I've been using the Yamaha YVC-330 conference phone for the past six months now. It has great sound quality on the far and near end, and it works seamlessly with Zoom," said Dave Lewis, Channel Account Manager at Zoom. "It was extremely easy to install, and I love the large control buttons on the front of the device as well as the modern design. There's no need to use a headset anymore. It gives me a ton of flexibility around my workspace. I highly recommend the Yamaha YVC-330 to my partners, colleagues, and end customers."
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Huddly makes smart cameras for new Google Meet Series One room kits from Lenovo
Two smart cameras made by Huddly are going to feature in the Google Meet Series One room kits, a new generation of meeting room devices announced by Google Cloud and Lenovo. With cameras for large, medium, and small room kits, and Power over Ethernet technology, the kits can be tailored to fit all of your rooms. TJ Varghese, Group Product Manager at Google, comments: “For the Series One, we wanted cameras that help us enable immersive, lifelike experiences and are able to capture high-fidelity images of all participants in any scenario, including large rooms. We worked with Huddly to build these Smart Cameras, which deliver this in the elegant Series One design that has no moving parts and blends into any office.” Stein Ove Eriksen, Huddly CEO and Co-founder, adds: “This is an exciting next step in our longstanding partnership with Google Cloud, building upon our previous successful collaborations on the previous Google Meet kit with Asus and the IQ mounts for Jamboard. The Series One room kits provide the kind of inclusive user experience that is at the heart of everything we do here at Huddly, and we are excited to work with Google Cloud and Lenovo to bring these high-quality video experiences to everyone.” The Series One Smart Camera XL for large meeting rooms, and the Series One Smart Camera for small and medium rooms are two new cameras which are both made by Huddly. Both cameras use Power over Ethernet technology to make setup easy and flexible, with no limits in regards to the distance or cable length. With the Series One Smart Camera XL, Huddly's advanced software enables a high-quality video experience in large rooms. Thanks to a large one-inch sensor, the camera can cover large boardrooms and capture everybody in high quality, including the people on the far end of the room. Its fixed lens enables it to always see the entire room, detect and frame participants, and capture movement and facial expressions as they happen. With beautifully designed, easy-to-install devices that blend into office environments, the Series One Google Meet hardware kits in partnership with Lenovo put people first by making sure they can do what they do best without having to worry about adjusting the camera, muting to type, or crinkling a snack while someone else is talking. It’s the next best thing to actually being in the same room.
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Yamaha CS-700 Video Sound Bar Now Available With Promethean Collaboration Tool
Yamaha Unified Communications is partnering with Promethean Interactive Displays and DisplayNote to outfit conference rooms with a three-for-one enterprise-grade plug-and-play collaboration tool. Exclusively available from Promethean, the display system simplifies meetings, making them more productive than ever before. It provides conference and collaboration spaces with high-quality, professional audio, video, and meeting room software. Featuring Yamaha's award-winning CS-700 all-in-one Video Sound Bar, Promethean's ActivPanel™ Titanium Pro, and DisplayNote Launcher application, the solution is fast and simple to deploy, set up, and operate. "Think of this system as your next enhanced collaboration solution, bringing together three of the industry's leaders in interactivity and superior communication," said Michelle Baeza director strategic partnerships, Yamaha Unified Communications, Inc. "Our solution is affordable, easy to deploy and operate, providing organizations with everything they need to launch a collaborative meeting with one touch." Engineered from the ground up leveraging Yamaha's years of audio and UCC expertise, the CS-700 Video Sound Bar integrates an adaptive beamforming microphone array for perfectly captured conversation; four Yamaha speaker elements to provide the highest degree of audio intelligibility; and a wide-angle HD camera that captures guests and the room in clear detail. The solution eliminates the inherent inefficiencies of operating disparate video and audio during calls and the eye sore of cables snaked around the room. The collaboration solution is available with a 65+-inch, 75-inch, or 85-inch Promethean ActivPanel Titanium Pro 4K interactive display. The display delivers the latest in touchscreen collaboration and uses fast and accurate Vellum™ Writing Technology for an intuitive, collaborative writing experience. The included DisplayNote Launcher software allows meeting participants to launch meetings using the most popular video conferencing platforms — including Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Cisco WebEx, and Google Meet — with one touch or using the Launcher mobile app from their mobile device. Users can easily sign in using their iOS or Android device to access Office365 calendars, and OneDrive files the display. The one-touch three-in-one tool also integrates with any existing IT stack for reliable and secure remote management. Westchester County Police Department in White Plains, New York, recently selected and successfully deployed the 3-for-1 system. "This solution not only met all the criteria we were looking for, but was the best value," said Lieutenant Michael Cindrich, Westchester County Police Department. "Now we can remotely collaborate with other government officials and conduct video interviews without the need to be in the same room. It will change how our department operates for the better."
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Glory Star Helps Businesses Safely Reopen With Contactless TAURI Temperature Check Tablet
Glory Star, the leading provider and manufacturer for commercial-grade tablet solutions, is helping businesses and organizations safely reopen during the COVID-19 pandemic with its popular self-service solution, the patent-pending TAURI Temperature Check Tablet. Designed to screen people noninvasively when entering healthcare, manufacturing or government facilities, hotels, restaurants, conference centers, retail stores, schools, and gyms, TAURI is a touch-free, highly accurate, quick, and private temperature check and messaging system in one tablet. "In response to COVID-19, businesses and organizations are grappling with choosing temperature check products that don't induce anxiety or put people at greater risk of exposure," said Cindy Cheung, chief operating officer of Glory Star. "The idea for TAURI came to us after going out to eat and realizing how threatening gun-style readers are when they're aimed at you. They also require extremely close contact with the operator. Because people are accustomed to tablets in their daily lives, TAURI makes temperature screening a more positive, calm, and familiar experience. Patrons only have to stand in front of it momentarily to have their temperature taken. It's more welcoming and doesn't require additional staff to operate it." Glory Star's TAURI Temperature Check Tablet was built leveraging the same expertise and technology the company uses in its successful self-service tablet-based NEBULA Total Kiosks Series. TAURI ensures customers, employees, and guests who need access into a facility can be swiftly and safely scanned. It features a professional, high-quality infrared sensor that immediately detects and issues a customizable alert when a person is running a high temperature, and therefore should not enter the premises. To ensure a positive, anxiety-free experience, the system's result message can be customized. For example, if a high temperature is detected, the tablet can display a message such as, "Please step aside for a customer service agent to assist you." The tablets are also equipped with an HDMI output, allowing results to be mirrored on a second screen, such as one located behind a reception or security desk. Both features keep health data private and secure. TAURI is available in 7-inch, 10.5-inch, 15.6-inch, and 21.5-inch models and can be deployed anywhere using Glory Star's VESA standard wall mounts, desktop mounts, or floor stands, which are also available as options. Each tablet is embedded with the TAURI Application, which immediately launches upon start-up and doesn't require operators to sift through menus or additional applications. Initial setup and calibration take only seven minutes using the clear and simple interactive user interface. Glory Star's mission is to respond to customers' needs with new solutions in unprecedented times. To solve evolving concerns for businesses as they reopen and return to normal operations, the company's team of engineers continuously writes free firmware over-the-air updates, which add new tools to address arising concerns and recommendations. TAURI combines a best-in-class sensor and body heat algorithm for fast temperature accuracy with a tolerance of +/- 0.5 degrees Fahrenheit (+/- 0.3 degrees Celsius) and a refresh rate of 64Hz. Based on a vast amount of biological and environmental factors that can impact temperature data, the system's self-calibration feature automatically attunes to the environment of the room. Guests are scanned in three seconds and from up to three feet away, providing an efficient process. The tablet also includes face detection and optional face recognition. Face detection differentiates a human face from other objects. Companies also can activate facial recognition capabilities, which detect if a person is not protected with a face mask and issue a reminder. It can also take a picture of the people with a high temperature reading and send an email notification to select personnel. The open-based API is also designed for greater system integration. The data collected from TAURI devices can be sent to a designated server. In addition, the device can be connected to control door access via USB relay. TAURI is designed as both an immediate and long-term communications tool. It can share personalized messages or act as signage. When the organization no longer needs to scan temperatures, that feature can be deactivated while the message feature can continue to be an integral component for welcoming guests into the building or for advertising. The result is greater long-term ROI.
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Innovation uses ‘stethoscope’ to monitor machine quality, functionality
Researchers at Purdue University have developed a system for efficient, low-cost monitoring for machine health, including overall quality, condition and operation status. The Purdue team’s innovation uses audio-based artificial intelligence technology to monitor the overall conditions of machines in factories, hospitals and other locations. The Purdue system uses a stethoscope-like system as a sensor and analyzes the data with a neural network-based framework. “Our solution is to use the concept of doctors listening to a body to assess the initial condition or experts listening to the machine sounds to know what is going on,” said Martin Jun, a Purdue innovator and associate professor of mechanical engineering. “We are using artificial intelligence to train a wide range of sounds from the machine and determine many things about the machine or process autonomously.” Jun said this system can detect anomalies without being fed a training set and is easier and more cost-effective than accelerometers or acoustic emission sensors. The Purdue technology is designed to use internal sounds from a machine to determine the machine status, assess process conditions, diagnose machine condition and predict machine failures. “Since only sound is used, it can be used for a number of different applications,” Jun said. “Having one low-cost sensor for many different purposes can address the current challenges in the area where most of the solutions are quite customized to specific problems.” Maijker Corp., a startup created to commercialize technologies involving sensors and artificial intelligence.
