Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1414667
October/November/December 2021 I 9 HEALTHIER MEETINGS For those who are returning to physical business offices and school campuses, how can ICT professionals apply innovative AV technology solutions to help people stay healthy when gathering for meetings and classes? Read on for the latest and most advanced solutions. Room Scheduling It starts by making sure that people gather only when necessary and having the room spaced to socially distance. Room scheduling apps, integrated with room sched- uling panels at room entrances, offer an efficient solution. These apps connect directly to an enterprise's calendaring application and can be configured to set an attendee limit based on the socially distanced capacity of the room. For overbooked gatherings, a standby list can be created. As attendees arrive, they use touch-free check-in through their personal mobile devices. The check-in tally updates in real time on the scheduling app and can be checked from a computer in a cubicle or from a smartphone before heading to the meeting room. For procrastinators, the tally can be viewed right at the meeting room entrance by glancing at the scheduling panel. When the room hits the safe capacity limit, a "FULL" indication is displayed, letting latecomers know that they should leave and attend remotely. Room scheduling apps also provide analytical data on room usage and activity patterns, allowing health and safety analyses to determine if absenteeism due to illness correlates to specific meetings or rooms. A useful and healthful addition to many room scheduling apps, offered by AV suppliers, are interactive wayfinding interfaces. These provide real-time meeting space availability, status, and location information using strategically located displays. Meeting organizers can locate and book meeting spaces for the day or week on an interactive list or map, as shown in Figure 2. Attendees heading to meetings can reference the map displays to find the most direct route to the meeting room. This reduces wandering around or asking nearby office FIGURE 2: Room scheduling apps, integrated with room scheduling panels at room entrances and interactive wayfinding interfaces, can minimize people wandering the hallways looking for meeting rooms or arriving only to find that meeting rooms are at maximum capacity. January 10, 10:33am January 10, 10:33am January 10, 10:33am Main Conference Room 10:30am-11:00am Extend until 11:30 Release 10:30 11:30 11am 12pm 12:30 1:30 1pm Reserved January 10, 10:33am Main Conference Room 10:30am-11:00am Extend until 11:30 Release 10:30 11:30 11am 12pm 12:30 1:30 1pm Reserved January 10, 10:33am ROOM SCHEDULING ECOSYSTEM occupants for directions, cutting down on interactions that can spread illness.