INTERVIEW With the new era of hybrid work changing the way people communicate and learn, the concept of meeting equity is becoming more common. But it is important to define exactly what the term means to ensure that organisations can successfully attain it. “We see meeting equity as simply addressing two key challenges: ensuring every meeting participant, regardless of where they are, has an equal presence in the new hybrid workplace and making certain that remote participants can connect and collaborate remotely as effectively as they would in person,” says Scott Krueckeberg, head of strategic alliances at DTEN. But why is meeting equity so important for organisations to obtain? “Achieving meeting equity helps create a culture of collaboration, engagement and increased productivity,” explains Krueckeberg. “In this new video-driven age the majority of meetings are not held face to face, but they need to feel as though they are. All participants, regardless of location, need to be able to see and be seen, hear and be heard, and exchange and receive information, equally.” DTEN is working to help organisations achieve meeting equity through technology that works seamlessly with Microsoft Teams. “Sound and picture quality are at the forefront of selecting hardware that achieves meeting equity,” says Krueckeberg. “DTEN’s Microsoftcertified DTEN D7X Android Edition delivers this with a brilliant 4K display, 4K wide-angle camera system and an intelligent 15-mic array. “What’s more is that the DTEN D7X includes built-in artificial intelligence with auto-framing and smart framing camera features. The smart framing will help drive features like the Microsoft Teams IntelliFrame feature, allowing all participants in the room to be presented in individual video tiles. These solutions balance the various personalities in the room and ensure that everyone has a chance to be heard.” DTEN is also preparing for new features that Microsoft will add to Teams in the future. “Once multi-camera capabilities are released, we can enhance this feature using DTEN solutions that are already designed to support up to four additional cameras,” says Krueckeberg. “This will increase coverage and reduce video degradation.” Krueckeberg believes that the hybrid work landscape will continue to change. “It will bridge more geographical gaps and increase flexibility for businesses, employees and students,” he says. “The number of participants joining meetings by video is destined to increase. The need for on-demand content and collaboration for people to consume when and where it works best due to their location will both be trends that we expect to see in the future.” Meeting equity is a necessity in the new era of hybrid work, according to Scott Krueckeberg of DTEN Encouraging a culture of collaboration BY AMBER HICKMAN “ Achieving meeting equity helps create a culture of collaboration, engagement and increased productivity” 96
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