The award-winning LifeSize® Express 220™ is an enhanced Full HD video communications system that is both affordable and scalable. Priced for broad deployment and uniquely flexible, the Express 220 is designed to enable companies to extend the reach of telepresence communications to any office or any size business. Ideal for small working groups, teams or individual knowledge workers who want to take communication over distance to the next level, LifeSize Express 220 has it all.

High-definition visual communications solution for conference rooms, classrooms and meeting places worldwide.

The clarity of Polycom HDX 8006 system enables users to interact over video freely and naturally, and with the HDX 8000 Series systems’ embedded multipoint and content-sharing capabilities, remote team members can quickly and easily be brought together collaborate on projects visually in this superior telepresence solution.

Key Features:

• High-definition video – Up to1920 x 1080 (1080p) video resolution or 1280 x720 (720p) resolution at 30 fps or 60 fps for excellent video quality at all data rates
• High-definition voice – Polycom Siren™ 22 and Polycom StereoSurround™ technology for powerful, superior room-filling audio performance

For media-rich group presentations, the Polycom HDX 8006 system enables users to display rich-media content and data easily, enhancing collaboration and audience participation. And utilizing Polycom HDX 8000 Series systems in tandem with Polycom’s unique People On Content™ collaboration technology allows presenters to insert their video images into projected content to explain key elements more clearly.

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For more featured Polycom products, click here. »

Biamp Systems offers to make your meetings and conversations even better with Sona™, their new acoustic echo cancelling innovation. Included in every Nexia TC and Nexia VC, as well as AudiaFLEX with the AEC-2HD Card, Sona delivers full, real sound to nearly any conferencing environment. Now conversations come through full, rich and completely authentic.

Sona sets a new standard in acoustic echo cancellation, delivering tail lengths of up to 300ms and convergence as fast as 100dB per second. The system also provides full 20Hz to 20kHz wideband AEC without compromising core DSP resources, and makes setting gain structure nearly effortless. Installations are faster, even in large and acoustically challenging spaces.

Key Features:

• Incredibly natural sound
• Tail length of up to 300ms
• Convergence rate of up to 100dB per second
• Less sensitive to changes in gain
• Full duplex transmission of speech, including double-talk
• True 20Hz to 20kHz wideband AEC
• Faster installation and setup
• Improves sound in large and acoustically challenging rooms
• Available in Nexia and AudiaFLEX firmware

Click here for Sona’s product specs. »

Click here more Biamp featured products. »

The Vision Viewer™ 7880 makes it easy to focus on teaching, easily capturing images and movies. Simply plug the document camera into the USB port, launch the software, and go! There are no confusing cables or buttons to sort out, which can bring your lesson plan or presentation to a standstill.

You’ll also receive superior image quality in real time, displaying documents, nearby objects or even objects at a distance. This camera features auto focus, a factory-installed USB cable, 1280 X 1024 SXGA resolution, and comes complete with Applied Vision 4 Software.

Applied Vision 4 Software (AV4) enables you to connect your Ken-A-Vision digital product to your computer for viewing, capturing and manipulation of video and still images. Key features include: multi-camera support, full screen viewing, digital zoom, video rotation, time lapse recording, and much more.

With the Ken-A-Vision Vision Viewer™ 7880, you can get a top of the line document camera at a rock bottom price!

Click here for product specs. »

Click here to view other featured document cameras. »

Now you can mount any interactive whiteboard in front of your existing chalk or dry erase board! Simply slide it over when not in use! Diversitrack is the first sliding track mount system of its kind for interactive whiteboards, supporting the industry’s top brands such as SMART™ Technologies. Diversitrack can help your classroom retain your dry erase and chalk board space while enabling you to use your SMART Board where you want it, when you want it.

The Diversitrack employs a very secure and durable dual-track system, which includes rails that attach above and below your existing chalk or dry erase board. The Diversitrack mounts over a standard height dry erase board or chalk board, up to 58.25 inches tall. The Diversitrack is professionally manufactured out of a strong grade of aluminum, using a high-tech laser. Using an innovative clip system, the Diversitrack can accommodate the SMART SB580, SB560, SB640, SB660 and the SB680 in addition to whiteboards made by other major manufacturers. The Diversitrack is also equipped with a system to securely hold your interactive whiteboard in its calibrated position while it is in use.

The Diversitrack is already in use in hundreds of classrooms. Ask your AVI-SPL Sales Representative about how the Diversitrack can help you use your interactive whiteboard more effectively, without having to give up an inch of your dry erase and chalk board space!

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The technophiles, especially Apple groupies, have been eagerly waiting for (and speculating about) the official announcement about Apple’s new tablet computer. Today, Steve Jobs, along with a slew of Apple executives and developers, unveiled the iPad. With a starting price of $499, this sleek tablet could make a big impact on the AV industry.

A few uses:

• In conference rooms instead of significantly-more-expensive touch panel displays (with the right software- perhaps with the newly released Crestron XPanel for Mac?)
• In classrooms replacing textbooks, scientific calculators, pocket translators, calendars and desktop computers with one device
• For presenters, iWork – Keynote allows users to present natively by connecting to a projector

What other uses can you think of?

For more information about the iPad, click here.

Are you ready to make the move to 3D? The 3D projection market continues to expand, as Sharp has entered the growing market. Sharp’s suite of six 3D-ready, DLP BrilliantColor professional projectors aim to stand above the competition with energy saving features such as low standby power consumption, in addition to an  expanded lamp life through eco mode operations.

Sharp’s six new models include the following:

• PG-D45X3D (4,500 ANSI lumens, XGA native resolution)
• PG-D40W3D (4,000 ANSI lumens, WXGA native resolution)
• PG-D3510X (3,500 ANSI lumens, XGA native resolution)
• PG-D3010X (3,000 ANSI lumens, XGA native resolution)
• PG-D2710X (2,700 ANSI lumens, XGA native resolution)
• PG-D2500X (2n500 ANSI lumens, XGA native resolution)

Key elements behind the new models also include a wireless remote with a built-in spotlight function and on-screen pointer to support presentations. As a safety feature, the projector automatically shuts off if the lens cover is closed more than 30 minutes.

All models are expected to be rolled out by April 2010.

SMART Ideas software brings the power of visual learning to your classroom. Students can better analyze and understand complex ideas by building multilevel interactive maps in this fun, colorful software. These exciting presentations take students through concepts one level at a time for greater clarity, with the maps easily converting into multipage Web sites for everyone to share.

With the software’s easy navigation features, you can easily view maps in various formats to help students learn from multiple perspectives. The convenience of the global view feature allows you to show all the map levels at once, while the presentation view option removes toolbars for a large, clear display.

You can also swiftly switch between the diagram view and the text outline view to demonstrate the connection between visual and written ideas. SMART Ideas also allows you to enhance maps with curriculum-specific and interactive clip art to aid learning and make lessons interesting, effortlessly adding multimedia content and links. Click here for product brochure »

Receive a complimentary SMART Ideas software license from SMART Technologies by registering your SMART Board Interactive Whiteboard on SMART’s Web site. Just include your email address with your product registration, and a SMART Ideas software license will be emailed to you.

Looking for an all-in-one solution that combines the high-quality and functionality of a DVD and projector into one system? Look no further than Epson’s PowerLite Presenter! This innovative resource is fully equipped with a three-LCD imaging engine, 200 watt bulb and two built-in 10 W speakers and virtual surround sound. Take advantage, as the Presenter is available at a budget-friendly price through Epson’s Brighter Futures buying program.

Although bigger than the typical classroom projector, the Presenter also offers more options for versatility in educational applications. This includes larger-than-life images at a native WXGA resolution (16:10), perfectly suited for widescreen computers. At 2500 lumens of color and white light output and an auto color mode that instantly adjusts to any environment, the Presenter is bright enough to accommodate any setting!

Click here to view Epson’s PowerLite Presenter specs »

“It’s really cool,” says one shy youngster, a pre-schooler at the exclusive Baldwin Academy in Pacific Beach. “It’s a lot of fun,” adds another, breaking into a smile. When Baldwin became selected as the only pilot school for the SMART Table in Southern California, these precocious learners immediately demonstrated the rewards. AVI-SPL’s Education Market Manager, Maggie McGill, was instrumental in helping to make a difference.

“The best benefit of the SMART Table is its ability to promote collaborative learning, with room for up to eight students to interact,” says McGill. With a format similar to that of an iPhone, the SMART Table is the first multitouch, multiuser interactive learning center that allows groups of primary school students to work simultaneously on its surface. From math to social studies to art, the SMART Table allows the youngest of learners to take a fun, hands-on approach to their activities. Best of all, it helps teachers create new and unique collaborative learning activities with minimal preparation time.

“For me to be able to work with their pre-K teacher and get her true feedback has been phenomenal,” adds McGill. “Both she and the kids absolutely love it.”

The SMART Table has currently been on loan to Baldwin since August; they hope to purchase the technology in the near future.

Click here to view the news story on Baldwin Academy »

To view the SMART Table specs, click here »