[How to use telework tools #17] Get out of the "it can't be helped because it's remote"! Speakers for conferences specialized in sound quality

The quality required for remote meetings is also changing. With telework as a temporary measure, we were able to turn a blind eye to some equipment troubles, but to make it permanent, it is important to improve the quality of meetings, including sound quality. right. Products that meet such new needs have also appeared. "Poly Sync" announced by Poly in October is a series of speakerphones that can be used by connecting to a PC via Bluetooth or USB. It is compatible with major voice platforms such as Zoom, Skype, Microsoft Teams, and Google Cloud, and is available in three models of different sizes. Of these, "Poly Sync 20" is intended for personal use such as telework, "Poly Sync 40" is for small conference rooms, and "Poly Sync 60" is for medium-sized conference rooms. Both models are equipped with high-performance microphones that cut out ambient noise and accurately pick up only speaking voices. At the presentation of this product, a demonstration was held while rotating the hair dryer, but the sound of the dryer was completely inaudible, and it was almost impossible to tell if the dryer was working without being told. On the other hand, the conversation was clearly audible. The main unit is equipped with buttons for answering calls, muting, volume adjustment, etc., and also has a programmable button that can be assigned any function from several prepared functions. In addition, there is a light bar on the front of the main unit that indicates the status of calls, mutes, etc., so you can immediately check the current status by the color of the light even from a distance. This makes it possible to prevent incidents such as "I intended to mute but it wasn't muted". It also has a unique feature that allows you to charge your smartphone using the main battery. In the case of the personal model Poly Sync 20, the microphone pickup range is said to be suitable for rooms up to 2m and 4mx4m. With IP64 dustproof and waterproof performance, the main body is 182mm wide and weighs about 350g, making it easy to carry. A carrying case and strap are also included. Poly is a brand born out of the merger of Plantronics and Polycom, both of which have long sold office headsets and video conferencing systems. It is worth noting that such a company has created a personal product for telework needs. Of the two models for conference rooms, the Poly Sync40 has a sound collection range of 2.5m and is suitable for rooms up to 5mx5m in size, while the Poly Sync 60 has a sound collection range of 3m and is suitable for use in rooms up to 6mx6m. matter. In the case of these models, in addition to being used alone, it also has a function that allows you to pair two terminals and connect them to a PC as one speaker. In other words, pairing two Poly Sync 60s for medium-sized conference rooms can also be used in large conference rooms. This also makes it easier to respond to diversifying meeting styles in that the configuration can be changed according to the size of the room to be used. Looking back at trends in telework at well-known companies, Hitachi announced in May that it would shift to a "working style that makes use of telecommuting the standard," and Twitter in the United States will continue to work from home permanently if employees so desire. We have announced a policy. Also, in October, Dropbox announced that it would be transforming into a "virtual first" company, with all employees working from home. It is said that the Japanese subsidiary will follow suit. Companies, including small organizations, that have felt a certain degree of success in operating telework during the pandemic will continue to introduce work styles that incorporate telework even after COVID-19. If telework becomes the norm, improving the quality of remote meetings will become a more important issue. And voice quality in remote meetings is an essential element for smooth conference proceedings. This product, which achieves both high sound quality and compactness by focusing on the speaker, seems to be an item that matches such a new phase of telework.