How Huddly cameras are revolutionizing conferencing in the era of hybrid work
The concept of the traditional office has undergone a dramatic transformation in recent years. With the rise of remote work and the increasing prevalence of hybrid work models, high-quality video conferencing has become more than just a convenience—it’s a necessity. At the forefront of this technological revolution stands Huddly and their AI-directed multi-camera system Huddly Crew that’s redefining the standards for conference room cameras.
The Huddly difference: Innovation meets functionality
Huddly has distinguished itself in the crowded field of video conferencing technology through a combination of cutting-edge innovation and practical functionality. Their cameras aren’t just tools; they’re intelligent partners in creating more engaging, productive, and inclusive meeting experiences.
1. AI-Powered Functionality: The Heart of Huddly’s Innovation
At the core of Huddly’s technology is artificial intelligence. Their cameras don’t just capture images; they interpret the room and adjust accordingly. The Huddly Crew, in particular, is trained on footage from popular media and jumps between shots much like a TV show, presenting your meetings from multiple angles and viewpoints. Huddly’s AI-driven approach shows in several ways:
- Intelligent framing: Huddly cameras can automatically detect participants and frame the image to include everyone, eliminating the need for manual adjustments.
- Speaker framing: This feature can identify the active speaker and provide a close-up view, enhancing engagement for remote participants.
- People count: The camera can accurately count the number of people in the room, providing valuable data for space utilization and meeting management.
2. Wide-angle lenses: Capturing the whole picture
One of the most frustrating aspects of traditional video conferencing is the limited field of view. While a traditional conference room camera can pick up a few speakers in a room, most won’t be able to capture the participants of a full boardroom meeting. Huddly addresses this with ultra-wide-angle lenses. The Huddly L1, for instance, boasts a 150° field of view, capable of capturing up to 7 people in a single frame. This wide-angle capability ensures that everyone in the room is visible, promoting inclusivity and engagement.
3. Compact design: Form meets function
In an era where office aesthetics matter more than ever, Huddly cameras stand out for their sleek, minimalist design. The compact form factor allows for flexible placement options, whether mounted on a display or placed on a tabletop and the unobtrusive design ensures that the camera doesn’t dominate the room visually, maintaining a clean, professional look.
4. Software upgrades: A future-proof investment
Obsolescence is a constant concern, especially with meeting room technology. Huddly addresses this through regular software updates. These updates not only improve performance but often add new features, ensuring that your investment continues to evolve with your needs. This commitment to product development means that a Huddly camera purchased today will likely be even more capable a year from now.
Spotlight on Huddly products
While Huddly offers a range of products, two stand out for their innovative approach to common conferencing challenges:
Huddly L1: The small room specialist
The Huddly L1 is designed for small to medium-sized meeting rooms, addressing the unique challenges these spaces present:
- With its 150° wide-angle lens, the L1 can capture up to 7 people in a single frame, perfect for huddle rooms and compact meeting spaces.
- The camera’s 6K image sensor ensures crisp, clear video, even when zooming in on specific areas of the room.
- Built-in noise-reducing microphones complement the video capabilities, providing a complete conferencing solution in a single device.
Huddly Crew: The AI-directed multi-camera system
For larger spaces and more dynamic meetings, Huddly offers an innovative solution: the Huddly Crew AI-directed multi-camera system. This cutting-edge setup revolutionizes video conferencing for mid-sized to large rooms:
- Multiple camera setup: The system utilizes several cameras strategically placed around the room, providing comprehensive coverage from various angles.
- AI-driven director: At the heart of the system is an artificial intelligence that acts as a virtual director, automatically switching between cameras to focus on active speakers or important areas of the room.
- Seamless transitions: The AI ensures smooth, broadcast-quality transitions between camera views, creating a more engaging and professional video experience for remote participants.
- Intelligent framing: Like its single-camera counterparts, the Crew system uses AI to frame shots optimally, ensuring that all participants are clearly visible.
- Adaptability: The system can adapt to different room layouts and meeting styles, from formal presentations to interactive workshops.
This multi-camera approach bridges the gap between in-person and remote participation even more effectively than single-camera solutions. It’s particularly valuable for scenarios like board meetings, large team collaborations, or educational settings where capturing the dynamics of the entire room is crucial.
The impact on modern workplaces
The adoption of Huddly Crew’s technology goes beyond just improving video quality. It’s reshaping how organizations approach meetings and collaboration:
- Enhanced Engagement: By ensuring that everyone is clearly visible and audible, Huddly cameras help create a more inclusive meeting environment. Remote participants feel more connected, leading to better engagement and more productive discussions.
- Improved Space Utilization: The data provided by features like People Count can help organizations optimize their office space, ensuring that meeting rooms are appropriately sized and utilized efficiently.
- Reduced Tech Frustration: The plug-and-play nature of Huddly cameras means less time spent fiddling with technology and more time focused on the meeting’s content.
- Future-Ready Offices: As workplaces continue to evolve, the adaptability of Huddly’s products ensures that organizations can keep pace with changing needs without constant hardware upgrades.
A new era of collaboration
Huddly conference room cameras represent more than just an improvement in video conferencing technology. They symbolize a shift in how we think about remote collaboration. By addressing common pain points and leveraging cutting-edge AI, Huddly is helping to create meeting experiences that are more engaging, more inclusive, and ultimately more productive.
As the lines between physical and digital workspaces continue to blur, tools like those provided by Huddly will play an increasingly crucial role in keeping teams connected and collaborative. Whether you’re outfitting a small huddle room or a large conference space, Huddly’s range of products offers solutions that can adapt to your needs, both now and in the future.
Want to see the Huddly Crew in action? Schedule a visit to our Experience Lab and we’d be happy to show you our current Huddly setup in our conference room!