The rise of the hybrid work environment has enabled people to work together from disparate, remote locations. This increases the accessibility of workplaces and can boost efficiency and collaboration within teams. However, remote attendees often feel like they're not sitting at the table with their colleagues. Therefore, they could have video call experiences that are disjointed or less meaningful than coworkers in the office.

AI-powered camera solutions like the Logitech Sight could hold the answer to these issues.

AI Tracking Creates Better Video Conferencing Experiences

AI is already a part of many popular video conferencing solutions, helping provide clearer images for all attendees by refocusing when people move to different positions. Blurry, grainy, or unfocused images can cause others on the video call to miss cues from body language. After all, multiple studies suggest that a large portion of our communication is non-verbal[i]. The more accurately AI can track the movements of those on video calls, the more personalized experiences it can provide for all users.

The Logitech Sight goes beyond applying AI-powered body tracking to webcams. It uses two distinct viewpoints to carefully track everyone around the table, allowing those calling in remotely to see their coworkers exactly as they would if they were sat right there at the table.

Logitech Sight Tabletop Perspective

Logitech Sight works as a partner to the Logitech Rally Bar or Rally Bar Mini to provide multiple views of medium to large meeting rooms. The Sight AI-powered camera is in the center of the room, while the Rally Bar sits at one end of the table, although the size of the meeting space will alter how you use and place your devices.

This allows callers to see from the front of the room, as if they were at the head of the table, or from a more central perspective, so viewers can see who is sitting around the camera as if they were sitting around the caller. Video conference attendees can also combine these views so they don't miss a single beat of the action. Physical attendees get the assurance that, no matter who they're facing or where they're sitting in the room, they'll always be seen in the best view by remote meeting members. This leads to better communication and more productive appointments.

The basis for this is that having multiple perspectives to choose from allows remote attendees to follow the conversation better, empowering them to be more involved in remote work meetings. Logitech believes this will create more equitable meetings, where remote workers aren't inadvertently penalized for not being physically present in the office or work facility.

Benefits and Features of Logitech Sight

Is the Logitech Sight just an extra camera? No, it's so much more than that. Sight is a "Smart" tabletop camera that, in tandem with the Rally Bar or Mini Bar, utilizes advanced visual and audio technology with intelligent, AI-powered directional technology to track speakers as a meeting progresses. Key features include:

• Sensor resolution: 4K
• Zoom: X1
• Horizontal Field of View: 315°
• Vertical Field of View: 97°
• Diagonal Field of View: 180°
• Focal Length: 0.07 in (1.87 mm)
• Depth of Field: 19.69in (50 cm)-16.41ft (5 m)
• Frame Rate (max): 60 fps
• Beamforming Elements: 7 omnidirectional digital MEMS microphones forming six adaptive acoustic endfire beams
• Pickup Range: 7.55 ft (2.3 m) radius
• Microphone Type: digital MEMS microphones with 72 dB SNR and 130 dB AOP, dirt and water resistant to IP57 spec
• Frequency Response: 90Hz – 16 kHz
• Sensitivity: >-36 dBFS +/-1 dB @ 1 Pa
• Audio processing: AEC (Acoustic Echo Cancellation), Machine Learning VAD (Voice Activity Detector)
• Noise suppression: Artificial Intelligence Machine Learning to attenuate both stationary and non-stationary noises
• Additional mic pods

Rally Bar: Supports up to 3 Mic Pods and 2 Mic Pod Hubs

Rally Bar Mini: Supports up to 2 Mic Pods and 2 Mic Pod Hubs

Rally/Rally Plus: Supports up to a total of 6 Mic Pods and/or Mic Pod Hubs

• Mute feature included on the device
• Privacy shade included
• Not a standalone device: Requires Rally Bar or Mini Bar

The device comes out of the box with everything needed to set it up in your conference room space, including all mounting materials and user documentation. There are three mounting options: A tabletop suction mount, a grommet mount that hides all cables out of sight, or a tripod mount. This last option is ideal for less conventional spaces, such as smaller rooms or v/u-shaped tables. The device comes with manually operated mute controls and a privacy shade for instant user control mid-meeting.

The Logitech Sight also connects with Logitech Sync. This proprietary software is an intuitive platform that helps manage all audio-visual meeting devices. Sync collects data from meetings and presents insights to help managers understand how their conference spaces are being utilized over time.

There's also the option to invest in the Logitech Select service plan for additional device support and Sync features.

What are the benefits of investing in this high-spec, AI-powered video conferencing solution?

The primary benefit is that Logitech Sight makes meetings more "real" for remote participants. Instead of joining in and simply being a face in a box on a screen, callers can engage as if they are there in the room. The camera tracks activity and prioritizes the current speaker. If preferred, the user can also manipulate the view manually to focus on a particular team member.

Why is this important? Currently, hybrid workers who spend a great deal of time out of the office don't feel as connected to their coworkers. In fact, 53% of remote employees[ii] struggle with this disconnect, while 69% state that they've suffered increased burnout due to constantly using digital tools for communication[iii]. Finding tools that transform online meetings to be as "real" as possible could help employees reconnect with their workplaces while reducing the symptoms of digital burnout.

If you want more information about the right video conferencing technology for your hybrid workforce, contact Hello Direct. We stock multiple advanced solutions for online and in-person meetings, including AI-powered video and audio solutions at highly competitive prices. Give your hybrid and remote employees the best experiences by investing in the right devices for your team.

[i] https://www.spring.org.uk/2023/02/what-percentage-communication-nonverbal.php

[ii] https://www.forbes.com/advisor/business/remote-work-statistics/#:~:text=53%25%20of%20remote% 20workers%20say%20it%E2%80%99s%20harder,harder%20to%20feel%20connected%20to%20th eir%20coworkers

[iii] https://www.forbes.com/advisor/business/remote-work-statistics/#:~:text=69%25%20of%20remote% 20workers%20report%20increased,increased%20burnout%20from%20digital%20communication%2 0tools