My first InfoComm experience proved to be quite insightful, especially regarding the 100+ degree days we faced in Las Vegas! As a booth tour guide, it was interesting to see the parts of the Cisco booth that gained the most attraction. Here are some of my observations from the show:

Integrators Provide Value-Added User Solutions
Cisco's extensive network of channel partners, integrators, and resellers provide comprehensive collaboration solutions. PresenterTrack and In-Room Control are two new solutions that integrators use to meet end-user needs.

PresenterTrack essentially turns your video meeting room into a "stage." Video conferencing had traditionally assumed a seated experience. But in larger environments, presenters typically stand and move across a room or stage. PresenterTrack detects and tracks people as they stand and naturally move about in front of the room. This gives presenters more flexibility and audiences a much better visual experience.

One of the challenges of conference rooms can be all the different controllers. The lights are on one wall, the thermostat on another, and so on. In-Room Control allows you to manage not only your Cisco video endpoint, but also room peripherals like lighting, A/C, and blinds. This frees up space on your meeting room table and simplifies your meeting experience.

Companies Show More Movement toward Cloud
Cisco Spark provides a complete collaboration service, including message, meeting, and call capabilities. At InfoComm, we announced the capability to register room endpoints to the cloud. Registering Cisco SX and MX room systems to Spark eliminates the need to invest in an on-premises infrastructure solution. It's exciting to see the progression of Cisco Spark and the delightful collaboration experiences that will come with it.

Demand Continues for Pervasive and Flexible Video Options
As momentum builds toward cloud, many organizations still prefer on-premises video deployments. That's why we to continue to invest in providing industry-leading solutions for those customers. A great example is Acano, Cisco's recent acquisition and lead on-premises meeting solution. Booth visitors were especially interested in how Acano delivers interoperable and scalable conferencing.

In an Interactive Multimedia & Collaborative Communications Alliance panel, I learned how several vendors, including Cisco, are addressing mobility. The panelists agreed that people want to be able to join meetings from any device, at any time, without compromising experience. The increase in BYOD policies and mobile workers require flexible and interoperable collaboration systems. Interoperability is no longer an option.

Learn how you can use PresenterTrack and In-Room Control to improve the conferencing experience.