We’ll be running a series of ads in three prominent trade publications to build awareness:

• Contract Magazine
• Interiors & Sources
• Sound & Communications

The first of these ads features the fully customizable Technology3 Credenza, which was designed to house A/V equipment out of sight and comes with a one-of-a-kind integrated screen mounting system that eliminates wall-mounted displays.

Our credenzas — both the Technology3 and Technology2 — come standard with a removable, adjustable shelf or an empty bay with room enough to store a mini-fridge. We also include a rotating, swiveling rack to make it easier for you to access your equipment.

From large interactive boardrooms to open cubicle environments, any workspace could benefit from the unique and customizable furniture in our Q-Solutions series.

Telemedicine is an evolving, thriving technology that is making its way into more and more care facilities such as hospitals and healthcare centers.

Now that telemedicine is seen more of a developing industry and less of a trend, the reasons for its growth are obvious: the need for quality healthcare in rural areas, lack of sufficient hospitals, quality physician shortage and geographical limitations to healthcare. Consequently, governments all over the world are embracing telemedicine technology.

A recent study, reported by SB Wire, shows that the global telemedicine market may grow by 19% during the next few years. It also highlights the various telemedicine processes such as remote monitoring and real-time telemedicine.

Due to the world’s aging population, medical needs in isolated areas and technological developments, the global market for telemedicine is growing steadily and was estimated to be almost $9.8 billion in 2010.

Not only does telemedicine meet the needs of individual patients, but it easily crosses borders as well. Its developments are happening all over the world as it continues to overcome healthcare’s geographical limitations. As of today, the United States and Europe are dominating the global telemedicine market.

Learn more about the direction of the global telemedicine market from SB Wire and share your thoughts on the topic with us. Do you think telemedicine will have a direct impact on healthcare in the near future? Has it helped you or someone you know and if so, how?

A group of teachers recently created a video chat network that enables their students to learn about customs, holidays, foods and more from many different places.  The network has grown due to the teachers requesting other teachers of global elementary schools to set up an exchange with her class.

Photo by torres21

Global connections are becoming a practical lesson plan from the comfort of a teachers’ own classroom due to the internet’s capabilities.

The global elementary school network is designed to connect teachers for cross-classroom projects. Students greatly benefit from these connections as they see students like themselves having different experiences around the world and also speaking a different language.

With the direction video chat is taking, it will be no surprise that its growth will continue. As teachers incorporate these technologies in the classroom, it’s important to consider making their classroom accommodating.

When investing in new technology for a school or classroom, consider investing in classroom equipment that has been specifically designed for use with projectors, offers ample storage, and is user-friendly and durable.

At AVTEQ, our own GMP Classroom Series Carts have been a popular choice for classrooms. When researching video conferencing technology for your students or teachers, note that our GMP Series Carts are 42 inches tall so that the entire classroom can easily see the display.

Have global connections impacted your classroom or personal learning experience? Please let us know!

With Vidyo Panarama, employees can now be encouraged to work from anywhere with an Internet connection and therefore take part in a more collaborative environment.

Photo by by torres21

VidyoPanorama™ includes:

• Up to 1080p 60 fps on up to 20 displays (costing as little as $4,500 per screen)
• Intuitive easy to use interface with single click to join conferences
• HD video conferencing over the Internet or general data networks
• Bandwidth efficiency delivering HD video conferencing
• HD multipoint video conferencing  with mobile devices

Vidyo Panorama surpasses traditional telepresence solutions with its flexibility and variety of uses. It can fit any size room, layout or video enabled business processes. This new technology is the solution when it comes to hospital patient monitoring, distance learning or disaster recovery command centers.

Photo by pedrosimoes7

Once you’re discharged from the hospital, you usually have to come back in to check in with your doctor or receive medical advice on how to continue making health improvements. Thanks to telehealth technology, these follow-up appointments are no longer needed.

The Center for Connected Health conducted trials that showed home monitoring actually helped reduce a congestive heart failure patient’s need for hospital readmission by 50%. In addition, 69% of patients with hypertension had lower blood pressure after the home monitoring trial.

Yet the federal Medicare program for seniors and disabled Americans currently does not reimburse for most telehealth, care coordination and home monitoring services. But that could change soon.

Healthcare stakeholders at the 2012 International Consumer Electronics Show claim that reimbursement for telehealth services may come once health reform “picks up steam” and scientific evidence is published that shows how remote monitoring technology improves health outcomes.

The trials conducted by the Center for Connected Health gave patients access to software such as Healthrageous, which allowed them to video conference with their own doctor as well as receive coaching and guidance toward health improvement.

Unfortunately, the value of remote monitoring isn’t seen by everyone so it may take time before home devices are recognized as helpful tools for people and not just gadgets.

It will be a while before any changes as to how Medicare pays for health services will take place because of the current pressure to cut Medicare and other entitlement programs.

Share your thoughts with us about remote monitoring for patients and let us know if you think there should a reimbursement for these services.

Maione starts off by explaining that due to continuing financial struggles, business’ budgets for AV systems will be limited. He also states that the IT world and AV industry will slowly begin to join forces; throughout the business, healthcare and government verticals, we will see AV move into the IT department due to budget constraints. If this seems worrisome – don’t let it be – just ensure you are educating yourself on the changing technology, presentation tools and how to upgrade your audio and video presentation equipment.

As for videoconferencing and telepresence rooms – these won’t be going anywhere but do expect to see more desktop and portable videoconference systems.

Photo by Cea

Another writer, Oliver Richardson, said this year’s AV products will allow greater interaction for users than ever before, such as with touchscreen technology. People no longer want to just look at a display, they want to actually interact with the content and have it in their control.

This topic of digital signage has been discussed on our blog before and we agree that it will continue to rapidly evolve and shape a consumers’ purchase journey this year. Brochures and printed material are now considered outdated strategies.

Richardson closes with an interesting thought – “It’s not the technology you use, but how it is used that is crucial in complementing particular needs and requirements.”

If you want to work with a company that will fit your needs and requirements, call AVTEQ.

Yes, it’s true. Viral manners matter! Video conference etiquette is more important than ever now since it is now taking the place of business meetings as well as job interviews. Considering etiquette guidelines will make video conferencing a much more productive experience.

First off, if you’re using video conferencing with employees, ensure that they are prepared before entering a video conference. Test the equipment beforehand and have a backup plan in case you have technical difficulty. The conference should have a well prepared agenda that has been sent to the attendees in advance so they know what time to expect and how long the meeting will be. The agenda should include clear objectives as well as who will be attending the meeting.

Photo by JonoMueller

Since the meeting will be via video, make sure meeting attendees are dressed appropriately. The days of casual conference call wear are over. And most important, remind everyone to turn off their phones before the meeting just as they would if they were meeting face to face.

In case you’re the only one in the office jumping on the video conferencing bandwagon, don’t be discouraged. Point out the goals and benefits of video conferencing to your coworkers as well as how much money it has saved (or could potentially save in the long run).

Could video conferencing technology benefit your company? Let AVTEQ know!

Photo by JoshuaDavisPhotography

Some of the markets that kiosks have impacted are entertainment, retail, travel, financial services and healthcare.

So it’s no surprise that the number of interactive kiosks is predicted to increase from 1.6 million to nearly three million by 2016.

Sam Lucero, M2M connectivity practice director, claims that interactive kiosks are at the center of the self-service technology trend.

“Kiosks are not a new channel by any means,” Lucero said. “Consumers worldwide have grown more accustomed to using them for everything from self- checkout in the supermarket to checking in for their flight at an airport.”

Although with progress comes its challenges. Some customers are expected to not fully embrace the technology. Technical difficulties are likely to occur or mixed messages presented to customers looking for a solution

Despite expected roadblocks, an increase is sure to happen as the instant gratification makes its way into the shoppers’ path.

You can read more of what we’ve covered about digital signage and kiosks in our previous blog posts. Please feel free to share your thoughts in our comments section below; do you agree that the number of interactive kiosks will continue to increase?

Source

If you love selling AVTEQ products, you can be rewarded for it with AVTEQ’s Bid Rewards.

You first need to submit a qualifying bid, which is submitted by a reseller and then generated into a purchase order. If the result is a sale for AVTEQ, you’ll receive a check directly from AVTEQ for 1% of your cost.

There’s no limit so the more bids you submit, the more you get paid! In order to claim your check, it is your responsibility to follow up with AVTEQ and submit a copy of either the executed PO or the award letter in order to claim your check. Even if you purchase through distribution, you must send your purchase orders through your distributor, but you’ll need to fill out the AVTEQ bid form. Then send the form directly to AVTEQ with the bid number on the PO to the distributor included.

You will receive your check as soon as AVTEQ receives the PO for the bid and ships the product.

You can complete our form online to secure your bid. If you have any problems submitting your form online, you can download and complete a PDF form then fax it to: 214-905-9666.

Photo by by a.drian

According to the Pakistan Observer, the project involves a partnership between USF and Oratier Technologies. The purpose of the telemedicine network is to demonstrate that the optic fiber and broadband networks can be used to provide e-healthcare facilities with sufficient funding.

What will happen within the next couple of months is the Jinnah Post Graduate Medical Center- Karachi, Nishtar Medical College- Multan and Holy Family Hospital-Rawalpindi will be connected with 12 remote sites to set up three telemedicine networks.

The sites will provide facilities of digital stethoscope, digital derma-scope, portable ultrasound, digital ECG and software that allows patients to access video consultations with specialists in one of the three main hospitals.

The telemedicine integration could potentially save lives. The inclusion of food stricken districts has been noted as imperative and now 256 unserved towns will have access to more than 334,000 USF-funded connections.

While this project is underway across the world, the U.S. is also taking advantage of telemedicine opportunities, such as the American Telemedicine Association proposal to expand the use of telemedicine for Medicaid enrollees with high-risk pregnancies and neonatal care needs.

We also recently blogged about how Scotland has begun using a telemedicine network, which is comprised of 800 systems and will allow experts from various fields to be checked for availability and contacted for advice.

How do you think telemedicine will continue to impact the healthcare industry in developed and undeveloped countries? We’d like to hear your feedback in our comments section.