Press Releases

On A Screen At An Office Near You

Wednesday 24th October 2007

A GROWING concern for the environment - coupled with the emergence of high-performance technology – means more office workers than ever are holding meetings on the big screen.

The benefits of being able to meet without putting a strain on diaries – and the ability to reduce a company’s carbon footprint by cutting corporate travel – are encouraging business leaders to look carefully at the new possibilities opened up by video-conferencing.

Sustainable office transformation specialist Morgan Lovell is seeing a sharp rise in the number of companies specifying state-of-the-art communication methods for their companies.

David Henderson, managing director of Morgan Lovell, said: “The convenience of switching on a screen and having a face-to-face conversation with someone on the other side of the world is fast becoming a reality for many modern offices.

“The technology has really moved forward, with features including multiple control units that allow many people to be involved, so that a meeting has the potential to be truly worldwide.

“Consequently, today’s office managers can now be confident of equipping their offices with easy-to-run equipment, with real-time sound and visual links that make inter-continental conversations feel like you are standing next to the person you are talking to.
 
“Additionally, computer connections and interactive whiteboards allow data and documents to be viewed simultaneously by all delegates.

“There is also the added advantage that meetings can be archived for later viewing and up-to-date encryption techniques ensure data is secure and cannot be accessed by anyone other than who it is aimed at.”

Video conferencing took off in the 1990s with the introduction of the same high speed data transmission methods that allowed the use of broadband connections to link up to the internet. 

The latest systems are a world away from those first attempts, which were known for unreliable connections and echoed transmissions.

One company which has recently introduced a state-of-the-art video conferencing facility is the low carbon power company, Hydrogen Energy.

Morgan Lovell recently carried out a sustainable design and fit out at the headquarters of the company - a joint venture between BP and Rio Tinto - which is developing new technologies to dramatically reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

The project included the development of a complety bespoke video-conferencing system to enable effective two-way communication, including a giant 103 inch, high definition plasma screen – one of the largest currently installed in a UK office.   

Lewis Gillies, chief executive of Hydrogen Energy, based in Weybridge, Surrey, said: “Environmental factors played a major part in the creation of the new office. Our business is about climate change mitigation and the sustainability of the planet.

“It is a new joint venture and the brand is new, and we wanted to make the office a lever of the new brand. We also really wanted to make good use of technology, because that is what we are about.”

ENDS