Exclusive Package one - VC Desktop Includes: Samsung SCOPIA VC240 with 3 year Warranty. This system includes a 24" Samsung widescreen LCD, High Definition (HD) camera, high fidelity speakers, dual echo cancelling microphones along with RADVISION's video conferencing engine provide an elegant All-In-One standalone HD desktop video conferencing system and a computer monitor Simplicity managed service package which includes one bridging line on a private network Exclusive Price £2494

Exclusive Package 3 - VC Meeting Room (QDX) Includes: Polycom QDX6000 with 3 year Warranty. This High Resolution Video Conferencing System includes Polycom EagleEyeTM QDX camera, codec, two microphones, cables, rack mount hardware and remote control NEC P401, HD 40" State-of-the-art professional Display with highest standards in reliability and variability and built in speakers Unicol Axia Hi-Level Trolley Simplicity managed service package which includes one bridging line on a private network Exclusive Price £4416

For further information on these exclusive packages please contact Dave Chapman on: 0118 931 3611 or email: davec@reflex.co.uk

	Reflex strengthens technical team due to industry demand We are continuing to place emphasis on the technical side of our offering with two new team members. Internal Technical Designer Raj Dattani's appointment expands the pre-sales technical design team to four with another appointment due in the New Year. Raj's background is in designing technical AV systems and providing technical support, he specialises in CCTV and IPTV as well as technical system design. His experience includes project managing audio visual projects. David Upsdell's new role as AV Network Product Specialist has been created as part of Reflex's strategy to meet the ever increasing demand for technical AV/IT integrated solutions and the incorporation of video communications within projects.
David's role covers everything from developing pre-sales solutions through to post-sales technical queries. His specialist subjects are control systems programming, video conferencing in which he is fully qualified and has an array of digital signage solutions expertise. Commenting on the appointments, our MD Roland Dreesden said 'Raj's appointment will allow us to respond appropriately to projects of increasing complexity, whilst David brings an IT focus to the team. He's a vital addition, with the line between AV and IT becoming increasingly blurred, especially when it comes to products such as video conferencing, streaming, IPTV and digital signage.' To view the latest job vacancies at Reflex visit: www.reflex.co.uk/vacancies.html

How to choose an AV Integrator

There's a huge choice of audio visual suppliers out there. In this article we examine why it is wise to make sure you choose a true integrator rather than save a few pounds by buying from a 'box shifter' and look at some of the questions you should be asking of any potential supplier.

Are all of the services offered handled in house?
Many AV resellers outsource areas such as installation to third parties. Reflex believes that a better service can be offered by keeping all services in-house, so ensuring consistency of service and having direct management over the quality of what is delivered.

How strong is their project management?
This is particularly key for larger and more complex installations. Reflex's project managers are experienced in multi faceted installations and are tasked with delivering projects on time and on budget to meet the client's stated objectives and ensure there is good strong regular communication between all parties.

How strong is their understanding of how technology can deliver real benefits?
Many suppliers will give you what you ask for. But a true integrator will add value by using their experience to suggest the best way to achieve your objectives. This may involve the use of technology you hadn't been aware of. There may be ways of making your installation more cost effective to run or less damaging to the environment. Our technical specialist will also look at what future plans you may have and ensure their recommendations weigh up the balance between future proofing and scalability against designing a system that is over specified.

Is the supplier committed to a long term partnership?
Find out how your supplier will support you once the job has been completed. Do they offer technical support including remote diagnosis of problems? Ask whether service contracts are on offer. How will the supplier help to educate you about new developments, for example through customer seminars and technology days? In addition refresher training for end-users is always beneficial.

Do they have an understanding of environmental issues?
Green issues are becoming more important and as companies look to reduce their carbon footprint, it is important that any AV supplier understands how to minimise the environmental impact of an installation. As an ISO14001 environmental accredited company, our staff are trained to understand how to help customers become greener and will look at issues such as which screen surface will deliver more apparent brightness, where the equipment should be located to allow for the effective dissipation of heat and how the system can be controlled centrally to reduce wasted energy use.

Learn more about Reflex by visiting www.reflex.co.uk or contact 0118 931 3611

Roland Dreesden's 2011 predictions

There are three technologies on my radar for 2011, touchscreen, 3D and of course video communications, which we looked at in our last newsletter. So what of the other two?

I'd be prepared to bet that your AV department has touchscreen on its wish list. In business, quick and easy access to information is crucial. Touchscreen gives ultimate accessibility for all employees. It enables collaborative, team working in a way no other technology does.

An American University has an eight-foot-by-three-foot touchscreen display wall as a centrepiece to a library, where students use the technology for image-driven research.

Here in the UK I've read reports of an interactive system that allows digitised versions of fragile historical documents to be explored via a touch screen at Canterbury Cathedral. Users can access translations and transcriptions, and read about the period in which a document was written, its content and the people who would have used it at the time.

Another fascinating application is in medical training, using touchscreen to perform virtual autopsies on realistic 3D corpses.

Which brings me to 3D. And on that subject I'm more ambivalent. In the example above the benefits are clear. I'm sure that 3D will become adopted at some point, but I feel that point is a way off yet.

Yes, it's a novelty. Yes, it has a certain wow factor. But practically, what would 3D bring to the average business presentation?

Specific areas such computer modelling for product design are a natural fit, but what drives AV in business is the need to show content. For 3D to be widely adopted, presenters will need to originate material where 3D images are critical as an integral part of the presentation– in other words, the delegates would struggle to understand without the 3D content.

Will that happen on a wide scale in 2011? I don't think so.

We'd be delighted to hear your views on the technologies that you feel will be important during the next year. Email your comments to kristys@reflex.co.uk

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Twitter is a great way to share and discover what is happening right now. We post snippets of news and useful information every week and you can feel free to tweet us with any AV related questions you might have.

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Audio training 11th January at University of Bath

A reminder that we still have limited places available at our free audio training session to run on 11th January 2011 at the University of Bath. The day will start at 10.00 and finish at 15.00. Visitors to recent courses in Reading rated the training, including areas such as clarity of presentation, technical level of knowledge and the opportunity for interaction and feedback as good or excellent. There's no need for delegates to have formal knowledge of physics or electronics but to simply have an open, interested mind for the subject. The course is free but booking is essential. To register your interest please contact Kristy Shepherd by emailing kristys@reflex.co.uk or contacting the sales team on: 0118 931 3611.