iOS App Puts Teachers in Control of Videoconferencing Systems

Communications tech firm Avizia has launched a new tool specifically for teachers that's designed to give them improved control over videoconferencing technologies in their classrooms.

The new tool, Avizia Educator, brings together the man functions of videoconferencing tools into a simplified, touch-based interface. It includes an app that will be released initially for iOS, the Cisco TelePresence C90 codec for 1080p HD teleconferencing; and a hardware controller, called the Educator Controller.

"Video conferencing can be a powerful tool for connecting any organization, but traditional video conferencing rooms are so complex they typically require dedicated facilitators to handle setting up and managing the dizzying array of layouts, displays, cameras, projectors and remotes," said Mike Baird, CEO of Avizia, in a prepared statement. "Our goal with the Educator product is to dramatically simplify the experience in video conferencing rooms, so that users can focus on presenting or teaching without the technology getting in the way."

Features of Avizia Educator include:

  • The ability to control all videoconferencing hardware in a room;
  • Drag-and-drop support;
  • Support for up to four HD displays and five HD sources;
  • The ability to run Avizia Educator on multiple devices in the same room;
  • A setup and maintenance wizard.

Avizia Educator, which debuted at last week's InfoComm 2013 conference in Orlando, FL, is expected to be available in August for iOS devices as a free download. The company said support for additional platforms will follow the initial iOS release. Further details can be found on Avizia's site.

About the Author

David Nagel is the former editorial director of 1105 Media's Education Group and editor-in-chief of THE Journal, STEAM Universe, and Spaces4Learning. A 30-year publishing veteran, Nagel has led or contributed to dozens of technology, art, marketing, media, and business publications.

He can be reached at [email protected]. You can also connect with him on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidrnagel/ .


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