Meeting Owl

  • Jordan Cole, iReviews
  • August 02,2022
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If you’ve ever been part of the corporate world, conference meetings have likely been part of your day-to-day and you can understand the frustrations around making them run smoothly. Whether it’s a bad connection from the remote participant or just too many people talking over each other, the video conference can spell disaster if not properly organized. Owl Labs – an innovative Boston-based startup – has created a new IoT product called Meeting Owl – engineered to ensure a seamless experience while connecting remotely.

Meeting Owl’s Intelligent Design

Capable of focusing on one speaker at a time, the USB connected Meeting Owl comes equipped with an intuitive 360-degree camera. Whether it’s reducing meeting chaos or simply making sure all participants share their thoughts, the Meeting Owl is designed to make conference calls a more fluid process.

 

Armed with 8 omnidirectional beamforming microphones and a noise cancellation speaker, all employees can be heard as long as they’re within a 12-foot (3.6m) diameter of the Meeting Owl. With a panoramic shot of the room at all times during the conference, Owl Labs’ revolutionary hardware system overlays the last three speakers onto your laptop.

The Beamforming Technology

Meeting Owl’s beamforming technology – the same as Amazon Echo’s speakers – shoots a precise laser beam in the direction of the speaker drowning out any ambient background noise. Named after an owl’s innate ability to see and hear with utmost precision, the engineers at Owl Labs combined the powers of a highly dynamic range lens with the sophistication of a 360-degree mic array.

Compatibility

When the owl’s eyes light up, you know that your conference meeting is underway and Owl Labs’ hardware is ready to work its magic. Described as “an intelligent 360-degree all-in-one video conferencing hardware,” this highly portable office companion is compatible with a wide range of remote conferencing suites that include Skype, Zoom, Slack, GoToMeeting, Google Hangouts, etc. With no extra downloads needed, the Meeting Owl is ready to go right out of the box.

Real-World Application

This is an ideal device for a company that has remote employees or needs to connect with different offices. You get all of the benefits of an online video conferencing suite like Skype, with technology that organizes your meeting. No more talking over each other or trying to figure out who’s speaking – the Meeting Owl irons out all the confusion that comes with a chaotic video conference. If you’re looking for a way to instantly upgrade your firm’s professionalism, the Meeting Owl is a must-have product.

PROS
  • 8 Omnidirectional Microphones
  • 360-degree Mic Array
  • 360-degree Speaker
  • Automatically Shows Current Speaker
  • Beamforming Technology
  • Compatible with Video Conferencing Tools
CONS
  • USB-Only Connectivity
BOTTOM LINE
Jordan Cole, iReviews

By Jordan Cole, iReviews

Jordan Cole is a USC Masters student from upstate New York. The Syracuse University Alumni has worked with publishing firms, marketing departments, and communications specialists across the country.