PFU announces RICOH 360 Meeting Hub to boost remote inclusion

PFU Limited has announced the launch of its RICOH 360 Meeting Hub, a device designed to enhance virtual meetings. The hub combines a video camera, speaker, and microphone into one unit, offering participants an experience akin to being in the same room.

Hiroaki Kashiwagi, President and CEO of PFU (EMEA) Limited, emphasised the importance of supporting remote workers in today's flexible work environment. He stated, "Supporting remote workers is a non-negotiable in today's flexible work environment. Why should those who dial in feel less included in a meeting than other participants? Our new RICOH 360 Meeting Hub helps combat this feeling by creating an immersive experience so that individuals interacting with a group see and hear everyone as clearly as if they were with them in person. This can be a real game changer for reaching meeting attendees and audiences who experience disengagement as remote participants."

The RICOH 360 Meeting Hub offers a hassle-free setup with its plug-and-play functionality, eliminating the need for extensive configuration or software installation. Users simply plug the device into a laptop, making it accessible and easy to use for a variety of meeting types.

The device's 360-degree panoramic view, enabled by a dual-fisheye lens, ensures that entire groups are displayed simultaneously. This feature is designed to foster engagement by eliminating the sense of distance commonly experienced by remote participants. The omni-directional microphones cover a six-metre radius and can pick up voices even as participants move around, ensuring that everyone can be heard clearly.

The RICOH 360 Meeting Hub is designed to be portable, allowing it to be positioned on any flat surface or mounted on a tripod. This flexibility makes it suitable for a variety of settings, including traditional office meetings, factory floors, trade show booths, and event sites. Acoustic echo cancellation and noise reduction features further enhance audio quality, making it easier for participants to communicate even in environments with background noise.

The device includes a HiFi4 DSP audio processing chip and firmware to deliver high-quality sound. Acoustic echo cancellation, noise reduction, and simultaneous two-way conversation technology are among the features aimed at ensuring clarity in communication. The camera can identify up to eight active participants, visually focusing on the three most recent speakers, which promotes a more dynamic and engaging conversation.

Users can switch between different screen layouts with a touch sensor on the hub, accommodating various meeting scenarios. Options include a 360-degree panoramic view, a split-screen 180-degree view, and up to four different layout configurations. This feature allows users to tailor the display according to their specific needs, making meetings more versatile and adaptable.

The RICOH 360 Meeting Hub is compatible with several common conferencing platforms such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Webex, and Google Meet, making it a versatile tool for different organisational needs. The device supports USB Type-C power, removing the necessity for an AC adapter.

The RICOH 360 Meeting Hub aims to address the challenges of remote participation in meetings by providing a more inclusive experience. The design and features seek to minimise feelings of disconnection and foster a sense of presence, regardless of physical location.