Users will more easily communicate, collaborate, and share information with devices such as the Surface Hub. The all-in-one system combines the hardware and functionalities of displays, smart boards and video conferencing systems. In addition, the Windows 10 operating system ecosystem provides deep IT integration, providing businesses with many facilities and capabilities.
Widespread Microsoft applications such as Skype, Office, or OneNote are easily applied to the Surface Hub. The familiar Microsoft environment ensures stable workflows - from file creation to presentation. At the same time, the new Windows 10 operating system can be used by the Windows 10 operating system. These ensure that applications can run on the various device classes with Windows 10 - from the smartphone on the normal desktop computer to the surface hub.
However, the IT department retains control of the systems as they are centrally installed and managed through the back-end. The Surface Hub also has the high security standards of Microsoft. Thus, it can be adjusted via Windows 10 that content is only available to authorized users and automatically removed from the system after the end of a session. The next user does not see any data from previous entries.One device - many uses
This makes the Surface Hub more than just a video conferencing solution for meeting rooms. For example, multiple people use the device together as an interactive whiteboard to brainstorm, discuss ideas, and edit content. Even simultaneous inputs are recognized by the system. This makes it suitable for teams from all industries who like to work intuitively and creatively. A similar picture can be drawn in research and teaching. The classroom gains in quality through the interactive capabilities of the Surface Hub, as modern and innovative learning techniques motivate and activate students.
In addition, the Surface Hub acts as a display frontend in the sales process. With detailed 3D product configurators, customer-specific customized solutions can be defined in the presence of the customer - from vehicles to home furnishings to production lines or power plants. Similarly, financial service providers can detail their clients' assets during the consultation and interactively modify the investment strategy with them.
Finally, the large-screen device can be used for pure visualizations, such as centrally orchestrated digital signage applications. Microsoft has removed some configuration features, such as the Command Prompt, the Control Panel, or the Registry Editor, so that the Surface Hub can not be manipulated by strangers. As a result, use in public places is also possible without risk.
Integration protects existing investments
In general, the Surface Hub simplifies interactive situations - within companies, in exchange with partners and service providers, and in direct customer dialogue. But because the large-screen device combines many elements of a conference room - videoconferencing solution, projector or display, microphones and cameras - in itself, can make further expensive investments superfluous.
Especially medium-sized companies with tight budgets will undergo an intensive cost-benefit analysis. Usually, for economic reasons, companies will prefer to integrate the Surface Hub into their existing structures.
At the same time, a new acquisition or replacement of individual systems does not guarantee that the different devices are compatible with each other. For example, many companies rely on systems from vendors such as Cisco, Polycom, LifeSize, or Huawei for their video conferencing - as well as adding to their representative conference rooms, as well as smaller meeting rooms. All devices form a network with finely tuned processes and structures. In addition, more and more mobile employees need to be involved in the concept, as many companies offer their employees flexible working models such as home offices.
The integration of the Surface Hub represents another piece of the puzzle in the integration picture. Microsoft equips the device with the collaboration solution Skype for Business at the factory. In short: Not only the application scenarios should be weighed when making an investment decision, but also the integration effort.
Compatibility of the devices promotes cooperation of persons
Specialized service providers solve this problem by combining previously incompatible communication solutions with intelligent interfaces and virtual meeting rooms. For example, the HubConnect solution from GMS Global Media Services allows the Surface Hub to be fully integrated into the internal system landscape and the entire communication network to be opened up to external users.
Partner companies with their own videoconferencing solutions, as well as employees in the home office, can join the virtual meetings via WebRTC. Regardless of the system used, the user interface remains unchanged - so users always operate in their familiar environment. In addition, all participants have multi-vendor functionality for bidirectional content sharing, ie sending, receiving and displaying content. Business leaders ensure that users do not have to worry about the compatibility of the systems and can set up meetings with any number of participants at any time.
Companies use this service as a stand-alone platform on-premise, but also as a cloud service through the service provider's data center or in the Microsoft Azure cloud computing platform. If companies hand over the task to external partners, they do not have to make any further investments in additional hardware and their maintenance. Finally, the service provider or Microsoft ensures the security and timeliness of the system. In this way, companies can easily integrate the large-screen device into existing system architectures, protect existing investments in videoconferencing and media technology, and increase user satisfaction.Conclusion
The Surface Hub brings media technology and IT closer together. The new possibilities of interaction offer companies advantages in numerous application scenarios. Existing investments can be secured through appropriate interfaces between media technology and the Microsoft world. Manufacturers of traditional media technology are therefore facing great challenges. They need to respond accordingly and find their own answers to this deep IT integration of Microsoft development. At any rate, there is no way around the Surface Hub.
About the author
Tobias Enders is Managing Director of GMS Global Media Services .
