Lenovo today unveiled its Lenovo Hybrid Classroom product line, a range of smarter collaboration technologies offered to educational institutions. With the platform's variety of software platforms and advanced hardware to enable video conference lessons, teachers will be more empowered to build student engagement in distance learning and hybrid learning scenarios, says the company.
Lenovo contends that "purpose-built conference solutions can help teachers bring their full presence into digital educational environments and virtually transfer the classroom experience more completely to students learning remotely. Teachers who are animated storytellers, demonstrate complex concepts with physical learning aides, or just need to move about within the classroom to communicate lessons will appreciate the more dynamic learning environment advanced video conference systems offer."
The new Google Meet hardware Series One room kits from Lenovo provide collaboration solutions for new and existing Google Workspace (formerly G Suite) and Google Meet customers who need to outfit spaces to address the challenges of new hybrid learning models. Ready out-of-the-box, the kits include compute system, controller, smart camera, smart audio bar, and mic podsi and are available in three distinct offerings for small, medium and large learning spaces.
Designed by Google Cloud and Lenovo, the Google Meet room kits complement a modern classroom with approachable design and a user-friendly interface for easy interaction, say the companies. Controlled by a high-performance compute system, the system includes an exclusive Google TPU (Tensor Processing Unit) that provides AI and machine learning capability to maximize audio and video quality. Power over Ethernet (PoE) functionality allows the compute system to carry low voltage power and network traffic over ethernet to the kit’s components, such as the controller, smart cameras and smart audio bars. Series One room kits from Lenovo also include AI cameras with future-proof 4K capability for exceptional participant framing, and built-in TrueVoice noise cancelation technology.
For its part, the new Lenovo ThinkSmart Hub offers a sleeker design in a smaller footprint than the product's previous iteration, says the company. As a premium all-in-one meeting room system, the ThinkSmart Hub delivers a richer audio experience with four improved speakers and microphones and a smarter single cable mechanism to reduce clutter and facilitate simpler deployment. Now available in Microsoft Teams Rooms or Zoom Rooms versions, the unit features a new rotatable 10.1-inch Full HD touch display and more visible LED indicators. In addition, an innovative cable management door helps secure physical ports and prevent cables being accidentally disconnected. The ThinkSmart Hub is powered by a built-for-business Intel Core i5 processor with the company's vPro technology, helping keep teams more secure, productive and collaborative and offers schools an easy to set up and use conferencing solution.
Lenovo says the ThinkSmart Hub, with either Microsoft Teams Rooms or Zoom Rooms, delivers an effortless user experience by focusing on usability that helps participants quickly join meetings with one-touch conferencing start, offering high quality video, and providing easy content sharing. Furthermore, with current social distancing measures in place, Alexa for Business voice capability with the Zoom Rooms version adds a layer of protection and easy interaction, allowing users to control meetings simply through the power of voice.
The ThinkSmart Hub is being positioned as an ideal collaboration device for learning spaces of varying sizes, from small classrooms to larger lecture halls. "Customer feedback and insight drove the redesign process resulting in a sleeker all-in-one solution with a 20% smaller footprint than its predecessor," says Lenovo. Simple to deploy and manage with ThinkSmart Manager, the new Hub offers IT managers and teachers better control of connected classrooms. The Hub is protected by Lenovo ThinkShield security offerings and includes a three-year Lenovo Premier Support warranty. Lenovo's Smart Collaboration Managed Services are available to assist with scope, deployment, training, maintenance and management of all ThinkSmart devices.
As stated by Lenovo's product announcement:
From building hybrid classrooms, e-sports programs and an immersive learning platform with VR Classroom 2 to offering purpose-built laptops, tablets and software, Lenovo is providing teachers and students the tools needed for today’s expanding digital learning ecosystems. Solutions from the Lenovo Hybrid School portfolio combined with Lenovo educational devices and the LanSchool classroom management software can help schools deploy smart technology for better learning.
“We are excited to be able to partner with leading smart collaboration platforms to offer schools the Lenovo Hybrid Classroom portfolio,” said Chris Babson, Director of Lenovo’s Worldwide Education Portfolio Strategy. “Lenovo understands engaging a distributed student body is a unique challenge for many schools and teachers. Offering robust platforms that can help better bring the classroom into anywhere students are learning fulfills our purpose of providing smarter technology for more personalized education.”
The Series One room kits from Lenovo and the Lenovo ThinkSmart Hub for Microsoft Teams Rooms or Zoom Rooms will be available in November 2020. For more information, visit: https://techtoday.lenovo.com/ww/en/solutions/education.