Sharp will launch its first Windows Collaboration Display (WCD) – the next generation of interactive displays designed to support and improve team work. The 70” 4K interactive display for enterprise and SMB offices, which meets Microsoft WCD specifications, combines Sharp’s award-winning touch technology and sensors that can work with Microsoft Azure Digital Twins to monitor collaboration spaces.
The Sharp WCD features an Internet of Things (IoT) sensor unit to help monitor meeting environments. The sensors can feed data back to the Azure Digital Twins platform to help facilities managers monitor meeting occupancy, air quality levels, ambient light, temperature and humidity.
These advanced features are part of Microsoft’s vision to bring the power of the intelligent cloud into the workplace, using a mix of AI, IoT, and productivity tools to create a more productive and collaborative environment. Businesses will be able to use this data to improve the management of heating, cooling and room booking systems based on how the space is really used.
As well as the IoT solutions, the Sharp WCD has been designed to work with the familiar Microsoft tools that organisations will already be using across their workforce, for example, Office 365. Office 365 provides businesses with a digital hub for teamwork through Microsoft Teams, a platform that brings conversations, content and tools together in one place for easier group collaboration.
Birgit Jackson, Commercial Director Visual Solutions, said: “Sharp’s WCD is crucially easy to use and easy to connect to – you simply walk in, plug in and work together – but it also monitors your environment and will help to make those conditions optimal. It’s the next evolution of the interactive display, the first to be smart-building ready and the first that explores the potential of IoT to make our meeting rooms more productive places.”
“We’re proud to be working with Microsoft to develop this part of the Sharp smart office strategy. A display is the ideal device to become more intelligent. It’s the centrepiece of the meeting room and your window to the rest of your team and the rest of the world.”
Sharp’s stand will include several WCD’s set up for visitors to experience different types of meeting and collaboration environments. For video conferencing, the display includes an integrated 4K camera, far field microphone and speakers, while USB-C provides simple single connection, reducing the amount of time spent setting up meeting equipment. Integrated wireless casting also makes it easy to share information from PCs, laptops, mobiles and tablets without the need for cables.
The 70” interactive display also offers the ultimate collaborative experience thanks to Sharp’s Pen-on-Paper experience, an instant and accurate writing feel close to using a real pen on writing paper. The 30-Point P-CAP Capacitive Touch and 4 button active pen help to create this intuitive touch experience which means users feel more confident when presenting.
At ISE Sharp will be showing its full range of interactive and non-interactive displays designed to support better meetings, including its flagship 80” 4K BIG PAD which offers precise writing, exceptional ease-of-use and is ideal for viewing large amounts of detailed information.
The stand will also feature a prototype of a new digital display designed to replace a traditional flip chart. The display can be used in portrait or landscape mode, for quick and easy note taking in brainstorms.
The Sharp WCD will be available to buy in spring 2019.
