This year, Events Management (EMB) installed hearing loops in 16 rooms located in Building 1 Wilson Hall, Building 35 (Porter) Conference Center, Building 49 and the Rockledge Conference Facility. The installation of the Hearing Loops allows hearing impaired attendees with hearing aids or cochlear implants to directly connect to the room sound reinforcement system without the need for any additional equipment. This connection eliminates most background noise and greatly improves understanding of speech and music. As part of the installation, old carpet had to be removed to install the flat wire loop, and new carpet has been installed in each facility over the loop. This brings the total of NIH conference rooms with hearing loops to 45. EMB is not done. There are still 20 rooms where this technology needs to be installed, but the team is excited about the process.
Events Management has been leading the charge to find equipment solutions for virtual and hybrid meetings partnering with ICOs and CIT to determine best practices. EMB AV Engineers are collaborating with ICOs, assisting with recommendations of how they can adapt their conference rooms to meet the future virtual and hybrid requirements. One of the most cost effective and cool products EMB has identified is the Meeting Owl Conference camera. This little device allows NIH staff a plug and play hybrid meeting solution for any small to medium conference room. The Owl also allows for connecting a second Owl allowing for 8-12 participants around a conference table. For ICOs that have built-in AV systems EMB has found the Barco ClickShare CX50 to be an excellent wireless tool connecting a laptop to the room AV system, displays or projector, thus eliminating the need for wires and connection cluttering your desk or conference table.
In early FY 23, EMB will also be launching a new digital signage system called Haivision. This new system will connect all the centrally managed conference facilities displays allowing EMB to disseminate important information and updates anywhere EMB has a display. Several ICOs are partnering with EMB and there are plans to connect our NIH family at NIEHS in North Carolina and Rocky Mountain Labs to this central information system.
Finally, EMB is in the final phase of a major accessibility renovation of Masur Auditorium. This project was undertaken as part of our mission to improve accessibility of the centrally managed conference facilities. Once completed, wheelchairs will have easy access to both stages, backstage green room and restrooms all designed with wheelchairs in mind. There will also be special wheelchair seating in the front of the auditorium. As part of the project, the proscenium stage is getting a face lift with new carpet, wood façade, led lighting, AV floor boxes and a new finish on the wood floor. There will also be a new green room for hosting VIP guests and two new wheelchair accessible restrooms backstage.
