Education is first and foremost one of the most important sectors of the economy and has a profound impact on the present as well as the future. With most of the educational institutions remaining closed since March of this year due to pandemic fears, the situation is unprecedented with key decision makers contemplating utilizing back to school technology and plan when they can reopen. Of course distance learning has been a big boon for teachers and students alike but it comes with its own set of limitations.
Personal interaction and the lack of interpersonal communications thereof has created a gap that is quite hard to fill in. The classroom atmosphere is something that has been highly missed. Parents too have been trying hard to adapt to this new found normal of distance learning and have been trying to assist kids in whichever manner possible.
Now with schools and colleges all set to open in September, there has been a series of safety measures that has been recommended by the authorities that will ensure that there are no unforeseen mishaps.
From a technological standpoint this article tries to explore what are the gadgets that can make the opening process as error-free as possible with minimum risks and how this can be of utmost importance for educational institutions as they reopen.
Understand how Back to School Technology solutions like Temperature Screening Solutions / Thermal Cameras and Video Conferencing Solutions are enabling safer returns as school and universities gear up to re-open in UAE
Back to School Technology – Temperature screening solutions
One of the key points stressed by the authorities are the modes of thermal screening that should be installed within the school premises. Children who are taking the bus, should get scanned for their temperature before getting onto the bus. Anyone with a fever ≥37.50 C should not be allowed entry.
Temperature Screening with Fast Deployment
Temperature is an important indicator of physical health. In many scenarios, people with abnormal temperatures could have a health issue. To have a proper effect, it’s crucial that this is detected and monitored quickly and accurately. But traditional methods of temperature measurement are time-consuming and can put operators at risk. At times like these, a non-contact temperature screening solution can provide an efficient alternative, reducing manual testing time and the safety risk to those involved in detection.
In order to ensure this, Thermal Cameras are going to play a very important part. With advanced detectors and algorithms, Temperature Screening Thermographic Cameras are designed to detect elevated skin-surface temperatures, and can thus be used for rapid and preliminary temperature screening in school premises, with accuracy up to ±0.3C.
Using a non-contact temperature-screening solution is one current measure being used to quickly spot individuals with elevated skin temperature (EST). This detection method is designed to help initial screening of EST, and combines with the use of medical equipment to further verify symptoms. This method also reduces manual testing time and safety risks to those involved in the detection process.
Hikvision is a prominent player as a back to school technology solution that has a great repertoire of cameras with varying specifications. The key features of Hikvision cameras are as follows:
- One second to detect skin-surface temperature of a person
- Multi-person detection simultaneously
- Non-contact measurement to avoid physical contact
- Immediately alarming to notify operators
- AI detection to reduce false alarms from other heat sources
With advanced detectors and algorithms, Hikvision’s Temperature Screening Thermographic Cameras are designed to detect elevated skin-surface temperatures. This means they can be used for rapid and preliminary temperature screening in hospitals, stations, airports and other public places. The cameras have an accuracy rate of up to ±0.3°C (with a Blackbody calibrator), giving a valuable indication of which persons should have core body temperatures further confirmed using clinical measurement devices.
It takes just one second to detect a person’s skin-surface temperature, and the thermographic bullet/ turret cameras can measure multiple people at the same time. This means it is efficient in an entrance, for example, where a number of people will be passing at the same time.
The use of AI technology means non-human heat sources, for example a hot coffee, are ignored, reducing false alarms.
Hikvision’s thermal portfolio has a number of options to help with temperature screening. For example, a Thermographic Turret/Bullet Camera with AI combined, a laptop and a bracket can be used as a quick solution that can be easily and quickly installed. For higher accuracy, a solution with a Blackbody calibrator gives an accuracy of ±0.3°C. There is also a more mobile option, using a Handheld Camera that can connect to a smart phone or PC through wifi to a Hik-Thermal app. This also features a built-in speaker for audio alarm.
HIkvision also provides iVMS-4200 Client Software, which is a versatile security management software for the DVRs, NVRs, IP cameras, encoders, decoders, security control panels, video intercom devices, access control devices, etc. The software provides multiple functionalities, including real-time live view, video recording, remote search and playback, file backup, alarm receiving, person management, access control, video intercom, security control, time & attendance, etc., for the connected devices to meet the needs of monitoring task. With the flexible distributed structure and easy-to-use operations, the client software is widely applied to the surveillance projects of medium or small scale.
There are also solutions that combine temperature screening with access control, allowing lobbies to be monitored. Additionally, the temporary screening solution with metal detector doors can be temporarily set up an orderly passageway, such as shopping malls, schools, enterprise parks, etc. Finally, the temperature screening on patrol solution can be quickly put into use at fixed entrances and exits for emergencies, for example at external events or building sites, or checkpoints. If necessary, people measuring above a certain skin-surface temperature are refused entry until they are double-checked by alternative methods.
Temperature Screening with Access Control
In enterprises, schools, factories, communities and other internal areas where people are moving through, the MinMoe wall-mounting touch-free temperature screening terminal can be used. The touch-free nature of the terminal makes access easier and safer, suitable for long-term temperature screening with access control for any building with a high footfall of people.
Key Features
- Temperature measuring range: 30°C – 45°C; accuracy: 0.1 ° C, deviation: ±5 °C
- Authentication distance: 0.3m –0m
- Displays temperature results and abnormal temperature prompt alarm
- Mask not-wearing alert
- Support temperature screening of people who wear mask
Temperature Screening on Patrol
The temperature measurement on patrol solution can also be called a manual inspection program on the move. It can be quickly put into use at fixed entrances and exits for emergencies, for example at external events or building sites, or checkpoints. It can also be used for flexible inspection in high-speed exits, cabins, and engine rooms.
With a Wi-Fi module, the handheld camera can connect to a PC or a smartphone. It also features a built-in speaker for audio alarm.
DeepinView cameras for Mask Detection in Open Areas
DeepinView cameras are AI-enabled IP cameras to accurately detect masks. These cameras are specifically meant for open areas in educational institutions wherein students carry out after-class activities. It is recommended to install IP cameras for face mask detection and intrusion detection so as to better protect students. DeepinView cameras offers excellent low-light performance via DarkFighter technology.
DeepinView cameras comes with the following functions:
- Face Counting: With the embedded deep learning algorithms, the camera integrates multiple intelligences. It counts persons and samples the face features simultaneously, and compares them with the built-in face library, so to remove the duplicated person. It counts persons and reports a face alarm simultaneously to achieve both the entrance control and people counting.
- Mask Detection: With the embedded deep learning algorithms, the camera detects the persons in the specified region. It detects whether the person is wearing a mask and captures the face of the person and reports an alarm if not.
- Queue Management: With embedded deep learning based algorithms, the camera detects queuing-up people number and waiting time of each person. The body feature detection algorithm helps filter out wrong targets and increase the accuracy of detection.
- Smooth Streaming: Smooth streaming offers solutions to improve the video quality in different network conditions. For example, in poor network conditions, adapting to the detected real-time network condition, streaming bit rate and resolution are automatically adjusted to avoid mosaic and lower latency in live view; in multiplayer network conditions, the camera transmits the redundant data for the self-error correcting in back-end device, so that to solve the mosaic problem because of the packet loss and error rate.
Back to School Technology – Video Conferencing for Classrooms
With reduced head-count capacity in classrooms, educational institutions require an audio-visual solution as part of back to school technology that does not disrupt the teaching process. With the hybrid model of a classroom and distance learning combined together, educational institutions are now actively looking at solutions that can seamlessly bridge the gap.
A video-conferencing solution would be the ideal choice as back to school technology to provide a flawless experience for students joining the class remotely. What needs to be kept in mind is the students joining remotely should be able to view the teacher as well as the smart board in case if the teacher is writing something. Plus the students should also be able to interact seamlessly with the teacher albeit remotely.
Poly Studio from Plantronics & Polycom is a USB video bar that delivers the best audio quality and voice clarity wherein distracting sounds are eliminated by the patented ‘NoiseBlock’ technology. Teams on both ends of the call catch every word.
With group framing and automatic speaker tracking, the connection feels personal. They see all the important details, too – right down to body language and facial expressions.
Participants can be more productive on both ends of the video conference with a smart camera that automatically frames the room or tracks the person speaking for deeper engagement.
Let’s have a look at some of the key capabilities of Poly Studio below:
Incredible Audio Quality
Speaker Tracking and Automatic Group Framing
Keep Annoying Sounds away from Meetings
Smooth Tracking and Conversation Mode
A Powerful Microphone
Centralized and Secure Remote Management
Variants
The Poly Studio X series are available in 2 variants namely X30 and X50.
The Poly Studio X30 is an all-in-one video bar for huddle and small rooms. It’s radically simple to use with support for leading cloud video services built right in – no PC or Mac required. Voices are crisp and clear. And wireless content sharing lets users collaborate from their devices without the need for cables or pucks.
It is designed mainly with smaller rooms in mind. Poly X30 has a recommended number of participants as 6, maximum number of speakers should be one because it was designed for smaller rooms. For Poly X30 the camera zoom is 4X, it only supports one monitor.
The Poly Studio X50 video bar delivers radical simplicity in a small, elegant package. In small to medium sized rooms, connect easily with whatever video collaboration software you may use. Experience full boardroom-quality audio, advanced camera capabilities, and quick wireless content – all in one sleek video bar. You can forget about the unnecessary pucks, cords, and cables, along with the PC or Mac to drive the meeting, since the Poly Video OS runs the show.
Poly X50 was created to be used in bigger conference rooms. The recommended number of participants for Poly X50 is up to 10 and two speakers are allowed. Poly X50 can support two monitors at the same time plus Poly X50 has a camera zoom of 5X. It surrounds everyone with the rich, legendary sound with stereo speakers that deliver immersive, room-filling audio.
Konftel is a pioneer in conference calls. Konftel C20Ego is the perfect video collaboration solution for small huddle rooms and is a strong contender for back to school technology, combining the Konftel Cam20 4K conference camera and the brilliant Konftel Ego speakerphone with OmniSound® audio quality.
The Konftel OCC Hub brings everything together into one convenient kit, so a single USB cable is all you need to connect the camera, the sound unit and the room’s screen to the collaboration app on your laptop.
Let’s have a look at some of the key capabilities of Konftel C20Ego below:
Impressive Video Quality
With the Konftel Cam20 USB conference camera, you can also be sure that the other participants in the video conference will get a clear and balanced image of you and your colleagues. WDR technology automatically adjusts to achieve a good picture in different light conditions, even challenging ones such as low light, direct sunlight and high contrast.
4K video resolution also allows for a great digital zoom. Even at the maximum 8x zoom, the camera is still perfectly capable of producing a detailed image. So choose the framing you want to show and let the camera do the rest.
One Cable Connection
Konftel OCC Hub is, as the name suggests, the hub of the video collaboration solution, offering One Cable Connection to the conference camera, speakerphone and screen. In practice, this means that C20Ego fully supports BYOC – Bring Your Own Computer, where the user can bring the collaboration service to the meeting room on any laptop with a USB port.
Crystal clear with OmniSound
The Konftel Ego is the speakerphone with the Red Dot design award that stands out from the crowd with its convenient and compact form, flexible use and, above all, incredible sound quality. Despite its size, the Konftel Ego delivers crystal clear sound thanks to the unique OmniSound® audio technology.
Bring Your Own Meeting
With back to school technology and BYOD the norm in education institutions – whatever your preferred collaboration app or cloud service, the Konftel C20Ego will take care of the experience in a small huddle room. Bring your meeting with you on any laptop with a USB port, plug it in and you are good to go. We call this BYOM – Bring Your Own Meeting.
Quickly Find the Right Angle
The Konftel Cam20 is optimized for situations where the conference cam needs to be positioned close to the table, as is normal in today’s many huddle rooms. The 123° field of view means that all the participants can sit in a comfortable position and still fit into the video image. At the same time, the camera creates a realistic image with no distortion.
The conference camera is quick and easy to mount in the meeting room. Use the flexible clamp to attach it to the screen or screw the base onto a stand in the perfect position.
Monitor the transmission
If you have an extra screen, you can connect it directly to the camera’s HDMI port, while the video image is being transmitted to the meeting via USB. This gives you a monitor that shows your side of the transmission in the room at all times.
Make your classrooms safer with Back to School Technology
With physical classes beginning by September, educational institutions need to plan for a safe opening with temperature screening being prime focus area. Staggered entry and exits are going to be norm in order to eliminate overcrowding and to maintain 2 meters physical distancing in high traffic areas.
Meetings are encouraged to take place online, unless there is a critical need for one to one meeting which should take place on an appointment by email basis and will need to be made and approved beforehand. Classrooms need to be rearranged to in order to facilitate physical distancing while teachers ensure students do not miss out on the learning experience.
At schools, temperature screening products and solutions are needed to enhance the safe stay of all the students and staff while also giving them quick access to classrooms, offices and dormitories. With Hikvision’s Temperature Screening Solutions, this process becomes much easier and much safer.
The classroom experience can be enhanced with Poly Studio video bars or Konftel’s hub wherein both the on-classroom and distance-learning students can engage and make a virtual environment that is more or less reminiscent of a pre-pandemic era classroom.
For knowing more on the above-mentioned products, please get in touch with us and we can schedule a demo/presentation at your convenience.
Want to discuss your specific school or universities technology requirements? Request a callback and our consultants will get in touch with you!
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