Customer Requirements

Established as the leading business institution in the UK, the  University of Surrey has over 125 years of experience and commitment to  first-rate academic activity, and are passionate about turning the new  knowledge they generate into practical innovations that improve people’s  lives.

The project required the updating of teaching infrastructure for the  Surrey Business School, including a 400+ seat lecture theatre and  teaching spaces on the ground, first and second floors to meet the  individual requirements of three varied user groups without the need for  prior training or dedicated IT support.

Solution

A collaboration between Snelling Business Systems and Shure to create  a single AV system built to the requirements of three user groups:  Lecture Theatre/Classroom Lectures, Live Events and Cinema Theatre, with  ‘plug and play’ functionality to ensure ease of use by non-specialist  personnel.

Snelling and Shure delivered an effective, simple to use system that  takes five minutes to set up - academics can walk into any teaching  environment confident that the system will operate and deliver to peak  performance, without any compromise on the needs or expectations of any  of the user group.

Results

Working with the University, Shure’s technical team created a  flexible, user-friendly system designed for fast and reliable switchover  from one user mode to another at the touch of a button. The team  provided technical support and streaming tests across campus between  lecture theatres to asses Microflex® Wireless capabilities for RF  stability and networked control.

“The vast capabilities of the system are perfect for the range of  uses we have, from lectures to live events and conference, as well as a  cinema,” said Rob Purcell, Head of Learning Spaces Technology at  University of Surrey. “During everyday use, there is no set up required,  which ensures that the academic tutor is confident they can use the  system without IT support. Traditional lectures and seminars can be  recorded at the press of a button, making the resource perfect for  today’s online learning environment.

“Another great aspect of the design is its adaptability. Within the  first 6 months the AV system has enabled us to rearrange the space  radically to facilitate multiple layouts and forums. Having an AV system  with such high-tech specifications means that all of our events exceed  the expectations of the often high-profile attendants.”

Steve Royans, Business Development Director, Snelling Business  Systems, commented: “Given the brief of the project to extend system  flexibility, Shure were a natural choice for our client, largely due to  the available API, Remote Management, and System Integration  capabilities.

“We required a system which is not only simple to use in day-to-day  operation, but also operable in multiple setup modes. For example, the  Lecture Theatre has three widely varying user groups and the system must  respond to their requirements, while masking the complexity of the  underlying technology. While academics require a system that is up and  running at the touch of a few buttons, the live events team require a  far more complex array of options.”

With audio an integral part in any lecture environment, Shure’s  Microflex Wireless system was chosen to complete the upgrade, with the  system providing high-quality microphones, which offer a natural,  precise sound and high intelligibility.

All microphones are used in conjunction with lecture capture software  to record voice, ensuring audio clarity is delivered across the whole  system, and creating the perfect environment for students and lecturers  to work within.