For most people, Audio Visual (AV) simply means presentation equipment such as projectors and screens but recently things have changed. Now businesses all over the world are making use of flat screen displays, video and audio conferencing and all kinds of digital signage to get their message across to prospective clients. This feature takes a look at how the latest AV equipment is used in business today.

Okay, we all know that winning business is all about making the right impression on a prospect and, as every good sales person agrees, first impressions are the most important. It follows that getting your initial AV presentation right is absolutely essential if you want to stay ahead of your competition.

In the past this has involved a lot of fragile, and often rather heavy, equipment but all that has changed. The latest projectors (which are also known as 'beamers' in most European countries) are powerful enough to let you present in almost any lighting conditions and weigh about the same as your laptop computer. They are rugged enough to take the 'rough and tumble' of corporate life and good looking enough to fit comfortably into a boardroom environment.

'State of the art' projectors can now be linked to your computer via a wireless network so all you need to do is plug them into a power socket - no more trailing wires. Connection is down to a single mouse click and these superb business tools can focus themselves automatically. Best of all, many are now fitted with a clever 'keystone' adjustment facility that takes away distortion caused by projecting up onto a screen.

But that isn't the end of the story. Business uses for AV equipment now include digital signage in public spaces like sports grounds, bus and railway stations. Hotel reception areas and office building atriums often have control systems that deliver up to the minute information on electronic devices such as plasma screens and LCD panels. Somewhat remarkably, it is even possible to project business critical information and images onto a screen of water!

Audio visual equipment is at the heart of video conferencing facilities. With great images and superb audio coupled with the latest advances in data transfer speed it makes sound sense to stay home and communicate via video conference rather than travel to meetings.

Aside from the obvious travel cost savings, video conferencing is extremely good for the planet. With world attention firmly focussed on the reduction of carbon emissions most businesses have embraced carbon footprint reduction with enthusiasm. Video conferencing offers a 'win win' situation for all concerned.

One of the most effective business uses of Audio Visual equipment is in telephone call centres where information needs to be given to many operators simultaneously without distracting them from their ongoing call. Screens can feed business critical information from multiple sources to a single output that can be seen by all.

As you can see, audio visual equipment is now part of everyday business life. Experts agree that information is the lifeblood of commerce; now the latest AV developments can help you share that knowledge and so build a more powerful business.