The modern meeting has undergone a radical transformation. What was once a simple gathering in a conference room has become a complex hybrid affair, with participants scattered across offices, homes, and time zones. While this shift has brought about unprecedented flexibility, it has also introduced a new set of challenges, one of the most frustrating being the simple question: "Can you see me?" 

For too long, the answer has often been no, with remote attendees left peering at a narrow slice of the conference room, trying to make out who's speaking and what's happening. In fact, 70% of hybrid workers say they are not able to see everyone’s face in meetings and often miss visual cues because of it. 

The problem with traditional cameras

The culprit behind this visual inequity is the traditional conference camera. Even those marketed as "conference cams" often suffer from a fundamental flaw: a limited field of view. With typical angles ranging from 90 to 120 degrees, these cameras are designed to capture a static, head-on view of the meeting table. This works fine if everyone is seated directly in front of the lens, but the reality of a dynamic meeting room is far more complex. Participants at the ends of the table are often cut off from the frame, their faces and gestures rendered invisible to remote colleagues. The meeting becomes a one-dimensional experience, with only a select few being truly "seen."

Furthermore, the solution to this problem often introduces new frustrations. Pan-Tilt-Zoom (PTZ) cameras, while offering a wider range of motion, require a dedicated operator or the use of pre-set scenes. This constant manual adjustment is not only a distraction but also feels unnatural and disruptive to the flow of conversation. The remote participant's experience is dependent on the person operating the camera, which can lead to delays and awkward moments as the camera lurches from one speaker to the next. The spontaneous energy of the meeting is lost, replaced by a stilted, stage-managed performance.

The Owl Labs advantage

Owl Labs recognized this fundamental problem and engineered a solution from the ground up. Our signature product, the Meeting Owl is equipped with a revolutionary 360-degree camera. Placed in the center of the table, the Meeting Owl captures the entire room at once, eliminating the problem of anyone being out of frame. This panoramic view provides a complete and comprehensive picture of the meeting, allowing remote participants to see not just the current speaker but also the reactions and body language of everyone else in the room.

The genius of the Meeting Owl lies in its ability to focus on the active speaker automatically. Using intelligent software, the Meeting Owl identifies who is talking and, without any manual intervention, automatically zooms in on that individual. This transition is seamless and natural, creating a dynamic and engaging experience for the remote audience. The days of remote participants having to ask "Who's talking?" or "Can you move the camera?" are over. The Owl takes care of it all, ensuring that the focus is always on the conversation, not the technology.

Visual equity

Beyond the technical features, we’re addressing a deeper issue: the concept of "visual equity." In the traditional meeting setup, those on the periphery of the camera's frame become "second-class citizens." Their contributions are heard, but their presence is not fully felt. This can lead to a feeling of exclusion and disengagement, as their non-verbal cues and reactions are lost to the remote audience. A key part of communication is seeing the person you're speaking with, observing their expressions, and feeling their presence. Traditional cameras deny this to those on the fringes.

By capturing everyone in the room and intelligently focusing on the speaker, our products ensure that every participant, regardless of their seating position, is fully seen and heard. This creates a more inclusive and equitable meeting environment, where everyone's presence is valued and acknowledged. It allows remote participants to feel like they are truly in the room, part of the conversation, and not just passive observers. In a world where hybrid work is the new norm, this ability to foster a sense of belonging and connection is more critical than ever.