Bosch’s IP-Based Dicentis Conference System

A year or so ago we saw the launch of Bosch’s wireless Dicentis conference system. Very, very neat. Works via wi-fi, comes with its own WAP, uses NFC to check in delegates, easy to set up… very well suited to multi-purpose rooms or spaces you can’t install cables into.

But wireless, it seems, will never completely supplant the physically connected… especially where there are security concerns.

More recently Bosch has expanded its IP-based conference system portfolio with four new, wired devices under the Dicentis name.

The lifeblood of Dicentis is the OMNEO open media networking architecture. OMNEO is based on two key technologies – Dante (the audio over IP protocol from Audinate) and the system-control component OCA (Open Control Architecture).

The beauty of OMNEO is it’s easily scalable (up to 750 devices) and can happily co-habit with whatever else you’ve got happening on your network. All audio and control data flowing through the system is securely encrypted.

What’s new: four new discussion devices join the existing multimedia device. Let’s run through all five devices for the sake of completeness:

Dicentis Multimedia device: has a user-friendly seven-inch touchscreen interface. The device allows participants to access and share meeting content with other attendees and to have web access. The generous display can handle live video, which is particularly handy for larger conferences. The full suite of voting, language selection and identification functionalities are available by simply adding software licenses. It can even handle third-party Android apps.

Dicentis Discussion device with 4.3-inch touchscreen: delivers many conference functions including dual use, language selection and voting. Use a NFC (Near Field Communication) identification card for the ID of participant. The touchscreen makes navigating the conference easy (identifying who’s talking at any one time) along with access to translations and voting information. Two delegates can share a device but vote separately and listen to proceedings in two different languages.

Dicentis Discussion device with voting: incorporates standard parliamentary-style voting facilities with touch buttons that only light up when the functionality is required. Voting access can be easily controlled via the device’s NFC identification function.

Dicentis Discussion device with language selector: allows participants to listen to speakers in their own language. Plugging in the headphone will automatically activate the device’s language selection functionality. Also supports dual use and fast participant recognition thanks to its NFC identification function.

Dicentis Discussion device: supports structured discussion, allowing participants to ‘raise their hand’ by pushing the discuss button and be placed in a discussion queue. Like all other Dicentis devices, this one features the ‘possible to speak’ function, providing clear indication to the delegate regarding when he or she can speak. Has the dual use function as well.

Each device packs an inbuilt directional mic, while the system’s processor packs a very capable AEC feedback suppression for high-quality speech intelligibility. For circumstances where a gooseneck mic is required, then Bosch has you covered with two models. Dicentis is undoubtedly a highly capable, versatile system, and, being standards based, is easy to set up and doesn’t need any bespoke infrastructure. The four additional desktop devices are welcome, lowering the cost of entry for many potential organisations such as council chambers and the corporate sector.