Conference center upgraded, open house scheduled

by Mark Wyatt
66th Air Base Group Public Affairs
http://www.hanscom.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123435621
1/6/2015 – HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. — Hanscom Conference Center officials recently announced that an upgrade to the audio visual equipment in the Lexington Amphitheater and Concord Room is complete and that a ribbon cutting and open house is scheduled Jan. 20 from 1 to 3 p.m. to mark the occasion.

Among the $500,000 worth of improvements to the conference center’s two largest and most frequently used meeting rooms are new projectors, dual screens, podiums, smart technology, sound systems, a wireless microphone system, new audio, confidence monitors and video record capability, as well as a new technology called AirMedia.

“With AirMedia, anyone can present content from an iOS or Android mobile device to the projection system as long as they are connected to the public Wi-Fi network and have the capability to download and install the free Crestron AirMedia app,” said Donn DeSilva, 66th Communications and Information Division information technology help desk specialist. “There are no wires to hook-up or complicated settings to configure.”

To demonstrate just how user-friendly that and other upgrades are, conference center staff invite members across the installation to a ribbon cutting ceremony with senior leaders promptly at 1 p.m. From there, attendees will be invited inside to take a look at all the changes and learn more about the conference center.

“We scheduled the open house to display the new capabilities and show just how easy it is to use,” said Ann Markman, 66th Communications and Information Division director, who worked with conference center personnel on funding the upgrades.

Much of the audio visual equipment used previously was repurposed from a project more than 20 years ago.

“In the past, as a result of the age of the equipment, often there would be a lot of feedback from the microphones, distracting noise from the program speakers as well as frequent equipment failure,” said Patrick Libby, 66th Communications and Information Division network engineer and former IT specialist who was responsible for recommending many of the Hanscom Conference Center upgrades.

Hanscom Conference Center staff will be on hand to answer questions about new technology and how it can impact their presentations, said DeSilva.

The facility is available for organizational meetings, retirement ceremonies or commander calls to any federal agency, or any agency that is sponsored by a base organization.

Equipped with open Wi-Fi to the Air Force Network (AFNET) and commercial cable connectivity to customers, the conference center also offers wired connections from each room. In addition, convenience laptops are available in the conference center’s lobby for general use.

The conference center also offers video teleconferencing capabilities between two or more locations from many of the rooms in the building.

For larger groups, the ability to overflow between the two large conference rooms and lobby areas is also available.

The two large rooms are also equipped for classified meetings.

To schedule an event at the Hanscom Conference Center, contact Linda DeMeo at 781-225-6165.

For further information on the Hanscom Conference Center or the open house, contact DeSilva at 781-225-6166.