Better your business, school or organisation with network audio.
You don’t have to be an engineer or an expert to enjoy a sound system that works perfectly the moment it’s installed. Axis network audio systems are pre-configured to deliver excellent sound quality right out of the box. Completely digital and controlled from a central location, be able to test, maintain and troubleshoot your system remotely over the same network that powers it.
Network audio is transferred to a network speaker using an ethernet cable providing both data and power. The audio signal is digital all the way, from source to the speaker. Like a computer, the network audio device has its own IP address. It is connected directly to a network and can be placed wherever there is a network connection.
Network audio is an invaluable tool that elevates a security system to the next level of protection and can help deter incidents before they happen. Some of the ways this is possible are through pre-recorded messages triggered by an IO device, video or audio analytics on a camera, audio and/or live messages to the monitored scene. Deterring incidents and theft through audio solutions not only helps to create a safer environment, it can also extend significant savings, such as better asset protection, human resource optimization, safety perception, and more.
As a school administrator, you rely daily on public address systems to communicate efficiently with students, staff, and visitors. From signaling class changes and making general announcements, to more serious risk-based communication such as an impending threat or weather emergency.
Network audio from Axis complements your video surveillance system with high quality audio for two-way communication with visitors, students and staff. Whilst the Axis speakers enable an operator to address intruders and deter unwanted activity through the use of remote monitoring, it can also play prerecorded audio files in response to an alarm event.
Sometimes, an audible warning is all you need to prevent vandalism, break-ins or mischievous behaviour. When combined with high quality video analytics or other physical sensors to detect loitering, presence or motion, network audio provides a proactive layer of security by frightening away intruders before they commit a crime. Plus, with the possibility to play pre-recorded messages or sounds, school facility managers can eliminate continual monitoring, better allocate resources, and keep staff or security personnel out of harm’s way.
Typically, schools have different floors, corridors and sometimes buildings. If a school has problems with tardiness, a member of staff could look at various locations and see where pupils are loitering rather than attending class. Through the smart zone system, the teacher could speak to the pupils and let them know they should hurry along to class, without having to make an announcement to the whole school. Smart zoning can also be very useful in an emergency, where escape may not be possible through one exit. The response can be automated and tell people heading towards the unusable exit to go to an alternative safe exit to evacuate.
The use of audio throughout schools – from public address to a support for learning – can help in every aspect of education, from the school gate to the classroom.
Traditional audio systems in schools have been dispersed. One system is implemented for public address and another for visual or media use within an educational institution. To ensure optimum efficiency in schools, there now exist combined systems, which incorporate network offerings along with new opportunities that can be considered. However, the evolution of network audio technology in recent years has augmented and enhanced this traditional function and optimized operation throughout the entire school campus.
The need to broadcast messages to students and teachers throughout the school is still a key function and the principle use of audio in education. Through scheduled announcements signifying the start and finish of the school day, breaks or calling students to assembly, public address plays a central role in the structure of the day and the smooth operations of the school.
Smart zoning brings added functionality to public address, allowing administrators to target announcements to specific areas of the school, for instance a specific scheduled announcement in a specific zone, such as the library, will close in 15 minutes. With network audio it is easy to change both the zones and the content anytime, as needed. Administrators themselves are less tied to the front office than previously through the ability to make audio announcements via a suitably enabled phone or mobile device.
If an emergency occurs, no matter whether it requires an evacuation or lock-down, pre-recorded announcements can give clear, calming instructions that will prevent confusion and panic, and ensure that teachers and students alike take the most appropriate action to remain safe and secure.
While the benefits of network audio in public address described previously are fundamental to the daily workings of a school, its use within the classroom is where additional value can be delivered in improved learning.
Network audio also allows more interactive content to be implemented, increasing the scope of resources that can be used to teach children. By adding audio capabilities to public announcement systems in schools, teachers can use devices such as laptops, tablets or smartphones to amplify class lectures and broadcast streamed media through the classroom’s speakers. Audio can also be used to play music in media centers, hallways, and cafeterias.
If the school has a video surveillance system, audio can be used as a deterrent. In case of emergencies such as a fire or lock-down, there are often strict requirements requiring specialized hardware. Axis audio solutions can assist in improving their reach. Speakers have in-built microphones so not only can they be used for two-way communication, but it is even possible to use them as active security sensors when running audio analytics detecting loud noises such as glass breaking, aggression detection or gun shots.
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Here we have a school, there are classrooms, a gymnasium, a school yard, hallways and the principal’s office.
This school has already realized the advantages with IP audio. They have installed speakers in hallways and classrooms plus a horn speaker in the school yard. The gymnasium already has an analogue audio system which is also used for parties, so an audio bridge has been used. There is a microphone in the principal’s office for announcements.
8.15am School day starts
School starts and it is indicated by a bell sound played on selected speakers. This happens automatically. The sound clip is heard on any of the speakers found throughout the school grounds.
9.21am Live announcements to speaker zone
The principal’s office needs to urgently get hold of Jake whose parents just called. They know he’s in class but not exactly in which room, so they make a live announcement to all classrooms through their 2N SIP Microphone. One button here is configured to connect to all classrooms for events like this.
11:33am Button triggers prerecorded emergency message
Lockdown exercise. A button on the microphone triggers a prerecorded emergency message containing lockdown procedures.
This pre-recorded audio clip is stored on the microphone and a button is configured to broadcast it on all available speakers.
1:45pm Scheduled announcement in a specific zone
“The library will close in 15 minutes”.
2:00pm Scheduled bell sounds and live announcements
The principal message for all the students is automatically played “Have a nice weekend, see you on Monday”, and the bell sounds.
6:00pm Detect & deter
An after-school dance in the school’s gym is held. The existing analogue sound system in the gym might well drown out the sound of emergency messages or klaxon siren. Now, however, the sound system is connected to the main IP system with an Axis audio bridge and the announcement trigger will always mute music so there is no risk of them being missed.
Audio is a cost-effective tool for the efficient operation and management of the school and student improvement and safety.
Whether in the classroom, the corridors, the canteen or playground, network audio has a key role to play in the safety, happiness and education of our children.
Click below to see some education success stories from South Australia and New Zealand.
