Accuwood Inc.

First things first. Is it a multimedia lectern or a multimedia podium? To be technically correct it is a multimedia lectern. A podium is used as a platform to stand on and is frequently seen at olympic events when medals are awarded. The highest podium is usually reserved for the gold metal followed by the silver and the lowest one is usually reserved for the bronze metal. Since both multimedia lectern and multimedia podium are used to define the same thing Accuwood Inc. uses both interchangeably. So what is a multimedia lectern anyway? To put it simply, a multimedia lectern is a lectern that is designed to hold multimedia equipment such as a computer or laptop and LCD or touch panel. They frequently integrate A/V equipment such as DVD, VCR, Microphones and amplifiers. They were primarily used in classrooms but with the growing use of computers and need for multimedia presentations they can also be found in lecture halls, boardrooms, conference centers and almost anywhere where multimedia equipment is used.

Multimedia Lecterns - How to choose the Multimedia Lectern that is right for you!

So you have been tasked with finding a multimedia lectern to meet all your requirements and don't know where to start. You do a quick search on the internet and find a wide variety of multimedia lecterns and podiums but not much information on which multimedia lectern or podium will work best for you or even how to plan a successful multimedia project. Accuwood Inc. has been in business for over 35 years and can help plan, design and execute your Multimedia project from start to finish.

Multimedia Lecterns - Where to start

The best way to design your multimedia lectern is to work from the inside out. First make a detailed list of all the electronic components you will be housing in your multimedia lectern. This will determine the overall size of your multimedia lectern. The size of the classroom or venue will also have some impact on your decision. So will the type of computer you will require if it is on your list. Desktop computers generally come in three different configurations or shapes. There is the tower configuration which is the most common and consists of a tower that is usually about 8" wide x 18" deep and 18" in height. Then there is the desktop configuration which used to be more popular. The sizes are about the same as the tower configuration but the width and height dimensions are exchanged. So essentially a desktop looks like a tower on it's side. A more recent configuration is the mini computer. It is quite a bit smaller then the other two already mentioned but still has about the same footprint as the tower configuration. In fact it looks like a tower that has been squished. The advantage of this configuration is that it will fit almost anywhere. Since the tower configuration is still one of the most popular Accuwood Inc. makes many multimedia lecterns that will accommodate this layout like our AMB-200 multimedia lectern or our EDU-200 multimedia lectern. Be sure to take in to account that the computer may be changed at some point in the future. Computers have a tendency to fail and are sometimes upgraded at that point to keep up with technology. If you are buying a new computer for this multimedia project you may whish to consider a mini computer since it will allow you to use a narrower multimedia lectern such as our PRM-200 multimedia lectern. In some cases when using a lot of equipment or there is a requirement for a lot of working surface a wider multimedia lectern like our DC4245-200 multimedia lectern may be more suitable. Equipment can be placed on both sides with this lectern. Make sure that the lectern will not be too large for the teaching room. Another thing to take into consideration is mobility. If you require a multimedia lectern to be mobile then the width is an important factor. The wider the lectern the greater the possibility of the doors going out of alignment. When the lectern doors go out of alignment it can cause all kinds of problems including not locking properly, doors rubbing and hinges being stressed and wearing out prematurely. This is why Accuwood Inc. multimedia lecterns that are wider than about 30" wide come standard with adjustable levelers to prevent this problem. This does not mean that wider multimedia lecterns can't be mobile. Accuwood Inc. offers a choice of both wheels and levelers also. The wheels can be used to move the lectern in place while the levelers can be raise to prevent the lectern from moving.

Multimedia Lectern Options

Accuwood Inc. offers many options to expand your working surface and make your lectern more functional. When your space is limited a flip up or pullout shelf can be used for a laptop, visual presenter or books and papers. The advantage of a flip up shelf is that it does not take up any additional space inside your lectern. A grommet is provided in either case to run wires into the lectern. The advantage of a pullout shelf is that it can be retracted into the lectern. Another popular option for our multimedia lecterns is a document camera drawer. The size of the drawer will depend on the size of your doc cam. Newer document cameras are quite a bit smaller than the older ones and therefore require smaller drawers. Make sure if you are purchasing a new document camera that it will fit into your multimedia lectern. Accuwood Inc. also has several multimedia lectern models that allow for a drawer to be pulled out toward the presenter like our BRS42-200. This can be used for pens, pencils, remotes and more. Although most modern wireless devices use signals other than infrared if you do require equipment that uses an infrared remote Accuwood Inc. offers plexiglas doors as an option. The biggest drawback however with plexiglas is security. The advantage of solid doors is that they are lockable and you can't see through them. The hinges on solid doors are usually more durable as well. Accuwood Inc. uses high quality hinges that allow the door to be removed and re-installed without any tools making the initial installation a little easier. An audience side access panel with or without venting is available to make equipment installation easier. When your equipment is rack mounted this is especially important since the equipment cannot be turned around.

Multimedia Lectern Venting

In order to ensure proper operation and prevent premature failure of your electronic equipment it is crucial for your multimedia lectern to be vented adequately. In most cases sufficient venting can be achieved by having the vents in the correct place. In some cases it will be necessary to exhaust the hot air out using a low voltage fan like most computers use. They are inexpensive and a good investment to keep your electronics running cool. The interior of a multimedia lectern can quickly become quite hot if not vented. The optimal place for venting is as high as possible since hot air rises. Accuwood Inc's Ambassador series has an integrated vent at the very top of the multimedia lectern to vent everything inside the lectern including the integrated LCD that is available on some models. The amount and type of venting required is the determined by the amount and type of electronic equipment being used. Although most computers don't generate too much heat an amplifier can get very hot. There is no such thing as too much ventilation so if unsure or if more equipment will be added in the future it is best to err on the side of caution. The multimedia experts at Accuwood Inc. can help you determine your venting requirements and help you keep things cool. Some of the venting options include integrated vents where the venting is cut right into the lectern. Another option is side venting. It is recommended to have at least 2 side vents on the same side to allow a fan to be mounted on the top vent and fresh air can be pulled in through the bottom vent. If possible the vents should be directed away from the audience so that any noise coming from inside the lectern will not compete with the lecturer. The audience side access panel can also be vented however some clients don't like the aesthetics. Accuwood Inc. lecterns also allow air to escape through the keyboard opening. This is done by design and is sufficient for most small installations.

Rack Rails and Shelves

Accuwood Inc. multimedia lecterns can be equipped with adjustable shelves, rack rails or a combination of both to maximize the flexibility of the interior space. Rack rails are rails that are secured at a predetermined width (19.125"w) to accommodate equipment specifically designed to be secured to the rack rails. The amount of rack rail required by each piece of equipment is specified in RU's (Rack Units). One RU (Rack Unit is equal to 1.75 inches or 44.45 mm. Use our handy rack unit calculator to determine how much vertical space you require. Most of the lecterns that Accuwood Inc. manufactures have space for about 15 RU's (Rack Units). This is equivalent to 26.25" of vertical space when using shelves. When calculating vertical space for shelves don't forget to include the thickness of the shelves themselves. Each shelf has a thickness of .75" or 19.05mm. When using rack rails an audience side access panel is normally required to access the equipment from the audience side. One of the advantages of rack mount equipment is that the equipment is secured into place with bolts and will not fall out when moving the lectern. It can also be a deterrent against theft because the equipment needs to be unbolted before it can be removed. Most rack mount equipment is only available to authorized dealers and require a professional installation. Accuwood Inc. uses shelves that are both adjustable and removable for the most amount of flexibility. Even the lecterns that have rack rails also have holes for shelf supports in case shelves are used in the future.

LCD's and Touch Panels

Some lectern manufacturers expect you to place the LCD or touch panel on the flat working surface using the provided stand. For some and for some applications this is adequate, however for many it is not. If the classroom or presentation hall is not secured it would be quick and easy to remove the LCD or touch panel and therefore be unsuitable. Some of Accuwood Inc's models like the AMB-200 and AMB-225 have the LCD or touch panel installed right in to or on to the lectern and are secured from inside the lectern. This would require getting into the lectern to get at the back of the LCD or touch panel. If the lectern doors are locked this would be very difficult to accomplish. Aside from the LCD and touch panels single or double gang boxes can be placed on the LCD panel, working surface or even the sides of the lectern to allow convenient access to power and input output connections like WAN, LAN, audio and video connections. There are keystone connections available for most needs that are designed to fit in either single or double gang boxes.

More Questions

If you have read this far you are probably still looking for more information. At Accuwood Inc. we are happy to assist you with any questions or concerns that you may have regarding your present or upcoming projects. We are multimedia lectern experts and can help you with almost any requirement. Call us today and see that Accuwood Inc. has the knowledge and manufacturing know how to make your next project a success.

Lead Time

Accuwood Inc. uses a modern manufacturing technique we call MOD (Manufacturing On Demand). This allows us to offer an almost unlimited selection of colors (almost 100) as well as options. It also ensures that you are not paying to stock someone else's lectern. Changes can be implemented almost immediately so our lifecycle from prototype to production is very small. We can handle any size project from 1 to 100 or more. The average lead time is 3-4 weeks from receipt of purchase order or credit card authorization. During our busy times our lead time is extended to 4-6 weeks. When you compare all the advantages of our manufacturing method we think you will agree it is worth the short wait to get exactly the multimedia lectern you want instead of making compromises.