The Reflex Podcast: Recent Episodes
Reflex Ltd
A podcast for those interested in using physical and virtual spaces to communicate more effectively.
Each weekly episode contains useful and actionable advice from industry experts.
Topics covered include AV, workspace solutions, available resources, and tips on communicating more effectively.
Our guests this week are Chris Bayliss, Sales Manager — UK Public Sector & Education, and Jane Ross, EMEA Education Lead.
In this episode we discuss how Zoom has been used in the education sector, including how HE institutions can make the most of Zoom, what the future for Zoom in the education sector looks like, and, the big one, the difference between Teams and Zoom.
Key Takeaways
- Zoom helps with 3 challenges that HE institutions face: digital transformation, delivering excellent learning experiences in a hybrid platform, and issues around student well-being.
- Zoom has a great integration story with other technologies used in HE institutions
- Customers drive innovation in Zoom
- Zoom & MS Teams have different use cases (use both, not one!)
Shownotes: https://www.reflex.co.uk/ep-18-zoom-in-the-education-sector-with-chris-bayliss-jane-ross/
Our guest this week is Arlonna Seymour, Executive Director, Corporate Marketing, Christie.
In this episode we discuss Arlonna’s 24-year career at Christie, including what challenges she has faced and how she has overcome them, Christie’s position as a finalist in the AV Awards 2022, and what advice she has for people just starting out in their AV careers.
Key takeaways at 25 minutes 50 seconds:
- Share knowledge with others
- Holistic solutions- what else do companies you’re working with have to offer?
- Don’t pigeon-hole yourself
- Be mentored and mentor back
Shownotes: https://www.reflex.co.uk/ep-17-a-conversation-with-arlonna-seymour/
Our guest this week is Stijn Ooms, Director, Product Strategy AV and Digital Workplace, Crestron.
In this episode Stijn provides a clear explanation of AV over IP, including its benefits and challenges, as well as different applications for the tech.
Key takeaways at 25 minutes 26 seconds:
- AV over IP breaks down content like a jigsaw and transfers it across a network
- Quality and latency are two important factors for AV over IP
- AV over IP solutions are scalable, flexible, and can use a building's existing infrastructure
- The AV: IT crossover
- What's next?- Intercompatibility and 8K
Show notes: https://www.reflex.co.uk/ep-16-a-guide-to-av-over-ip-with-stijn-ooms/
Our guest this week is Chris Brzostowski, Business Development Manager, HYPERVSN.
In this episode we discuss HYPERVSN’s holographic solutions and how they can help you to stand out from the crowd.
Key takeaways at 23 minutes 15 seconds:
- Something to help you stand out from the crowd
- Controlling the content
- Seeing is believing
Shownotes: https://www.reflex.co.uk/ep-15-an-introduction-to-hypervsns-holographic-solutions-with-chris-brzostowski/
Our guest this week is Greg Jeffreys, Consultant, Director and owner of Visual Displays, and Chair of AVIXA's Standards Steering Committee.
In this episode we discuss AV standards: what they are, why they are useful, and how you can use them to improve your business.
Key takeaways at 20 minutes 50 seconds:
- Standards are living and regularly retired, revised, or republished.
- Standards are a great business tool
- DISCAS is the most universally adopted standard
- Use what you've got, and use it well!
Shownotes: https://www.reflex.co.uk/ep-14-an-introduction-to-av-standards-with-greg-jeffreys/
Our guest this week is Nina Patel, Kabuni Co-Founder and VP of Metaverse Research
In this episode we discuss what the metaverse is, how it can be used to help with teaching and learning, the challenges in getting it up and running, and what you should get involved.
Key takeaways at 25 minutes 24 seconds:
- The metaverse can stretch the boundaries of teaching and learning
- Our digital selves are extensions of our physical selves
- You should get involved and help to shape the metaverse!
Shownotes: https://www.reflex.co.uk/ep-13-an-introduction-to-the-metaverse-with-nina-patel/
Our guest this week is Adam Harvey CTS, Solution Architect - AV and Digital Media, University of Hertfordshire.
In this episode we discuss what the LTSMG is, the current key topics facing its members, and how you can join up.
Key takeaways at 21 minutes 10 seconds:
- The LTSMG is for anyone involved in learning and teaching spaces in the HE sector
- The network is essential for developing collective knowledge
- Hybrid teaching and learning is still a key topic, but content creation is becoming increasingly important
- Apply to be part of the LTSMG today
Shownotes: https://www.reflex.co.uk/ep-12-the-learning-teaching-spaces-managers-group-ltsmg-with-adam-harvey/
This episode contains some of the highlights from our interview with Neil Shah, Founder of the Stress Management Society.
In the full-length episode we discuss what stress is, why it’s such a critical issue, how companies can help employees manage stress levels, and why well-being is essential for business success.
Shownotes: https://www.reflex.co.uk/ep-11-understanding-and-managing-stress-with-neil-shah/
Our guest this week Neil Shah, Founder of the Stress Management Society. In this episode we discuss what stress is, why it’s such a critical issue, how companies can help employees manage stress levels, and why well-being is essential for business success.
Key takeaways at 42 minutes 35 seconds:
- Encourage more open discussions around stress
- The well-being of staff is key to business success
- Well-being strategies are unique to each business and organisation
- Develop your connections with others
- How are you really doing?
Shownotes: https://www.reflex.co.uk/ep-11-understanding-and-managing-stress-with-neil-shah/
Our guest this week is Mark Ferguson, Director of Workspace Transformation, Aura Futures. In this episode we discuss how work spaces have changed, and what companies need to consider moving forwards.
Key takeaways at 24 minutes 38 seconds:
- Meeting rooms need to be more hybrid friendly
- A good workspace is bespoke
- Work needs to be more outcomes focused
- Organisations need to think about what working practices are best for them moving forwards
- Train staff to operate in this new hybrid world
Shownotes: https://www.reflex.co.uk/ep-10-transforming-the-workspace-with-mark-ferguson/
Our guest this week is Sam Botting, Marketing & Business Development Manager, TeamMate.
In this episode we discuss the benefits of using technical furniture in offices and Higher Education.
Key Takeaways at 18 minutes 31 seconds:
- Consider how a space is used
- What does the user need help with in the space?
- Combine appearance with practicality
- Make the solution flexible
Shownotes: https://www.reflex.co.uk/ep-9-the-benefits-of-using-technical-furniture/
Our guest this week is Callum Russell, Independent Disability Consultant, Crystal Eyes.
In this episode we discuss vision impairment, how companies can make themselves more accessible for vision impaired people, and the benefits of doing so.
Key takeaways at 32 minutes 13 seconds:
- Microphones are important
- Different approaches to hybrid teaching
- Adapting teaching models for hybrid learning
- The student experience
Shownotes: https://www.reflex.co.uk/ep-8-making-your-company-more-accessible-for-vision-impaired-people/
Our guest this week is Dr Paul Collins, Jaleh Hearn Curator for Ancient Near East, Ashmolean Museum, Oxford. In this episode we discuss the redevelopment of the Ancient Middle East gallery at the Ashmolean Museum, and how technology can be used to increase access to objects and ancient cultures.
Key takeaways at 27 minutes 21 seconds:
- Technology helps us to increase access to museum collections
- Technology helps to communicate academic research
- Museum collections are not static
Shownotes: https://www.reflex.co.uk/ep-1-the-teaching-here-and-there-podcast/
Our guest this week is Hanieh Motamedian, Business Development Manager, Sound Directions. In this episode we discuss what is sound masking, why it's important, and misconceptions and misunderstandings that we aim to remedy.
Key takeaways at 30 minutes 27 seconds:
- Sound masking increases productivity and well-being
- Sound masking helps to create a more collaborative environment
- Smart sound masking adjusts sound levels automatically
- We need to catch up with the technology
Shownotes: https://www.reflex.co.uk/ep-6-an-introduction-to-sound-masking-with-hanieh-motamedian/
Our guest this week is Carys Green, Regional Sales Manager, Shure UK.
In this episode we discuss the current situation of women in AV, how and why we need to get more women into AV, and the resources currently available to assist them.
Key takeaways at 14 minutes 46 seconds:
- The STEM Ambassador programme
- AVIXA Women’s Council
- Diversity is key for creativity and innovation
Shownotes: https://www.reflex.co.uk/ep-5-women-in-av/
Some highlights from our episode with Chris Neto CTS, Market Development Manager, Starin. We uncover how Chris was able to develop his social presence on social media and how you can get started.
Shownotes: https://www.reflex.co.uk/ep-4-how-to-develop-your-social-presence-online/
Our guest this week is Chris Neto CTS, Market Development Manager, Starin. In this episode we discuss everything social! How Chris was able to develop his social presence on social media, how you can get started, what tools there are to help you, and why you should get involved.
Key takeaways at 46 minutes 44 seconds:
- Develop your personal brand
- Engagement is key
- Tools to help: challenges and groups
Shownotes: https://www.reflex.co.uk/ep-4-how-to-develop-your-social-presence-online/
Our guest this week is Nathan Watson, Creative Director, Office Principles. In this episode we explore Nathan's whitepaper on the 'Office Home', which seeks to combine the benefits of the home and office into one place.
We also discuss what people need to consider when designing their new office spaces.
Key takeaways at 27 minutes 40 seconds:
- The 'Office Home' to entice people back to the office
- Customer engagement is critical in designing the office space
- The office needs to be inclusive (Time code 16.08)
- Education is key to office changes
- Furniture-led solutions are a great option
Shownotes: https://www.reflex.co.uk/ep-3-the-office-home-enticing-people-back-to-the-office/
Our guest this week is Raj Dattani, Technical Sales Consultant, Reflex Ltd. In this episode we discuss the first part of a project that Raj is currently working on at Queen Mary University of London. Find out how these projects are designed, the challenges, and what you should consider when designing your own projects.
Key takeaways at 19 minutes 58 seconds:
- Keep control simple
- Keep the tech flex!
Shownotes: https://www.reflex.co.uk/ep-2-designing-a-collaborative-hybrid-space-at-queen-mary-university-of-london/
Our guest this week is James Rutherford, Senior Educational Technologist, City University of London. In this episode we discuss the Teaching Here and There (THaT) podcast, and hybrid teaching and learning in the HE sector. Key takeaways at 24 minutes 31 seconds:
- Microphones are important
- Different approaches to hybrid teaching
- Adapting teaching models for hybrid learning
- The student experience
Shownotes: https://www.reflex.co.uk/ep-1-the-teaching-here-and-there-podcast/
If you're trying to figure out if this series is for you then listen to this quick 2 minute clip, which let's you know what you can expect in future episodes.
This also provides a brief introduction to Reflex Ltd, and series host, Maria Lloyd, Reflex Marketing Executive.