Audio Conferencing Bridge

While the primary use of technology today is for information dissemination (cited by 98 percent of those surveyed), nearly half (47 percent) also use technology for employee feedback, while 36 percent utilize it for information storage, 29 percent for information retrieval and 16 percent for collaboration.

In the corporations surveyed, technology is being used by senior managers for ongoing dialogues with all levels of employees throughout the organization on key issues facing the business. People on different floors, different time zones and different continents have immediate access to a wide variety of corporate information resources by means of audio conferencing bridge.

Interestingly, however, despite the growing use of technology for employee communications, the vast majority of respondents (81 percent) say that their department has no formal ties to the technology professionals in the IT (information technology) or MIS (management information systems) departments within their companies.

To gain maximum benefits from new technologies, employee communications must become a more integral part of the corporate technology team and to have a role in determining how the corporation develops and uses its network resources for communications. The employee communicator is perhaps the best manager within the corporation to develop strategies for use of computer networks as communications resources.

Cognitive Communications, Inc., (CCI) Stamford, Conn., is an employee communications management consultancy providing counsel and services in planning, research, technology, and implementation. CCI assists organizations develop and implement employee communications strategies and technologies to support changing business and organizational objectives.

AT Products

AT Products' E-Max teleconferencing system works with all types of telephones and in locations from small offices to large conferencing rooms. Conversations are completely interactive and fully interruptive (i.e. you can scream at each other at the same time). Important variables such as room size, shape and background noise are taken into account automatically by the system, so set up and operation is not difficult. No special installation is required. Simply plug in the unit, make a call and place the handset into a special Conference Transfer Cradle. Bango! You're ready to begin the conference.

E-Max is easily connected. Cords and cables are all detachable, standard and available in various lengths. The unit accommodates up to five remote audio platforms and each platform serves six or more participants. List price for the E-Max is $ 3,975.

Darome

The Associate II Convener provides clear conferencing with ease. Its microprocessor automatically adjusts to room and line conditions to assure good sound quality. The duplex feature allows the natural flow of conversation. The Model 730 has a lighted display panel for visual status indication and easy operation. There are buttons for on/off, volume and for hands free operation. The system also has an external speaker jack, microphone sensitivity switch and tape-record output jack.

Darome also manufactures and distributes a complete line of teleconferencing equipment including bridges and conferencing services.