Making Immersive Virtual Education More Accessible
When McCann Systems first developed Proscenium for Harvard Business School in Boston a decade ago, distance learning AV and videoconferencing was still in its early stages. What began as an innovative solution for a specific challenge has evolved into a platform that’s helping organizations take creative new approaches to remote education and training. As everyone knows, technology advances relentlessly, and solutions must keep pace and take advantage of the latest capabilities. As such, we’re taking Proscenium in an exciting new direction, leveraging artificial intelligence and modern collaboration platforms to make immersive virtual classrooms more accessible and cost-effective for many more organizations.
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Building on Modern Platforms
A key development in Proscenium’s evolution is its integration with Zoom, a widely adopted and ubiquitous collaboration platform. “By leveraging established collaboration platforms, we’re removing significant barriers to entry,” explains Joseph Fusaro, Senior Sales Executive at McCann Systems. “Organizations already have Zoom infrastructure in place, and their teams are comfortable with it. We’re enhancing that familiar foundation with advanced features that create truly engaging remote learning experiences.”
The new approach maintains Proscenium’s core strength—enabling natural teaching and presentation styles—while making implementation more practical. Instead of requiring extensive custom infrastructure, the solution now builds upon existing platforms, significantly reducing both initial and ongoing costs. Zoom’s cloud-based architecture, ability to integrate with modern AV hardware, and extensible capabilities make it an ideal platform upon which to build the unique features that Proscenium brings to distance learning and training.
Leveraging AI
While building on standard platforms makes Proscenium more accessible, we didn’t want to lose the interactive and “you are there” experience that made the original solution special. The team is leveraging the power of advanced AI camera technology and intelligent tracking systems to maintain the natural, engaging feel of in-person instruction.
“We’re leveraging strategically placed cameras with built-in AI tracking technology, along with robust AI tracking software to manage those cameras. The system can quickly determine which camera should provide the optimal view to remote students at any given time,” Fusaro explains. “When an instructor looks toward specific participants or moves around the room, the system adjusts to maintain that crucial sense of personal connection. With AI, we can now do this with fewer cameras and less cost and complexity.”
Expanding Possibilities
The more accessible platform opens up new possibilities for organizations that previously found the original Proscenium implementation too complex or costly. “This allows companies to build more training rooms at a much more affordable level, reaching more people simultaneously,” explains Fusaro. “The lower cost barrier means smaller companies and state-level educational institutions can now access this type of solution.” The platform can also extend beyond the in-room participants—the hybrid nature of Proscenium allows equity between in-person guests and hundreds or even thousands of attendees can benefit by viewing the live stream of the session. This could create new opportunities for tiered education and training, from more passive to more interactive offerings.
Future Development
McCann Systems continues to enhance the Proscenium platform with features beyond standard virtual meeting capabilities. Future development is focused on enhanced chat and board sharing capabilities, improved breakout session experiences, and integrated live streaming that can extend the reach of sessions to much larger audiences. Analytics will play a major role in helping organizations understand participant engagement and session effectiveness in unprecedented detail. The evolution of Proscenium reflects our commitment to making immersive distance learning more accessible while maintaining the engagement that makes in-person learning so effective.
Want to learn more about more engaging and inclusive distance learning AV solutions? Use the chat button below to start the conversation or complete our online contact form. We look forward to connecting!
