News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:
Mike Matera
Director of Sales and Marketing
RoomPro Technologies, inc.
264 West Grand Avenue
Wisconsin Rapids, WI 54495
(800) 980-3381
mikem@roomprotech.com

RoomPro Technologies Receives 2010 Tech & Learning Award of Excellence
RoomPro Technologies is proud to announce that RoomPro ONE has been named a New Product winner of the 2010 Tech & Learning Award of Excellence.

"Now that the use of technology in schools is no longer a novelty but a reality, it's no longer about the promise of what a product can do; it's about the proof," says Kevin Hogan, Editorial Director for NewBay Media's Tech & Learning Group. "This year's Award of Excellence products were tested by edtech experts from the New York City Department of Education and the University of Michigan, our top T&L advisors, and more. These companies can be proud that their products were selected as winners by this prestigious team of judges."

RoomPro ONE, a fully integrated, all-in-one classroom control and microphone system enables K-12 educators to provide an enhanced audio and video experience to improve student learning.

RoomPro ONE is equipped with a built-in infrared (IR) microphone system that offers optimized voice enhancement and 360° sound reinforcement for full-classroom auditory learning. It also includes a wall panel for simple, one-touch control and notably features a Virtual Control Panel, RoomPro's proprietary control panel emulation software that allows teachers to operate the system using multiple instructional technologies.

"We are honored to receive such a prestigious award," said Dean Olds, CEO of RoomPro Technologies. "This award means that top educators realize the value our product has in meeting the needs of school districts everywhere."

Tech & Learning's Awards of Excellence program has been recognizing outstanding Ed Tech curriculum products for nearly three decades. This year's winners were selected by a panel of more than 30 educators, who tested more than 140 entries. Among the high-quality offerings being honored are products addressing management, safety, communication, differentiated learning, assessment, and other key areas in education. Detailed descriptions and judges' comments will be featured in the December 2010 Awards Issue of Tech & Learning.

 

RoomPro Technologies announces new remote AV control and management software for schools
Global Management System offers network-level control without added network hardware, cabling

Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin – (November 1, 2010) – RoomPro Technologies, Inc., has released RoomPro Global, a breakthrough network-level software solution for remotely controlling, monitoring and managing classroom AV technology. Built on a cloud-computing platform, RoomPro Global gives K-12 school districts greater flexibility and cost savings for classroom AV management.

RoomPro Global is a Web-based software system that provides all the benefits of traditional network-level control and management solutions, while eliminating the additional costs of installation, cables and hardware associated with those solutions. Instead, Global's innovative design takes full advantage of the existing network connectivity of the classroom computer to which it's connected.

Dean Olds, CEO of RoomPro Technologies, says RoomPro Global bridges the gap between school districts' desire for projectors with district-wide AV management capabilities and the shortage of resources to fully implement that technology.

“While many districts have specified IP-enabled projectors in their technology purchases the last few years, most don't have the resources to install an additional network drop in every classroom ceiling. RoomPro is the only control system in the industry that uses the connectivity of the computer that is hooked up to it without the need for any additional cables or connectors, providing an estimated savings to the district of $150-$200 a room,” says Olds.

Olds adds that the RoomPro Global software is provided at “no cost” to districts with their purchase of RoomPro systems.

RoomPro Global offers instant classroom access and control from any web-enabled computer as a result of being developed on a cloud-computing platform. According to Olds, this allows district staff to view usage, system status, lamp hour statistics and more from district to classroom level anytime, anywhere.

RoomPro Global also includes alert creation and auto-notification, event scheduling, and maintenance tracking functions, as well as dynamic reporting capability.

 

RoomPro Technologies announces new classroom technology solution for schools
All-in-one classroom system expands auditory learning, reduces costs

Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin - (January 7, 2010) - RoomPro Technologies has released RoomPro ONE, a fully integrated, all-in-one classroom control and microphone system that enables K-12 educators to provide an enhanced audio and video experience to improve student learning.

RoomPro ONE is equipped with a built-in infrared (IR) microphone system that offers optimized voice enhancement and 360° sound reinforcement for full-classroom auditory learning. It also includes a wall panel for simple, one-touch control and notably features a Virtual Control Panel, RoomPro's proprietary control panel emulation software that allows teachers to operate the system using multiple instructional technologies.

Dean Olds, president of RoomPro Technologies, says the system's patented design offers educators several advantages.

"RoomPro ONE solves the problem of uneven classroom sound distribution and as a result the related problem of uneven learning experiences from student to student. And, with the addition of our Virtual Control Panel, we have found a way to provide educators with more convenient system control and access. Teachers can now quickly and easily operate the system at the touch of a button, whether they are working from a laptop, a wireless tablet or an interactive whiteboard," Olds says.

Olds adds that the system's powerful multimedia management and control seamlessly integrates devices educators need while eliminating devices they don't-such as remotes, which can be cumbersome to use and are easily misplaced.

According to Olds, another critical advantage for educators is that the system is priced with tight school budgets in mind. "Our system is well-positioned to help schools create the classroom of tomorrow within the budget limitations of today. It essentially can be purchased for what you would expect to pay for a classroom microphone system alone," he says.

Olds says that RoomPro ONE has also been well received by school technology specialists because it is engineered for quick installation. "RoomPro ONE includes a one-of-a-kind, all-metal ceiling enclosure that attaches cleanly to the ceiling and integrates four hi-fidelity speakers, audio amplifier, A/V switcher and projector mount-all in one," he says. "And since our system is designed to be installed in under an hour, the investment in time and resources is also significantly reduced for schools," adds Olds.

In addition, RoomPro ONE comes with full audio support and includes multiple audio inputs and an audio output to record lessons and create podcasts to share with others.

RoomPro ONE also includes a full complement of voice amplification options, starting with an IR pendant-style microphone that features an audio input jack for seamless connection to an iPodŽ or MP3 player or a separate plug-in headset teachers can wear comfortably around their necks if they prefer.

 

RoomPro receives Partnership Award

WISCONSIN RAPIDS -- Opportunity Development Centers, with offices in Wisconsin Rapids and Marshfield, recently recognized RoomPro Technologies, Wisconsin Rapids, with its annual Partnership Award.

The partnership has grown since its inception about three years ago, when ODC, which employs people with disabilities, and RoomPro split the work of putting together RoomPro Ones -- all-in-one projector, mount and speakers designed for multipurpose uses in classrooms, conferences and training rooms.

ODC employees started by doing basic subassemblies of components of the product, with RoomPro Technologies.

"What we noticed is the 50 percent we (RoomPro) touched seemed to cause more issues," said Dean Olds, CEO for RoomPro Technologies.

About nine months ago, ODC, which employs people with disabilities, took over more responsibility.

Olds admits he didn't expect the partnership to be so successful.

"I really didn't," he said. "You just try it, you take one part of your business, and say, 'Take this little part.' We added staff to really try and do the same thing that (Opportunity Development Centers) are really much better at. Instead of trying to reinvent the wheel, it just allowed me to start using their expertise and efficiencies already in place," he said.

With ODC taking more responsibility in the day-to-day work, Olds focuses on marketing, product development and sales.

The trust Olds placed in ODC is a really important aspect of the whole partnership, said Pam Ross, president of ODC.

"That relationship has evolved and grown to the point we are doing all the assembly, packaging, shipping and inventory management, so basically handling all the day-to-day manufacturing," Ross said.

While much of the product is shipped outside of the area, projectors now are in three educational systems in the Wisconsin Rapids area -- Assumption Catholic Schools, Immanuel Lutheran School and Good Shepherd School.

"It's really neat to see a local product being sold and used in the local schools and businesses," Ross said. "Knowing that that product is creating jobs for people with disabilities at ODC, is just a real positive success story for the community."

Written by Deb Cleworth
Central Wisconsin Sunday
Read Article

About RoomPro Technologies

Based in Wisconsin Rapids, Wis., RoomPro Technologies is a leading manufacturer of all-in-one classroom control and sound reinforcement solutions. The company specializes in the K-12 market and its auditory control systems are found in classrooms, conference rooms and training rooms across the country. More information is available at www.roomprotech.com