Preliminary Notes & Ideas for Blended/Hybrid Meetings

1

Microphone Floor Stand

• Universal Mic Mount (e.g., as on PMKS5)
• Heavy Compact Base (i.e., not tripod)
• Height Adjustable (2.8 – 6 ft.)

$50-$100

See “Sound–microphone” at top of page 7 in “Thoughts on Blended Worship”.

1

Video/TV Monitor

• HDMI ports
• Large screen (≥50 inch) [https://stari.co/tv-monitor-viewing-distance-calculator]

$400-$2000

See “Displaying the pictures of those online in the physical space” at top of page 8 in “Thoughts on Blended Worship”.

1

Video/TV Monitor Mounting

• Adjustable Mobile TV Stand/Cart or Wall Mount

$50-$90

See also

• https://www.walmart.com/ip/Adjustable-Modern-Mobile-TV-Stand-Cart-for-32-65in-Screens-Rolling-TV-Cart/600639588 &
• https://smile.amazon.com/FITUEYES-Universal-Swivel-Adjustable-FTT107003GB/dp/B01CORQRX0/

1

Computer hardware

• Laptop and/or desktop with DVD drive
• SSD (Solid-State Drive) ‘hard drive’ (≥ 500 GB)
• RAM (≥ 8 GB), preferably expandable
• Ethernet socket & Wi-Fi
• Microphone & Audio sockets
• USB3 (or faster) sockets
• HDMI port

$400-$800

See “Laptop / PC” at middle of page 8 in “Thoughts on Blended Worship”.

Possibly a laptop for 'Greeter/Host' in lobby/foyer and desktop in the meeting room

1?

Computer hardware

• Camera

See “Camera” at bottom of page 7 in  “Thoughts on Blended Worship”.

Possible cameras:

• Logitech QuickCam Sphere AF
• Logitech QuickCam E3500
• Samsung Pleomax PWC-7100
• Genius Look320S
• Integrated Lenovo 3000 n100
• Skypemate WC-103M

2

Computer hardware

• Separate (USB) keyboard & mouse/pointing device

2

Computer hardware

• Headphones

~$15-$30

Headset model (i.e. headphones with microphone) is:

• Logitech Clear Chat Style

2

Computer hardware

• USB Hub (powered)

~$50

2

Computer hardware

• Laser printer

~$100-$200

2

Computer hardware

• Scanner

$0 (Probably donated)

1

Computer software

• Windows 10 operating system

Included with computer purchase

1

Computer software

• Zoom (video conferencing software)

$0–$150?

Other possibilities: Microsoft Teams, Jami, Jitsi Meet, OpenMeeting.

1

Computer software

• LibreOffice and OpenOffice

$0

1

Computer software

• Slack (communication software)

2

Computer software

• Text-to-Speech software (speech synthesis software)

2

Computer software

• Speech-to-Text software (speech recognition software)

1

Audio

• Audio Amplifier

May already own

Minimize in-room audio feedback by using a milliseconds delay (or other techniques). (See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audio_feedback)

See also

• https://smile.amazon.com/s?k=Behringer-FBQ100-Integrated-Microphone-Compressor&ref=nb_sb_noss or
• https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/FBQ100--behringer-shark-fbq100

1

Audio

• Audio Mixer

Already own

1

Audio

• Loudspeakers

Possibly donated

1

Audio

• Wireless microphone & transceiver

Already own

2?

Audio (hearing assistance)

• Audio Induction Loop

This technology may be ‘on the way out’, but it doesn't drain hearing aid batteries as much as Bluetooth.  See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hearing_aid#Technology

See also:

• http://www.hearingloop.org/
• https://www.audiology.org/publications-resources/consumer-information/get-hearing-loop
• https://www.hearingloss.org/wp-content/uploads/HLAA_HAT_and_Telecoil.pdf

2

Audio (broadcast)

• FM Radio Transmitter (compliant with FCC Part 15 regulations for US FM broadcast band, 88-108 MHz. See https://www.fcc.gov/media/radio/low-power-radio-general-information)

$100-$495

In addition to being another way of offering hearing assistance, it would allow people nearby to tune in on FM radio receivers in the parking lot or playground.

See also

• https://www.hobbybroadcaster.net/reviews/lab-reviews.php &
• https://www.hobbybroadcaster.net/reviews/Decade-MS-100s-FM-Transmitter.php ($495)

2

Audio (broadcast)

• FM Radio Receivers with headphones

~$10-$20

See also

• https://smile.amazon.com/ZesGood-Portable-Transistor-Battery-Operated/dp/B07H8VTL27/

1

Internet/Wi-Fi Equipment

• Internet data rate ≥ 25–35 Mbps (Megabits per second) for ‘download’
• Wi-Fi linkrate 50-9000 Mbps
• Wi-Fi frequency bands 2.4/5.0 GHz (compliant with FCC Part 15 regulations)

See “Connecting to the internet” at middle of page 6 in “Thoughts on Blended Worship”.

(Remote New) Attender

(Remote New) Attender expresses interest (via email or phone) in attending meeting remotely via Internet

Greeter and Attender enter into New Attender Dialog(s) via email and/or phone

(Remote) Attender

(Remote) Attender logs into Internet connection for meeting

Attender enters into Remote Attender Dialog(s) with Zoom (or other messaging software such as Microsoft Team, etc.)

Greeter

Greeter initiates Internet connection for meeting

Greeter enters into Setup Dialog with Zoom (or other messaging software such as Microsoft Team, etc.)

Greeter

Greeter acknowledges Attender who logs into Internet connection for meeting

Greeter and Attender enter into Greeter Dialog

Attender

Attender speaks/sings into microphone

• If microphone not enabled, notify attender
• Convert speech to text
• Amplify speech and send Audio Signal to Loudspeaker, Wireless Connection, and Internet Connection

Attender

Attender enters text via keyboard

• Send Text to Internet Connection, Video Screen
• Convert Text to Speech and send to Loudspeaker, Wireless Connection

Time

Time to set up meeting

Send Setup Reminder to Greeter