A COMPLETE DIGITAL SOLUTION FOR MALVERN HOUSE

21 September 2009

Saville Audio Visual has supplied Malvern House Language School in London with a complete signage network and a range of interactive classroom presentation systems. Malvern House is an independent college teaching over 6000 adults per year, providing opportunities to learn and exchange ideas with students from many different cultural backgrounds.

Saville was originally approached by the school to supply interactive boards and projectors for their new facility in Kings Cross. Malvern House already has language schools in Piccadilly and Bloomsbury, both of which make use of projectors and interactive whiteboard technology, but the new location was being built from scratch and at the time of the first meeting was no more than a building site.

Managing director Naresh Malhotra had a vision for the new facility to have visual impact, be easy to use and above all, help make the students feel at ease. The Saville team duly produced a fully costed proposal covering digital signage, an interactive touch screen information system, a student entertainment and relaxation area, plus classroom presentation facilities and background music with paging facilities.

“Choosing Saville to complete the project gave us security in terms of the company’s experience, size and financial stability,” said Mr. Malhotra. “We were also impressed with their ability to produce a fully bespoke digital signage solution that exactly matched our requirements.”

The signage program was designed specifically for Malvern House by the in-house Saville Creative team and based on programs previously written for clients including Lloyds TSB and Tower Bridge. The innovative TouchIT management system is based on a server client architecture that allows Malvern House staff to access and update the various programs whenever necessary. The bespoke package now provides the signage and interactive services throughout the school.

Electronic Queuing System
Registration is a busy time at Malvern House. It is also a time that can be confusing for new students. The challenge for Saville was how to use the signage screens being installed for information and entertainment purposes to aid the registration process. The answer was to incorporate interactive touch screens, enabling students to register their arrival and arrange to see a receptionist.

After entering their name, the software adds them to the Reception queuing software. When the next receptionist is free, the next name is selected from the queue list and that person’s name is displayed on the plasma screens in the Reception and Relaxation areas. If a student misses this visual prompt, the receptionist can select “Next” and the first student’s name drops down the list to be re-called later.

E-Reception
The queuing system was introduced in place of a ticket and screen system and to date it has proved both popular and successful. The queuing system also provides Malvern House with valuable statistics, such as the number of students seen in a given time and the average time each receptionist spent answering the questions.

With the queuing system in place, the decision was taken to extend the use of the touch screen information system. The designers at Saville Creative duly developed the school’s E-reception concept, enabling students to access a wealth of information relating to Malvern House, the local facilities and what’s on in London. The E-reception system also allows students to access their personal Malvern House account.

Student Relaxation Area
Outside the E-reception area and central to the classrooms is the Student Relaxation Area. Here, Saville has installed two information screens showing local news and information relating to student life. At busy reception times, the screens also display the queuing students names.

The Relaxation Area also features a powerful Sanyo 16:9 projector and a motorised screen to show sporting events and occasionally films. The experience is enhanced by a 5:1 sound system including a ceiling mounted sub-bass speaker.

Classroom Technology
Each of the school’s eighteen classrooms have been equipped with a Sanyo LCD projector and interactive SMART Board. To standardise the operation and provide remote monitoring and control facilities, Extron MLC 104 controllers have also been installed in each classroom.

The AV facilities were completed by a background audio system with iPod and CD inputs, which also allows announcements to be made. This requirement is handled by a Cloud multi-zone amplifier, Cloud volume controls and a number of JBL-24CT micro speakers located throughout the building.

The new signage, information and presentation facilities are in constant daily use at the school from Monday to Friday. As part of the comprehensive maintenance contract, Saville operates an ongoing support package covering all aspects of the installation.

Malvern House Managing Director Naresh Malhotra said: “Saville exceeded my expectations at every stage of the installation. The company clearly knows audio visual technology and I would have no hesitation in recommending them”