Japanese uni adopts Bose VB1 videobar for hybrid learning

Ritsumeikan University in Kyoto, Japan, has chosen the Bose Videobar VB1 all-in-one USB conferencing device to ensure the needs of its 35,000 students are met in and out of the classroom.

Ritsumeikan is one of Japan’s leading global universities, with 16 faculty teams, 21 graduate schools and 35,000 students across four campuses. Opening a new Osaka Ibaraki campus, the university tapped technology typically found in workplace conference rooms to foster a flexible, progressive learning environment.

The Bose VB1 brings premium audio and video to small- to medium-sized learning areas, providing critical features — like beam-steering microphones and 4K Ultra-HD video to support hybrid collaboration. Since two-way communication between professors and students is key, the six beam-steering mics make conversation more natural, actively focusing on voices while rejecting ambient noise; plus, the auto EQ delivers optimised audio to all participants.

The 4K Ultra-HD camera also provides auto-framing which allows everyone to see and understand the instructor’s presentations on whiteboards, flipcharts or other in-room objects.

“The Bose VB1 provided clear high-quality audio to remote students and the beam-steering microphones easily picked up students socially distanced throughout the room,” said Kengo Kurashina, of the Information Systems department at Ritsumeikan University. “I was also extremely pleased with the sound-masking exclusion zone feature provided; I can easily hear what students are saying because of the audio quality and clarity Bose is known for.”

For more information on the Ritsumeikan University project visit PRO.BOSE.COM/RU