How does smart automation help with building inclusive environments?

You may have heard it said that “what’s necessary for one is good for all”.

In everyday life, this looks like ramps into Main Street stores and offices. The goal may have been to create a mobility-friendly entrance for those with canes or in wheelchairs, but suddenly, both the woman in the scooter picking up her own prescriptions AND the dad who is shunting toddler twins and is desperate for diapers can easily enter the downtown pharmacy.

Think about automatic doors. They may have been designed with wheelchairs and scooters in mind, but does the following sound at all familiar? Balancing your laptop, coffee and doughnuts for the staff, a pile of Dan Sullivan and James Patterson’s latest to trade with your office admin, your personal phone, your work cell, two pounds of paperwork, and your office keys between your lips, you nudge your elbow into the metal square and voila… the door miraculously slides open just for you. I’ll bet you sighed with relief and gratitude. It may not have been designed with you and your heaps in mind, but it benefits you.

“Accessibility impacts everyone, whether or not they have a disability. Inclusive design makes the world easier, safer, and more enjoyable for all individuals — no matter their ability, age, or situation,” writes the author of Equal Accessibility.

What has 1,709 exhibitors packed into 82,000m² spanning 8 buildings – and helps us bring you the best of the best?

Hint: This AV & Systems Integration Show is the biggest in the world and takes place annually in Barcelona, Spain. It is the place to learn, network, and uncover trends.

Give up? Fair enough.

It’s the ISE (Integrated Systems Europe).

For a little over a year now, Balaklava Technology Simplified has called 20 Creighton Road in Walkerton home. Now, we’re ready for you to be part of the big reveal. Here are 3 reasons to spend part of your Maundy Thursday in Walkerton at Balaklava Technology Simplified’s Grand Opening. Plus, be one of the first 30 to arrive and you’ll get extra-special swag.

1) Curiosity Killed the Cat

Curiosity may have killed the cat, but for humans, it can be a very good, mind-expanding trait. Research shows that curious folks tend to be happy folks. Why not aim for “higher levels of positive emotions, lower levels of anxiety, more satisfaction with life, and greater psychological well-being”? As Balaklava’s building evolved, you watched excavators dig, foundations poured, and trusses set in place. Now you get a chance to see the finished product!

“We’ve come a long way,” remarks Owner and President Mark Pinder.  “We outgrew our Mildmay space, we were out of parking, office and warehouse space. We’d love for you to tour our new 4,500-square-foot facility. Including the meeting and conference rooms in our high-tech Business Center.”

Go ahead and give in. Head to Balaklava’s Grand Opening on April 17 between 2:00 and 8:00 pm. Need another reason?

Take Your Meetings to a New Level of Productivity with Balaklava’s Assistance

In the modern workplace, online conference calls and Zoom presentations are common. Some business managers and employees in Guelph, Ontario, and beyond may be wondering if the traditional conference room has become a thing of the past.

In actuality, commercial audio and video solutions are needed to take the traditional conference room or boardroom experience to a new level. Collaboration and brainstorming improve, productivity skyrockets, and employees trust their managers in new ways. Instead of having everyone in their cubicle taking web calls on their laptops, bring them together in the conference room for a fully-fledged brainstorming session where they can see, hear, and interact with their remote counterparts more effectively.

Keep reading below to learn how Balaklava can dramatically transform your office culture.