Diversity

ANAHEIM, Calif., Oct. 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) today unveiled the next milestone of its ongoing work with NVIDIA to deliver AI-powered meetings for hybrid workers. Cisco announced the launch of Room Kit EQX and the expansion of its Cinematic Meetings capabilities — both powered by NVIDIA’s AI engine — with the goal of enhancing collaboration experiences with audio and video intelligence and enabling more equitable hybrid meetings. The Room Kit EQX is a new, integrated collaboration solution that allows customers to deploy beautiful, future-of-meeting rooms simply and consistently across sites. “In order for people to want to come to the office, companies must fundamentally reimagine and reconfigure workspaces to provide seamless and immersive collaboration experience,” said Jeetu Patel, Executive Vice President and General Manager, Cisco Security and Collaboration. “Our collaboration with NVIDIA helps make this possible as we expand our portfolio of AI-powered solutions that unlock the potential of hybrid workers.” The integration of video devices supporting AI and machine learning is critical to ensuring the longevity of investments made to deliver hybrid work experiences. The tight integration of Cisco’s world-class hardware, leading conference room operating system, RoomOS, and NVIDIA’s AI capabilities allows Cisco to deliver the industry’s most capable AI and machine learning platform— enabling 20x the AI capabilities of previous generations. “Edge AI is playing a vital role in bringing autonomy and improving productivity across many industries,” said Deepu Talla, Vice President of Embedded and Edge Computing, NVIDIA. “Cisco and NVIDIA have been pioneering the use of AI to enhance collaboration in the workplace, and the new line of products will bring transformative technology to this space.” Room Kit EQX = Beautiful, Future-of-Meeting Rooms Cisco has reimagined its portfolio of devices with NVIDIA AI modules, featuring solutions for any cost point and workspace. The highest priority for many customers is refreshing medium to large spaces, which are often flagship rooms for high-stakes meetings. Up until now, video-enabling these spaces has been complex, requiring integrators to stitch together multiple audio, video and furniture components, and requiring a specialist on-site to deploy. The Room Kit EQX is a new, integrated collaboration solution that allows customers to deploy beautiful, future-of-meeting rooms simply and consistently across sites. Benefits for hybrid workers include: Simplified deployment and maintenance: Customers benefit from flexible mounting options, including wall-mounted or free-standing, in some cases eliminating the need for permits and added building costs. This device also eliminates the need for patchwork speaker solutions, mounting options and furniture enclosures, reducing both time and cost to deploy flagship spaces. Advanced audiovisual capabilities: Leveraging the NVIDIA Jetson edge AI platform to power advanced camera, audio and speech intelligence, the EQX reduces the feeling of distance between in-person and remote participants. Interoperability across platforms: On RoomOS mode, the EQX features native Webex Meetings and powerful video interoperability with third-party meeting platforms. The EQX also natively supports Microsoft Teams Rooms augmented with the full-featured Webex Meetings. Unified management and security: IT admins can take advantage of device management and workspace analytics capabilities in Cisco Control Hub. The Room Kit EQX is available now. Please see here for more information. Cinematic Meetings through Distance Zero With an increasingly digitized and globalized workforce, meetings where everyone is physically present are no longer the norm. Cisco’s Cinematic Meetings capabilities leverage an NVIDIA Jetson system-on-module to deliver collaboration experiences that reduce the impact of distance and make all meeting attendees feel like they’re in the room, even if they aren’t, a concept Cisco is calling Distance Zero. To create more equitable and inclusive meeting experiences for all meeting attendees, Cisco is bringing Distance Zero experiences to new workspaces and use cases: New immersive workspace setups: Cisco is unveiling the blueprint for an all-new campfire-like boardroom experience. At the center of the configuration are four quad cameras and screens at eye-level, all configured in a circular arrangement to provide an immersive view of the content and remote participants. To ensure an equitable and inclusive experience, this setup creates the feeling of face-to-face collaboration for remote and in-person attendees alike. Hybrid presentations: Customers can now experience cinematic meetings in auditorium and training style rooms. Cisco devices seamlessly switch cameras and views to provide remote participants with the best view of speakers, their content and close-up audience reactions. And in a new hybrid presenter mode, a remote and an in-room speaker can easily take the stage together for virtually in-person hybrid presentations. These solutions are generally available. Please see here for more information. Continued Collaboration Between Cisco and NVIDIA Cisco and NVIDIA have worked together since 2015— years ahead of today’s AI boom— to create various industry-leading devices that address some of the biggest challenges of workplace collaboration including meeting equity and video fatigue. We look forward to continued efforts to empower today’s flexible workforce with innovative AI-powered solutions for seamless collaboration. About CiscoCisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) is the worldwide technology leader that securely connects everything to make anything possible. Our purpose is to power an inclusive future for all by helping our customers reimagine their applications, power hybrid work, secure their enterprise, transform their infrastructure, and meet their sustainability goals. Discover more on The Newsroom and follow us on X at @Cisco. Cisco and the Cisco logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Cisco and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and other countries. A listing of Cisco’s trademarks can be found at www.cisco.com/go/trademarks. About Webex by CiscoWebex is a leading provider of cloud-based collaboration solutions which includes video meetings, calling, messaging, events, polling, asynchronous video and customer experience solutions like contact center and purpose-built collaboration devices. Webex’s focus on delivering inclusive collaboration experiences fuels our innovation, which leverages AI and Machine Learning, to remove the barriers of geography, language, personality, and familiarity with technology. Its solutions are underpinned with security and privacy by design. Webex works with the world’s leading business and productivity apps – delivered through a single application and interface. Learn more at webex.com. SOURCE Cisco Systems, Inc.

Hockey Canada Releases Statement on Path Forward for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, Along with Commitment to Action. CALGARY, AB— Hockey Canada has released its inaugural Path Forward for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI), accompanied by a Commitment to Action statement that encapsulates the organization’s ongoing endeavors to enact lasting and transformative change within Canada’s hockey ecosystem. The EDI Path Forward underscores three pivotal areas adaptable to cater to distinct requirements at all levels and regions across Canada: individuals, the customer community, and the brand. Alongside the Commitment to Action statement, the document encompasses the guiding inquiries that steered this significant undertaking, a set of 13 objectives slated for accomplishment over the next two years, and the Hockey Canada manifesto. Denise Pattyn, Senior Vice President of People, Culture, and Inclusion at Hockey Canada, remarked, “This Path Forward reinforces our dedication to advancing diversity and inclusion across the organization and throughout the members nationwide. It is indispensable to cultivating an all-encompassing environment, fostering growth and retention within the sport throughout the country, and leveraging our platform for societal impact.” She continued, “We firmly believe that nurturing a diverse and inclusive culture is an ongoing journey, and I am utterly confident that leadership across the nation will effectively guide us toward the necessary trajectory for this crucial collaborative effort.” Spanning the three core domains, the document outlines 45 actions accompanied by corresponding gauges and timelines that will collectively fortify hockey, ensuring its heightened accessibility and Hockey Canada’s fulfillment of its mission to lead, foster, and champion positive hockey experiences for all who consider Canada their home. “Through input and insight from Hockey Canada’s EDI Advisory Group, a collection of Hockey Canada staff members and external subject matter experts, this document outlines Hockey Canada’s Path Forward in ensuring our game is diverse, welcoming, and inclusive for all,” said Irfan Chaudhry, vice-president of diversity and inclusion for Hockey Canada. “By focusing on these efforts, Hockey Canada will be able to support inclusive practices, attract and retain a diverse workforce, invest to combat all forms of discrimination, and engage with our diverse communities across the country to help Make Hockey More.” The entire Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Path Forward can be downloaded here. For more information on Hockey Canada, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow along through social media on Facebook, X, and Instagram.