User:Matthew.Benner/sandbox/Haverford Systems

Haverford Systems is an audiovisual production and installation company divided into five brands: PTZOptics, for PTZ camera and accessory manufacturing ; HuddleCamHD, for webcam and accessory manufacturing and distribution ; Conference Room Systems, an eCommerce site for audiovisual equipment for businesses ; The StreamGeeks, a live streaming show about broadcasting featuring Paul Richards and Tess Protesto and produced Michael Luttermoser ; and Haverford Systems Integration, an audiovisual installation company for large projects.

History
Haverford Systems Inc. (HSI) was established in 1987 as a microcomputer company providing computers, peripherals and services in the Philadelphia region. The company was founded by Hugh William Richards when was twenty-five years old. Married to Eileen Richards, who was pregnant with Paul William Richards when they started the company, Hugh had been a computer salesman for Businessland in Philadelphia and The Computer Store in Haverford prior to starting HSI (named after the town where Hugh and Eileen met while working across the street from each other on Haverford Station Road). While visiting customers for Businessland, Hugh kept getting requests from customers for the Kodak Datashow, a new device just hitting the market that was an LCD panel that could project computer displays using an overhead projector. Hugh brought this opportunity to his employer's attention but Businessland was not interested in selling the Kodak Datashow, which motivated Hugh to start a business blending microcomputer with audio visual solutions. Business was slow at first; only a few customers who placed orders for the Datashow. As this preceded the internet, Hugh spent his days prospecting by either making phone calls or going door to door through business parks, and the financial lifeline was credit card debt. But slowly, as a result of resolve and persistence, HSI earned orders and customers. It would turn out that the Kodak Datashow would become a hot seller, with demand for the device driven by a need to share information for training and presentations. Microcomputers were starting to arrive at every desk, replacing typewriters and empowering the workforce with new productivity. Audio-visuals and microcomputers were coming together as a joint force in the new world of organizational communications, and there were no companies in place to deliver the new and emerging solutions from Kodak and their upcoming competitors. Within a few years, demand became so high that tractor trailers were arriving at HSI full of equipment that would then get turned around for delivery the following day. Major corporations were equipping their entire sale forces with laptops, LCD panels and overhead projectors to create what were then called "Road Warriors”. HSI was so sought after by the manufacturers of LCD panels and projectors to represent them that, at one point, HSI had approximately 20 salespeople with offices in NYC, North Jersey, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Pittsburgh and Chicago. HSI also anticipated that the emergence of the internet would change how companies sourced products and solutions; however, in just a few short years, sales had begun to evaporate, and it became almost impossible to make profitable sales because of the intense competition coming from the internet. Fortunately, HSI had prepared in advance to use its considerable war chest to build an audio-visual design and installation company. Companies and organizations had been moving quickly in the direction of equipping conference and board rooms with audio-visual technology, and this provided HSI with ample opportunity to stay in business and thrive once again. The people of Haverford Systems Inc., many whom have spent their entire careers at HSI, are committed to providing the very best customer experiences. While the audio-visual design and installation business has seen constant change and intense competition, HSI has always been able to maintain its loyal customers as a result of their unwavering commitment to honesty, decency, service and quality – including customers that bought computers from Hugh while he was at Businessland, some thirty years later. In 2015, Paul William Richards began working for HSI upon graduating from college. Paul wanted HSI to enter the eCommerce business and suggested selling cameras for web video conferencing; HSI concluded that the best path forward was to create and build their own brands: Conference Room Systems (for eCommerce), HuddleCamHD (for webcams), PTZOptics (for live streaming productions), and Haverford Systems Integration (for large office installs). To support the brands, a world class marketing organization was built from scratch; and they also built an international dealer and distribution network to sell the products and brands. But business is about change. Businesses that thrive and survive are the ones who both run their operations at the highest standards while simultaneously envisioning and building their future success. Business is about decency. It is about competition and winning and learning from losses. Business is fairness for everyone involved be it employees, customers and the community. Haverford Systems Inc. means business.

PTZOptics
PTZOptics is a U.S. based company headquartered in Downingtown, Pennsylvania that manufactures Pan Tilt Zoom (PTZ) cameras with various combinations of HDMI, SDI, USB 3.0, and IP Streaming at resolutions up to 1080p60, targeting professional broadcast, streaming, and video conferencing markets. It was founded in 2014 by Hugh Richards and a group of engineers from Haverford Systems. PTZOptics camera line consists of four pan tilt zoom cameras with HDMI, HD-SDI, USB 3.0, IP Streaming and/or CVBS video outputs. The ability to stream video and audio from every camera is a unique feature for PTZOptics which allows camera control from any computer on the same network or android device with the PTZOptics camera app. PTZOptics USB camera models support UVC camera control allowing users to control pan, tilt, zoom and presets via a single USB camera connection. Milton Chen CEO of VSee, a popular Telemedicine provider announced on August 10th 2015, “Far End Camera Control is now available with VSee & PTZOptics.” PTZOptics is also considered one of the best webcams for video calling by VSee. PTZOptics UVC camera control supports both absolute and relative controls for integration with web based video conferencing software.

Products
PTZOptics makes cameras with HDMI, SDI, USB 3.0, NDI and IP streaming video outputs that can be controlled remotely by serial, UVC and IP controllers as well as Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Amazon Kindle, or Android devices. Camera integrations include industry's leading video production software such as Live Stream Studio, TriCaster, MimoLive, Wirecast, vMix and OBS.

SDI Models are specially designed with either 12x/20x/30x optical zoom with up to 1080p-60 resolution and direct streaming from camera (h.264 and h.265); with HDMI, 3G-SDI, PoE, serial and IP Control.

NDI Models have integrated license compatibility with NewTekTM’s NDI Technology and includes 12x/20x/30x optical zoom.

USB Models are designed for USB 3.0, with either a wide-angle 12x or 20x optical zoom, includes in-camera IP streaming (h.264 and h.265) and HDMI outputs as well as serial, UVC and IP control with the same 1080p-60p image quality as the SDI models.

ZCam Models are “box” style cameras with an interchangeable fixed lens (4x wide-angle manual zoom focus lens included), an integrated 12x optical zoom, or an integrated 20x optical zoom up to 1080p-60 resolution, as well as serial and IP control.

PTZOptics also designs their accessories, such as the IP Joystick Controller (IP-JOY) now in generation 3 and designed to support PTZ camera control for a video producer over the network.

PTZOptics also includes a weekly show talking all things streaming, using a simple and effective setup ⁠— a table and monitor, flanked by the hosts ⁠⁠— "a valuable reminder that you don’t need an elaborate studio to create a welcoming environment." The show is hosted by Paul Richards and Tess Protesto and produced by Mike Luttermoser from their studio in West Chester, PA.

HuddleCamHD
HuddleCamHD operates out of Downingtown, Pennsylvania. It manufactures both wireless and wired webcams with pan, tilt, and optical zoom capabilities, as well as speakerphones. CEO Hugh Richards started HuddleCamHD with over 30 years of audiovisual experience and notes “helping organizations navigate the move to cloud based video conferencing will be the main focus for HuddleCamHD.” They released their first wireless USB 3.0 conference camera, called the HuddleCam Air, in March of 2015 at the Enterprise Connect show in Orlando, FL. In June of 2015, HuddleCamHD was selected to be in InfoComm’s 2015 Innovation Showcase to demonstrate the world’s first “zero-latency” wireless USB conference camera. The HuddleCamHD Air was demonstrated live at InfoComm 2015 using the 5 Ghz wireless transmission system to demonstrate the near “zero-latency” required to sync video and audio.

In September 2015, HuddleCamHD released a wireless speakerphone called the HuddlePod Air, one of the industry's first wireless USB speakerphones utilizing 2.4 Ghz wireless spectrum. Rave Publications, a leading publication agency in the audiovisual industry, interviewed lead engineer Matthew Davis to review the new product line up at InfoComm 2015. Initially, HuddleCamHD featured a set of eight USB connected conference cameras built for use with web conferencing software but the company has since expanded to include wireless USB conferencing products that serve the same market.

Conference Room Systems
Conference Room Systems (CRS) is a U.S-based company operating from Downingtown, Pennsylvania that provides online video conferencing hardware and software solutions. Started in 2013 as a DBA “Doing Business As”, it is an eCommerce company offering (primarily DIY) audiovisual equipment for organizations.

Conference Room Systems customers encompass most major verticals including: Broadcast, Corporate, Education, Healthcare, House of Worship, and others. CEO Hugh Richards talks about the CRS approach to the market: “CRS is meant to serve our customers who want a self-serve video conferencing equipment supplier that specializes in online video conferencing. CRS has sales, support and audiovisual repair departments dedicated to cloud-based equipment services like Zoom, Google Hangouts, and Skype for Business.”

As explained by Levi Davis, current head of CRS, another “major distinction is that many of our customers do not consider themselves to be tech-savvy (in a modern sense). Our team is happy to assist with connecting the dots and determine the best solution for their specific scenario.” CRS staff and engineers test products in-house before they are added to the site, to ensure that all listings are effective and reasonably priced. The site is searchable and segmented into categories based on a customer’s individual needs, with staff available by phone and email. Again by Levi Davis: “By focusing on our central markets and audiences, making adjustments relative to market developments, educating staff appropriately on products and how they should be offered, and increasing our opportunities via advertising, marketing, and industry representation, CRS will remain in a strong position to offer a wide-variety of high-quality audiovisual solutions to our customers.”

Partners include BTX, CatchBox, Decimator, HRT, Nureva, PanaCast, PanaVise, Acoustic Magic, Barco, C2G, Cambridge Sound Management, Cerevo, Chief, Crestron, Epiphan, FTDI, HavaVision, Haverford Systems, HoverCam, HuddleCamHD, Icron, Iluminari, InFocus, Inogeni, Intel, Jelco, Logitech, Magewell, Matrox, Mersive, Microsoft, Phoenix Audio Technologies, PTZOptics, Qomo, Revolabs, Samson, Sharp, Siig, Sony, Sound Control Technologies, Telestream, Vaddio, vMix, Yamaha, Zoom.

References LinkedIN - https://www.linkedin.com/company/conference-room-systems

Haverford Systems - https://haverford.com/conference-room-systems/

Zoom.US - http://blog.zoom.us/wordpress/2014/11/13/5-lessons-conference-room-webinar/

Spiceworks - https://community.spiceworks.com/pages/haverford

Google Play ID - https://play.google.com/store/apps/developer?id=Conference+Room+Systems

Epiphan Partnership - http://www.epiphan.com/partners/where-to-buy/

ShopperApproved - http://www.shopperapproved.com/reviews/conferenceroomsystems.com/

IT Business Net- http://www.itbusinessnet.com/article/ConferenceRoomSystemscom-adds-cloud-based-Zoom-Video-Conferencing-Product-Line-to-eCommerce-Store-4098723

Consumer Electronic Net - http://www.consumerelectronicsnet.com/articles/viewarticle.jsp?id=4098723

Wayne Berry Top Gun WebTV - http://www.topgunba.com.au/top-gun-webtv-eye-on-the-future/

Stream Semester - https://www.streamsemester.com/articles/company-profile-conference-room-systems-crs?rq=conference%20room%20systems

For Press Release - https://www.forpressrelease.com/forpressrelease/152142/4/conferenceroomsystemscom-turns-2-years-old

The StreamGeeks
The StreamGeeks are a group of video production experts dedicated to helping businesses discover the power of live streaming. The StreamGeeks have an impressive following and a tight-knit online community which they serve through consultations and live shows that continue to inspire, motivate, and inform business owners who refuse to settle for mediocrity.

References

https://dailydigitaldeals.info/enjoy-the-benefits-of-live-streaming-for-your-business-and-shows-with-streamgeeks/

https://www.raondigital.com/be-a-part-of-streamgeeks-summit-and-know-the-world-of-live-streaming/

https://elucidmagazine.com/index.php/lifestyle/item/1101-first-of-its-kind-live-streaming-educational-summit-coming-to-new-york-city

https://www.thebaynet.com/community/education/first-of-its-kind-live-streaming-educational-summit-coming-to-new-york-city.html

https://newyorkfollow.com/sponsored-content/first-of-its-kind-live-streaming-educational-summit-coming-to-new-york-city/

https://www.techacrobat.com/streamgeeks-summit/

https://schoolvideonews.com/teachers-mainmenu-28/books-mainmenu-41/2346-accelerated-broadcast-curridulum.html

https://www.broadcastbeat.com/the-streamgeek-summit-is-headed-to-new-york-city/

https://www.studentfilmmakers.com/student-programs-for-live-streaming-education-at-the-streamgeeks-summit/

Recognition
In 2020, PTZOptics was voted #1 Webcam in Stream Media Magazine. It won the Streaming Media Readers’ Choice Awards in 2018 and it was the runner up in 2017 alongside Panasonic. It was also listed in the Streaming Media List of the 100 Companies That Matter Most in Online Video.''