Norma Lovhaugen, head of product at Oslo-based Neat, said in an email interview late last month that the company’s company: modus operandi is to “create elegant video collaboration devices and unique, rich, and comprehensive meeting experiences.”
For the purposes of this column, the valid word in that sentence is “inclusive.” Lovhaugen and Neat’s team not only builds high-end video conferencing equipment, they do it with a focus on empathy. Institutionally speaking, Lofhaugen tells me that prioritizing DEI is a “key part” of NEET’s corporate culture, adding that inclusivity is critical to customers, especially those within the company. Ta.
“Our diverse backgrounds, capabilities and ideas enable us to deliver innovative devices designed to support fair and inclusive workplace and education organizations,” said Lofhaugen.
Since its founding in 2019, Neat has been building software and hardware products designed for video conferencing. Clients include his HubSpot and Rakuten. In the context of accessibility, Lovhaugen explained that Neat’s overarching goal is to make video conferencing kits accessible and inclusive for everyone with a variety of disabilities. The main reason for this, she said, is that the company recognizes the importance of building strong connections between remote and in-person workers. These bridges are important for fluid collaboration, and often people with disabilities are responsible for working from home. Lovhaugen pointed out that her Neat products are plentiful and aim to make collaboration more accessible. These include her Neat Boundary, which limits distractions, and her Neat Board, which allows anyone to collaborate whether sitting or standing. Regarding the software, Lofhaugen said NEET’s audio processing technology helps make dialogue more understandable and audible by amplifying audio while ignoring background noise.
This very Apple-like vertical integration of hardware and software is what sets Neat apart from its competitors in the video conferencing space. Organizations like Zoom “are not going to be in the hardware business,” Lovhaugen said. Nevertheless, as a partner, Neat can enhance Zoom’s capabilities with unique technology that improves the overall user experience for people.
“NEET continues to deliver an accessible, adaptable hardware and software experience that changes with the needs of the moment, transforming any space into a space of relevance,” says Lofhaugen of NEET’s mission. talked about. “Devices and software from Neat deliver engaging collaboration experiences, unleashing creativity and empowering teams to work how and where they want.”
When asked to explain NEET’s philosophy on diversity and inclusion for accessibility, Lovhaugen reiterated the idea that inclusivity is integral to the company’s ethos. He added that offices are “quickly becoming collaboration destinations,” with hybrid and remote workers joining in for things like team building. She says the organization has put a lot of effort into “.[curating] Our selection of collaboration, workplace management, and productivity solutions promise to keep your employees fully engaged and effective. ” Regarding accessibility, Lovhaugen alluded to the fact that working from a distance was in fashion long before the word became popular. coronavirus In short, many in the disability community, myself included, have been working remotely long before COVID-19 required society as a whole to do so. Mr. Lovhaugen believes that the modern wonders of the Internet allow people, whether individuals or groups, to work together. Lovhaugen explained that NEET’s hope is that companies don’t reflexively revert to pre-pandemic norms simply because of the comfort and familiarity inherent in precedent. The truth of the matter is that members of the disability community are redefining what work looks like out of necessity, innovating in terms of accommodations and accessibility, in exactly the same way that the virus has forced them to do so. This means that we have paved the way. The big difference is that while society as a whole has only been exposed to accessibility challenges to a small extent, people with disabilities have been exposed to accessibility challenges for most, if not all, of their lives. And this is why the outbreak of the pandemic is an event that causes massive disruption, causing such illness for many people and a complete readjustment to the “new normal” in terms of life (including work) and livelihoods. It does not take into account the fact that they were forced to. Find a way to cope.
Neat’s attitude towards its products reflects the changed landscape.
“Collaboration is more than just meetings, and it’s time to give teams the flexibility to collaborate where and how they want,” Lofhaugen said. “At Neat, we are committed to providing our customers with the flexibility, accessibility and simplicity they need to succeed now and in the future.”
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