Lightspeed, the leading developer of instructional audio solutions to foster equal access to learning, has recently introduced Cascadia, a networked audio platform for K-12 schools. The newly unveiled technology enables easy projection of the teacher’s voice, immediate communication outside the classroom and assistance in an emergency.
According to the company, the teacher wears the device on a lanyard, and the platform produces low-volume, clear sound regardless of a student’s placement in the classroom. The platform is also suitable for a school’s safety and communication systems, such as paging, intercom, and phone systems. Teachers can make two-way calls to the office from anywhere in the building and send silent, mobile, or emergency alerts. It also links to the school’s front office and triggers an alert on the Cascadia web console, displaying the location and type of emergency, allowing for centralized control.
The Cascadia platform provides:
- Timely alerts from anywhere in the building
- Communication to the office with two-way calling
- Real-time teacher location during an active alert
- Power over Ethernet Plus (PoE+) to leverage network infrastructure
- Integration with classroom multimedia
- Student sharing with Sharemike
Commenting on the newly launched platform, Shaun Fagan, Senior Vice President of Product, Lightspeed, said:
The need for teachers to communicate with resources outside of the classroom continues to grow, whether in an emergency or when help is needed. With Cascadia, schools can now meet this need by providing teachers with a communication tool that offers mobility, simplicity, and immediacy.
Fagan added:
By integrating with leading life-safety and building communication providers, our solutions allow schools to leverage their existing investments and build the best systems to meet their needs.
This networked communication system can enhance safety measures and procedures for students and parents. According to Safe and Sound Schools’ 2022 State of School Safety Report, 87% of students, 96% of parents, and 98% of educators believe school safety is paramount.
Lightspeed strives to ensure that every student hears every word. To that aim, the firm has provided powerful educational audio solutions to K-12 institutions worldwide for over 30 years. Each device promotes communication and collaboration by producing crystal-clear, low-volume, and highly understandable audio. The organization delivers solutions for various learning situations, including whole- and small-group, distance, and hybrid training. Lightspeed is passionate about its service culture and continues to advance the lives of educators and students through its products, research, and collaborations.