The Complete Guide to 360 Degree Cameras for Conference Rooms: Features & Benefits

News / 24.03.25

As hybrid work environments continue to rise, the role of video conferencing technology has never been more essential. The integration of in-person and remote participants presents a unique set of challenges, especially when it comes to creating an inclusive and effective communication experience for everyone involved. This is where the advanced 360-degree camera comes into play, revolutionising the way meetings are conducted.


While traditional front-facing cameras have served their purpose, the 36-degree camera brings a new level of interactivity and engagement, ensuring that remote participants are just as involved as those sitting in the room. By capturing every participant in the room clearly, the 360-degree camera enhances the quality of communication and elevates the overall hybrid meeting experience.


The Role of 360-Degree Camera in Hybrid Workspaces

Recent studies have shown that 70% of organisations are adopting hybrid meeting formats, and almost all are leveraging video conferencing tools to stay connected. As businesses continue to embrace hybrid work models, the need for effective tools that bridge the gap between in-office and remote participants becomes increasingly important. This is where the 360-degree camera plays a transformative role.


These cameras are not just a trend - they are quickly becoming an essential tool in ensuring equitable participation and engagement in hybrid meetings. The 36-degree camera is a breakthrough in meeting room technology, designed to enhance the visibility of all attendees, making it easier for remote participants to connect with those in the room.


Industries Using 360 Degree Cameras

The versatility of the 360-degree camera that makes it an ideal solution for various sectors, including:


  • Enterprises with hybrid workplaces: Ensures that all participants, whether remote or in-person, are visible and engaged
  • Educational institutions: Helps enrich the learning experience by ensuring that all students, regardless of their location, can fully participate
  • Event organisers: Enhances webinar and workshop experience by creating an immersive, interactive environment for remote participants


How Does the 360-Degree Camera Work?

At its core, a 360-degree camera is a sophisticated multi-lens camera system designed to capture a panoramic view of an entire room. These cameras typically consist of four cameras working in tandem to create a seamless 360-degree video feed. The system “stitches” the individual views from each camera together, allowing for a complete, unbroken image that includes every attendee in the meeting.


  • These cameras are often equipped with artificial intelligence (AI), enabling smart features such as:
  • Smart Gallery view: The AI detects and frames the faces of all attendees, arranging them in a grid to ensure that everyone is visible
  • Speaker Tracking: AI helps the camera focus on whoever is speaking, enhancing the flow of conversation and ensuring that remote participants can follow the discussion seamlessly


The strategic placement of the camera in the room is also key to its functionality. Positioned at the centre of the table, the 360-degree camera captures each participant head-on, ensuring that no one is missed and that all facial expressions and non-verbal cues are visible to remote attendees.


Key Features of the 360 Degree Camera

The power of the 360-degree camera lies in its dynamic adaptability.


Full-View Mode

This mode stitches together the inputs from all four cameras to create a comprehensive, wide-angle image that encompasses every participant in the room. This is particularly useful when you want to capture the entire dynamic meeting, offering remote participants a complete view of the room.


Smart Gallery Mode

One of the most advanced features, Smart Gallery Mode uses AI to detect and highlight the faces of all attendees. It arranges them into a grid, making it easy to see each participant at the same size and distance, whether they’re speaking or not. This mode ensures that remote attendees can engage in the conversation just as easily as those in the room.


Speaker Tracking Mode

This feature automatically shifts the focus to whoever is speaking. It’s especially useful in dynamic meetings where multiple participants are talking or interjecting. The camera quickly identifies the active speaker and adjusts its focus, ensuring that remote participants don’t miss out on the conservation.


These features work together to provide a more natural and dynamic meeting experience, where every participant, regardless of location, is seen clearly and equally.


Integrating 360-degree Cameras with Advanced Video Conferencing Setups

The integration of 360-degree cameras into video conferencing systems can vary depending on the size of the meeting room and the specific needs of the organisation. For example, in large meeting spaces, a multi-camera setup can be used alongside the 360-degree camera to provide a more comprehensive view.


Some conferencing systems, like Microsoft Teams Rooms (MTR), support only a single-camera setup. In these cases, integrating a 360-degree camera requires additional processing power to merge inputs from multiple cameras. This can be done with an external device that combines the feeds into one cohesive system, ensuring that remote participants receive a smooth and high-quality video experience.


Multi-Camera Setup

In a multi-camera configuration, the 360-degree camera is placed a the centre of the room, capturing the faces of participants in a similar perspective and distance. This setup eliminates the inconsistencies in face resolution and ensures that everyone is seen clearly, regardless of where they’re sitting in the room. The front-room camera captures the overall room setup, providing context and a sense of the meeting’s dynamics, particularly during presentations.


  • Enhanced Meeting Equity: All participants, whether remote or in-person, are displayed equally to remote viewers
  • Better Visual Quality: The 360-degree camera ensures that each participant’s face is shown clearly, regardless of their position in the room
  • Cost Efficiency: Combining a 360-degree camera with a more affordable front-room camera offers a superior experience at a lower cost


Benefits of 360-Degree Cameras in Hybrid Meetings


Enhanced Meeting Equity

By offering an equally balanced view of all participants, the 360-degree camera ensures that remote attendees have the same visibility into the room as those who are physically present. This fosters a sense of inclusivity and promotes more natural interactions.


Improved Communication

With the ability to capture every facial experience and gesture, the 360-degree camera enhances non-verbal communication. Since 55% of human communication is non-verbal, this clarity is crucial in building trust and understanding during meetings.


Cost-Effectiveness

While multi-camera setups can be expensive, integrating a 360-degree camera with a front-room camera allows organisations to enjoy a superior conferencing experience without breaking the budget. The resulting hybrid system offers both high-quality visuals and effective collaboration tools.


Seamless Setup and Use

Most modern 360-degree cameras are designed to be easy to install and use, ensuring that they don’t add unnecessary complexity to the meeting room setup. The integration with existing video conferencing systems is usually smooth, with automated features that require minimal user intervention.