Georgetown, Del., July 21, 2015: Sussex County Council’s weekly residence has undergone a major technology reboot – call it Council Chambers 2.0.

County Administrator Todd F. Lawson and members of the County’s IT staff demonstrated various technology upgrades during the Council’s Tuesday, July 21, 2015, meeting. The upgrades, as well as the installation of new carpet and paint, all of which were performed over the past month and a half, are the most significant improvements to the meeting space since the County Administrative Offices building opened nearly 20 years ago.

The upgrades include four high-definition displays, new digital audio, a SMART Podium™ annotation system, enhanced cameras and improved streaming, and the ability to broadcast presentations, such as PowerPoint files, so viewers can watch what is displayed in chambers.

“This entire project is about enhancing the user experience, whether in chambers or online,” Mr. Lawson said. “The experience should be high quality, professional, and convenient, and we believe these upgrades fulfill that mission and will improve access for the customers we serve.”

Monitors include 65-inch, 75-inch, and 90-inch displays, which combined cover the entire room and the various viewing angles within the chambers. Meantime, the audio upgrade, from an analog system to a digital-signal-processing system, will produce a richer sound and allow those using hearing devices, as well as broadcast media, the ability to directly tap the audio feed.

Another key improvement includes the ability to live stream meetings for the first time to Apple’s iOS mobile devices, such as iPhones and iPads, as well as PC and Mac computers. To access the chambers broadcast, visit sussexcountyde.gov/council-chamber-broadcast.

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