I'm on the lookout for a straightforward display solution to show the availability of meeting rooms. My ideal setup would integrate with an Office 365 calendar to provide real-time information on scheduling and availability. I want to repurpose an old iPad as the display panel, so a web-based interface is a must. Since users will book the meeting room through Outlook, there's no need for a touch interface or user interaction. Any suggestions? Thanks!
5 Answers
At my last job, we used Joan tablets for this. They’re wireless with e-ink screens, super long battery life, and they integrate with Office 365 for room scheduling. Just a heads up, there was a pretty pricey subscription fee, but we ran the server on-site, which saved some cash. You can disable the touchscreen if you want that feature.
For what it's worth, we also used Joan panels, but they don't support onsite servers anymore, unfortunately.
To set it up quickly, just open the calendar on your iPad in any live app you prefer. Use Guided Access on the iPad to lock it down and eliminate touch capabilities. Just ensure that the user account you're using to access the calendar doesn't get hit by MFA!
If your workplace uses Zoom, consider setting up a Zoom Rooms Scheduling Display. It works with hardware from companies like Yealink and Neat.
Check out Microsoft Teams Panels specifically made for this setup. They provide a robust solution for displaying meeting room availability and scheduling needs. You can find more info in the Microsoft Learn documentation.
If you already have an iPad, just load the Outlook or Teams app and leave it in the calendar tab. If you want to get fancy, enroll it in Intune and set it up in single app kiosk mode!
Thanks for the tip! However, I'm not a fan of the Outlook calendar interface. Is there a simpler, more user-friendly display app or web interface available?
That pricing is killer! We're trying out TRMNL devices now, which are way cheaper and integrate well with published Outlook calendars. They have a slight bug with date sorting they’re fixing, but if you don’t need touch, it’s worth looking into. Just be cautious since they're a newer company.