The Zoom arrangement for President Joe Biden begins with a $7,000 rollable touchscreen.
Zoomin’ like POTUS isn’t cheap, but it’s doable
President Joe Biden tweeted his Zoom gear on Friday, and it looked so amazing that I felt compelled to learn all I could about it. Of course, the message wasn’t about his video gear; it was to congratulate himself on reducing gas prices. But I’m not going to talk about it. I also don’t want to bring up the chart next to the screen, which was definitely placed there just for this shot and is quite amusing. I’d want to speak about the large easel-style Zoom equipment in front of Biden.
It stands to reason that politicians would have the greatest video chat equipment. Nobody has more to gain from appearing good on video, and no one has more to lose from a lost call, low-resolution cameras, or that thing where you can only hear half of what they say and wind up declaring Bitcoin the official currency of the United States. These days, zoom diplomacy is the name of the game, and you must bring your A-game. Furthermore, high-level government officials have been conducting video calls all around the world for many years. They understand how this works.
Gas prices are declining at one of the fastest rates we have seen in over a decade – we’re not letting up on our work to lower costs even further. pic.twitter.com/suEKuKXyKP
— President Biden (@POTUS) July 22, 2022
I believe Biden is looking at a Neat Board, which is manufactured by a Norwegian business that is just a few years old. The board is a video and collaboration device that features a 65-inch 4K screen, an integrated touchscreen and whiteboard tool, and a 12-megapixel camera with 4x digital zoom. It’s similar to Google’s Jamboard or Microsoft’s Surface Hub, and Neat’s equipment is compatible with both Teams and Zoom. (This one looks to be on Zoom, since the White House has been utilizing Zoom for Government for some time.) The entire setup in front of Biden is around six feet tall and weighs approximately 125 pounds. It also costs $7,280 in the configuration he has — albeit he doesn’t appear to be utilizing the $760 Scheduling Display or the $760 Controller, so he’s being fiscally responsible.
The White House must enjoy the device since it’s been rolling and swiveling in the Oval Office since shortly after Biden’s inauguration, facing either the office couch or Biden at the Resolute Desk. Neat acknowledged that it was a Neat Board at the time, albeit the business looked shocked to find their product in the Oval Office. (The corporation has yet to react to my comment request.) The entire arrangement is amazing, with Biden appearing at ease at his desk and the camera positioned such that he appears attentive but the participants aren’t staring up his nose. Inbox
But, Mr. President, if I may, I have a couple of notes. For one thing, you actually need a microphone on your desk: you’re a long way away from the microphone, and while Zoom and its partners have improved at isolating sounds, you’ll still sound like you’re yelling from the opposite side of a football field. Could one of the two desk phones be replaced with a dedicated Zoom mic? (Or simply include one into the Resolute Desk.) Rutherford B. Hayes, I’m sure, wouldn’t mind.) Also, add a few more elements to your background so it isn’t simply a flat-looking wall behind you. Maybe a plant or one of those massive flags that sit just behind you. While I’m about it, I might tidy up the desk a little. Or, at the very least, use a coaster with your coffee cup.
There are several video conferencing equipment throughout the White House these days. Biden appears to prefer setting up a high-end camera and feeding it into Zoom for the most formal and high-stakes events, much like he’s presenting a conventional TV broadcast. However, there is a very normal camera above a TV conferencing setup in the Roosevelt Room, and Biden always sits at the head of the table facing it. (There are also microphones on the table!) The Situation Room has a specialized system, and Camp David has a camera and a Sharp TV integrated into the wall as well. If the “democracy” thing fails, the White House would make an excellent WeWork.
I attempted to connect Biden’s setup to that of former President Donald Trump, mainly to no effect. Trump used to do video conferences from a massive apparatus in Mar-a-Lago before the outbreak, but now… I’m having trouble finding anything. Trump utilized video conferencing often, including from the Oval Office, but there is considerably less documentation of what he used. However, based on how he appears in various films and Zoom grids, it appears that he prefers the fancy camera method. And it looks like he preferred frequent phone conversations in the first place.
I’d propose former President Barack Obama’s arrangement for a more manageable presidential Zoom rig: an iPad on a stand. Obama may be seen video chatting from his desk with an iPad Pro on an adjustable desk stand in a recent video. I can’t say for sure, but I believe it’s the Lisen Tablet Stand, which costs $24 on Amazon. It’s not quite as good as Biden’s arrangement, and we continue to have mixed thoughts about Center Stage on the iPad, but it’s still far superior to your laptop.
Oh, and here’s the most essential thing you can take away from the president’s Zoom behavior: turn off your self-awareness. Biden’s own stream was absent from nearly every video conference I could find. It’s healthier for your mental health, better for your attention, and simply better than starring at oneself all day. Even as president, none of us need to see more of our own faces.