top of page
Search

The Modern Meeting Room: How Interactive Displays Enable True Collaboration

ree

By Sarah Drysdale, COO and Head of Product, CommBox

This is the first article in my new weekly series on Collaboration Enabled Spaces. Each week, I’ll explore how modern workplaces can use technology and thoughtful design to build spaces where collaboration actually works.


If your team spends too much time setting up meetings, fighting with cables or switching between whiteboards and screens, this series is for you. Collaboration Enabled Spaces are not about adding more devices. They are about creating rooms where people and technology work together naturally.

What is a Collaboration Enabled Space

A Collaboration Enabled Space is a modern workplace environment that supports seamless communication and teamwork. It combines the right physical setup with the right digital tools so that people can walk into a room, connect instantly and start sharing ideas.


In most workplaces, the centre of this space should be an interactive display.

What an interactive display does

An interactive display replaces the old mix of projector, whiteboard and television with a single, touch-enabled screen that allows users to write, annotate and share content in real time.

With a CommBox interactive display, you can:

  • Write or draw directly on the screen using your finger or a stylus

  • Annotate over websites, documents or on video calls

  • Share your laptop or mobile screen wirelessly

  • Save and share meeting notes instantly

The goal is simple: to remove friction from collaboration so teams can focus on ideas instead of managing technology.

The CommBox range

CommBox designs interactive displays in Australia and New Zealand for both education and enterprise. In business settings, the focus is on reliability, security and ease of use.

CommBox Classic S5

The CommBox Classic S5 is our flagship collaboration display. It runs Android 14 (moving to Android 16 in 2026) with Google EDLA certification and connects directly to Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace. It includes CommBox Whiteboard, CommBox Connect for wireless sharing and CommBox Manage for remote device control.

The new Goanna release expands its capabilities even further:

  • CommBox AutoFill allows secure PIN-based sign-in into a huge range of apps and websites without typing passwords on a public screen

  • Primary User Mode keeps users safely signed in across sessions with automatic locking when the screen is unattended

  • The CommBox AI Toolkit adds real-time translation, subtitles, AI-generated visuals and quick quizzes for workshops and training


These features make the S5 the ideal hub for collaboration-enabled meeting rooms.

CommBox Neo

The CommBox Neo is designed for maximum simplicity and security. It has no operating system and includes whiteboarding, annotation and screensharing built in.


Teams can connect via USB-C or HDMI, use the screen immediately and disconnect just as quickly. This model suits high-security and shared environments such as government departments, finance, defence and training spaces.

Both models feature 4K anti-glare displays, multi-touch input and front-facing speakers, backed by a five-year warranty and same-day support across Australia and New Zealand.


Why interactive displays are transforming meeting rooms

  1. Hybrid collaboration that feels natural - Integrated microphones, front speakers and annotation tools make it easy for remote and in-room participants to interact as equals.

  2. Faster, more productive meetings - Teams can whiteboard, save and share notes instantly instead of taking photos or retyping summaries later.

  3. Enterprise-grade security - AutoFill and Primary User Mode protect credentials and user data, while the Neo offers a no-OS option for organisations that need maximum control.

  4. Cleaner, simpler spaces - One CommBox display replaces multiple devices and works across every collaboration platform including Teams, Zoom and Google Meet.

Where Collaboration Enabled Spaces fit best

Interactive displays enhance:

  • Executive and board meeting rooms

  • Project and design hubs

  • Training and induction rooms

  • Hybrid meeting spaces linking offices and remote staff

Each of these spaces benefits from clear visuals, easy sharing and secure connectivity that just works.

Designing for collaboration

Technology only works when it supports human behaviour. Collaboration Enabled Spaces depend on well-positioned screens, intuitive controls and consistent routines. Meetings should start on time, run smoothly and finish with clear outcomes.

Final thought

Interactive displays are now the centrepiece of the modern meeting room. They create spaces where ideas flow, decisions happen faster and hybrid teams feel connected. The best technology is the kind that disappears into the background so people can focus on the work that matters.

Next week

In next week’s article, I’ll look at how to plan and equip Collaboration Enabled Spaces for different room sizes and work styles, from small huddle areas to large conference rooms.

Comments

bottom of page