[Lex Computer & Tech Group/LCTG] [Lex] OWL

Tue Feb 3 15:38:58 PST 2026

Perplexity:

Q:  Are meeting owls suitable for meetings with a speaker and a large
hybrid audience

A: Meeting Owls (including top models like 3 and 4+) are not ideal for
speakers facing a large number of in-room users (e.g., 20+ attendees). They
excel in small hybrid Zoom setups but struggle with scale.

Capacity Limits
• Optimal: 4-8 people within 12-18 feet for clear 360° video/audio
focus.[owllabs +1]

• Maximum: Up to 13 in-room participants with dual Owls paired; audio
reaches 26 feet with expansion mic.[owllabs +1]

• Large Crowds: Poor for auditoriums or lectures—speaker detection fails
beyond 9 feet for video, fisheye distortion worsens on big screens, and
audio pickup drops off.

Recommendations
Use single Owls for huddle rooms (2-6 people); pair 2-3 for medium tables
(up to 13). For large audiences, opt for directional PTZ cameras, podium
mics, or Owl Bar + multiple units instead.[owllabs +1]

Harry Forsdick <http://www.forsdick.com/resume/>
Town Meeting Member Precinct 7 <http://lexingtontmma.org/>
harry at forsdick.com
<https://mail.google.com/mail/?view=cm&fs=1&tf=1&to=harry@forsdick.com>
www.forsdick.com
  46 Burlington St.
Lexington, MA 02420 <https://goo.gl/xZXT2F>
(781) 799-6002 (mobile) <callto:17817996002>

On Tue, Feb 3, 2026 at 6:56 AM arnold peterson via LCTG <lctg at lists.toku.us>
wrote:

> THe libraries have cameras but since the since the 360 lens is special,
> you might be able to borrow one or rent one.
> The other way is to get attachments from ebay for cell phone cameras seems
> like they have them for about $10.
> Checkout the foss natick archives under hot hardware. arnie
>
> On Mon, Feb 2, 2026 at 10:04 PM John Rudy via LCTG <lctg at lists.toku.us>
> wrote:
>
>> Good thought.  BUT …  I checked Lexington, Bedford and Newton and none
>> have one.  I’ll have to see whether inter-library loan works for this type
>> of stuff (or does anyone know?)
>>
>>
>>
>> John Rudy
>>
>>
>>
>> 781-861-0402
>>
>> 781-718-8334  cell
>>
>> 13 Hawthorne Lane
>> <https://www.google.com/maps/search/13+Hawthorne+Lane+Bedford+MA?entry=gmail&source=g>
>>
>> Bedford MA
>> <https://www.google.com/maps/search/13+Hawthorne+Lane+Bedford+MA?entry=gmail&source=g>
>>
>> jjrudy1 at comcast.net
>>
>>
>>
>> *From:* S Ou <shukong at gmail.com>
>> *Sent:* Monday, February 2, 2026 9:46 PM
>> *To:* jjrudy1 at comcast.net
>> *Cc:* lex at lex.groups.io; Lex Computer Group <lctg at lists.toku.us>
>> *Subject:* Re: [Lex Computer & Tech Group/LCTG] [Lex] OWL
>>
>>
>>
>> Local libraries/ minuteman library network have owl cameras that can be
>> checked out.  Look under Library of Things.
>>
>>
>>
>
>>
> On Mon, Feb 2, 2026 at 3:47 PM John Rudy via LCTG <lctg at lists.toku.us>
>> wrote:
>>
> After I hit send I realized that OWL might be confusing.  It is a
>>
>> 360° Conference Camera <https://owllabs.com/products/meeting-owl-3>
>>
>>
>>
>> It is not the Order of the White Lotus or Olympic Weight Lifting
>>
>>
>>
>> John Rudy
>>
>>
>>
>> 781-861-0402
>>
>> 781-718-8334  cell
>>
>> 13 Hawthorne Lane
>> <https://www.google.com/maps/search/13+Hawthorne+Lane+Bedford+MA?entry=gmail&source=g>
>>
>> Bedford MA
>> <https://www.google.com/maps/search/13+Hawthorne+Lane+Bedford+MA?entry=gmail&source=g>
>>
>> jjrudy1 at comcast.net
>>
>>
>>
>> *From:* lex at lex.groups.io <lex at lex.groups.io> *On Behalf Of *John Rudy
>> via groups.io
>> *Sent:* Monday, February 2, 2026 2:37 PM
>> *To:* lex at lex.groups.io; Lex Computer Group <lctg at lists.toku.us>
>> *Cc:* carllazarus at comcast.net
>> *Subject:* [Lex] OWL
>>
>>
>>
>> We would like to experiment with an OWL for the Brandeis BOLLI program.
>> Does anyone have one that we could borrow for a short time?
>>
>> John
>>
>>
>>
>> John Rudy
>>
>>
>>
>> 781-861-0402
>>
>> 781-718-8334  cell
>>
>> 13 Hawthorne Lane
>> <https://www.google.com/maps/search/13+Hawthorne+Lane+Bedford+MA?entry=gmail&source=g>
>>
>> Bedford MA
>> <https://www.google.com/maps/search/13+Hawthorne+Lane+Bedford+MA?entry=gmail&source=g>
>>
>> jjrudy1 at comcast.net
>>
>>
>>
>> _._,_._,_
>> ------------------------------
>>
>> Groups.io Links:
>>
>> You receive all messages sent to this group.
>>
>> View/Reply Online (#127364) <https://lex.groups.io/g/lex/message/127364>
>> | Reply to Group <lex at lex.groups.io?subject=Re:%20%5BLex%5D%20OWL> | Reply
>> to Sender <jjrudy1 at comcast.net?subject=Private:%20Re:%20%5BLex%5D%20OWL>
>> | Mute This Topic <https://groups.io/mt/117602900/2291593> | New Topic
>> <https://lex.groups.io/g/lex/post>
>> ------------------------------
>>
>> Lexington List and SubGroups Do's and Don'ts:
>> https://tinyurl.com/LL-Dos-and-Donts
>> ------------------------------
>>
>> Your Subscription <https://lex.groups.io/g/lex/editsub/2291593> | Contact
>> Group Owner <lex+owner at lex.groups.io> | Unsubscribe
>> <https://lex.groups.io/g/lex/unsub> [jjrudy1 at comcast.net]
>>
>> _._,_._,_
>>
>> ===============================================
>> ::The Lexington Computer and Technology Group Mailing List::
>> Reply goes to sender only; Reply All to send to list.
>> Send to the list: LCTG at lists.toku.us      Message archives:
>> http://lists.toku.us/pipermail/lctg-toku.us/
>> To subscribe: email lctg-subscribe at toku.us  To unsubscribe: email
>> lctg-unsubscribe at toku.us
>> Future and Past meeting information: http://LCTG.toku.us
>> List information: http://lists.toku.us/listinfo.cgi/lctg-toku.us
>> This message was sent to shukong at gmail.com.
>> Set your list options:
>> http://lists.toku.us/options.cgi/lctg-toku.us/shukong@gmail.com
>>
>> ===============================================
>> ::The Lexington Computer and Technology Group Mailing List::
>> Reply goes to sender only; Reply All to send to list.
>> Send to the list: LCTG at lists.toku.us      Message archives:
>> http://lists.toku.us/pipermail/lctg-toku.us/
>> To subscribe: email lctg-subscribe at toku.us  To unsubscribe: email
>> lctg-unsubscribe at toku.us
>> Future and Past meeting information: http://LCTG.toku.us
>> List information: http://lists.toku.us/listinfo.cgi/lctg-toku.us
>> This message was sent to alp4982 at gmail.com.
>> Set your list options:
>> http://lists.toku.us/options.cgi/lctg-toku.us/alp4982@gmail.com
>>
> ===============================================
> ::The Lexington Computer and Technology Group Mailing List::
> Reply goes to sender only; Reply All to send to list.
> Send to the list: LCTG at lists.toku.us      Message archives:
> http://lists.toku.us/pipermail/lctg-toku.us/
> To subscribe: email lctg-subscribe at toku.us  To unsubscribe: email
> lctg-unsubscribe at toku.us
> Future and Past meeting information: http://LCTG.toku.us
> List information: http://lists.toku.us/listinfo.cgi/lctg-toku.us
> This message was sent to forsdick at gmail.com.
> Set your list options:
> http://lists.toku.us/options.cgi/lctg-toku.us/forsdick@gmail.com
>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.toku.us/pipermail/lctg-toku.us/attachments/20260203/09a00461/attachment.htm>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image001.png
Type: image/png
Size: 96832 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://lists.toku.us/pipermail/lctg-toku.us/attachments/20260203/09a00461/attachment.png>