Each ALS has at least three components: a microphone, a transmission technology, and a device for receiving the signal and bringing the sound to the ear. Headphones and neck loops connect to hearing aids or cochlear implants to provide the correct frequency, pitch, and volume shift in order to create the best possible speech-to-noise ratio.

Hiding in plain sight

Inductive, in-floor loops allow for permanent, discreet broadcast and connection. These are most helpful to users of T-coil hearing aids, which deliver sound using an electromagnetic field. When combined with a lapel microphone, amplification is almost invisible.

Young students experiencing difficulty hearing a teacher often do not realize that they are the only ones having the issue or have the ability to self-advocate for a change in conditions. It becomes the responsibility of the administration and educators to either identify individuals having difficulty hearing or to provide an environment where the teacher's voice can be heard uniformly at all points in the room. ALS allows students to receive the level of auditory input they need to succeed.

Bell schedule software

Combined with paging systems or digital displays, they provide cues to perform system checks, move rooms, or change subjects. A simple user interface allows for canceling or changing schedules on holidays, weekends, or professional days. Further integration with the mass notification system can mute or override the scheduled bells in the event of a lockdown or evacuation.

Hope for the best but prepare for the worst

In today's schools, paging systems not only tell students about the day's events or when to change classes or go to an office, but also tell them when they need to shelter in place. In an active-shooter situation, clear and immediate communication is key. Teachers and students need to know not to leave their classroom, and administration needs to be able to locate the threat. Classroom buttons that have emergency call settings—and that alert admin that no "safe" response has been provided—allow teachers to silently communicate back to the paging office.

Indoor and outdoor applications

Paging systems are not limited to buildings. At beaches, in amusement parks, and on school campuses, critical auditory announcements must be heard over both crowds and distance. Whether the alert is for a lost child, impending weather events, or an emergency situation, make sure your community will get the message.

Incorporate Visual Media

Integration with lecture capture software creates a space that can do twice as much. Whiteboard capture and projection, or interactive panels, allow not just instructors to provide visual elements to lectures but also collaborators to actively share ideas or write down notes.

Mass Notifications for Schools

Well-designed mass notifications allow teachers and administrators to receive instructions that differ from those sent to students and parents, whether for a snow delay or a campus emergency. The same delineation can keep parents informed of school activities and events without overloading and annoying the school staff.

Simplified two-way communications

Mass notification systems can require a notification to be acknowledged both to ensure the safety of the recipient and to ensure their responsibilities are carried out. Confirmation or lack thereof from a recipient can be used to trigger further attempts to contact or dispatch emergency response personnel.