System Concepts - Shure DDS 5900 User Manual

3.2 System Concepts

The DDS 5900 Discussion system is an important communication tool for a large group of people and meetings in large
spaces. Participants use the discussion unit microphone and loudspeaker to discuss using natural speech levels.
3.2.1 The Discussion Unit: A Personal Sound System
The DDS 5900 Discussion Systems improves communication amongst a group of people by combining the microphone,
loudspeaker, interpretation audio, and user controls in an integrated unit. When a participant speaks, their voice is heard
at the other the discussion units' loudspeaker.
Traditional sound systems support the communication of one or two speakers to a crowd of people. In this system, it is
impossible to have the dialog required in a discussion setting.
3.2.2 Discussion Participants and Roles
The DDS 5900 discussion unit is programmable to support different functions required by different people involved in the
discussion. For example, as the moderator of the discussion, the chairman has an extra control that immediately turns off
all delegate microphones. In a typical event, there are three categories of participants:
The following is an overview of each participant role and how they function in a typical discussion.
Delegate (member, participant)
The majority of participants fall into this category. The delegate role is for anyone involved in the discussion that is not
a chairman or interpreter. Delegates use the discussion unit to speak and listen to other participants. Depending on the
discussion is settings, the delegate need to request to speak before the microphone is activated by the Chair.
• Up to 250 delegates can be connected to a single system.
Chairman (chair, moderator, president)
The chairman, or simply the Chair, is the moderator of the discussion. Typically seated at the head of the meeting space,
the Chair has the ultimate authority over who is speaking. Using the browser interface, the moderator has ability to turn
microphones on or off for specific participants, and view the order in which participants request to speak. Providing
immediate control of the discussion, an 'all-delegate off' button is available on discussion units programmed to chairman
mode.
• There is typically only one Chair for each event, though more can be added.
Interpreter (translator)
When an additional language is required, an interpreter uses the discussion unit to translate the discussion. Interpreters
select from one of two channels to transmit to other participants speaking the same language. This system supports
bilingual, two-way discussion, facilitating the back-and-forth communication between delegates speaking two different
languages.
• Up to 32 interpreters stations are supported in a single system.