RoomReady Advances AV Training with SIGNAL
Bloomington, IL (April 10th, 2026) – RoomReady, a leading provider of audio visual and collaboration solutions, announced the launch of SIGNAL, an innovative video game-based training program designed to simulate real world AV troubleshooting scenarios. The concept for SIGNAL emerged from an internship partnership with Donovan Anderson, a Game Design student at Illinois State University’s School of Creative Technologies. Working alongside RoomReady’s People & Experience and IT Departments, Anderson helped transform real-world service challenges into an interactive and engaging training experience.
“This game will play a new role in how we onboard and develop employees. SIGNAL allows new team members to practice real world scenarios in a controlled, interactive environment before they face those situations in the field” said Sarah Nix, Director of Human Resources at RoomReady.
SIGNAL originated as a passion project at RoomReady headquarters in Bloomington, Illinois, led by Aaron Gaines, Director of IT, and Eric Bade, Senior Software Engineer. “I had expressed to Aaron that I wanted to explore the video game side of development, and being at RoomReady means if you want to do something and there is a business concept, it is worth exploring.” said Eric Bade. Gaines and Bade set out to modernize and gamify training processes for RoomReady employees, aiming to create a more effective and engaging way to build technical expertise.
After developing the initial concept for SIGNAL, Bade quickly recognized that bringing the vision to life would require specialized game design expertise. To support this effort, RoomReady turned to Illinois State University’s Creative Technologies program to identify an intern, with the skills and experience needed to transform the idea from concept to reality.
That intern was Donovan Anderson, a senior at Illinois State University studying Game Design with a minor in Computer Science. The experience allowed Anderson to apply his academic knowledge in a real-world environment and gain firsthand exposure to the intersection of game design, enterprise technology and cross-functional collaboration.
While Anderson’s background provided a strong foundation, SIGNAL marked his first opportunity to work with the specific game development software, Godot Engine. Throughout the internship, he gained hands-on experience using Godot, coding in GDScript, and developing an understanding of the audio-visual industry. The project also offered valuable experience in developing a game designed specifically for PC deployment, rather than mobile platforms, further expanding his technical skill set.
SIGNAL currently includes six interactive training scenarios that RoomReady technicians can progress through, each designed to simulate real-world AV troubleshooting situations. The game was completed in six months, with seven individuals from various RoomReady departments contributing to testing and providing feedback.
Reflecting on the accelerated development timeline, Donovan Anderson, Intern at RoomReady said, “Games could have a development cycle from four months to five years. So, being able to see what we were able to accomplish within six months was very eye-opening”
Looking ahead, the SIGNAL team is actively developing quizzes to be added at the conclusion of each scenario. These assessments are designed to test comprehension, reinforce learning objectives, and further strengthen knowledge retention through the gamification of training.
Anderson added, “This has been a great experience, and I will carry everything I learned into my future opportunities.”
With the launch of SIGNAL, RoomReady continues to demonstrate its commitment to innovation, workforce development, and the advancement of scalable, high-quality collaboration solutions for modern workplaces.
Founded in central Illinois, RoomReady continues to value the community that helped shape its growth. The success of SIGNAL and its collaboration with Illinois State University underscore the company’s commitment to providing real-world learning opportunities for students. As RoomReady expands its national footprint, it looks forward to future internships and partnerships with local higher-education institutions to support the development of emerging talent.
About RoomReady:
RoomReady is a leading provider of collaboration solutions, with over 10,000 installations worldwide. The company operates from key locations in Portland, OR; Bloomington, IL; St. Louis, MO; and Boston, MA, ensuring broad regional coverage and responsive service. RoomReady offers a range of products and services that enable organizations to optimize their meeting spaces, enhance productivity, and reduce environmental impact. Its solutions include video collaboration systems, digital signage and corporate AV solutions, RoomReady serves clients across a wide range of vertical markets, including Financial, Insurance, Healthcare and Manufacturing.
For more information, please visit https://roomready.com or contact idemara@roomready.com.