Computing and Audio-Video Usage
EWFM 370D, TRLC
July 2008

Seating = 15 movable seats and tables

Equipment Description and Capabilities

This classroom is equipped to function as a classroom with two display systems, or as an I2 teleconferencing room with a single display.  Distance education features are discussed separately.  In classroom mode the two video displays (one projector, one plasma) are set up to support the following sources: the local computer (allowing for use of two simultaneous Internet browsers, or one browser and an application, or two applications, etc.), VHS VCR, DVD player, document camera, and from the auxiliary jacks on the tie plate.  These devices, as well as the auxiliary audio ports located on the podium are connected to the amplifier and speakers.  The teleconferencing features include: two wall mounted cameras, play and recording VCRs, instructor and audience microphones, and related control equipment.  In teleconference mode the plasma monitor displays the far end, while the projector displays the sent material.  Teleconference features have no impact on room use as a traditional technology classroom.  The room is equipped with a Smart Technologies Sympodium interactive display which also acts as a control panel for classroom and teleconferencing activities. 

The built-in Dell 755 Intel Core 2 Duo 2.66GHz computer is equipped with an 80GB SATA 10000rpm hard drive, 4GB RAM, a CD-RW/DVD+/-RW, and a graphics card.  The black cabinet contains two VCRs, a DVD player, and all of the control equipment.  Devices are selected and controlled from an AMX touch screen system, integrated into a Sympodium panel, located on the top of the instructor’s station.  This touch panel is used to select inputs, route these inputs to the projectors and the preview monitors on the podium, control audio and manage teleconferences.  The touch-screen also functions as a fully interactive SMARTBoard, enabling users to use a stylus to interact with computer programs, annotate display screens and use the writing surface as a white board.  A separate guide for operation of the Sympodium SMART Board is provided.  The provided stylus must be used at all times when interacting with the Sympodium.

The auxiliary jacks provided include a male VGA connector with associated network jack and stereo Ľ” mini jack (for portable computers) and a video connector with associated RCA audio jack (for cameras, VCRs, etc.).  AC power is also available at the podium.  The auxiliary jacks are provided for clients who wish to use their own special equipment and associated cables.

Teleconference features include: input devices described above, two cameras, a record VCRs, instructor and audience microphones, and related control equipment.  For information about teleconference features contact George Motter (86149)

A wireless mouse and keyboard are available for this room. 

Assistance

Instructional Technology Support Services (ITSS) may be contacted at x83059 if you wish to arrange for training on this room's features prior to using the room.  Trouble reports may be reported to the Help Desk at x8HELP (84357).  For assistance with teleconference features contact George Motter (86149).

Use of the Devices (Classroom mode)

1. Power up the equipment and projectors by touching the Sympodium touch-screen with the provided stylus.  Note: you MUST use the stylus at all times when interacting with the touch panel.  Select “Classroom” or “Teleconference” mode as appropriate.
2. Power up the computer CPU and monitor if being used (buttons on monitor and computer).  You must complete a LAN login to use a public computer by typing your user name and password in the appropriate fields in the opening dialog box.  Remember to log out when you are done.  See the "LTS Guide to Public Computing Sites and Classrooms" document for additional information on use of public sites.
3. Power up “VCR #1 Play” (located in the black cabinet) and load tape if needed
4. Power up the DVD (using the instructor station PC or the one in the equipment cabinet, if you prefer) and load disc
5. Select the desired “Source” button for the plasma display from the two buttons on the top left side of the Sympodium touch-screen (PC is the default).  If a second source is to be projected, select a device from the row of inputs on the top right side of the screen.  This second input will also be displayed on the touch screen preview window.   The preview window can be made full screen by a tap of the stylus.  A link to the advanced routing page is provided at the top of the screen for users who wish to have total control over the routing and displays.  There is a delay as the projector warms up.  The basic display options are as follows:

“PC1/SmartBrd” selects the podium computer and routes the primary graphics board to the left-hand display on the instructor’s station and to the plasma display.   This input is also available as a projector source.  To use the SMARTBoard features of the Sympodium PC1 must be sent to the projector and the Sympodium preview window. 

“PC Display 2” activates a second computer display.  This display is routed to the preview window on the Sympodium, and to the projector.  Note that PowerPoint XP slide shows always default to display on the secondary display so you must select PC2 for the projector.  Note that the display in the touch screen preview window can be enlarged to full screen by touching the display with the stylus as indicated.

“Doc. Cam” sends the document camera to the projector and displays the document camera preview on the Sympodium.  Detailed instructions for the document camera are found below.

“VHS” sends the picture from the VHS VCR to the projector and displays the play, pause and other controls on the Sympodium.  Remember you must use the stylus to activate the controls.  The picture is also displayed on the touch screen control preview window.

“DVD” sends the picture from the DVD player to the projector and displays the DVD controls on the Sympodium preview window.  The DVD player in the computer can also be used if you prefer.

“AUX Video” sends a video feed to the projector from the auxiliary video jack (BNC connector) and associated RCA audio jacks for user-supplied video device.

“Laptop” activates the auxiliary computer jacks (15pin male VGA and stereo mini audio jack) for client-supplied laptop. 

6. Volume may be adjusted by touching the “Room” volume up or down arrows on the Sympodium touch-screen.  The “Spkr Mute” button on the bottom of this control turns off the sound.  If there is no sound, press the up arrow on “Room Volume.”  If there is still no sound, check the advanced routing page.
7. The document camera is located on the left side of the instructor's station.  Pull the ring and lift up the camera head.  Point the camera down at the tabletop.  Press the power button to activate the unit.  A green light indicates power on.  If you have not already done so, select the document camera from the input bar on top of the touch pad.  The preview will be seen on the touch screen and the image will be sent to the projector.  Zoom and focus control buttons are located on the front edge of the camera.  Detailed instructions are included below.
8. A button on the bottom right of the screen gives access to the plasma and projector controls to mute the images while leaving the system on.  This is important as the shutdown-restart cycle is quite long.  The display ratio for the plasma screen can be adjusted here as well.  16x9 will fill the screen, but there will be some distortion of computer images as they are stretched.
9. Press the “exit system power” off button on the bottom right corner of the display and select “Turn System Off” to turn off the equipment when done. 

Use of the SMART Board

An interactive Smart Board has been provided in this room as part of the Sympodium system.  It uses special stylus and a series of push buttons to display pen colors to facilitate interaction with computer programs, to display writing on the projection screen, and to save notes written on the tablet to a computer file.  These notes can be converted to text, edited, printed, e-mailed, included in course web pages, etc.  Software drivers must be loaded to use this system.  Please contact Elia Schoomer in ITSS (83058) for assistance in getting started with the interactive SMART Board system.  A separate guide for operation of the SMART Board is provided below.

Power down the Equipment

1. Before leaving the room you MUST logout of the system.  Select “Start” and “Log Off”.  If you fail to logout, the next user of the system will have access to your account and files.
2. Remove your tape, CDs, and DVDs, if used.
3. Press "Exit Power Off" button to turn off the projectors and related equipment.

Potential Problem Areas

• IMPORTANT NOTE for PowerPoint users: PowerPoint programmers have added support for dual display systems.  This has an impact on users of PowerPoint in dual projector rooms.  The default settings have the “edit screen” showing on the primary monitor (PC1) and the show playing to the secondary monitor/projector (PC2).  This means that you must select PC display 2 as the source for the projector which will display the show.  Unfortunately this also means that your ‘edit’ menu from PowerPoint will display on the first screen.  To take care of this problem you will need to go to the “Plasma/Projector Controls” menu on the bottom right of the touch screen control and turn the picture off for the plasma display.  The default screen can be changed to display 1 from the slide show menu before you start the show.
• You must login to every public site computer.  If you find a computer that is not displaying the login screen, the previous user failed to logout.  Select “Start” and “Log Off”, then follow the prompts to log on.
• The flexible features of this room make the touch screen fairly complex.  The default routing should suit most uses, but you can re-route any input to any display should you need to do so.  We advise all clients to familiarize themselves with the control system before starting a presentation.
• Users must know how to feed VGA signal from their laptops to the system (usually a function key)
• The system is currently set to turn off automatically at 12 PM EST if anyone fails to turn it off.  Should the system turn off inappropriately users may turn it back on with the AMX touch panel.

Notes on Computer Usage

See the document "LTS Guide to Public Computing Sites and Classrooms" for additional information on computer usage.

Wolf Vision Digital Document Camera Instructions

The instructor’s station in this room has been equipped with a digital document camera.  This high quality instrument will enable you to project material from paper, transparencies or even three-dimensional objects to the projector.  To operate this camera:

1. Turn on the projection system using the touch-screen control.  Select the document camera from the source menu at the top of the screen.
2. Raise the camera arm by pulling up on the small blue lined ring.
3. Turn the camera head so the lens points down.  Focus and Zoom buttons should be facing you.
4. Press the power button on the rear left of the base (a green light indicates on).  The light should come on.  If it does not, press the light button as needed.  Note, this camera does not have a bottom light for overheads.  The base surface is sufficiently reflective to allow use of overheads with the top light.  Do not write on the base.
5. Place your work on the base.  You should see it displayed on the touch-screen preview monitor and on the projector screen.
6. Camera controls are located along the top of the camera head:

• Focus defaults to automatic (green light on).  The picture should self-focus and remain in focus as you operate the zoom.  There may be a slight delay.  The automatic focus can be switched off (useful if you are writing on paper)
• Zoom in with the button marked with a single figure and a + sign.  Note that there is a digital zoom feature that doubles the range of the mechanical zoom.  The camera can resolve an object of about one inch square.
• Zoom out with the button marked with three figures and a – sign.

7. The camera head can be rotated to shoot outside of the working surface.  Turn the light out of the way, pull the close up lens out from the front of the camera (it will not fall out), and rotate the camera head.
8. When you are done with the camera please

• Turn off the power
• Lower the camera by rotating the camera head down and then pulling the blue lined ring towards you.

Interactive SMART Board™
Overview and Instructions

This classroom has been equipped with an interactive SMART Board system. Working through the classroom’s fixed computer or user supplied laptop, The SMART Board allows you to:

• Display board writing in up to four colors on the large-screen projection system
• Save, print or e-mail a complete record of everything written during the course of your class.
• Interact directly (on screen) with most software using your finger, a special stylus or a whiteboard marker pen.

There are two components to the SMART Board system: The SMART Board driver and SMART Notebook. Both must be active for the SMART Board to function in the classroom. The SMART Board driver runs the board and converts the marker pens into electronic ink. SMART Notebook facilitates display to a projection system and can be used as a stand-alone program that allows you to save your notes for later editing or distribution. SMART Notebook is available for download on your office computer through the Picture Taker software program.

Using the SMART Board as a White Board

1. Activate the SMART Board: From the Windows "Start" menu select "Run" and type "smartb" and "ok." This will initialize the SMART Board and start the SMART Notebook program. Alternatively, Activate the SMART Board: From the Windows "Start" menu select "Programs" then "Accessories" then "SMART Board Software" then "SMART Board driver 5.61." Repeat these steps and select "SMART Notebook 2.2". If the computer has been refreshed before use, you will have to select the port (COM 1) and the type of board being used "Non-projected White Board Mode." Click "Next" and "Done."
2. To use the SMART Board with a laptop, the SMART Board drivers, and SMART Notebook software must be present and loaded. Attach the laptop with the provided cables and select laptop from the console input buttons.
3. The computer must be selected as the source for the video projector using the NEC remote (even if using a laptop). Remember it takes a while for projector power up.
4. If you wish, select "View" and "Full Screen" to maximize the projected writing area. The escape key returns to normal view. Select a pen from the pen tray and write as you would on a regular white board. The writing will appear on the computer monitor in the main window of SMART Notebook and on the projection surface. The color of the tray determines the color of the displayed text. Replace the pen into the proper pen tray slot when done writing.
5. If you wish to save this page press the "New Page" button on the right hand side of the pen tray. You may then remove the round eraser from the pen tray and erase the board. The writing will vanish from the display as you erase, while the old page remains saved in SMART Notebook on the computer. You must save this work to a file before you leave the computer for the day. If you wish, you may select these saved pages (click them with the mouse on the computer display) and display them through the projection system although you won’t be able to make additional notes ‘live’ on these pages. You can, however, use the various tools in SMART Notebook to make changes at a later time.
6. If you don’t have any need to save your work, simply use the round eraser, erase your text and start again. NOTE, you must take the eraser out of the pen tray. This is what tells the system to erase from the board AND the display. If you just use your finger to erase, the writing will leave the white surface, but will remain on the projection screen!

Using the SMART Board Interactively

After the SMART Board drivers and SMART Notebook software have been loaded, load the program you wish to use. You may now use your finger, the special SMART Board stylus or a marker pen to write on or interact with the program being displayed. These pages can be saved, reviewed, emailed, etc. There is a tutorial provided with the SMART Notebook that may give you a good idea of how this works. Note that to use your finger as a ‘mouse’ all pens must be in the pen tray. It is also possible to activate a keyboard using the keyboard button on the console and ‘type’ text and numbers onto the screen.

Using SMART Notebook

The SMART Notebook program does two things: It allows display of your writing "live" as described above, and it allows you to save, annotate, edit and distribute these pages later. You can also use the "pen" tool with a mouse on our computer, but this is not at all comfortable. If you wish to distribute your classroom notes, it is recommended that you save the material to your home space on the LAN or to a floppy before you leave class. Save the pages as a SMART Notebook file. At your desktop computer, you can use the program’s tools to:

• Convert what you have written to typed text
• Move text from one "page" to another
• Erase text or other items
• Add typing, graphic objects or lines with the program’s tools
• Add highlights with the program tools
• Save or import images or text from other applications
• Capture all or part of a computer application and add these items to your notes page
• Sort your notes pages
• Email your files or save your notes pages as HTML files and post them to a Course Info Page (see below)
• Print your notes to your local printer

The SMART Notebook tutorial (under "Help" will teach you some of these features and the help contents menu can help with the other features. Please call Elia Schoomer at 83058 for assistance with any of these features.

Using SMART Notebook files

• Saving SMART Notebook files: Select "Save" or "Save As" from the File Menu. Select a name and directory as usual. This file can be opened later on a computer using the SMART Notebook software. You may also save the file in HTML by using the "Save as HTML" button in the File Menu.

• Sending SMART Notebook files as email attachments: From the File Menu, select "Send Mail" and address your mail in the usual fashion. You must save the file first. The file will be send as an attachment. SMART Notebook must be loaded on the receiving computer to open the file.

• Publishing SMART Notebook files to a web page: Select "File" "Save as HTML" and follow the instructions. You must have Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0 and its web-publishing wizard to use this feature. This has not been tested.

• Publishing SMART Notebook files to a Course Info course: