Demonstration of the presentation and access technology in classrooms, conference rooms and labs at NTID

Transcription

1 Demonstration of the presentation and access technology in classrooms, conference rooms and labs at NTID Chas Johnstone Technology and Information Services department National Technical Institute for the Deaf at Rochester Institute of Technology

2 Demonstration of the presentation and access technology in classrooms, conference rooms and labs at NTID Abstract The classrooms, conference rooms and labs at NTID feature state-of-the presentation and access technology. The presentation technology demonstrated during this session will include two XGA LCD projectors, a resident computer, a visualizer [document camera], DVD-VHS player, connections for a brought-in portable computer and two motorized 9' X 12' projection screens. The access technology demonstrated includes a resident group FM hearing assistance system, a separate, moveable flat-panel display for people who have vision challenges, a resident sound field loudspeaker array and a CCTV [document enlarger-viewer]. Also discussed will be the attributes of adjustable lighting and the SmartBoard, resident in several classrooms, labs and conference rooms.

3 Demonstration of the presentation and access technology in classrooms, conference rooms and labs at NTID Adjustable lighting All of the classrooms and most of the conference rooms and labs have adjustable lighting. This allows control over the lighting in the presentation area separately from the audience area. Projection systems Each classroom, conference room and most labs have one XGA LCD projectors. Several rooms, such as this one [CSD-SDC-1310], have two. Resident computer Each classroom, conference room and most labs have a resident computer for the teacher presenter. Most are windows XP based. There are a few that are MAC OS based. The resident computer has a hard-wired connection to the RIT network. Visualizer [document camera]

4 Do you remember the overhead [transparency] projector? This is an electronic version of the old standby. There are several features that the OH projector can not do. In addition to traditional transparencies, hard-copy documents such as single sheets of paper, books, magazines, newspapers, etc can be displayed. As shown by the image above, 3-dimensional items can also be displayed. The unit can zoom in and greatly magnify a small portion of an object. Because the unit digitizes the image, the resulting display has a very high resolution and degree of detail. DVD-VHS player SONY SLV-D560P DVD-VHS player oreid=10151&langid=-1&productid= A DVD-VHS combo player is capable of playing both a VHS videotape or a DVD disk. This gives the presenter the flexibility to use either type of media. Connections for a brought-in portable computer Each classroom and most conference rooms have connections that a brought-in portable computer can be connected to the resident systems. These connections include a feed to the resident projector, hard-wired network, resident audio systems and power. SmartBoard

5 Interactive whiteboards appeal to all the senses, facilitate the inclusion of a variety of media and provide the means to edit and adapt digital lesson material quickly and easily. They also help teachers personalize learning and reach more students more effectively. Teachers and their students can further adjust lessons through the added flexibility in sequencing and pacing that interactive whiteboards provide. Having lessons storyboarded on interactive whiteboards for reference may also ease the anxiety new teachers experience when standing in front of classes for the first time. Current research indicates that interactive whiteboards enable teachers to reduce two of the major causes of stress heavy workloads and the inability to meet the needs of all students. Interactive whiteboards decrease demands on teachers time by helping them make planning and preparation more efficient and by encouraging resource sharing among peers. Teachers also save time transitioning between lesson resources and topics when using interactive whiteboards to present learning materials. [White Paper, Smart Technologies, 2010] Draper Signature V motorized 9' X 12' projection screens Several of the classrooms, including this one, have motorized screens that disappear into the ceiling. In some rooms, there are two side-by-side. These screens also have a feature called, self-tensioning ; which means that when deployed, a weighted bar across the bottom and a system of cables on each side assure that the screen is absolutely flat with no wrinkles. This yields an even, sharply focused image throughout the image area.

6 Infrastructure [components that tie everything together as a system] Extron RGB 203rxi three Input, universal computer-video interface Extron P/2 DA Plus two output VGA distribution amplifier Extron ISS 408 eight input seamless switcher Extron RCP 2000 remote control panel for the ISS 408

7 The control devices shown above are the behind-the-scenes devices that give a presenter the flexibility to control what image sources go to either projection screen in the rooms that have dual projection. The RCP 2000 controller has features that give presenters additional control. A presenter can turn off the projected image to either screen with the black button. This does this without actually turning off the projector so the lamp life is not shortened by repeated cycling of the power on-off. The freeze button captures the current projected image and holds it on the selected screen while the presenter can move on to a different image on the source machine. This allows the presenter to preview the next image while the audience continues to see the frozen image. The biggest advantage of these devices is to allow the presenter the option to display two different images simultaneously. Resident sound field loudspeaker array Bose FreeSpace ceiling speaker systems JBL Control 23T wall-mounted speakers

8 QSC RMX 850 power amplifier Shure SLX wireless microphone system Background noise mixes with speech and reduces understanding is being said. Speech levels should be at least 15dB greater than the background (ANSI Standards, Acoustical Performance Criteria, 2010). Teachers at NTID typically talk at 5 decibels greater than the background noise initially. But as the hour wears on, their voice diminishes in volume to the same level as the background noise (Webster and Snell, 1983). A sound field PA system is different than a conventional PA system. In a conventional system, loudspeakers are located at the presentation end of the room. The loudness of the program audio diminishes the further away from the presenter the audience member sits. In a sound field array, the loudspeaker locations are carefully calculated such that the loudness of the program audio is the same regardless of where the audience members sit. The advantages of using a sound field system will be demonstrated by talking with and then without the microphone.

9 Resident group FM hearing assistance system Listen LT-800 stationary FM transmitter Listen LR-400 FM receiver Phonak MicroLink personal FM The resident FM transmitters [most classrooms have two] can be received by either the LR- 400 FM receiver, which is typically provided by distributing them for each individual event or, the Phonak MicroLink personal FM receiver, which is typically owned by the user. This gives maximum flexibility in receiving the signal and also assures consistency through-out RIT as this is the standard configuration campus-wide. A hearing assistance system significantly increases the clarity of speech and the other sources of sound. This is done by reducing background noise, eliminating the perceived distance between the listener and the sound sources, emphasizing certain frequencies [tones] associated with speech & music and amplifying the overall sound. These systems can also be used either with or instead of hearing aids and users can sit wherever they wish in the audience.

10 Equipment for people who have vision challenges Samsung SyncMaster 710MP This type of display provides the option to show the image that is being projected on the room screen on a smaller display area. This significantly reduces the viewer s need to scan the overall image with their eyes and provides custom adjustment of brightness, color saturation and contrast. CCTV [document enlarger-viewer] A CCTV is an acronym adopted by the deaf-blind community as a generic term for these types of devices. This device allows the user to greatly enlarge a portion of a document or 3-dimensional object and manipulate the color, brightness and contrast of the displayed image. It is also possible to convert a color image to black-and-white, black-and-yellow or black-and-green.

11 Below is a diagram of the room this presentation is assigned to. It is typical of classrooms at NTID.

12 REFERENCES Reducing stress in the classroom; How interactive whiteboards and solution-based integration improve teacher quality of life, White Paper, Smart Technologies, 2010, Acoustical Performance Criteria, Design Requirements, and Guidelines for Schools, Part 1: Permanent Schools [American National Standard]. (2010, April 28). Webster J, Snell K. Noise levels and the speech intelligibility of teachers in classrooms, Journal of Academic Rehabilitation Audiology, 1983;16: Paper doc