Briefing:

Sitterson 011 Audio/Video Facilities

Goal for briefing

• Work to date
• Agreement on basic approach
• Tour

Goal

The goal of this project is to install an advanced set of audio/video facilities that are easy and intuitive to use, both for outside speakers and for people who routinely use the room, and that can easily be upgraded and reconfigured as the technology and department needs evolve.

Principles

Primary control of devices will be from or near the podium. However, the control room will be retained and duplicate control available there for all podium functions. Where practical, planning will try to anticipate supporting additional class rooms (e.g., 014 and 0xx) from the control room.

Work to date

• Identified and visited facilities on campus
  • Business School: Crestron
  • Campus Multimedia Classrooms: AMX
• Solicited faculty and student input by e-mail
• Talked with ATN Multimedia Classroom Support group
• Compiled initial requirements/wishlist
• Recommend development of AMX-based system

AMX features and advantages

• Leading National Vendor
• Highly modular
• Programmable interface (touchscreen-oriented)
• Local experience/expertise available
• AMX demo
• Tour of AMX-based classroom (2:00 pm today)

Next steps

• Define, order, and install Core System (in lab)
• Design and implement prototype UI/control software
• Determine and plan necessary/desirable changes to room (concurrent with above) and other systems (e.g., lighting)
• Obtain faculty feedback on core/prototype system
• Define, order, and install actual 011 system
• Implement changes to room and other systems

Requirements

Displays

The system should include the following displays:

1. Main front projector
2. Second front projector
3. Main rear projector (e.g., for duplicating one of the front projectors)
4. Second rear projector ( e.g., for viewing remote sites or other source)
5. Podium monitors (2) for computers being displayed by front projectors
6. Podium display (touch screen?) to control A/V system (including lights, screen, etc.)
7. [Source selectable for all projectors and monitors]

Computers

The system should include the following computer options

1. Permanently installed networked PCs (2), accessible through the podium
2. Connection for laptop PC, accessible through the podium
3. Connection for temporary use of alternative architectures (e.g., Sun, Mac, etc.), accessible through the podium

Audio

The system should include audio facilities for both input and listening

1. Wireless mic for speaker, controlled from the podium
2. Wired mike for speaker that can be plugged into jack on podium, controlled from the podium
3. Easy link of mic to PA, recording, and network application (e.g., NetMeeting)
4. Room mics for statements from the audience
5. Public address for speaker, with amplification controlled from the podium
6. CD/DVD player, controlled from the podium
7. Cassette tape, controlled from the podium

Video

The system should include facilities for both input and display (display specified above)

1. Broadband origination (multiple permanently mounted remote controlled cameras)
2. Video input for network application (e.g., NetMeeting), controlled from the podium
3. Rear display for monitoring output (possibly through split screen with remote sites), controlled from the podium
4. Connection facilities for other portable cameras (?)
5. Video tape (2: VHS), controlled from the podium
6. DVD controlled from the podium

Drawing/Writing

The room and the system must include conventional as well as electronic drawing/writing options

1. Chalkboard, visible from all seats
2. Whiteboard, visible from all seats
3. Projected drawing/writing device (e.g., LiveBoard, opaque projector) controlled from the podium

Room Facilities

Additional room systems and facilities should be controllable from the podium

1. Lights, including main overhead, recessed overhead, side, speaker, board(s), and aisle
2. Screens

Communications

The system should include the following communication facilities

1. Network communication for all computers used in the system
2. Network communication for A/V system, to extent practical
3. Network communication available to audience, controlled from podium
4. Alert to control room operator
5. Audio communication to control room operator
6. Hotline for assistance

Equipment List

The specifications, above, include the following equipment

1. Control system
2. Control display (touch screen?)
3. Front Projector 1
4. Front Projector 2
5. Rear Projector 1
6. Rear Projector 2
7. PC1
8. Monitor and keyboard 1
9. PC2
10. Monitor and keyboard 2
11. Audio amplification system
12. Wireless mic
13. Wired mic
14. Room mics
15. Permanently mounted remote control video cameras (3?)
16. Network application video camera (?)
17. Audio/video mixer
18. Equipment rack, podium area
19. VCR 1
20. VCT2
21. DVD/CD
22. Cassette tape
23. Projected drawing/writing hardware/software
24. Chalkboard
25. Whiteboard
26. Visible alert system from podium to control room
27. Intercom system from podium to control room
28. Hotline phone or other audio system