Equipment Operation Guide

Room 103 of Battelle Hall is equipped with a potentially useful collection of presentation equipment. This includes a data projector, a Windows XP computer connected to the campus network and a video tape player connected to the campus cable TV system.

Although this equipment is fairly simple to use, it can be a bit intimidating to first-time users. Here are some instructions and pointers you may find helpful for working in this room.

In the middle of the classroom, aligned with the center of the screen, there is a data projector. With a resolution of 1024x768 pixels, this projector is capable of displaying computer data or video in full color. Its operation is straightforward, but complicated by superfluous buttons on the remote control.

At the front of the room, attached to the VTR/computer stand with a short plastic coiled cord, is a remote control for the projector. It looks a little like the one pictured at left. Or rather, it should look like the one pictured at left. Instead, it has quite a few more buttons on it. Thankfully, you do not need to use any of the controls except for the ones pictured here. To use the projector, pick up the remote control, point it at the projector and press the yellow Power button. The ONLY other button on the remote you might need is the Source button at the top right. That lets you choose between the computer and the VTR. It takes about a minute for the projector to come up to full brightness. Once you have turned it on, you should be able to see light coming from the lens in a few seconds, though you might not see anything on the screen. CAUTION: Never look directly into the projector lens. The light is extremely bright! There is a button on the remote control marked BLACK. This function allows you to temporarily shut off the image from the projector without turning off the lamp. You can bring the image back up without delay by pressing the BLACK button once more. Note that this feature DOES NOT TURN THE PROJECTOR OFF! Remember to turn the projector off when you are finished with it! When you are finished with the projector, always shut it off. Again, point the remote control at the projector and press the POWER button. A prompt will appear on the screen asking you if you really want to turn the projector off. Press the POWER button a second time. The lamp should shut off immediately, though the fan will continue to run.

Part II: The VTR

The video player is the same as many of the other video players on campus, except that it is connected to the data projector instead of a television monitor. Begin by turning on the projector as outlined above. Also, turn on the power to the VTR. You should see a television picture, a computer image or the word Searching displayed through the data projector. If you see the television picture, you are all set. If you see something else, you will need to point the remote control at the projector and press the SOURCE button to switch to the VTR signal. When you press the SOURCE button, a menu will appear on the screen. Using the trackball on the remote, scroll down to "Composite Video" and press the L button. If you get Searching or a Proxima logo at this point, don't panic. Your tape is not playing yet.

Put your videotape into the player and press PLAY. Your videotape program should appear on the screen. You can then stop and re-cue the tape, or continue playing it for your group.

Odds are very good that the volume will be too loud or too quiet at this point. To fix that problem, begin by ignoring the controls on the remote control. Instead, find the silver knob attached to the wall right above the VTR, in the middle of the VTR stand. That knob is the volume control for the VTR.

Part III: The Computer

Inside the cabinet below the VTR is a Windows XP computer. Although the cabinet door may be closed, the cabinet door is not locked. The computer is set up for presentations and is connected to the campus computer network. No login is required.

To use the computer, make sure it is turned on, and give it time to start up. Meanwhile, turn on the data projector as described in Part I above. If you see a television picture instead of the computer image when you turn on the projector, pick up the remote, point it at the projector and press the SOURCE button. A menu will appear on the screen. Using the track ball, select "Computer 2 - Analog" then press the L button. The computer image should appear on the screen.

If you want to use your own computer, connect its video output jack to the loose cable attached to the A/B switch and set the switch to Position B.

Part IV: The room

The classroom is equipped with a few features to make your life as an instructor a little easier. There are dual lighting controls, both next to the door and at the front of the room; two independent lighting systems, each split into two zones; a back-of-the-room public address speaker; a ten-foot motorized projection screen; and a smaller pull-down projection screen.

A. Lights

There are four light switches. Two of them control the fluorescent lights (some in front, some in back) for general room lighting. The other two switches control the incandescent down light ceiling cans. These lights provide desk lighting without interfering with the projection screen. It may be to your advantage to use these lights when using the data projector.

B. Screens

The 10-foot projection screen at the front of the room is controlled by the small silver toggle switch on the wall. When you move the switch to the lower position, the screen will automatically lower until it almost touches the floor. When you move the switch to the upper position, the screen will rewind into the case completely. By moving the switch to the center position, you can stop the screen at any point. The data projector is aimed so that its image almost completely fills the screen. For this reason, it is a good idea to make sure that the area in front of the screen is clear. There is frequently a table positioned at the front of the room; you may need to move it to ensure that your class has an unobstructed view of the screen.

The smaller screen in the corner is a manual pulldown screen with a tensioning arm. Raise and lower it by moving the bottom edge up and down. It does not operate in the “window shade” manner of most wall-mount screens.

C. Back-of-the-room PA

Near the screen switch there is a microphone jack. A microphone connected to this jack is amplified through a speaker located about halfway back in the room. You can check out a suitable microphone from I.T.