Rooms can be joined, but there is a separate but limited AV system in MB161a (west end, voice enhancement from MB161b only).
Control Panel
Button or touch controls for the audio/visual and projection equipment in the room.
Control systems are designed to be left powered up, please leave them powered up so they can be used to turn the equipment on/off.
Save power
Please switch off projectors when when not in use or the repeater screens might not work. Find out more about Aston University’s energy awareness on the website.
Did you know that the lamps are not only expensive, but contain hazardous Mercury?
Procon buttons
We recommend that you login to the PC (or laptop) before turning the projector on.
To switch the projector on, press the On/Off button once, the projector will beep once. It will flash to indicate it is warming up, and will prevent you from selecting other buttons until the projector is ready.
At the end of your session, press the On/Off button to switch the projector off, with two beeps.
Data 1 and Data 2 buttons select the MainPC and Visualiser/Laptop connection respectively.
Computer
Tips
- We recommend that the projector is switched on after you login to the PC.
- Drag/copy presentation documents from your USB stick onto the desktop.
- Any change/s and added files are auto-deleted on Restart.
- Choose VLC Media Player for DVD playback with sound.
Aston Teaching PC
The 2017/18 ‘pool room’ teaching PC is now Windows10 and includes Office Professional 2016 including PowerPoint, Excel, and Word.
Also included are the Panopto recorder, Skype, and a selection of web browsers/important teaching links. Shared/network drives are dependant on your Aston login. The IT Services website has the full list of installed software, and is currently moving to AstonApps Cloudpaging portal.
If your login or the network fails .\teach username & teach password will allow you to present locally (e.g. USB drive), but without any network or internet access. Most rooms with Lenovo PCs installed will allow change to ‘Extended desktop’ for Powerpoint notes view [Windows+P].
The PC will shut down after an hour of inactivity
This will remove any changes you have made, any work you have open will be lost, and any files on the desktop will be deleted. Unfinished Panopto uploads will also be suspended until Panopto is re-connected in that room.
Bear this in mind if, for example, you are running an event and want to get the PC set up early or you are breaking for lunch.
The computer is set up to record to Aston Replay and upload to Blackboard. There is option in Panopto Settings: Basic: ‘Highlight mouse cursor…‘ to make the pointer more prominent for recordings, and please check the mic levels are OK.
There are usually 4 spare USBs on the main PC monitor.
We recommend that the projector is switched ON after you login to the PC. If you don’t need the computer to be displayed on the screen, you can use it without the projector on. Computer audio requires the projector to be ON, and all control panel, computer and application volumes should be up (not muted).
Laptop (VGA – via. visualiser)
To use your laptop, you will need to connect the flying VGA cable* from the visualiser, turn the Visualiser ON and then select the visualiser’s laptop connection. The separate laptop audio jack cable can be connected to the laptop headphone socket, and can also be used for iPod playback when laptop is selected.
Note *The visualiser must also be ON to display the laptop(/visualiser) connection in some rooms with laptop VGA socket on the lectern. Some laptops and tablets require a special adapter from the laptop to the VGA connection. NB. The visualiser must be ON to display the laptop(/visualiser) connection.
Visualiser
A document camera that can display and zoom in on papers, books, and other 3D objects. There is usually a separate source selection button to display on the room screen/s.
A desktop application called ImageMate[IM] allows Elmo images to be recorded in Panopto.
The newer Wolfvision visualisers can be selected as separate video recording device in Panopto.
Elmo P10s / P30
Slide switch to turn ON/(OFF) and adjust lamp for best image.
Zoom control(blue) and Camera/SDcard/LAPTOP selection button at the front (unless there is a separate Laptop selection button on the control panel).
- Open the Image Mate software – find the icon on the desktop
- Click the maximise button – this will show the camera full screen on the computer meaning the Panopto recorder can capture it.
- When you’ve finished using the visualiser, you can exit the full screen view by clicking on the button in the top right of the screen.
Equipment