Harvard style, known as Wright lecture theatre

There are seven 65″ LCD repeater screens linked to an interactive projector.

Front row lighting, and main lighting and blinds can be controlled from the touchscreen control panel…except back blind switch on lectern top.

Front row desks have 13A power and USB charging outlets.

The following instructions are automatically generated, based on the list of equipment in the room

As such, we've kept them simple to account for any variations between rooms. For help on specifics, contact AV Support.

If you're in one of the learning spaces, contact AV Support by pressing the AVSupp button on the phone or x4221.

ECD Helpdesk button for ventilation and IT Helpdesk for login queries

Control Panel

Crestron touch panel

SusanTSWpanel

Tap the touch screen to display/select buttons for the equipment.

To switch off, tap Off or Exit/Shutdown, and then confirm with Shutdown Now.

Newer lecture ‘Digital‘ theatres have audio ‘send’ and multiple projectors and lectern monitor selectable for each input source, and separate mic(red \ ) and speaker(white \ ) mutes.

Some also have sub-menu/s for additional facilities like Camera, Lighting and Blinds controls.

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.

Aston Teaching PC

All standard ‘pool room image’ teaching PCs are Windows10 with Office365 Professional Plus including PowerPoint, Excel, Word & Teams.

After login the PC automatically launches AstonApps Cloudpaging portal for all the latest pool room managed software. Panopto recorder, web browsers & important teaching software and links like Blackboard have ALL moved to AstonApps. Shared/network drives are dependent on your Aston login.

If your login or the network fails username .\teach & password T34chT34ch 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 30 minutes 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 PC 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 before starting to RECORD.

There are usually 2-4 extra USB ports on the lectern 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 in most rooms. However, computer audio requires the projector to be ON, and all three control panel, computer and application volumes should be up (and unmuted).

Laptop (HDMI)

HDMI connector

A flying HDMI cable (including audio) is usually connected to the lectern faceplate.

If there is no cable look for a USB C cable or use the Wireless connection.

HDMI cables are available on request by calling Ext 4221

Laptop (VGA)

VGA with integrated audio cable

A flying VGA cable (with integrated audio jack connection) is usually connected to the lectern faceplate.

The laptop audio jack can also be used for iPod playback when laptop is selected.

Note Post-2019 refurbs like MB554 will be HDMI ONLY (ie. no VGA)

Some laptops and tablets may require a special AV adapter and or cable/s.

Wireless Presentation

Crestron AirMedia

Wireless presentation uses a WiFi network to present or mirror photos, PDF, and Microsoft Office files etc. on the room display/s from your wireless devices, instead of by HDMI or similar cable.

  • iOS and Android mobile devices, and/or your Windows/macOS wifi laptops.

When Wireless is selected, it displays the room’s IP address and a unique or QR [code] to present the content on the screen/s. You can have multiple WiFi devices concurrently displayed in each corner of the picture.

On an AirServer use the Windows10 shortcut and press Windows+K keys.  For any other OS join the WiFi network being advertised on screen.

AirMedia and Via devices will direct you to download an app if you put the device’s IP addess into a web browser.  Just the number not the http part.

Note Functionality varies between rooms and devices – iOS Panopto app cannot record ‘Presentations’ as well as ‘present’ like the Mac/Windows versions can, the Android app does even less.

  • AirMedia (Crestron AM-100) Gt.Hall, MB603, MB653
  • VIA Connect/VIA ConnectPro(Kramer) ABS6.4/5, ABS2.10(L4), MB304, SLT(MB651)
  • VIA Campus: 2018/19 refurbs(MB41x, MB470, SW309, VSG03)
  • AirServer: Latest 2022/24 refurbs and MB108,550, MMS, Adrian, Susan, MB406, MB408, MB204, MB206, MB370, MB372

Microphones

Perform a variety of tasks in the rooms, depending on the type of room and microphone.

They can be used to feed audio to the induction loop, make sure people at the back of the room can hear the speaker clearly (voice enhancement), or be recorded in Aston Replay. Always check the RECORD levels.

NB. some new rooms have a mic [Mute] button on the touch panel, otherwise the voice enhancement volume is fixed.

Lectern mic

Lectern Mic

To switch on/off, push the button at the base of the flexible gooseneck.

The LED will be lit when the microphone is on, and the level is preset.

There is no switch or LED on the white Beyer flat models(right)

Beyer lectern mic
Beyer lectern mic

Revolabs

Revolabs lapel mics

Rechargeable microphone/s which automatically unmute/mute when removed from/replaced correctly in the charger.

There are a maximum of two mics/channels per room, ~20m range, and freedom to interact with the audience while recording to Replay. Always check record levels.

Please replace the microphones on the charger when they are not in use, and check the LED.

The LED on the microphone will turn RED to show they are charging, and GREEN when fully charged.

Visualiser

Elmo P10 visualiser/document camera
Elmo P10 visualiser/ document camera

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.

Wolfvision VZ-3

Basic operations

Lift the Arm to turn ON.

Zoom control is on top of the Arm.

Warning

The method of recording the contents of this visualiser in Aston Replay is different to the other rooms. Expand the instructions, below, for more information.

Unlike the other visualisers in use in Aston University learning spaces, the Wolfvision acts in the same way as a webcam or another camera. This means we can record it directly in Panopto, or use it as a white board in CollaborateUltra.

When you’re presenting, you’ll need to switch to the Panopto recorder to add the visualiser as a secondary source. To get back to the Panopto recorder, either

  • come out of your full screen presentation and click the Panopto icon on the taskbar
    or
  • Press Alt & Tab until the Panopto recorder is selected

Then, in the Panopto recorder, you’ll need to add the visualiser as a secondary capture source:

  1. Panopto Add another video sourceOn the left hand side of the Panopto recorder, under Secondary Capture Sources, click Add Another Video Source
  2. Select Wolfvision as secondary sourceClick the dropdown that appears, and select WolfVision Video Capture II
  3. WolfVision secondary sourceThis starts recording the camera in the visualiser.
  4. Remove WolfVision secondary sourceWhen you want to stop using the visualiser, remove it as a secondary source by going back to the Panopto recorder and clicking on the X next to it.

If you do not remove the visualiser as a secondary capture source

When you stop using the visualiser, any viewers of the recorded session will continue seeing the content of the visualiser.

If you begin presenting using Powerpoint again, your viewers will have to manually switch back to the Powerpoint source themselves.

When your students view this recording back, it will show the visualiser at this point, like so

Wolfvision in Panopto viewer

At the point in the recording when you clicked the X to remove the secondary source, it will switch back eg to PowerPoint or the screen capture.

You can repeat the above steps as many times as you need during a lecture.

Interactive Screens

Epson Interactive Projector

Epson EB-595wi interactive projector

Epson EB-585/595/695 Wi wireless interactive projectors use pens to draw or annotate on the screen.

Epson dual-pen interactive support
Epson dual-pen interactive support

There is an Epson ‘Easy Interactivemanual, and a shortcut icon on the desktop, or you can use mouse or pen/s with PowerPoint annotation icons which will also be recorded by Aston Reply.

  • Dual pen support(Model 585) — allows two pens/users to annotate simultaneously anywhere on the surface on which the image is projected
  • Touch-based interactivity(Model 595) — enables as many as six students to touch, draw, select and interact using intuitive and familiar gestures – MB220, MB502a, MB653(WrightLT), NW805/7 and some meeting rooms.
  • (Model 695) – allows upto 10 fingers or pen inputs.

Whiteboard/Wall

WhiteWall

MB231rearwhitewall

These are designed to be used with ‘Dry Markers’ and cleaning pad/cloth – Please wipe clean for the next user.

There is usually a ‘raised lip’ between glossy marker wall and non-writable or screen area (G11 and MB603).

Most pool rooms have a white board/s, or writable surfaces on the room divider/s, and the porters(x4000) can usually provide a mobile board or flip-chart on request(pads/pens not provided).

Content cannot be recorded to Aston Replay or used in CollaborateUltra, but you could use the Visualiser or interactive display instead.