Ottawa - How to Use the Multimedia System in the Computer Lab (G1206)
- Lori Atkin
Introduction
The computer lab is equipped and controlled through a Podium station that includes a desktop, two 24” monitors, a keyboard, a mouse, and a pointer/clicker. It controls two 86” displays, a 60” display, and a wireless microphone. The system is managed via the touch panel below the monitors on the podium. It facilitates switching between the three displays and extra HDMI input (BYOD) and controls the audio volume in the room.
Setting up the Podium desktop
The monitor array is configured to work as an extended display, whereas the main monitor will always be the one on the right. The one that will be extended and mirrored to the mounted displays will be the one on the left of the Podium. The displays are divided into two sections; for illustrative purposes, we will refer to the right section, the display as shown in the picture as #1, an 86” display located next to the glass wall mounted on a pole floor to ceiling mount, on the left section is composed by the #2 a 60” display in the back mounted to a wall at the end of the classroom and the #3 an 86” display mounted at the left windows wall, as shown in the following image:
Switching between displays
The Podium’s touch panel controller allows you to control the video output displayed on the displays mounted around the Computer Lab room.. The touch panel switches between the Podium desktop and the HDMI input (BYOD - Bring Your Own Device). It also has a volume slider and an audio settings button for adjusting the sound level.
As previously mentioned, the video signal from the secondary monitor (right monitor) mounted on the Podium will be duplicated between the displays mounted within the Computer Lab, and all the displays are managed by the tablet by sections “Left section” display #1 and “Right section” displays #2 and #3.
By pressing the leftmost Computer icon, we will project the video signal on display #1, as can be seen in the following image:
By pressing the third icon from left to right Computer icon, we will project the video signal on displays #2 and #3, as can be seen in the following image:
Therefore, if we press both Computer icons, we can project the video signal on all three displays that the Computer Lab has, as can be seen in the following image:
You need to turn off the displays to stop sharing the podium content. To do so, tap the power icon on the touch panel. After that, a message will ask you to power off the displays, and you must tap the yes button.
After this, you will put the displays on standby status, and the resolution of the podium monitor could change as the restarting point.
If you power off the displays, this action will not affect the audio output of the Podium.
Switching to the HDMI input
The HDMI input connector is located on the right side of the Podium next to the touch panel, as shown in the following image.
On the display menu of the touch panel, the far-right BYOD icon must be pressed to select the HDMI input, and it will be displayed only on the right section of the displays (#2 and #3). This will switch the input source to HDMI and send the signal to the two designated screens.
This selection will not affect the sound input and output of the Podium.
The third screen (#1) will continue displaying the podium desktop signal, so if you want to display both video signals, you should have to activate the far-left icon on the touch panel; as you can see in the following picture, the left video section is displaying the podium desktop signal and the right section is displaying the HDMI input from the laptop.
Managing the audio
The computer lab is equipped with an audio system consisting of eight speakers strategically placed throughout the room to ensure every student can hear the lecture. The Podium controls the audio, allowing the instructor to adjust the volume and settings as needed,
The volume level should be adjusted by scrolling the bar located at the bottom of the screen from the right (turning up) to the left (turning down).
If you need to mute the volume in the room, you have to press the lower right Audio Settings icon to open the audio menu and press the “Audio Mute” button.
Wireless microphone
The microphone set consists of a small microphone with a clip that attaches to the speaker’s clothing and is wired to a transmitter that gives the functionality to talk within the full computer lab.
It is recommended to position the microphone below the chin to a distance of one hand to have a good voice reception and avoid the output noise from a louder voice and breathing.
Power on the microphone/Change the batteries.
Press the two buttons on both sides to access the transmitter’s power button. Then, pull up the lid to access the power button and the batteries.
To turn on the transmitter, press the power button for three seconds. You will see an LED blinking at the top next to the mute switch. Depending on the colour of the LED will indicate the status and battery level.
To mute and unmute the microphone, you must use the switch at the top; if it shows a yellow dot, the microphone will be muted, and if you want to speak, you must switch to the right to unmute it.
Using the Pointer/Clicker
The wireless pointer/clicker attached to the Podium desktop makes it easier to navigate through the most common document programs such as PowerPoint, the clicker allows one to seamlessly transition between slides or pages of a document within the Computer Lab room due to its wireless feature, and the laser pointer helps during their lecture by allowing them to draw the audience's attention to specific areas of a presentation.
The power button of the pointer/clicker is located on the left-upper side of the device and is made up of a switch that slides up and down to turn the device on and off.
Troubleshooting
For any issues with the multimedia system in the lab, please call 226-776-3096 or submit a ticket via our Jira portal here: https://lambtoncollege.atlassian.net/servicedesk/customer/portal/9