Classroom Technology
acouPoP Helps Control Sound In the Conference or Classroom
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The acouPoP system from acoustaCorp can provide a quick fix for a conference room or classroom where controlling sound reflections becomes important for conferencing or recording. They can be installed on a wall with a motor to roll out or up similar to a shade or can be hung on a stand to control sound without having to alter the structure of the room at all. The stand approach would allow you to move the system to the best location within a room or between rooms where it is needed. It’s available in custom colors starting around $900.
Vaddio Delivers The “Holy Grail” of Classroom Integration
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Vaddio provided a high point of the show with their introduction of a whole host of AV equipment that supports direct USB interface. These products will revolutionize classroom integration.
Their ClearVIEW HD USB camera is a pan/tilt.zoom camera that has a 19x optical zoom lens. Because this is a USB camera, it can be used for all applications such as Skype, Movi (this is showing it being used with Cisco Jabber), web conferencing and even lecture capture tools. Because it also has standard video outputs, it can also be plugged into standard hardware video conferencing codecs. At around $4,000 this is truly one camera to rule them all.
If this was the only announcement, it would be enough, but they also came out with new USB microphones both table top and even a USB hanging mic with three elements. For around a grand, you get your choice of one microphone and the amplifier that can support an additional mic (you can mix and match) for another $400. But wait, that’s not all. For around $1900 list, the new AV bridge allows you to take your existing camera and audio equipment and convert it to a compatible USB format for use with all the applications mentioned earlier. This will extend the value of already existing equipment. A huge win for Vaddio.
Perceptive Pixel Large Multitouch Displays
0Perceptive Pixel was showing their 82″ multi-touch display which offers 1920 x 1080 resolution, 2000:1 contrast ratio and sub-pixel touch precision with fingers, a stylus or even gloved hand. The monitor also comes in 27″ and 55″ resolution. They provide a development platform as well to create interactive applications.
New From Extron Converters & Classroom Stuff
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The Extron DVS 605 is a five input HDCP Compliant scaler that can integrate HDMI, RGB and other video sources into your classroom. It has seamless switching, simultaneous HDMI and analog high resolution video outputs and lists starting out at $4390. Options include audio switching and 3G video support.
The Extron DTP HDMI 301 Extender can send HDMI and control over a single CAT 5-type cable at full 1080p/60 or 1920×1200 x 60Hz up to 100 meters.
The Extron DVI 110 DVI Signal Regenerator can fix marginal or noisy DVI signals at the source, is HDCP compliant and supports resolutions up to 1080p/60 or 1920×1200 x 60Hz.
The Extron SME 100 Streaming Media Encoder can be used for overflow video during events using standards based H.264 and AAC encoding. It also has an integrated three input AV switcher and buffered input loop through. Available in SD or HD models.
I know that we don’t currently use Extron TouchLink but since this was new and I thought it was a really cool idea, I thought I’d include it in my report.
Calibre & Eiki Warping 3D
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Eiki and Calibre were showing an interesting approach to better project 3D imagery. They made the two projectors as co-incident as physically possible then warped the screen to try to give it more natural curve when projecting. Then using the Calibre HQView hardware, adjusted the overall image to more perfectly fit the screen. It might have interesting application for larger venues where you want to project 3D and allow people to have differing views of the imagery depending on location.
Audio Technica Wireless Desktop & Podium Microphones
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Audio-Technica’s SpectraPulse UWB Wireless Microphone System are designed for conferences or classrooms and operates in the sparsely populated 6-10 GHz range out of the range of TV signals and white space devices. You can install up to two Audio Control Interface (aci707) units for a total of 14 separate microphone channels. Optional encryption package meets the AES 128-bit encryption standard developed by the U.S. government for securing sensitive material.
New Epson PowerLite Pro Z
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The new Epson Pro Z series features great brightness and contrast ratio, 6 axis color adjustment, as well as some impressive edge blending technology to put multiple projectors side by side. I saw this demonstrated and was really impressed. They also offer split screen presentation, multiple PC presentation wirelessly (up to 4 systems simultaneously which could be good in a collaborative lab) and wireless connectivity with the iPhone/iPad. Their prices range from around $10k to just under $20k for the new models.
Mac Mini To Xserve Replacement From Sonnet
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The xMac™ Mini Server from Sonnet can transform a Mac mini Server with Thunderbolt Technology into an Enterprise Class Rack Mount Server by providing PCIe 2.0 expansion system in a 1U rackmount enclosure. delivers strategic airflow cooling. It features two PCIe 2.0 expansion slots (with a 100W power supply and fans) that connect to the Mac mini via its Thunderbolt port, a central power hub for the Mac mini and PCIe cards, an additional Thunderbolt port for daisy chaining to other Thunderbolt devices. The xMac mini Server even provides a front panel USB port and a power button. The PCIe expansion slots power on and off in unison with the Mac mini.
Annotating In Interactive 3D
0Kenziko Kontact is a companion product to to the real time 3D broadcast graphics application VizRT. It allows you to create macros to allow someone to manipulate and annotate inside a 3D CGI environment in real time. You can create different types of icons and graphics tool giving the broadcaster (or in our case the instructor or presenter) a simple to use interface. While this is for broadcast, I can absolutely see applications in teaching – maybe engineering or medical instruction – being able to interact with a model with simple tools – assuming you have the developers to create the application.
LogicLight from LogicKeyboard USB Keyboard light
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The LogicLight from LogicKeyboard is a USB powered light to help illuminate your keyboard in low light situations. I thought it might be good for Duke Media Services or Duke’s Theatrical Department who may have to use computers in situations where lighting might not be conducive for computing. Sells for around $20.