Projector Assists with Learning
Oct 7, 2013 10:06 AM
The University of Massachusetts Medical School (UMMS) was established in 1962 to provided affordable medical education to state residents as well as to increase the number of primary care physicians in underserved areas of Massachusetts. Encompassing three schools, the Worcester-based campus recently sought to provide its Albert Sherman Center with integrated audiovisual technologies to encourage collaboration and internal and external communication among its researchers.
Integration firm DGI Technologies in consultation with Accentech was tapped to outfit several of UMMS’ conference rooms, a lecture hall, several multipurpose rooms, and a fitness center with AV presentation, videoconferencing, audioconferencing, and lecture capture systems.
“One of the main challenges we faced was dealing with audio,” says Mark Rue, DGI Technologies’ account manager. “The architect wanted ‘ceiling button microphones’ to capture local participants within an audio or video conference call. Based on the reflective surfaces within each space there were numerous program updates to make sure the participants sounded as good as possible for the ‘far end’.”
With UMMS already using Crestron’s RoomView to monitor the spaces, DGI outfitted each room with Crestron touchpanel control coupled with Echo360 lecture systems in numerous areas to record and archive teaching events. A Digital Projection (DP) M-Vision Cine 400 1080p projector was added to each room to allow the viewing of high-resolution digital images, while in the function suite a Future Automation ceiling projection lift houses a Digital Projection Titan WUXGA 330-L projector shooting on to one large projection screen for audience viewing. Shooting the opposite direction is DP’s M-Vision Cine 400 to act as a confidence monitor for the presenter. The lecture hall includes a control booth with three DP Titan WUXGA 660 projectors, a Yamaha live mixing console, and a Panasonic production switcher. The lecture hall can be controlled with a Crestron touchpanel or manually controlled via the production switcher and the live mixing console.
“We used Echo360 for lecture capture appliances as the school was already heavily invested in their technology throughout the other campuses,” Rue says. “We specified Cisco C40 codecs and registered the units to their VTC infrastructure, [and] we implemented VBrick for their digital signal solution. An Extron Quantum Video Wall Processor [was used] for the lobby’s 3×3 video wall.”
In addition to Crestron control throughout the 420,000-square-foot facility, each audio conference room was integrated with UMMS’ Avaya 6.2 IP phone system, while Extron USB extenders were added to conference rooms tables or floors to communicate with the dedicated PC in each room.
“The idea was to be as unobtrusive in each space as possible, with button microphones into the ceilings, a drop down ceiling projector in the function suite that has 18in. high ceilings and the projection system will disappear into the ceiling when not in use,” Rue says. “A majority of the rooms have Lutron lighting systems and Meccho shades, which are controlled via the Crestron control system.”
PRODUCT AT WORK
Digital Projection M-Vision Cine 400
Affordable and efficient, the M-Vision Cine 400 produces high lumens, deep contrast, accurate color, and extensive vertical and horizontal lens shift. Ideal for boardrooms, medium-sized auditoriums, conference centers, classrooms and other well-lit venues, the M-Vision Cine 400 has the brightness to deliver impactful imagery in a variety of professional environments.
