University Audio-Visual and Related Control Systems
for Eight Lecture Halls

During the last ten years we have provided a multitude of diverse systems to satisfy some very specialized University of Oklahoma requirements. This A/V Control Project, made possible by a classroom improvement bond issue, is one example.

This is the Main Panel portion for one of eight rooms in the project. A lockable glass door is shown open. Appearing top to bottom in the photo is the Touchscreen, the AMX cardframe with status indication, a VHS player, Laserdisc player and an aux. input array.

The Instructional Services Center (ISC) at the University is in charge of classroom scheduling and would oversee the new systems. ISC would also be responsible for training the academic personnel to use the new equipment.

The initial request was made of OSCO in late April of 1994 to design and build the A/V and room control systems. We would also provide interconnect schematics to enable OU Physical Plant (OUPP) to prepare the rooms for system installation. The University wanted the Systems installed and ready for the following Fall Semester in August. This brought new meaning to "Fast Track".

This is the rear of the enclosure shown above. An array of miniature interposing relays to preclude the possibility of damage to the I/O cards in the cardframe can be seen on the top rung of the open door.

A team comprised of ISC, OU Physical Plant (OUPP) Engineering and OSCO personnel was formed to hammer out and define realistic expectations and determine the specific requirements of the systems. All agreed that the ultimate success of the project would be measured by how much the faculty used the equipment. We believed two issues would determine that success. One was "ease of use" and the other was identical control, requiring the user to have to "learn" only ONE system.

While the presentation elements to be used were very similar in each room, the lighting systems were not. Various combinations of florescent, incandescent, dimming, line voltage, low voltage, etc. had to be dealt with. Physical differences in the rooms and preferred control locations dictating the placement of the control array further confounded the "one fits all" approach. Some were mounted on the wall, some through the wall and some in podiums.

FEATURES:

• Touch Screen Control Interface, Menu Driven
• Hand Held R/F or I/R Control Interface (these were R/F)
• Software Based Programmable Control - Easily Adaptable to "Next Generation" Presentation Equipment
• Single Point Control of All Devices
• Complete Isolation of All Devices
• Seamless Integration of All Devices
• Surge Protection
• Complete and detailed System Documentation for each room
• Operation Training Manuals for Faculty Users
• Detailed Operation and Maintenance Manuals
• Installation Supervision and Continued Support

PRESENTATION ELEMENTS CONTROLLED:

• High Resolution Video Projectors w/ Provisions for Adjustments via Touch Screen
• Laser Disk Players w/ Provisions for Pre-Programmed Presentation via Touch Screen
• VCRs
• Aux. Inputs incl. RGBS and Composite Video
• Slide Projectors
• Projection Screens
• Audio Amplifiers

OTHER ELEMENTS CONTROLLED:

• Room Lights (On-Off)
• Room Lights (Dimming)
• Presentation Volume
• Microphone Volume

Last modified: April 07, 2010

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