HCMC Blogs

Take a laptop to London Drugs and check to see whether:

1. the TV can easily resolve a 4:3 signal without stretching it
2. my laptop recognizes the TV as a monitor
3. the PIP function is usable, given our needs
4. the box will fit in my van (or does it need to be delivered?)

The existing CANJAS VC system relies on an HCMC cart, TV and speakers which is also the HCMC portable VCR station. Funds were obtained for the purchase of a dedicated cart and display for the CANJAS hardware.

The original expectation was that we would be able to source a large-ish TV, a computer monitor and a cart to hold everything per the spec in the request. After some searching, the following logistical issues arose with our original spec:

1. In order to make both screens viewable simultaneously they need to be side-by-side.
2. The conference camera needs to be at approximately the same level as the screens.
3. The cart needs a lockable cabinet for the peripheral devices (microphones, cabling, codec etc)
4. Any computer monitor large enough to display a PowerPoint-like presentation to even a small classroom would need to be quite large (at least 23") due to the inherently high resolution of these devices.

Further to these issues:
If the screens are side-by-side AND they are large enough (per above req's), they would require a special cart that is

• too wide to get in our elevators,
• has no built-in lockable storage and
• by itself, costs more than our entire budget.

The solution I favour is this:
Purchase one large LCD TV (Samsung 32-inch LCD TV - LNS3251D $1699 at London Drugs, but $1150 at Tiger Direct) with picture-in-picture capability that will allow simultaneously display of video conference signal and PowerPoint-like presentations and mount it on a surplus cart that we already own. Associated costs for setting the LCD up on our cart will include a restraint system (broad strapping) and minor modification to the cart (more secure lock mechanism, camera mount and a power bar).

Scott has approved the purchase of the LCD.

We need a page which provides a form-based interface where the user can select from variables (user, project, categories, etc.), press a button, and get a detailed report. This involves figuring out how the EZSQL-based code in B2Evo talks to the DB, and how to implement a control plugin properly.

Just logging time. Stewart's post and Martin's post provide the details.

The default skin ('custom') was showing overlap in the list of blogs at the top of the page. Experimented with various ways of fixing this, and eventually settled on adjusted padding, margins and line-height, and removed all margins.

Martin and I got the old Sony turntable and a pre-amp from the CALL installed in the existing audio system.

We need to purchase at least two cartridges for the turntable. The existing one looks like it may be a bit worn, and we'll want a spare. The current cartridge is an Ortofon FF 15E (Sound Hounds carries Ortofon), but we can use pretty much anything.

With Greg, set up and tested an old phono pre-amp acquired from the CALL. Appears to work OK. Needed a reset of the FW410 to wake up its sp/dif out. Eventually these inputs should be moved from Channel 1 & 2 of the desk to a stereo channel such as 15/16, freeing up the first two channels for mics only; mics need to be in one of the first eight so they get preamped.

Pulled back off teacher's console in Lab C and re-routed all cabling to install machine in shelf of the desk.

Normal users were unable to shut the teacher stations down (default Win2K Server policy).
I've adjusted this policy (called "Shut down the system"), which is found in Control Panel>Admin Tools>Local Security Settings>Local Policies>User Rights Assignment. The default setting is to allow only Power Users to shut the machine down. This has been changed to Everyone.

Another angle on this was that the shutdown button was disabled at the logon screen. This has been overridden in Group Policies thusly:

To enable the Shutdown button for Windows 2000 Server:
1. Start the Group Policy (Local) Microsoft Management Console (MMC) snap-in (run>gpedit.msc).
2. Double-click the following items to open them: Local Computer Policy, Computer Configuration, Windows Settings, Security Settings, Local Policies, Security Options.
3. Double-click Allow system to be shutdown without having to logon, and then change the local policy to Enabled.
4. Click OK.
The change takes effect when you restart the computer.

Got feedback from Stephen Ross on minor changes. Made those changes.
Wrote readme file to help in future maintenance of site.
Gave Stephen instructions on how to request a new departmental account to host the site.
Researched use of htaccess to limit access.