Case Study - CLAUSTHAL TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY
Remodelling the multimedia lecture theatre at Clausthal Technical University (2008)
The project: Clausthal Technical University (TU Clausthal) offers complete courses of study in the following subjects: chemistry, physics, materials science, energy and raw materials, geoenvironmental engineering, mathematics, computer science, mechanical engineering, process engineering, environmental engineering, power systems engineering and economics. TU Clausthal has an interdisciplinary approach to research and has links to national and international higher education institutes. Media systems in the large lecture hall of the Institute for Physics and Physical Technologies were between 5 and 20 years old and so were scheduled to be replaced in 2008 with innovative and high-quality fittings.
The challenge: Remodelling the lecture theatre to produce a complex and contemporary multimedia centre. Substantially improved electronic media presentation and broader accessibility thanks to innovative technology are essential components of TU Clausthal's E-learning strategy.
The solution: A multimedia lecture theatre was conceived and installed under the overall leadership of the TU's computer centre and in close cooperation with Acoustic Design Ahnert (ADA), the engineering office responsible for planning. Its complete HD workflow enables two multi-format HD compact cameras to generate sharp, high-quality pictures, close-ups and measuring data. The images are available on PC for lectures, presentations and experiment series as well as in broadcast quality for international video conferences.
The system can be operated either by the lecturer or by an assistant in the lecture theatre as required. Media producers in the control room either edit the signal live in the picture editing suite or put the recorded material together in post-production.
Not only the video and audio technology, but also the auditorium and platform lighting can be operated via the central media controls and the light levels adjusted to suit visual displays. Although the technology is complex and sophisticated, its operation is simple thanks to a high degree of automation requiring a minimum of staff.
EXCERPT FROM THE BILL OF MATERIALS:
| Biamp Nexia audio-processor, Kling&Freitag sound systems |
| Panasonic AK-HC1500 (2/3?-Chip HD) and |
| JVC GY-HD251E (1/3"-Chip 720p HDV) cameras |
| Panasonic AV-HS300G (5x HD-SDI) video switchers |
| Panasonic PTD-7700 (3DLP, SXGA+, 7000 ANSI lumen) projectors |
| Presentation scaler switcher: Analog Way Diventix |
| HD videoconferencing codec: Polycom HDX 9004 |
| Document camera: Wolfvision VZ 9plus |
| Crestron media controls |
| Background light (fluorescent tubes), laboratory bench lighting (wash lights) |
| lecture lighting (spotlights), desk lights (spotlights) |