May 2003 — Applications
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Boston University Transforms Classroom Instruction With Networked Projectors
Some areas in academia have taken the lead in bringing multimedia presentations to the curriculum. Patricia Johnson, an assistant professor in Classical Studies at BU, has watched the new technology reshape her work. For Johnson, display technology has changed a frill into a fundamental element. "Now, we can fully integrate imagery into our course curriculum," she says. "In my Roman civilization class, it has become part of the required material. After the images are shown in class, they go up on the Web. Then we use the projector during the exams. For the first time, we're really able to present visual material as an integral part of the material of classics, instead of it being a pretty addition."
Being able to bring online imagery into the curriculum is also crucial because of changes in scholastic publishing. Today, discoveries are available online years before they come out in book form. For some material, this is the only chance to get a glimpse into these lost worlds. "Scholars have been great about putting their material on Web pages," says Johnson. "So for teaching, the Web is the future for us."
Proactive Support
The VPL-FX50 can be accessed remotely to implement a proactive service program that increases uptime, while reducing operating costs. With projection technology tightly woven into the curriculum, keeping equipment up and running is essential, according to Al Gineitis, manager of BU's technical operations. With non-networked projectors we have to wait for professors to report a failure, then schedule a technician to diagnose and repair it, which can take up to four weeks, according to Gineitis.
Because the VPL-FX50 is IP-enabled, remote diagnostics change the support strategy from reactive to proactive. So, Gineitis can now continually monitor units through a browser in his office - checking on lamp usage, the condition of the power supply and other possible malfunctions. This helps manage material and manpower more effectively - a vast improvement given the tight budgets and small staff typical at universities.
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