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Protected: LRC headset organization

2014/07/15 Enter your password to view comments.

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Categories: e-infrastructure, headphones

Protected: How to get rid of “Restart your computer to apply these changes” in a deepfrozen computer lab

2014/04/02 Enter your password to view comments.

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Categories: Glitches&Errors, hardware, headphones, Uncategorized

Positioning of Language Lab PCs needs improving

2014/01/11 3 comments
  1. Update: We worked around the issue with a male/female USB extension cord (black) to connect the Sanako USB connector (blue) into, this way, the whole setup can be aligned with the rear of the PC and won’t stick out and get in the way: image
  2. Problem: Rear connectors of computers get disconnected or even damaged. Input  (keyboard, mouse, microphone) and output devices (headset) get disconnected connected and therefore fails to work. Damaged equipment needs to be ordered and replaced, at considerable cost of time and money ($TBA per Sanako cable). It is too time-consuming to test equipment functionality (30 headsets and mice and keyboards) before each assessments and exam.
  3. Example of student in seat: CIMG0016
  4. We have observed these and similar damages regularly:
    1. CIMG0020
    2. CIMG0019
    3. Cause: Our language lab computer desks and rows are too narrow, for individual student sitting in front of the computer, not to mention classes moving in and out of their seats
    4. Other requirements:
      1. We need to have equipment plugged in the rear connectors of the computer and cable-tied to prevent students from trying to adjust or “fix” computers by re-plugging the equipment (often improperly, making them fail to work), and also because there is limited desk surface in front of the computers, given keyboard and mouse need to fit in front.
      2. For the functionality of the Sanako digital audio language lab system, we especially need to make sure,  that the headset is plugged in on the same USB port in all computers.
    5. Solutionsthat we have
      1. already tried
        1. we have tied down the connectors with cable ties, but this has not worked sufficiently.
      2. yet to try: is there a way
        1. to permanently attach computers in a different, safer position on the existing furniture?
        2. or to buy and install different furniture, computers seated under desks inaccessible for end user and locked?
Categories: e-infrastructure, Glitches&Errors, headphones, Photos, proposals, Student-Computers Tags:

LRC headset tests

2014/01/10 Leave a comment

image

  1. To improve LRC readiness – given that headsets are the most prominent component of the language center,  as well as a wear and tear part –,
  2. every Friday during the term (see column),
  3. a group of expert LRC assistants, armed with the above checklist on a clip board on the reception desk, 
  4. tests  each headset (see rows) in the LRC for functionality (play, record), using the procedure outlined in step-by-step instructions linked in the 2nd column from the left above
    1. for PCs and
    2. for iMacs respectively,
  5. and reports the test results on the clip board:
    1. upon success, puts tester’s initials,
    2. otherwise marks as “not ok”, e.g.
      1. “no plug”,
      2. ”no mic”, or “mic w/ static”
      3. “no sound”,
      4. etc.
  6. LRC assistants should, as pictured: headset-check
    1. from the clipboard,
    2. access the instructions
    3. follow the instructions
    4. record the results
    5. while working side-by-side to cut the load in half.
    6. In addition (not pictured), they can log in on multiple computers and start working on the first pair while the last pair stills starts up.
Categories: audience-is-students, checklists, e-infrastructure, hardware, headphones, Spreadsheets Tags:

LRC headset test on PCs

2014/01/02 Leave a comment
  1. Log in on a PC.
  2. Launch the Sanako student recorder form the desktop: clip_image001
  3. clip_image004
  4. Click the red recording button then record for 5 sec (speak into the microphone; then tab the microphone with your finger several times, to make sure you are recording through this source), then the blue stop button clip_image002
  5. Click the green Play (from beginning):
    1. can you hear yourself speaking/ the noise from the tabs?
    2. clip_image003
    3. turn your head left and right: can you still hear (sometimes a short cuts out the sound).
  6. If not check headsets cables as described in LRC routine walkthrough for classroom PCs (Sanako headsets) or in LRC routine walkthrough for listening and group room stations(brown headsets).
  7. If it still does not work, report Computer # on clip board.
Categories: audience-is-language-learning-center-temp-staff, e-infrastructure, hardware, headphones, Institution-is-University-of-North-Carolina-Charlotte, Listening-Stations, LRCRoomCoed434, Presenter-Computer, small-group-work-spaces, Student-Computers Tags:

LRC daily walkthrough for classroom PCs

2014/01/02 Leave a comment
  1. Find a time when the classroom is not busy on the LRC calendar – if necessary, do it earlier rather than later.
  2. If somebody else than coordinator or director is logged onto the teacher computer, tell the LRC coordinator.
  3. Check the projector? Turned off , screen up
  4. clip_image001
  1. clip_image002
  1. clip_image003
  1. Make sure classroom blinds are closed
  2. clip_image004
  3. Make sure the classroom whiteboard is clean
  4. clip_image005
  5. Make sure headsets are
    1.  hanging on the back of the monitor in the classroom (each headset on the computer it is connected to, and not a neighboring computer).
    2. clip_image006
    3. and are
      1. firmly plugged in
      2. plugged in firmly AND and in the correct (= bottom left) USB port
      3. cable-tied  ((spares in coed436 box “office supplies”).
      4. image
Categories: audience-is-language-learning-center-temp-staff, checklists, e-infrastructure, headphones, Institution-is-University-of-North-Carolina-Charlotte, Presenter-Computer, Student-Computers

LRC daily walkthrough for iMacs and printer

2014/01/02 Leave a comment
  1. For the iMacs,
    1. clip_image001 
    2. make sure headset is plugged into the USB adapter as pictured,
    3. make sure the 2 “Do not use” labels on the adapter and over the inputs on the rear of the screen are in place and intact (or apply spares from box on reception desk).
  2. Check that the printer has papers (or replenish paper from the reserves shelves in coed436).
    1. clip_image002
Categories: audience-is-language-learning-center-temp-staff, checklists, e-infrastructure, hardware, headphones, iMacs, Institution-is-University-of-North-Carolina-Charlotte Tags:

LRC daily walkthrough for listening and group room stations

2014/01/02 Leave a comment
  1. Ensure that the listening station/group room PC headsets are stored hanging from the side cubicle walls:
  2. clip_image001
  3. Headsets need to be plugged into the rear:
    1. Make sure "Do Not Use" sticker is on the front panel (or apply spares from box on reception desk).
    2. clip_image002
    3. As pictured:
      1. Plug headset to in the right rear outlets (black into green, red into red/blue).
      2. Make sure cables are secured with a cable tie (or apply spares from box "office supplies” on shelves in coed436).
      3. clip_image003
Categories: audience-is-language-learning-center-temp-staff, checklists, e-infrastructure, headphones, Institution-is-University-of-North-Carolina-Charlotte, Listening-Stations, small-group-work-spaces