University of Alberta FAQ for Multimedia Equipment
Department of Computing Science
University of Alberta

Summary of Questions

  1. What is a Smart Board, what is a projector and what are the differences between them?
  2. Where are the SmartBoards located in Computing Science?
  3. Where are Projectors located in Computing Science?
  4. What can I use for a display machine with the projectors?
  5. How do I plug my laptop into the projector/smartboard?
  6. How do I use the PC if one is connected to the smartboard?
  7. What do I project onto?
  8. Should the screen be put back up when I leave?
  9. How do I turn the projector/smartboard on?
  10. If turning the projector on doesn't bring up a display what should I do?
  11. What do I do when I am finished with the projector?
  12. How do I turn the projector in the smartboard units off when I am done?
  13. How do I turn the smartboard on/off?
  14. How do I tune? the projector?
  15. How do I tune? the smartboard?
  16. Where can I find smartboard software for my laptop?
  17. Do I turn the PC off when leaving?
  18. Should I turn the power button off on the smart board unit?
  19. Can I show a video somewhere?
  20. Can I get sound with the projectors?
  21. Where can I find more information?
  22. Who can I contact for help?

Questions

  1. What is a Smart Board, what is a projector and what are the differences between them?
    1. A smart board is a pressure sensitive display screen that contains a processor which allows for the interpretation of "marks" or presses on the screen. Some smart boards are contained in a "unit" which also contains a projector. Some smart boards resemble white boards and are mounted on the wall similar to white boards.
    2. A projector is a unit that plugs into the "monitor" port of a PC and shows everything that is on the display.
    3. A smart board requires that a projector be used if you wish to display computer generated images on the smart board. However, a smart board can also be used as an extra "mouse" or to make "written" marks over something that is being projected.
  2. Where are the SmartBoards located in Computing Science?
    There are smart boards located in:
      CSC 215, CSC 249, CSC 333 and CSC 349
  3. Where are Projectors located in Computing Science?
    There are projectors located in:
      CSC 215, CSC 249, CSC 333 (2 projectors - 1 in smart board unit and 1 on ceiling for projection onto a ceiling mounted screen) and CSC 349 (2 projectors - 1 in smart board unit and 1 on ceiling for projection onto a ceiling mounted screen).
    The projectors that are not contained in smartboard units are mounted on the ceiling of each room.
    The Electronics Shop also has a portable projector that can be borrowed for presentations in other rooms.
  4. What can I use for a display machine with the projectors?
    • CSC 333 and CSC 349 have PCs (running Windows 2000) inside the the smartboard units. If you have a UNIX id with the department, then you will be able to log in to the PC and use it.
    • You can also bring your laptop and attach it to the smartboard units in CSC 333 and CSC 349.
    • CSC 215 and CSC 249 do not have a PC so you have to bring your own laptop to use the projector in those rooms.
  5. How do I plug my laptop into the projector/smartboard?
  6. How do I use the PC if one is connected to the smartboard?
    If you have a UNIX id, then at the login screen you enter your UNIX id and password and you should be logged in. If that does not happen then please contact someone in the Systems Support Group as soon as possible. Also, under "My Computer" your UNIX home directory should be mounted as the Z drive. Again, if this is not the case, then please contact someone in the Systems Support Group as soon as possible. If you do not have a UNIX id, then contact someone in the Systems Support Group and we will see what can be done in your case.
  7. What do I project onto?
    1. For ceiling mounted projectors you can project onto the smartboard (or whiteboard) or onto a ceiling mounted screen. The ceiling mounted screen is brought down by a "button" on the wall usually near the screen.
    2. Projectors in the smart board units (CSC 333 and CSC 349) will always project onto the smart board screen in the unit.
  8. Should the screen be put back up when I leave?
    Yes, please leave the screen in the "up" (ceiling) position out of the way.
  9. How do I turn the projector/smartboard on?
    You only have to turn the projector (on the ceiling) or the projector within the smartboard unit on. The smartboards do not get turned on or off. To turn the projector on find the remote control for the projector and press the "standby/on" button. Each ceiling mounted projector also has buttons on the underside of the unit that can be pressed if the remote control cannot be found.
  10. If turning the projector on doesn't bring up a display what should I do?
    This depends on what the problem is:
    1. If the projector light has not come on (ie the projector remains dark) then it is probably the case that the main power switch on the projector has been turned off and you need to turn the power on on the projector itself (usually a button on one side of the projector).
    2. If the projector light was on and then you shut the projector off, the projector will not come back on right away. The projector needs about 2 minutes to "cool" down before you can power it back on.
    3. If the projector light is on but nothing is transmitting from the PC to the screen, then there are a number of things to check:
      • Make sure that you have the video cable from the projector plugged into the monitor port on your PC.
      • If it is, then make sure you have rebooted your PC so that it syncs video properly to the monitor port.
  11. What do I do when I am finished with the projector?
    You should turn the projector off using the remote control (the standby button). If you have difficulty turning the projector off, don't worry as each projector is set to shutdown automatically after ?? seconds of no input (except for the projectors in the smartboard units - see below). The projectors should be off when not in use as the bulb only has a limited (xxx hours) lifespan.
  12. How do I turn the projector in the smartboard units off when I am done?
    Use the remote control and press the xxx button. Please make sure the projector in the smartboard unit is off as the bulb only has a limited lifespan and those projectors DO NOT have an automatic shutdown.
  13. How do I turn the smartboard on/off?
    You should only have to turn off the projector off or on whether the projector is in one of the smartboard units or ceiling mounted.
  14. How do I tune? the projector?
  15. How do I tune? the smartboard?
  16. Where can I find smartboard software for my laptop?
  17. Do I turn the PC off when leaving?
    No, please leave the PC running, just log off the machine and turn the projector in the smartboard unit (or projector) off.
  18. Should I turn the power button off on the smart board unit?
    No, turning the power button off with power off the PC and the PC should remain on.
  19. Can I show a video somewhere?
    Yes, currently CSC 333 is set up for showing video (VHS or DVD). The VHS and DVD players are under the front podium. Ensure that the appropriate player is turned on before starting up the overhead projector. To get sound you will also want to turn on the ????. Remember to turn off the VHS or DVD player and turn off the ???? when you are done.
  20. Can I get sound with the projectors?
  21. Where can I find more information?
  22. Who can I contact for help?
    Contact someone in the Hardware Support group or someone in the Systems Support group for help.
[University of Alberta]
University of Alberta 		[Department of Computing Science]
Computing Science 		[Systems Support]
Systems Support

Steve Sutphen, Carol Smith