Kramer & Multihead Installation Project

ITS tested out two new products during the Fall '18 semester. One is a new wireless presentation device called Kramer VIA Go and the other is a Crestron Multihead cable. We installed them in (15) classrooms and (1) conference room.

Due to positive survey feedback and general success with the products we have decided to move forward and replace all currently installed Apple TVs on campus with the Kramer VIA Go wireless presentation device. It has much more functionality than the Apple TV such as supporting all platforms (Android, Chrome OS, iOS, Mac and Windows) as well as being more reliable and other benefits. We have also decided to install the Crestron Multihead cable in all rooms with a Crestron control unit.

The installations are scheduled to begin this coming Winter Intersession '18-'19. We will be providing updates via the blog so be sure to keep an eye on upcoming posts.

Kramer Via GO Home Screen

Crestron Multihead Cable

Classroom Technology Survey

Please take a few minutes to provide feedback on the latest generation Renovated Classroom.  We will use this feedback when planning for future renovations.
Click here for the survey.

Removal of USB DVD Drives Smart Classrooms

Since all Smart Classrooms have a PC with a DVD drive in them, we are removing the extraneous USB DVD drives from the podiums.  Please use the DVD drives on the PCs going forward.

Computer Lab Outage

Manhattan College ITS is aware of the issues being experienced in computer labs and classrooms on campus. These issues are resulting from a Microsoft service update of Windows 10 Anniversary Edition, deployed by Microsoft, not Manhattan College. ITS appreciates your patience as we work to bring the computers to working order. For now, there will be local accounts made for each lab going forward. For example, if you are working in a lab, or classroom, the user login will be “nameoflab”, and the password is the same, “nameoflab”. Thus a computer located in “rlc103” will have the username "rlc103" and the same for a password. If you have any questions regarding the outages we are experiencing across campus, please feel free to contact ITS via email or by telephone at 1-718-862-7973. Thank you for your cooperation during this period.   Local Profiles will be implemented by April 21st.

Projector Auto Sleep being Enabled on Campus

In our continued efforts toward sustainability we have decided to implement an automated sleep timer on the projectors.  To balance class interruptions, projectors will turn off after four hours of non use.  As always, we encourage you to turn off the projectors when you are done with your classes.

Project to Standardize Crestron Control Units Enabling Backlight etc

We are ramping up a project to standardize the Crestron Control Units in our latest generation classrooms.  The updated layout will include:

• Standard button layout across classrooms
• Engraved Button Labels
• Backlit Button Labels
• Volume bars will light up when raising volume and turn off when lowering.

These changes will improve the client experience by making everything clear to see including actual volume level.

See before and after pictures below:

Before

After

Classroom Technology Survey

Please take a few minutes to provide feedback on the latest generation Renovated Classroom.  We will use this feedback when planning for future renovations.
Click here for the survey.

Client Services Response Times Will Be Slower Than Normal Wednesday August 24th - Friday September 16th

As per usual, Client Services will be prioritizing support for Classrooms, Computer Labs, Event Support, and the Network above all other requests for the period of Wednesday August 24th - Friday September 16th.  Support for all other issues will take longer than usual.  We ask that all other requests be put on hold until after Friday September 16th, if possible.  Thank you for your consideration.

Classroom Technology Survey

Please take a few minutes to provide feedback on the latest generation Renovated Classroom.  We will use this feedback when planning for future renovations.
Click here for the survey.

Classroom Technology Training Tuesday 1/26 & Wednesday 1/27

ITS will be providing classroom technology training Tuesday January 26th at 3:30PM and Wednesday January 27th at 12PM.  Both sessions will start in Miguel 201.

We will take faculty to classrooms around campus to show how the technology works in the different rooms. It is highly recommended that new faculty or faculty wishing to have a refresher attend.  Since we will be travelling to different rooms, it is important to be on time.

Please RSVP here.

Wireless Projection - Campus Classrooms Receive AirPlay Upgrade

Airplay technology has been added to 85 campus classrooms

(and counting...) as well as a number of conference and meeting rooms to enable wireless connectivity to the room projector.  Airplay works natively with any Apple laptop or IOS (iPhone and iPad) device as well as any Faculty laptop received through recent FLI cycles (enabled by the use of AirParrot software installed on Faculty laptops).  ** Faculty with a laptop older than 1-2 years should contact ITS to enable Airplay on their device (requires installation of AirParrot software).

A list of campus spaces with Airplay technology can be found online in the new 25Live Event planning system by selecting the room feature "Tech-Airplay Connector".  Airplay upgrades were completed over the summer by a team of ITS student interns that worked together of various aspects of the project.

Airplay enables audio and video signals to be sent wirelessly to devices such as projectors, speakers, and/or TVs.  To learn more about Airplay, and how to access Airplay enabled devices on campus, visit the ITS Knowledge Base

Welcome Back

New Updates:
New desktops have been installed in the library, RLC 105, and MGL 110 computer labs
MGL 305 has undergone renovations

Reminders:

The best way to get in touch with a Client Services representative is an email to its@manhattan.edu or a phone call to x7973 (718-862-7973). Note that email and voicemail for this line go to our ticketing system so we encourage you to leave a message.

Remember that we will never ask you for your password. We encourage you all to please reset your computer password to jasper prior to dropping it off at Client Services. If you do not do this prior, please allocate an extra 5 minutes to work with a Client Services representative so that they can assist you in changing your password when working with us. Upon completion of work on your computer, please allocate another 5 minutes so that a Client Services representative can assist you in changing your password back to its original state. This is necessary in order to safeguard your password. Remember that you should never give your password out to anyone under any circumstances. Note that the same procedure holds true when you are requesting assistance with one of your Manhattan College accounts.

Client Services can NOT lend out equipment to students. If a student needs equipment for a project, they must have a Manhattan College employee sign out equipment on their behalf. Note that the Manhattan College employee is responsible for that equipment.

Client Services can provide short-term loaner equipment such as laptops and projectors by reservation. Note that if equipment is needed long term, it should be purchased via your department.

In lieu of loaning certain cables and remotes, Client Services has installed commonly used VGA and Audio cables as well as projector remotes in all yet-to-be-renovated classrooms. Network cables will be provided to faculty upon request. Faculty requiring other specialty cables or adapters (such as Apple VGA adapters) should contact Client Services for assistance purchasing this equipment as they are not stocked or provided by Client Services.

The Client Services office does not work on personal computers. We will train employees and students and instruct them on how to fix their computers, but personal computers can not be dropped off for service. No personal items should ever be left in any of the Client Services offices.

Please remember to plan event setups in advance. We work with limited resources so we can not always complete last minute requests.

Client Services currently has 3 convenient locations: Jasper Basement, LIB 502, & RLC 103. Please stop by the location closest to you. We encourage you to call first to be sure that someone is available as we are constantly assisting the Manhattan College community.

Client Services Hours of Operations can be found here.

Computer Lab Hours can be found here.

Campus-owned computers are purchased with premium hardware support provided by the manufacturer. ITS will diagnose and determine whether manufacturer hardware support is needed. For the fastest service, users are also able to contact the manufacturer directly to access hardware support and replacement.

Your feedback helps us improve our service and should be sent to http://manhattan.edu/tellits


Don't forget to add us to your Google+ circles +ITS and follow us on Twitter @MC_ITS

Check out our Blog: http://itsblog.manhattan.edu/

Check out our known issues page: http://itsblog.manhattan.edu/p/known-issues.html

Thank you for your attention.

Tell ITS

#TellITS - We have been receiving multiple tech-support requests via the Tell ITS form (http://manhattan.edu/tellits) as well as relevant feedback which enables us to provide faster and more efficient service to the Manhattan College community.  Thank you!

If you come across a technology issue on campus, please continue to notify us via the TellITS form.  You may also report issues to its@manhattan.edu or 718-862-7973.  The faster we know about an issue, the faster we can resolve it. We need your ongoing help to identify issues and get them resolved as quickly and efficiently as possible.

Tell ITS

#TellITS - ITS needs your help identifying and reporting technology issues on campus.  ITS has implemented new ways to alert us to technology issues so that we can help resolve them sooner.   If you see an issue, loose cable, or something that just doesn't look right - we want to know about it!

Have you noticed the new signage on campus “Tell ITS”? You should be seeing it on fliers, digital signage and on computers around campus.

ITS has taken steps to improve response time and has increased coverage at the Client Services office to ensure that we can quickly respond to technology issues in classrooms while classes are scheduled.  Please see our updated Hours of Operations site here.

In order to better guarantee that the technology in the classrooms and labs function correctly, the frequency of room checks has increased to at minimum once per week. We are doing our best to improve the service provided to the community, but we can't do it alone.

If you come across a technology issue on campus, please do not hesitate to report it to its@manhattan.edu or 718-862-7973 immediately.  For your convenience, you may also report issues or provide us with feedback by double clicking on the Tell ITS icon on the desktop of all public computers on campus or any ITS webpage.  You can also access this form via http://manhattan.edu/tellits. You will be directed to fill out a brief online form, just like the one below, detailing the nature of the issue and/or providing feedback.  The faster we know about an issue, the faster we can resolve it. We need your help to make sure that issues are resolved as quickly and efficiently as possible.

Smart Classroom Technology Training

Attention: Faculty Members

Do you find yourself requesting assistance with Smart Classroom technology on numerous occasions throughout the semester? Perhaps you would like to become more familiar with a specific device (projector, speakers, ThinClient, podium control panel, etc.) in preparation for a media-intensive semester. Join us in DLS 304 from 2pm to 3pm on 1/16, 1/23 and 1/30 for a brief demonstration of the various features in our Smart Classrooms and a Q&A session to help ease your classroom technology concerns.

Upgraded Smart Classrooms

Continuing with the Smart Classroom initiative, six more classrooms underwent major renovations this summer!  This was a major collaborative effort from multiple departments.  Our improvements focused on community feedback requests and future proofing the classrooms.

Upgraded Features:

• Podium Control System
• More Input Options
• HDMI Compatibility
• Descriptive Buttons
• Larger Podium Space
• Pullout Keyboard and Mouse Shelf
• USB charging ports
• Stronger Monitor Mount
• Dell Wyse Thin Client

NEW CONTROL SYSTEM

Upgraded Rooms:

• DLS 312
• DLS 307
• MGL 312
• MGL 307
• Hayden 201
• Hayden 202

Thin Client Technology
Not to delve too deep into specifics, but the Thin Client technology is pretty interesting.  These mini computers are fairly low powered machines that are capable of running some robust software.  This is possible through application virtualization.  All processes like Excel and PowerPoint run on Manhattan College servers and display on the Thin Client as if they were running locally.  With application virtualization, you can reduce the cost of computer hardware upgrades because all of the processing power needed for future apps is required of the server not the Thin Client.