Audio Visual Services Upgrade
28 April 2008
ICT's Audio Visual Services has recently made a significant upgrade to the University's teaching and learning facilities by refurbishing 18 lecture theatres and installing new audio visual equipment into 55 seminar rooms - now being used by thousands of students.
This initiative, led by Project Manager Craig Secombe, aimed to
- improve the quality of learning through modern digital media,
- enhance the attractiveness of the University as a postgraduate and research facility, and
- reduce the support burden by replacing older outdated systems with modern equipment.
The biggest benefits of the project are the enhanced learning and teaching experience and the visible difference it brings to Sydney's learning and teaching facilities.
The upgrade involved the introduction of lecture recording capabilities, high definition sound systems with 7.1 surround sound, the use of digital signal paths through High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI), and the set-up of larger widescreen viewing areas that allow the smallest web text to be read from the back rows of a lecture theatre.
The upgrade also enabled the rooms to accommodate future needs that may arise, like video conferencing, the use of VOIP, and wireless collaboration.
Those involved in the project met several challenges throughout the implementation of the upgrade, one of which involved having to work in buildings that were never designed to support modern cabling. Audiovisual and electrical installations incorporated complicated cable runs and a number of unsafe wiring situations were rectified before the work could continue.
Despite some unexpected delays, the project succeeded in meeting its ambitious deadline - taking just 10 weeks to provide 73 new 'digitally enabled' teaching spaces that are already being used by thousands of students and lecturers.
This project is part of a larger five year upgrade plan which is in alignment with the University's Learning and Teaching plan (2007-10).
For more information, please contact:
Jason Wheatley
Manager, Audio Visual Services
Email:jason.wheatley@usyd.edu.au
Web: http://www.usyd.edu.au/ict/audiovisual/
