Objectives
Illinois College has partnered with Pearl Technology for years to ensure quality audiovisual solutions were implemented throughout the campus. These solutions needed to be robust and repeatable with a standardized and simplified user experience for a variety of instructors and educators. Development of an audiovisual standard and meeting the need for specialty use spaces required by certain departments brought a fun and unique challenge to the Pearl Technology design team.
Spaces & Challenges
Existing Classroom Technology Upgrades
The large number of rooms throughout the campus feature a variety of technologies installed over the past 10-20 years. Each space having its own unique user experience creating zero uniformity from room to room and building to building causing frustration among the educators as well as the IT staff called to support these rooms.
As all classroom technology can not be completely upgraded at one time, Pearl Technology worked with the college IT team to bring a systematic approach to upgrade these spaces over several years. The idea starts with the evaluation of existing displays and speaker systems along with any technology present for distance learning. Based on several factors, the IT team is able to determine when the various equipment can be budgeted for future upgrade while maximizing existing gear in order to upgrade the core components to meet the new standards and requirements.
Core Requirements
The needs were determined based on the current uses and needs of the educators. Those needs include digital video wired inputs, wireless connectivity for collaboration, audio processing with echo cancellation to support distant learning along with cameras and microphones, a simple standard user experience, and the ability for both the IT team and Pearl Technology to remotely manage the rooms.
The Solution
Many different technology were sampled and tested to meet these core requirements. Ultimately Pearl Technology and Illinois College turned to Q-SYS to meet all of these needs. Utilizing the Q-SYS NV series components, Pearl Technology was able to design a robust solution to meet a variety of needs throughout the campus while maintaining the core requirements. Offering digital video switching, audio DSP, complete control and automation, and the ability to bring in USB switching, cameras, and microphones all requirements were easily met.
The design requires less equipment reducing the risk of individual component failure as previous design methodologies utilized multiple brands and components to accomplish all of the requirements. In addition the the in-room technology, each room can be remotely monitored and controlled in real time by both the Illinois College IT Team and Pearl Technology utilizing the Q-SYS Reflect cloud management system.
New & Remodeled Spaces
As rooms and entire buildings undergo complete facility upgrades and overhauls, the technology will follow suit. These spaces include the core components along with all peripheral equipment bringing displays, speakers, cameras, and microphones systems up to date with the latest IP based technology. Each room and building has its own challenges and needs all while maintain a consistent user experience.
Various Room Types
Some of the various room types in the upgrades throughout the campus include standard classrooms, interactive classrooms, collaboration rooms, meeting rooms, proctored simulation spaces, lobbies, common areas, VR spaces, and various learning labs.
