Resources
available to users of the
Webworks Laboratory
In many ways, the Webworks Laboratory is a virtual concept. Much of what is
accomplished on the projects under the Webworks umbrella is done on individual
workstations in various locations using web and Java tools. However, certain
physical resources are required to accomplish the goals of Webworks. A number of
these required resources are available already. Others are being acquired through
extramural grants.
The Room
The physical location of the Webworks Laboratory is room 345 of the Engineering and
Physical Sciences Building on the Montana State University campus.
Dedicated Equipment
Equipment dedicated to the Webworks Laboratory include:
 | Three networked PC workstations
|
| A notebook computer
|
| CD/RW capability
|
| An HP 5MP black and white laser printer
|
| A high quality XGA
(1024x768 native mode) portable LCD projector (Epson Powerlite 7000)
|
| A projection screen
|
| A Nikon LS-2000 SCSI Coolscan Slide and Negative Scanner with auto slide feeder and APS
film adapter
|
| A Nikon LS-4000 Firewire Coolscan Slide and
Negative Scanner with auto slide feeder and APS film adapter
|
| An Epson Perfection 1200 U high resolution flatbed
scanner
|
| An Epson 1200 photo quality printer for paper up to
13" wide
|
| Firewire and USB2 capability for connecting
equipment
|
| A Wacom high resolution digital tablet
|
| Card readers for standard memory cards used, for
example, in digital cameras
|
| Dolby digital surround sound
|
Other audio-video equipment belonging to the Webworks Laboratory but located in the
computer science conference room includes
| A Kenwood Dolby Digital (AC-3) receiver
|
| A Pioneer combination laser disk, dvd, and cd player
|
| A Magnavox 5-disk CD player
|
| A Sony dual station cassette recorder and player with Dolby B, C, and S
|
| A Panasonic Super VHS video player and recorder
|
| Television cable input for access to commercial television stations, the
University's public television station, and custom satellite feeds.
|
| High-quality matched NHT (Now Hear This) speaker system: a center speaker and two
side speakers around the projection screen, two rear speakers, and a subwoofer.
|
| Internet connections
|
| Direct projector connections to the A/V equipment described above.
|
This equipment was put into the seminar room so that it could be used not
only by the Webworks team for reviewing and demonstrating Webworks projects but by other
faculty and students. It continues to be well used (other academic departments often
use the room as well), and is particularly suited to eye-popping and ear-tingling
demonstrations of the animation projects of Webworks.
| A/V equipment similar to that described for the seminar room above to
provide the resources for full animation and sound development and demonstration in
Webworks projects.
|
| More new PC workstations to handle the new projects expected.
|
| DVD and CD recording equipment for dissemination of Webworks materials.
|
| An electronic white board.
|
| A color PostScript printer.
|
| Software tools, such as MathML renderes, Macromedia, and the like for
development of specialized online projects.
|
| A flatbed scanner.
|
| A digital camera.
|
Status
A primary objective of the Webworks vision is the creation of educational
resources that require minimal hardware to utilize. Normally this includes just a
browser, a relatively fast PC, a sound card and speakers, and a CD drive. We
try to avoid anything that will require the user to have expensive or uncommon equipment,
or anything that leads to platform dependence. Thus, the equipment needed to support
development in the Webworks Laboratory is relatively inexpensive and is needed primarily
to demonstrate the audio and visual effects
to team members or other groups. Individual
users will experience the same effects when accessing the completed
projects by way of a web browser. We can do a lot with a little, but can create more
elaborate offerings with the kind of equipment we intend to acquire, as outlined above.
Facilities
The Computer Science Department is located in the Engineering and
Physical Sciences (EPS) building. There are two high-tech classrooms in this
building equipped with
| rear screen projection systems
|
| a "smart podium" with connections to a computer, the
Internet, a laser disk, a VCR, and sound.
|
| Connections to commercial television and MSU's public television
station.
|
| Cameras for recording the lecturer and the audience for distance
learning.
|
The building also contains
| two PC laboratories for CS students
|
| a student lounge
|
| an endowed project team room with cubicles and Tektronix workstations
arranged for groups of two to four to work together in project development.
|
| Various other rooms and alcoves with white boards and furniture for
instruction, studying, individual projects, and consulting.
|
|
