COUNCIL ON ACADEMIC COMPUTING

DR. GEORGE E. KLINZING, CHAIR
MEETING SUMMARY –
APRIL 9, 2001



The meeting was called to order at
2:35 p.m.

Janus Demonstration - Nick Laudato

Janus is a desktop display screen that may be connected to a standard portable computer and projector for classroom use.  It was developed in response to a wheelchair-bound teacher whose class was moved to a room in which a white board was ineffective.  It is a touch-sensitive device in which a stylus may be used as a mouse or a pen to annotate what is displayed on the screen.  Whatever is displayed on the desktop screen is projected onto the large screen.  If used with the SmartBoard and the SmartNotebook software package, a PowerPoint presentation may be annotated and saved in the SmartNotebook or HTML format.  However, if the display is used simply as a white board, any annotations are lost and cannot be retrieved to refer to later.

The Classroom Technology Advisory Committee is promoting this technology as an aid to wheelchair-bound teachers.  Though given first priority, its use is not limited to the wheelchair-bound.  It will also prove useful in classrooms in which a SmartBoard cannot be used as well as large lecture halls with huge projection screens.

 
Minutes/Announcements

No changes were requested to the minutes of the March 8, 2001 meeting.
 

Subcommittees
 

Systems Failure
Cohn reported that over 30 people campus-wide have been interviewed and information is being compiled detailing how and what is affected by network outages in the University units.  The subcommittee anticipates submitting its report before the next meeting.

Security
The subcommittee is working in consultation with Bob James, the CSSD Security Officer, to ensure that its objectives and recommendations align with the University's overall security issues.

Bandwidth
The subcommittee is exploring the possibility of performing a cost analysis on its recommendations reported at the March 8 meeting.

High Performance Network Applications Initiative Program

Greg Dick, Dennis Galletta, and Ron Hoelzeman of the Council and Martin Weiss agreed to serve on the review panel for the 11 proposals submitted.  The Council anticipates funding up to six worthy proposals at no more than $25,000 each.

The meeting was adjourned at 3:15 p.m.