Low Tech Solutions to High Tech Problems in AV/Multimedia

By Will Craig

Colleges and universities that are disappointed in the performance of their audio visual equipment often look for the next step up–a brighter projector, a newer codec, a camera with more pixels, or a more expensive control system.

Minimizing Light
Classrooms that have projectors almost never use those projectors under optimal conditions. Front projection depends on projected light reflecting off of a smooth, light-colored surface. The resulting image is perceived by a viewer as the contrast between the illuminated parts of the screen and the non-illuminated parts (black). Unfortunately, any other light from the room that falls on the image area (usually from windows and lighting fixtures) also reflects off the projection surface, making the non-illuminated parts of the image brighter than they would otherwise be. The result is an image that is “washed out”, where the colors are faded and dim. This is a bad result when your institution has invested in state-of-the-art projection systems.

No matter how expensive the projector, they all function best in a darkened room. Since projectors can only project light, not darkness, any ambient light in the room decreases image contrast. This is why cinemas show movies in blackened auditoriums. Yet instruction is rarely carried out in the dark; so compromise results. Unfortunately, often the compromise is between full lighting and energy efficiency, instead of between full lighting and projector-friendly lighting.

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From the Reader Response Forum

I was wondering what anyone's thoughts are on using video and computer games for educational purposes. It seems to me that although many teachers/institutions are now utilizing computer technology and the internet as an educational medium, there d'esn't seem to be any hugely successful enterprises intersecting both educational software (which there is alot of) and the very lucrative gaming entertainment industry.
-- emmanuel9996