Middle Tennessee State University Creates Self-Help Interface for Faculty AV Support

  • By Kate Lucariello
  • 12/08/22

With a campus of 55 buildings containing over 420 AV-equipped and over 1,000 university-owned PCs, Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) found it difficult for technology support staff to respond in person to numerous requests for help, many of which were simple problems. So MTSU's AV control system programmers developed an AV user interface for their Extron TouchLink Pro touch panels to take care of routine AV system operation and minor troubleshooting.

MTSU AV panel

The interface, developed by campus staff using Extron's Global Configurator Professional and GUI Designer software, walks users through how to fix problems themselves. The control software recognizes the AV system configuration of each room and customizes guidance to it, so the interface can take the user through routine AV system operations from startup to shutdown in real time with interactive GUIs displayed on TouchLink Pro touch panels.

MTSU technical support staff developed a large library of troubleshooting macros. "Once point-of-signal loss is pinpointed, the macro either sends a command to correct the problem or displays a message to the user suggesting how to proceed. The macros emulate the troubleshooting steps and decision branching that a tech support person would perform," said Extron in the MTSU case study. "If a problem cannot be resolved by the applicable troubleshooting macro, a telephone number and QR code appear on the touch panel GUI, advising the user to contact tech support at the Help Desk. Tech support can coach the user through manual troubleshooting using the touch panel … [or] take control remotely via GlobalViewer Enterprise."

Visit this page to read the MTSU self-help interface case study and watch the associated demo videos.

For more information on how Extron AV, signal processing, distribution, and control solutions are being used in education, visit the education tech videos page.

About the Author

Kate Lucariello is a former newspaper editor, EAST Lab high school teacher and college English teacher.

Featured

  • illustration of a futuristic building labeled "AI & Innovation," featuring circuit board patterns and an AI brain motif, surrounded by geometric trees and a simplified sky

    Cal Poly Pomona Launches AI and Innovation Center

    In an effort to advance AI innovation, foster community engagement, and prepare students for careers in STEM fields and business, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona has teamed up with AI, cloud, and advisory services provider Avanade to launch a new Avanade AI & Innovation Center.

  • black graduation cap with a glowing blue AI brain circuit symbol on top

    Report: AI Is a Must for Modern Learners

    A new report from VitalSource identifies a growing demand among learners for AI tools, declaring that "AI isn't just a nice-to-have; it's a must."

  • glowing shield hovers above a digital cloud platform with abstract data streams and cloud icons in the background

    Google to Acquire Cloud Security Firm Wiz

    Google has announced it will acquire cloud security startup Wiz. If completed, the acquisition — an all-cash deal valued at $32 billion — would mark the largest in Google's history.

  • digital dashboard featuring a shield icon, graphs, a world map, and network nodes

    IBM Introduces Agentic AI Governance and Security Platform

    IBM has launched a new software stack for enterprise IT teams tasked with managing the complex governance and security challenges posed by autonomous AI systems.