SMARTCART Directions for Boe 110

Please be sure to read all directions carefully before attempting to use the SmartCart. We strongly recommend that you attend a training session or request a tutorial well in advance of your class. To set up a tutorial or find out about training sessions, contact the IIT HelpDesk at extension 3830. We also recommend that you take time to test out your materials prior to your class time.

Table of Contents

Turning on the SmartCart
How To Use Each Component
            ELMO Document Camera
            Macintosh Computer
            Projecting a Laptop
            DVD Player
            VCR
Shutting Down the SmartCart
Troubleshooting Tips
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Turning on the SmartCart

  1. Get a key from the department AAA.
  2. Unlock and open the front panel of the SmartCart.
  3. Unlock the projector panel on top of the SmartCart, push the button in, and pull panel up to about a 45-degree angle.
  4. Turn on the power to the cart by pushing the On/Off switch on top of cart (unless your department decided to leave the cart on all day).
  5. Push the green button on the Sony remote and hold it down about two seconds to turn on the video projector. The projector takes about 20 seconds to warm up and become bright.

Operating the ELMO Document Camera

The ELMO functions like an overhead projector without requiring transparencies. The ELMO can display pages from books or any objects that you put on the flatbed.

  1. Turn on the SmartCart and projector as directed in the section Turning on the SmartCart.
  2. Push the Unlock button on the back left side of the document camera. Lift up the center arm until it clicks into place. Unfold both side arms.
  3. Push the Power button on the back, right-hand side of the base.
  4. It takes about 15 seconds for the machine to warm up and the lights to come on. If they don't come on, then push the button for the upper lamps on the left hand side of the control panel.
  5. To project a document/image onto the screen or SmartBoard, change the source of the projector's input to the document camera using the Sony remote. Push the Input button until you see the ELMO flatbed on the screen.
  6. Place the material you wish to display on the base of the document camera. Fit it within the inner rectangle for optimal display.
  7. If you are displaying objects, books, or papers, then use the Upper lamps. If you are using transparencies, then you should switch to Base lamps. Do this using the controls on the front of the ELMO.
  8. The camera should automatically focus the image for you. If it fails to do so, then push the Auto Focus button on the right side of the ELMO's controls. You can also use the manual focus buttons if you wish-these are labeled Near and Far.
  9. If there is a glare on the document or you wish to change the lighting on it, adjust the two side arms of the ELMO.
  10. To zoom in on one particular point in the document, repeatedly push the "Tele" button until the image appears close enough. To zoom in on a different spot in the document, you must move the document itself or use the D-Zoom feature on the Sony remote. (See the section on "Operating the Sony Remote.")
  11. When you are done using the Document Camera, turn off the power button on the back, fold down the arms, push the unlock button and fold down the center arm.

Operating the Gateway PC

  1. Turn on the SmartCart and projector as directed in the section Turning on the SmartCart
  2. Locate the keyboard input switch inside the cart on the upper right. The switch box has a button on the top, press it to switch from PC (Cpu 2)to MAC (Cpu 2) keyboard.
  3. Push the Input button on the remote until the projector displays the PC desktop (Input 1).
  4. While the computer boots up, the orange/green "PC" light next to the cart On/Off switch should come on, indicating that the SmartCart is reading the signal from the PC. If it does not automatically light up, push the button to switch over the signal to PC
  5. Pull out the keyboard and mouse tray on the right side of the SmartCart. Now you can begin using the PC.
  6. When you are done using the PC, shut it down from the Start menu as you would normally shut down a computer.

Operating the Macintosh Computer

  1. Turn on the SmartCart and projector as directed in the section Turning on the SmartCart
  2. First, locate the keyboard input switch inside the cart on the upper right. The switch box has a button on the top, press it to switch from PC (Cpu 2)to MAC (Cpu 2) keyboard.
  3. Push the Input button on the remote until the projector displays the Macintosh desktop (Input 1).
  4. While the computer boots up, the orange/green Mac light next to the master switch should come on, indicating that the SmartCart is reading the signal from the MAC. If it does not automatically light up, push the button nearest to it to switch over the signal to MAC.
  5. Pull out the keyboard and mouse tray on the right side of the SmartCart. Now you can begin using the MAC. If the keyboard does not have an eject key (triangle key located on the upper right of the keyboard) press F12 to eject the CD-ROM drive
  6. When you are done using the MAC, shut it down from the "Apple" Menu on the computer like you would normally shut down a MAC.

Projecting a Laptop

  1. Plug the laptop into the SmartCart using the DB15 monitor cable coming out of the top of the cart
  2. Turn on the SmartCart and projector as directed in the section Turning on the SmartCart.
  3. Turn on your laptop
  4. Push the Input button on the Sony remote until the projector displays the desktop (Input A)
  5. If the projector does not display the laptop on Input A, try pressing the button labeled "PC/Laptop" on top of the cart

Playing a DVD movie

  1. The Macintosh and PC computers are equipped with DVD players.
  2. Turn on the SmartCart and projector as directed in the section Turning on the SmartCart
  3. Turn on the MAC or PC using the directions in the sections Operating the Macintosh or Operating the Gateway PC
  4. Open the CD/DVD tray by pushing the button on the MAC or PC CD/DVD Player. Insert the DVD into the tray and push it shut.
  5. The computer should automatically open a viewer screen for the DVD movie and display a control panel to operate the DVD player.
  6. When you are done using the DVD player, eject the DVD and shut the computer down.

Operating the VCR

  1. Turn on the SmartCart and projector as directed in the section Turning on the SmartCart.
  2. Turn on the VCR
  3. Push the Input button on the Sony remote until the screen shows the heading "Video."
  4. Push play to start the video. There is not a remote for the VCR, so you will have to operate it from the controls on the VCR itself
  5. When you are done, eject the tape.

Shutting down the SmartCart

  1. Make sure that both computers and ELMO Document Camera have been manually shut down.
  2. Use the Sony remote to turn off the video projector-hold down the green button for 3 seconds. If you do not hold the button down long enough, a message on the screen will ask if you want to shut the projector off, so just push the green button again.
  3. Let the projector's fans run for several minutes until they automatically shut off, then turn off the master power to the SmartCart using the switch on top of the cart. (If your department decided to leave the SmartCart power on all day, then it is not necessary to turn off the master power switch, so you do not have to wait for the fans to cool down before leaving the cart.)
  4. **If the power to the SmartCart is turned off before the projector is done cooling itself with its fan, it increases the wear on the projector and might cause it to overheat and break down.
  5. Close the projector panel and lock it.
  6. Close the front panel on the SmartCart and lock it.
  7. Return the key to the AAA

Troubleshooting Tips

I. Problems with starting up the SmartCart and the Video Projector

Problem 1: You don't see ANY power on the SmartCart.

  • Make sure that the main power cord is firmly plugged into both the bottom side of the SmartCart and the wall.
  • Make sure that the main power switch on top of the cart is on

Problem 2: No image is being displayed on the screen.

  • Make sure you see light coming from the projector and hear the fan on.
  • Adjust the projector panel.
  • Make sure that the correct input is selected with the Input button on the remote

Problem 3: The projector won't turn on.

  • Try pointing the remote at different angles on the projector panel mirror and the projector itself. Remote sensors are on the front of the projector.
  • Make sure the batteries in the Sony remote are working properly. Test the Laser pointer to see if the batteries still work. Aim the remote at a surface and push the laser button. If you don't see a little red laser beam, then the remote needs new batteries. Call the HelpDesk, Extension 3830, and someone will replace the batteries as soon as possible.

II. Problems with Mac or PC

Problem 1: Internet doesn't work; can't connect to Netscape or SVEN.

  • Check the Ethernet cable-it should be plugged into the bottom side panel on SmartCart and the jack in the wall with a green dot next to it.

Problem 2: You've turned on computer but the "desktop" is not being displayed on screen/board.

  • Use the Sony remote to flip slowly through the Input options slowly. Sometimes the image takes a couple seconds to register, other times it flips through the choices automatically. Input A is for the computers, Input B is for the document camera, Video is for the VCR and S Video is nothing.

 

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