SMARTCART Directions for Holland Hall 413

August 2006

Common Sense Reminders

  • Do NOT adjust any item labeled "DO NOT TOUCH"
  • When possible, insure the technology works before class time.
  • When in doubt, ask.
  • After following the instructions, if you still have questions or problems operating the system, please contact the IIT Helpdesk (helpdesk@stolaf.edu or x3830).

Table of Contents

  1. Turning on the SmartCart
  2. Using the Sony Remote
  3. How To Use Each Component
    1. ELMO Document Camera
    2. Gateway PC
    3. DVD Player
    4. VCR
    5. Laserdisc Player
    6. Using a Laptop
  4. Shutting Down the SmartCart
  5. Troubleshooting Tips

1. Turning on the SmartCart

  1. Get a key from one of the department AAA in the office.
  2. Unlock and open the front panel of the SmartCart.
  3. Unlock the projector panel on top of SmartCart, push the button in, and adjust the panel so the image projected is on the projector screen.
  4. Turn on the power to the cart by pushing the POWER 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.

2. Using the Sony Remote

Key functions:
Green button- turns projector on and off
Input- Selects which component is displayed on screen
            Input A- Nothing
            Input B- Mac, PC, Document Camera, & Laptop
            Video- VCR, Laser Disc Player
            S Video- Nothing
Laser- Laser pointer
Muting- Pic.- turns picture off, leaves sound on
D Zoom- zooms in on any point in document
            Push + once to bring up the zoom feature
            Use rubber joystick to move to the point in display that you want to zoom in on
            Push + to focus more closely and Push – to move further away

3.1 Operating the ELMO Document Camera

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

  1. Unfold both side arms. Push the Unlock button on the back left side of the document camera. Lift up the center arm until it clicks into place.
  2. Push the Power button on the middle, left-hand side of the base.
  3. 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.
  4. 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 Document Camera flatbed on the screen (Input B), and select Doc Cam from the input switch located under the PC.
  5. Place the material you wish to display on the base of the document camera. Fit it within the inner rectangle for optimal display.
  6. 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 Document Camera.
  7. If there is a glare on the document or you wish to change the lighting on it, adjust the two side arms of the Document Camera.
  8. 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.")
  9. 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.

3.2 Operating the Gateway PC

  1. First, locate the input switch inside the cart on the upper right. The switch box has the labels PC, Mac, Doc Cam, and Laptop. Press the button labeled PC. Then, push the Power button on the PC.
  2. Push the Input button on the Sony remote until the projector displays the PC desktop (Input B).
  3. Pull out the keyboard and mouse tray on the right side of the SmartCart. Now you can begin using the PC.
  4. When you are done using the PC, shut it down from the Start menu as you would normally shut down a computer.

3.3 Playing a DVD movie

The PC computer is equipped with a DVD player.

  1. Turn on the PC using the directions above.
  2. Open the CD/DVD tray by pushing the button on the PC CD/DVD Player. Insert the DVD into the tray and push it shut.
  3. The computer should automatically open a viewer screen for the DVD movie and display a control panel to operate the DVD player.
  4. Once you have started the movie or no longer need the controller, use the mouse to pull down the Select menu and choose the option “Hide controller.” If at any point during the movie, you want to bring back the controller, pull down the Select menu and choose “Show controller.”
  5. When you are done using the DVD player, eject the DVD and shut the computer down.

3.4 Operating the VCR (Panasonic, AIWA, or SONY)

  1. Push the Input button on the Sony remote until the screen shows the heading “Video.”
  2. If the VCR is not already on, push Power on the VCR and play the video. There is not a remote for the VCR, so you will have to operate it from the controls on the VCR itself.
  3. When you are done, eject the tape. It is not necessary to turn off the VCR before shutting down the SmartCart.

3.5 Operating the Laser Disc Player

  1. Push the Input button on the Sony remote until the screen shows the heading "Video".
  2. Turn the VCR on and turn the channel to AU and insert a Laser Disc.
  3. When finished with the Laser Disc Player remove all media and shut down the system.

3.6 Using a Laptop

  1. First, connect the monitor cable to the video out port on the laptop and the network and audio cables to the network card and audio out on the laptop.
  2. Locate the input switch inside the cart located below the PC. The switch box has the labels PC, Mac, Doc Cam, and Laptop. Press the button labeled Laptop. Then, push the Power button on the laptop.
  3. Push the Input button on the Sony remote until the projector displays the laptop desktop (Input B).
  4. When you are done using the laptop, shut it down and disconnect the monitor, network, and audio cables.

4. Shutting down the SmartCart

  1. Make sure that both computers and Document Camera have been manually shut down.
  2. Use the Sony remote to turn off the video projector—push the green power button.
  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.)
    **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.
  4. Close the projector panel and lock it
  5. Close the front panel on the SmartCart and lock it.
  6. 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.

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

  • Make sure you see light coming from the projector and hear the fan on.
  • Adjust the projector panel.

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 PC and Mac
Problem 1: Internet doesn’t work; can’t connect to Firefox or network drives.

  • 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 the computer, can see the correct screen, but the keyboard and mouse aren’t working.

  • Check that the input switch inside the cart is on the proper setting—the green light is on for either the PC or the Mac
  • Restart the computer and make sure the switch is on the correct computer before you reboot it.

Problem 3: 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.

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