CAM Computer Committee - Operational Sub-committee

Actions carried forward

Licences

Lab information on web

Information about the Anglesea labs had been passed to SB who is incorporating it into the Mercantile House info.Basic info received but detail still awaited.

EK to chase LB

Security in Mercantile House

John Sheeran had visited Mercantile House and was likely to propose changes to improve security.

Authorware

EK agreed to discuss the location of licences for this with Terry King and seek resolution of her needs.

EK has tried to contact TK without success. Still ongoing.

Adjustable height seats in labs

Ann Heal had raised the issue of whether adjustable seats were available for students in labs.

It was reported that most seats in Mercantile House and Anglesea labs were adjustable, but that all in Lion Gate were of the fixed S-frame type.

AW agreed to contact Ian Denholm (Health & Safety Advisor) for advice. Ongoing.

Mercantile House software survey

SB reported on the results of the Mercantile House software use survey. Most staff had now responded.

SB agreed to post the results on the web and keep them updated from time to time. Still ongoing.

Opening hours of the Lion Gate labs

It was noted that the caretakers normally lock the outer doors to Lion Gate at about 6pm, preventing students from getting in to the labs, though not affecting students already there. DL agreed to ask the caretakers to leave the outer door unlocked until later. Ongoing.

Major bids

EK had produced a list of everything that was to ordered.

Macromedia software will be ordered in the near future, but other multimedia software will be delayed until June in case newer versions come out.

The spec for the lab machines was with Chris Boorman for tendering. EK was invited to order the e-commerce server.

JSB had authorised Gary Bown to order the cameras. Other authorisations would be issued on request.

Additional items

JSB authorised the ordering of an 11th audio-visual editing workstation for testing purposes.

JSB authorised the ordering of locks for the LCD monitors (approx £3000).

Admin computers

Dreamweaver and Director

How many Dreamweaver MX do we need for Mercantile House?

How many additional Director MX do we need for Anglesea?

Outstanding requests/orders: software

DataGrip Xtra

Terry King requested this to provide database connectivity to Director. Quotes received

"1) 6 copies of Datagrip and a 20 CUL server of Datagrip Net. Normally this would cost $3,089 USD but we would be more than happy to provide it to you for $2,789 USD.

2) 10 copies of Datagrip and a 20 CUL server of Datagrip Net. Normally $4,485 USD but we will give you the previous discount plus another 10% off for ordering 10 copies. This would bring the price down to $3,586 USD.

3) We offer various site licenses which generally range from $15,000 - $25,000. A license like this would allow you to have unlimited educational use. Install as many copies as you need and as many servers as you need. Since you're a university we can offer this package to you $5,499 USD. "

Outstanding requests/orders: hardware

Flat screen monitors

Plasma screens

Strategy/policy

Major projects

Operational problems

WebCT server downtime

Netscape version

Amanda Peart is teaching JavaScript as part of the WECPP MSc Web client programming unit. We teach this in A0-29 and A0-30 but the WECPP SWS is in Mercantile M4-2. JavaScript versions implemented in different versions of Netscape have introduced different features. Can we have Netscape 6 available as well as 4.78?

EK reported that ISO were reviewing browser provision this summer.

ActiveX

Active X controls are currently blocked on Alex Bennett's computer and she needs access to these as a matter of urgency.

EK agreed to look into this.

Acrobat menu in Word

Emma Duke-Williams has complained that she has no Acrobat menu available in Word, despite having Acrobat installed.

SB agreed to look into this.

Software in M3-1

Tom Addis: "In the lab M4.1 where FUNPA is taught the teaching network software that allows you to broadcast from the teachers machines or address students individually or monitor them was removed without notice at the begining of the first semester."

SB reported that NetOp had been removed because of a clash with other software, possibly Oracle. One possibility was to move NetOp to the Comms Lab but that would mean students wouldn't have network access while using it. SB agreed to liaise with Tom Addis.

Online exams

Tom Addis (re FUNPA again): "The exam is a practical where the students have to create a functional program on the PC. However, there were no facilities provided to allow the student to log on for the exam onto a secure system. They had to log on to their own directory with open availabilty to the web. OK we were vigelent but it would be more comfortable to to have secure directories that are issolated from the web and access to their own. Some of the their exam creations were remarkably similar."

It was agreed that all staff with requirements concerning restricted student access for assessment purposes should discuss their requirements with AW.

Projector in M4-1

Kit Long: "As far as M4.1 is concerned, it was not put forward in the bid. All Heads of Depts., Roy Lightfoot (as Tech. Liaison) and Steve Broadbent were consulted. It was felt that the Lecturer's PC image was best "slaved" to student machines using software already in use in some of the other rooms."

AW was firmly of the view that a projector was necessary in M4.1, especially if NetOp is not reinstalled there. M4.1 is the only lab where it is possible for all student to face the same way.

JSB will consult with those involved.

Developmental engagement

The Computing area is being visited on 3-4 April for a "developmental engagement" (equals Subject Quality Review).

EK agreed to make ISO staff aware.

CD lectures online

Kate Dingley has some lectures on CD that she wants to make available to students. They are .exe's. However the requirements are a browser, ms word and Powerpoint. They have sound and video and run for about 45 mins. I have a good one to pilot on the LAN, "starting your computing project: an introduction for students of computing and IT" This would allow current second years to view the tutorial before selecting supervisors and finalising ideas.

SB agreed to look into it.

Any other business

Java problems

There is a problem that several applications (including ones from Max Bramer and Shelley Philipson) used incompatible versions of the Java runtime environment.

SB agreed to consult with Max, Shelley and Richard Thornton to see if a solution could be found.

Date of next meeting