O' Flaherty Theatre

yer man!

Just wondering does anybody know what the camera things are on the walls either side of the flatherty hall, just something that's been bugging me as I see no reason for cameras to watching students.....

poisonated

That IS weird!
gonna be really paranoid next time I'm there!:D

KittyeeTrix

May be there to record lectures. I have often come across lectures from American Uni's posted online:)

Jordan Berbatov

im so glad i dont go to lectures now

reap-a-rat

Maybe they're there for security reasons, i mean there's a computer, projecters etc, really expensive gear like and those places are never locked so they'd want to be monitored, nay?

FouxDaFaFa

reap-a-rat wrote: »

Maybe they're there for security reasons, i mean there's a computer, projecters etc, really expensive gear like and those places are never locked so they'd want to be monitored, nay?

I think this is it. They're pointed towards the front and the lecturer, not the students.

technoman

But you can see a little red light pointing towards the students and a small lens, like it only covers either side if the hall and not the middle.

IainML

Hi there! Aren't you all very observant? The O'Flaherty is one of a number of venues around the campus which has videoconferencing facilities built in. Essentially this enables us to have direct video links with anywhere in the world and it is used for example to host guest speakers for major events such as conferences, seminars, etc. The two cameras are because one is to zoom in on the lecturer and the other which faces the audience is in case people in the audience have questions to ask of the videoconferenced speaker. Does that make sense?

It's a great technology and provides fantastic opportunities for lecturers and societies. We also use this technology in other venues such as in clinical sciences where lecture courses are shared between this university and other locations (eg hospitals around the region or anywhere else) and students and staff in each location can have discussions, etc.

In addition we can 'stream' presentations and discussions live over the internet, widening the potential audience. In some venues (not O'Flaherty though) we also have cameras as part of an automated lecture recording system and in some courses students can access the recordings later through Blackboard or download podcast versions.

The use of all of these technologies is increasing each year so it might not be too long before you actually get to experience them in one of your courses.


So it's not for spying on anyone, honest! Hope that helps

Iain (from CELT)

yer man!

Well that's my curiousity satisfied for another day.... Thanks

Edelle

aaaah... ive spent many engineering maths lectures watchin those cameras, around mid lecture they will flick towards the audience and then flick back!

GEasy

Edelle wrote: »

aaaah... ive spent many engineering maths lectures watchin those cameras, around mid lecture they will flick towards the audience and then flick back!

here here! me too.! I thought it was because the lecturer reported us as being too chatty and wanted to see who was doing all of the talking. seems kinda stupid now that I think about it.:D

Squeeonline

IainML wrote: »

Hi there! Aren't you all very observant? The O'Flaherty is one of a number of venues around the campus which has videoconferencing facilities built in. Essentially this enables us to have direct video links with anywhere in the world and it is used for example to host guest speakers for major events such as conferences, seminars, etc. The two cameras are because one is to zoom in on the lecturer and the other which faces the audience is in case people in the audience have questions to ask of the videoconferenced speaker. Does that make sense?

It's a great technology and provides fantastic opportunities for lecturers and societies. We also use this technology in other venues such as in clinical sciences where lecture courses are shared between this university and other locations (eg hospitals around the region or anywhere else) and students and staff in each location can have discussions, etc.

In addition we can 'stream' presentations and discussions live over the internet, widening the potential audience. In some venues (not O'Flaherty though) we also have cameras as part of an automated lecture recording system and in some courses students can access the recordings later through Blackboard or download podcast versions.

The use of all of these technologies is increasing each year so it might not be too long before you actually get to experience them in one of your courses.


So it's not for spying on anyone, honest! Hope that helps

Iain (from CELT)

The literary and debating society had an evening with Noam Chomsky there a couple of years ago. Was perfectly smooth, and a fantastic thing to be able to do.

I'm shocked and some what humoured that people think lecturers are spying on them!