[Athen] Chalkboard tracking and digitizing?

Dina Rosenbaum dina.rosenbaum at carroll.org
Wed Oct 27 13:25:11 PDT 2010


I think the Jordy is not a good device for this task; have you looked at
smartboards where the info can be either viewed live on a laptop or saved
and emailed to the student??

-----Original Message-----
From: athen-bounces at athenpro.org [mailto:athen-bounces at athenpro.org] On
Behalf Of Nusen, Michael
Sent: Wednesday, October 27, 2010 2:22 PM
To: ATHEN listserv (athen at athenpro.org)
Subject: Re: [Athen] Chalkboard tracking and digitizing?

Hi Todd,

If this is for in-class use, for Spring '11 we are going to experiment with
the JORDY head worn magnifier (magnification range is 4x to 50x).
At this time I don't know if its auto-focus feature will allow a student to
take their own notes.
We have $3,200 budgeted for this which includes docking stand, case, monitor
& S&H.

Michael Nusen
Coordinator, OASIS/CAC
(Office of Accommodative Services and Instructional Support/Computer Access
Center)
Pikes Peak Community College
michael.nusen at ppcc.edu
719-502-3022

-----Original Message-----
From: athen-bounces at athenpro.org [mailto:athen-bounces at athenpro.org] On
Behalf Of Todd Schwanke
Sent: Wednesday, October 27, 2010 9:58 AM
To: ATHEN listserv (athen at athenpro.org)
Subject: [Athen] Chalkboard tracking and digitizing?

Good morning Athen:

Are you aware of or have you come up with any systems for tracking writing
on a chalkboard to provide visual or remote access for students
(particularly students with low vision) without switching away from the
chalkboard? Are there any digitizing chalk holders or camera tracking chalk
holders that would work similar to the mic's that web confering systems
track?

We have used and looked at a number of solutions including switching to
alternate media (white board, interactive white board, or document camera)
and other low-tech methods (notetaker, extra time with instructor after
class, telescope or distance CCTV, etc.). But, I am trying to find out what
technologies others might have used that still involve using the chalkboard
and so that the student can track along directly with where the professor is
writing.

This could be done with someone operating a camera for pan and zoom, but
what options are there to automatically track along with where the professor
is writing and provide that in a real-time digital format? We already have
a way to share streaming video with the student on their laptop in
real-time, so mainly I'm inquiring about the camera and camera tracking or
some other type of digitization technology.

The quality of the image would need to be good enough such that the students
could still read normal size writing and zoom in a little if needed without
the image quality becoming too grainy. Also, there is the variable of a
camera being obstructed depending where the professor is standing.

If you have any suggestions, please also comment on cost, setup, and tech
support.

Also, any thoughts/experiences/preferences in terms of students using a CCTV
with distance viewing options that they control to follow along in classes
(such as math) where a chalkboard is the preferred format?

Thanks,
Todd Schwanke
McBurney Disability Resource Center
UW-Madison


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