teaching space user guide - university of sheffield · amx touch screen controller and sympodium....

For Help and assistance, please contact the CiCS Helpdesk using the phone provided. (Tel: 0114 222 1111, Email: [email protected])

Teaching Space User Guide AMX Touch Screen Controller and Sympodium.


Frequently Asked Questions: There’s no computer audio playing in the room?

1) Check that the volume is not muted on the AMX touchscreen

or the device you are using. 2) Increase the volume on your device and the master volume

on the AMX touchscreen. 3) If you are using your own device, please ensure that the 3.5mm

audio jack is connected and pushed firmly into the audio output. 4) Check that all of the AV units in the lectern cupboard are switched on.

There’s no computer image displaying on the projector?

1) Check you have selected the correct input for the equipment you wish to

use. 2) If you are using the lectern PC, please ensure it is switched on. 3) If you are using your own laptop please ensure all cables are

securely fastened and you have adjusted your display settings to ‘Duplicate/clone display’. You can do this by pressing the

‘Windows key’ and ‘P’ or via the ‘System Preferences’ if you are using a Mac. The wireless microphone isn’t working?

1) Check that the microphone is turned on. The power button is usually located on the bottom of the microphone and is red. You may need to hold it down for a few seconds.

2) If the microphone will not turn on, it may need its batteries replacing. Either contact the building porter or contact the Helpdesk.

3) Check the Mic is not muted or increase the volume for the wireless microphone on the AMX touchscreen by pressing the

‘Adjust Mics’ button on the AMX touchscreen. 4) Check all of the AV units in the lectern cupboard are switched on.

Contents Frequently Asked Questions 1 AMX Quick Start Guide 2 AMX Inputs 3 Additional Features 4 Document Camera 5 Sympodium Quick Start Guide 6 Using the floating tool bar 6 Saving Annotations 7 SMART Notebook 7 7


Quick Start Guide: AMX Data Controller

To turn the system on press the ‘Screen Layout’ icon in the bottom right corner. The teaching computer, which is located in the lectern, and Sympodium, will need to be switched on separately.

Select ‘Single Display’ or ‘Dual Display’. ‘Single display’ will give you one large central display, whereas ‘Dual Display’ will give you two smaller, side-by-side displays. Please see additional features on page 4 for more information on dual display.

Select the source from along the top and follow the on screen instructions. This will then lower the screen and output the audio and video from the selected source.

When you are finished, please power off the system by selecting ‘System off’ in the lower right corner of the screen and pressing ‘YES’.


VGA Laptop Please connect your laptop using the VGA cable provided at the desk. If you wish to use audio with your presentation, please connect the audio jack to your laptop audio output.

Room PC You will need to turn on the PC, which is located in the lectern, and the Sympodium on top. You can then log in with your normal (MUSE) username and password.

Blu-Ray Player If you select ‘Blu-Ray Player’ you will see an on screen remote, which will give you the ability to navigate the media via the AMX touchscreen.

HDMI Laptop Please connect your laptop using the HDMI cable provided at the desk. There is no need to plug in the audio jack, as the HDMI cable will output the audio from the laptop as well.

Document Camera Please use the buttons on the document camera to set up your presentation. For additional information about the document camera please see page 5.

AMX Inputs


Pressing ‘Need help?’ will display information on how to request technical assistance or report a fault in the room.

To adjust the levels of the individual microphones select ‘Adjust Mics’ Here you can adjust the volume for the lectern or wireless microphone using the ‘+/-‘ symbols. You also have the option to mute them.

To adjust the lighting in the room select ‘Adjust lights’ in the bottom left corner. Here you can change the room lighting using the several pre-sets to suit your needs.

Additional Features

If you have selected dual display, you will see the same list of options as single display but have the ability to select independent sources for the left and right screens. Tap ‘Left Projector’ to select a source for the left display and ‘Right Projector’ for the right. Audio will play from whichever screen you have selected at the time.

If you select ‘Blank’ the screen will raise and the projector will power off. Audio will continue to play from the previous source and will need to be paused or muted. Deselecting ‘Blank’ will lower the screen and resume projection of the selected source.


Document Camera

When selecting the document camera you may need to power it on. You can do this by pressing the power button located in the top left of the base unit.

If you see the ‘Menu’ options displayed on the screen you can close them by pressing the ‘Menu’ button. The menu button is located on the front of the camera head.

You can zoom in and out using the scroll wheel. This is located on the top of the camera head.


Press the Select button to use the Sympodium Pen as a mouse Tap the screen to perform a left click action. Double tap to perform a double click action.

Press the Right Click button to perform a right click action The Pen will revert to left click mode after performing a right click.

Press the Pen Button to select a Pen colour Use the Sympodium Pen to draw on the Sympodium monitor.

Press Eraser Button to select the eraser Use the Sympodium Pen to delete annotations on the screen. Alternatively, press the Smart Ink toolbar (located in the top right corner of open applications) and select Clear Ink.

Press the Function Tools button to reveal / hide the floating toolbar

Use the On Screen Smart Ink Toolbar for more pen tools Open applications will have the Smart Ink Toolbar in the top right side of the Menu bar. Access more pen thicknesses, colours and styles from here.

Touch the cog to customise the pen style; by changing opacity, colour and thickness

Touch for Highlighter Pen

Touch the arrows to minimise the toolbar Touch for onscreen keyboard

Touch to add more tools on the Floating Toolbar

Touch to undo last action

Start Guide: The Sympodium The Sympodium is an interactive monitor, which allows you to create content over anything displayed on the computer screen. Your audience will see your content instantly as you deliver prepared or impromptu material.

Using the On Screen Floating Toolbar The floating toolbar contains different pen styles, such as a highlighter pen and the ability to draw shapes.


Saving Annotations in MS PowerPoint When you close your PowerPoint Presentation, you will be asked whether you would like to keep your annotations. Annotations will be inserted as images, and can be moved, resized, deleted etc.

Press the Smart Ink Toolbar, and press the capture icon This will take a screenshot of the whole screen, and open it in the SMART Notebook software, where it can be edited and saved. See Page 6 for more information.

Press the Notebook Button to Open the SMART Notebook software

Different Pen Tools are available from the SMART Notebook Toolbar Many of these can be customised once selected. You can use the mouse instead of the Sympodium pen within the Notebook software if more accuracy is required for certain tasks.

Content created in the Notebook software can be easily exported Formats include a PDF, HTML file, PowerPoint file or image file. Use the File>Export menu to select your preferred export type and file save location.

Arrow Tool

Shape Tools

Measuring Tools

Spotlight Tool

Spreadsheet Tool

New page

Saving Annotations

SMART Notebook The SMART Notebook software is specially designed to work with Sympodium, and contains extra Pen tools. For example, on screen rulers and protractors are available to measure on screen elements. Teaching material can be prepared in the Notebook software beforehand, or created on an impromptu basis.

For more information on the AV equipment in the teaching spaces, please visit our website:

www.shef.ac.uk/cics/av

teaching space user guide - university of sheffield · amx touch screen controller and sympodium....

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