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== Hovercam ==
== HoverCam ==
 
=== Getting started with a classroom HoverCam ===
While some rooms still have self standing document cameras (Wolfvision) installed, we are removing them in favor of a usb peripheral camera that will enable many capabilities that would not be available otherwise. The new cameras are made by a company called [https://www.hovercam.com/ HoverCam] and the model is [https://www.hovercam.com/solo-8plus SOLO 8Plus]. For the purposes of this document we will simply refer to them as HoverCams. If you have taught in Preakness Hall, Hunziker Hall or Raubinger in the last year or so, you are already familiar with them.
 
Hovercams can be used as a document camera for displaying documents and objects to your class or it can be used as a webcam and microphone for webconferencing and/or teaching with the HyFlex model (teach both in-class and online students simultaneously).
 
_________________________________________________
 
=== HoverCam as a Document Camera ===
[[File:Flex11.jpg|thumb|Flex icon]]
 
To use the HoverCam as a document camera, select '''PODIUM PC''' on the Crestron control panel. 
 
Place the document or object on the desk under the hovercam and point the lens down at it.
 
Clicking on the green Flex11 Icon on the PC desktop will launch the Flex11 software and display whatever you have placed on the desk below the camera on your computer screen.
 


=== Getting started with a classroom Hovercam ===
For the past few years we have been installing new document cameras in classrooms. They are made by a company called Hovercam and the model is SOLO 8Plus. For the purposes of this document we will simply refer to them as Hovercams. If you have taught in Preakness Hall, Hunziker Hall or Raubinger in the last year or so, you are already familiar with them. They have now been installed in all classrooms and lecture halls across campus, including at Valley Road 1600. 
There are two uses for the Hovercams, one is as a document camera for displaying documents and objects to your class, and the other is as a webcam and microphone to teach with the HyFlex model (teach both in-class and online students simultaneously).


=== Hovercam as a Document Camera ===
To use the Hovercam as a document camera, click on the Flex11 Icon on the desktop and point the camera down at the document. This will display whatever you have placed on the desk below the camera on your computer screen.
Please note: If the image appears upside-down, you can correct easily by pressing the button in the center of the base of the hovercam.
[[File:Basecontrolshovercam.jpg|thumb|Hovercam base control buttons]]
[[File:Basecontrolshovercam.jpg|thumb|Hovercam base control buttons]]
There are also controls in the Flex11 software to allow rotation of the image in 90 degree increments.   
To display this image to the students in your classroom, select PC on the Crestron control panel.  Please note, to reduce confusion, we have eliminated the Doc Cam button in rooms that do not still have Wolfvision document cameras installed.
You can zoom in and out using the buttons on the base of the camera, the zoom feature in the software, or by scrolling with the dial on the computer mouse. 
There is also a light on the Hovercam if needed. The switch is located on the side of the upper portion of the arm. [pic]
The Flex11 software offers many useful features that are shown here including annotation, screen shots, split screen, video recording and time-lapse. To learn more, we recommend watching the videos found here: https://www.hovercam.com/quickstart/solo8plus


=== Hovercam as Webcam and Microphone ===
One of the useful features of the Hovercam is it’s built in microphone. To use the Hovercam as a webcam and microphone, as in the HyFlex model of teaching, open it all the way up so you can see the camera. Adjust the height as necessary. You can use any type of videoconferencing software, including Blackboard Collaborate, Zoom, WebEx, or Teams. The Hovercam should already be the default camera and microphone on the classroom PC but if it is not, it can be changed from the settings page of whatever software you are using.  Software specific instructions can be found here:
Zoom: [itwiki link]
Teams: [itwiki link]
Webex: [itwiki link]


The camera head has extensive adjustment and can be aimed in almost any direction.  If the image is upside-down, use the flip button at the base of the camera [pic] to correct. If the image is in the wrong orientation, you can rotate the image 90 degrees using the rotate gear on the head.[pic]
 
 
Please note: If the image appears upside-down, you can flip the image 180 degrees by pressing the center button on the base of the HoverCam.
 
There are also buttons on the base for zooming in and out as well as auto focus recalibrate (AF) and auto focus lock (AF-L)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The Flex software also contains controls to zoom in and out as well as allowing rotation of the image in 90 degree increments and to many other features.   
''(You can zoom using the buttons on the base of the camera, the buttons in the software, or by scrolling with the dial on the computer mouse)''
 
There is also a light on the HoverCam if needed. The switch is located on the side of the upper portion of the arm.
 
The Flex software offers many useful features that are shown here including annotation, screen shots, split screen, video recording and time-lapse. To learn more, we recommend watching the videos found here: https://www.hovercam.com/quickstart/solo8plus
 
 
_________________________________________________
 
=== HoverCam as Webcam and Microphone ===
Useful features of the HoverCam are it’s built in microphone and ability to position the webcam. To use the HoverCam as a webcam and microphone, as in the HyFlex model of teaching, extend the arm the way up so you can see the camera. Adjust the height as necessary. You can use any type of videoconferencing software, including Blackboard Collaborate, Zoom, WebEx, or Teams. The HoverCam should already be the default camera and microphone on the classroom PC but if it is not, it can be changed from the settings page of whatever software you are using. 
 
'''DO NOT LAUNCH FLEX11 SOFTWARE WHEN USING HOVERCAM AS A WEBCAM.''' 
Only one program can access the hovercam at a time.  If you launch Flex11, it will not be available to the conferencing software.
 
Software specific instructions can be found here:
* Zoom: [[https://itwiki.wpunj.edu/index.php/Zoom]]
* Microsoft Teams: [[https://itwiki.wpunj.edu/index.php/Resources_for_Working_Remotely#Microsoft_Teams]]
* Webex: [[https://itwiki.wpunj.edu/index.php/Webex]]
 
The camera head has extensive adjustment capability and can be aimed in almost any direction.  If the image is upside-down, use the flip button at the base of the camera to correct. If the image is in the wrong orientation, you can rotate the image 90 degrees using the rotate gear on the head.  
 
[[File:Hovercam mic.jpg|thumb|left]]
 
[[File:Hovercam webcam.jpg|thumb|right]]
 
If the sound and/or video is not being broadcast to your remote students, make sure that the HoverCam is selected for as the microphone and camera in Zoom. To select the HoverCam microphone, open the Audio Settings in Zoom and select (or verify) "Microphone (HoverCam Solo8+(Audio)). Similarly, to select the HoverCam as the webcam, open the Video Settings in Zoom and select (or verify) HoverCam Solo8+.


=== To Learn More ===
=== To Learn More ===
To learn more, we recommend watching the Solo 8Plus Tutorial video found here: https://www.hovercam.com/quickstart/solo8plus  NOTE: The first 20 seconds covers installation but the remaining 70 seconds contains very useful information. There are a number of other useful videos at the Solo 8Plus Quick Start page.
 
To learn more, we recommend watching the Solo 8Plus Tutorial video found here: https://www.hovercam.com/quickstart/solo8plus  NOTE: The HoverCam is already installed so you may ignore the first 20 seconds, which covers installation, but the remaining 70 seconds contains very useful information. There are a number of other useful videos at the [https://www.hovercam.com/quickstart/solo8plus Solo 8Plus Quick Start page].
For best audio quality for remote viewers, always speak in the direction of the camera and not with your back to it.   
For best audio quality for remote viewers, always speak in the direction of the camera and not with your back to it.   
Be sure to occasionally check the display to see remote viewers and to monitor whether they have questions or comments.
Be sure to occasionally check the display to see remote viewers and to monitor whether they have questions or comments.
{{#ev:youtube|1Vw9xMGGClE|700|left}}
{{#ev:youtube|rMn6ed94KXw|700|right}}

Latest revision as of 13:57, 12 September 2022

HoverCam

Getting started with a classroom HoverCam

While some rooms still have self standing document cameras (Wolfvision) installed, we are removing them in favor of a usb peripheral camera that will enable many capabilities that would not be available otherwise. The new cameras are made by a company called HoverCam and the model is SOLO 8Plus. For the purposes of this document we will simply refer to them as HoverCams. If you have taught in Preakness Hall, Hunziker Hall or Raubinger in the last year or so, you are already familiar with them.

Hovercams can be used as a document camera for displaying documents and objects to your class or it can be used as a webcam and microphone for webconferencing and/or teaching with the HyFlex model (teach both in-class and online students simultaneously).

_________________________________________________

HoverCam as a Document Camera

Flex icon

To use the HoverCam as a document camera, select PODIUM PC on the Crestron control panel.

Place the document or object on the desk under the hovercam and point the lens down at it.

Clicking on the green Flex11 Icon on the PC desktop will launch the Flex11 software and display whatever you have placed on the desk below the camera on your computer screen.


Hovercam base control buttons



Please note: If the image appears upside-down, you can flip the image 180 degrees by pressing the center button on the base of the HoverCam.

There are also buttons on the base for zooming in and out as well as auto focus recalibrate (AF) and auto focus lock (AF-L)








The Flex software also contains controls to zoom in and out as well as allowing rotation of the image in 90 degree increments and to many other features. (You can zoom using the buttons on the base of the camera, the buttons in the software, or by scrolling with the dial on the computer mouse)

There is also a light on the HoverCam if needed. The switch is located on the side of the upper portion of the arm.

The Flex software offers many useful features that are shown here including annotation, screen shots, split screen, video recording and time-lapse. To learn more, we recommend watching the videos found here: https://www.hovercam.com/quickstart/solo8plus


_________________________________________________

HoverCam as Webcam and Microphone

Useful features of the HoverCam are it’s built in microphone and ability to position the webcam. To use the HoverCam as a webcam and microphone, as in the HyFlex model of teaching, extend the arm the way up so you can see the camera. Adjust the height as necessary. You can use any type of videoconferencing software, including Blackboard Collaborate, Zoom, WebEx, or Teams. The HoverCam should already be the default camera and microphone on the classroom PC but if it is not, it can be changed from the settings page of whatever software you are using.

DO NOT LAUNCH FLEX11 SOFTWARE WHEN USING HOVERCAM AS A WEBCAM. Only one program can access the hovercam at a time. If you launch Flex11, it will not be available to the conferencing software.

Software specific instructions can be found here:

  • Zoom: [[1]]
  • Microsoft Teams: [[2]]
  • Webex: [[3]]

The camera head has extensive adjustment capability and can be aimed in almost any direction. If the image is upside-down, use the flip button at the base of the camera to correct. If the image is in the wrong orientation, you can rotate the image 90 degrees using the rotate gear on the head.

Hovercam mic.jpg
Hovercam webcam.jpg

If the sound and/or video is not being broadcast to your remote students, make sure that the HoverCam is selected for as the microphone and camera in Zoom. To select the HoverCam microphone, open the Audio Settings in Zoom and select (or verify) "Microphone (HoverCam Solo8+(Audio)). Similarly, to select the HoverCam as the webcam, open the Video Settings in Zoom and select (or verify) HoverCam Solo8+.

To Learn More

To learn more, we recommend watching the Solo 8Plus Tutorial video found here: https://www.hovercam.com/quickstart/solo8plus NOTE: The HoverCam is already installed so you may ignore the first 20 seconds, which covers installation, but the remaining 70 seconds contains very useful information. There are a number of other useful videos at the Solo 8Plus Quick Start page. For best audio quality for remote viewers, always speak in the direction of the camera and not with your back to it. Be sure to occasionally check the display to see remote viewers and to monitor whether they have questions or comments.

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