Mmmm, one left over!

Colour coding makes it easier.

Which ... what ... where?

Hope mum knows what she's doing!

Installation ...

As this was the first family home placement we wanted to experiment a little. Brett, the systems engineer, had gone to great lengths to make the setup a relatively uncomplicated process. We were delighted to find that mother, a self confessed luddite, was able to install the equipment herself with very little help from us. In spite of a relative “maze” of wires she was pleased to find she could follow the diagrams and colour coding with reasonable ease. The “draft manual” still needs some tweaking and later, over a flat white, we discussed the possibility of developing an installation DVD to accompany future home deliveries.

THE FIRST (at long last!)

October already but be assured plenty has been happening. However, progress always been two steps forward- one step back! I've been known to compare it to ploughing along a Manukau beach at low tide.
Today, our first family received and installed themselves the first a camera and router AND, as seen from these photos, connection was made back to KDEC! For the records, there were the inevitable hiccups: a missing cable (eventually found), one setting not perfect and a failing battery on a support mobile. Eventually the patiently and expectantly waiting family and staff at both near and far ends were rewarded with a link.
Unfortunately in spite of the best efforts by all technical personnel the QoS (Quality of Service) currently remains unacceptable. The fault is so unusual it is likely to be correctable so, fingers crossed. At times the packet loss was up to 30%, other times 0% and sometimes the upload speed was twice that of the download speed! When we could maintain a high QoS the resulting NZSL communication generated a significant amount of emotional response as well as overwhelming gratitude from the family involved.

Training Day

This video is about 1 3/4 minutes long. You will need a good broadband connection to view it. It shows Denise from Asnet Technologies training some of our Village Staff on the use of Polycom Videoconferencing equipment. She is expertly supported by Kelly, one of our interpreters.

A "Far site". (We were actually only 50 metres away.)

There was plenty of concentration! This view shows the smaller V500 camera (top right) at a far site. It is the type which will be used in parents' homes.

Training Day

Yesterday 20 Village Staff were involved in an introductory training session. Denise, from Asnet Technologies, spent a long day with our staff who will be using the equipment with students. They will also be involved with the training of students.

There was a lot of information to soak up but, by the end of each of the three 90 minute sessions, staff had experienced controlling lighting, setting up the camera/TV combination, use of the remote control, dialing up a far site, communicating with people at a distance and general background information. There were plenty of excellent questions showing careful thought by the staff, some of whom are already experienced with similar systems.

Training day was an important step in the process. Next step: Installing equipment in parents homes!

Draft handbook for parents ...

The date for staff training has been set: Tuesday July 8

This training will be carried out on site at KDEC by Denise from Asnet Technologies

There are up to 24 village staff to be trained in three sessions - quite a big job for Denise and there will be three 90 minute sessions. Three cameras will be available.

A 16-page parent handbook is being developed. It is hoped a draft version will be available for testing on the day.

An update ...

Testing of the wireless system commenced over this past weekend. Results are very encouraging but not quite right yet.
In the menatime, arrangements are in hand for a staff training day to be held next month and an updated information mailer has been posted to parents. If you would like more information please contact KDEC.

Another test

BM tore his hair out (as you can see) with frustration when things were not progressing according to plan! Eventually, the least likely factor appears to have been the cause - Sky Tower transmitter had failed! Well, the best laid plans

Another FIRST ...

... a test between my home and two KDEC students, was completed using an ADSL connection. (As in NZSL, there is no audio with this clip.) Connection speed was consistant at 512/512 for 30 minutes with a maximum of 0.03% packet loss.

Next, we will test a wireless system.

The next day ...

After a slight hiccup (if all else fails, try a reboot) I was able dial up KDEC then pan and tilt the far 7000 with my 500's remote to locate Richard (I didn't need to but it was fun) and have a chat. Next step, when students and staff return from term break, we will have students signing between the the trial locations.

I will video some of that for this site.

The third install

A pix from home back to KDEC. Note the quality.

Later, at my home a second 500 camera and a Cisco router is configured for two different types of connection:

1. DSL

2. Wireless

Again the QoS is excellent. 512/512, zero packet loss and zero frames dropped.

... and its Wellington test shows excellent QoS.

The 7000's little brother, the 500 is set up ...

KDEC to Wellington

Simon sets up the big 7000 at KDEC

Connections at last!

Two IT specialists committed "as long as it takes" of their time yesterday afternoon to configuring and installing three trial cameras - two at KDEC and one at my home.
* The wireless connection from school had been pre-configured.
* The DSL connection at my home was set-up
* All other work was completed in about three hours.
Testing included dialing both Wellington and Auckland offices as well as each of our own three test sites.
The wireless connection at home requires a little more work but should be up and running (for test purposes) within a few days.
The only technical "hitch" was this morning when when I tried to dial up KDEC from home.
"That's always the way isn't it", giggled the 0800 helpline receptionist.
"The IT guys go and the system doesn't work."
The on-line IT voice performed a quick diagnosis: "Mmmm! Have you tried a reboot?" (I've heard that line before somewhere) ... and all was well.

For the record, I'll post some pix ...

First hardware arrives

This may well look like a very boring photo - you may well be right! However it signals the beginnings of the next significant step in the NZSL VC project: the arrival of the first cameras in preparation for testing of the two transmission methods. 1. Wireless and 2. DSL.

Finally!

Although it may appear little is happening, in fact much has happened since the last posting by way of consolidation. As a result, today, the first cameras, installations/setup and training sessions were ordered. This happened only after considerable effort was expended by way of independent consultation both here in Auckland and in Australia with independent local experts as well as staff of the Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children (RIDBC) in Sydney. It was timely that this prestigious institute offered their inaugural conference of Teleschool to share their expertise in Videoconferencing across Australia last week. The photo shows RIDBC's IT manager, Colin Speller, demonstrating one of their systems. Further details of this conference are available on request.

As soon as hardware arrives at KDEC and is configured, testing followed by training followed by practise sessions will commence - WATCH THIS SPACE!