Biomedical Communications - Media Technical Services

We provide audiovisual equipment delivery to locations in the main physical complex of the AHSC where such equipment is not installed and is needed temporarily.

Requests for equipment can be placed by calling 626-0151.

Standing orders for regularly scheduled events are taken for January thru June and July thru December. Please use either the spring or fall form. Orders within the current period may be placed at any time, but orders for the next period cannot be placed more than one month before.

A partial list of available equipment includes:

• Computers (for presentation only, not for long term or production uses)
• Video/computer image projectors
• Public address systems
• Slide, film, transparency and opaque projectors
• Video and audio cassette recorder/players and monitors

Call us with any audiovisual related special needs you may have. We have some "antique" media players and projectors on hand.

A limited selection of supplies, including batteries and projector lamps, are available over-the-counter in room 3404C.

We have designed, specified and installed most of the audiovisual equipment in the AHSC facilities. We want to stay informed about any project that involves audiovisual equipment so that we are aware of the operating characteristics of rooms and systems for which we may be asked to provide technical assistance.

We provide consultation related to architectural and infrastructure requirements for audiovisual media for AHSC construction projects. We endeavor to project the requirements of state-of-the-art teaching and instructional media that may be available and utilized by faculty in the near future. If you have specific ideas for instructional opportunities that may require specialized presentation media, please discuss these ideas with us.

Media Technical Services manages audiovisual equipment in AHSC rooms that fall under central administration (AHSC Room Scheduling at 626-6226) in the College of Medicine (COM), Arizona Cancer Center(ACC) and University Medical Center. We also maintain the audiovisual equipment in classrooms of the Drachman building.

Some of the rooms with installed audiovisual equipment under Media Technical Services management are listed here. Please see the AHSC Room Scheduling website [http://roomscheduling.ahsc.arizona.edu/] for a comprehensive listing of centrally scheduled rooms.

* Long-distance service restrictions
** Chalk or markers provided by Facilities Management

Audiovisual equipment in some Arizona Cancer Center rooms and all areas of the College of Pharmacy, College of Nursing, Centers of Excellence and outlying buildings of the AHSC, is managed by the home department or local college administration. Media Technical Services does not control the purchase, repair, or replacement of equipment in these areas, though we may be contracted for incidental services. We cannot assure the availability or function of installed audiovisual equipment that is not on our inventory or does not fall under our management authority, however, we will provide audiovisual or technical support in any of these areas upon request.

Technical support is often required to get the image from a computer onto a "big screen". The idiosyncrasies of interfacing computers with projectors can often cause complications.

We can help. Give us a call at 626-0151 and we'll get you up and running.

We also provide computers and/or projectors for presentation use. We will demonstrate the use of this equipment when you pick it up in our office. We can talk you through some problems over the phone - or we'll rush to your service when you call from a room in the AHSC.

Whatever the simplicity or complexity of your event, Media Technical Services can assist in planning and executing the technical support.

We can provide most commonly used media equipment, and will provide delivery, set up, and on-site operation and assistance to the extent you request.

We support AHSC sponsored events virutally anywhere they take place; in Tucson, the state of Arizona - even throughout the U.S.

If your department is contemplating the purchase of audiovisual equipment, or an upgrade of a conference room, please call us for recommendations on audiovisual equipment that will provide the type of support that you envision, including projectors, cables and signal management, and installation accessories.

Technical support by a media technician may be scheduled by any faculty or staff member for any AHSC affiliated class or event. We can deliver equipment, connect your laptop, and demonstrate the operation of equipment; we can be there just to get you started, or be on hand during the event to operate the equipment and assist with changes in hardware and software configurations. Advance consultation and planning for the media requirements of an event ensures the availability of equipment and its problem-free operation.

Usually, following these steps will solve the problem, but some computers, video cards or video drivers will not easily cooperate with your attempts to get them to conform. We've probably seen the problem before and can assist you more quickly than you may be able to find the solution - just give us a call at 626-0151.

1. Is the projector powered up and the lamp turned on?
2. Is the computer video port connected to a cable connected to the projector's "computer input"?
3. Is the projector input selected to monitor the computer source - not the video source?
4. Is the computer video port live? Try to activate it by simultaneously pressing the Fn key + a function key. The appropriate function key on a given computer is usually identified with a video monitor icon or the acronyms "LCD/CRT" imprinted on the function key. Be patient! It may take 5 or more seconds for the computer and projector to process images. A blank screen on either or both units is common during this time. If the image appears on the projector but not the computer, press the Fn key combination again. Continue toggling, if you wish, until the image is displayed on both the projector and computer screens.
5. Is your computer video resolution compatible with the projector? Go to Display Properties in the control panel menu and set the display resolution to 1024x768. Allow several seconds for image processing. If the image does not appear on the projection, attempt the Fn key combination again.