Actiview+Doc+Camera

Keith has these thoughts on setting up and using the the Actiview at one of our schools. Maybe this will help you too!

The problem is that there are so many variables and different ways of connecting the camera that it is impossible to know how someone wants to do it. Thus, you need to know the capabilities of the camera, the capabilities of Inspire, what your goal is in using the camera etc. This will dictate how you should connect it and more importantly use it.
 * There is no documentation for connecting and using the camera with ActivInspire**.

Connect the VGA to the wall box to allow straight video from the camera to the projector. The wall box is now being used as a ‘video-switcher’. Also connect the USB output from the camera to the computer. This now gives you the functionality of capturing the image from the camera and using it in a flipchart. The computer becomes the ‘video-switcher’.
 * Keith's ‘best’ way to connect the camera-**


 * The Caveat- a slight delay**: this will cause a slight delay showing movement because it’s going through the computer rather than directly to the projector. This delay may or may not be important depending on the application. For example, if you are wanting to watch an Ant Farm and the movement of the ants, the first way would be better but if you are interested in capturing a butterfly ( dead ) and using it in a flipchart, then the second way is better.

I could go on. But I will stop here. This is why Promethean doesn’t want to try to tell people how to set up the camera.

The ActiView software for the camera SHOULD be in the next version as a ‘tool’ available to be placed into the toolbox. However, as we all know, sometimes things don’t go as planed. I find the easiest way to incorporate the software is to have it on your desktop and run the ‘desktop’ tool from ActivInspire.

Hope this helps.

Keith