Studio Control Key Features

Enhanced On-Air Functions

CADE supports all the basic functions normally expected in an Interactive Distance Learning product of it's type, but it adds some enhancements to the basic product:

• Issue true/false, yes/no, multiple choice, multiple selection, or numeric questions
  • View numbers and percentages of each response
  • View list of who answered each question which way
  • View list of who hasn't answered
  • Display results in graphical or text form
• Participant audio: call in, call out, random calling, recorded audio, and conferencing
• Signaling, ad-hoc questioning
• Text Messaging to sites, individuals, groups, inter-groups, inter-sites
• Internal PowerPoint selection and navigation controls
• Recorded audio and/or text questions for off-air response
• Bi-directional application sharing
• Two-way video
• Student/Site information, graphic displays, priority assignment
• On-screen tooltips and help

But that's barely the beginning!..

CADE has many additional features not seen in any other IDL product.  Read on to see what else CADE can bring to an interactive program... not just during the broadcast, but before, during, and after!

Electronic Instructor's Guide 

An Electronic Instructor's Guide can be constructed through the Learning Management Web (LMW) to produce an electronic script that breaks the course down into easy to follow, step by step components.  Instructor notes, bullet points, or comments can be added to each of the components to aid in delivery.  The Guide can be spell checked, printed, and used as a coordination document with the control room personnel as well as displayed on-screen during a broadcast so the instructor always has access to the course material when it is most needed.

Media Capture, Storage, and Display

The Instructor's Guide not only provides on-screen help, it also allows developers to assign displayable media to individual components and store that media in the database.  This would include such items as questions, PowerPoint slides, graphics, animation, web pages, documents, and virtually anything that can be shown in a web browser.  Then, during a broadcast, as the instructor moves through the Guide's components, each component triggers an event.  An event might issue a question, start a timer, or display any previously stored image so it is immediately available in the control room for the engineers to use in the broadcast. 

Broadcast Automation & Video Routing

Each component of the Instructor's Guide can be associated with a specific video source, ie. main camera, Studio Control display, document camera, secondary camera, VCR/DVD, etc. As the instructor moves from one component to the next, commands are automatically sent to the CADE Video Routing system which switches the video sources to the appropriate input and routes it to the satellite uplink.  This eliminates the need for a high level of coordination between instructor and control room typically required in an IDL broadcast and frees control room personnel to concentrate on other tasks.

Two-Way Video 

Not only can an audio connection be made to a remote site, a video connection can be made as well. Should a remote site have a webcam connected to the Virtual Classroom computer, when a call is made the video can optionally be requested and uplinked. This allows remote sites to introduce new people, show their facilities, demonstrate a new product, process, technology, or any other appropriate video application.

Conversational, Instant Connect Audio 

When the instructor connects to a calling site, the audio is managed in such a way that the instructor and student can engage in a normal, telephone-like conversation rather than to have the troublesome delay created by the satellite transmission time.   Connections are instant as there is no waiting for the time to dial like with other systems.  CADE's superior technology ensures the audio works as well at dial-up speeds as it does on a high-speed connection.  Since no special telephone lines are required, the need for an additional monthly telephone charge is eliminated.

Multiple Caller Conferencing  

While it is not prudent to allow callers to talk at any time, with the conferencing feature the instructor can optionally hold callers on the line so multiple callers can talk in rapid succession. The instructor remains in control over who can talk and when.

Assign Temporary or Permanent Priority to Callers

Individuals can be assigned a priority so those callers with a higher priority are listed higher in the calling queue.  Priorities may be assigned for the duration of a broadcast or saved as a permanent part of the person's record.  The priorities and their descriptions are created by authorized LMW users so there is no limit to the number and scope of the priorities.

Complete Control of Audio at a Site 

At the studio, CADE provides complete control over all aspects of the audio at the remote site. Upon connection the Virtual Classroom sends all audio settings which modified to achieve the best audio possible. CADE provides control over the caller's microphone, instructor's voice, TV volume, and overall volume.  Once set, each volume control remains in the established position for all subsequent broadcasts.

Optional POTS/PBX Audio

CADE optionally supports POTS or PBX audio in lieu of audio over IP for those organizations that don't want audio traffic on their IP network.  The Studio Control system uses a modem-like device (no data capabilities) to place or answer regular telephone calls upon the instructor's command.

Bi-Directional Application Sharing

Computer applications running anywhere in the network can be shared with the Virtual Classrooms and students can take over keyboard, screen, and mouse to perform directed operations. Applications can be running on Windows, Mac's, Unix, or Linux systems. 

Conversely, an instructor can "peek" over a participant's shoulder by taking over the screen, keyboard, and mouse of any of the Virtual Classroom PCs to check on progress, give direction, or any other purpose.

Prerecorded, Interactive Broadcasts 

Programs can be stored at the studio and broadcast on a schedule maintained in the LMW. At the scheduled time, a Studio Control program will automatically start a course and issue questions in synch with the recorded program. Students would log on and respond to the instructor's questions with their wireless remote controls just as if it were a live broadcast. Student attendance, responses, and completion information are timestamped and stored in the CADE database as part of the student's training history. This training history is also made available for reporting and analysis for authorized personnel.

Add Broadcast Questions Dynamically

Questions can be added to a program during a broadcast if the need arises so additional student responses can be captured in the database.   New questions may be created off-line by studio or other support personnel using the LMW or added by the instructor using the Studio Control program.

Custom Backgrounds and Colors

Clients can use the standard background and font colors for broadcast questions and participant results or create one of their own.  Custom backgrounds can replace the standard CADE graphics as a default background for all broadcasts or unique backgrounds can be attached to individual programs.

Multiple Studio Support 

CADE provides the ability to uniquely identify each Studio Control program so that if there are concurrent broadcasts, the users at the remote site are presented with an option of courses to select from. All they need to do to connect to one or programs (the number of which is unlimited) is to select from the list of currently available studio and course names. Once selected, all participants will be connected to that program.

Rehearsal Studio Support 

Based on the approach just described, multiple Studio Control programs can be installed anywhere in the network and used for rehearsal in addition to multiple broadcast systems. This would allow presenters to practice, using the Studio Control program, right on their own computer.