Library tests new media:scape equipment

Room 110B of the Butler Library was transformed earlier this month with media:scape, a system designed to make digital collaboration easier.

The technology won a gold medal in 2008 at the design exposition NeoCon, and is now temporarily available to Buffalo State students. The equipment was borrowed for one month from Steelcase Inc.

Media:scape is designed to foster group work by allowing students to collectively create ideas and easily share them among their group. The equipment consists of two LCD screens and two "pucks," which allow for up to six devices, including a laptop, a phone and even a graphic calculator to be connected at the same time.

Students can use a button on the pucks to project the content of their device on one of the LCD screens, making it easy for everybody to see. They can switch between devices and work on the same project at the same time without having to huddle around one single screen. Media:scape offers HD video conferencing that allows a student to contribute to the group project without having to be in the same room.

The idea behind implementing media:scape at Buffalo State is to "get students involved in taking a look at some of the designs that some furniture vendors are coming up with for the 21st century classroom," said Mark McBride, library liaison coordinator at the E.H. Butler Library.

"We're hearing from a lot of different students. They would like to see it in classrooms. As a librarian, I'd love to see it in our group study spaces and I think most of our users who use our group study spaces would really love to see it there too."

If enough students give positive feedback on the new technology, the school might consider keeping it after the 30-day trial ends at the end of this month.

"Nobody's replying with any negative feedback," McBride said.

Students can take an online survey to share their impressions of media:scape.

"As a speech language pathology major, this technology was very beneficial for our group questions as well as practicing American Sign Language. It made it easy to share information and learn together" one student wrote in the survey.

Emily Krolewicz, a junior majoring in art, used media:scape to work on a project for her Media Literacy class.

"I'm really happy that we have this technology," she said. "Since we're working power points and stuff like that, you can put it up on the screen and show everybody what you're doing instead of having to hunch over one little computer. Everybody can see it at once and then you could switch back and forth between screens so that way everybody can show what they're looking at."

Students who are interested in trying out media:scape can go to room 110 B in the library before the end of the month. They can also make a reservation online. After using the technology, they are encouraged to take the survey. A link for the survey can be found in the room.

Maria Yankova can be reached by email at yankova.record@live.com.