AV Technology - May 2008 - (Page 44)

MINIMIZING EQUIPMENT THEFT 8 TIPS TO REDUCE THEFT 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Conduct a security survey with your campus police/security department before something is stolen. Reduce the value of something they can take by defacing techniques or markings. Purchase equipment that is rack mountable and lock it down with security screws. Raise the risk that a thief will be detected or noticed. Slow their pace by using layers of security. Store loose equipment in locked units and have the lock custom keyed. Record equipment serial numbers and take photos of all of your equipment. If using cables to secure equipment, use 3/8-inch thick wire rope (aircraft cable). If using plastic-jacketed cable, use 1/2-inch, because a full third of that diameter is plastic. on campus, as well as technology used in CMU offcampus locations. One interesting approach they took was to customize the classroom teaching lecterns. These units typically house a computer, document camera, DVD player, and VHS player. “We worked with the manufacturer to build lecterns with locked doors. They are metal lecterns with wood-top finishes,” says Dan Noullet, a senior media technology specialist with the Media Technology Services group. “Everything in the lectern is also locked down with security screws,” he adds. The units are designed so users can access the various pieces of equipment to load their materials for class. Custom security panels surround the equipment for protection, and to block access to the rear of the individual components and cabling. For automated equipment monitoring, they choose to use RoomView from Crestron. Out of the box, this software can monitor networked AV components, notify technical departments of projector bulb hours, room scheduling, and more. This software can also be customized. CMU has a certified Crestron programmer, Rich Noullet, who did some customization of the software to work within their environment. “We’ve written a program that runs within RoomView to poll all of our rooms. It makes sure that all of our equipment is connected,” says Noullet. “When one of these devices loses its RS-232 connection, or when power is disconnected from the device, the RoomView appli- http://www.relampit.com http://www.relampit.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of AV Technology - May 2008

AV Technology - May 2008 Contents Precedent Corporate: How to Qualify an AV Supplier Education: Working Smarter AV Technology's Guide to Networked AV Government: IPv6 — Why You Should Care Calculating ROI on Your Digital Signage Investment Enhancing Audio in the Classroom Minimizing Equipment Theft Smart AV The Tribe Has Spoken AV Enables Interactive Research AV Image Enhancement Product Spotlight Tech Horizons Product Review New Products AV MO

AV Technology - May 2008

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