UTC Equipment Services - Video/Data Projectors

University of Arizona, UTC Equipment Services

Resolution

Pictures we see in the newspaper, on TV, and photographs are made up of tiny little dots. If you look very closely you can see them. In a video signal each one of these dots is called a pixel (picture-element). A video projector pixel is a small dot of light. It takes many pixels together to create the projected image. The more pixels your projector can create, the higher the resolution and the more detail in the picture.

Video/Data Projectors

A number of auditoriums and classrooms on campus are equipped with permanently installed video/data projectors and computer "interfaces."

The video/data projectors currently installed in classrooms are of two types:

CRT: cathode-ray tubes. Units with three guns or lenses. When "on" each of these lens projects a different primary color in light (red, green, or blue). The three projected images overlap on the screen giving the full spectrum of colors.

LCD: liquid-crystal display. Panels of liquid crystals whose transparency or reflectivity to polarized light varies with the voltage applied to them. A fixed sized array in other words the number of pixels on a panel of liquid crystals (640x480, 800x600, 1024x768, etc). The array size is in direct relation to the maximum resolution the projector can handle.

Converging

If you wish to use a computer in one of the classrooms equipped with a CRT video/data projector, it is best if you contact Equipment Services so we may configure or "converge" the projector for your specific computer. Though most computers operate similarly , the video cards on computers often differ. These differences in video cards and settings will cause poor picture quality if the projector has not been converged.

We would be happy to schedule a time to converge the projector to your computer.

We cannot converge 15 minutes prior to a class. Convergence for your computer only needs to be performed once, but it is required if you desire the best possible image.

If you wish to use a computer in a classroom equipped with a LCD video/data projector, "convergence" is not necessary.

LCD projector models currently Installed in Multimedia Classrooms or available for deliver/check out:

If you wish to use a computer in a classroom that does not have a projector or interface, you must request a portable VPU (video projection unit) for the class. Our older portable units (Epson 3000) will only project at a resolution of 640 X 480. Higher settings need to be reduced to 640 X 480 prior to a presentation. In Windows 3,95,98 and 2000 these settings can be found in the "SETTINGS" option under the "DISPLAY" portion of the "CONTROL PANEL" menu. If you are using an Apple computer the settings are found in the "OPTIONS" portion of the "MONITORS" menu.