Taurus UCX enables frictionless learning at the University of Greater Manchester’s Medical School
The University of Greater Manchester’s Medical School, the largest in the UK, recently embarked on an ambitious project to create a cutting-edge facility designed to train the next generation of healthcare professionals.
The University of Greater Manchester’s Medical School, the largest in the UK, recently embarked on an ambitious project to create a cutting-edge facility designed to train the next generation of healthcare professionals. This facility, developed in partnership with the NHS (National Health Service), integrates real-world medical environments with advanced technology to provide students with theoretical knowledge and hands-on clinical experience.
To achieve this, the university partnered with Universal AV, a trusted AV integrator with a track record of delivering innovative spaces through the university’s medical programs. A key aspect of the project was ensuring a seamless and intuitive AV user experience, made possible through the implementation of Lightware’s Taurus UCX-4x2-HC30 matrix switchers for signal management.
The new medical school building, attached to a working hospital, encompasses a variety of spaces, including general teaching rooms, a lecture theatre, clinical training suites, meeting rooms and collaborative workspaces. Given the diverse range of users, including university faculty, students and NHS staff, the university required an AV system that would enable complete Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) functionality. The goal was to create spaces where any user can connect their laptop and instantly access room resources, such as interactive displays, microphones, cameras and sound systems, without requiring complicated setups or technical assistance.
Due to the large number of users who will use the building, the university required a 100% BYOD environment for laptops, allowing users to connect to their own corporate network via the WiFi. It became apparent that the Taurus UCX-4x2-HC30 would be an ideal solution for the classrooms and clinical training rooms. Laptops can be connected via an HDMI and USB-A cable or a single USB-C cable, which then grants users access to the interactive touchscreen displays, ceiling cameras and microphones, and other room peripherals no matter whether they are using a Windows or Mac platform.
- explains Aron Leggoe, Project Manager at Universal AV. Lightware’s Taurus UCX offers a single connection point for all inputs. This was a critical factor in ensuring ease of use for medical students and professionals who frequently transition between different workspaces. Furthermore, easy switching between multiple hosts and peripherals helps reduce setup time for lectures, clinical training sessions or meetings.
One of the major benefits of a Lightware-based system was its ability to provide both flexibility and security. With the possibility of segregating network ports on the device and disabling Ethernet access via the USB-C connection, the university’s IT department was able to implement strict security measures whist maintaining the open-access benefits of a BYOD environment. Additionally, Taurus is fully compatible with third-party control systems, which allows it to integrate seamlessly with the university’s existing AV control infrastructure.
The impact of Lightware’s technology was particularly evident in the medical school’s clinical training suites, which included six-bed and eight-bed hospital-style training rooms. These spaces are designed to replicate real-world healthcare environments, allowing students to practice medical procedures. Taurus UCX enables instant connectivity between student devices and the AV system, ensuring that training sessions can be captured and displayed efficiently.
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In huddle and small meeting rooms up to approximately 6 attendees.
Reflecting on the success of the project, Ian Moth, University IT operations manager of information systems and technology says,
Universal AV’s deep understanding of the university’s infrastructure and teaching methods was invaluable. They helped redesign and integrate technology based on the needs of our academics, ensuring seamless compatibility across campus. Their experience with our existing systems allowed us to standardise equipment, making the technology user-friendly for staff across departments.
The integration of a Lightware solution at the University of Greater Manchester’s Medical School showcases how the right choice of AV solutions can simplify everyday interactions with technology, in turn helping to foster a more focused environment for training the next generations.
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The University of Greater Manchester’s Medical School, the largest in the UK, recently embarked on an ambitious project to create a cutting-edge facility designed to train the next generation of healthcare professionals.
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