For several years, the University has been implementing a digitalization programme for its campus. So far, CCTV, access control, and classroom technologies have been deployed across its premises.
The Covid challenges brought around the necessity to provide distance learning. Later on, the need for hybrid technologies came into the focus of the UoS.
The teaching personnel pinned their requirements squarely: they needed touchless control, preferably the one available from personal devices to avoid infection, they expected seamless connectivity, and they wanted a simple solution. On top of that, the IT team looked for the technology that would keep the instructors’ devices powered and running for hours throughout their challenging schedules of lecturing, presenting, and running video conferencing.
When Covid waged, the UoS used docking stations for switching. In larger classrooms, beyond projectors and interactive whiteboards, there were voice-lifting devices. Docking stations deployed in about a hundred classrooms caused plenty of headaches to the IT personnel, with frequent freezing, needs for debugging and firmware upgrades, de-powering, and the like. Attending to the challenges of distant and hybrid training would involve multiple additional devices, complicated integration, and unwelcome costs. The IT team of the University set off to search for a solution with a clear vision of the goal and awareness of the task’s complexity.
Before awarding the technology for their classrooms, the IT specialist had examined and run about 30 proof-of-concept tests. They sieved through brand after brand, to choose the one that would respond to the specific needs of the UoS’s educational staff. To the University’s dedicated IT committee that embraced instructors, faculty management, and IT engineers, there were presented two or three shortlisted technologies for evaluation.
Lightware’s TAURUS UCX-4x2-HC30 went far beyond the expectations of the instructors and IT team, richly featuring the power of USB-C technology embedded in one single device.
It was like 10 years ahead of the competitors, very intelligent, very powerful, and not very expensive,” says Mr. Khaleel Ahab Dajani, Sr. AV Officer of the University.
170 units of TAURUS UCX were installed jointly by IT specialists of the University and their contractor in a remarkably short time of just 4 weeks, proving its outstanding ease of deployment.
TAURUS UCX offered the benefits of seamless USB-C and HDMI 2.0 connectivity to switch uncompressed 4K60Hz 4:4:4 signal. It enhanced hybrid classrooms with touchless intuitive control available for instructors with the QR code via authenticated WIFI access on their personal devices. TAURUS UCX enabled the use of classroom peripherals like cameras, microphones, keyboards, and mice. With their laptops connected to this switcher supporting 60W charging, the UoS’s instructors are confident that their devices stay powered whilst presenting or at UC sessions.
With TAURUS UCX supporting remote access, the IT team has dramatically increased its efficiency by monitoring and managing up to 170 units of TAURUS UCX deployed in classrooms across the campus remotely. Identifying technical issues and troubleshooting takes minutes. The engineers can do bulk firmware upgrades and have access to various operation analytics.
From their 1st acquaintance with Lightware’s technology and ever since the IT team of the University has enjoyed the manufacturer’s outstanding support. As Mr. Khaleel Ahab Dajani remarks:
The support is great, in case of any issues the representative of Lightware arrives on site in 5-10 minutes. They are very nice!
The University of Sharjah uses TAURUS UCX in its classrooms and in its outstanding e-courts at the Department of Law. In the e-court rooms, students have hands-on practices in an immersive environment simulating court hearings. TAURUS UCX delivering uncompressed 4K60Hz 4:4:4 with zero latency and featuring USB-C enabled use of peripherals is the central device in the e-court rooms. Here future lawyers nurture their skills through practicing to become successful in their careers and to contribute to the fame of their alma mater.
More information on the multi-award-winning TAURUS UCX universal switcher can be found here.
