Key points:
- Projection technology is pushing boundaries and changing the game
- Designing the community college of the future
- Harnessing strategic partnerships to modernize higher-ed tech infrastructure
- For more news on campus innovation, visit eCN’s Digital Innovation hub
When we think about the use of projectors in higher education, the first thing that traditionally comes to mind is using them for classroom instruction. Projection technology has evolved, however, and so has the way it is used. Today, we increasingly see colleges and universities leverage the technology for non-classroom uses such as in sports arenas, theaters, campus art exhibits, and even for immersive experiences outdoors.
Projection technology can help create energy and excitement on campus and support campus initiatives.
In my work with higher education institutions across the country, I’ve seen colleges and universities use projection technology in unique ways to educate, engage, and inspire. Here are just a few examples.
The Kennesaw State University Dance Theater in Georgia is using projection technology to transform the theater experience. Instead of traditional backdrops, it uses large venue laser projectors to provide images that create dimension and transform the stage, taking the audience on a journey. The display area on a stage is often much taller or wider than a traditional flat surface 16×9 aspect ratio, so using projectors allows the university to create vivid, seamless visuals that span unconventional surfaces, including side walls and floors, to fully immerse the audience and elevate the production. For instance, projectors can be used to create the illusion that you are looking down a columned castle hallway or at a crackling fireplace. Using an ultra-short-throw lens allows performers to get much closer to the back wall and more effectively use the stage space without casting shadows. Projection technology has helped the university transform the stage into a dynamic space and create visually breathtaking performances.
St. Edward’s University in Texas used projectors in a unique way to support its “campus vibrancy” initiative–an initiative centered on creating an exciting atmosphere on campus that showcased the intersection of art and technology and helped promote community. In one project, projection mapping and a 25,000 lumen1 laser projector were used to project interactive images on a 50-foot section of the concrete exterior of its Munday Library. Images included words, scenes, and even video games that onlookers could control from the ground. Students could attend workshops to learn how to work with programs such as MadMapper, TouchDesigner, and Synesthesi, all of which were used for the project.
In another project, the university wanted to create a unique atmosphere for a lecture about the St. John’s Bible, a hand-written Bible that took 10 years to illustrate and that was being housed at St. Edward’s University for a year. The university worked with local artists to use laser projectors and edge blending techniques to create 360-degree immersive imagery inside of the theatre where the lecture took place. Seamless images depicting the Bible illustrations and stained-glass windows were projected onto every wall and ceiling, giving the illusion that the building was a church.
Baylor University in Texas used projection technology to help modernize its student recruitment experience and take advantage of the beautiful views on campus. It installed laser projectors in the auditorium of its Mark and Paul Hurd Welcome Center. When families arrive to watch the recruitment presentation, the projectors create an enormous floor-to-ceiling image on a screen. When the presentation is over, the screen rises to expose a wall of windows and a stunning view of the campus, giving potential students an experience they won’t forget. It has helped the university create a wow factor that leaves prospective students and their parents impressed–and wanting more.
The Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Museum of Art on the Indiana University campus used 4K projectors with short-throw lenses to turn a non-traditional trapezoidal-shaped space into an ultra-immersive contemporary art space. For the project, the university installed three 4K projectors to create three channels of video–projecting one channel on each wall–to create an immersive experience that would envelop viewers. Working with a local artist, the first exhibition was a multichannel video installation, inspired by the historical Indiana home and studio of painter Theodore Clement (T.C.) Steele and titled “House of the Singing Winds,” which captures the historic Steele home in stunning, high-definition video throughout the seasons. Projection technology allowed the museum to create a unique experience for viewers and provided flexibility for future exhibitions, because the projectors created a huge “canvas” for museum staff to work with, using as many video channels as they wanted.
Taking classroom instruction to the next level
Projection technology also has evolved in the classroom, going far beyond uses as a static display. It is an essential tool to help instructors create opportunities for collaboration and engagement. For example:
James Madison University in Virginia uses projectors to drive engagement and collaboration at its JMU X-Labs, an innovation center that promotes interdisciplinary collaboration. It uses four interactive projectors side-by-side with image blending to create one large image that runs the length of a wall, essentially turning the wall into a massive touchscreen. Using just their fingers, students can draw design plans and diagrams on it, working together in teams on a project. The innovation center has also been used by performing arts students to enhance their performances–for instance, they can use their hands to sweep colors onto the wall as they dance in front of it.
Strategies for success
Some projects need projectors that can be easily moved from space to space. Others require a more permanent installation. Here are some tips to consider:
- Review power requirements. For the size of image displayed, projection technology is remarkably power efficient and will run on standard 120V power. For projectors over 20K lumens typically the installation will need 220-volts, though some projectors can now operate up to 19,000 lumens1 on standard 120V power.
- Protect the equipment. Consider potential exposure to the environment and, if needed, add an enclosure to protect the projector–for example, a protective cage may be required for a sports gym installation. Work with the engineering team to determine how to mount the projector and how to protect it from heat or cold or other environmental damage for outdoor installations
- Plan for maintenance. Consider how the projectors will be accessed for maintenance if needed.
- Make sure the right people/teams are involved in the planning. Work closely with the department that will be using the projector to ensure the technology meets their needs. Consider the ideal mount location for the projector and the associated lens required. Find out if there will be a need to network directly to it. If the project involves projection mapping onto the floor of a gymnasium for a pep rally or halftime show, get the university’s creative team and production team, as well as the integrator, involved to ensure the project is executed smoothly. Have a plan for who will be in charge of running the show and updating the content.
- Install equipment that can be managed from afar. Consider technology that is able to be managed remotely in order to reduce the workload for staff and improve efficiency. For instance, a cloud-based projector management tool for networked projectors allows a university’s tech team to log in from virtually anywhere to manage firmware updates, power projectors on and off and more.
We’re in an era where projection technology is pushing boundaries and changing the game when it comes to the standard use of projection technology. Today, projection technology is going beyond the classroom to help institutions across the country create innovative new experiences designed to engage students and inspire them to be creators.
1 Color brightness (color light output) and white brightness (white light output) will vary depending on usage conditions. Color light output measured in accordance with IDMS 15.4; white light output measured in accordance with ISO 21118.
Ramzi Shakra is Senior Product Manager of Large Venue Projectors for Epson America.
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