Monthly Archives: August 2018

Summer Implementations

Two Step Login

The Two Step Login process uses two forms of authentication to verify your identity, which is essential to strengthen our information security efforts.

Staff started enrolling in Two Step through Duo on August 13. After September 17, all staff will be required to complete the Two Step Login to access University systems.

Faculty and students will start enrolling in September. More information to come.

We welcome the opportunity to answer questions or help you enroll your account on Wednesday, September 12 from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. in ELH 235 (The Kane Forum). Register to let us know you plan on attending.

New Scranton Mobile App

Thanks to the Scranton app, you can keep in touch with The University of Scranton wherever you go. You can check out news and events to find out what’s happening, keep tabs on sports news and scores, and check your course schedule and grades.

The latest version includes new features such as dining menus, laundry view, rec facilities hours, and more!

Available on the Apple App Store and Android App on Google Play.

 

Royal IT Support

Royal IT Support successfully launched in July. All inquiries, requests and issues relating to campus technologies are being managed through this new system.

Access Royal IT Support.

Summer Computer Updates

Classrooms & Teaching Spaces

This year we have refreshed the switching and control technologies in the following rooms: LSC 114, 116, 118, 123, 125, 126, 127, 141, 212, 226, 325 and 326. Throughout 2018 and 2019, we will work to upgrade more classrooms in LSC.

As a reminder, our classroom database contains details and instructions for each of the mediated spaces. A link for the classroom database can be found on the www.scranton.edu/techsupport website. The classroom database is only accessible while on campus. Faculty can obtain assistance for any of our mediated facilities by contacting the Technology Support Center at 570-941-HELP.

Office computers

Over the summer months, the Microsoft Windows operating system and many third party applications (Firefox, Flash, Java, Adobe, etc.) received security patches through KBOX or Microsoft update.
If you have not used your computer over the summer, these updates will automatically begin to download to your system when you turn it on. As the critical patches are installed, machines may experience a temporary decline in performance.
IT advises faculty to take this into consideration and allow time for the updates to take place.

Lab/Classroom computers

Many device updates were completed in computer labs:
– KSOM (14 new PC’s, 70 zero clients)
– Library (1 Mac, 1 PC, 105 zero clients)
– Communications (6 new Macs)
– Chemistry (4 new PC’s)
– Psychology (2 new PC’s)
– Physics (4 new PC’s)

Mojave

The latest MacOS, Mojave, is coming this Fall. This is the last MacOS release that will support 32-bit applications. If you are running 32-bit applications, now is a good time to start looking for alternatives. If you aren’t sure, we can help.

Two Step Q&A Sessions for Staff

Staff are currently in the Two Step optional enrollment period, which will end on September 17. After this date Two Step will be required for access to University resources.

We welcome the opportunity to answer questions and help you enroll your devices during the following sessions:
– Tuesday, August 21 from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. in ELH 235 (The Kane Forum)
– Wednesday, September 12 from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. in ELH 235 (The Kane Forum)

Register at https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=msTtqPFBaUyXaKf218O4w9eeFYMqquhGr8RxXbDwAPBUQTkwV1VDNUxONko0SkhXMkM5UlVNSVpCUi4u

Visit http://www.scranton.edu/information-technology/services/two-step-login.shtml for more information.

IT Staff Spotlight: Robert Kennedy
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Robert Kennedy has been employed at the University for over 15 years. He is Media and Control Systems Engineer in Academic and Media Services.

The following is an excerpt of the August edition of AV Technology, entitled, Bringing AI Into Classroom AV Design.

Long before NBC’s The Office made Scranton a lovable character, the historic city in Pennsylvania’s northeast corner has been an important voice in the nation’s narrative. With roots as an anthracite coal king, the city continues to lead the Commonwealth with innovative programs in the arts, culture, science, and healthcare.

The University of Scranton is one of the city’s educational leaders that honors its prestigious legacy while keeping an eye to the future, and collaborative technologies help set the institution apart. As the media and control system engineer of The University of Scranton, Robert Kennedy, CTS designs the touchpanels of the school’s control systems and supports audiovisual technology in nearly 200 classrooms. He also works on AV system implementation, collaborating with outside integrators when necessary. Kennedy has also found a unique way to meld his passion for emerging technologies with his deep expertise in audiovisual engineering. That method is artificial intelligence (AI), specifically an Alexa Classroom Control skill that he wrote for use with Extron Pro series processors and touchpanels. The Alexa Classroom Control skill and the Extron Global Scripter Alexa Module are still in beta, but the timing of this project couldn’t be better. AI and cognitive technologies are poised to shape the future of classroom and enterprise-grade AV.

Read more…