PTZ (Pan Tilt Zoom) Cameras
- Cassandra Rinker
Like standard classroom webcams, PTZ (Pan Tilt Zoom) cameras are connected via USB to the computer for use with video conferencing and/or recording services (such as Zoom, Mediasite, Teams, Google Hangouts, etc.). Unlike a standard webcam, PTZ cameras are set further away from the instructor (typically mounted to a wall or ceiling) and have robotic controls to provide horizontal (Pan), vertical (Tilt), and focal length (Zoom) adjustments to the lens to allow the instructor to be "seen" by the camera in more locations around the room.
Select the computer for projection in the classroom.
Note: View Begin and End a Technology Classroom for steps to use the computer and projector.From the PC, start your recording or streaming software. Open the software's camera preview window to see where the PTZ camera is aimed.
If the wrong camera is showing (i.e. document camera), you will need to select a different camera in your software's settings.
On the lectern’s touch panel, press the Camera button to access the PTZ controls.
Use the buttons on this touch panel page to control the PTZ camera's pan (horizontal shift), tilt (vertical shift), zoom (focal shift), movement speed, or to activate the presets (one-button to move the camera to one of several pre-programmed positions). Presets are typically set to:
1: Instructor Wide View
2: Instructor Close-Up View
3: Students Front (overall class view)
4 Students Back (overall class view)
0: Turned Away from Viewing
If your PTZ classroom has Additional features listed you can also adjust the following settings:
Integrated Microphones: The classroom microphone systems (Gooseneck, Wireless Mic, etc.) can simultaneously be used as a computer mic for video conferencing or lecture recording.
Extended Focal/Zoom Capability: Initial PTZ cameras for the Prototype rooms had 10x cameras. The standard camera now is 20x, but a 30x is available for the rooms with the longest distance from camera to front of room.
Auto-Tracking: Drives the PTZ camera to follow a presenter around the front of the classroom. This tracking mode is framed based upon Preset 1 (Instructor Wide View) to ensure optimal viewing of the blackboard. The tracking zone is setup across the front of the classroom, like a stage. When Auto-tracking mode is enabled the camera will try to keep all motion in the tracking zone within view until it locks onto a single subject.