Video Wall

Reservations

The Video Wall is located on the Library's upper floor and can be reserved by using the CfA Room Reservation system on Google Calendar.  Members of the CfA community can use the Library's Video Wall for presentations and data visualization. 

Accounts

To request a user account on either of the computers (Windows 10 or Linux) connected to the video wall, please use this request form. An account is not required to use the video wall for presentations during Library open hours.

A group of students sits at a table near a video display that takes up the full wall. On the display three graphs are shown. The instructor is standing nearby.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are my options for presenting with the video wall?

Presenters can choose to present using either:

The connected Windows 10 PC
Presentations can be loaded onto the PC from the internet or from a USB thumb drive. Windows PowerPoint is installed on the PC. This is the preferred way to take advantage of the full resolution of the Video Wall (5,760 x 3,024 pixels).

Their own device through HDMI connection and a 'frame grabber' software
While it is convenient to present from a laptop, resolution will be limited to the resolution of the laptop screen so may appear 'pixelated.' A USB-C adapter for newer Mac laptops is available from the Library. A long HDMI cable that reaches to the far end of the table is also available upon request.
 

How do I use the HDMI cable to present from a laptop?

1. Click the icon in the Windows Taskbar.

frame grabber icon

2. Drag the ‘No Signal’ window with the bar at the top over to the video wall screen by dragging it to the left. If there is no bar at the top of the window, right-click inside the window, and uncheck ‘No Border.’

Uncheck No Border

3. Right-click inside the window and choose Full Screen.

Full Screen

4. Attach your laptop with the HDMI Cable or HDMI Cable + Adapter. Wait 5-10 seconds! It can take a few seconds to complete the connection. Don’t immediately unplug if it doesn’t work immediately.

What accessories are available?

  • Wireless keyboard
  • Wireless mouse
  • Long HDMI Cable
  • Logitech Brio Webcam
  • Meeting Owl Pro Smart Conference Camera/Mic
  • USB-C to HDMI Mac Adapter
  • USB-C to HDMI Generic Adapter

The wireless mouse and keyboard are not working?

A switch on top of the video wall rack

Press this button on top of the video wall rack. This switches the control of the wireless devices between the Windows PC and the Linux Server. If either device is still not working after pressing this button, please inform library staff. They may need fresh batteries.