The Challenge

To duplicate the state-of-the-art technology in Ruffner Middle School, but on a reduced budget.

The Solution

AE Systems designed an identical educational environment to Ruffner utilizing the Ranger Media Management System by Rauland-Borg. However, because of budget limitation, the distribution system utilized a broadband system instead of a baseband system.

Teachers in any of the classrooms may schedule any combination of resources from the available VCRs, laserdisc players, still videoplayers / recorders, satellite dish, cable channels, and electronic bulletin board. The material is displayed in the classroom on a permanently mounted TV/monitor while individual resources are selected and controlled from a wireless remote. The system supports all manner of resource control including barcode and computer interface for Level III interactivity.

The entire staff has immediate access to voice and data communication by means of an integrated intercom system with telephones in every classroom and a high-speed data network accessing multiple file servers, CD-ROM stackers, and a network "modem pool" for connection to off-site resources. The network is shared by both MS-DOS and Macintosh workstations.