Okayama University

Using Cynap systems for high performance multimedia streaming & recording

Okayama University is one of Japan’s leading national universities, with a history stretching back over 140 years. Its eleven faculties currently have 10,000 undergraduate, and 3,000 graduate students. The university is committed to advancing education and research by providing a positive environment for the creation of knowledge, and in passing it on to the next generations.

Effective deployment of the latest technology plays a key part in achieving these goals. In order to optimize information sharing in its classrooms, the university has installed WolfVision Cynap presentation and collaboration systems, where in addition to the professor’s presentation material, students use WolfVision’s vSolution Cast software for Windows to mirror content from their PC screens onto the main display.

WolfVision Cynap: simultaneous multimedia streaming and recording to 127 computers at Okayama University, Japan.

Cynap sends a simultaneous multicast stream of all on-screen multimedia content to the student desktop PCs in the room. Cynap units are already installed in a number of classrooms, each containing up to 127 PCs, with plans in place for installation of further units throughout the entire university. Currently using wired LAN cable connections to all existing room PCs, Cynap also delivers a flexible wireless BYOD classroom environment (AirPlay and Miracast supported) for student’s own smartphones, tablets, and laptops. Students can therefore also connect wirelessly to Cynap, and share media stored on their own personal devices with the group. Okayama University plans to gradually reduce the total number of installed PCs in rooms from around 1000 to just 300, in line with the expected increase in use of wireless personal devices in the classrooms.

WolfVision Cynap: simultaneous multimedia streaming and recording to 70 computers at Okayama University, Japan.

Cynap makes it really easy for lecturers and students to record the most important parts of lessons, and with no post-production editing necessary, video is available to the students for use straight away. I am convinced that Cynap, with its recording, streaming, and BYOD capability, is going to make an important contribution to the academic development of our students.

Mr Takashi Hieda Professor and Deputy Director of the Center for Information Technology and Management - Okayama University

With WolfVision’s vSolution Capture software installed on each computer, each student in the room is able to receive and record the multicast stream from Cynap, capturing presented material from both professor and students, directly on to their PC. Students can even personalize their own copy of the recorded stream by adding notes and annotations in real-time. Students will also be able to make recordings to their own personal devices.

This continuous flow of information, and the seamless sharing of virtually any type of content material is already making a significant positive impact on the quality of collaborative learning at Okayama University.