Case Western Reserve University selects Barco for the first ever Technology Enhanced Classroom (TEC) Initiative

Atlanta, GA – Barco is pleased to announce that Case Western Reserve University (Case), one of the nation's leading independent research universities, has selected Barco to provide state-of-the-art projection solutions as part of the university’s innovative Technology Enhanced Classroom (TEC) initiative. Case has purchased over 25 of Barco’s IQ Pro G300 projectors during the past 12 months, with plans to purchase more than 90 units total.

The goal of the Technology Enhanced Classroom (TEC) Initiative is to equip the Case classrooms and lecture halls with a foundation of multimedia technology, enabling the use of state-of-the-art tools to enhance classroom-based learning. The TEC Initiative is part of the Information Technology Service's Strategic Framework, in which instructors and students, are given access to information resources that are available beyond the four walls of the traditional classroom.

Michael Kubit, Manager of MediaVision and Classroom Technology, Information Technology Services, Case Western Reserve University, stated, “Barco has always been an industry leader in computer graphics projection. Our philosophy to invest in top quality products has always proven to be a sound decision. We consider the total cost of ownership, not simply the lumen output and initial purchase price. We are very pleased with the opportunities this partnership will provide.”

Barco’s iQ Pro Series offer several unique and innovative features, making it the ideal solution for Case and the educational market in general. The projector’s high-brightness makes it an excellent choice for auditoriums and large classrooms. The projector also offers advanced networking features, which enable professors throughout the university to save their presentation on the university network (LAN) and retrieve their presentation in any auditorium, straight from the iQ Pro projector. The instructor can also make an instant wireless link to the projector over the wireless network using a wireless laptop. This is extremely useful for instructors conducting several presentations a day in different auditoriums. The iQ Pro also has the added convenience of immediate help from the Help Desk, should technical questions arise.

Mike Kubit continued, “Our goal is to provide the best support possible for the university's instructional environment. The ability to network the IQ Pro projectors will enable us to provide front-line support from a single location. Rather than always having to dispatch a technician to a location across campus, our support desk will be able to communicate directly with the projector to determine the source of the problem. We also like the fact that the projectors will notify our support staff via e-mail when the need for lamp and filter changes arise. This way, we find potential problems before our faculty does.”

Next to image quality and purchase price, Total Cost-of-Ownership was a crucial deciding factor in Case’s decision to purchase Barco projectors. Barco’s iQ pro projector, equipped with long-life consumables and remote diagnostics tools, reduces the total cost of ownership to an absolute minimum. The iQ Pro is designed with an intelligent dual-lamp system, which means lamp redundancy is integrated into the projector design and there is no need to investment in a back-up unit. In addition, central maintenance and support and remote monitoring reduce maintenance costs. The engineered design allows for easy maintenance access without having to remove the projector from its mount. Remove the bottom cover and you have complete access to serviceable components which ultimately reduces your total cost of ownership. The iQ Pro can also easily be integrated with the other communication tools at the university.

About Barco
Barco, an international company headquartered in Kortrijk, Belgium, is active in three key areas of imaging technology. Barco designs and develops solutions for large screen visualization, display solutions for life-critical applications, and systems for visual inspection. Barco has a network of subsidiaries, distributors and agents in almost 100 countries. Barco is quoted on Euronext Brussels and is a BEL 20 and a Next 150 company.