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news
New Media Center
gets face lift
By Jeff Dusing
On-line Forty-Niner
At a time when
it is a constant struggle to keep up with the latest technology,
the North Campus Center at Cal State Long Beach is making
one giant leap for students as it launches the all-new New
Media Center today.
"We took everything
out and we're starting from scratch," said Walter Gajewski,
director of the New Media Center.
The near $120,000
redesign of the center features all new state-of-the-art equipment
available to all students, faculty and staff.
"We are configuring
these computers particularly with graphics in mind,"
Gajewski said. "We are going to have all the latest versions
of the most popular graphics software packages."
Although it may
seem the center is geared mostly for graphic design majors,
students and faculty from all areas of study have used the
center for projects in the past. Kinesiology, anthropology
and nursing majors are just some of the students that have
recently completed projects using the center's computers,
Gajewski said.
The refurbishment
of the New Media Center began with purchases of a mix of 20
Dell Pentium III computers with 933 Megahertz hard drives
and the new Apple G4 with DVD, CD-R and CD-RW creation abilities.
Installed in the
center is a wide range of new software and hardware to accompany
the new computers, only part of which is the latest video
editing software for PC and Apple including the program used
for "Star Wars: Episode 1".
One of the center's
proudest achievements is the recent extensive use of digital
videotape over its predecessor VHS. Students who are still
working with VHS can use one of the two video-dubbing stations
where VHS can be transferred to digital. From there they can
add subtitles, add transitions and remove or add footage.
Once the editing is complete, students can then copy their
material back over to VHS if necessary.
The new capabilities
of the center will also benefit faculty.
"The faculty
would be able to use this technology to improve their teaching
techniques," said Mark Gilmore, operating systems analyst.
"I don't think we've seen the best that we will see of
the use of video."
Besides the extensive
video equipment available, the center has many other features
to offer. Several new, higher resolution scanners have been
installed. These scanners are capable of scanning photo slides
into the computers in addition to the normal scanning functions.
All of this can be done at a much faster speed as they are
all linked with high-speed cables to increase scanning time.
The printing department
now has an Epson super high-resolution printer, which can
use a wide range of papers and inks.
"If you use
this archival matte paper with the archival ink, Epson guarantees
the colors will not shift for 200 years," Gajewski said.
"It's designed specifically for museum work or for student's
portfolios, things where you cannot afford to have your colors
shift on you."
A special introductory
price of $2 per print will attract many art majors, Gajewski
said, especially with the center providing choices of different
papers.
Coming in July,
a private room for faculty to use without the presence of
students will be added. Faculty may want to use this room
for such things as the creation of final exams, where students
should not be around, Gajewski said.
The presentation
area where movies or computer screens can be projected on
the large main screen should be of special interest to faculty
members. This area will be made available to faculty for such
things as student or vendor presentations.
The New Media Center
is expanding its staff in order to accommodate an increase
in usage of all the new equipment and features.
Business major
Alyssa Claper has taken a staff job in the center where she
will be working behind the help desk. While Claper admits
she is not yet familiar with all the programs available, she
said her knowledge is increasing rapidly.
The official reopening
of the New Media Center is today at noon. Apple Digital Media
Development Executive Vin Capone will be on hand to demonstrate
the new computers. Also, one of the professors from the art
department will talk about the new color printing capabilities.
Event cosponsor Apple Computers will provide refreshments.
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