NASA Robotics for Research and Exploration

Web Broadcast Support Information

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Quiz answers will be posted November 11.

Links To The Broadcasts and Archives

Links will become active as they become ready..

Archives will be available within 5 hours after the broadcast..

Date	Title / Link
September 24th, 2002	Elements of Robotics (Archive)
September 26th, 2002	Mini AER Cam (Archive)
October 1st, 2002	Robonaut (Archive)
October 3rd, 2002	Personal Satellite Assistant (PSA)**
October 8th, 2002	Ambient Electricity on Mars (Archive)
October 10th, 2002	Mars Science and Operations (Archive)
October 15th, 2002	Telepresence on the Mars Pathfinder Mission (Archive)
October 17th, 2002	Past and Future NASA Robotic Missions (Archive)

** Due to US Export Control Laws and Regulations, this presentation is not currently available. For information on the Personal Satellite Assistant, please see their website: http://ic.arc.nasa.gov/projects/psa/

Please read the following before proceeding to the broadcast!

This web broadcast is intended to display multiple tools to help you visualize, hear and participate in the broadcast. Since there are so many items that must be loaded it may take a few minutes for everything to come up correctly on your screen if you have a dial-up connection. If you have DSL or Cable you may experience a faster display of the content.

It is recommended that you set your screen resolution to atleast 1024 X 768. The way that the broadcast page is set up requires for you to have extra viewable area on your screen. To do this in Windows, right click on the desktop, go to properties and click on the settings tab. There you will see a metering bar that you can move back and forth to the desired resolution size. Select 1024 X 768 or higher. If you have it set any lower you could experience difficulties in viewing the tools within the page correctly. If you have problems with your settings you may get technical help by utilizing the contact info at the end of this page.

It is also recommended that you update your browser and your media players before proceeding to the broadcasts. Windows users can go to the start menu and initiate a "Windows Update" and that will help in keeping your browser current.

Below is the layout of the screen that you will be entering.

Once you enter the Web Broadcast page, items will start to load. The items and useful tips are below and correspond to the numbered items above.

1. The Audio and Video Window

• This is where you will see and hear the designated speaker for the broadcast. You may also see any video that they intend to show you.
• You will have two choices in how you would like to view the web Broadcast. One will be through Real Player and the other will be with Windows Media Player. Whichever one you have on your system or prefer to use over the other is the best choice. If one fails to load for some reason you can try the other.
• With this layout your browser may not have the proper plug-in to display the content inside the window on the page. If this happens you may click back and click on the link that will open a Player separately from the page, which is labeled "Open the Player".
• Before the broadcast you should test your player of choice or download the latest players if you don't already have one.
• Windows Media Player - Click to go to download page
• Real Player - Click to go to download page

2. The Transcript Window.

• This a new feature that we have made available. It is there for whoever can not hear the broadcast or is having difficulty understanding the speaker.
• This item will start to connect to the provider of this service and a window may open asking if you would like to download the plug-in You may click yes and the plug-in will be installed and will automatically start once the web broadcast has begun.
• This item may not automatically load for Mac users.

3. The Link Window

• This window will have useful links that will pertain to the content of the specified course content.
• Also you will be able to return to this page through the help link within this window

4. The Power Point Window

• This is the window where you will be able to view the Power Point Presentation. It will be in web format so it will be easily displayed and you will not need Power Point on your computer to display the information.
• When the presentation first loads it will show the first slide of the presentation. You should look at this slide and make sure it has the right date on it. You want to be at the event that corresponds to the date.
• If you have a slower connection you might want to go through the slide show prior to the event so that all of the images load to your computer before hand so the slides are easily brought up when the instructor is talking about the current slide.
• You may click through the presentation at your discretion but it is advised to click through it as the instructor tells you to.
• Below the slides is a control bar with three main controls. The first one on the left hand side lets you control the outline display window, expanding and collapsing the topics. The second control in the middle of the bar is the back and forward buttons for the slides. The third control lets you see the presentation full screen. This may be something that instructor tells you to do during the course, but just keep in mind that when clicked it will go to the first slide and not where ever you were in the presentation.
• There is a divider line between the slides and the outline. You may move this divider line to increase the viewable area of the slides if you choose to do so. You can also move the line to view the outline better. It is up to you to decide the best look and feel for the preseantion.

5. The Chat Window

• This is the chat window. This is where you will be able to log in and ask questions regarding the topics of discussion.
• You may use any name you wish as long as the name has not been taken already.
• Please be advised that this chat room is moderated and will not tolerate any abnormal behavior. Please refrain from being disruptive or you will be blocked from being able to participate.
• Due to the expected size of the course and its viewers it is also advised to refrain from talking too much to one another inside the chat room. It is intended to be an avenue to discuss the topics of discussion and ask questions of the instructors.
• Some known issues with the chat room are that Mac users may experience awkward inputs when the mouse is not clicked in the text box every time you wish to speak. It may input something like "<Just sitting here>".
• Please remember to log out when you leave the chat room. Also if something occurs with your machine and the browser is closed you will not be logged out and you will have to log in using a different name than before.
• After the Live Broadcast of the event an archived version will be available. When the archive is up the chat room will be disabled and the log file of the chat will be displayed. An advantage to this is that the answers to the questions will be inserted into the log.
• Also please do not ask technical questions in the chat room or state that certain technical aspects of the broadcast are not working. If you have technical questions please direct them to the technical chat room or call the help line below. You may also email technical questions to the Web Broadcast Technical Email address below.