This document summarizes the experiences of using the OpenEyA lecture capture system at the University of Parma to record lectures and events. It discusses the pros and cons of the system, including that it has low costs, is easy to use, and portable, but also has issues with audio quality, organization, and usability. It provides examples of lectures and events recorded with OpenEyA. Overall, while the system has benefits, there are also technical challenges that would need to be addressed for widespread adoption. Continued use of the system depends on addressing these issues and gaining more user feedback.

1. Experiences with openEyA
Lecture Capture System
(Pros and Cons)
Scientific m-Learning Workshop
UniPR Co-Lab
Cross-department Research Center
for Educational and Digital Publishing Support

3. Can OpenEyA system be a proper system
to capture lectures and other events
(at the University of Parma)?
Which are pros, cons, and critical issues?
Is it worth going on using that system?
Why?
Is it just a matter of SOFTWARE?

4. 2 levels
methodology
technology

5. inspiring models
knowledge involves participation
Wenger, 2008
idea of "augmenting human intellect"
and extend human capabilities with prosthesis
Engelbart, 1962
when minds interact, new ideas emerge
Licklider & Taylor, 1968

6. 2008
Alternative system to videocamera
The guideline:
little cost - in terms of:
• investment
• support
• little work effort for the lecturers

7. OpenEyA: necessary hardware
www.openeya.org

8. Hd webcam
OpenEyA: necessary hardware
www.openeya.org

9. USB switch
Hd webcam
OpenEyA: necessary hardware
www.openeya.org

10. USB switch microphone
Hd webcam
OpenEyA: necessary hardware
www.openeya.org

11. USB switch microphone Webcam
Hd webcam
OpenEyA: necessary hardware
www.openeya.org

12. USB switch microphone Webcam
Hd webcam
Laptop
OpenEyA: necessary hardware
www.openeya.org

13. Output
8

14. Video
(webcam)
Output
8

15. Output
8

16. Hi-Res
image
Output
8

17. zoom on
image
Hi-Res
image
Output
8

18. Experimentation timeline
http://bit.ly/Lsgshy

19. Previous problems... and found
• how do I know that microphone works?
--> audio setup and test
• fast change in camera market: different models and
features
--> HD webcam support for photo (slide) recording
• teachers would like to use with slides directly on
computer
--> 2 recording modes, computer screen capture
available
• room variable light conditions
--> webcam photo setup (Exposure, Focus, digital
zoom, brightness)

20. Previous problems... and found
• necessity of setup each time
-> now possible to save setup file - photo setup
configuration
• not easy to understand what happened in case
of problems
--> log file saved together with other files in the
zip package
• no perception of the good working of the
recording...
-->high resolution images real time preview
(partly solved, images)

21. Audio test
SAVE and LOAD CONFIGURATIONS
RECORDING INFORMATION (into a text and XML file):
patch from UniPR for automatic processing,
patch from UniPR to set recording from command line
computer screen capture available
webcam HD support for photos
Shows Slides during recordings
Allows zoom in the Preview Photo
activate webcam photo settings +
configuration save

22. Who needs
recorded lectures?

23. Pots????

24. Pots????

25. Pots???? or Potters?

26. Methodology and
approach
change in
point of view
and methods
etnographic research
field study

27. Active learning practical activities
interactive tutorials
seminars
Data collection
interviews
participants observation
working together
conversation, confrontation

28. Student team 2012
Faculty of Humanities
Communication Science Course
Irene Vezzani
Teresa Martino
Danio Rossi
Sami Jaber
Darika Fuochi
Francesca Fati

29. PROS? LET’S ASK THEM
open one
operator is easy to
source
enough use
low cost
not
intrusive
portable, no post-
flexible processing is
needed!
small
files! zooming
option!

30. Critical / crucial issues
• portability Vs usability
•audio quality
•organization

31. Portability Vs Usability
• most of critical issues concern LOGISTIC
• system repositioning every time:
supervision, setup speed, USB cable lenght,
furniture, light
• HD webcam positioning and setup (exposure, zoom)
• blackboard and screen visibility (distance, zoom)
• microphone positioning: projector fan noise, heating fan
noise, people talking during lecture, footsteps noise

32. Audio Quality
• people: possible noise (whispers, talking,
walking around)
• OpenEyA connected microphone quality
• room amplification and room microphone
• students test to demount and remount FLV
streams: open source software, video
quality loss, sync loss... time needed!

33. Organization
• coordinating with the lecturer
- to make separated recordings
- to know how he's lecturing
(black or whiteboard, slides, no slides at all)
• if you have one kit:
file processing and saving immediately:
often there is no time left

34. CONS (OpenEyA)
• Ubuntu releases and OpenEyA relevant Update:
re-install rather than updating it
• no perception of the good working (audio, video)
• no editing to cut video and slides at the beginning and at
the end

35. CONS (OpenEyA)
structure of the packet:
➡separated files and streams
➡not possible to transform it easily in a podcast
➡subtitling is difficult
➡not a single file for upload on different video channels

36. slow scanning forwards/backwards
through the lecture on the timebar
audio setup is not so
clear to understand
and setup
mixer settings and software
gain levels: tests but still not
clear which are the best
settings

37. Today’s problems
openEyA v5.4.0 for Ubuntu 11.10
• HD webcam stops recording with errors
[0m[31mError setting pixel format.
[0m[31mVIDIOC_S_FMT: Input/output error
[0mstop recording
• editing features: bugs

38. What did we
record?

39. Since September 2011
29th April 2012: 42 videos
28,5% of videos available on
YOU.unipr.it video server (147)
27 videos recorded
with OpenEyA system
colab.cce.unipr.it

40. 3 student seminars for working students
(Faculty of Engineering) April and May 2012
http://bit.ly/LsHghv

41. HD webcam positioning

42. Joint UniPR UniMO course presentation 16th May, 2012
HD webcam resolution

43. UniPR Co-Lab presentation Conference
projector fan noise

44. City Council in Sala Baganza
(26th April, 30th May, 2012)
http://bit.ly/MkrGp4

45. but also...
• DILL International Digital Libraries
Learning Master lectures
• Open Conferences about
Information Science
• Seminars about Digital Humanities
(Digital Publishing course, extra
curricula)
• AIB courses for librarians
➡http://bit.ly/M9Wd9J

46. Further features?
#4openEyA
#ICTP mLearning

47. REQUESTS? LET’S ASK THEM
video recordings start and
channels joining? end cutting
upload
interactivity?
(note taking,
chapters)
podcast? Multiplatform?
(Windows?
Mac?)
audio
view on mobile
check
devices?

48. • software perception: “complicated” (Linux)
• necessary to have somebody there? (portable solution)
• future of archiving solutions at the University? not clear
• SDU are not software developers you can contact for
support - first UniPR experimentation stop
• ALREADY DISCUSSED: cultural obstacles, teacher role,
spent time rewarding
CONS (environment)

49. CONCLUSION
Will we keep on using it? why?
• COST ASK STUDENTS...
• INVOLVEMENT:
➡ opportunity to give our feedback and help
➡ UniPR Co-Lab: engineering student thesis?
➡ as educational method to gain practice and competences
➡ Collaboration students/teachers.
➡ New Perspectives in students/teachers relationship besides the
exams
• CHALLENGING:
future opportunities for research

50. Unipr Co-Lab
contacts and channels
➡ E-mail: colab@unipr.it
➡ Twitter: @CoLab_UniPR - hashtag:
#colabunipr
➡ Facebook page: www.facebook.com/
colabunipr
➡ UniPr Co-Lab on You.unipr.it video
channel:
http://bit.ly/M9Wd9J
➡ YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/

51. Thanks for Yr. attention!
Questions?
Sara Valla
E-mail: sara.valla@unipr.it
Twitter: thuridilla
Skype: saraunipr

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