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original configuration of the ADP Electronic Classroom at
the Rutgers Business School had numerous groundbreaking
features. Its 7 (yes, seven) integrated networks
gave the instructor full control of the 31 computers in
the room. He/she was able to turn students' stations on
or off, at will, without leaving the podium. This is
essential, in a classroom. The computer can be a deadly
distraction during a lecture if it is not needed. Later,
for hands-on practice, student computers could be
switched on. For only a brief interlude of attentiveness,
he/she could just freeze everyone's keyboard, without a
full power down. The system permitted full
image-switching. The instructor's (or any student's)
screen could be sent to anyone or it could be broadcast
to everyone in the room. The transmission was real-time
with zero delay. One of the 7 networks (the only
commercial one) provided file service and Internet
connectivity. The remaining six, were custom-built. They
worked together to transform those independent personal
computers into a unified group teaching system.
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Controlling a fleet of
computers by means of an armada of networks would create
nightmarish logistical problems for the teacher, right?
In fact, operations were astoundingly simple in this pre-Windows
environment -- thanks to a touch screen controller that
displayed a graphical map of the room (foreground, in
photo). All the instructor had to do was point to the
student stations to be controlled and a dedicated
computer would do the rest. Another innovation was the
dual monitor arrangement at every station. In a
classroom, a student must look at a lot of things: the teacher,
the board, her notebook…
And we now have a computer and, most
likely, a projection screen somewhere on
the wall, to present the contents of the instructor's
computer screen. The more widely these competing focal
points are dispersed, the tougher the demands on the
student. By putting a public monitor (instead of a
projection screen) right next to the student's (private)
screen, we enabled students to work on their computer and
see the very similar instructor's screen with little eye
movement.
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The desks, too, were
custom-built after we experimented with the ergonomics of
a prototype that featured a sunken well for the
monitorsin order to provide students with unobstruted
view of the instructor. The floors were constructed for
amphitheatrical effect and allowed for the exceptionally
simple rewiring of the networks in order to accommodate
the ever changing technology. The
ingenious design and construction of the unique
electronics of the Rutgers-ADP room, including the six
specialized networks, the touch-screen controller, and
all attendant systems programming was the work of
electronics engineer Constantin Papayanopoulos.
This and earlier prototypes (1984-87) of the fully
integrated, multi computer classroom were conceived and
implemented by Professor Lee Papayanopoulos
at Columbia, IBM, and other instructional centers while
he served as Director of Information Technology at the
Columbia Business School. In all instances, expert
technical support was provided by Raju Shah.
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