Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences



FX Camera Presets


 

While the control buttons make it easy to move the camera to provide a different view, it does take time to reposition the camera to the exact view you are after. During a videoconference this camera relocation time is distracting and interrupts your interaction with other members of the conference. To minimize this interruption it is possible to store predefined camera positions for easy access. These alternate camera settings can be defined before or during a videoconference.

Using presets is most useful when there are a group of participants at one or more connected sites. With a large group the camera is usually set to show the entire group. In this type of view it is difficult to select the individual speaking because their image is small and it is difficult to see their face. This becomes more of a problem when the local video display is set to discussion mode where all sites are displayed simultaneously. To improve the visual display, the camera should zoom in and focus on the current speaker. When there are going to be multiple speakers that are seated in different locations in a room or at a table, each speaker can have the camera adjusted to display only their location. The camera view can be easily relocated with the simple push of a button.

In addition to automatically pointing the main camera to predefined positions in the meeting room, presets can also be used to easily select alternative sources of video input such as an Elmo, auxiliary camera or a DVD/VCR if they are connected.

A total of 10 (0 - 9) presets can be created and stored on an FX unit. Each number will store:

  1. video source (camera number)

  2. zoom level

  3. tilt value

  4. pan value

Turning the unit power off will not erase the stored preset values. The preset values remain stored until they are deleted or an individual number is reset.

If the far site allows you remote access you can also create and store presets for the remote camera. These setting are stored on your local Polycom unit and are not accessible from the far site.

Store a Preset - Setting and using presets is simple. To store a preset value

  • press the desired near or far camera button
     
  • position the camera view
    (use the arrows keys and zoom button until you get the desired display)
     
  • activate preset selection:
    press the preset button, or
    press the select button in the center of the arrow keys
     
  • enter any number from 0 to 9 using the numeric keypad
     
  • hold the number button down until the preset notification is displayed on the screen.

If needed, select a new view and set another preset number and repeat until all views are stored. Presets can be set at any time the video image is on the screen.

Use the Presets - To retrieve a preset video display simply press the near or far camera button followed by the number associated with the desired view. The near or far camera button only needs to be pressed if changing camera selection. Once the camera is selected you only need to press the number key.

 

Preset 0 is a special setting

Preset 0 can be used like any other preset to automatically position the camera to a predefined location. For this specific preset, if your main camera is located in a fixed position, it is suggested that the main camera be programmed to display an image that you would prefer as the default view when the system is turned on.

Rather than displaying an empty room or just a frontal view (if preset 0 is not set) have it point to and zoomed in on a sign identifying the location. The sign can be on a speaker podium or posted on the wall where it is easily visible.

Consider using a University of Florida - IFAS logo with the unit name posted below. This will provide a place to easily park your camera view when finished with your current videoconference. It would also be helpful for the next videoconference connection to indicate the site location.

 

View Presets - To determine if any specific number is already in use, press the preset button . It will display the digits 0 through 9. If the numbered circle is black, no preset has been programmed. If the numbered circle is colored, a preset has been programmed. In the following example, numbers 0,2,3 and 9 contain a programmed reset. The remaining numbers do not contain a programmed preset.

 

Delete all Presets - All presets stored on the local Polycom unit can be easily removed. The local camera and the far camera presets are stored separately. The removal of one group does not effect the storage of the other group. To delete a preset group:

  • press the desired near or far camera button

  • press the preset or select button

  • press the # button on the numeric keypad

 

 

 

Last updated on September 20, 2007
IFAS videoconference
Table of Content

 

 

From the notebook of Thomas Hintz
the AgriGator