VideoLabs FlexCam iCam Technical Information

200516 ICT IN THE SCIENCE DEPARTMENTCONTENTS of this section:Page Page16.1 Introduction 160116.2 History and development of ICT 160116.3 Managing ICT

ICT in the science department 1610 © CLEAPSS 200516.5.7 ScannersA scanner allows documents and photographs to be stored as computer files. Generallyth

© CLEAPSS 2005 1611 ICT in the Science DepartmentProjectors should have at least the following inputs.• Computer (1 or 2 inputs)• Video (TV picture

ICT in the science department 1612 © CLEAPSS 2005Portable projectorsIf only one or two projectors are available for the whole department, they may nee

© CLEAPSS 2005 1613 ICT in the Science Department16.5.11 CamerasAn electronic camera is a very useful and relatively good-value device to support prac

ICT in the science department 1614 © CLEAPSS 2005Table 16.3 Types of camera (continued)Microscope camera A video camera for general use bu

© CLEAPSS 2005 1615 ICT in the Science Departmentever, plan ahead; future requirements should be compatible with decisions madein the short term.• Fo

ICT in the science department 1616 © CLEAPSS 2005be used at some point. In any case, sound can be added later with a separatemicrophone. This can be s

© CLEAPSS 2005 1617 ICT in the Science DepartmentTable 16.4 Equipment needed for image capture and displayCamera with analogue (video) output

ICT in the science department 1618 © CLEAPSS 2005Some cameras produce quite small images that cannot be enlarged. With somesoftware, it can be difficu

© CLEAPSS 2005 1619 ICT in the Science DepartmentEven if the image can be enlarged (and this is not possible with some software),the information from

ICT in the science department 1602 © CLEAPSS 2005writers to word processors, record books to databases, encyclopaedias to CD-ROMsand the Internet, ove

ICT in the science department 1620 © CLEAPSS 2005An object:A low-resolution digital image of the object:The same image, enlarged:To improve the image,

© CLEAPSS 2005 1621 ICT in the Science Department16.6.4 Video connections and adaptorsThe output of a camera needs to be fed into the input of the dis

ICT in the science department 1622 © CLEAPSS 2005If possible, always purchase adaptors from the manufacturer of the equipment tobe connected. Such ada

© CLEAPSS 2005 1623 ICT in the Science Department16.6.5 FlexcamsFlexcam® is a trade name for a particular brand of video camera made by a companyin th

ICT in the science department 1624 © CLEAPSS 2005Flexcams allow the whole class to see objects and activities on a screen without havingto move from t

© CLEAPSS 2005 1625 ICT in the Science Department16.6.7 Microscope camerasIn addition to flexcams, scientific equipment suppliers list models that are

ICT in the science department 1626 © CLEAPSS 200516.6.8 Video microscopyThis technology allows microscopic images to be observed simultaneously by a w

© CLEAPSS 2005 1627 ICT in the Science Department• Using a microscope is tiring on the eye; an enlarged picture on a screen is easierto see and can b

ICT in the science department 1628 © CLEAPSS 2005Table 16.9 A digital microscope vs a separate microscope + cameraDigital microscope Separate

© CLEAPSS 2005 1629 ICT in the Science Departmentscope eyepiece. Many commercially-available digital cameras for general use haveautofocus facilities

© CLEAPSS 2005 1603 ICT in the Science DepartmentIt has been estimated that less than 20% of the true cost of ICT in business lies in theequipment and

ICT in the science department 1630 © CLEAPSS 2005Analogue vsdigital displayThe size of the display impacts significantly on the amount of detail visib

© CLEAPSS 2005 1631 ICT in the Science DepartmentIf a set of computers is not required by each class too often, it may be best to allocateone lab as t

ICT in the science department 1632 © CLEAPSS 2005Where a base station is located in the same room as the computers, or in a nearbyroom, the radio-freq

© CLEAPSS 2005 1633 ICT in the Science DepartmentMany applications of ICT in support of science will be similar to those in other areas ofthe school a

ICT in the science department 1634 © CLEAPSS 200516.10.1 Dataloggers and their softwareA datalogger is normally a small interface (or box) with socket

© CLEAPSS 2005 1635 ICT in the Science DepartmentSensors with a linear output will usually have switched ranges, any one of whichis likely to be inade

ICT in the science department 1636 © CLEAPSS 2005On/off sensorsThere is another type of sensor, of use in computer control and robotics investigations

© CLEAPSS 2005 1637 ICT in the Science DepartmentBell pushPush switchMiniature tumblerReed switchTilt switch Mercury tilt switchPressure mat switch Le

ICT in the science department 1638 © CLEAPSS 2005Maintained schools are advised, where possible, to contact their education authorityadvisory team. So

© CLEAPSS 2005 1639 ICT in the Science DepartmentSecurity andstorageSome datalogging equipment is more delicate and/or more expensive than others.The

ICT in the science department 1604 © CLEAPSS 200516.4.1 Organisation of the science departmentICT can enable easier management and sharing of informat

ICT in the science department 1640 © CLEAPSS 2005Table 16.13 Uses of dataloggers in chemistryInvestigation MeasurementAcid/alkali titrationsChan

© CLEAPSS 2005 1641 ICT in the Science Department16.11.3 Weather stationsDataloggers and their sensors may be used to measure various quantities assoc

ICT in the science department 1642 © CLEAPSS 200916.12 Safe use of ICT equipmentICT equipment is very safe. All mains-operated equipment should be inc

© CLEAPSS 2005 1643 ICT in the Science Department16.14 ICT: GlossaryA/D converter A-to-D converter: a circuit to convert an analogue signal to a di

ICT in the science department 1644 © CLEAPSS 2005ATA Advanced Technology Attachment. The disk drive interface standard more commonlyknown as IDE.ATAPI

© CLEAPSS 2005 1645 ICT in the Science DepartmentBreakpoint A point that can be set in a computer program where execution is halted when theprogram is

ICT in the science department 1646 © CLEAPSS 2005Clock (System clock). This refers to the computer’s internal clock, the speed of whichdetermines the

© CLEAPSS 2005 1647 ICT in the Science DepartmentData key See Memory card.Datalogging The collection and recording of data over a period of time using

ICT in the science department 1648 © CLEAPSS 2005Duplex Capable of transmitting information in both directions, over a single communicationschannel. A

© CLEAPSS 2005 1649 ICT in the Science DepartmentFOV Field Of View.FPS Frames Per Second. The number of picture frames displayed per second of videofo

© CLEAPSS 2005 1605 ICT in the Science Department16.5 Computers and associated equipment16.5.1 Old equipmentMost science departments have acquired a r

ICT in the science department 1650 © CLEAPSS 2005ICC Profile The International Colour Consortium Profile. The ICC is a group that sets standardguideli

© CLEAPSS 2005 1651 ICT in the Science DepartmentK, kb or kbyteOne kilobyte: approximately one thousand bytes, actually 210 or 1 024 bytes, used as am

ICT in the science department 1652 © CLEAPSS 2005Microprocessor A central processing unit on a single chip.MID The file extension of a MIDI audio file

© CLEAPSS 2005 1653 ICT in the Science DepartmentOperatingsystemThe system software that provides for the direct control and management of thecomputer

ICT in the science department 1654 © CLEAPSS 2005POP Post Office Protocol. A protocol for servers and clients used to process e-mail.Port That part of

© CLEAPSS 2005 1655 ICT in the Science DepartmentRGB Red Green Blue. Referring to displays that produce their image by illuminating red, greenand blue

ICT in the science department 1656 © CLEAPSS 2005Software A term to describe the non-hardware components of a computer - the Operating System,applicat

© CLEAPSS 2005 1657 ICT in the Science DepartmentURL Uniform Resource Locator. An address for a resource on the Internet.USB/USB1,USB2Universal Serial

ICT in the science department 1658 © CLEAPSS 2005WLAN Wireless Local Area Network. A computer network that utilises wireless technology toprovide the

ICT in the science department 1606 © CLEAPSS 2005An integrated approach to ICT is often described as ‘multimedia’. More schools haveadopted this appro

© CLEAPSS 2005 1607 ICT in the Science DepartmentTable 16.1 Computers and their displays (continued)Type of computer ordisplayAdvantages D

ICT in the science department 1608 © CLEAPSS 200516.5.5 Connections to a computerComputers have a range of connector sockets (ports) allowing communic

© CLEAPSS 2005 1609 ICT in the Science DepartmentTable 16.2 Computer connectorsConnector Appearance Plug type CommentsFirewire(IEEE 1394)High