The ISsue
eBulletin for information and technology developments for the University March 2012
‘Are you being served?’ Encourage teaching and research staff to take our survey
The University’s academic librarians have issued a survey to all teaching and research staff about the support and services currently provided. They’re keen to receive as many responses as possible, so please encourage people to complete it.
The survey lets respondents express their thoughts on the University’s academic services and support. The results will enable academic librarians to identify potential areas for improvement and shape future services to meet our needs.
The team needs all answers by the end of next Friday, 30 March. Researchers and teaching staff should visit www.surveygizmo.com/s3/823115/Are-You-Being-Served to take part.
Record television and radio using BoB
The University has recently subscribed to a simple service called BoB (Box of Broadcasts) that allows staff to record programmes from a wide range of television and radio channels. Recorded programmes are then made available for students to replay through a web browser.
To try it out, visit http://bobnational.net/. In the box below ‘Where Are You From?’ type “Nottingham” and, after a few letters, the site will spot what you’re trying to enter. You can press ‘Return’ at this point. Click ‘Go to login’ and enter your normal Nottingham log-in details. When you’re asked about being a new user, say you are. There is no need, however, to add anything to the screen of details that follows.
You’re now in a position to record things off the TV and radio! Before you begin, refer to the terms of use to ensure rights and licensing provisions are observed.
Sustainable Print Service project enters pilot stage
In a recent message communicated across the University, Professor Saul Tendler updated staff on the Sustainable Print Service project as it enters its next stage.
After a thorough tender process last autumn, Xerox has been selected as our preferred bidder to supply the University with a new, full-featured Sustainable Print Service.
We are now working in partnership with Xerox to understand how best to manage the University’s printing, copying, scanning and faxing requirements.
This will create an enhanced, proactive service delivering greater functionality and reliability, better value and more cost-effective performance, and environmentally sustainable benefits.
New features will include:
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a network of new multi-function devices offering copying, printing, scanning and faxing
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all devices monitored continuously to detect problems or issues, and serviced by maintenance engineers based at the University
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‘Follow You’ printing, which lets users log in and print from any networked multi-function printer
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‘Mobile Print’, which lets users print to University printers using mobile devices when on- and off-site to collect later
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improved training and support
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lower energy use and better ‘closed loop’ recycling.
The next stage is to pilot the new service from April to June in diverse locations around the University. This will cover a selection of academic and administrative areas. It will begin with ‘current state mapping’ to review what print provision and level of service currently exists in those areas engaged in the pilot.
Subject to a successful pilot, we will move to deliver the new service across all schools and departments later this year.
Further information about the services to be implemented will be made available to staff as the Sustainable Print Service project progresses.
Some of you are involved in this pilot and we appreciate the support you provided while Xerox carried out current state mapping. New multi-function devices will be installed in pilot area locations around the University in April. We will provide more information and updates during this period.
Changes to PowerMAN
A new version of PowerMAN (Power Management software), the University’s power saving tool, is now being installed across the University. This will provide users with prominent notifications and give more flexible options to defer the PC powering down.
In line with the University’s Environment Strategy, Information Services plans to make a small change that will increase these energy and cost savings whilst providing better flexibility to computer users.
During April the PowerMAN settings will change to allow PowerMAN to send a notification to anyone logged in at 7.30pm, warning them that their computer will go into sleep mode within 30 minutes.
This notification will stay on top of other windows that they may have open, and will remain for 30 minutes.
If the user still wishes to continue working for longer than 30 minutes, they will be able to defer (delay) the sleep time for up to two hours. If, in exceptional circumstances, you need to work late, you can cancel the notification and continue working. Applications that need to run overnight can be registered to override PowerMAN.
Those people who previously registered applications that override PowerMAN can continue to work as before.
PowerMAN was introduced a year ago and has already resulted in cost savings of £100,000 and reduced the University’s carbon footprint significantly, by 600 tonnes of CO2 per year.
For more information see the Wake My PC page on the IS website.