A survey of more than 1,000 students showed that students want hybrid lecture models even after the pandemic. Students would like to enjoy the advantages of a face-to-face university, but at the same time be able to attend lectures from home or with their parents. In addition, students follow up on lectures attended in person, for which a recording offers great added value.
But not all content is the same. For university didactics, it is of fundamental importance that the professor is presented as a full image, so that her emotions, facial expressions and body language can be recognized. Studies show that this significantly increases the learning success of students. No one follows an hour-long presentation of slides if the professor cannot be seen at all or only as a small section at the edge of the screen.
Everything must be made as easy as possible for the lecturer, otherwise the system will not be used. Teaching the professor’s face, manually selecting preset zones when changing the location, or complicated controls via the media control system are not accepted. Automated tracking must be able to be started and stopped by pressing ONE button.
The TrackingMaster is used to automatically track lecturers in lectures. For this purpose, a PTZ camera is automatically moved based on data from external sensors to keep the lecturer constantly in the picture.
The reliable position detection of the TrackingMaster is based on the use of 2D laser scanners. By mounting the sensors in the board area, the camera movement is not influenced by students in the auditorium, large projections behind the lecturer and a variety of other interferences. It also enables detection of people looking at the blackboard or not looking directly at the PTZ camera.
The TrackingMaster software evaluates the data in real time and filters out the positions relevant for camera tracking. The tracking PC can be operated in a separate room due to the network connection. Based on the recognized positions, the tracking PTZ camera is controlled.
The exact behavior of the system can be coordinated in consultation with the users. Among other things, the behavior of the camera can be determined in the event that no lecturer is present in the detection area.
We would be happy to show you how the innovative TrackingMaster works in our showroom.
The TrackingMaster detects speakers with innovative lidar laser sensors. We use state-of-the-art Docker technology, which enables feature and security updates.
The system can be started via a media control with one click, with a code the recording can be assigned to a lecture in OpenCast just as quickly.
The setup via the frontend and also the setting of parameters and tracking zones is intuitively configurable.
The TrackingMaster system consists of the software including the computer unit and laser sensors. This is then supplemented by the system integrators with a PTZ camera, camera and sensor mount.
Tim Kutter
Head of Sales