Technology Tidbits

Tuesday, October 21, 2014

By Sarah Bearbower, IIT


IIT and the copy center had a busy summer. Items of which you should be aware:


New copy center devices and departmental multi-function device (MFD) installs: Your department has or should be receiving training on the use of these new devices through EO Johnson. The devices allow us to offer a number of new services including hold-queue printing, follow-me printing, and mobile device printing. For the initial phase we replaced your device with an MFD, which offers the same functionality. You’ll no longer need to remember or receive a code to copy or scan on the MFD. Instead, you can either scan your Viterbo ID or log in using your email username and password. Watch for more new services over the next year. If you have questions about use of these devices, contact the copy center at ext. 3055.


Office 365: Office 365 rollout numbers have increased. We currently have 90 employees/departments and 36 students accounts migrated over to the new service. This fall, we will determine the correct course of action for mass migration to Office 365. Office 365 offers students and employees the following features:


  • Email and Calendars: Cloud-based email and calendars powered by Microsoft Exchange Online using your @viterbo.edu account, 50 GB storage per user

  • Web Conferencing: Rich online meetings with audio and video, desktop sharing, and virtual whiteboard. Excellent for distance learning using Microsoft Lync.

  • Office Web Apps: Create and edit Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote documents using your favorite Web browser.

  • Access to Storage: Using OneDrive Pro you’ll have cloud storage for up to one TB of documents. You can also share documents with other Viterbo Office 365 users for collaboration.

Additionally, this year we are able to offer a Student Use option for the Office Productivity Suite (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook) to current/active students at no additional cost to them. Students should have received an email from the IIT Help Desk with details.


To learn more about Office 365 and its functions, visit Viterbo’s Help Desk FAQ and search for Office 365.


Ensemble Video Streaming Service: The streaming video transition has been finalized. Refrain from using the old stream.viterbo.edu links as this system will be decommissioned this semester. Request a new embed code and directions on how to link to videos from Moodle from Deb Siebenaler, media services, at ext. 3162 or by email. When requesting your code, include the name of the video and whether your use is face-to-face or online.


Ensemble has the capability to allow instructors to upload captured original video for sharing in a course as well as a student video “dropbox” feature. Uploading recorded presentations or personally-recorded instructional video to Ensemble for sharing is encouraged. Click for more information, or contact Cari Mathwig Ramseier. 


Cable TV – Going Digital: Charter Communications has switched Viterbo to the digital cable signal. This federal mandate was required to be completed by July. In most cases, if your TV was purchased in 2007 or later it should work by connecting the cable, changing your source to Cable, and scanning for channels (AutoSearch). If your TV is older than 2007, it may not work with the new digital service and you will have to either purchase a Qam Tuner or a newer TV.