- What equipment do I need to make mediascapes?
- What software do I need to make mediascapes?
- How big will my mediascape be?
- How do I know my PDA and GPS unit have a signal and are working correctly?
- My GPSunit is not connecting via Bluetooth to the PDA
- My GPS unit is not picking up any satellite signal
- How do I ensure that each GPS unit in the classroom only works with a specific PDA?
What equipment do I need to make mediascapes?
The basic hardware requirements for creating and using mediascapes are:
A desktop PC with enough memory to be able to process and work with image files, and to be able to connect with a PDA unit (using USB/ wireless network/ Bluetooth/ infrared).
The recommended specification is:
Windows PC running Windows XP or 2000 (the system is untested on Windows 98 or Me.); 128mb RAM or above; 500Mhz Processor or above; Macromedia Flash MX or above installed if Flash is to be used as the Graphical User Interface; Pocket PC Dock - ActiveSync 3.7 or above software installed
A handheld computer (PDA) with the facility to attach to a GPS unit (Pocket PC 2003 based portable computer with 32mb RAM, 6mb of free disk space, and with a 400Mhz processor recommended) PDAs are needed for testing, displaying and sharing the mediascapes outdoors.
A GPS device is optional, but useful if you want content to trigger automatically as you walk around outdoors. This should connect to the PDA via Bluetooth, the SDIO slot, the Serial port, the Mobile Bristol sensor bus or via the iPAQ Sleeve. Drivers for the GPS must be installed, if they are required for your device.
What software do I need to make mediascapes?
The minimum requirement is the Mscape Suite (mscape maker), loaded onto the classroom or desktop computers used for creating the mediascapes. You may also need software for creating sounds and pictures.
For more details, go to 'Teachers area - Planning and using - ICT set-up, or 'Downloads - Software'.
On each PDA you will need the mscape player.
How big will my mediascape be?
Your mediascape file size could be anything from 1mb to 100mb. Our example mediascape is 1mb in size, but a large and complex mediascape with lots of sounds and images could be at least 100mb.
How do I know my PDA and GPS unit have a signal?
The PDA and the GPS unit need to be "talking" to each other, so your PDA knows where you are in the landscape, and in the mediascape. This is called establishing a Bluetooth connection (Bluetooth is the way the devices connect without using cables). For details of how to ensure this connection is working, go to the Help section 'PDAs and GPS - Ensuring PDA and GPS have signal.'
My GPS unit is not connecting via Bluetooth to the PDA
There can sometimes be a problem with the Bluetooth connection. If you can't get the Bluetooth connection on the GPS unit to start up successfully (it should start a blue light flashing), follow the steps below:
1. Turn off the GPS unit
2. Close HP Mediascape Client on your PDA
3. Turn off Bluetooth on your PDA
4. Turn on the GPS unit
5. Turn on Bluetooth on your PDA
6. Start HP Mediascape Client
My GPS unit is not picking up any satellite signal
If there is no signal, the satellite signal light will not be on, or the mediascape on the PDA will not show the correct location. There are several things that might remedy this:
1. Remember that if you are inside, or surrounded by trees or tall buildings, the satellite signal may have difficulty reaching the GPS unit. Try moving out into the open.
2. Turn the GPS unit off and leave it off for 30 seconds, and then turn it back on. Wait for two minutes, as the unit can take between 30 seconds and two minutes to pick up a signal from a satellite.
3. Open the HP Mediascape Client software on the PDA (if you have started it already, quit and then re-launch it, clicking 'Cancel' when it prompts you to open a mediascape). Then go to 'Settings'. Now choose 'WGS84' as the 'Datum'.
4. Go to 'Port Settings' and ensure port 6 has 'GPS' selected. The other ports should say 'None'.
5. If the GPS unit has an ST/XT mode switch, ensure it is switched to 'XT' mode, and then restart the GPS unit.
How do I make each GPS unit work with a specific PDA?
Make sure each GPS device is paired with a particular PDA, by doing the following:
1. Open the HP Mediascape Client software on the PDA.
2. Go to 'Port Settings' and set port 6 to 'none'.
3. Press 'OK'.
4. Go back to the Port Settings screen, and set Port 6 back to 'GPS'.
5. Press 'OK'.
6. The 'Select a Bluetooth Device' screen should then appear.
7. Click on 'Always use the Selected Device'.
8. Click on your GPS device.
9. A dialog box will appear. Press 'OK'.