The National Defense University

Introduction

The National Defense University (NDU) was established by the Department of Defense (DoD) on January 16, 1976, merging the Industrial College of Armed Forces and the National War College. In September, 1981, the Armed Forces Staff College was incorporated into the NDU.

The National Defense University

The NDU prepares selected military and civilian officials to fulfill responsibilities at the national level for national security policy and strategy, force generation and resource management. NDU also performs research and policy analysis for the Secretary of Defense and the Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff and coordinates professional military education for the Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Design

During the design of the system, the client stressed adaptability as the key in the design of the presentation systems used at the National Defense University. With over a dozen training rooms that need to be adapted to the needs of the presenter and the method of presentation, a fixed in place system would not work. A mobile presentation system was needed.

In order to ensure that every presenter had access to the equipment he would need, regardless of the layout of the room, a Mobile Presentation System was designed. General Projection Systems worked with VanSan Corporation to design a custom presentation podium which contained a complete audio/video system.

Each classroom was equipped with a ceiling mounted projector or 35" monitors. The custom presentation lecterns houses a presentation computer which can be connected to the network to display computer graphics, a Crestron remote control panel, an integrated amplifier/mixer and microphone, an overhead document camera system capable of showing various documents, transparencies and x-rays, a video slide scanner, television tuner, VCR and an audio cassette deck.

To use a room for "smart classroom" or "distance learning" applications, the users simply bring one of the multimedia lecterns into the classroom and connect the cart to a wall plate containing a single connector which transfers all of the signals into and out of the system.

A simple configuration determination is entered during startup and the classroom is ready for use. Whether the classroom is large or small and regardless of the capabilities of that classroom, the cart quickly configures itself and is operational within seconds of connectivity.

Success

The customer found the flexibility and adaptability of the training rooms to be a tremendous asset in meeting the needs of the instructors and students they serve. The university is able to use the facilities to train single classes (whether in computer applications or other disciplines) of 20 to 200 students.

Distance learning and classroom video conferencing are handled through connectivity within the building and shared resources that can be routed or delivered to any of the systems.

For more information on military training systems design and integration or other military multimedia communications systems, please fill out our Information Request form or email us at Solutions@genproj.com