Interesting analogy – cars and types of hosted services (SaaS, PaaS, IaaS, other crazy acronyms). You can click on the image for a bigger version.
Posts by Petar Mitrevski
New Smart Classrooms & Renovations – AXT 305, CHT 110, MBH 305 plus Carr 005 and LIB140
Categories: LIS Staff Interest, Middlebury Community Interest, Post for MiddPointsIn June and July (and in time for the Language Schools!), LIS installed new audio/video projection systems in four classrooms that were lacking technology:
- Twilight Hall 305 (AXT 305)
- Chateau 110 (CHT 110)
- McCardell Bicentennial Hall 305 (MBH 305)
- Sunderland 123 (SDL 123)
Thanks to all the hard work from Facilities Services, Sherwin Electric and BTS, we were able to get the equipment installed and operational very quickly. The classrooms are HD-ready and provide both analog and digital computer connections, as well as Blu-ray and DVD/VHS players.
The technology in all the classrooms is virtually the same, with AXT 305 being slightly different. The AXT 305 classroom features a 60″ energy efficient LED TV instead of the more traditional drop-down projection screen. This is our first LED TV classroom, a pilot project to examine the feasibility of using TVs instead of projection screens in smaller classrooms. Using a TV instead of a drop down projection screen saves time and money, while providing a brighter display. Moreover, LED TVs use less electricity than projectors.
In addition to the new smart classrooms above, the technology system in Carr Hall 005 received an upgrade in July, as well. We completed this project in collaboration with UVM and thanks to the efforts of Bob Cluss.
Carr 005 is one of our videoconferencing spaces. It now features a new high definition videoconferencing unit and the ability to share a computer screen or other content during a videoconference. The space can also be used as a regular classroom – the equipment supports computer projection as well as DVD and VHS playback.
Last, but not least, Library 140 received a major renovation – it now has seating capacity for 36 people and features a dual projection system! The new audio/video system features two high definition projectors and provides full digital connectivity, as well as support for older analog formats.
Instructions for using the technology in these space are available here:
Here are some photos from a few of the classrooms (hover your mouse over each photo for a description):
LinkedIn Hacked, Passwords Stolen
Categories: LIS Staff Interest, Middlebury Community Interest, Post for MiddNotes, Post for MiddPointsYesterday, LinkedIn’s official blog confirmed that a portion of their password database has been hacked and account passwords have been stolen. LinkedIn will be disabling the affected accounts and will email account holders further instructions for resetting the password. Visit the link above for more information about this process.
LinkedIn also published a set of recommendations for protecting your account: Updating Your Password on LinkedIn and Other Account Security Best Practices.
This seems like a good time to remind the community about Middlebury College’s Password Policy, which also contains a set of password standards. One of these standards states: i) Users must NEVER use the same password for Middlebury College accounts as for non-Middlebury College access.
Please remember that you can get up-to-date security tips and news from the LIS Information Security page.
Outlook Calendar Best Practices (or How to Avoid Scheduling Mishaps with Outlook)
Categories: LIS Staff Interest, Middlebury Community Interest, Post for MiddPointsTo help resolve issues with scheduling meetings using Outlook, LIS has created a document called Outlook Calendar Best Practices. The document is available on our Helpdesk Documentation website. Please contact the Helpdesk if you have any further questions.
Use Dropbox? Consider middfiles instead
Categories: LIS Staff Interest, Middlebury Community InterestWe advise our community to use Middfiles for all file storage needs. In fact, sensitive information should always be stored on Middfiles.
Dropbox, one of the most popular cloud storage providers, has had several security flaws and breaches over the past year:
- In June, for four hours, anyone could access anyone else’s Dropbox files.
- Three other separate security flaws (or holes) were found this summer.
- Furthermore, FTC found that Dropbox was misrepresenting their security measures and protocols.
- In addition, Dropbox had changed then clarified its Terms of Service within a matter of days.
That’s why we promote Middfiles for “cloud” storage needs. Do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions around Dropbox, cloud storage or security. If you have questions specific to Middfiles, please visit our documentation page.
Blu-ray Playback in Smart Classrooms
Categories: LIS Staff Interest, Middlebury Community Interest
Blu-ray projection (the ability to play Blu-ray discs) is being added to all new projection spaces or as we upgrade existing projection spaces (several each year). Currently, the following spaces can be used to play Blu-ray discs:
- Dana Auditorium
- Axinn 232
- MBH 216, 219, 220
- A viewing station at the Davis Family Library. The station is easy to spot as it sports the Blu-ray logo
We are working on a page that will provide more details around supported projection formats (what kind of media can be projected, and where). We will post an announcement when this page is ready. If you have any questions, please leave a comment here or contact the LIS Helpdesk.
Do Macs get viruses? (or “Just say NO to MACDefender”).
Categories: LIS Staff InterestViruses on Macs? You don’t say!
The Helpdesk is occasionally confronted with this question: Do Macs get viruses? The short answer is yes, they do. Actually, there are quite a few viruses, worms and trojans that target Macs (see the iAntivirus Threat Database). That’s why we offer antivirus software for Macs: http://go.middlebury.edu/sav. Note that Symantec has been included on faculty/staff computers for several years. It’s also offered to all students (though we might not do a good job advertising that).
What’s MACDefender?
Recently, a new malicious software has been targeting Macs (SANS, Symantec, Cornell). The software is (deceptively) named MACDefender. Strictly speaking, MACDefender is not a virus, it is a trojan but for most people there is purely a semantic difference. It should be noted, however, that a computer trojan, much like its historical counterpart, relies on deception and requires our “help” to infiltrate a computer. Computer viruses and worms on the other side don’t depend, as much, on us humans.
How do you know if your computer has been infected with MACDefender?
Well, at this time, if your computer is infected with MACDefender you may see the symptoms outlined on the Intego antivirus page. However, a better approach would be to update your real Mac antivirus (you have one, right?) Here are the instructions for updating Symantec Antivirus for Mac and running a virus scan. Don’t have Symantec for your Mac? Get it now: http://go.middlebury.edu/sav.
macdefender - fake antivirus
New Smart Classrooms in MBH plus a Smartboard
During J-term and February we built three new smart classrooms in McCardell Bicentennial Hall:
- MBH309
- MBH405
- MBH467 More
