[Petwksp] Microscope video signal to LCD monitor

[Apboyle at liverpool.ac.uk]

Melissa
thanks for the reply. I can output to a projector OK, but what I want to do is output to an LCD monitor on a lab bench. I want two of these on each bench, with 4 benches in each lab (2 labs). I'd like each monitor to be able to illustrate thin sections from the same rock or different independent ones depending on the class teaching mode [whole class on the same rock or local group on different things]. 
My classes are typically 60+ students and it is just not economical (or even practical for some interesting rocks) to make enough thin sections for one each when I want them all to look at an example (e.g. 25 sections x 60 students x £15 = £22500 for just one small teaching module). In groups of 4 with an lcd monitor displaying the microscope image they control I can get by with fewer sections, and so can my colleagues. In addition, I am struck by Dexter Perkins Studio Teaching stuff and this is one way I can get at it with the numbers of students I have to teach. They can form work groups around video microscope stations and be set up to solve problems for which I will be able to afford the geological materials side (and possibly need not to buy any more microscopes if our enrolment numbers go up). Talking with such groups is much easier if they all see the same thing simultaneously rather than in turn looking down the same microscope.
I already use a data projector, so that is not the problem. However, while I can use it to talk with a group it is difficult to do so without imposing on other groups who may be dealing with something else. I guess what I need is an LCD monitor with an S-video input or something similar but I haven't found one yet.
Rehgards

Alan
-------------------------------------------------------------
Dr. A.P. Boyle
Earth & Ocean Sciences, 4 Brownlow Street 
University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3GP, U.K. 
Tel: (0151) 794 5154;   FAX:(0151) 794 5196;    Departmental home page: http://www.liv.ac.uk/earth 
"The great tragedy of Science - the slaying of a beautiful hypothesis by an ugly fact." (Huxley, 1825 - 1895)
-------------------------------------------------------------

> -----Original Message-----
> From: petwksp-bounces at serc.carleton.edu [mailto:petwksp-
> bounces at serc.carleton.edu] On Behalf Of Lamb, Melissa A.
> Sent: Friday, October 13, 2006 6:13 PM
> To: Alan Boyle; Teaching Petrology List
> Subject: Re: [Petwksp] Microscope video signal to LCD monitor
> 
> Yes,  we have a Nikon Coolpix digital (35-mm like) camera (5 years old-but
> purchased to go directly onto the scope) that we simply hook up directly
> to
> an LCD projector.  We originally hooked it up to a TV monitor.  We found
> we
> have to use the video cord supplied by Nikon for that camera-we lost it
> temporarily once and no other cord would work.  No computer is involved.
> 
> I hope I've answered your question.
> 
> Lisa Lamb
> University of St. Thomas
> 
> 
> On 10/13/06 8:43 AM, "Alan Boyle" <Apboyle at liverpool.ac.uk> wrote:
> 
> 
> 
> Hi all
> 
> Does anyone have any experience of setting up teaching microscopes so that
> live video of what is being viewed can be fed into an LCD monitor without
> going through a PC? I don't want to be able to capture the images at all,
> just be able to view them in real time with a small teaching group. I just
> want a camera that can go straight into an LCD monitor.
> 
> I am aware of CRT-based systems such as
> http://www.hometrainingtools.com/catalog/microscopes-accessories/digital-
> mic
> roscopes-and-cameras/p_mi-vidcam.html
> <http://www.hometrainingtools.com/catalog/microscopes-accessories/digital-
> mi
> croscopes-and-cameras/p_mi-vidcam.html>
> 
> but haven't found an LCD-based one. I want to go the LCD route for space
> reasons. I also want to do this cheaply as I may need 16 systems.
> 
> Regards
> 
> Alan
> 
> ------------------------------------------------------------
> Dr. A.P. Boyle
> Earth & Ocean Sciences, 4 Brownlow Street,
> University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3GP, U.K.
> Tel/FAX: (0151) 794 5154/5196 Dept home page http://www.liv.ac.uk/earth
> <http://www.liv.ac.uk/earth>
> 
> "The great tragedy of Science - the slaying of a beautiful hypothesis by
> an
> ugly fact." Thomas Huxley (1825-1895)
> ------------------------------------------------------------
> 
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