USB-C Podium Upgrades

With the increasing adoption of USB-C technology, I upgraded all classroom podiums in the Student Learning Center to support USB-C connectivity. This enhancement enables laptops, tablets, and phones to share content seamlessly through the room system to projectors and TVs, while also providing 65W of charging power—all through a single cable. The project required programming and designing the AMX room control system and touch panel using NetLinx Studio and TPDesign, as well as budgeting and purchasing adaptable hardware to ensure compatibility and functionality.

AMX Netlinx Programming To Remove Biamps

All classrooms in the Student Learning Center underwent a contracted upgrade to modernize their AV systems. The project involved replacing the AMX NI controller, Extron BNC video switcher, DSP mixer, and audio amplifier with a single AMX DVX device capable of managing all classroom operations, along with new wiring throughout. This upgrade eliminated outdated analog BNC connections, replacing them with HDMI and DXLink for improved compatibility and performance.

However, the contractors unnecessarily purchased new Biamp DSPs for the classrooms and reused the old amplifiers, citing these as required for the setup. I consulted with my manager which was over the project and I re-wired the podium audio connections, removed the redundant Biamp DSPs and amplifiers, and optimized the system to fully utilize the built-in audio mixer and amplifier within the AMX DVX. This change required that I review and streamlined over 1,000 lines of code and program an audio class in NetLinx Studio to manage audio operations efficiently. These changes saved space within the podiums, simplified system management, reduced energy consumption, and minimized heat generation.

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AMX Visual Overhaul & Email Button

The old AMX room control touch panels featured a dated wood grain pattern that was visually busy, distracting, and used orange as an accent color instead of the university’s official colors. I redesigned the interface to align with the university’s branding, incorporating its colors and a much cleaner, more intuitive UI/UX. The updated design includes useful information, such as IT contact details and the room number, prominently displayed on the main screen, ensuring all functions are no more than one touch away.

Additionally, I added a new button to the AMX touch panels that allows users to instantly send a text message and email to the IT staff, requesting assistance for the specific classroom. This feature enables professors to continue teaching without interruptions, as they no longer need to stop class to call or locate IT support.

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