Voice Recording in the MLL

Many lab classes include voice recording activities. Students have been recording in the MLL for many years, but there have been a variety of technical issues in delivering this important functionality as well as training issues in implementing it in class. We've been working on the simplest solution possible.

1. The new application we've been using is called Audio Recorder, which has only one function: recording. It's fast, simple, and reliable.

2. We've finally fixed a little issue with the quality of some recordings.* The static interference is gone, but, just in case, we've detailed a way to quickly verify mic input quality (see below).

3. We've created a detailed video primer, which teachers and students should take a few minutes to watch. It's available in the labs and online:

Labs: "Audio Recorder primer" is on the Dock of lab setups.
Online: MLL Tutorials page (under "Applications")

*The USB headset was subject to interference if it was plugged into the port on the back of the Mac Minis closest to where the monitor is plugged in, which has a DVI-to-VGA signal converter.

Streaming A/V on iPhone/iPod Touch

Bringing audio or video into the classroom needn't involve equipment with wheels. If you have an MP3 player, such as an iPod, you can plug it into any audio projection built into the room with a simple audio patch cable and play anything in your audio library, including podcasts. If you have a video iPod, then you can extend that content to include your favorite YouTube, TED, Hulu program from TV or movies, or other iPod-formatted video. If you have a web-enabled iPod (Touch), iPhone, or similar device, then you can extend that content to include streaming video. Here are some ideas.

Streaming audio and video sources for the iPhone and iPod Touch
Lesley Andrews (10/9/08)

Access through Safari

m.npr.org — A lite version of the regular NPR site. The "Listen now" button brings up QuickTime streaming audio.

www.bbc.co.uk/radio/podcasts/ip — Select "By Radio Station" then "World Service."

podcaster.fm (requires free signup) — Select "Providers" for a list of sources, including ABC, NBC, CBS, PBS, CNN, BBC, NPR, APM, BusinessWeek, New York Times, Scientific American, Discovery Channel and National Geographic.


Access through a separate application

YouTube (included in iPhone/iPod Touch software)

FlyCast (free app from iTunes app store) — Select "On-Demand Audio" for a list of sources, including BBC, Bloomberg,  CBS, CNN, New York Times, PBS.

While the same sources of content can be accessed with several different programs or methods, the various applications do not all offer the same selection of podcasts. If you don't find what you're looking for with one program, you may find it with another, and you can choose the most convenient method with content that is available from various sources.


Other resources and information

Finding streaming content for iPhone, iPod touch: There’s a lot available

Setup instructions for accessing BU WiFi with your iPhone

See Lesley for a demonstration of her iPhone.

Hardware requirements

To project audio from an iPod, you'll need speakers and a 3.5mm audio patch cable (at left).

To project video from a video iPod or iPhone, you'll need speakers, a projector, and an Apple Composite AV Cable (at right).

Fraudulent e-mail and scams

Many faculty, staff, and students ask if a particular e-mail message is fraudulent or legitimate, usually prompted by a request for personal information. If fraudulent, this practice of spamming is known as "phishing," where a criminal operation tries to dupe you into disclosing some aspect of your identity that they can exploit.

There are, according to some reports, about 8.5 billion such fraudulent e-mails sent worldwide each month. So it pays to know how to identify friend from foe in this environment. Here are two excellent resources that I highly recommend for anyone who wants to be better equipped to deal with existing threats to financial security and identity information.


SonicWALL Phishing and Spam IQ Quiz

You will see 10 example e-mails. You decide whether each is fraudulent or legitimate. At the end of the quiz, you will see your score and detailed analysis of what in each e-mail should tip you off. You will learn a lot about the business of fraudulent e-mail from this timely quiz.


Identity Theft—The Hazards of Spoofing and Phishing

BU's Personal Computing Support Center page on the topic.


What Was Your First Pet's Name? Lessons Learned About E-Mail Security

Article from Campus Technology online


Snopes

This massive database of urban legends, myths, scams, and hoaxes has been a reliable and entertaining resource for ferreting out truth from rumor for years.