Specifications

Interactive Language Lab

30 Students
(A) General

This language lab will cater for 25 students. This will work on a user supplied 100 mbps LAN
consisting of 26 computers of P4 type with Windows XP (patch2) as operating system.
The system will consist of:
• A teacher’s workstation
• 25 student workstations. This includes both computers and special language lab cassette
recorders. (cassette recorders are optional)
• Interconnection cabling as per site requirement.

All the audio communication is through rugged and light- weight headsets. The headsets consist of
high-quality headphones and a close speaking noise-canceling microphone. The earphone muff is
made of anti-allergic material and easily replaceable.

The system consists of a separate audio network for routing all the audio signals in the lab and a
separate video network for routing live video signals from the teacher to students. The detailed
functionality is as follows.

(B) The Audio network functions: Audio network provides the following functionality:

(1) Intercom: Teacher is able to have intercom with desired student.

(2) All call: In this mode teacher is able to speak to all the students and is able to listen to the
responses of all the students.

(3) Student response: In this mode the teacher is able to listen to the selected student without the
student’s knowledge, with an option to speak to him.

(4) Group discussions: There is a facility to form multiple groups of students either randomly
generated or teacher assigned. The teacher is able to participate or record discussion in any group.

(5) Paired conversations: There is a facility to form multiple pairs of students either randomly
generated or teacher assigned. The teacher is able to participate or record discussion in any pair.

(6) Broadcast audio facility: There is a facility to broadcast an audio program from the teacher for
on line response monitoring of the students or for making copies of the program on student
equipment.

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(7) Program transfer management: There is a facility for the teacher to transfer a selected audio
program to a required group/s or different audio programs to different groups simultaneously or to
import third party audio programs. In addition, there is a facility to transfer any data file through LAN
directly to various groups of students.

(8) Quick lesson: The teacher is able to record a new audio lesson on his hard disk or on a
cassette recorder for immediate use.

(C) The Video network functions

(1) Video broadcast: This provides a facility to play a video program, including a live video, on the
teacher’s workstation and simultaneously show it on all the students’ monitors- real time and jerk
free. In this mode, the students’ keyboard and mouse are inactive.

(2) Substitute teacher’s voice in video programs: It is possible to insert the teacher’s voice in
place of the original program audio.

(3) Multiple use of video network: It is possible to start any other desired application on the
teacher’s computer and show it live to all the students simultaneously while functions like All Call,
Intercom etc. remain active.

(4) Reverse monitoring student’s screen: It is possible for the teacher to monitor or freeze
desired student’s screen. The teacher is also be able to listen to the student without his knowledge
or speak to him. Teacher is able to stop the keyboard and mouse functions of the student.

(D) Student Equipment functions

(1) General: Besides computer and a tape recorder, every student’s workstation contains active
circuitry
to deal with following audio sources -
1. The student’s own voice
2. The teacher’s voice
3. Any audio program from the teacher’s workstation
4. Sound from the student’s computer’s sound card
5. Voice of other students

All these sounds are available in student’s headphone. There is a volume control for the student’s
headphone.

(2) Audio recording facilities for the student:

(i) Software audio recorder: A software recorder for sound recording is provided with two
independent audio tracks. There are two text tracks for co-relating the text with sound. It is possible
to assign a desired script on these text tracks.
There is a ‘play within loop’ facility.

(ii) Cassette recorder: This is a cassette tape recorder with 2 half-track format. One track is
reserved for the teacher and the other for student. The teacher’s track can be recorded from the
teacher’s workstation. It is possible for the student to record his voice while listening to the teacher’s
track without erasing the teacher track.

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(3) ‘Call’ switch: A ‘Call’ switch is included in the students’ equipment for him to attract teacher’s
attention and register his request.

(4) Messaging: There is a facility to send text messages-

From teacher to desired student/s
Student to teacher and
Student to student. (The teacher can block this facility).

(5) Comprehension exercises: There is a facility for reading fluency and listening comprehension
exercises through an ‘audiovisual text editor’ called WordSound.

(6) Expression imitation: There is a facility for imitating facial expressions through a suitable
multitasked media recorder/player called ‘Expressions’.

(E) Objective tests by Question bank and test creation

This provides a facility to:
i. Create/edit question bank /banks with model answers including audiovisual support for
question or explanation.
ii. Set a question paper/s- by selecting questions from the question bank/banks.
iii. Let a student solve a question paper and display assessment results based on model
answers.

Creating a question bank: The question bank is divided into ‘question types’ to classify the
questions. Objective question types are required like-
• Select one out of two;
• Select a unique choice from supplied options;
• ‘Fill in the blanks’ from provided options;
• Give the unique answer;
• Arrange ‘proper order’ or sequence from supplied options:
• Arrange pairs etc.
Facility is provided to link ‘audio’ or video file as a part of question or model answer.

Creating a question paper: It is possible to enter questions to the question paper, set a ‘time limit’
for answering the questions, put question numbers.

Solving a question paper: It is possible for the student to enter answers and then ‘SUBMIT’ for
assessment. Then his answers are compared to model answers and his score of correct answers is
displayed.