4.+Installation

=Installation=

Before You Install - "Plan, Plan, Plan"
This is definitely the most important piece of information in this wiki. Many of these items must be fixed to walls and celings in order for wires and equipment to be out of the way of students. Spend a week or longer reviewing the space you use in the classroom. Keep a journal of where in your classroom you spend most of the time and how that relates to the equipment you will be installing.

Important things to consider are:
 * 1) **Sunlight.** Make sure that you are cognizant of where the sunlight is entering the room and how that would impact the projector screen. There is nothing worse than trying to watch a video when the sun is on the screen. You may need to consider blinds in most cases.
 * 2) **Distances.** The position of the projector, speakers or any other device that needs to be connected to the computer must be factored into the installation costs. For example, the further away the projector is from the computer, the more cable you will require. Also, many times the cable will need to use better materials in order to insulate the signal for quality purposes. You will also have to look at fire codes in your area to see whether you may need to protect cables if you plan to run cables through ceilings, walls or floors.
 * 3) **Wireless**. Consider purchasing wireless projectors and speakers so that you are not restricted in where to place these items. Although the initial price tag
 * 4) **Connectors.** When selecting components for your smart room, make sure to check how they connect to the computer: USB, RCA, Stereo, Firewire, Serial, etc. It can be a headache trying to find adapters that will connect everything properly.
 * 5) **Electrical.** Every device requires energy. Many schools do not have adequate outlets for the number of devices that we find in classrooms today. However, careful planning to update or expand electrical systems by certified electricians is a definite requirement. It is common to see electrical outlets in classrooms bursting with power strips with 5-8 devices plugged in when these outlets were meant for two items to plugged at one time. This is definitely a safety risk and requires you to plan carefully. Don't forget that if you mount a projector, remember to include an outlet in the ceiling next to the mounting frame. This will prevent you from purchasing the longest extension cord your local hardware store carries!

Planning for these items will ensure that you have positive experience installing your smart room.

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