22 - New York University



Center for Advanced Technology at New York University

Facilities, Equipment, & Other Resources

The 12th floor of 715-719 Broadway, which houses the Center for Advanced Technology, as well as the Computer Science Department's Media Research Lab, is a state-of-the-art technology development center. It is a fully reconfigurable space that allows for relatively quick setup and breakdown of camera, projection, computer, and sound systems. In addition to an IBM SP2 supercomputer (with 8 nodes, 4 processors each), the lab runs more than 100 computer workstations including 11 Macintosh computers, 79 Intel-based PCs, 10 Sun systems, and 10 SGI systems. Two laptop computers (IBM ThinkPad, Sony Vaio) are also available for faculty and staff use. In addition, a number of handheld devices are used on the floor including Compaq Ipaqs (5) – which enjoy a wireless connection to the network via 2 wireless access points, Aero’s (3), HP Jornadas (2), Palm Pilots, and a Casio Cassiopeia.

Input devices include a Cyberware 1.5 3D scanner, a Canon slide scanner, flatbed scanner, and two haptic feedback devices.

For output services, the lab has 5 laser printers, 3 color ink-jet printers, a Kodak dye-sublimation printer, and 2 CD recording systems.

Video Lab

All of the Center's audio and video production is done in-house. An Avid Express station, a Final Cut Pro workstation, and Adobe After Effects are used for editing near broadcast-quality digital video, as well as combining high-quality computer graphics and special effects with video. This system is based on a PowerMac 9500 with over 100 Megabytes of RAM and an 11-gigabyte Raid Array. In-house resources also include a Pioneer DVR 5201 DVD writer, Panasonic DVCPro deck, Sony BetacamSP deck, 2 VHS recorders, Panasonic DVC recorder deck (Firewire enabled), and a Terrapin audio/video CD burner. Our Black Box immersive space utilizes a projection rack holding a VHS player/recorder, DVD player, Laserdisc player, Toshiba projector, Marantz tuner, Alessis RA-100 amplifier and Mackie sound mixer.

Additionally, we have a Canon XL1 professional digital video camera a Sony digital handycam, 1 Hi-8 video camera, Sony monitor, Mackie vlz1202 Mixer, Advent powered speakers and patch bay. A professional lighting kit is available for photo shoots as well as well as a chroma screen for compositing background or scene effects.

Sound Lab

This digital lab is based on a Macintosh G4 with the Digidesign ProTools 4 suite of editing hardware. Software includes Waves TDM Plugins for advance signal processing and a full spectrum of software plugins for sound processing. The computer system is supplemented by: a Kurtzweil 2000 sampler, a Tascam DAT recorder, a Symetrix voice processor, a Yamaha SPX 1000 effects processor, a Tascam 122 MK2 cassette deck, a Mark of the Unicorn MIDI time piece, a Mackie LM-3204 Mixer, an Alesis RA100 amplifier, Genelec 1030 powered speakers, a voice-over isolation booth, and an assortment of professional quality microphones, keyboards, effects processors, and sound modules.

Network

The 12th floor has a switched Ethernet network routing the TCP/IP and AppleTalk protocols. This is currently bridged to NYU's FDDI backbone, which connects to the Internet with a T3 (44.74 Mbit/sec) connection. The NYU connection to Internet2 has been designed and implemented. The CAT has received and installed a switch which allows access to it.

The lab's main web server is a Sun Ultra2 Enterprise. A DLT 8000 Jukebox system is responsible for Unix backups and a DLT4000 treats Mac and PC backups. Our network is a diverse one – a broad range of hardware running various operating systems, each with unique architectures. Establishing and maintaining communication across such different systems is the responsibility of the System Administrator.

Presentation Facilities

The main conference room, has an Macintosh G3 and a Gateway Pentium computer connected to a Boxlight high-intensity projector and a sound system. The larger conference room is being furnished with a ceiling mounted, remote controlled communications camera that allows for remote panning, zooming, and focusing. A fully functional and mobile streaming setup is available for broadcasting events to the Internet. A smaller conference room is outfitted with a ceiling mounted projector, an IBM Netvista, web cam, and Mimio whiteboard device for teleconferencing.

2 combination overhead projectors/digital cameras are available for remote presentations as well.

Black Box

The Black Box is an experimental immersive presentation and R&D space which is fully transmutable in its environment control – sound, projection surfaces, and lighting. Essentially a glass walled cube lined with heavy, black, sound and light absorbent curtains and a raised black floor, the Black Box serves as a mini theater to develop and show research.

Hardware Resources

From its roots in Robotics and Manufacturing Research, the Center boasts an engineering lab space for design and prototyping of hardware and systems. Traditional and advanced CNC machine tooling plus experienced design engineering personnel provide capabilities that enable rapid, "in-house" prototyping of animatronics, vision systems, VR devices and other hardware.

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