How To Control Secondary Screens using Matrix Mode

This guide will walk you through using Matrix Mode and other tools to duplicate content and control DTN's secondary screens. Matrix Mode is accessed through an admin interface and is only accessible to DTN staff. Please ask for technical assistance to set up the following schemes.

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There are a total of 10 screens in DTN. The main seven arranged in an arc in the front are directly accessible to Hydra (the main DTN computer) and can be controlled from Windows. The other three screens (Front TV [8], Back Left and Back Right TVs) are part of OIT Smart Classroom setup and can be used for video conferences. We have direct control over them through the Extron touch control Admin panel and the AV switch (aka The matrix). There is also a Microsoft Surface Studio on the podium in the back left corner which can be used to remotely control Hydra.

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In order to display additional content or a remote video-conference participant through 3rd party software on the additional three screens, follow these steps:

1. Launch your video conferencing software of choice or content you would like to display on screens 8, 9 or 10.
2. Move it to screen 7
3. With the window in focus, press CTRL + Space to activate the Always on Top script.
   1. This way, our speaker won’t get covered by any content launched across all seven screens later
4. Using the Admin panel, duplicate the screen 7 input to output on screens 8, 9 or 10 based on the speaker’s need and preference
5. Now duplicate screen 1 onto screen 7 to hide the speaker from the main screens.
   1. Since we encourage having content on screens 1 and 7 to be identical, we can “sacrifice” screen 7 to hide the content on it and only have it be visible on screens 8, 9 or 10

Visually, this scheme looks like this:

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Scheme for using MS Surface Studio to remotely control Hydra and hiding the controller’s actions.

Using a similar duplication scheme as above, we can hide Hydra’s desktop and only have it be visible on the Surface Studio. This way, we can remotely control what is displayed on the main seven screens (such as pre-configured set of content and desktops) without the audience seeing what goes on behind the scenes.

1. Launch TeamViewer and establish a connection between Hydra and Scribbles.
2. Duplicate screen 7 onto screen 1
   1. Screen 1 is Hydra’s primary screen as defined in Windows. Most controls, such as switching betweens windows via Alt+ Tab, are displayed on this screen.
   2. We are keeping with the idea of having screens 1 and 7 be identical. In this scenario, we need to make sure that if the presenter has content for all seven screens, it exists on screen 7 and can be duplicated onto screen 1 which in this case is sacrificed

Visually, this scheme looks like this:

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