Audio Loop System at University of Essex
All areas at the Colchester and Southend campuses that are covered by Audio Induction Loop Systems have this sign on display:
Rooms at Colchester campus with Induction loop system:
Currently teaching and seminar rooms are:
- Lecture Theatre Block: All rooms except LTB B and foyer. Need to be switched on by booking.
- Ivor Crewe Lecture Hall: Both Auditorium (Aud A and Aud B) except FOyer and Seminar room. Based on an infrared system: user needs to wear a device provided by AVMS.
- Constable Building: CB06, CB07, CB10, CB11, CB12, CB14, CB15, CB19, CB20
- iLab - Constable Building. Always on.
- 1N1.4.1, always on
- 2S2.3.04, always on.
- 2S2.3.20, always on.
- 2S2.5.06, always on.
- 2S2.5.20, always on.
- 2S2.5.26, always on.
- 3.108, always on
- 3.105
- Floor 3 Deathrow: 3.405, 3.406, 3.407, 3.408, 3.409, 3.410, 3.411, 3.412, 3.413 always on.
- 4.513 - CES Lab 5, always on.
- 4S.3.9 - Lab A, always on
- 4SB.5.10, always on.
- 4SB.6.1, always on.
- 4SB.6.3, always on.
- 4SB.6.28, always on.
- 5A.101 - MBA Suite.
- 5N.3.9, always on.
- 5N.3.10, always on.
- 5N.3.11, always on.
- 5S.4.4, always on.
- 5S.4.9, always on.
- 5S.6.31 - SLT Lab, always on
- 6.22, always on
- 6.106, always on
- The Teaching Centre (all rooms) always on - TC1.1, TC1.6, TC1.7, TC1.8, TC1.9, TC1.10, TC1.11, TC1.12, TC1.13, TC1.16, TC1.17, TC2.6, TC2. 7, TC2.8, TC2.9, TC2.10, TC2.12, TC2.13, TC2.14, TC2.15, TC2.16.
In addition, there are many desktop Audio Induction Loops Systems at points throughout the university counter services. Currently these are:
- Accommodation Office
- AVMS Service desk - LTB D
- Computing Service Help Desk - 4SW.5.4
- Computer and Electronic System Reception - 4.514
- Estate and Management Help desk - 6.003
- ISS Training room - 4S.3.3
- Income and Payment Office - Square 2
- Information Centre - Square 3
- Library - Main desk
- Library - Enquire desk
- Lakeside Theatre. Based on an infrared system: user needs to wear a device provided by Lakeside staff.
- Student Support Office Reception - 4N.6.2
- School of Health and Human Sciences Reception - 2S2.4.02
- UK Data Archive Library - 2N2.4.07
- University Main Reception- Square 5
Rooms at Southend campus with Induction loop system:
Currently teaching and seminar rooms are:
- Lecture rooms 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6, and Studio 1 (3rd floor)
- Medical Skills Area (1st floor)
- Meeting room 3 (2nd floor), 4 (3rd floor) and 1 (4th floor)
- Conference rooms 1 and 2 (4th floor)
How to request use of the Loop Systems in the LTB and Ivor Crewe Lecture Hall
Students who are hard of hearing and would like to use the University's Audio Induction Loop Systems for day classes should let the Student Support Office (SSO) know.
The student will need to complete a registration form which when completed the student will need to take to AVMS. Please note that registration does not guarantee that the service will be available.
The Audio Induction Loop Systems in the LTB have been designed to allow the best possible coverage of the building, but it is not possible to use loops simultaneously in some adjoining rooms. Where such a conflict between potential users occurs:
a) the student first registered takes priority
b) AVMS will offer an alternative service, e.g. a taped copy of the lecture to the student who does not have the benefit of the Audio Induction Loop
c) AVMS will inform the Timetabling and Examinations Office, who will investigate whether it is possible to change room bookings to resolve the conflict.
Because it is not possible to have all the Audio Induction Loop Systems on simultaneously, these will only be switched on to meet demand. This means that all Audio Induction Loops Systems will be off by default, so users should register before the service is needed.
The Ivor Crewe Lecture Hall has a different approach and the student will need to wear a portable infrared device. Please contact us for more information.
Organisers of any events in the evening or weekend, must request the required Audio Induction Loop Systems be switched on before the end of the working day, and left on until the next working day.
What Audio Induction Loop Systems are, and how they work
An Audio Induction Loop System transmits sound information directly to standard hearing aids or dedicated receivers. Users should select the T or combined position on their hearing aid and ensure they are within the area of the Audio Induction Loop System. There will be maps by the entrance to each room in the Lecture Theatre Block that show the coverage.
Audio Induction Loop Systems work by radiating a magnetic field which enables a listener to hear sound that has been encoded. Direct transmission helps to improve intelligibility for hearing aid users by reducing reverberation and background noise. The principle of operation is that a current flowing in a wire creates a magnetic field around the wire, which acts as an aerial. This field is then received by a small coil in the listening device and amplified. On some hearing aids, a switch marked M for microphone or T for coil selects the pickup coil; others are different.
The Audio Induction Loop comprises one or more turns of insulated wire (the loop) laid around the listening area with an appropriate amplifier to send the signal through the wire.
The Audio Induction Loop is designed to provide a strong signal (powerful magnetic field) inside the Audio Induction Loop, but inevitably there is a weaker signal (lower magnetic field) outside the Audio Induction Loop. This weaker signal is referred to as overspill, and it may cause problems if other Audio Induction Loops are adjacent.
AVMS and Estates seek specialist advice before implementing installations of Audio Induction Loop Systems, and the systems in the LTB have been developed after a comprehensive survey of the building. The systems are designed for very low horizontal overspill, but there is some vertical overspill. This means that all theatres on the same floor can operate their Audio Induction Loop Systems, but their signals might cause interference in theatres above and below. AVMS operates a control system that prevents Audio Induction Loop Systems in vertically adjacent theatres from operating simultaneously where one Audio Induction Loop System would cause interference to another. It is for this reason that there is a protocol for requesting use of the LTB Audio Induction Loop Systems.
Sometimes, magnetic interference from fluorescent lights, mains wiring, TV receivers or other electrical equipment can cause problems. Please let us know if you experience any difficulties.
Further information
- Ampetronic designed the Audio Induction Loop Systems for the LTB. Some information available from http://www.assistiveaudio.com/
- http://www.assistiveaudio.com/ has information about other assistive listening devices.
