NSS-Vote Integration
23 October 2008, 07:03 by Chad Reynoldson
I just completed another NSS-Vote implementation. That must be my 10th install over my AMX career. I wanted to share some of my observations about this often mis-understood AMX Integration!Solution called i!-Vote.
Software
NSS-Vote is a voting software solution comprised of Netlinx modules, a Windows application called i!-VotingManager, and web pages to view results.
Hardware
NSS-Vote supports 2 voting admin consoles, 21 voting stations, a public speaking station, and a voting display to show results.
The voting admin consoles are typically touch panels used by the clerk and mayor. AMX provides G3 (640×480) and G4 (800×600, 1024×768, 1280×768) touch panel files. I’d like to point out that a G4 800×480 panel file is not provided, so beware of using any of the 5”, 7”, or 10” Modero touch panels as admin consoles. You’ll find yourself doing a lot of gui work!
The voting admin consoles are used to administer the voting system, things like load bodies, load agendas, start/stop votes, and manage Request To Speak (RTS). The voting admin consoles also have the ability to vote, so you wouldn’t need a separate voting station at these locations.
The voting stations are typically 8-button keypads. AMX also provides G3 (320×240, 640×480) and G4 (800×480, 800×600, 1024×768, 1280×768) touch panel files.
These voting stations allow you to vote (yes, no, abstain), show present, and request to speak. The graphical voting stations also allow you to see the topic being voted on, as well as identify the person’s name at that location.
The public speaking station is used at a podium to allow the public to speak. The voting admin console has control over this location, with the ability to turn it on/off and set timers to only allow speaking for a certain amount of time.
The voting display display is used to show voting results to the public over an in-room video system, such as plasmas on the wall. AMX provides G3 (1024×768) and G4 (1024×768) touch panel files to be used with an AXB-TPI/3, NXP-TPI/4, or TPI-PRO.
The Voting display is controlled by the voting admin consoles with a “Display Results” button.
Integration
NSS-Vote requires two entry points for integration between the application and the A/V system. Those two points are for voting display and request to speak.
NSS-Vote is meant to do some common A/V switching to display voting results. This is a pretty simple modification under a channel event. Typically you’ll switch the voting display to the plasmas. With that being said, it is a good idea to put the voting display as an input to an RGB switcher.
NSS-Vote also implements request to speak (RTS) control with many features (automatic, operator, open, and disabled). These are all controlled from the voting admin consoles. You’ll need to use an audio system that allows control of microphone inputs to be turned on and off. Again, this is a pretty simply modification under a channel event.
The RTS integration is often not implemented as defined in NSS-Vote. I’m not sure if this is because it isn’t understood, or that they don’t want to use it as defined. I generally see it implemented with simple mic on/off buttons at each location (generally placed on the voting station panels). I also see it in a manual mode from the voting admin consoles with a map-driven approach.
NSS-Vote is meant to communicate with an administer. So it is important that this netlinx system be placed on a network where remote PCs can connect to the system via i!-VotingManager and the web pages. I often see the netlinx systems placed on an independent LAN, which takes away from it’s power.
The public speaking station is often not implemented as defined in NSS-Vote. Again, I’m not sure if this is because it isn’t understood, or that they don’t want to use it as defined. I generally see this as a way for the user to control laptop/document camera source selection as well as document camera control (zoom, focus). With this, I generally see a button on the voting admin that enables/disables these features at the podium.
Drop me a note if you’d like some help implementing this AMX Integration!Solution. It can be painful to the un-informed.
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