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www.educationbusinessuk.net – THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE FOR EDUCATION
Bett 2014
LAPSAFE PRODUCTS RECEIVE RAVE REVIEWS AT BETT 2014
Damian Branigan, client device development manager at Oxford Brookes University, gave a lively presentation on the Lapsafe stand following the university’s successful Chromebook loan scheme
Oxford Brookes University’s animated presentation on ‘How it successfully implemented a self-service loan system for Chromebooks within its university’ provoked interest from the audience and passers-by on the LapSafe® stand at Bett 2014. Set in the historic student city of Oxfordshire, Oxford Brookes University is one of the UK’s leading modern universities which enjoys an international reputation for teaching excellence and innovation, as well as strong links with business and industry. Spread over three campuses in and around Oxford, the university boasts a brand-new building at its Headington Campus; this is a university that is looking forward and to the future. The university is well-known for its dedication and support of Google Chromebooks. So much so, that it introduced a ‘Chromebook Loan System’ for students to borrow the device for short periods of time. This was initially managed by staff using two LapSafe Mentor™ storage and charging trolleys full of Chromebooks, but it soon became hard to supervise. LapSafe Products has been the market leaders in managing storage and charging solutions for devices in volume for over a decade, and recently designed and manufactured a range of self-service loan charging lockers for laptops, netbooks, tablets and iPads. Bill Sturman, chief information officer at Oxford Brookes, explained: ”We wanted to provide self-service loans of devices to students, so we approached LapSafe Products and they suggested that we pilot their Diplomat™ LMS self-service charging
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lockers product. LapSafe were able to offer us a unique solution for Google Chromebooks, which issues the best charged device [SmartLine™ power management] from multi-bay lockers and is linked to our existing Library Management System [LMS] for loan management. We can also allocate lockers by height to accommodate wheelchair users.” Sturman continued: “Whilst it may be difficult to expand the number of PCs on desks within a limited campus space, it is possible to provide portable devices for use within social and other areas. The Diplomat LMS self-service loan lockers provide 24/7 access to devices in communal areas and enables students to borrow a device anytime, use it anywhere and return it unmediated by staff. The scheme has proved to be extremely popular and we have had great feedback both students and staff.” So with this strong relationship in mind, this year LapSafe invited Damien Branigan from Oxford Brookes to attend the Bett Show and present a talk on its stand about ‘How they successfully implemented a self-service loan system for Chromebooks within their university’. The Bett Show has changed significantly since it first began, and it is no longer just a sales exhibition. Visitors attend to learn something new – with the Show now playing an important part in teacher’s continuous personal development – as well as a chance for them to see the latest technology and innovations. Damien’s presentation was well-received by visitors looking to deploy a similar service within their establishment also using the Diplomat LMS, multi-bay self-service device loan lockers. Some of the audience did
not realise that such a device could work so well with Chromebooks. Following the presentation, many in the audience opted to view the Diplomat LMS for themselves, which was on the stand, and enjoyed a full demonstration from the LapSafe Team. The intelligent electronic functionality of the Diplomat LMS can be integrated with most library management systems. Users identify themselves and must agree to the establishment’s terms and conditions using the 19” integral touchscreen before they are presented with the best charged device and an optional printed receipt. The customer can set timeframes for device loan, control access to devices and monitor overdue returns. Identification methods can be MIFARE™, barcode or magnetic swipe card, or biometrics. The LapSafe unique SmartLine with PowaSave™ charging system ensures that all devices are charged simultaneously in the fastest possible time, and always deploys the best charged device as a priority. PowaSave will detect when all devices are fully charged and will turn off the power supply to save electricity costs. Power will be reinstated automatically when the next laptop needs charging. Available from 12 to an unlimited number of bays (96 per terminal), the Diplomat LMS can be tailored to suit the user’s needs. LapSafe Products have recently enhanced the functionality of the Diplomat LMS. Users have the option to choose to loan a laptop, tablet or a locker for the popular BYOD scheme. Contact LapSafe’s Sales Team to find out about the Diplomat LMS and other LapSafe products. #
FURTHER INFORMATION Tel: 0800 130 3456 www.lapsafe.com