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VR-Arena operator manual

For anyone running a session, presentation or demonstration in the VR-Arena.

TODO verify with senior technician

Reconstructed from the equipment documentation rather than an existing written procedure. Confirm the sequence, the source-selection details and the timings before relying on this during a booked session, then remove this banner.

1. Before the session​

  • Open the VR-Arena control panel — vr-panel.citn.liu.se — (also on the VR-arena iPad).
  • Start the space from the Start tab of the control panel — see Starting the session below — early enough for the projectors to warm up.
  • Confirm all three channels are showing image and the blends look correct.
  • Confirm the machine you need is up — Computers.
  • If the session is in stereo, confirm both eye pipelines are running and that stereo sync is locked.
  • Load the content and play the first minute.
  • Check BOSE 5.1 audio: correct source, level, all channels present.
  • Put out active stereo glasses if needed, and check they are charged.

The glasses are active (IR-tracked): the IR tracker turns on when BURN-E 3D is selected in the control interface, which connects to the glasses. Keep the glasses bag closed unless a 3D session is running, so the glasses don't pick up the IR signal needlessly.

2. Starting the session​

The Start tab of the control panel is where you start and stop the whole space — every session starts here:

Start tab of the VR-Arena control panel

What's on it:

  • Start VR-Arena Presentation Mode (green button) — starts the three projectors, the WALL-TV and C-Play. The caption under the button lists exactly what it will do.
  • Shutdown VR-Arena Presentation Mode (red button) — shuts all of that down again; respect projector cooldown before starting up a second time.
  • C-Play toggles — Laptop Input, EVE Secondary Monitor, EVE Primary Monitor and EVE Primary Monitor (Small), each with OFF/ON buttons: they route the C-Play pipeline to the laptop capture and to EVE's monitors.
  • Volume slider with Fade up / Fade down.

The full panel, including the Advanced tab, is documented in Control panel.

Starting up​

  1. Press Start VR-Arena Presentation Mode and let the projectors warm up.

  2. A normal start launches C-Play on EVE. At first it looks like this — the laptop input layer in the middle (showing "VR-ARENAN – Connect USB-C to display content" until a laptop is connected) with background images covering the rest of the display surface:

    C-Play at VR-Arena startup

  3. In the Advanced tab, select the rendering mode — BURN-E 3D, BURN-E 2D or WALL-E 2D (Projector & Cluster Switching). BURN-E 3D turns on the IR tracker and the active glasses, so open the glasses bag only for a 3D session.

  4. Set room lighting for a rear-projected screen — the screen is bright, but ambient light directly on it washes out stereo separation more than it does 2D contrast.

  5. Start the content; it replaces the C-Play startup image.

3. During the session​

RequestWhere
Change volumeControl panel, Volume with Fade buttons
Switch source (e.g. a visiting laptop)Control panel, C-Play — Laptop Input, or the DisplayPort matrix
Switch between 2D and stereoThe playback application — not the projectors
Pause or restart contentThe playback application on WALL-E

A visiting presenter's laptop connects to the Kramer DigiTools video extender at the pilot station (or to the HDMI + charging USB-C hub); see EVE for the pilot-station hardware.

4. If something goes wrong during a session​

SymptomDo this now
One of the three projectors goes blackContinue if possible; note which one. Do not enter G111b mid-session.
All three go black, projectors still onCheck the playback application and source selection first.
Stereo looks doubled or uncomfortableSwitch the session to 2D rather than fighting it live.
Audio dropsCheck mixer/source and mute state.
Everything dark including lightsPower event — do not press PDU buttons. Escalate.
Do not enter the projector room mid-session

G111b is reached through the alarmed server room G112 and needs the C-tech key. Entering during a session is disruptive and risks locking yourself in. Wait until the room is clear.

5. After the session​

  • Stop the content and return the machine to its standby state.
  • Shut the space down with Shutdown VR-Arena Presentation Mode on the Start tab — respect projector cooldown.
  • Collect the stereo glasses and put them back to charge.
  • Restore room lighting.
  • Note anything unusual.
TODO verify with senior technician

Confirm the shutdown order and what should be left running overnight.