Emergency Screen
Area students at University of South Florida and University of Tampa are staying "in the know" with eDean(SM), the schools' new information and alert system. These 40" LCD displays placed in high traffic areas throughout campus display important information, such as: news, weather, academic calendars, performing arts schedules, social calendars, sports schedules, and special event times and locations. In an emergency, eDean can display information and provide critical direction.
Last month, the president signed into law a bill that supports measures to improve safety at institutions of higher learning, including that of communication systems. eDean, or Electronic Dispatch for Emergency and Academic Notices, is a visual communication tool providing school information and alerts 24/7 in such areas as the library, bookstore, academic and dining areas. School officials manage and update school information and alerts through a web portal.
eDean is provided to the universities at no cost. Community businesses support the system with their sponsorship and receive a business message on the displays in return. Current sponsors include OAI, WingStop, Dillard's, Washington Mutual, USF Federal Credit Union, USF Bookstore, ACF, and local philanthropist, Mrs. Jean Emplit. In addition, companies can support a local charity by running messages for the charity on the system in exchange for their sponsorship dollars. Current charities on eDean include The Children's Home and the First Tee of Tampa Bay.
eDean was used this past summer when a man with a rifle on USF's main campus caused the University to activate an emergency message on the system. For 30 minutes, students and faculty were alerted on the new LCD display that there was the possibility of danger and to avoid the area outside Cooper Hall and surrounding buildings. The emergency was cancelled when it was determined that the "man carrying a rifle" was an ROTC student carrying a practice rifle. The system carrying the alert was immediately updated to let students know that no danger existed.
A Tampa company, Electronic Digital Media, launched the service this summer. Other schools are in the process of installing displays, including Manatee Community College, Saint Leo University, Florida Tech and the University of Houston.
ABOUT eDEAN:
eDean is a visual communications tool for colleges and universities that uses LCD displays to provide students, faculty, staff, parents and visitors with campus news and events, weather and emergency alerts. Supported through sponsorship messaging, eDean is a no-cost solution for colleges and universities to integrate their student communications and reduce paper waste. Using a web portal, eDean allows school officials to update campus news and send out emergency notifications within seconds. Created by Electronic Digital Media, a Florida-based company, eDean is currently in use at University of South Florida and the University of Tampa. Installation is pending at Saint Leo University, Manatee Community College, and Florida Tech. For more information on eDean, call (813) 888-8796 or visit www.edean.tv
Photo:
http://www.prlog.org/
