Technology Information for Presenters

Description of Conference Facilities

The conference sessions will take place in two buildings: the University of Minnesota's McNamara Alumni Center and the adjacent Radisson Hotel.

Technology Support at Conference for Presenters

Providing technology support for 80 sessions with multiple participants at each presentation is a challenge. Apple Computer has graciously donated a number of computers to the conference. In order to simplfiy the set up and take down of equipment, the conference committee has decided to standardize on the following presentation configurations. Each room will be equipped with:

• an Apple iBook running the latest versions of the following software: Microsoft Office Suite including Powerpoint, Netscape, and Internet Explorer. 
• USB Zip Disk drives will be installed on the iBooks that run both MacIntosh and Windows formatted disks. The iBook CD-ROM drives can also read PowerPoint presentations prepared on either Mac or Wintel platforms. These computers do NOT have standard floppy drives.
• a data-video projector
• an overheard projector
• a microphone (in Gateway, Radisson's smaller rooms do not require amplification)
• High speed internet access will be available in all session rooms in the McNamara Alumni Center
• As of this date, we can only provide dial-up access to the Internet in the two Radission Hotel session rooms
• Please note, if your session is being held in the McNamara Alumni Center Memorial Hall, this is a very unique, open space. It is definitely not a typical break-out room. We are still working on the configuration of this room for the conference, but there is a good chance that you will be speaking from a stage. 

The conference committee recommends that you bring your entire presentation to the conference on a Zip disk. If you plan to try use the Internet during your presentation, we strongly recommend that you download sites to a zip disk or CD-ROM as a back-up for your presentation. 

Apple Computer has generously donated the use of 10 iBooks and 6 iMacs for the conference. They are also providing the Zip drives. The extra iBooks and iMacs will be set up in a conference internet/email center in McNamara Alumni Center - Gold Room. There will be two iBook Practice stations in the Maroon Room that presenters can use to test the equipment set-up, download additional files to a Zip disk etc. 

A tech team volunteer will be available to help you in or near your session room. In order to speed up Powerpoint and Internet presentations, we recommend that you arrive at your session room early and load the files on to the iBook hard drive, make bookmarks for your web files, cache web pages etc.

If you have questions about the technology set-up or have special software, hardware, or equipment needs or concerns, please contact Pat Benson, Volunteer Technology Coordinator, at bens0310@umn.edu Please put IR2 - Presenter Tech Question in the subject line of your question. 

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The following rooms and facilities will be used in the McNamara Alumni Center - University of Minnesota Gateway facility.

Memorial Hall - Conference Registration Desk, Keynotes, concurrent sessions
A.I. Johnson - concurrent sessions
Ski-U-Mah Room - concurrent sessions
Gold Room - Conference Internet/Email Center sponsored by Apple Computer
Maroon Room - Exhibits/Book Sales

McNamara Alumni Center Building map         Meeting Rooms and Features

Radisson Hotel Metrodome

The Radisson Hotel is a block away from the McNamara Alumni Center. Concurrent sessions will be held in two meeting rooms, Nolte and Rotary, on the second floor. There is a tunnel between the two buildings.