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Digital Foreign Language Lab – Turnkey solutions

Reference: LLTI (http://iallt.org/) the Language Lab Director association.

Many language labs across the US have been through the same experience that Berry College Foreign Languages Department is facing: upgrading from an analog lab to a digital one.

The choice is between a “do-it-yourself Digital Language Lab” and a Turnkey solution. Turnkey Digital Lab solution is preferable because the first option requires a bigger set of “staffing/resources/expertise.”

The lesson I learned from other language lab directors is:

• Involve Faculty and Student, the ultimate users, in the decision making. In fact knowing what they want or expect from the Language Lab and their teaching/learning style is very important for choosing one solution over the others. Having this info ready would also help in asking the right questions to the sale reps when they come for their product showcases.
  

• There are three main, most adopted, turn-key digital language lab solutions: Sony, Tandberg, and ASC.
  

• Many Lab directors suggest that: “All things being equal, what it usually boils down to is not the system, but the vendor.  A great system with a vendor who does a poor installation and/or provides poor support really isn't a very good system.  A good vendor can even make up for minor deficiencies in a system.  And when they're trying to sell you a system, they're ALL just WONDERFUL!!”
   

• The cost is very similar and has to be negotiated, it also depends on the sales rep in the area.
  

• Very important is to find out about service in our area. “For that reason, identify who would be the vendor(s) for your area, then find out from those vendors where they've installed stuff.  Then contact those installed locations directly and ask to visit and/or talk to them about what they like/don't like about their installation and their vendor.”
   

• One other feature some people look at is whether the different systems are collaborating with publishers, so that materials would be keyed to particular system features.
  

• The consensus seems to be more in favor of the Tandberg solution, but again it all depends. Sony’s bid at some institutions was lower than the Tandberg one.
  

• Some comments about the three:
  •  “Yes, service from the vendor is a big factor to consider.  However, type of technology turned out to be more important.  We wanted to be able to stream audio and video digital files to the student stations.  Only SONY's system does this.  Tandberg's server delivers files by downloading, which would require huge bandwith.”
  • “You may get from your other contacts a sense that Tandberg would be stronger at this point than Sony for this and other reasons, but I wouldn't count Sony out.  They are continuing to develop as are Tandberg and ASC and they have a very similarly sized installation base.”
  • "We chose ASC because the Esprit was the perfect combination of the best qualities of all the other systems we investigated."
    

Tandberg Educational, Inc.
Orchard Ridge Corporate Park
Building One, Fields Lane
Brewster, NY 10509 USA
Tel: (845) 277-3320
or
(800) 367-1137
Fax: (845) 277-3995
Email: info@tandberg-us.com

Elice - Enhanced Language Instruction Center
http://www.tandberg-us.com/

"Divace is a very powerful language learning tool with two tracks (one for playback of
the master file and the other for student's voice input recording) and lots
of other "language learning" related features (AACC, text synchronisation,
bookmarks, recap etc.)"

"The one advantage Tandberg has is a student interface (Divace) that
purportedly allows students to access materials in many different formats,
including audio and video from the Web. The Sony Soloist only plays .wav
files, so it would be limited to whatever we prepared specifically for use
in the lab. I feel that being able to capture and replay Web materials would
be just a huge step ahead."

Maintenance contract includes two annual visits to go through the entire
lab for routine maintenance

Example: California State University
CSU VLL link   http://www.calstate.edu/csu-vll/

Comments:

“Tandberg also has a good system, and lots of people swear by their products.”
“Tandberg has a large number of installations.”

LANGUAGE LEARNING SYSTEMS & SOFTWARE
Sony Learning Systems and Language Learning Software products offer versatility, expandability, and a broad price range.  Sony's products are well suited to providing support for computer-assisted study programs and traditional instructional classes geared toward strengthening speaking and listening skills.  Sony's Systems integrate easily into most PC networks and deliver superb sound quality.  The modular design enables a combination of products that makes the most sense for your particular learning environment.

Comments:

“I did not like Sony because all the equipment seemed to be Sony and therefore (my thought) proprietary, locking you into Sony.”

“SONY also has a good system.  However, they also offer a software only solution (you can run it on a regular computer lab), independent of special hardware, wiring requirements.”

ASC Direct - http://www.ascdirect-usa.com

6900 San Pedro Ave, Suite 147-315
San Antonio TX  78216

Comments:

"We spent two years investigating all the language learning systems available. We chose ASC because the Esprit was the perfect combination of the best qualities of all the other systems we investigated. We have been extremely satisfied with the Esprit, but key to our excellent choice is the technical and customer support we have received and continue to receive. ASC prides itself on the quality of service they provide, and I can attest that they are amazingly patient, ethical, and efficient--rare in today's world of business. Every staff member I have encountered has been friendly and helpful. I highly recommend ASC and the Esprit, you won’t regret your choice" (Maria Alvarez at Stetson University in Florida).

Can8 - http://www.sounds.com/

CAN 8 VirtuaLab is an interactive, multimedia tool used extensively for the instruction of modern languages, English as a Second Language, as well as learning assistance and workplace training. Specified completely by teachers' requests, CAN-8 smoothly integrates student learning activities with instructor activities of evaluation and lesson creation.

http://www.blueglas.com/products1.htm

It is an all software solution.

BlueGLAS (Global Learning Authoring System) is a multilingual, multimedia, multipurpose authoring system designed to meet the needs of professionals who want to create media-rich interactive learning materials and presentations for local or remote access.

www.artec-electronics.com/products.htm

www.fleetwoodlabs.com/products/