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From: Classic_-_Concepts@cup.portal.com
Newsgroups: comp.graphics
Subject: Re: Public plotters in open campus labs?
Message-ID: <26976@cup.portal.com>
Date: 16 Feb 90 03:42:23 GMT
References: <1880@naucse.UUCP>
Distribution: usa
Organization: The Portal System (TM)
Lines: 32

> Does anyone have large (C/D) sized plotter ... student labs?
 
   The university I attended (10,000 students) had a very open policy on
most computer equipment, including two plotters.  They were only B sized,
however.  One was in the main terminal room.  One was in a smaller, but
open-for-access terminal room.  Most students were afraid of them because
they didn't know how to work them.  They were used by about 10% of the
Comp. Sci. students.  There was a sign on each suggesting they get help
if they were unsure of proper operation of the plotter.  Fresh pens were
available on an as-needed basis from student consultants (locked in a 
drawer).  
    I never saw any signs of misuse, abuse, theft concerning these plotters.
They were chained with the usual bicycle cables to their respective tables.
Paper was your own responsibility, although computer paper could be 
scavenged from the terminal room printer (which students also had open access
to).
    The only real problem I saw with the plotters during two years, was
pens drying up or sometimes being replaced out of sequence.  Another sign
specifying proper use and order of pens probably could have reduced the
incidence of this.
    Perhaps we're in a low crime area; perhaps we're lucky.  Even the
graphics terminals were open access; very little at this university was
locked up.  Perhaps BECAUSE stuff was available there were fewer problems,
I don't know.  But I learned more about computers, equipments, graphics
terminals, etc. in 2 months at this university than I did in 6 months at
another larger one where EVERYTHING was locked up and everyone seemed to
be treated with suspicion.
    By having the student consultants do a lot of the 'policing', a lot
of misunderstandings were avoided.  Since they were 'friends' of other
students, I think there was a greater reluctance to steal or damage equip-
ment.  
    Good luck in setting up your plotter lab(s).              - JP