Recap of New Services

This has been an exciting week for technology related services at Emporia State University! We've unveiled multiple new services that many of you can take advantage of. Find more information about each of the services below and how you can request more information.

Microsoft Bookings

Microsoft Bookings allows your customers (students, employees, public/guests) to schedule a time with you using a simple, mobile-friendly website.  You define the services, times, and the staff members you will assign with a plethora of different options to choose from.  Bookings will also give users the opportunity to have a unified location for scheduling campus appointments–addressing important usability feedback we receive from students. 

If you would like to meet with us to discuss how Bookings might work for you, please visit our own Bookings site to schedule an appointment. 

You can also learn more by watching our how-to video, IT Only Takes a Minute, Episode 23: Microsoft Bookings, and by reviewing our Bookings section of the Web + Digital Guide in Hornet 365.

Hornet TV+

Hornet TV+ is the latest update that will be coming to digital signage across campus this Fall. This update will host a variety of feature updates. Some of these feature updates include...

1. Motion Posters
2. Campus Channel
3. GO Links
4. Hornet Calendar
5. Showcasing Events

Learn more about all the amazing features we're introducing to Hornet TV+ in our video web series IT Only Takes a Minute!

Ready to get started? Welcome to Hornet TV+

Power Search

One of the challenges we encounter across all of the sites that make up the ESU web presence is that they are not all connected. This is due to a number of reasons--most of which are out of our control. It can often leave you looking for content on one site, when, in fact, it's located on another site. We are taking a step forward by introducing a new feature called Power Search!

This new search engine, using Google technology, will only index sites that we control--giving users one place to search all of ESU's web presence. When you need to search for something, give Power Search a try by browsing to search.emporia.edu

Learn more by checking out our IT Only Takes a Minute video all about Power Search!

Virtual Events

We currently run two different types of virtual events; personal events (less than 30 attendees) and public events (more than 30 attendees + pre-registration + live streaming). We are also exploring a third type of event, hybrid events. If you are unsure about what event may be right for you, we offer an opportunity to meet virtually and discuss the right format for your event.

To learn more about this exciting new format and how you can create your own event head over to the Web + Digital Guide, located in Hornet 365. You can also watch our IT Only Takes a Minute video all about Virtual Events!

IT Only Takes a Minute Returns

IT Only Takes A Minute is Back

IT Only Takes A Minute is back and we're better than ever. IT Only Takes A Minute is your update on all things related to ESU IT. The latest episode focuses on the guidelines for HornetTV, cyber security awareness, and the success of Hornet365.

You're probably more aware of HornetTV than you know. HornetTV's are located all across campus; from HPER to Plumb Hall, from the Science Hall to the Sauder Alumni Center. There's even HornetTVs in the Newman Medical Center. Hornet TV is the digital pulse of Emporia State University, displaying a 24/7 live stream of the latest news, events, video content and more, all tailored to the ESU community. If you happen to miss some of the content, you can always watch it online at Hornet365.com or the 'ESU IT Video' channel on YouTube.

Have an event or opportunity coming up that relates to ESU? Both students and faculty can submit digital posters online at Hornet365.com to be displayed on HornetTV.

Before making a post, it’s important to make sure that you’re familiar with the Hornet TV guidelines.

• Digital posters must be submitted in a 16:9 aspect ratio
• Digital posters must be in an image format (.PNG, .JPG, or .TIF)
• Digital posters must be related to an ESU sponsored event, activity, or campus life

For a full list of guidelines, click here, or scroll to the bottom of the Hornet365 homepage and click the link under Hornet TV called ‘guidelines’.

On January 28th, the ESU information security team tabled in Memorial Union, handing out goodies and information on how to stay protected online. ESU faculty and students can learn more about how to protect themselves and others by becoming a Cyber Security Ambassador. The information security team has been avidly recruiting to find the next ambassador. 

Think it could be you? Find out more information on what it takes in our past blog post.

Last, but not least. Hornet365 reached 1,000,000 unique page views in under one year. That's a wildly successful year, and we couldn't have done it without all of you. The portal is at the heart of all things digital for our current faculty, staff, students and visitors.

We're always working to add more content and improve your experience.  If you have suggestions, use the feedback button at the bottom of hornet365.com.

Tyler Parker
Social Media & Marketing Student Assistant

Web & Digital Strategies

IT Only Takes a Minute - Welcome Back Fall 2019

This week, Emporia State welcomed new and returning students to the start of the Fall 2019 semester.  Each year, we share all of the great new and updated services available to ESU students.  The following highlights are only a few of these new things!

SkyPrint PLUS + Credit.   You'll notice some of the SkyPrint release stations have a new look this year.  These new multi-function units, called SkyPrint PLUS, now include the ability to scan and copy, as well as print.  Also, you can set up fast login using your Hornet Card.  This means you only need to tap your card in order to release your jobs.  Find more info, including all of our SkyPrint locations from Hornet 365's TechSite.  All ESU students get $8 worth of free prints, which you'll find freshly loaded to your account!  Learn More
 

Hornet TV.  Look for a newly redesigned 24 x 7 livestream with even more new content from across campus, plus check out the interactive digital signs!  We've been busy mapping out floors, finding rooms and building staff directories for every building with an interactive sign.  And the best feature, scan the QR code on the sign to download a copy of the sign's content to your smartphone! Watch Now
 

Office + Symantec.  All ESU students and employees get Microsoft Office and Symantec Anti-Virus free to install on your personal devices!  Students, make sure to log in with username@emporia.edu, DON'T use "g.emporia.edu".  Click the Downloads tile from Hornet365!
 

Hornet 365.  The new portal is live!  With the help of users all across campus, we built a next generation portal to bring the ESU experience to one central location!  And now it's even easier to get to--just go to HORNET365.COM!  Dont' forget to send us your feedback and look for more enhancements in the days ahead!
 

Virtual Campus Explorer.  Are you new to campus?  Or maybe you're just an explorer at heart!  Now, you can explore the ESU campus with our new Virtual Campus Explorer.  In addition to campus maps and building info, we've also started creating 360 degree experiences of interesting spaces across campus, Check back as we add even more as the semester progresses!   View Virtual Campus Explorer

A Strange Thing happened on the way to class...  Not really, but you might discover something both interesting and informative as we launch the IT + Information Security fall campaign with this year's "Stranger Things"-inspired theme.  Debuting at tonight's block party, we'll have a digital guidebook, free giveaways and the chance to win a bluetooth speaker!  Start exploring now by visiting emporia.edu/strange!

Good luck from ESU Information Technology!

Posted by Brian Osbourn, Director, Web + Digital

Did you know what our digital signs can do?

The digital signs around university bring campus into life. The services and features that the digital signs offer are incredible and very helpful. If you go to any digital sign and touch the menu, it will provide you with many services and features.

Some of those features:

• Interactive Maps. This feature can provide  you with many locations by touching each internal category. For example:
• It shows academic and administrative buildings.
• Parking permits and free parking locations.
• Bicycle stations, where you can do some fixes to your bike.
• Emergency phone stands, where you can call help from different locations around campus.
• Athletics, etc.
• Campus Map. This gives you some useful information. Like:
• It shows each parking permit color 
• Provides you with  Hornet Nation Wi-Fi coverage.
• News. This tab gives a wide variety of announcements and events around campus.
• Weather, which includes two features:
• Includes the weather straight from the National Weather Service.
• It shows a radar view of Emporia and surrounding areas.

Now you can get many things you want, right at our digital pulse!


Ahmad Alaliwi
Student Web Developer
Web and Digital Strategies

Biology Department: New Hornet TV Sign!

The IT department partnered with the department of Biology to set up a new Hornet TV digital sign outside of their office. This sign will be displaying their own department's content as well as campus content. Keep a lookout for this new added feature to our university.


Sam Derksen
Student Web Developer
Web and Digital Strategies

IT Only Takes a Minute - PREVIEW!

Emporia State IT's ongoing web series are back for another season!  You can find us on Hornet TV by going to hornet.emporia.edu.  Tyler gives us a preview of what's to come with IT ONLY TAKES A MINUTE and stay tuned for more videos very soon!  ESU groups interested in their own Hornet TV channel (it's free!) can get one by contacting the IT Help Desk.  #myhornet365

-Brian Osbourn, Director, Web & Digital Strategies

#MyHornet365

If you're looking for more details on the new Hornet 365, Hornet TV or any of the new IT services, follow us on social media and look for the hashtag MyHornet365.  In addition to first looks and previews, we'll post some exclusive content here--including some fun stuff, too!

#MyHornet365

Facebook - facebook.com/EmporiaStateUniversityHelpdesk
Instagram - EmporiaStateIT
Snapchat - EmporiaStateIT
Twitter - @emporiastateIT

-Brian Osbourn, Director, Web & Digital Strategies

Yes, these phones really are that good

2017 was a big year for phones. The iPhone X came out, the Google Pixel 2 came out, and the Galaxy Note 8 came out. And for those of us that are relatively behind on the big tech crunch and are out of the loop with all the big tech details, that just means the major phone companies released some pretty great technology. Last year there was heavy pressure from companies to produce better-than-ever cameras and that is exactly what they did. IT has access to a Pixel 2XL that we have been using for some of our media and we've been loving the photos that it's producing. We won't really go into too much of the technical details on how these camera's are doing well, but it has a lot to do with some pretty cool software processing. These photos are turning out so good that IT is using them on their website projects, and we can't tell the difference on our high resolution monitors.

For those of you on campus who love photography and don't want to drop ten thousand dollars on a good camera, maybe consider one of these phones for your next upgrade. You'd be amazed at what type of photos you'll take with something that fits into your back pocket. Below are a few samples taken by myself on campus and on road trips, and you might have seen several others taken with the Pixel 2XL on some of our websites. Enjoy the photos!

-Warrick Rodgers
IT Student Web Developer

Hult Prize at Emporia State University

IT worked with Hult Prize Campus Director, Amir Ammar to promote the Hult Prize Competition for Emporia State University. Producing HornetTV content and an IT Only takes a Minute web series special episode 

The Hult Prize, in partnership with the United Nations, is the world’s largest student competition for budding social entrepreneurs, and every year welcomes college and university students from all around the globe. Named as one of the top five ideas changing the world by TIME Magazine, the annual competition for the Hult Prize aims to identify and launch the most compelling social business ideas—start-up enterprises that tackle grave issues faced by billions of people. From more than 50,000 applications received every year, one winning team will receive 1 million USD in seed capital, as well as mentorship and advice from the international business community.

For more information ➡ https://youtu.be/J39nICcKvN0

IT Only Takes a Minute: Episode 4

On the fourth edition of #IOTAM, we discuss the new operating system updates from Apple and Microsoft, guest speaker Steve Riat on his theory of exponential change, as well as the AdobeMAX Creativity conference in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Watch Episode 4 now:
IT Only Takes a Minute: Episode 4

Hornet TV - The Digital Pulse of the University

Hornet TV, ESU’s visual communications platform, continues to deliver immersive and interactive content across the web, mobile devices and digital signage.  Most recently, custom mobile digital signs were developed with interactive maps to assist campus visitors with parking and shuttle service during residence hall move-in. 

A few days later, Hornet TV was used to broadcast the solar eclipse to all platforms, including feeds from NASA.

The latest update to Hornet TV debuted this week with a refreshed and streamlined new interface for digital signs and the introduction of a “beta” livestream which showcases ESU promotional content, videos, web series and more.  Moving beyond digital signage, the new Hornet TV is expanding to become a fully integrated platform that visually represents the digital pulse of the university.  Over the next year, IT plans to work with current channel owners and others content creators, including students, to develop new types of content and truly showcase the digital experience at ESU.

The public preview is available by going to share.emporia.edu/hornettv.  Students and employees can find more information about Hornet TV by going to the HORNET 365 portal at hornet.emporia.edu.