Using the Computer Labs and Kiosks

Configured to support the curricular needs of the College, Emerson's computer labs and kiosks are a valuable resource both inside and outside the classroom.

This guide will introduce you to the basics of using these facilities:

• Logging In
• On the Desktop
• Software
• Hardware
• Your Laptop
• Rules
• Need Help?

Logging In

The computer workstations in our labs run Mac OS, Windows, or both. Dual-boot workstations (which run both) are labeled as such: Restarting one of these computers will give you the option to choose between operating systems.

Log in to a computer running either Windows or Mac OS with your ECnet username and password. For more information about your ECnet account, visit the I.T. Help Desk's ECnet Services page.

When you are done using a workstation in a lab or at a kiosk, log out by selecting Log Out from the apple menu (Macintosh), or by choosing Log Off from the start menu (Windows). Confirm the logout in the dialog box that appears. Logging out helps keep your ECnet account secure, and it frees up the workstation for others to use.

On the Desktop

Once you log in to a lab or kiosk workstation, you will find a handful of icons on the desktop that connect to local or networked spaces for your files. Most of these options are temporary, and it's always a good idea to keep at least a second backup of your work on a flash drive, external hard drive, or online backup system.

Local Workspace

Each lab computer has a desktop shortcut to a folder called Local Workspace. It is the best place to temporarily save files while you are working on them. Doing so will reduce printing delays, as well as the risk of the machine “locking up” or “eating” your data. The Local Workspace is emptied on a regular basis, and anyone who logs into a workstation will have access to files left in this folder. Therefore, users should back up anything they have saved to Local Workspace as soon as possible.

8 Day Public

8 Day Public is a networked storage space accessible from any lab or kiosk workstation, allowing for easy document sharing between students and for temporary data backup. It is a great resource for completing group projects. 8 Day Public is a temporary storage space, whose contents are periodically deleted. Also, anyone who logs into a lab or kiosk workstation will have access to 8 Day Public. Therefore, users should back up anything they save to 8 Day Public as soon as possible.

My Pages Folder

Your Pages folder is also a networked storage space. This folder, which holds up to 2 GB of data, is attached to your ECnet account, so only you can log in to it. In addition to storage, you can use your Pages folder to host a web page. There is also a private folder within your pages folder where you can place files you do not want viewed over the web. For more information about using your Pages folder, see this Pages guide on the I.T. Helpdesk site.

Software

Emerson's computer labs have popular and specialized software to suit your academic needs. While the most popular applications are available on all lab and kiosk workstations, availability does vary by location. Please consult this software chart to see where different titles are available.

Accessing software on a lab workstation is easy. Macintosh workstations have an applications folder in the dock on the bottom of the screen, from which you can quickly launch software titles. On a Windows workstation, programs can be accessed from the All Programs folder in the start menu at the lower left-hand corner of the screen.

Hardware

The computer labs are outfitted with a variety of hardware, including computer workstations, printers, scanners, media card readers, and more. To see what hardware is available in a particular lab, please look at the Lab Profiles page. Details about available hardware are on the Lab Hardware page.

For more information on how to use our printers and scanners, see our guides on Printing and on Scanning.

You are encouraged to bring your own USB flash drives or portable hard drives to use with the lab workstations. We cannot, however, support hardware that requires the installation of additional drivers or software.

Your Laptop

The XML and 3DL have open workspaces with ports for you to power your laptop and connect it to Emerson's network via Ethernet. For connection instructions,  see the I.T. Help Desk's page on Connecting to the Wired Network.

You can also use Emerson's wireless network in any of our lab spaces. Please visit the I.T. Help Desk's page on Connecting to ECwireless for connection instructions.

Once you are connected to the network, you can print to any lab printer from your laptop. See the guide to Printing from Your Personal Computer for details.

Rules

Our computer labs are shared spaces. As such, certain rules need to be followed to keep a clean, functional, and consistent work environment for you and your colleagues at Emerson. To use our computer labs, we ask that you abide by the following:

• As a member of the Emerson community, you are expected to abide by the college’s Electronic Information Policy and Copyright Policy.
• Food and drink of any kind are not permitted inside the computer labs and suites. Users are asked to leave any ingestibles outside the lab or in closed containers inside their bags.
• Please do not jostle or move equipment in the labs or at the kiosks, as doing so may trigger the alarm system. In the event of an alarm, notify the lab assistant immediately.

Need Help?

During all lab operation hours, there is a lab assistant on duty to help with computer-related issues such as “frozen” machines, stuck discs, printing troubles, or attaching and removing external drives. If you have questions or need assistance while in the computer labs, do not hesitate to contact the lab assistant. The lab assistant is usually stationed nearby, or can be contacted by dialing ext. 8080 on the lab support phone.

If you want help getting started on using our equipment or a service, such as the scanners or the font server, peruse our guides. Chances are, we have a guide for what you want to do.

For help using software in the labs, you will find links to manufacturer's guides on the Lab Software page. Additionally, we offer software workshops on popular titles such as Photoshop and InDesign. See the schedule on the Workshops page for more information.