Dual Monitor Setup Tips

Video Card Information:

We STRONGLY RECOMMEND that you buy a dual head video card rather than buying a single output card to add to the existing machine. Many problems occur when two separate cards are used, especially if they are different brands with different chip sets and using Windows extended desktop.

Make sure you buy a video card that has the correct outputs, DVI, VGA or HDMI, whatever matches the two monitors you intend to use.

DO NOT buy a USB video card adapter. We have had a lot of problems with these devices not being recognized by Windows properly, not providing the proper resolution required by the monitor and not displaying in an extended desktop mode correctly.

Once the new card is installed, be sure and disable the onboard video card either in the BIOS or through Windows Device Manager.

Monitor Information:

Buy a monitor that has the correct video input that matches the video card you purchased, VGA, DVI or HDMI.

All off the shelf monitors in today's market exceed ANSI and ISO standards for luminance and contrast required for eye charts. Any LCD monitor will do nicely.

Buy a monitor with adequate vertical height for the refractive distance you use. A 20/400 letter will be 7 inches tall for a 20 foot refractive distance and 10.5 inches tall at a 30 foot refractive distance. A 21 inch monitor is the diagonal measurement of the screen and is very different between the 'square' monitor and the 'wide' monitor. If it is a square monitor, it will be much taller than an extra wide monitor. Physically measure with a ruler the height of the screen BEFORE you buy the monitor to make sure it will accommodate your refractive distance.

IT IS ESSENTIAL that you install the drivers that came with the monitor onto your computer. The drivers will be on a CD that came with the monitor. This will provide Windows and your video card with the correct information to allow the monitor to run at its native resolution.

Windows Setup:

IT IS IMPERRATIVE that you set the resolution of each monitor to its 'native' resolution in Windows Display Properties. We cannot stress this point enough! If it is not at its native resolution, the top or bottom or sides of the screen may be cropped, the snellen letters will not be correctly proportioned and will not be as clear and sharp as they could be. The two resolutions are not the same unless both monitors are exactly the same.

== Secrets of a Smooth Transition to Acuity Pro featuring the ViewSonic All-In-One Computer ==

1. Unboxing The Computer
          a.  The computer will drop ship separately..

a.  You will need to first hook up the wired enclosed keyboard and mouse to properly start up the computer. Think of the wireless keyboard and mouse as 'accessories' that    should be installed after initial boot-up and downloading of windows updates, etc.

3. Installing the Wireless Gyration Keyboard and Air Mouse

Again, do these after you know the computer is up and working and all updates have been downloaded and installed.  Follow the directions EXACTLY as they are in the enclosed start up guide for the hardware. After you know that both are working, you can unplug the wired keyboard and mouse. DAN'S TIP: To use the Airmouse, simply 'pull the trigger' as you primarily use your wrist to move the mouse in the air. If you are aiming at something to click on, it is easier to do by stopping at the point of click, then releasing the trigger, which will keep the mouse stationary. If you are familiar with the Wii, you should do well with the airmouse.

4. Updating Windows

This is another potential 'gotcha'. Depending on whether your on the wall computer will have internet access is how to address thisissue. By the way, the ViewSonic has a built in wifi card so if you have wireless in your office, you are set! If the computer will not be hooked to the internet, it would be wise to go to www.microsoft.com and download all updates for your "new" computer. The last one did had over 30 updates available. This takes a while so again, doing all of this when you are in a hurry will leave you a bit frustrated. If you will have internet access after installation, this step can be delayed but we do not recommend putting it off.

Acuity Pro
a.   Manual - PLEASE READ IT BEFORE YOU INSTALL THE SOFTWARE !! It's an easy read plus it will save you time and allow you to enjoy your software's many features

b.  Quick tips on calibration - You need is a long tape measure! Measure from the middle of the chair to where the computer monitor is; on a straight shot - you are done; on a mirror room measure from the chair then to the mirror, then back to where the monitor is on the wall. To measure the "E" on the screen, use our HOTV card measurement tool on the back as it is measured in .1 inches, just as the program calibrates.  Even if you are off a tiny bit, it will be much closer than what your bulb projector was ever calibrated. You may think that calibration is not correct since the letters are so much sharper and brighter. Yeah, that's pretty cool isn't it? You can also save calibrations, see manual for how and why!

a.  This always goes better with a helper. We have 'searched the world' to find the best wall mount for our systems; however, remember that these are VESA wall mounts so any (or most anyway) VESA mounts can work. If your situation calls for an odd mounting job, please contact us. We can help you locate nearly any type of wall mount, floor mount or ceiling mount that is made.

b.  In a retrofit (replacing a bulb projector) simply mount the computer in the same spot that the screen was mounted before. In a retrofit mirror room, simply mount the monitor where the mirror behind the patient was located and leave the mirror in place that the patient looks into.

c.  In a new fit, the computer should mount at a height that is close to eye level (relative to the patient sitting in the exam room chair) or slightly higher if you tend to raise up your patients. In a new mirror set up, the computer should be placed behind the patient and off to one side so that the near point rod is not in the way when in the locked and upright position. The mirror would be again placed at about eye level of someone sitting in the exam room chair. If you are having this work contracted, make sure they understand what you mean by "eye level"!

a.  New builds/remodels - you can never anticipate how many cables you may eventually have hooked to your computer! But in the beginning, you will primarily have two to deal with; one is the power supply. This is tricky because you also have the power supply to deal with. Luckily, this computer has a very small power supply.  Cords can generally wrapped tightly and stabilized with a zip tie.  This cord 'bundle' usually can be stored between the cpu and the monitor and may be tied to the monitor arm with another zip tie.  Sometimes Velcro can be used for 'cable management'. There are other options as well; if you have a particular situation, let us know so that we can help determine what might work best.  Remember, also to abide by all codes for commercial electrical outlets, etc. in a new build, you may even be able to have the builder make a small niche next to where the computer is mounted to allow for better cable management.

b. Retrofits - this fits the same model as the new builds except that you may need the help of a licensed electrician (who may also be able to do the wall mount too) to have an outlet in the proper spot.  If you do have to have a power cord hang to the floor, there are many types of wall covering 'tubes' that do a good job of hiding a cable.

8. Dual Monitor Connection Using The All In One -

a.  If you plan on using the all in one in a dual monitor set-up, windows XP makes this relatively painless. Most doctors prefer this setup to get the most 'bang for the buck' from their computers. Acuity Pro uses very little PC 'power' so using the same unit to house your EMR program, imaging program, patient education program, etc. is very efficient and "green".  Using fewer computers means less "stuff", less electricity being used, and less heat being generated, plus less noise pollution from fans running continuously.

b.  All in one at desk - since this all in one is so quiet, it can easily be placed on the desk; in this case, the monitor that is part of the computer will be your primary monitor. The wall mounted monitor will be the secondary monitor.

c.  All in one on wall - in this set-up you will designate the wall mounted computer as the secondary monitor and the desktop as the primary. This is important because some programs that you use are not as fully dual monitor compliant as Acuity Pro.

To make these settings, simply right click anywhere on the open desktop, click on properties, then settings. There you will see the two monitor set up. Try to keep both monitors at their 'native resolution' - this will ensure the best images and least distortion. Jerry's Tip: If you do not know what that is, you can go to the maker's website or just Google your monitor and it should take you to a site that lists the specs of the monitor.  If you don't want to mess with that, simply increase the resolution toward the maximum end and see if that works.  To get into that area, right click on your desktop, click on properties, then settings and slide the bar over to increase resolution. You will have to hit the apply button too. This is the procedure in XP.

a.  Power settings - again, right click anywhere on the open desktop, then click settings, then screensaver (yeah, that doesn't make sense to me either, but...) if you choose to use a screensaver remember that it may kick in during a refraction if you have it set to kick in after just a few minutes. We recommend setting the screensaver to none, but this is a personal preference. You can invoke an instant 'screensaver' by using Acuity Pro’s slide show function. Simply hit Z, then 8 within AP and an immediate slide show of beautiful pictures will rotate through - to stop and return to Acuity Pro, hit the q key once. Hit Z, then 9 to get a 20 slide demo of Eye Central News patient education slides. You can produce your own slide show by creating it with PowerPoint or Keynote and saving as JPEGS, then import the file into Acuity Pro. OK, back to power settings - we suggest setting all power settings to never.  Unless your rooms are not used frequently all day, remember that hitting a key to bring the computer out of hibernation always kills a few seconds of time.

b.  The basic and the fun

You can do the basic AP install but afterwards if you have time, put the install disk back in and click on "explore the CD" - there are many bonus programs there including an eye related "hangman" and software utilities that make it easy to download and convert on line videos such as movie trailers www.fandango.com www.itunes.com and YouTube videos www.youtube.com as well as about any other video on the web.

c.  Adding your photos and videos to acuity pro

i.  Download sites - see above!

ii.  Conversion software tips - Currently AP uses a version of Windows Media Player. Converting a video to a format that works with this player should work.  These include files ending in .wmp and .avi there is also a flash player that can play .swf files in the video library of Acuity Pro. We hope to add QuickTime soon as there are some nice HD movie trailers available in this format. Warning: some videos may be copyrighted. Please abide by copyright laws.  Warning #2: sometimes no matter how hard you try, you either cannot download a video or it somehow won’t play. There are several reasons for this, but suffice it to say that we suggest "just give up" and try something else or a different site