Solstice Wireless Display Sharing

Solstice is a tool used to send content from laptops, phones, or tablets to in-class displays - such as projectors or monitors - wirelessly. With Solstice, instructors or students can present material from their devices from anywhere in the classroom without needing to use cables or adapters. Additionally, Solstice is capable of multi-synchronous sharing, meaning that multiple users can send multiple images to the displays simultaneously. As a result, Solstice offers a wireless way to both present and engage in collaborative work. To see a current list of rooms with Solstice, select Solstice in the "Specific Items" pull-down on our classroom search. If your room does not have Solstice, you can request that it be installed.

Typical Classroom Uses

Wireless Presenting by Instructors

Instructors who use computer-based presentations, such as PowerPoint, typically present by plugging a cable into their computer. With Solstice, instructors no longer need to bother with finding the right adapter and cable. Furthermore, because there is no need to physically connect with Solstice, instructors can present from anywhere in the room, allowing them to sit or move around the room while presenting.

Wireless Presenting by Students

Instructors who require students to give presentations may be familiar with some of the set-up difficulties that occur when students use the in-class technology for the first time. Students may not have the right adapter or know how to adjust the settings on their laptop. All this can waste valuable class time, especially when multiple students are presenting one after another.

With Solstice, students do not need to use adapters. Instead, they need only follow the on-screen instructors to connect their device. Additionally, because multiple presenters can connect at once, a student can connect in advance and start sharing their presentation once it is their turn. The class can than quickly transition to the next presenter without the typical set up delay. Finally, because students need not plug into the system, they can present from their seats. This can be especially conducive to short presentations which might not warrant coming to the front of the room and connecting.

Collaborative Visual Discussion

Solstice enables multiple users to share multiple images at the same time. As a result, the in-room display can be used as a collaborative canvas where students share ideas and work. For example:

The instructor could ask students or groups of students to work on a task while sharing their computer screen. The instructor could then monitor the class's progress on the in-room display. In rooms with a preview monitor, the instructor could use it to watch the student screens without making them viewable to everyone. While watching the screen, the instructor could chime in with groups that might need help or choose to make one image full screen to discuss it with the class.
Students could be prompted to share images that relate to a given topic which the instructor could then use to spark discussion. In the example captured in the video to right, Professor Richard Serrano's class uses Solstice to share images related to a discuss on mythology. Solstice enables the rapid sharing of relevant images so that the discussion is facilitated, rather than slowed down, by the use of imagery.
Students could be tasked with finding a website relevant to the topic under discussion and simultaneously sharing them for comparison. For example, a discussion about media bias might ask students or groups to share online news articles from different news outlets.

Instructions

View a print version of the instructions for an overview of the below information that can be brought to class.

Setting Solstice as the Source

Before connecting your device to Solstice, set Solstice as the room's display source by following the below steps. For more detailed instructions on using classroom systems, choose your type of system on our In-Class Technology page.

Log in to the classroom's system with your Rutgers NetID and password.
In Rutgers Room Control, under "Laptop, Phone, or Tablet," select Solstice Sharing.
In single display rooms, the Solstice instructions will appear on the room's projection screen or monitor. In multiple display rooms, in the pop-up window that appears, select the displays where you would like Solstice to appear and press Enter.

Using Solstice with a Laptop

Connect the laptop to RUWireless Secure. Note, the laptop must be on the RUWireless Secure to connect to Solstice.

Connecting to Solstice

First Time

Open any web browser, such as Internet Explore, Safari, Firefox, or Chrome.
In the URL field, type in the IP address displayed on the classroom's screen. (e.g.. 123.45.67.89). Press enter.
In the web page that appears, press the Get the App & Join button. The Solstice Client app will begin to download on to your computer. You may be prompted to approve the download or enter in your administrator password for your laptop. Proceed through these steps and open the Solstice Client app once it has downloaded.
In the Solstice app, click on the Enter IP tab.
Enter the IP address displayed on the screen. You do not need to include "http://." Press Go.
In the pop-up window, enter the four digit Screen Key provided on the in-room display and press Ok.
Enter your name and press continue. This name will be used to indicate to the class who is presenting and will be saved for future classes.

Subsequent Use

On your laptop, open the Solstice Client app.
If you see your classroom listed in the "Discovered Displays" tab, click on it to connect.
If you do not see your class listed in the "Discovered Displays" tab, click on the Enter IP tab. Enter the IP address displayed on room's monitor or projector and press Go.
In the pop-up window, enter the "Screen Key" provided on the in-room display and press Ok.

Sharing Images

There are multiple methods of sharing:

Press Desktop to send everything on your computer screen to the monitor. With this method, you may share audio from your computer by turning Desktop Audio to On. If the volume on the RRC is not raised, return to the Controller and raise the slider. If you still do not hear the audio, ensure that Solstice is set as your audio output in your computer settings.
Press App Window to select an open window on your computer to send to the monitor. This method allows you to continue to keep the rest of your laptop image private.
Select Media File to select a file on your computer to display.
Use the Stop Sharing All button to end sharing.

Users may share multiple images from the screen simultaneously. At the same time, multiple users can share images at once. To relocate, remove, or add back in shared images:

Click on Layout in the left side bar.
If multiple windows are shared, you may relocate an image by clicking and dragging.
To remove an image, drag it to the left side bar.
Add an image back in by dragging it back on to the main area.
You may right click on a shared screen to make it full screen, delete it, stack it with other shares from that user, or display information about that share.
In the bottom bar, right click on a user to access the ability to show their images, hide their images, stack their images, or delete them.

Using Solstice with a Phone or Tablet

Connecting to Solstice

Connect your device to RUWireless Secure. Note, the device must be on the Rutgers network to connect to Solstice.
The first time you use Solstice, you will need to download the Solstice Client app from your device's app store.
Open the Solstice Client app.
Enter your name and press continue. This name will be used to indicate to the class who is presenting and will be saved for future classes
Select the Enter IP tab, enter the IP address displayed on the monitor, and press Go. In future instances, your classroom should appear under the Discovered Devices tab and can be selected there instead of entering the IP address.
Enter the Screen Key displayed on the in-room display and press Ok.

Sharing Images

Use the various sharing options to send images to the display. These options will vary based on the type of device you are using.

Users may share multiple images from the screen simultaneously. At the same time, multiple users can share images at once. To relocate, remove, or add back in shared images:

Click on Layout in the bottom bar.
If multiple windows are shared, you may relocate an image by clicking and dragging.
To remove an image, drag it to the left side bar.
Add an image back in by dragging it back on to the main area.
Click and hold on a shared screen to make it full screen, delete it, stack it with other shares from that user, or display information about that share.
In the bottom bar, right click on a user to access the ability to show their images, hide their images, stack their images, or delete them.

Using Solstice with the In-Room Computer

The Mac computer in the room's Digital Classroom Podium, Collaborative Instructor Hub, or Digital Classroom Flip-Top is equipped with Solstice. Of course, you can already project from the Mac by selecting it as a source. However, you can use the Mac with Solstice if you want to share images from the Mac alongside image from other sources, like personal or student devices. You can also use the Mac with Solstice to control the shared images from the room's system. After setting Solstice as the display source following the instructions above, use these instruction to get started:

Connecting to Solstice

After Solstice is set as the display source, the center tab in Rutgers Room Control will show instructions and a Launch Solstice button. Press the Launch Solstice button.
The Solstice client app will open.
Enter your name and press continue.
Select the Enter IP tab, enter the IP address displayed on the monitor, and press Go.
Enter the Screen Key displayed on the in-room display and press Ok.

Sharing Images

There are multiple methods of sharing.

Press Desktop to send everything on your computer screen to the monitor. With this method, you may share audio from your computer by turning Desktop Audio to On. If the volume on the RRC is not raised, return to the Controller and raise the slider. If you still do not hear the audio, ensure that Solstice is set as your audio output in your computer settings.
Press App Window to select an open window on your computer to send to the monitor. This method allows you to continue to keep the rest of your laptop image private.
Select Media File to select a file on your computer to display.
Use the Stop Sharing All button to end sharing.

Users may share multiple images from the screen simultaneously. At the same time, multiple users can share images at once. To relocate, remove, or add back in shared images:

Click on Layout in the left side bar.
If multiple windows are shared, you may relocate an image by clicking and dragging.
To remove an image, drag it to the left side bar.
Add an image back in by dragging it back on to the main area.
You may right click on a shared screen to make it full screen, delete it, stack it with other shares from that user, or display information about that share.
In the bottom bar, right click on a user to access the ability to show their images, hide their images, stack their images, or delete them.