CADE - A New Paradigm 

CADE is primarily a software based product but it represents a new paradigm in software development, utilizing an effective integration of world-class software components and Internet technologies in an adaptive architecture.  To keep pace with today's rapidly changing world, CADE was designed to incorporate change as quickly as an organization realizes the need for change.  

Corporate management faces many issues that can keep an organization from being as competitive and profitable as it needs to be... CADE won't be one of them.

As a new or better technology solution is identified, an idea to improve a feature, or a new function desired, that change can be easily incorporated into the CADE products keeping your system continually up to date, meeting each new requirement, and keeping your investment protected.  With CADE you can buy once and use forever.

• Studio Control Key Features
• Virtual Classroom Key Features
• Learning Management Web Key Features
• eTutor Key Features

Enhanced On-Air Functions

CADE supports all the basic functions normally expected in an Interactive Distance Learning product of it's type, but it adds some enhancements to the basic product:

• Issue true/false, yes/no, multiple choice, multiple selection,  numeric, or graphic questions
  • View numbers and percentages of each response
  • View list of who answered each question which way
  • View list of who hasn't answered
  • Display results in graphical or text form
• Participant audio: call in, call out, random calling, recorded audio, and conferencing
• Signaling, ad-hoc questioning
• Text Messaging to sites, individuals, groups, inter-groups, inter-sites
• Internal PowerPoint selection and navigation controls
• Recorded audio and/or text questions for off-air response
• Bi-directional application sharing
• Two-way video
• Student/Site information, graphic displays, priority assignment
• On-screen tooltips and help

But that's barely the beginning!..

CADE has many additional features not seen in any other IDL product.  Read on to see what else CADE can bring to an interactive program... not just during the broadcast, but before, during, and after!

Electronic Instructor's Guide 

An Electronic Instructor's Guide can be constructed through the Learning Management Web (LMW) to produce an electronic script that breaks the course down into easy to follow, step by step components.  Instructor notes, bullet points, or comments can be added to each of the components to aid in delivery.  The Guide can be spell checked, printed, and used as a coordination document with the control room personnel as well as displayed on-screen during a broadcast so the instructor always has access to the course material when it is most needed.

Media Capture, Storage, and Display

The Instructor's Guide not only provides on-screen help, it also allows developers to assign displayable media to individual components and store that media in the database.  This would include such items as questions, PowerPoint slides, graphics, animation, web pages, documents, and virtually anything that can be shown in a web browser.  Then, during a broadcast, as the instructor moves through the Guide's components, each component triggers an event.  An event might issue a question, start a timer, or display any previously stored image so it is immediately available in the control room for the engineers to use in the broadcast. 

Broadcast Automation & Video Routing

Each component of the Instructor's Guide can be associated with a specific video source, ie. main camera, Studio Control display, document camera, secondary camera, VCR/DVD, etc. As the instructor moves from one component to the next, commands are automatically sent to the CADE Video Routing system which switches the video sources to the appropriate input and routes it to the satellite uplink.  This eliminates the need for a high level of coordination between instructor and control room typically required in an IDL broadcast and frees control room personnel to concentrate on other tasks.

Two-Way Video 

Not only can an audio connection be made to a remote site, a video connection can be made as well. Should a remote site have a webcam connected to the Virtual Classroom computer, when a call is made the video can optionally be requested and uplinked. This allows remote sites to introduce new people, show their facilities, demonstrate a new product, process, technology, or any other appropriate video application.

Conversational, Instant Connect Audio 

When the instructor connects to a calling site, the audio is managed in such a way that the instructor and student can engage in a normal, telephone-like conversation rather than to have the troublesome delay created by the satellite transmission time.   Connections are instant as there is no waiting for the time to dial like with other systems.  CADE's superior technology ensures the audio works as well at dial-up speeds as it does on a high-speed connection.  Since no special telephone lines are required, the need for an additional monthly telephone charge is eliminated.

Multiple Caller Conferencing  

While it is not prudent to allow callers to talk at any time, with the conferencing feature the instructor can optionally hold callers on the line so multiple callers can talk in rapid succession. The instructor remains in control over who can talk and when.

Assign Temporary or Permanent Priority to Callers

Individuals can be assigned a priority so those callers with a higher priority are listed higher in the calling queue.  Priorities may be assigned for the duration of a broadcast or saved as a permanent part of the person's record.  The priorities and their descriptions are created by authorized LMW users so there is no limit to the number and scope of the priorities.

Complete Control of Audio at a Site 

At the studio, CADE provides complete control over all aspects of the audio at the remote site. Upon connection the Virtual Classroom sends all audio settings which modified to achieve the best audio possible. CADE provides control over the caller's microphone, instructor's voice, TV volume, and overall volume.  Once set, each volume control remains in the established position for all subsequent broadcasts.

Optional POTS/PBX Audio

CADE optionally supports POTS or PBX audio in lieu of audio over IP for those organizations that don't want audio traffic on their IP network.  The Studio Control system uses a modem-like device (no data capabilities) to place or answer regular telephone calls upon the instructor's command.

Bi-Directional Application Sharing

Computer applications running anywhere in the network can be shared with the Virtual Classrooms and students can take over keyboard, screen, and mouse to perform directed operations. Applications can be running on Windows, Mac's, Unix, or Linux systems. 

Conversely, an instructor can "peek" over a participant's shoulder by taking over the screen, keyboard, and mouse of any of the Virtual Classroom PCs to check on progress, give direction, or any other purpose.

Prerecorded, Interactive Broadcasts 

Programs can be stored at the studio and broadcast on a schedule maintained in the LMW. At the scheduled time, a Studio Control program will automatically start a course and issue questions in synch with the recorded program. Students would log on and respond to the instructor's questions with their wireless remote controls just as if it were a live broadcast. Student attendance, responses, and completion information are timestamped and stored in the CADE database as part of the student's training history. This training history is also made available for reporting and analysis for authorized personnel.

Add Broadcast Questions Dynamically

Questions can be added to a program during a broadcast if the need arises so additional student responses can be captured in the database.   New questions may be created off-line by studio or other support personnel using the LMW or added by the instructor using the Studio Control program.

Custom Backgrounds and Colors

Clients can use the standard background and font colors for broadcast questions and participant results or create one of their own.  Custom backgrounds can replace the standard CADE graphics as a default background for all broadcasts or unique backgrounds can be attached to individual programs.

Multiple Studio Support 

CADE provides the ability to uniquely identify each Studio Control program so that if there are concurrent broadcasts, the users at the remote site are presented with an option of courses to select from. All they need to do to connect to one or programs (the number of which is unlimited) is to select from the list of currently available studio and course names. Once selected, all participants will be connected to that program.

Rehearsal Studio Support 

Based on the approach just described, multiple Studio Control programs can be installed anywhere in the network and used for rehearsal in addition to multiple broadcast systems. This would allow presenters to practice, using the Studio Control program, right on their own computer.

Single Student, Classroom, or Mix of Both

The Virtual Classroom can operate in a classroom with hundreds of participants interacting with the instructor using a wireless remote control.  Individual participants can interact in the same program by using a PC mouse and keyboard.  Even in the same installation there can be a mix of remotes and PC participants.

Wireless Remote Controls and Microphone 

The CADE remote controls are simple to use, inexpensive to purchase, and have virtually no limit to the number that can exist at a single site. A site can choose to use remotes with a built-in microphone or without and use a PC microphone. There is no configuration necessary when changing the number of remotes at a site, the are automatically incorporated into the system as they are detected.

Audio over IP - No Telephone

CADE uses an advanced Voice over IP technology to transmit the participant's voice to the studio.  No need for a $40-50 a month telephone line that is dedicated to the few hours of training other systems require.  CADE's technology is optimized so even a 28kb dial-up link sounds as good as a telephone.

Active Directory Authentication & Database Update

The CADE system can optionally communicate with Active Directory to authenticate users rather than using validation from the CADE database.  In addition to authentication, the CADE database can be automatically populated with the required information from Active Directory.  This means personnel in the CADE database are automatically maintained.

Streaming Video

In an individual student mode, CADE can be configured to open a video window in the Virtual Classroom software rather than displaying it on a TV.  Savant has incorporated the Windows Media Player and Helius StreamRider into CADE.  Other players can just as easily be integrated into the system.

Client Branding

Customer created graphics can be used to replace the standard background graphics in the Virtual Classroom, even on a site by site basis.  These graphics or watermarks allow customers to put their own unique look or message on the classroom software.

Off-Air Text Messaging

Should the instructor or presenter be too busy to answer all the questions on-air, participants still have the option of text messaging the instructor or subject matter experts (SME) with their questions.   Such a question will show up in the instructor's in-box.  The instructor's or SME's response will be placed in the participant's in-box to be read the next time they sign on to the LMW.

Audio Question & Answer System 

A subject matter expert (SME) system is an integral part of CADE. Students can record questions which can be heard by the instructor or other SMEs anywhere in the network.  An answer is recorded and sent back to the student's personal web page in the LMW.  The student can listen to their original question and then the recroded answer.  SMEs can also send the question to the instructor during a broadcast if they feel it would add to the program.

PocketPC Support 

PocketPCs connected to a wireless network can be used in place of the wireless remote controls as student response devices. The PocketPC can also be used for messaging, downloading, chat, and taking off-line tests.

AT Products Microphone Integration

Want a solution that uses wired microphones at each workstation or remote location?  CADE has incorporated AT Products' microphones into it's operation.  Any broadcast participant can use the push-to-talk button their microphone and speak with the instructor.

Automated Software Upgrades 

CADE automatically keeps the software updated to the latest levels. A regularly scheduled process makes sure systems are up to date and running well. Since the software is loaded on a customer's computer, the software is virtually bought once and used forever... drastically reducing the total cost of ownership. The customer decides when to replace or upgrade the hardware, not the IDL vendor.

Interactive Web Based Delivery

Develop interactive programs through the Learning Management Web and deliver them to a few participants or thousands over the Internet/Intranet.  The Electronic Instructor's Guide helps facilitators control interactive delivery with rich, multimedia content with live audio, and video.

Conversational Audio Over the Network

The eTutor facilitator can call on any participant in the session or respond to a call from a participant in the calling queue.  All participants can hear both the facilitator and the caller.  Since CADE audio is transmitted at 1.6kb, even dial-up participants will hear the instructor as clearly as those connected to a high-speed network.  All that is necessary is a connection to the network and a multimedia PC.  

Push Rich Media Files to Participants

The eTutor Guide can cause a wide range of information to be displayed on each participant's computer screen:  Web pages, PowerPoint slides, video animation, graphics, documents, spreadsheets... virtually anything that can be displayed in a browser or Windows Media Player can be shown.

Facilitator Led Web Tours

The eTutor Facilitator can open web pages from the Instructor's Guide or simply by entering a URL and take all the participants on a web tour.  Wherever the Facilitator goes, the participants see the same page.

Issue More Types of Questions - Including Text, Graphics, and Audio

eTutor can also allow the facilitator to record audio questions, solicit recorded audio responses, or a combination of both!

Brainstorming with Virtual Post-It Notes

eTutor can open a brainstorming session in the Participant's Desktop windows.  Participants can post electronic ideas or suggestions and discuss their reasoning with everyone in the session.  Any number of votes can be given to each participant to rank and assign points to the various contributions.  Results are stored in the database for further analysis.

Record an Audio Question

Participants can optionally choose to record and audio question if, for any reason, the Facilitator can't answer their question live.  The question can be answered by the Facilitator or SME using the Learning Management Web after the session.

Bi-Directional Video via IP

Send the eTutor's video to all participants and allow participants with webcams to send video to the facilitator and all other participants.  Highly compressed video only requires 7kb or bandwidth and even works with dial-up connections.

Alternate Full-Screen Video 

Should high-quality, full-screen video be desired, eTutor will open a full sized video window so Participants can see detailed images of what is being presented.  Broadcasts can be encoded in real-time at a variety of data rates and used for live, interactive Sessions.  

Send an Instant Message or Chat

The Facilitator and Participants can open a chat window at any time to instant message all people in the eTutor session, individuals, or selected groups.  However, only the Facilitator can open all Participant's chat windows on command.  Each chat session thread can be managed individually.

Send E-Mail

In addition to instant messaging, Participants may choose to send an e-mail or send the message to the participant's Inbox in the Learning Management Web.  This type of message can be sent to all Participants, individuals, or groups.

Interactive Whiteboard

The eTutor Guide and Participants can share an interactive whiteboard an mark up with colors, shapes, text, font sizes, etc.  Graphic images can be displayed behind the whiteboard so it can be marked up.

Share Applications 

The eTutor facilitator can share applications from PCs, Unix/Linux, or Macs with the participants and each can take control and use the application.

Facilitator Peek

The eTutor facilitator can "peek" over the shoulder of any participant and take control of their display, keyboard, and mouse to show them how to perform a task if necessary.

Session Specific Workspace

A Session specific workspace is automatically created for each Session that can be used to transfer files, documents, or Session materials for everyone in the Session to access.  Both Participants and Hosts can transfer files to the workspace.

Team Delivery

An eTutor Session may be hosted by one or more people physically located in different places anywhere in the world.  This allows the session to be shared by a presenter, instructor, or subject matter expert and given by only the most knowledgeable people on the Session topic.  There is no limit to the number of hosts in an eTutor Session.

Breakout Sessions

The eTutor facilitator can create any number of breakout sessions and either manually select participants for each session or allow the system to distribute them randomly into the number of sessions desired.  Leaders can be selected either manually or randomly as well.  Breakout sessions can be focused on a single topic or each session on a different topic.

Activity Timer

The eTutor Guide can ask the Participants to engage in a timed exercise.  A countdown clock can be displayed on Participant's screens so they know how much time remains for their activity.

Ad-Hoc Remote PC Controls

eTutor provides the Host with a wide range of capabilities outside of the Instructor's Guide.  They may wish to open a web page on all the eTutor Desktops, play a rich media file, run a program, or open the audio controls so the audio levels can be adjusted.  The number of function that can be performed by the Host is virtually unlimited.

Audio via POTS

For those situations where IP audio is not desired, eTutor can be connected to the telephone system (POTS).  A non-modem device is used at the facilitator's end that connects the phone system into eTutor.  Participants can call the facilitator with a standard phone and their audio is incorporated into the session for all to hear. 

Scheduling via MS Outlook™ or the LMW

Developers have a choice when it comes to scheduling an eTutor session.  Sessions may be scheduled in Outlook or in the LMW.  Participants are notified automatically of any change in schedule or if there is a cancellation.

Customer Branding

Since eTutor is part of the CADE Learning Management Web, the logos, colors, graphics, fonts, etc. can be customized to match any customer's appearance.  Different schemes can be applied for different groups or divisions based on an individual's identification.

Record Any Session

eTutor Sessions can be recorded and replayed at a later time.  An archive of eTutor sessions is accessible in the Learning Management Web.  Any of these sessions can be rerun so they can be reused over and over.

Web Based Access to All CADE Information

The CADE Learning Management Web (LMW) is the foundation for the CADE system.  All information can be created, modified, or deleted through the LMW.  The LMW contains such information as:

• Sites, People, Locations, Phones, E-Mail, Web Pages
• Courses, Lessons, Exams, Questions, Prerequisites, Schedules
• Training Assignments, Registration, Student Results, History
• Messages, Discussions, Chats
• Roles, Menus, Functions, Code Descriptions

There are no seat licenses, the entire corporation can use the LMW and access all it's features based on the permissions the customer controls.  

Web Access to CADE Database Creation, Maintenance, and Reporting 

The Learning Management Web (LMW) is the portal to all information in the CADE database. It is where users can create courses, lessons, tests, questions, enter site and student information, display results, produce reports, register students, view history, and anything else associated with the system. The LMW allows access for an unlimited number of seats, anywhere on web, and includes a SCORM run-time environment for SCORM compliant courses.

Web Based Authoring Tools

The LMW provides web-based forms to create courses, lessons, tests, and questions for satellite broadcast.  Developers can access course information anywhere they have access to a browser.  Course developers can restrict access by other developers to the courses they create.

Course/Lesson Templates and Program Dashboard

New developers can benefit from CADE's ability to automatically create new courses or lessons based on the desired type of program the developer wishes to create.  A "Dashboard" is also available so the developer can tell at a glance what has been done, what needs to be done, and what they might want to think about doing.

Full-Function Learning Management System

In addition to acting as the foundation of the CADE Interactive Distance Learning system, the LMW is also a full-function Learning Management System (LMS).  It's features and capabilities compare extremely well with any of the LMS's on the market today.  Take a look at the checklist and see just some of it's capabilities.

Customer Controlled Look, Feel, Content

The Learning Management Web is largely generated by the information in the CADE database.  Information that may be changed by the client.  The following items can be changed by the customer:

• User roles, function assignment to user roles, access levels
• Menus, functions, forms requirements, on-line help
• Coded descriptions, drop down menu selections
• Background/foreground color, fonts, font sizes
• Graphics, logos, bullets, standard icons

Custom Reports and Database Access 

All student interaction is captured, timestamped, and stored in a web-accessible database immediately as it occurs.  The information can be retrieved through a variety of standard reports as well as a custom reporting function of the LMW. All attendance, test results, registration, and completion information can be displayed by entering criteria that the user defines. This criteria can be selected from courses, lessons, regions, departments, job codes, date ranges, student names, IDs, and status. Reports can optionally be generated in pdf format. If more elaborate reports are necessary, Savant provides the database schema and various views so customers can extract information and create their own reports directly from the CADE database.

Satellite Transfer of Video Archives 

Archives can be stored locally at each remote site rather than streamed from a central location. Normally they are transferred over land lines and take a tremendous amount of bandwidth, often too much bandwidth to be practical. With a properly equipped PC, CADE can capture video archives as they are broadcast by satellite and store them on the Virtual Classroom PC or other network storage device. Archives are encoded live and compressed to a size that requires about 90mb of storage per hour of broadcast. Satellite transmission frees the network from having to move large amounts of data and provides on-demand capabilities where it otherwise couldn't exist.

Integration with Helius and Globecast

Savant has partnerships with both Helius and Globecast which allow CADE to integrated with either system.  Video archives are captured by their systems and stored in a video archive library that is available to the CADE On-Demand programs.  Any of the video programs stored in either machine can be called up and played either on the desktop or in a classroom environment.

On-Demand to the Desktop 

Video archives can be retrieved and played on-demand with interaction synchronized with the video so when the instructor asks a question on the video, the student is prompted for a response by PC. Student responses are timestamped and stored in the CADE database and made part of the student's training history. This need not be the Virtual Classroom PC and can be any PC connected to the network. Achieves may be stored on the Virtual Classroom PC, a disk server, Helius router, or any other network storage device.

On-Demand to the Classroom 

The video archives can also be used to replay a course in a classroom setting. The course is started from the Virtual Classroom computer and students respond to the instructor's questions with their wireless remote controls just as if it were live. Student responses are timestamped and stored in the CADE database and made part of the student's training history. While the instructor can't answer student calls, students can record audio questions with their remotes as described earlier.

RSS Feeds Created from the LMW

Keep employees, suppliers, or customers informed on specific areas of interest regarding corporate information, product changes, training programs, special courses, or any other topics through RSS Feeds.  Create and manage feeds with simple web-based forms in the LMW.

Multiple Languages

CADE supports many different languages and has the facilities to incorporate new languages easily.  All display screens are driven from the database.  All that needs to be done to add another language is translate a few tables. 

Encrypted Key Fields 

Since data can be transmitted both over the public internet and corporate intranets, key fields are encrypted before they are transmitted. This occurs both during an interactive broadcast as well as connecting to the Learning Management Web so no key information is transmitted in the clear.

Off-Site Train-the-Trainer Tools - eTutor

CADE's eTutor Toolset allows companies to train people who will go on to train others.    After training, these instructors can deliver the training that was given to them using eTutor's presentation system, web based response system, and capture student responses in the CADE database.

Bi-Directional Updates to LMS 

The CADE Learning Management Web (LMW) is a full-functioned learning management system (LMS) with tracking and reporting capabilities for satellite, classroom, web-based, and paper courses taken from the corporation or outside organizations. It supports multiple companies and organizations so any site has access to its own complete training history. CADE also supports the importing and exporting of training, site, and personal information to other LMS systems through either a batch or on-line update.

Pay-Per-Use

Savant will work with it's broadcasting partners and clients to come up with a part-time solution for satellite broadcasting.  Rather than purchase the entire satellite network and CADE system, Savant will offer CADE on a pay-per-use basis.

Dynamically Expandable to Meet Performance or Site Requirements

Every component of CADE can run on one computer or each component can run on a separate system, connected by an IP network.  There can be multiple servers to balance the communications and data access load as necessary.

Conditional Access to Broadcasts

Sites equipped to capture archives via satellite can also be restricted by the conditional access features of CADE. Sites can be selected for broadcast based on standard information like state, region, size, etc. or on an unlimited number of characteristics assigned to a individual site.

Play Recorded Audio On-Air

Audio questions can be reviewed by Subject Matter Experts (SME) anywhere there is a network connection.   Should an SME feel a question would be good to hear during a broadcast, they can optionally send the recorded audio file and their comments to the instructor during the broadcast.  The instructor has the option of playing the audio on-air or canceling it.

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