|
Interactive whiteboard general overview
To use an interactive whiteboard, you will need a multimedia projector and a computer.
The multimedia projector connects to the monitor socket from either a desktop or
notebook computer and projects the computers image onto the interactive whiteboard, which
then acts like a projector screen.
There were originally two types of interactive whiteboards: pen (works on
electromagnetic technology), and finger (resistive technology).
Now there are dual touch and multi-touch boards which allow more than
one user to write on the board simultaneously.
A computer is normally controlled by a mouse but you can touch the interactive
whiteboard to control the mouse cursor instead. As you move your finger or special pen across the
whiteboard, which has the computers image on it, the mouse cursor follows, as shown in the
picture below. You simply tap the screen twice with your finger or special pen to perform the
normal double-click you would do with the mouse. This is excellent, as it allows you
to do all this from the front of the classroom or meeting room. The interactive
whiteboard just connects via a cable into the mouse socket on the computer.
The finger touch (resistive) whiteboards are ideal for primary schools
where young children can move their finger across the whiteboard for
full interactivity. Secondary schools, where pupils are used to
using pens, may choose an electromagnetic whiteboard which uses special
pens. Some manufacturers produce both pen and finger touch
boards which means if a school campus has both types of whiteboards
on-site, pupils and teachers only have to learn one set of
software. Corporate and training organizations can
choose the best type of digital whiteboard to suit their own needs.
For instance, in medical environments, touch screen may be favoured for
dragging across photos, medical diagrams and slide images, all with the
touch a finger. In the business environment, as staff naturally use
pens, an interactive whiteboard may be preferred.
Whiteboard comparisons.
All interactive whiteboards come with software, to enable you to use it as a
copyboard.
You can write or draw on the whiteboard with your finger or the pens provided and
save the image to the computer. These images, which are your notes from the
meeting or training session, can then be printed or emailed. The software that comes
with some interactive whiteboards may have built in OCR which is Optical Character Recognition,
which means can write on screen and the computer will recognize your handwriting and turn
it into computer text.
Interactive whiteboard
Interactive whiteboards can be used to:
-
Write over the top of programs to highlight and annotate points (see picture above).
-
View and navigate the Internet from the whiteboard. Surf and display websites
which the entire room will be able to see.
-
Students/audience members can approach the whiteboard and add their contribution to the
discussion by writing directly on the whiteboard.
-
Present ideas to large audiences.
-
Display movie files or DVD's from the PC
-
Work on word processing documents, spreadsheets,
design projectors with your colleagues. Can be connected to video
conferencing systems.
The interactive whiteboards needs to know where you are touching on screen and
therefore use one of two technologies for this, which are:
-
Resistive technology (finger touch) - Two pieces of resistive material with a small gap between them
are used to detect where a person touches the screen. The co-ordinates correspond to the
area on the computer monitor. The advantage of whiteboards based on resistive technology
is that you do not require a special stylus to write on the board, a finger can be used
just as well. SMART Boards, Cleverboards and
PolyVision interactive whiteboards use this technology.
-
Electromagnetic scanning technology (pen) - This uses special pens and the frame of the
whiteboard detects where the pen is on screen. Because of this, if the whiteboard screen
is damaged you can just replace the screen. The electromagnetic interactive whiteboards
normally come with several pens. Promethean ACTIVboard and InterWrite interactive
whiteboards use this technology. Hitachi FX Duoboards allow you to use
an electronic pen and finger touch, thus benefiting from both
technologies.
Interactive whiteboards are available in front or rear projection formats:
Front projection interactive whiteboards
Front projection interactive whiteboard
As you can see from the above picture, the projector sits in front of the whiteboard
and shines the computer image onto the screen. In this case they have situated the
projector on the table, but projectors can also be ceiling mounted. This is front
projection. Rear projection is where the projector is out of sight behind the whiteboard.
Rear projection is 2-3 times more expensive than a front projection setup.
Front projection whiteboards range in size from around 47" to
104" in diagonal size; with 60-inch and 77-inch being popular
sizes. 60" doesn't sound huge, but it fits into school environments well as otherwise pupils cannot reach the middle of boards to contribute. They come either with a wall mount bracket, desktop stand or floor stand on wheels.
Portable versions are also available for presentations on the move. These tend to
be around 47" screens to keep the weight down. You still need to take a
computer with you, usually a notebook, and also a projector which can weigh as little as
0.9kg.
Setting up an interactive whiteboard is very straight forward and all come with full
instructions:
-
Plug in and switch-on the whiteboard, computer and projector.
-
Connect the computer to the projector with a single cable (provided).
This projects the computer image onto the whiteboard. You will just have to
adjust the focus and zoom to get the projectors image to fit of the whiteboard nicely.
-
Connect the USB cable provided from the whiteboard to a USB port on the
computer.
Easy to follow diagrams come with the whiteboard.
-
Load the software CD that is included with the whiteboard, onto the computer.
This software talks you through the registration of the whiteboard, which just
involves touching the whiteboard on a series of crosses. Registration lets the
whiteboard know were the cursor is on screen.
The computer software only needs loading once on either a desktop or notebook computer.
The software will work with both PC's and Apple Macintosh computers.
Whiteboard software
Software which comes with your interactive whiteboard varies,
depending on the market that the board manufacturer is aiming for.
Which front projection interactive whiteboard is best for my needs?
Interactive whiteboards, either finger or pen, are ideal for
teachers who like to teach from the front of the class.
Copyboards are similar to interactive whiteboards but do not
require an LCD projector and can be used either stand alone or with
a PC. More information on copyboards
and whiteboard/copyboard portable
systems.
Integral whiteboards and projectors
|
Smart Board Unifi integral interactive whiteboard,
projector and sound
|
Many schools are now using short throw projectors, due to Health & Safety
reasons. When a projector is mounted a few metres away from the
whiteboard, the bright light can shine in the teacher's and pupil's eyes.
Whiteboard manufacturers Promethean and SMART Board both produce integral
solutions comprising of an interactive whiteboard on a wall frame, which
incorporates a projector on a boom arm. Depending on manufacturer, the wall frame may be
height adjustable which makes it ideal for small children or people in
wheelchairs.
Projector manufacturers have brought out short throw projectors which can be
used with existing whiteboards. Whiteboard
comparisons.
Interactive Panels, wireless pads and voting systems
Some interactive whiteboard manufacturers offer a suite of
interactive solutions, for example, InterWrite have InterWrite interactive whiteboards;
InterWrite Pad wireless tablet; InterWrite ipanel interactive panel and
PRS personal response system (voting system). Should you wish to
use other interactive solutions in the future it is worth checking what
options are available prior to making your interactive whiteboard
purchase. Interactive whiteboards
Interactive panels
Wireless
tablets Voting
systems
There are manufacturers who make, for example, voting systems which
are designed to work with their own interactive whiteboard, whilst
others make systems to work with any interactive whiteboard for the education or corporate / pubs and clubs
/ TV studio audience market. Voting
systems
Choosing a multimedia projector
Multimedia projectors allow you to project the image from a computer screen but also
connect to video sources such as a video recorder, DVD player or satellite system.
This means that you could present an 'interactive' training session or presentation
using the computer, and then play a video directly onto the whiteboard. Switching
between inputs on a projector is easy, as you just press a button of the projector remote
control just like changing channels on a television.
You will need to purchase a multimedia projector to go with your interactive
whiteboard, unless you already have one. Since
popular sizes of interactive whiteboards are up to 77", you don't need an amazingly bright projector to go with it. A projector
brightness of between 1,000 to 1,500 ANSI lumens will be sufficient.
A projector for whiteboard commence at £300 + VAT. Click here to view all multimedia projector comparison charts.
We also have a FREE projector guide available by clicking on the link below:
FREE
Projectors and presentation equipment guide
More whiteboard information
For more information on interactive whiteboards, please click on the link below:
FREE
Whiteboard guide
Return to whiteboards main page
Copyboard information
Information and comparison charts for
copyboards
|
