Get ready for the next Generation of IWB's
I won't rave on about this for too long as I accept that that SMART, Promethean and a few other players totally dominate the IWB market at the moment and are the products to have in your classroom. However last week 2 new products hit the market adopting technology that I have banging on about for a while now that could potentially remove the need for expensive interactive boards in classrooms.
Epson's Brightlink (Looks to be the more refined of the 2) and the Boxlight Projectowrite are 2 products that completely remove the need for a board. Obviously they need a surface to be projected upon but both work fine on a wall or best of all on a traditional white board at a fraction of the expense.
This cuts out the 2 biggest costs of an IWB being the Board itself and the installation expense. Both systems utilise infra red technology that was uncovered by the invention of the Wiimote. Essentially you require an infra red pen or pointer and the receptor is built in to the projector. Both units are multi touch which instantly puts them miles ahead of their competitors at less than half the price at under $2000 for both units.
Be warned however there is little to no software to support these units and they basically interact with your OS as a mouse and pen. I am a SMART board user and clearly the best thing about them is their interface and software to support learning.
Surely there are software companies in the wings creating multi platform IWB software that will turn this technology from a glorified mouse into a powerful teaching tool. Microsoft, Apple & Adobe are you onto this???
Anyhow here is more information on this topic and I have included a couple of videos below that highlight the POTENTIAL of these projectors. Remembering that POTENTIAL is a very big word.
Boxlight ProjectoWRITE Video - Gotta say it looks a little clunky thus far
Epson Brightlink Video - Great image but does'nt really show us it being used - no software yet??
Would love to hear your thoughts
Sunday, January 24, 2010 at 10:18AM |
Reader Comments (2)
I'm slowing coming out against IWBs. They are expensive to purchase and install, both of which you mention in your post. Also, they require something that they are trying to avoid: one person standing at a board. I don't think that is good teaching. Someone is always "sage on the stage."
These projectors do the same thing. Someone with a pen standing at a board teaching.
The key piece to IWBs that we can't do without is the software. Both Promethean and SMART have excellent software packages that go with the boards.
In my classroom, I'm lucky enough to have a board but I also have a wireless Promethean tablet. WIth the tablet, I can walk around the classroom, sit at table with students, or stand next to Mr. Talks-a-Lot and make sure he's on task while we are learning.
The tablet has all the functions of the board. It can run all the software "tricks" that are in the software. The only hard part is getting used to the writing. The only thing better would be a 10" tablet screen that I could write on so I can be more accurate with you presenting. This would make it easier for each student to pick it up and write as well.
I think the $3000-$4000 spent on the board and installation could be better spent on other products. At $250, that purchases12-16 netbooks per classroom. That's a lot more interactive lessons, in my opinion, than an IWB.
There. My two cents.
Some really valid points, all of which I agree with wireless technology is the way of the future. I actually use my iphone as a wireless slate with the Mobile Air Mouse App. I am looking at a schol set of wireless slates this year. I'll be watching to see what apple come up with this week.
Really appreciate your feedback