Projectors with Built-in IWBs

Tech directors were talking early this week about an article in eSchool News concerning Epson’s new line of projectors that serve double duty as interactive whiteboards (IWBs). Another company called Boxlight has a similar projector called the ProjectoWrite2/W.

This is potentially disruptive technology if it catches on, because it eliminates a major component of IWBs, namely the board itself. The new projectors run a couple thousand dollars, or about half what a low-end IWB costs. With downward pricing pressures on technology the way they are, it’s possible prices could sink lower, perhaps pressuring IWB prices down across the board.

One of the big benefits to going with an established IWB company is the included interactive software. Some of the educational games included with the SMART products are outstanding. There is also an established base of acceptance with existing products and add-ons that may hinder even a far less expensive product from catching on. The article indicates the Epson BrightLink 450Wi will come bundled with RM Education’s Easiteach interactive lesson software, which seems to be a good start if Epson intends to become a major player in this market.

While a boardless IWB seems to be a new market ripe for harvesting, there has long been a hunger for inexpensive IWBs. Johnny Chung Lee wowed the ed tech world a while back by adapting the Wii-mote and an infrared pen to make an IWB for under $100.

Update:
I watched a presentation on the new projectors at the Epson booth this week at TCEA 2010. One neat thing: they have “short throw” models, which can be mounted on the wall, and project sharply downward. The presenter showed how she had to stand literally touching the wall before she cast a shadow. This is a superb improvement over typical IWBs where the projector hangs down from the ceiling 10 feet or so from the board.

The presenter also stressed any wall can be used, and talked about a school that had windows all along their desired IWB wall. The school simply mounted heavy flat poster board over the windows, and voila: instant IWB space. I think Epson has a winner here.

References:
Stansbury, M. (2010, January 13). New projectors make any wall an interactive whiteboard. eSchool News. [Online.] Available: http://www.eschoolnews.com/2010/01/13/new-projector-makes-any-wall-an-interactive-whiteboard/

Playing Games on the SMART Table

I’m a big fan of SMART Board’s SMART Technologies, the Canadian company behind one of the leading interactive whiteboards. Warren Buckleitner, the editor of Children’s Technology Review, attended the National Association for the Education of Young Children’s conference, NAEYC 09, where he filmed a nice bit on SMART Technologies’ new SMART Table.

The SMART Table reminds me of the old Ms. PacMan tabletop game of the 1980s, where two players could square off with one another while seated (and yes, I threw far too many quarters down the gullet of one such machine in a College Station eatery way back when).

It also reminds me of Dr. Merrick’s table top computer portrayed in the movie The Island, which was the brain spawn of an MIT consultant for the film.

Various games and activities are included with the SMART Table, including puzzles, mazes, and arithmetic problems embedded in a fun environment. On one, a money game, kids have to slide representations of coins to indicate the cost of an item. Buckleitner asks the SMART rep, jokingly, “So kids could actually gamble and do poker in preschool?” I had to smile since we talked about poker in school earlier today.

Buckleitner seems a bit concerned about the $8,000 price tag for the SMART Table, but if past success is any indicator SMART Technologies will sell plenty of them. Here’s Buckleitner’s video: