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Whiteboards Done Right
September 01, 2006
Think you know all there is to know about whiteboards? Think again.
By Holly Dolezalek
During a brainstorming session or a training course, you can draw on it, write on it, erase it, but whiteboards have come a long way since their dry-erase days. Now, these interactive boards allow users to capture what's on the board and save it, print it and even e-mail it. You can use them to pull up an existing application and then write notes over that application. You can add clip art, images and video clips to screens more than 100 inches. It's a nerd's paradise, or at least a nerd educator's paradise.
But even fantastic gadgets have their limitations, and whiteboards are no exception. That's why we sought out some advice and information that might help you when it comes time to decide whether to try or buy an interactive whiteboard. Here, we've provided descriptions of many whiteboards that are currently available, and also the Web sites for each so you can find more information.
When considering a whiteboard purchase, it's best to start by thinking about who your end-users will be, not necessarily your audience. Nancy Knowlton suggests thinking about how your users work with the technology they already have. Knowlton is the president and co-CEO of SMART Technologies, a Canadian provider of interactive whiteboards in Calgary, Alberta. She warns that if your users already work in a way that doesn't correspond with a whiteboard's capabilities, you may end up wasting money and time by buying a whiteboard.
For example, she says, if your subject matter experts or instructors are used to using overhead projection to present their lecture notes in class, they're not going to readily adapt to a whiteboard just because it's a similar technology. If it doesn't fit the way instructors are accustomed to working, it won't be used. "You can't just force a solution into any environment; you have to understand what people do, and how they want to work," Knowlton says. "Without understanding how people are working, you could be trying to sell refrigerators to Eskimos."
Don't kid yourself about using the whiteboard for everything, either. Knowlton notes that many learning experiences, whether in corporate or higher-education situations, involve a whole-class situation, a small-group situation and individual work. But the whiteboard is not designed for all three. "The temptation with a new tool is to use it for everything," Knowlton says. "But the whiteboard has its time and place, and it's that whole-class situation."
Finally, Knowlton says it's best to consider that a whiteboard is a new technology, not just a new way to do something you've always done. "Don't turn a whiteboard into nothing more than a fancy overhead projector by not taking advantage of what it can do," Knowlton says.
She advocates having the kind of digital resources—Flash movies, animations, video clips, images, etc.—available so that users can really leverage the more advanced capabilities of a whiteboard.
Here's a rundown of the latest offerings:
3M
www.3m.com/us/office/meetings
3M Digital Board
Captures notes in color for output in image, PDF, PowerPoint, HTML and metafile formats. Allows user to add images, backgrounds and clip art. Available with 65" screen and 78" screen. Also has a playback feature for erased notes.
3M Digital Erase Board
Records notes from an easel that can be outputted as image, PDF or HTML files, or viewed in sequence by those who did not attend the meeting. Shared Meeting application allows collaboration across different locations.
HITACHI
http://www.hitachi-soft.com/icg/products/index.html
StarBoard FX Whiteboard series
Allows users to annotate presentations and project applications onto the whiteboard from the connected computer. USB interface for wired and wireless connections. Available in 63", 77" and 82" display sizes. StarBoard Software can be used for clip art and object management.
Luidia eBeam
EBeam Whiteboard. Allows users to capture notes and drawings wirelessly with Bluetooth technology to PCs or handheld devices. 107" display size.
JTF
www.jtfbus.com/plusboard.htm
Plus Copyboard Electronic Whiteboards
Notes can be output with a memory card or printer, or transferred to a PC. Several models; display is 36" by 51" or 36" by 71."
MIMEO
mimio.com/products/capture/
Device attaches to an ordinary whiteboard and allows users to record, e-mail or print whiteboard notes, as well as post them as HTML files and copy them into other applications. Attaches to any whiteboard up to 4' x 8.'
NUMONICS
http://www.numonics.com/interactivewhiteboardindex.html
Intelliboard
Has keys on the side of the board that launch Web sites, applications, files and execute other commands. Other models: Interactive Presentation Manager and the Digital Presentation Appliance. Available in 47", 62" and 77" display sizes.
PANASONIC
http://www.panasonic.com/business/office/cat_whiteboards.asp
Interactive Panaboards
Saves meeting notes and drawings to remote computer and also allows users to e-mail notes or print them on a built-in printer. Users can operate a computer remotely with included electronic pen. Copy area is 1,716 square inches.
Other models
Plain Paper Panaboards
Available in sizes of 1,648 square inches and wide screen 2,127 square inches.
Thermal Panaboards
Includes PDMS Image Capture software and thermal transfer film for secure distribution of confidential information.
POLYVISION
http://www.polyvision.com/products/interactive-whiteboards.asp
Walk-and-Talk Interactive Whiteboards
Handheld remote allows users to write, save, print, project and erase notes, as well as access the Web. Available in 57", 78" and 104" screen sizes. Easiteach Software for interactive classroom features has the ability to save and reuse lessons or to share them with others.
PROMETHEAN
www.prometheanworld.com
Activboard
Cordless pen tool allows users to start applications and have mouse capabilities. Integrates ACTIVslate (a wireless remote control for the board) and ACTIVote (which allows the audience to participate in lessons). Available in 78" screen-display size.
SMART TECHNOLOGIES
http://www2.smarttech.com/st/en-us/products
SMART Board
Captures notes as screen shots or into applications such as Word, PowerPoint or Excel. Users can operate by touch or with digital pen. Available in 48, "64," 77" and 94"display sizes. Front-projection, rear-projection and flat screen models are available.
TEAMBOARD
www.teamboard.com
TeamBoard Tablet
Annotation and draw tools allow users to write notes over any application and save all notations.
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