Interactive Whiteboards Buyer's Guide

Interactive whiteboards are great for creating engaging and interesting lessons and presentations. These versatile tools can be used as a traditional whiteboard, a projector screen and an electronic copy board.

But its function as an interactive whiteboard when connected to your computer and projector is what sets it apart. Project your computer’s desktop onto the whiteboard, which is typically mounted to a wall or displayed on a stand. You can then control the applications projected onto the whiteboard by using a digital pen or even your finger, rather than a mouse or keyboard. Also, using proper connections, you can also hook it up to other components, allowing you to play video from DVD, VHS, CD-ROMs and more.

 

 

Types of Interactive Whiteboards

You have three types of interactive whiteboards to choose from, each ideal for different scenarios:

• Front projection
• Rear projection
• Portable

Front projection

The projector sits directly in front of the whiteboard, whether mounted in the ceiling or placed on a table, projecting onto the front of the whiteboard.  These typically range in size from about 47” to 104” diagonal. The two most popular sizes are 60” and 77” – especially in school settings, where the whiteboards need to be the right size for children.

Rear projection

In a rear projection setup, the projector is out of sight, mounted behind the whiteboard. This keeps the projector from being blocked by the presenter or the presentation group. They range in the same sizes as front projection systems, either mounted in-wall or in a cabinet, but this type of configuration is generally more expensive.

Portable

For presentations on the move, whether you’re traveling from one speaking engagement to another, classroom to classroom, or have a one-off business conference to attend, the portability of your whiteboard is essential. Front projection systems are best for this. You’ll want to use the smallest of the screens available – 47” – in order to keep the weight down and your whiteboard mobile. You’ll also want to use a laptop computer, since you won’t be able to connect it to a bulky desktop PC, and find the smallest projector you can. Some rear projection systems come built into a mobile cabinet. These are better used if you’re moving it from room to room in one building.

Interactive Whiteboards Key Specs

When shopping for your interactive whiteboard, here are a few key specs you should keep in mind:

• Diagonal size
• Aspect ratio
• Active screen area
• Surface
• Power requirements
• Digital pen and whiteboard technology
• System requirements
• Weight

 

Diagonal size

Much like your monitor or television, whiteboard screens are measured diagonally, from corner to corner. Whiteboards range in size from about 47” to 104”. The size you’re looking for depends on the size of the space and the number of people in your audience. Also, if you’re using it in a classroom of children, you’ll want it to be the right size for them to use it effectively, so aim for the 66” to 77” range. If you’re using it for business purposes, where your audience consists of adults, the size of the whiteboard should correspond to the size of your audience and room in which you’re presenting. The bigger the audience and space, the bigger whiteboard you’ll need.

Aspect ratio

This is the fractional ratio of the width of the image you’re projecting on your whiteboard relative to its height. A 4:3 aspect ratio is standard for interactive whiteboards, though wider screens are becoming common because more and more laptops offer a 16:9 aspect ratio. Also, projectors with these widescreen capabilities are becoming increasingly available on the market. These wider screens are more in line with the aspect ratio of traditional whiteboards used in classrooms.

Active screen area

The active screen area is the part of your interactive whiteboard that you can use for touch screen interaction and other similar activities. The size of this area varies from model to model and manufacturer to manufacturer. Some interactive whiteboards fill the whole screen with the projected image, meaning the entire whiteboard can be used as an active screen area. But others might limit where the image can be projected on your interactive whiteboard, such as when your screen’s aspect ratio doesn’t match the aspect ratio of a standard projector. This limits the size of your active screen area.

Power requirements

Your interactive whiteboard doesn’t need an external power supply. It will get all of its power from the computer it’s hooked up to via a USB cable. However, your PC and the projector it’s hooked up to via VGA cable will each need their own power source.
Your digital pens will vary in how they’re powered. If they’re for an electromagnetic board, no power source is needed as they operate by interacting with the board. Other types, however, will need batteries or will wire back to the board itself for their power supply.

Digital pen and whiteboard technology

There are four types of technologies that allow you to use your interactive whiteboard:

• Resistive
• Electromagnetic
• Ultrasonic and infrared
• Infrared

Each type has a specific digital pen that you will use in order to write on the board.

Resistive

These are made from a resilient front sheet and hard backboard, with the back of the front sheet and front of the backboard coated with a resistive material. A tiny gap separates the two sides so that when you touch it, it’s easy to register the exact point. You can use your finger, stylus or any pointing device to operate the active screen area of this type of whiteboard.

Electromagnetic

This type of interactive whiteboard utilizes a digitized grid and digitizing pen. Your digitizing pen contains a transponder that gives off an electronic signal. When your pen touches the digitized grid, the signal is then transmitted to the computer, letting it know the point of contact in x, y coordinates. The precision of the location is equal to or better than using a mouse.

Ultrasonic and infrared

Using a signal pen and receiver, this technology tracks screen interaction through ultrasound and infrared technologies. When the pen is pressed to the board, it emits an ultrasonic sound and infrared light. The infrared receiver gets the infrared signal, which activates two ultrasonic microphones that are set up at different locations on the board. When these mics receive the sound, they measure the difference in the sound’s arrival time to calculate the location of the signal pen.

Infrared

An infrared pen gives off an infrared signal, and a CMOS sensor allows only infrared beams to pass through while filtering out other types of visible light. The pen emits its signal when it’s pressed to the whiteboard surface. The CMOS sensor then uses the signal to track the x,y coordinates of the pen.

System requirements

Before making a purchase, check the interactive whiteboard’s system requirements to make sure it’s compatible with the computer you’re using. Most can hook up to either a Mac or PC, but not all can. You’ll also want to make sure you know your computer’s the operating system as well as how many available connections you have. If you purchase any additional software to use with your interactive whiteboard, make sure it’s the same brand so you know they’re compatible.

Weight

This is an important spec to consider if you’re looking for a portable system. Some of the smaller whiteboards might be as light as 20 lbs. However, you might also have a projector to contend with when you’re on the move with your system, if there isn’t one already in the location you’ll be setting up your whiteboard.