How to Choose the Right Smart Board

With all of the technological advances of recent decades, one of those that has had a significant

impact in both the classroom and the workplaces is the smart board. Allowing colleagues to

collaborate and present information and facilitating teachers in sharing their knowledge with

students, this tool has numerous applications and brings many benefits.

Choosing the right smart board installation for your needs can be tricky, and it is worth taking s few

factors into account before making your decision. If in doubt, always seek help from a data and

electrical solutions provider which will more than likely provide you with the expert information you

need to make the right choice.

Firstly, consider what you want your smart board installation to do; there are several different types

of interactive white board, and all of them have a distinct purpose. The simplest board in the group

is the Copyboard. This type of smart board can capture your dry erase notes and either print them

or save them to your computer or a USB key.

Others include the Interactive Whiteboard where a computer image is projected onto the smart

board. The software projected onto the board can be manipulated and used for a variety of

purposes, for example accessing the internet, giving a presentation, making annotations on a blown-

up image or highlighting areas of important text.

Perhaps the most advanced type of smart board installation is the Interactive Television Screen,

which uses touch-sensitive LED or LCD screens instead of a projected image. A more expensive

option, these offer high definition resolution and a number of other advantages which distinguishes

it from competing technologies.

After you have considered which functions you require, you will need to think about your budget.

With Interactive Television Screens being the dearest option, they may not always be the

appropriate choice for everyone, despite their level of performance. If you opt for an Interactive

Whiteboard, bear in mind that you will also need to purchase a projector to use with it.

You may be able to reduce costs when considering the size of your audience when using your smart

board installation. The largest boards are designed for audiences of up to 50 people, whereas the

smallest options can be perfect from groups of 2 to 10 individuals.

For huge audiences in lecture theatres or other venues where there are many onlookers, it is worth

considering purchasing a large projection screen to complement the use of a smaller interactive

smart board. This will allow observers to see everything clearly.

You will also need to consider whether your smart board installation needs to be portable. Some

may find it necessary for the smart board to be moved easily from room to room, whereas others

require the item to be fixed in position in a particular area. Rolling stands and carts can be used for

the purpose of moving white boards and projectors from place to place.

In addition to size and mobility, there are several otherfunctions that needed to be considered

before investing in a smart board installation. These can include factors such as wireless

connectivity, compatibility with other devices such as tablets and smartphones, capacity for video

conferencing and direct printing from the board.

Furthermore, you must decide how many people are going to use the board at once; will the smart

board installation allow for dual use, multi-person use or just a single user? This can make a huge

impact on the applications of the board as well as its price tag.

These are just a few of the factors to take into account when looking to buy a smart board for your

workplace or education environment. Look at who will be using it, how they will be using it and who

will be looking at it, and you may well be able to find the right smart board installation for you within

your budget.

About Us:

Smart PLC is a leading UK provider of electrical and data solutions with a reputation for excellence.

From the initial specification through to the delivery and on-going support, Smart provides its clients

with the highest quality of service possible making sure all expectations are met and exceeded, time

and time again. With in-depth knowledge and years of experience, Smart is able to handle projects

from a single site to national rollouts, using qualified and seasoned project managers and highly

trained engineering teams to supply tailor-made solutions to clients. Smart has also been a pioneer

in the world of ‘Converged IP’, and has successfully completed projects for audio visual, access

control and IP CCTV. To find out more, please visit: http://smartplc.com/