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Editor's HDTV Pick

HP 47 inch MediaSmart 1080p LCD HDTV "Out of the box" digital media platform. Enjoy videos, pictures and music from home network + digital media delivered over your broadband Internet connection + 3 x HDMI

Hitachi have released the StarBoard FX-Duo-77 multi-touch Interactive Whiteboard which feature the ability for users to collaborate using the board at the same time (two points of contact). The board can be operated using hand gestures such as the spreading apart of two fingers (no special pens or pointers required) to enlarge an on-screen object. Another useful feature is the selection of 24 customizable side buttons for quick operation of common tasks without navigating software menus. For peace of mind, Hitachi have contained the all FX-Duo-77 electronics in a replaceable component and covered it with a five-year warranty.

All StarBoards come with Hitachi Software’s StarBoard Software which includes a suite of presentation and conferencing utility tools and applications such as Microsoft PowerPoint. As with other interactive whiteboards the StarBoard Software includes interactive annotation tools, both handwriting and geometric object recognition capability and LAN or WAN networked conferencing features.

If you are unfamiliar with Interactive Whiteboards you might like to read Presentation Technology Reviews overview of their features and capabilities.

Technorati Tags: StarBoard FX-Duo-77, Interactive Whiteboard, StarBoard Software

Promethean Activarena is a newly announced product enabling multiple inputs, at the same time, for their Promethean interactive whiteboards. Promethean’s “world-first” product allows collaborative use of their interactive whiteboards by students, project teams and groups working together.

With Activarena group members or students can work at the same time on an Activboard, using multiple input devices such as Promethean’s Activpen, dragging-and-dropping, highlighting, switching pages and manipulating sounds and images.

Activarena enables all current series Promethean Activboards to support the use of multiple users at the same time on the same board simply by installing the upgrade. Also supported by the new Activboard functionality is pressure sensitive applications that will open a new variety of creative opportunities.

One fact of life when working with a front projection interactive whiteboard is positioning oneself to avoid casting a shadow on the screen in the wrong spot or at the wrong time. Technical solutions are use a wide screen television (display) with an interactive overlay or use one of SMART Technologies rear projection interactive whiteboards (2000i and 3000i) which the new 4000i model joins.

All models in the series are mobile, have a 66 inch (167.6cm) screen and integrated stereo speakers.

A significant difference between the new 4000i and the existing models is the change from an NEC VT670 or VT676 LCD projector with SGA (1024 x 768) resolution to a Projectiondesign DLP projector with SXGA (1400 x 1050) resolution. The 4000i has the latest Texas Instruments DLP microdisplay panel - a single 0.95″ DarkChip3. SMART Technologies Inc. don’t specify whether they integrate Projectiondesign’s 3 or 4 segment color wheel projector design into the DLP projection system. More color wheel segments reduce the likelihood of viewers being aware of color rainbow effects during video action sequences. For the differences between DLP and LCD display technologies see Presentation Technology Reviews comparison article.

Other significant differences between the three models are listed below:

2000i

• storage tray
• screen is height adjustable between 69″ (175.3 cm) and 83″ (210.8 cm)

3000i

• lockable integrated storage cabinet
• 2,100 lumens projector
• wireless keyboard with built-in trackball (except Japan) for mounting on holder at side of cabinet.

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SMART Technologies, a leading interactive whiteboard manufacturer, has announced the release of SMART Board software 9.5 for Linux operating systems to compliment previous releases for Mac and Windows operating systems. Three core Linux distributions are supported; Fedora Core 3, Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4 and SUSE 10.

Version 9.5 of the SMART Board software offers features such as;

• Gallery search,
• powerful annotation tools,
• full drag-and-drop functionality,
• pre-loaded digital content,
• Freehand Screen Capture tool,
• attachment and export of files,
• multi-language support in English, Spanish, French, German and Brazilian Portuguese,
• the Spotlight tool and more.

Version 9.5 can be used with all SMART Board interactive whiteboards.

Further Reading

For a better understanding of the features of Interactive Whiteboards read Presentation Technologies article Interactive Whiteboards - an Overview.

SMART Technologies have previously won awards for their software as detailed in the article SMART Technologies Wins Three Education Software Review Awards.

Read a review of one of SMART’s products, the SMART Board 600i Interactive Whiteboard.

Read the full press release from SMART Technologies.

You Can Use an Interactive Whiteboard for Ages 4-7 (You Can..)

3M have three Models in their Digital Wall Display Plus 9000 Series.

9000PD Plus Digital Wall Display for Display

This product has is neither an electronic whiteboard or an interactive whiteboard. It is effectively a dry erase whiteboard you can project presentations on. Features include; an integrated projector, an erasable write-on screen and built in speakers.

9200iW Plus Digital Wall Display for Collaboration and Interaction

This product has interactive whiteboard functionality. Features include; an integrated projector, erasable write-on screen, built-in speakers, interactive whiteboard functionality and remote collaboration functionality

9200iC Plus Digital Wall Display for Collaboration and Interaction

This product has electronic and interactive whiteboard functionalities Features include; an integrated projector, erasable write-on screen, built-in speakers, interactive whiteboard functionality, remote collaboration functionality and Copyboard with color printer connection

All three of the digital wall displays have the projector integrated into a projection arm above the whiteboard. There are advantages to the projectors positioning directly above the interactive whiteboard including:

• greater flexibility for the presenter moving around the board - without casting a shadow on the screen,
• improved sound-to-image synchronization due to both audio and video sources being close together,
• simplification of layout requirements for installation including projector positioning and cabling.

Common Features

• Digital projector on projection arm integrated into the whiteboard/screen
• 60 inch diagonal (48 W x 36 H) whiteboard/screen with 4:3 aspect ratio
• dry erase whiteboard
• 2 computer (RGB, DVI-D) and 4 video inputs (DVI-I, component, S-video, RCA)
• Hand-held remote for controlling all functions with presenter features
• 2 x 20 Watt per channel speakers for stereo sound built into the whiteboard/screen

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SMART Board announced the 600i interactive whiteboard in June 2006. It combines a SMART™ Board interactive whiteboard and the new Unifi™ projector with built-in audio – a complete package. There are two models; the 77 inch 680i and 64 inch 660i.

Instead of placing the projector in a separate mounting frame or on a convenient surface, both the interactive whiteboard and the cantilevered projector are wall mounted.

Interactive Whiteboard Features

No propriety tools are required to operate the SMART Board 600i. You can even use your fingers to replicate mouse gestures such as “right-click”. Tools are kept in the pen tray and the 600i automatically detects which tool has been selected – eg. eraser vs pen.

SMART Board software 9.5 provides functionalities for the creation, presentation and management of digital content. The software is compatible with Microsoft® Windows® or Mac OS X operating systems. Other versions of SMART Board software are available for UNIX, Linux and earlier Windows and Mac OS operating systems. Notable software features are:

• On screen images (including any annotations) can be captured as a screen shot that can be edited,
• Existing software can be used with the 600i,
• Work done on the interactive whiteboard can be saved directly to software applications, including Windows versions of Microsoft PowerPoint, Word and Excel, or into AutoCAD software,
• Access thousands of free images and templates, interactive and educational content, advanced drawing tools and many other features from an easy-to-use interface,
• Take-home privileges allow staff and students use of the software at at home,
• Free SMART Board software upgrades,
• Available in 34 languages ,

Located in the pen tray, the help button provides quick access to a screen orientation feature and SMART’s online training and support material.

A Projector control module also built into the pen tray has three buttons; a simultaneous start up of the whiteboard and projector, volume adjustment and on-screen interface access.

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Onfinity CM2 is a portable interactive whiteboard system which will allow any road warrior to give interactive software demonstrations or make presentations more engaging.

It’s a plug and play solution suitable for education, sales or professional use. The system is flexible being suitable for use with rear projection, LCD or plasma display. Additionally, when teamed with a digital projector, it can convert any soft or hard projection screen (or suitable surface) into an interactive whiteboard. The Onfinity CM2 can handle screen sizes up to 150 inches. The heaviest component is the signal receiver at only about 0.5lb.The Onfinity CM2 system consists of a special ePen, an optical receiver unit which is connected to a PC. The connection is USB which eliminates the requirement for a battery for the optical receiver. The PC is also connected to the display device. The Optical Position Dectection Technology (infrared signalling) used by Onfinity doesn’t require any attachments to the screen such as with other similar products such as eBeam.

Setting up the ONfinity CM2’s is simple process as follows:

• Load CD onto computer (first time only),
• Connect the ONfinity signal receiver to PC’s USB port,
• Connect the PC to a projector, plasma or LCD screen,
• Position the ONfinity signal receiver so that the two red dots shine below the bottom corners of the projected image,
• Calibrate the screen by touching the green dots with the E-pen.

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According to TeamBoard, their TeamBoard 8060 is the largest interactive whiteboard in the world. The TeamBoard 8060 is large at 100 inches diagonal – certainly useful for large venues. Teamboard’s interactive whiteboards are also available in other sizes:

• TMWM6048CL - 60 inch (w) x 48 inch (h)
• TMWM4836CL - 48 inch (w) x 36 inch (h)
• TMDEMO - 31 inch (w) X 25 inch (h)

With projectors available with up to 3,000 ANSI Lumens the TeamBoard interactive whiteboards are suitable for even rooms with bright ambient light.

As with their other interactive whiteboards, there are a number of ways the Teamboard 8060 can be utilized.

As a Whiteboard.

At the most basic level the 8060 can be used with no projected images as a whiteboard water-soluble, dry-erase markers Teamboard guarantee the surface for 5 years.

As an Electronic Whiteboard

In “Electronic Whiteboard” mode any drawings made on the whiteboard surface (without the projector running) can be saved. Diagrams, sketches and notes can be captured to the controlling PC in a variety of popular file formats including PDF and JPEG. Files can be shared, emailed, or printed.

As an Interactive Whiteboard

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SMART Technologies manufacture the Actalyst interactive overlay for large screen plasma and LCD displays for more than 15 manufacturers including NEC, Samsung, LG, Panasonic and Toshiba. Both portrait and landscape orientated models are available for most brands and sizes 32″ to 65″ (81 cm to 165 cm).

Actalyst overlays fasten to LCD or plasma displays to create touch-enabled interactive surfaces. The Actalyst’s DViT (Digital Vision Touch) technology allows users to interact with software, websites and other multimedia content by touching the display surface. Two digital cameras embedded in the overlay’s frame detect and track the position of any contact with the screen. The overlay is designed to be suitable for interactive information kiosks in commercial environments such as retail stores, office buildings, airports, train and bus stations.

Actalyst Flat Panel Overlay Features

• Protective surface: The overlay is glass covered with a hard-coat, anti-glare film for a durable, scratch, abrasion and chemical -resistant surface with a high transparency that does not compromise image quality.
• Universal Mounting brackets: a universal mounting bracket fits in between the flat-panel display and the panel’s specific mounting plate to allow mounting in a portrait or landscape mode.
• Software: The driver software for touch control is available for most Microsoft Windows and Apple Mac OS X operating systems and is compatible with content-development software.

SMART Technologies is currently participating in research being conducted at the FedEx Institute of Technology at the University of Memphis in Tennessee for the interactive kiosk and digital signage markets. The Memphis Intelligent Kiosk Initiative (MIKI) is a research project designed to investigate the preferred and most efficient forms of human interaction with information kiosks. This research should provide excellent data for SMART Technologies to apply to its future products for the developing interactive kiosk market.

Detailed information on the Actalyst interactive screen overlay visit SMART Technologies website.

The following link is a complete list of plasma and LCD displays supported by Actalyst.

PolyVision’s Walk-and-Talk Flat Screen Module is not actually a full overlay but a screen module which fits to the bottom of a large plasma or LCD screen. There is a single, universal model which has been designed to be suitable for most plasma and LCD sizes between 37 and 63 inches.

Because it does not cover and protect the display surface, Polyvision recommend that the flat screen module only be used with reinforced commercial grade screens. The advantage is that there is no light transmission loss through an overlay.

After fitting the module to the flat screen a stylus or remote control can be used to access files, run applications, highlight presentation features and capture screen content.

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