Electronic Copyboards
Electronic Copyboards look just like regular whiteboards but have the ability to print out what is drawn after the presentation. The copyboard prints onto A4 paper that can be handed out to people attending your presentation.
The built-in printer sits just under the copyboard as shown in the picture. Most copyboards can optionally be connected to computers. The whiteboard images can be downloaded to the computer and printed, saved, changed, faxed and emailed. Like fax machines, copyboards come with thermal printers or paper printers. Thermal printers print onto thermal fax paper. Paper printers print onto plain paper using ink cartridges that have to be replaced when they run out. Plain paper is obviously a nicer printout, but you can always photocopy the thermal printout for handouts.
Interactive Whiteboard
An interactive whiteboard that turns your computer into a powerful tool for teaching, collaborating and presenting. Interactive whiteboard refers to electronic whiteboards which provide the facility to interact; you can touch the board to control it instead of using keyboard or mouse so there is no more fussing with the mouse & keyboard and losing contact with the audience.
It is an interactive whiteboard that is connected to a computer and a multimedia projector. Once the computer image is projected on the board you can move your finger across the whiteboard, displaying the computer image, the mouse cursor follows. You simply tap the screen twice with your finger to perform the normal double-click as you would do with your mouse. You can control most of the computer actions from the front of the class or meeting room by just interacting on surface of the board. You can also write or draw on the whiteboard with your finger or the pens provided and save the image to the computer. These images, which are your notes from the meeting or training session, can then be printed or emailed. The software included with some interactive whiteboards also has built in Optical Character Recognition, which means you can write on the screen and the computer will recognize your hand writing and turn it into computer text.
Features
While electronic copyboards cut note taking by allowing presentations to be saved and distributed, interactive white boards use a computer to enable time savings in lesson preparation, as well. Instructors can prepare presentations and supporting media and then store them on the computer. The typical hard connection for feedback from the board to the computer is serial or USB. Once this connection is made and the projector is on, software included with each system walks you through a simple initial calibration procedure involving touching the screen with the writing pen on the projected calibration spots.
Most systems include character recognition software that enables you to change written words to printed text instantly. Then the word or phrase can be touched and “slid” (dragged and dropped) to any location on the display.
Two specifications of particular interest in these products are resolution and tracking speed. The resolution spec plays a central role in determining the accuracy of handwriting recognition, and tracking speed determines the delay between physical actions on the board and their projected display. A resolution of 1,000 lines per inch is sufficient for most handwriting recognition applications, and a tracking speed of 200 inches per second will overcome any noticeable display lag. The products with resistive or capacitive sensing have generally held the advantage in this spec, but those using ultrasound position sensing have come to offer respectable tracking rates.
For the most part, the higher the tracking rate and resolution, the higher the cost of the board. Prices start at around $500 for a retrofit kit that converts a traditional white board to an interactive white board. Built-in systems with better specs and more features can run over $10,000. Some models use special pens or styli that can cost over $200 apiece. The more expensive writing instruments incorporate ultrasound transmission and run on AA or AAA batteries. Plasma screens with interactive overlays beat the pack as far as resolution, but they can cost several thousand dollars and are somewhat limited in size.
The various available features are largely a function of the software provided. Some models offer audio capture from built-in microphones and videoconferencing and data sharing for distance-learning applications. Some systems are not Mac compatible; those that are frequently offer fewer features for the Macintosh.
The Necessary of Erery Teacher to Have An Electronic Whiteboard
- Interactive whiteboards give the teacher instant access to a vast array of electronic resources. This makes learning much more exciting and breathes new life into old fashioned chalk-and-talk.
- It enables seamless links to be made between the interactive whiteboard technology and the subject material.
- The Interactive whiteboard is controlled by the teacher from the front of the classroom using an easy-to-use electronic pen. Teachers are rethinking their approach to teaching and having fun doing so.
- Using electronic ink, the teacher can write over any image shown on the interactive whiteboard screen. These annotations can then be captured on an electronic flipchart. The flexibility and the scope for imaginative lesson planning are huge.
- At the end of the lesson, flipchart pages can automatically be saved and can be printed, emailed or even pasted onto a website. This opens up possibilities for pupils to access lesson materials out of the lesson itself and for teachers to share lesson resources.
- The flipchart files can be updated or merged with other Windows applications, which enables the teachers to save the best lessons and improve on them in their own time.