Choosing an interactive screen

[Caffeine11]

Hi Everyone

 

The school I cover has projectors in the classrooms and we are looking at touch screens. I cover another school where we went with Clevertouch because the software supplied with the screen was good.

 

However, at this school, it is the classic case of if we go with Clevertouch, the budget will only stretch to 4 classrooms. If we go with a cheaper screen, it might stretch to six classrooms.

 

We have had a look at a Viewsonic screen but the software that came with it appears rather limited. We had a look at just a plain touch screen but the cost saving over a Viewsonic was negligible and being able to use the screen without a device attached is useful.

 

Therefore, has anybody got any feedback on the software provided with screens from other manufacturers?

 

Finally, where you work, do the teaching staff actually use the software supplied with the screen or do they just mirror/extend the screen on their device?

 

Thank you

[Jawloms]

or do they just mirror/extend the screen on their device?

 

^^ This. Packaged software is largely irrelevant here.

[mavhc]

The android system in the Benq lets the teachers do some basic writing on the screen without a device connected, wouldn't bother if you wanted to save it for later, just to use instead of a whiteboard

 

People still want to spend months of their lives putting data into software that can't export it, don't do that.

 

Google Jamboard lets you export as PDF

Powerpoint has ink tools under drawing, including equation editor

Inkscape does everything as SVG

Microsoft Whiteboard website/app only allows export as png now though

[andy_b]

You need to find out what the end users want/need and tailor the solution to that - every school can have a different need.

 

Microsoft Whiteboard and a touch interface is enough in some places. Others need all the bells and whistles of something like a Clevertouch.

 

For us, option 1 is all that is required.

[mavhc]

Do you want a) Clevertouch software (which when I last used it was horrible), or b) more screens, or c) a wage reduction, or d) less TAs

[localzuk]

We buy basic Vestel screens here, and everyone links their laptop up and duplicates/extends their screens. We don't use any specific touchscreen software that comes with them.

[DrCheese]

We buy Smart GX75's here - Around £1399 each.

 

Don't use any other software than the built in Windows 11 stuff.

[Aprice]

We've been very impressed with the Hisense boards, they've come in much cheaper than a lot of the competition and so far have all been great.

 

Most staff just mirror to the board, in one of our secondaries with just Promethean ActivPanels we just have one member of staff that likes Activinspire and uses it but nobody else does.

[mdrabble]

I got in 3 different makes/models (ViewSonic, CTouch and IIyama) at the same time, had them in the staffroom and told staff to have a play with them.

 

Arranged demos of 2 of the screens and I gave the dmeo on the 3rd screen.

 

We had them for a week and I told staff to play and try and use them as they would in a lesson - and basically left them to it (so they could decide on which they found the easiest to use)

 

At the end of the week, I sent out a feedback form and basically told staff if I got no feedback them I would choose the screen - which led to a flurry of responses (just under hald the staff - which was impressive for us as staff normally ignore them)

 

Out of 40ish responses, all but 2 opted for the IIyama Screen.

[mavhc]

Did they say why they preferred it?

[SamanthaD]

For touch panels we use iiyama - for us RS232 control is important and as little software on the actual device as possible. All the collaboration / whiteboard tools are Office 365 based, and as users float from room to room keeping data on the device is a no go.

[BenQ_Royce]

Our EZWrite software is cross platform and allows export and has improved year on year as we design it inhouse, if you'd like we can arrange some training... however we also have 2 low cost plug in Google EDLA modules this July that will allow full Google Playstore access, making O365, Whiteboard, teams, and Google tools all fully accessible. If you'll prefer a fully baked in version that's manageable under our AMS control system then it will start appearing panels later this summer.

 

its the system we showed at BETT earlier this year

https://www.benq.com/en-ap/education/news/benq-launches-google-mobile-services-gms-certified-slot-in-pc.html

 

(@Nic if you pic this up can you reach out pls)

[mavhc]

"EDLA stands for Enterprise Devices Licensing Agreement and is a new program that Google offers that extends GMS approvals for devices sold to enterprises. It covers rugged devices, POS solutions, and digital signage/kiosk devices."

[BenQ_Royce]

I've spent a lot of time working with the team on this project and unfettered teacher access to Playstore is not the aim, but controlled, secure, ICT managed deployment. When I'm back after this week I'll post some videos from BETT. With every panel vendor deploying EDLA this year, BenQ's in-house engineering are taking a managed approach especially from our Jamboard heritage. Edited June 13, 2023 by BenQ_Royce

[barrytech]

We are going through this process now.

 

We've demoed a large number of vendors, not all are the same.

 

My recommendation is to get the spec sheet from each. Go Android 11+. If possible, check the speakers/soundbar on them. One supplier had a terrible quality soundbar. The BenQ RM03A was one of the better from the mid-range offerings.

 

I find the anti-glare or whatever on the BenQ to actually be the worst out of the panels we demoed. While they advertise highest nits, I found it actually to be quite dull when compared to MaxHub, Promethean and a local supplier.

 

Get something with at least 65W power delivery. If you don't have USB-C devices yet, you will in the future. Having one cable for data + AV + power is great. Ideally find something that has the port on the back of the TV and then zip tie it to the TV so teachers can't damage the port. The BenQ RM03A only has a front facing 65W which is problematic. One of our local panels has 100W PD which is awesome. No more uncharged laptops for teachers.

 

Wireless casting might be important for you too. The BenQ has lots of latency, chromecast doesn't work for me with it either. The Promethean was pretty good. MaxHub was the best by far. The native Miracast has imperceivable touchback.

 

Also, consider having physical buttons on the panel. We aren't handing out remotes. The MaxHub has no physical buttons, so we're no long considering it as an option. The Promethean is probably the pick in terms of physical buttons. The BenQ isn't bad, but a physical freeze button would be good for staff.

 

Consider the software. I'd recommend avoiding the in-built software and using what teachers are already familiar with. We are heavily a OneNote school, but even PowerPoint has good annotation ability. I liked BenQ's floating toolbar the most - it allowed teachers to do easy annotations. Most panels with have some account mangement feature, but I found it not to be useful. I was hoping with the BenQ I could get a teacher to sign into the OneNote app and it would persistently sign in again when they sign out of the panel - not the case. So we won't even advertise that feature.

 

Lastly, consider the DMS features. MaxHub (ByTello) is the best in this regard. You can program your bells through your panel, run live-streams where every panel turns on and automatically starts playing a local stream, push out apps, set schedules, send announcements, delete apps etc. The BenQ is second, Promethean third, and then the rest of the pack.

I am still deciding but it's a close call between Promethean ActivPanel 9 and the BenQ RM03A. Both are the same price after some haggling.

Edited June 14, 2023 by barrytech

[BenQ_Royce]

I find the anti-glare or whatever on the BenQ to actually be the worst out of the panels we demoed. While they advertise highest nits, I found it actually to be quite dull when compared to MaxHub, Promethean and a local supplier.

.

 

thanks for the detailed feedback, very interesting.

If it's nits v nits shootout and brightness is key, if you've still got the demo unit, try disabling all the BenQ Classroomcare options, including Low bluelight, ambient sensor, motion sensor, as most of our panels have these on by default. There's an anti bacterial coating on the RM03 but wont be reducing the overall brightness output.

 

if you go down the BenQ route, not only thank you, PM me as I can look to ship out an early EDLA sample based on android 13.

 

thanks

/Royce - BenQ UK MD

Edited June 14, 2023 by BenQ_Royce

[barrytech]

If it's nits v nits shootout and brightness is key, if you've still got the demo unit, try disabling all the BenQ Classroomcare options, including Low bluelight, ambient sensor, motion sensor, as most of our panels have these on by default. There's an anti bacterial coating on the RM03 but wont be reducing the overall brightness output.

Groovy. I'll try that tomorrow if I get a chance (the perils of having the demo unit in a classroom means getting access to it is tough!)

 

if you go down the BenQ route, not only thank you, PM me as I can look to ship out an early EDLA sample based on android 13.

 

Interesting. I read about this and the promethean (and I guess everyone else too). Will it replace the existing OS going forward (i.e. no android anymore)?

 

Oh another note which I need to test on the promethean to see if it's the same... I was hoping I could sign in to the AMS, then sign into OneNote, and then sign out of AMS but retain the signed in status of OneNote. However, when I sign out of AMS and then sign back in, OneNote is no longer signed in. I know this might not be what the AMS use case was originally for, but it'd be so nice for us Windows camps to be able to use the native OneNote/MS Whiteboard apps with BenQ on the panel themselves.

Edited June 14, 2023 by barrytech

[mavhc]

It's Google authorised android, instead of AOSP. So you can get Google Play Services and Play Store

[supportman]

We tested various screens before settling on the Smart 6000s. Its a great screen that does everything we need.

[DGardiner]

thanks for the detailed feedback, very interesting.

If it's nits v nits shootout and brightness is key, if you've still got the demo unit, try disabling all the BenQ Classroomcare options, including Low bluelight, ambient sensor, motion sensor, as most of our panels have these on by default. There's an anti bacterial coating on the RM03 but wont be reducing the overall brightness output.

 

if you go down the BenQ route, not only thank you, PM me as I can look to ship out an early EDLA sample based on android 13.

 

thanks

/Royce - BenQ UK MD

 

A quick query...

 

Is there anyway to enable EZWrite as an sso app in google workspace? this gives users direct easy access to the app - this makes getting staff to pick it up alot easier from our side + the benefits of classroom integration etc

 

Will we ever get OS upgrades on older panels, the bigest problem for me in this space is the lack of support from suppliers, yo uget whatever comes on it as shipped + the few security updates/patches and nothing more so these to me are becoming the biggest security threat on my network to the point where i want to disable them and make the connected computer do all the work as atleast i know thats secure and functional.

[barrytech]

Will we ever get OS upgrades on older panels, the bigest problem for me in this space is the lack of support from suppliers, yo uget whatever comes on it as shipped + the few security updates/patches and nothing more so these to me are becoming the biggest security threat on my network to the point where i want to disable them and make the connected computer do all the work as atleast i know thats secure and functional.

I thought about doing that initially, but I think everything is controlled by their android os - even the HDMI/USB-C inputs are run in a PIP-style app (I could be wrong though).

[DrCheese]

I thought about doing that initially, but I think everything is controlled by their android os - even the HDMI/USB-C inputs are run in a PIP-style app (I could be wrong though).

 

I suspect you're right - When you freeze any of these modern screens they really just take a screenshot & lock to that. You can tell by the way the image loses quality as it does it (This is the same on both our clevertouches & our Smart GX series)

 

I agree with the above posters, these will (are) become a major security issue in the next few years.

[DGardiner]

I suspect you're right - When you freeze any of these modern screens they really just take a screenshot & lock to that. You can tell by the way the image loses quality as it does it (This is the same on both our clevertouches & our Smart GX series)

 

I agree with the above posters, these will (are) become a major security issue in the next few years.

 

I mean in as far as diconnecting them from the cabled network/removing the wifi cards - i dont care if they run locally just not online

[BenQ_Mark]

Groovy. I'll try that tomorrow if I get a chance (the perils of having the demo unit in a classroom means getting access to it is tough!)

 

 

Interesting. I read about this and the promethean (and I guess everyone else too). Will it replace the existing OS going forward (i.e. no android anymore)?

 

Oh another note which I need to test on the promethean to see if it's the same... I was hoping I could sign in to the AMS, then sign into OneNote, and then sign out of AMS but retain the signed in status of OneNote. However, when I sign out of AMS and then sign back in, OneNote is no longer signed in. I know this might not be what the AMS use case was originally for, but it'd be so nice for us Windows camps to be able to use the native OneNote/MS Whiteboard apps with BenQ on the panel themselves.

 

Hi Barry, in the instance that you aren't the next user to use the device, this could lead to security implications, but I wonder if there might be some way to remember credentials for the last session, so should the last user be the next to use the device, services like One Note would remain logged-in. Either way, this is something I can investigate with the development team as to whether it might be possible.

Edited June 14, 2023 by BenQ_Mark

[BenQ_Mark]

A quick query...

 

Is there anyway to enable EZWrite as an sso app in google workspace? this gives users direct easy access to the app - this makes getting staff to pick it up alot easier from our side + the benefits of classroom integration etc

 

Will we ever get OS upgrades on older panels, the bigest problem for me in this space is the lack of support from suppliers, yo uget whatever comes on it as shipped + the few security updates/patches and nothing more so these to me are becoming the biggest security threat on my network to the point where i want to disable them and make the connected computer do all the work as atleast i know thats secure and functional.

 

Not specifically that I am aware of. We do support SSO through AMS/IAM, so users can use existing credentials to access the software.

 

There are regular firmware upgrades available. Which models are you referring to? If you're able to provide the model/FW version I can take a look.