Interactive Projectors VS Interactive Whiteboards

[andyturpie]

Morning,

 

When refitting classrooms,we usually have a standard of using a Hitachi Trio FX Interactive boards with a short throw Hitachi projector. I have noticed now that Hitachi are starting to push out interactive projectors which negates the need for the board. Just wondering if anyone else has trialled interactive projectors (any brand) and if they are of any cop and what issues they faced when using them?

 

Would love feedback as I am looking to either make a purchase within the next few days!

 

Thanks guys and gals!

[Achandler]

We are going to try some very soon, I have used the Hitachi ones (had a trial one for a few days) Teachers were happy with it. Make sure it doesnt get "moved" in any way though, like the ceiling being shuck (by kids in thr class above) for example they don't like that. Also make sure the wall/ board is hard and flat against the wall.

[andyturpie]

Thanks for the swift feedback, can I ask if the projector in question was short throw?

[Achandler]

It was an Hitachi short throw one, the newer models with the reversed mirror on it. I liked it, it was as accurate as a Smartboard.

 

We are going to be buying (for two rooms) the Smart Projectors (LightRaise 40, I think) though, because "all our classrooms must have identical facilities" .

 

My concern is that these projectors have active pens, which means they cost if they get lost. We don't have a huge problem with that here but you could effectively stop a classroom being "useable" because one pen is lost.

[andyturpie]

Ah these pens are the bane of my life. We initially purchased 10 duo FX boards around 3 years ago, 8 of the pens have been damaged through dropping on the floor and damaging the battery lid, or the digitiser getting damaged when teachers were pressing too hard to compensate for poor battery life. Our next shipment of boards arrived without pens, so we have just had to shell out nearly £1800 for the extra pens...

 

and i'm guessing that the interactive projectors won't have a "finger mode"?

[NDW]

the hitachi iPJ-AW250NM uses ebeam inside the projector, but it is combined with the hitachi software which makes the projector very good.

 

IMO they are a suitable replacement but you need to make sure the room height will allow for the installation as iv had problems with that before

[enjay]

Smartboards have the advantage of not needing a special pen, particularly useful in a shared environment where the pens stand a much greater chance of going missing.

 

Interactive projectors, on the other hand, can produce a larger image.

[Max_Power]

We have some Epson interactive projectors, teachers liked them at first but then felt they became a little more of a hindrance when compared to a smartboard. Some of the reasons were a little wayward such as "you have one pen for everything as opposed to a pen and a rubber on a smarboard which means it takes me longer to do something, even more if the tools bar is minimised". In fairness I can see their point to some extent.

Now though I think there is a little more of a divide, younger staff are keen to implement ipads, apple TV and VNC between a PC, where as older staff are still keen on smartboards. I try to provide which ever the teacher feels can assist them best in delivering their lessons which appears to be a positive amongst staff and SMT.

[Achandler]

I'm sure the Hitachi we trialled had a button on the pen that you could set to anything, we tried setting it to change pen type (i.e colour and rubber) and I remember it working.

 

If and when i get a SMART Projector then I will let you know good it is to.

[andyturpie]

Cheers for the feedback guys - the majority of the established teachers here do not embrace the full functionality of an IWB. For the them its just to show a presentation or film clip on and if at the end of the day, the girls are getting outstanding exam results upon leaving, i'm not going to argue. Moving to interactive projectors will save around IRO £800 in kitting out a room and the savings can be passed onto updating the other classrooms in waiting. Our timetable here is very dynamic which means at sometime within a week someone will make use of its interactive services

 

Will definately be interested to hear feedback on the SMART boards, Achandler!

[enjay]

the majority of the established teachers here do not embrace the full functionality of an IWB. For the them its just to show a presentation or film clip on and if at the end of the day, the girls are getting outstanding exam results upon leaving, i'm not going to argue. Moving to interactive projectors will save around IRO £800 in kitting out a room

If they're not using the interactivity, then why not save even more and get "normal" projectors instead?

[MarkSixsmith]

Hi - We've started trialing a Hitachi IPJ-AW250N and, so far, it's looks to be great improvement over our existing projectors (projects directly onto a light green wall and gives an excellent picture) - and the teachers like it. As always with these things, we'll be giving it few weeks to see how it holds up to the 'rigours' of day-to-day use.

[andyturpie]

If they're not using the interactivity, then why not save even more and get "normal" projectors instead?

 

Good question, our timetable is ultra dynamic, for instance we currently have maths lessons (teachers who use interactivity) in some science classes when rooms are scarce, they would make use of all the features.

[exim]

I think casio is also worth looking into - it's the front runner so far contemplating summer installs. SMART LightRaise 40wi was being considered, but like their current projectors, it seems won't support a typical high mac resolution image, which is a must for our graphics rooms needing at least 1680×1050. Edited May 13, 2012 by exim

[Cummins]

Used a few of these interactive projectors, they seem to work well enough. Main downfall is the pens and potentially shaking/moving of image.

If you can afford it I'd suggest looking at Interactive LCD Screens (for example CleverTouch)? Full HD displays, no shaking, interactivity, dual touch. Downfall being you need a good solid wall.

[enjay]

If you can afford it I'd suggest looking at Interactive LCD Screens (for example CleverTouch)? Full HD displays, no shaking, interactivity, dual touch. Downfall being you need a good solid wall.

 

They are a lot smaller images than interactive projectors too, so might not be suitable for whole-class teaching.

[Cummins]

They are a lot smaller images than interactive projectors too, so might not be suitable for whole-class teaching.

 

You can get 82" in CleverTouch now-a-days, with the increased brightness, clarity of image and lack of shadowing I wouldn't see it being a problem for most classrooms.

[Achandler]

The problem with touchscreen versus projector is the cost of the touchscreen to start with at the moment. You can get a 100inch image from an interactive projector for about £2k (installed etc), TVs are just in a compeltely different price bracket, pushing double that, which means even over a lifetime the TV would be more expensive by my reckoning, which is a real shame but a better image won't make members of SMT approve double the cost for a similar result.

[andyturpie]

Just had a look at the 82" clevertouch, that is more of a want than a need ha ha!

[timp]

They are a lot smaller images than interactive projectors too, so might not be suitable for whole-class teaching.

 

Don't forget 65" LCD is as wide as a 78" interactive board and the lower height helps shorter teachers! Add the high definition display most classrooms can cope with this screen size.

[nathan3388]

interactive projectors are pants you have to calibrate them all the time, have a mind of their own and cost way too when you can pick a interactive board and projector for cheaper.

[enjay]

Add the high definition display most classrooms can cope with this screen size.

Is HD quality something which teachers need at your school? Here, our projectors are showing PowerPoint and YouTube - not much demand for HD...

[broc]

We have 40+ Epson interactive projectors installed across the school & have been using them since Jan 2011. The projectors have been very reliable, initially we had a load of problems with the pens until Epson replaced them with a new improved version. They are all networked & I can control them & monitor status (temperature, lamp life etc) centrally using an Epson application on my PC. Calibration takes longer as there are more 'points' than on a Promethean board but once done does not need to be redone.

 

We bought a site licence for RM Easiteach Next Generation as this provided similar functionality to ActivInspire but at a fraction of the cost; Promethean are not keen to allow you to use their software on 3rd party hardware & make it very unattractive financially to do so.

 

The Epson units need quite a high ceiling height if you are to get a decent screen size...... a couple of our rooms had sloping ceilings & were too low so we had to install 'all-in-one' IWBs.

 

They are also sensitive to reflections off the surface you are projecting the image onto, so a matt finish is recommended. We discovered when the sun is low in the sky that a slightly reflective wall/whiteboard + direct sunlight + poorly fitted blinds moving in the breeze can cause 'phantom' movement of the mouse pointer on the boards.... the kids were convinced the room was 'haunted'.

 

I would certainly recommend you visit a school using them if they are under consideration.

Edited May 22, 2012 by broc

[AngryTechnician]

We have a couple of the InFocus ones, and they are alright, but not stellar. They aren't suitable for bright rooms in my experience, as the wands have tracking problems when there isn't a good contrast level, but that may be particular to to the brand.

 

I also wouldn't install anything that can't be used with fingers in any classroom below Year 5.

[MrPstv]

We use Dell interactive projectors bundled with software,hdmi(handy for those ipad thingys),ultra short throw and a crisp picture,replacement pens are expensive, but overall compared to having a board and projector installed this to us was the way to go! Supplied and installed by the nice chaps from XMA.

Installed they look the part and they are suitable for our Primary School especially if your going down the ipad route.

Only gripe with some staff was not being able to use a certain branded interactive software .Updating bundled software sorted out some compatiblity issues with flip charts.

 

All staff seem to be happy :-) all in all a good result.