Topic
Paper
Technological tools involved with the display of data, graphics, and full motion to groups of people have experienced the same forces of digital convergence seen in other areas. Proprietary tools that were previously necessary for these activities, (film and slide projectors, television, computer monitors, blackboards, etc..) can be handled with a single device when the content is manipulated digitally from the start.
The diverse set of technologies has been replaced with a diverse set of customized tools that offer the user a variety of features, sizes, quality, and price.
Three main categories of tools being discussed here are projectors, flat panel displays, and electronic whiteboards. Displays of the future will be provided on a growing variety of materials and locations. The use of organic materials that allow for transparent displays will allow the user to visualize two things at the same time.
Advances in projector technology have come in the following areas:
- Size and mobility
- Picture quality
- Multimedia capabilities
- Ease of use and configuration
All of this has expanded their use in educational, promotional, and conferencing applications. Use with the equally mobile laptop computer has become a staple of presentation in many situations.
Flat plasma panel displays are an alternative to projection. Current models are generally about 3x4 feet in size. Projection from the rear through the screen has advantages in particular locations such as exhibit hall floors where the need to move around the screen is necessary.
Electronic whiteboards provide another set of capabilities for group presentation and interaction. In addition to acting like a regular whiteboard, they can digitally capture information written on them, can make the displayed image into a large writing tablet shared with a group, and can allow the addition of annotations on top of existing data and have it stored.
Advantages of
Display Technologies
These tools have become much more common place in a number of business and educational situations than in the past for obvious reasons. These include:
- Their portability and durability
- Their ability to work with quality in a variety of room environments
- Their more reasonable cost
- Their standardization
- Their ability to work with an every larger amount of content
- Their growing interactive capabilities
What do you need to use it?
Most of these devices now are standardized to work with any number of computing devices with very little technical configuration required. They also work with a number of standard applications. Getting the correct cable and a converter that allows for more manipulation between the computer monitor and the display device is usually all that is needed.
Projectors start around $2,000. Good mobile devices range from $3,000-$6,000 while large room conference projectors still run from $12,000-$25,000. The flat plasma screens run around $7,500-$9,500. Electronic Whiteboards start with download devices that take data off a traditional whiteboard with special markers for around $500 to the fully interactive whiteboards for $2,000 - $4,000.
Costs are still high for the flat plasma displays. Clear market need must be generating to justify their expense until they become more common and then come down in price. As with any mobile computing device there are real physical security issues. Mobility also raises concerns about damage during and between times of active use. The range of quality for devices that get used with many different people presents a continual issue of just how far up the product ladder is necessary for any given user.
These tools could be of use in group presentations, as well as professional development workshops and conference activities. Some functions of the electronic whiteboard could also be used in meeting, task force, or retreat settings.
Links:
Projectors – Info
http://peripherals.about.com/compute/peripherals/cs/projectorsinfo/index.htm?terms=projectors
AVP – the Presentation Source
Projector Central
http://www.projectorcentral.com/
Panelight Display Systems http://www.panelight.com/scripts/page26.exe?Catalog=Purchase&file=purchase/index.htm