For many century, teachers have written on boards in front of classrooms. It started in the 1800s, with chalk on blackboards. In the last few years, these have made way for inkless pens on interactive whiteboards. Whiteboards that surf the net, convert written material into downloadable digital notes and let teachers and students collaborate on quizzes have becomes the focus of many classrooms around the world. By next year, one in every seven classrooms will feature these computer-driven boards, predicts Future source Consulting, a market research firm that tracks whiteboard sales in more than 60 countries worldwide. However, even before they take over the classrooms, the writing may be on the wall for some of these slabs. That is because interactive projectors are making it possible for teachers to literally write on the wall. Take the Epson EB-450Wi interactive projector, introduced this year.It can do all that an electronic whiteboard is capable of, but does it without the need for a physical board. Many of the educational institutions that we work with around the world told us that they needed interactivity in their projected lessons, but without the high cost typically associated with a projected and a digital whiteboard. So came up with a projector that can turn any surface into an interactive one.The technology that makes it possible is an infrared system integrated into the projected and a stylus pen that works like a mouse. Mounted on the projection unit are infrared sensors which can detect signals from the infrared emitter at the tip of the stylus pen. The projector is then able to make out the location of the pen on the surface. The system connects to a computer and can also access materials on the Web, so teachers can knit together images and videos for the lessons. While interactivity in a projector is not new, being able to offer it at a short distance is the Epson EB-450Wi projector's edge. Since it is an ultra short-throw projectors, it can be mounted on the ceiling just 48cm from the wall, and still project an image about 203cm wide diagonally. The short distance also means that when a teacher or student is standing in front of the wall to write, no shadows will be cast on the surface. The Epson EB-450Wi also works with all types of software, unlike some digital whiteboards which work only with proprietary software.
Projector Screen
The Epson EB-450Wi Projector and the stylus pen can help schools do away with Whiteboard

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