3 Things to Consider When Buying an Interactive Board or Interactive Flat Panel

Choosing an interactive board or interactive flat panel for the classroom can seem like a difficult task. It is a fast-moving market and there are plenty of options to choose from. It's important to have a clear idea of your needs and how they relate to your options.

Here are the key points to keep in mind:

Position of the Screen

Most people place the device on the classroom wall, which is the traditional location of a whiteboard or blackboard. But this isn't always the best choice for interactive technology. An interactive board with a short-throw projector will be subjected to vibration when students enter and leave the classroom. This can cause it to move out of position, causing image distortion and problems with focus.

Placing an interactive flat panel on a trolley gives you more flexibility when it comes to the layout of the classroom. In some classes, this may be a critical consideration. If you plan to change the layout of the classroom, but the panel is fixed to the wall, you will find that your options are limited by the visibility of the screen.

Wherever you place the screen, it should be at least 4 feet above the floor so that all the students can see it.

Size

There is a school of thought that bigger is always better. Fortunately, that's not true when it comes to interactive devices. Larger screens can actually stretch images and cause visible pixelation, which spoils the clarity of the images.

The optimum screen size is actually related to the viewing distances of the students. The students who are sitting closest should be no closer than twice the height of the screen. The furthest students should be no further than 6 times the height of the screen. In order to hit the ideal proportions, you may need to rearrange the seating in the room.

Choosing The Technology

The high image quality and lifespan of the interactive flat panel makes it an attractive option for schools, but these qualities come at a price. For schools with a tighter budget, an interactive board may be a better choice. It depends on how often it will be used.

While the up-front costs are lower, and interactive board relies on a projector, and they have lamps which must be replaced from time to time. The lifespan of the lamp depends on how heavily it is used. In addition, some projectors have filters that must be maintained, too.

Consider the long term expenses as well as the short term ones.

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