Projector Projects
Teachers have brought their lessons to life using multimedia means to capture the imagination of their students. From interactive projectors and collaborative tools, to incredibly intense 4K clarity, advances in the projector arena have changed the game. One factor that remains high on administrator and decision-maker’s minds is solving eco and budget concerns. Casio attempts to answer to both with their latest line of lamp-free projectors.
“Our goal is to provide educators with the most innovative and cutting-edge learning tools that enable them to take teaching to the next level,” says Joe Gillio, Senior Director Strategic Planning and Marketing of Casio’s Business Projector Division “We think our LampFree projectors do precisely that by offering a mercury-free, affordable solution with a comprehensive feature-set, ideal for any classroom.”
By combining a laser and LED light source to create a high-brightness, mercury-free tool, this line of tech uses up to half the amount of power per unit than other lamp-based projectors and extends the operating life up to 20,000 hours while eliminating the costly process of replacing lamps.
Digital Podiums Take Flight
HoverCam had several teaching tools to share with ISTE-goers, including the Pilot 3 — a fully integrated wireless digital podium teaching station. Featuring a Windows PC, 13-megapixel document camera, and 21-inch touchscreen with wireless HD mirroring functionality (up to 4k res) in a mobile podium, it lets educators crash the old AV cart. In a sense, the Pilot 3 announces that teachers are now free to move about the classroom.
“Educators today are overwhelmed with a growing number of devices in the classroom, which take a lot of time and effort to learn and to use effectively together," said Felix Pimental, product manager at HoverCam who stressed the importance of seamless tech communication.
Using HoverCam's ClassFusion software, it enables interactive whiteboarding, annotation, and desktop marking for lesson recording and sharing so students can study anywhere, anytime, and on any mobile device or browser. (Keep an eye out for upcoming Pilot 1. A prototype of the tablet-based, battery-operated wireless digital teaching station was on display. The tablet can be charged while docked or be removed for more flexibility around the classroom and stored in the base for security.)
They Be Jam’ing
Not only does the touch-enabled 4K ultra high def Google Jamboard integrate Google’s G Suite, to put popular Google apps and interactive capabilities at users’ fingertips — BenQ did so with an eye to eye health. A reduction of harmful blue light (which studies show can increase cancer risk) is one-upped by an aspect teachers and parents will applaud, an antimicrobial ionic silver coating that remains effective even after thorough cleaning or long periods of use.
“As schools look to increase engagement in the classroom, BenQ’s intuitive, bright and interactive IFPs transform active learning,” said Bob Wudeck, senior director, business, education and CinePro solutions at BenQ America Corp. “Our RP and RM Series IFPs are the industry’s only budget-friendly displays with tested and certified features that resist and prevent the spread of germs and reduce the harmful effect of blue light, flicker and glare on the eyes.”
Students can draw, annotate, import and scribble on images and Google Docs, search the web and communicate with classmates via Hangouts — all saved in the cloud. In addition, students can sketch out plans in real time with collaborators from across the globe via other Jamboards, smartphones, Chromebooks or tablets.
