What Every Interactive Screen Buyer Should Know
Just like buying a house, buying interactive displays can be a daunting task for first-time buyers. Buyers don’t necessarily know the right questions to ask.
Do Your Homework
It’s worth thinking about what you need before you start looking at potential solutions. Choosing between models, feature sets, and specifications can feel overwhelming if you don’t have a clear idea of your needs. Ask yourself questions about the spaces where the screens will be used. How many classrooms or other spaces need screens? How big is each room? How many students per class? Do you need them to be mobile? If so, where will they be used? And what will they need to connect to?
Evaluate the Technology
You’ll find plenty of information in brochures and spec sheets, but nothing beats seeing the products in action. Watch demo video clips or download the trial software. Take the time to try it out yourself. Why not bring teachers and students to your supplier’s demonstration center to evaluate the model, or ask for the product to be brought to you? Visit https://www.ecran-interactif.com
Screen Size
You want all the content displayed on screen to be clear and readable for your whole class no matter where they’re sitting, so it’s essential to have the right screen size for the size of the room. Touchscreens are available up to 105 inches, so there’s a size to suit every space. Don’t hesitate to ask a trusted supplier to advise you on the optimal size for your room. Remember, touchscreens can easily be moved around when mounted on a cart and are bright enough to be used in a variety of spaces such as libraries, staff rooms, or meeting rooms. A mobile screen paired with an iBoardTouch PC module is highly versatile, since it frees you from the limits of your school space, you get instant classroom activity anywhere!
Not All Panels Are Equal
While touchscreens may look similar, the panel inside varies enormously in quality and reliability, so don’t forget to ask: “What’s the panel quality?” and “What’s the panel failure rate?” Panel quality ranges from B up to A and A+, the highest grade. For top quality, the panel should have virtually no defects such as dark or light spots, light leakage at the edges, or other flaws that affect image quality and consistency.
Display Quality
Other factors affect content display quality, particularly screen resolution. The higher the resolution, the more detail can be displayed, which helps ensure that even tiny text, numbers, fine details, and subtle color and hue variations remain clear.
Multi-Touch Interaction
Interactive screen models use a variety of touch technologies. Most now support multi-touch with 2, 4, 6, 10, or 32 simultaneous touch points. Two is the minimum needed for pinching, zooming, double-tapping, and other touch gestures we’re all used to on our smartphones and tablets. Four is the minimum you’ll need if two people need to use the screen at the same time.
Connectivity
One key thing to look for is built-in WiFi. Look for the screen’s ability to act as a WiFi hotspot, plus a wired Ethernet connection (RJ45) in case your WiFi isn’t up to par, as well as ports for USB, HDMI, microphones, and RS232 if you have a room control system.
