Presentation Tech Meets the Network: Presentation Systems
Presentation technologies, from projection systems to
whiteboards, are no longer orphan technology, difficult to manage and operate
and cut off from their information and graphical sources. Today, these systems
are being integrated into the information technology enterprise like never
before, with the result that many projectors more often resemble fast network
computers than optical systems. To illustrate this trend, Syllabus has picked a
few examples of the latest presentation hardware and software. Together, they
show convincingly that traditional presentation systems have now become
sophisticated local-area network and even wireless network
appliances.
InFocus DP8000 Large Meeting Room Projector
InFocus
claims to offer the new era of networked projection systems by turning its
projectors into IT products. This network-ready system backs up that claim. The
InFocus/Proxima DP8000 offers built-in networking capabilities that support the
emergence of projectors as managed assets on the corporate network. This, in
turn, helps IT departments reduce the total cost of projector ownership. The
projector offers support for the High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection
(BDCP) standard, which allows straight digital-to-digital signals. The unit
features native XGA resolution and 3,000 lumens of brightness, and weighs in at
13.2 pounds. In addition to Web and video conferencing, the DP8000 can be used
to view DVD, HDTV, digital photos, and other digital content geared toward
e-learning and distance learning.
The projector works through
network-management standards such as Microsoft Management Console to enable
administrators to configure and control the projector- or a fleet of projectors-
from a remote console.
Contact: InFocus Corp.; (800) 294-6400; www.infocus.com.
E-Beam Portable Whiteboard
Whiteboard users looking for a
portable solution will want to check out e-Beam from Electronics for Imaging.
E-Beam lets you print to a local printer without a computer connection, or
'beam' the notes to a Palm OS handheld unit. It also offers the convenience of
capturing your whiteboard data using a PC or Mac. Despite its focus on
portability, e-Beam still offers an array of features. Users can print
whiteboard notes; capture lecture scribblings for after-class routing via PDF,
JPEG, or HTML; make classroom presentations using an LCD projector and the
e-Beam mouse; or replay whiteboard drawings using the play controls. Users can
adjust the size or color of the image captured. The nifty design includes
special sleeves and erasers. These send out an electronic signal to the system
giving a location as well as color. Users simply pick up a sleeve or the eraser
and begin writing or erasing. E-Beam mouse understands the sleeve signals. The
two receivers mount onto the whiteboard inconspicuously and enable users to
capture a surface as large as 8 feet by 5 feet.
Contact: Electronics for Imaging, e-Beam Division, Foster
City, Calif.; (650) 357-3500; www.e-beam.com.
Canon Video Visualizer RE-350
The Video Visualizer RE-350
allows instructors to display and project three-dimensional objects, as well as
high-resolution images such as photos, slides, and X-rays, including larger then
normal sizes. Integrated with a VCR and a computer, the RE-350 frees classrooms
from the old overhead projector and opens up possibilities for displaying all
sorts of artifacts: works of art, tools, anatomy specimens, and more. All of
RE-350's necessary controls are located on the front panel, making the system
extremely convenient to use. Canon also offers a Remote Control Box and
Controller, giving users added flexibility and freedom of movement.
Contact: Canon USA; (800) OK-CANON; www.canonprojectors.com .
Presedia Express 2.0
Presedia Express is a content
management system designed to quickly and efficiently move content from the
creator to the user. Consisting of a content manager, transcoder, transform
engines, and delivery manager, Presedia allows users to capture, manage, and
deliver Web presentations and quickly convert PowerPoint presentations into
online multimedia teaching tools. Version 2.0 adds many new features, including
an easy-to-use interface that enables AICC-compatible quizzes and surveys to be
quickly added into any PowerPoint slide. Other key enhancements include extended
animation support, an audio import utility, and a visual audio editor. The
system automatically tags specific text within each PowerPoint slide to enable
intelligent search capabilities. Key to Presedia's strategy is capturing data in
chunks, breaking up the material into its constituent elements—text, graphics,
audio—and storing these elements in XML. The XML data can then be searched,
combined, and rebuilt for proper display on various output devices such as Web
browsers, personal digital assistants, CD-ROM, and smart wireless phones.
Contact: Presedia, Sunnyvale, Calif.; (408) 616-0050;
www.presedia.com.
Sony VPL-FE110 Wireless Projector
The start of the art in
presentation hardware is moving in the direction of—you guessed it—wireless.
Why? More and more projectors are being connected to networks, wired or
wireless, to access users across the enterprise and to distribute content. The
reduced cost and hassle of using cables are just added bonuses. Sony's VPL-FE110
wireless projector includes an internal Windows CE operating system, which
enables it to display Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint presentations and
JPEG and GIF files, as well as browse the Internet. For connection to a
local-area network, it features a PC Card Type II slot for wireless and wired
Network Interface Cards, as well as Memory Stick or Compact Flash cards for
memory storage of 30 MB of information. Users can send the projector
presentation files by connecting a PC to the LAN. Windows CE enables the
projector to be accessed from anywhere via a simple Web browser. This enables
service providers to check the current lamp life and overall status of the
projector, and allows users to download presentations from anywhere in the
world.
Contact: Sony Corp.; www.sony.com.
Panasonic PT-L711XNTU Wireless Projector
Wireless
presentation technology may make cabling and networking simpler, but it has a
huge additional organizational benefit. Remote command and control features
allow multiple users to collaborate transparently in giving presentations.
Panasonic's PT-L711XNTU wireless projector enables users to transmit data using
the Wi-Fi (802.11b) standard when an optional wireless LAN card is inserted into
a PC and to remotely check the projector's status and diagnose and fix problems.
With no need for a cable connection, users can control continuous presentations
from multiple PCs. A single PT-L711XNTU can be connected to and receive data
from several PCs, with no need to switch input settings. This expands usability
by allowing for participatory sessions—with users taking part in a presentation
on their own PCs. The Panasonic unit comes with a CD-ROM that includes a
Wireless Manager, which allows presenters to save images displayed from a
connected PC and send them to the projector during a presentation, and a JPEG
Converter utility, which converts BMP or TIFF images and Microsoft PowerPoint
files into JPEG images for storage.
Contact: Panasonic; www.panasonic.com/PBDS.
Iogear Phaser Handheld Radio Mouse
What do you get the
untethered faculty member who has everything? How about a wireless mouse? Iogear
Inc.'s Phaser is the first PS/2 handheld radio mouse with a built-in laser
pointer. The device enables presenters to highlight material or direct audiences
to specific locations with its light beam. The wireless tool can be controlled
up to 50 feet from the computer. Using high-band radio waves, the Phaser also
provides accurate cursor movement. The product, priced at $59.99, has a contour
design that comfortably fits the shape of the hand. The mouse is
Windows-compatible and comes with a three-year warranty. Later this year, the
company will release a combination version of Phaser that will be USB- and
PS/2-compatible.
Contact: Iogear Inc.; (949) 428-1111; www.iogear.com.
Kurzweil 3000 Assistive Reading Software
The National
Institutes of Health estimates that 15 percent of the U.S. population, or 34
million Americans, has some form of learning disability. For some of them,
Kurzweil systems mean the difference between an education and a world of
ignorance. The Kurzweil 3000 software helps people with reading or learning
difficulties increase their reading speed and comprehension. The system uses a
multisensory approach—presenting printed or electronic text on the computer
screen with added visual and audible accessibility. The product includes dynamic
features designed to adapt to each individual's learning style and minimize
frustration for both the learner and educator.
For instance, the Kurzweil 3000
offers the reader the ability to control the speed at which text is spoken, the
increments of words being read and highlighted, and the reader's personality.
Version 6.0 of the 3000 system includes floating licenses, enabling students can
log on anywhere, whether in the lab, classroom or library; a pronunciation
editor that allows global changes in the synthesized pronunciation of words;
auto-correction of OCR errors; PDF file access; and support for Windows XP.
Contact: Kurzweil Education Systems Inc.; (800) 894-5374;
www.kurzweiledu.com.
Sharp Notevision M25X Wireless Projector
Sharp
Electronics Corp.'s flagship entry into the wireless projector market is the
Notevision M25X, which uses IEEE 802.11b wireless LAN technology and image
compression to enable real-time data transmission via a wireless network. The
M25X also features Wireless Reality Presentation technology based on a new
vector quantization (VQ) technology that makes it possible to compress and
decompress still images with high compression rates and high image quality. Like
the other systems listed, the M25X allows users to transmit from multiple PCs to
a single projector or from a single PC to multiple projectors, without having to
plug and unplug connecting cables. In addition, the M25X's memory card slot is
compatible with a wide variety of cards, letting users deliver presentations
directly from the projector without needing an accompanying notebook or PC. The
lightweight projector weighs in at 5.8 pounds and features native XGA resolution
and 1,900 ANSI Lumens brightness. The projector benefits from Sharp's CV-IC
System II, a video-processing chip that cleans up jagged edges, minimizes image
noise, and implements keystone corrections.
Contact: Sharp Electronics Corp.; (888) 467-4277;
www.SharpLCD.com.
Tandberg 550 Video Conferencing System
Tandberg, a
Norwegian company specializing in video conferencing systems, has taken an early
position in the wireless sweepstakes, releasing a unit that includes a slot for
wireless LAN cards. This feature enables the Tandberg 550 system to be used as a
shared office resource. The simple cabling requirements of the system enable it
to be used in any available office space with a wireless LAN, providing all
users easy access to video conferencing. The 550 also provides standards-based
embedded encryption, allowing research teams to protect their intellectual
property by ensuring the secure transmission of audio, video, and electronic
data during a video conference on public networks. Another key feature of the
550 is the PC SoftPresenter, letting users show PC files and presentations in
real time. This feature allows users to step through the slides of a PowerPoint
presentation using a remote control, with no need to use a PC mouse or keyboard.
The VGA output support enables these documents and presentations to be seen at
their full resolution. The Tandberg 550 runs up to 384 kilobits/sec on ISDN or
768 kilobits/sec on IP. For wireless LAN environments, the system supports
standard PC Cards, such as those from Cisco, Compaq, and Lucent.
Contact: Tandberg; www.tandberg.net.
3M Wall Display/Ideaboard
3M's Visual Systems Division's
flat-screen Wall Display presentation system is a one-solution system for your
display requirements. According to 3M, the Wall Display eliminates the need for
a television monitor, dry-erase board, multimedia projector, flip chart, screen,
and digital whiteboard and is appropriate for classrooms, small to medium
conference rooms, and executive offices. The system can be used as a digital
whiteboard by incorporating 3M Ideaboard software. The Ideaboard application
enables users to capture notes in color and save or send them in various file
formats; print notes directly from the screen when using as a copyboard; and
broadcast notes in real time to remote participants. Ideaboard is compatible
with Microsoft NetMeeting. A 'playback' feature allows session participants to
'rewind' and replay all drawings on the board, including erased items.
Contact: 3M Corp.; (800) 488-4954; www.3M.com/walldisplay.
Plus Vision V-807 Digital Projector
The smallest digital
projector we found, the Plus Vision V-807, weighs about 2 pounds. The system,
about half the size of a typical magazine cover, is ideal for faculty road
warriors. The projector matches subnotebook PCs in compactness, featuring
built-in functions for mobile presentations and a full-function remote control
card. Yet even with the drop in weight, the company has tried not to sacrifice
robust features. The V-807 hosts Picture-in-Picture, 4-Way keystone correction,
an extensive on-screen menu, and a DVI interface. The projector features
auto-detect inputs that automatically identify and project RGB and video input
sources, a built-in progressive scan converter, and a short throw lens that
allows users to place the projector close to the projected image.
Contact: Plus Vision; (800) 211-9001; www.plus-america.com/v807.html.
Promethean ACTIVboard
Promethean's ACTIVboard is a
combination of digital whiteboard technology and classroom-friendly software. A
cordless battery-free pen transfers multimedia lesson materials onto the large
ACTIVboard screen. (Two pens are provided.) Instructors can interact with the
whiteboard using the pen or remote control via the ACTIVslate, opening up
options for group work and collaboration. The ACTIVslate, an A5 graphic tablet,
operates remotely with the ACTIVboard. It frees instructors and students from
having to stand at the board for presentations. In a classroom, there might be
one ACTIVslate that is passed around or one at every workstation or desk.
Promethean's software package ACTIVstudio, controlled via the pen, adds
functionality that makes the whiteboard a suitable replacement for acetates,
flipcharts, and slide projectors.
At its most basic level, ACTIVstudio simulates
a dry-erase marker or chalk, but with the added capability of multiple colors
and line thicknesses. ACTIVstudio also can deliver Web content and other digital
resources from the PC, and users can then highlight, annotate, and mark the text
with special effects. Promethean also sells handheld keypads embedded with
analysis software. The product, called ACTIVote, allows each student in a
classroom to respond individually to teacher prompts. Designed to promote
student interactivity, the individual keypads can be programmed to deliver
anonymous or identified responses.
Contact: Promethean, Lancashire, England; 0870 2413194;
www.promethean.co.uk.
Smart Technologies Concept Mapping Software
Smart Technologies, a leader
in the interactive whiteboard market, is taking a technique recognized by
learning theorists as a way for students to brainstorm and organize their
thinking, and translating it into a technology tool. Instructors can use the
company’s Smart Ideas 3.0 concept-mapping software for Windows to diagram
abstract concepts with labeled symbols and connectors. Students can use it to
plot lab reports, book reports, or essays. The software’s interface enables
users to preview and expand diagrams and link to more information. One
innovation of the Smart Ideas software is the addition of multilevel diagrams.
Teachers and students can use the software to build in three dimensions, not
just two, creating sublevels and moving freely among them. In addition, users
can attach live Web links, files, movie clips, and presentations to symbols,
thereby making the concept map a multimedia tool. Templates and clip art are
provided with the software. Users can save,
e-mail, post to a Web site, or
distribute files via an intranet. Smart Ideas concept-mapping software is
optimized for use with a Smart Board interactive whiteboard. The board can be
written on with the use of a mouse, pen, or finger.
Contact: Smart Technologies, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; (888)
42S-MART; www.smarttech.com.
Epson PowerLite 600p Multimedia Projector
For educators looking for power and portability in a projection system, the
Epson PowerLite 600p multimedia projector weighs in at 9.6 pounds and features
substantial brightness of 1,700 lumens in native SVGA resolution. The unit uses
a 0.9-inch high-aperture LCD to produce rich colors across the entire screen and
a 400:1 contrast ratio for sharp blacks and whites and crisp text. The projector
features six projection modes that are user-selectable based on the projection
environment. The model is designed to provide quiet operation (38 db), including
five-watt amplified sound for clear audio output that can fill an entire room.
The Epson 600p is among the first projectors to meet Microsoft Windows color
quality specifications using a color management technology developed jointly by
Epson and Mitsubishi. This makes it possible for the projector to reproduce the
same natural color tones as monitors.
Contact: Epson; (800) 463-7766; www.info.epson.com.
Elmo HV-7000SX Presenter
The Elmo HV-7000SX with SXGA output uses digital signal processing technology
and is ideal for direct connection to LCD projectors. The presenter is equipped
with wireless remote control and allows full page viewing with eight or 10
points. The HV-7000SX is designed for use in conference rooms, lecture halls,
and auditoriums. It delivers true SXGA resolution of 1.5 million pixels with a
1/2-inch Progressive-Scan CCD. It provides an analog RGB (SXGA-75 Hz, 7.5fps)
output and digital interface USB (high-speed image transfer). It has a high
quality 10x optical zoom with 2x electronic magnification.
