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General Category => Off the Record => Computer Affairs => Topic started by: Pedrito on March 13, 2012, 05:18:24 AM

Title: Interactive chalkboards?
Post by: Pedrito on March 13, 2012, 05:18:24 AM
I was pondering about installing one in our meeting room instead of the old projector+white sheet there is now.

Anyone knows what the specs should be, issues they have?

L.
Title: Re: Interactive chalkboards?
Post by: CountDeMoney on March 13, 2012, 07:37:01 AM
Smartboards can be expensive.
Title: Re: Interactive chalkboards?
Post by: MadImmortalMan on March 13, 2012, 11:26:40 AM
The main issue I've had with them is that nobody ever uses them.
Title: Re: Interactive chalkboards?
Post by: Scipio on March 13, 2012, 11:58:42 AM
All chalkboards are interactive. 
Title: Re: Interactive chalkboards?
Post by: DontSayBanana on March 13, 2012, 01:17:30 PM
Grab a Wiimote, an IR pen, and download Smoothboard (freeware), and you can turn the whiteboard into a smart board.  Much, much cheaper than the $2,000 price tag for a basic smart board.
Title: Re: Interactive chalkboards?
Post by: Admiral Yi on March 13, 2012, 07:09:01 PM
Quote from: Scipio on March 13, 2012, 11:58:42 AM
All chalkboards are interactive.

he he
Title: Re: Interactive chalkboards?
Post by: Josquius on March 13, 2012, 07:10:21 PM
Quote from: MadImmortalMan on March 13, 2012, 11:26:40 AM
The main issue I've had with them is that nobody ever uses them.

:yes:

I've known them to be installed in many schools and never really used too often.

I just don:t see the point really; so you can draw on your powerpoint slides. Wow.
Title: Re: Interactive chalkboards?
Post by: DontSayBanana on March 13, 2012, 08:27:28 PM
Quote from: Tyr on March 13, 2012, 07:10:21 PM
:yes:

I've known them to be installed in many schools and never really used too often.

I just don:t see the point really; so you can draw on your powerpoint slides. Wow.

The only time I've ever seen them used heavily is in my computer science classes, and that was probably just the teachers trying like crazy to justify the expense of installing them in the first place.
Title: Re: Interactive chalkboards?
Post by: Caliga on March 13, 2012, 08:44:41 PM
Quote from: MadImmortalMan on March 13, 2012, 11:26:40 AM
The main issue I've had with them is that nobody ever uses them.
Same.
Title: Re: Interactive chalkboards?
Post by: Tonitrus on March 13, 2012, 08:47:13 PM
We use one.  Just a regular projector would suffice, the "pens" never get used.

But then, I work for the world leader in wasting money.
Title: Re: Interactive chalkboards?
Post by: Darth Wagtaros on March 14, 2012, 03:35:30 PM
Quote from: Caliga on March 13, 2012, 08:44:41 PM
Quote from: MadImmortalMan on March 13, 2012, 11:26:40 AM
The main issue I've had with them is that nobody ever uses them.
Same.
Yes.  But we've spent mega bucks on them, I believe they are seeing more and more usage in education.  I remember the day we set it up at the highschool. Hours later a teacher used regular markers on it. Didn't last long.
Title: Re: Interactive chalkboards?
Post by: Pedrito on March 15, 2012, 03:11:18 AM
Thanks  :)

L.
Title: Re: Interactive chalkboards?
Post by: grumbler on March 21, 2012, 03:15:32 PM
You can do a lot of cool things in math and physics with a smart board.  That's about it.

There are cheaper solutions if you just want to record what is being hand-written.  Smartboards will do that, and do it well, but are way more expensive than you need for that function.
Title: Re: Interactive chalkboards?
Post by: Maximus on March 21, 2012, 03:21:41 PM
I don't think I've ever actually seen one. At the university everyone either uses whiteboards(or chalkboards in the math department) or a tablet with a projector.
Title: Re: Interactive chalkboards?
Post by: Tonitrus on March 21, 2012, 08:42:53 PM
In addition to our Smartboard, we also have a whiteboard.  No one ever bothers to write on the Smartboard.
Title: Re: Interactive chalkboards?
Post by: Ed Anger on March 21, 2012, 08:47:03 PM
I know if somebody showed up in a business situation with a fucking Wii, I'd laugh them out of the building.
Title: Re: Interactive chalkboards?
Post by: DontSayBanana on March 21, 2012, 09:38:15 PM
Quote from: Ed Anger on March 21, 2012, 08:47:03 PM
I know if somebody showed up in a business situation with a fucking Wii, I'd laugh them out of the building.

If you have any skills at working plastic at all, it's pretty easy to make a dummy housing to hide the wiimote.
Title: Re: Interactive chalkboards?
Post by: Ed Anger on March 22, 2012, 07:11:09 AM
I'm not a pleb. Working plastic. Sheesh.
Title: Re: Interactive chalkboards?
Post by: DontSayBanana on March 23, 2012, 10:39:38 AM
Quote from: Ed Anger on March 22, 2012, 07:11:09 AM
I'm not a pleb. Working plastic. Sheesh.

Ya know, it's actually kinda fun.  With a steady enough hand, all you need is a heat gun to bend plastic, and at the end of the day, that's just a hairdryer on steroids.
Title: Re: Interactive chalkboards?
Post by: Ed Anger on March 23, 2012, 09:21:54 PM
I outgrew shop class.
Title: Re: Interactive chalkboards?
Post by: Darth Wagtaros on April 03, 2012, 10:14:48 AM
Quote from: Ed Anger on March 23, 2012, 09:21:54 PM
I outgrew shop class.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&feature=fvwp&v=tUPXVtFcl5U (http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&feature=fvwp&v=tUPXVtFcl5U)
Title: Re: Interactive chalkboards?
Post by: Josquius on April 05, 2012, 09:12:15 AM
Quote from: DontSayBanana on March 23, 2012, 10:39:38 AM
Quote from: Ed Anger on March 22, 2012, 07:11:09 AM
I'm not a pleb. Working plastic. Sheesh.

Ya know, it's actually kinda fun.  With a steady enough hand, all you need is a heat gun to bend plastic, and at the end of the day, that's just a hairdryer on steroids.
Isn't it a bit cancery?
Title: Re: Interactive chalkboards?
Post by: DontSayBanana on April 05, 2012, 11:34:45 AM
Quote from: Tyr on April 05, 2012, 09:12:15 AM
Isn't it a bit cancery?

Only if you've got a heat gun that's old as dirt- some of the ones from the '70s had asbestos heat shields.  Other than that, as I said, they're hair-dryers on steroids.

As far as the bent plastic, yeah, it's a good idea to have a ventilator on hand in case you accidentally burn the plastic.

The ones that kill me are the guys who do vacuum formed styrene in their kitchen ovens.  CARCINOGENS?  WHAT CARCINOGENS?