If PowerPoints and dry erase boards are in your office toolbox, then it might be time to consider taking it to the next level with a rising technology trend for small business—interactive display boards.
Interactive display boards are pretty much giant tablets with touchscreen capability and high definition screen resolution to make you look a little bit like Tom Cruise in Minority Report. (Who wouldn’t want that kind of cool factor in a sales meeting?)
Interactive Display Boards are:
While the technology isn’t really all that new—they’ve been around since the 90s, predominantly in the education world—interactive display boards have been gaining traction in the corporate sector due to the upsurge of mobile devices and Cloud collaboration tools in the workplace. Interactive boards are also less clunky than their predecessor, the old laptop+cable+projector combo.
How many times have you had to call IT in to help troubleshoot a laptop connection to your company’s projector setup? Ever wonder why the screen is so hard to see? With an interactive display board, the display itself is also a computer, not to mention has the visual quality of an HD television.
The cost of an interactive display board can range depending on the model you buy. While SMART was one of the early innovators in the industry, there are now a number of players in the market today including Sharp, Newline, Promethean, and Samsung, to name just a few. The terms “smartboard” or “flat panel display board” or “interactive whiteboard” are pretty much synonymous across manufacturers with the exception of some of the software tools that come standard with each brand.
As mentioned before, interactive boards took root in classrooms where interactivity proved to be a positive way to engage young minds, especially inclusive learning environments with those with learning disabilities. Interactivity was a must for teachers who were used to using the blackboard and chalk with their students.
Today, thanks to rapid improvements in the technology, that same interactivity is creeping into the workplace because of its cutting edge factor. Plus, any time you can shift your audience away from taking notes or doodling on a notepad during your meeting, and keep their focus on you, you’ve succeeded as a presenter.
IT departments are also getting on board with switching to interactive displays as well. Most systems require very little maintenance, and end-user training is minimal. These things greatly reduce the burden on IT so they can focus on more important things like thwarting your company’s next cyber attack.
Other benefits of interactive displays include:
One last thing to note about interactive display boards is how they operate and play with other applications. In the past, many boards were considered proprietary devices, in that you could only use the software that the manufacturer allowed you to use on the board.
Today, most board manufacturers have done away with proprietary software systems and operate using a tablet or computer-like interface with Internet connectivity and app-based resources just like that of a mobile device. This allows for ease-of-use, and easy access to Cloud data.
If you’re wondering if an interactive display board may be right for you, ask yourself the following questions:
If you answered yes to two or more of these questions, an interactive display board might be just what your organization may need. To learn more about implementing an interactive display board at your workplace, contact us today.
Beyond copiers and printers, CDS offers a full suite of technology solutions ranging from Managed Print Services, to Managed IT Services, and Project-Based IT Services, providing our customers a Single Source for all their business technology needs.
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