Georgia’s Foothills Education Charter High School is a public charter school offering students an opportunity to earn an accredited diploma in a non-traditional setting. Established in 2015 to service five counties and two state prisons, the school has since grown to a total of 16 locations across the North-Middle Georgia region. To accommodate this growth and make room for Foothills’ additional district partners, the charter school recently relocated its regional office from Madison to a newly renovated building in Athens. 

From the planning stages, a main focus in the school’s new office was technology, especially when it came to providing teacher training and holding meetings and presentations. The governance board envisioned a multipurpose room outfitted with an AV system that would allow users of any technological skill level to operate it easily. To turn its vision into reality, Foothills turned to Nisewonger AV, an Atlanta-based AV integrator that specializes in educational technology integration. 

Challenge

While Nisewonger AV initially considered using a projection system in the Foothills’ multipurpose space, it became clear that the size of the room and the amount of natural light coming in wouldn’t allow for the high resolution and brightness levels required. Instead, the company opted for an LG LV35 video wall consisting of nine 55-inch displays in a 3x3 configuration. 

Video sources available to users include a fixed PC and an HDMI input for guest laptops and other devices; a Barco CS-100 ClickShare system to enable wireless presentations and collaboration; and a Vivitek NovoDS digital signage player. All sources — in addition to a Luxul AMS-2624P AV Series 26-port/24 PoE+ Gigabit managed switch — are located in the room’s Middle Atlantic L2 Series lectern, which reduces the length of cable runs and provides a more easily serviceable system. For video distribution, Nisewonger AV  chose Just Add Power’s (J+P) Ultra HD Over IP platform. 

“Just Add Power has proven to be extremely reliable in other video wall systems we’ve installed,” said Adam Yates, vice president of business development at Nisewonger AV. “For example, we provided a very large video wall for another school that includes 40 pieces of hardware. It’s been running 24/7 for over five years and in that time we’ve only had to replace two pieces.” 

Solution

All video sources in the room’s lectern are connected to J+P’s VBS-HDIP-718AVP and VBS-HDIP-749A 3G+ AV Pro transmitters, while each display in the video wall is outfitted with a VBS-HDIP-508POE receiver. The J+P system supports 4K Ultra HD resolutions and HDMI 2.0 devices with HDCP 2.2. It enables seamless switching between any resolution HDMI sources, and distributes Dolby Pro Logic II audio. Video wall functionality is built-in for displays installed in portrait and flipped configurations, as well as image push, pull, and pop features. An integrated scaler on the receiver automatically adjusts the picture to fit the screen. Expanding the system with an additional screen or source is as simple as adding another receiver or transmitter. 

Control over the room’s technology is provided by an RTI control system, which is powered by the company’s XP-8v processor. A CX7 7-inch touchpanel is located at the lectern. With the help of Just Add Software, Nisewonger AV created a customized user interface for the touchpanel that allows any user to operate the system with the touch of a button.

Results

“Everyone who’s come into the office has been very impressed with the video wall, and it’s certainly been put through its paces,” said Leo Satara, technology coordinator at Foothills Education Charter High School. “With the system being available for all of our school district partners, it gets a lot of use — whether it’s for governance board meetings, collaborative activities, or teacher training. Everything has gone off without a hitch, which speaks volumes to the system’s ease of use and dependability.”

LampFree Gets a Boost

Traditional lamp projectors may use up to nine conventional mercury lamps to get 20,000 hours of operation. LampFree models bypass this budget bite altogether. Considering labor, product and disposal fee costs of around $250 per lamp, this adds up to a $2,250 per projector bump to the bottom line alone. (Extra energy expenditure, besides being of high social and moral concern in today’s reality, also adds hard dollars to the tune of an additional $1675/10 projectors over a five year span.) Cost reduction in replacement lamps, greener footprint without the need to dispose of the old lamps, time and workforce savings in installation and lost teaching time when a lamp blows and mercury-free tech makes budget minders feel great about their choice. But these perks are not new. 

What is new, however, is that the latest of these laser/led hybrid projectors have made the jump into 4K for added clarity and detail. Equipped with a 4K DLP chip, the tech projects images of approximately 8.3 million pixels to mirror the true color and beauty of images at a much higher level than conventional projectors. With 5,000 lumens, it is great for brightly lit classrooms, auditoriums and larger venues—all while taking advantage of the impressive budget saves of being LampFree.

Convertibility Accessories 

Every classroom is different, so it makes sense that flexibility in where and how you use your projector and display would be a big plus. Creative budget builders are finding this can translate to serious savings now that the ease of mobility has developed to the point where sharing tech between classrooms and learning spaces is possible, without educators needing to give up the sense of a personalized teaching tool. The latest group of convertible stands and mobile carts allows the panel or projector to move from presentative to table with just the press of a button, giving versatility for presentation and collaboration— some even achieve this in cord-free, rechargeable battery mode.

For some, allowing teachers to move about the classroom for specialized learning or group work is a game changer. New developments allow teachers to communicate with each other, teach from any angle without giving up face-to-face access with students, and to avoid having to use and hook up multiple tools (keyboards, document cameras, etc). Some might want a tabletop display for interactive group projects at some times and standard wall viewing for the class at others. Classes with students at varying levels of abilities and mobility might need to accommodate wheelchairs or other height restrictions. For those situations, this new tech not only represents financial saving, but offers an experience that is priceless.

eShift technology

With so many advances in picture quality, 4K has become the new low bar for schools entering the projector and AV game. The benefits are undeniable, a crisp clear picture offered by 4K includes intense details and textures and fills the field of vision without discernible pixels, even for front row students close to the viewing area. Kids are being accustomed to these higher levels of definition through their gaming and visual tech at home, so the ante on keeping their interest and keeping them visually engaged has been undeniably “upped”. Images appear more natural than those of a 1080p device for a more relaxing and immersive visuals, often through dynamic control focusing which allows each element (background and foreground) to be focused separately for a clearer overall picture.

Creating these high level images through individual pixels would be extremely expensive. Fortunately, new tech like eShift has arisen, using DLP or LCD chips to create the image at a fraction of the cost. This sort of tech can project two different 1080p images sequentially at 120Hz frequency, making up the detail of a native 4K display so that students get the experience of a full 4K picture without a 4K pricetag. 

Technology has a way of fixing issues, sometimes before the average consumer even realizes they exist. These projector features up the ante on usability for the classroom and beyond.

eShift technology

The crisp clear picture of 4K offers intense details and textures and fills the field of vision without discernible pixels, even for students close to the screen or viewing area. Images appear more natural than those of a 1080p device for a more relaxing and immersive visuals. Unlike 4K TV’s, projectors usually use DLP or LCD chips to create the image as individual pixels would be cost prohibitive. eShift technology, which projects two different 1080p images sequentially at 120Hz frequency, makes up the detail of a native 4K display so that viewers get the experience of a full 4K picture without a 4K pricetag.

Convertibility Accessories 

Every classroom is different, so it makes sense that flexibility in where and how you use your projector and display would be a big plus. For some schools, a projector might be shared between learning spaces. Others might want a tabletop display for interactive group projects at some times and standard wall viewing for the class at others. Classes with students at varying levels of abilities and mobility might need to accommodate wheelchairs or other height restrictions. The latest group of convertible stands and mobile carts allows the panel or projector to move from presentative to table with just the press of a button, giving versatility for presentation and collaboration— some even achieve this in cord-free, rechargeable battery mode.

LampFree Gets a Boost

The benefits of a LampFree projector solution have been enjoyed for some time. Cost reduction in replacement lamps, greener footprint without the need to dispose of the old lamps, time and workforce savings in installation and lost teaching time when a lamp blows and mercury-free tech makes everyone feel safer about their choice. But these perks are not new. However, latest of these laser/led hybrid projectors have made the jump into 4K for added clarity and detail. Equipped with a 4K DLP chip, the tech projects images of approximately 8.3 million pixels to mirror the true color and beauty of images at a much higher level than conventional projectors. With 5,000 lumens, it is great for brightly lit classrooms, auditoriums and larger venues.

3D Capability

This new’ish feature is certainly exciting on the face of it. The potential applications for classes and lesson plans are compelling— science by delving into layers of anatomy models, spinning neutrons and solar systems; engineering and architecture as the structures of buildings and cities are analyzed; history with tours of ancient ruins and castles to explore, or art where perspective and angles can be viewed. But despite this intriguing collection of ways the tech could be used, for most districts the financial and practical issues might prove too tough an obstacle to overcome. The cost and logistics of purchasing and holding onto 3D glasses, the health concerns about personal products being used from student to student, and display needs to use the tech properly will keep this cool new feature from widespread use. However, many of the new models of projectors are coming with the ability to be 3D capable, so future-proofing new purchases might make this a consideration for when those other challenges can be solved.

When discussing the throw capabilities of a projector, the “short vs long” code is referring to the amount of distance you’ll need to “throw” an image between the projector itself and the screen to get the display size you desire. Simply put, the lens and mirror assembly built into a projector determine its throw distance capability. While most projectors send light onto the screen directly through the lens, Ultra Short Throw projectors direct the emitting lens light away from the screen — reflecting from a mirror of specific angle to direct the image on the screen. This is how they achieve the narrow distance from the installation point to the screen. Regardless of brand, these are categorized by how much distance the projector needs from the screen to create a 100″ image.

Why Go Short?

A big reason for schools, and even the home theatre crowd, opt for short or ultra short throw projectors in the clarity of picture, sans annoying shadows. No longer will “little bunny Foo-Foo” hop across the algebra equations, thanks to Johnny in the front row. And Uncle Mike crossing the room for a popcorn refill won’t inadvertently black out the screen just as the culprit in the evening’s who-dun-it is revealed. The close placement of the projector to the wall or whiteboard relieves any disturbance of the picture.

For teachers, this is far more than an annoyance. For years, they were relegated to the back of the classroom both to run the projector or slide machine. Not only would it be distracting for students for an educator to stroll front and center (with a face sporting the Doppler effect or periodic table) but the light shining in the eyes inhibits connecting with students to gauge their interest or understanding. Standing in front of the class not only allows teachers to authoritatively impart lessons or lectures, but it allows them to engage fully with the class, using the screen and media behind them to enhance their session.

For some schools lacking room in the budget for interactive whiteboards, the inclusion of a short throw or ultra short throw projector can turn any surface into this engaging tech. Because of a lack of shadow distortion, finger points can be distinguished for group work. The projector can even be ceiling mounted with the ability to point downward, turning a group table into a giant display for students to gather and learn. This can offer a more inclusive experience for students with mobility issues or disabilities. Many interactive projectors recognize multiple contact points, letting as many as 20 students work together on group projects. Clearly, for some — this makes going short the “smart” choice.

The Shortcomings 

So why would any school opt for traditional long throw projectors? Even with all the benefits, a few drawbacks have some schools wavering. For many ultra short throw projectors, the tech does not include a zoom capability. This means the projector must be physically positioned to match the screen size. Another issue along those lines is a lack of autofocus on some models, which could be a problem if the mobile cart, table or floor mounted tech gets bumped. In a classroom of young students, this could mean frequent disruptions as the teacher resets the alignment of the picture.

The bottom line also can have an effect on throw choice. Long throw lenses are generally less expensive due to the quality of glass in the lens. They also work perfectly well for large halls, auditoriums or exhibition spaces. The surface the image or video is being displayed upon gets more important, the shorter the throw. For ultra throw either a light reflecting screen, tension-enable screen or whiteboard is best. All of these can represent pricy hits if they aren’t already in place. Because of the extreme angle of the light stream, distortions/bumps/cracks/building material patterns on a wall will be exaggerated and ripples in a cheaper non-tension rod pull down screen would mar the picture.

Here are the typical breakdowns of projector-to-screen distance:

While software systems and accessible and assistive tech often focuses on specific programs to help special needs students, the world of AV is making learning inclusive through innovative uses of existing features that benefit all students.

Leveling the Viewing Field

Not only do new tech features even the playing field when it comes to students being able to view and enjoy class materials, they can create a new learning space when used in out-of-the-box ways. One benefit of short throw or ultra short throw projectors like the Casio LampFree Laser/LED is the ability to ceiling mount the tech. When viewed on a wall or whiteboard, the educator can remain at the front of the class to ensure students are following the material, without distracting shadows marring the image. Expanded input/output and included WiFi adaptor allows educators to share materials without the need for students to leave their desks.

Reimagining the focus from the wall onto a table allows students with mobility, vision and attention issues to enjoy the lesson with their peers directly in their own workspace. Add an interactive projector to the mix during a geography or history lesson and you’ve given them the world, literally at their fingertips. The tech’s ability to project onto anything means other benefits. It eliminates the need for an additional special whiteboard that would eat up classroom space and resources. The ceiling mounted projector displayed on a tabletop and ideal for children in wheelchairs and those with other physical disabilities, letting teachers avoid disruptive and upsetting transitions to a computer room.

Projectable books, like those from Reading A to Z, can be viewed on the table or workspace and dissected. This allows group work for students of varying levels and abilities; while some circle nouns, others can underline sentences, or choose which type of writing is displayed (tall tale, nonfiction, cultural legend).  Subjects and pronouns and adjectives can be identified, or the book can simply be enjoyed as a story.

This Panel Votes “Yay”

Jeff Terry, Chief Information Officer at Roanoke County Public Schools, feels very fortunate for a supportive school board that replaced their aging tech with new Promethean ActivPanels with ActivConnect and mobile stands for flexibility. The tech also keeps the classroom inclusive. Special needs students who had issues with writing on paper use the panel to visualize and learn to form letters, then transfer that muscle memory back to the pencil and paper.

“There is so much you can do with the panels,” says Terry. “With Connect they become an android device with access to endless instructional apps, but on a 75 inch panel. We had one student physically unable to use the previous board technology, but can now work with touchscreen. These are cases you don’t see every day, but our goal is to give all students every opportunity that others have, and we have definitely achieved that.”

Special Projectors for Special Students

Brooke Turk was impressed by the impact on her autistic students when she began using the Epson BrightLink Interactive Projector in January. “It definitely allows me to see what they’re capable of,” says Turk, who teaches special ed in Beach Park School District 3 in Illinois. “The keyboard gives them a reason to write, because it’s technology. I’ve gotten a greater feel for their abilities, because they are willing to work hard for this incentive.”

Turk has seen heightened levels of excitement and engagement, and through the system, one largely nonverbal student has even started to talk more and interact. “We’ve done a lot with PowerPoint, sorting site words, sharing, taking turns—which is huge. They have to sit and wait and pay attention to what the others are doing.”

This Screen is Too Far…This Shadow is Too Distracting!

Placement of your tech matters. Does your classroom have existing installation fixtures that must be used? Does your projector need to travel from classroom to classroom to accommodate the greatest number of students? Perhaps a pico or handheld projector would work. From Portable to Traditional, Short throw to Ultra Short Throw— deciding on your projector’s future “home” is key before purchase. The newer short throw projectors can be placed or installed mere inches from the white board or wall viewing space. This allows teachers to present from the front of class without distracting shadows marring the information, image or video playing behind them.

Casio’s Throw Distance Calculator lets educators plug in Installation Type (table or ceiling), Projection settings and Units of Calculation to determine the ideal location to either permanently install the tech or place a mobile cart or table for it to sit.

This Classroom’s Too Big…This Display’s Too Small!

When it comes to finding the perfect display or screen for the classroom, it’s not a cookie cutter question. The importance of every student having a clear view of the projected image or content is obvious, how to determine that ideal size is slightly more complicated. Classrooms can be designed as symmetrical square layouts, wide or long configurations. Some might even have nooks or learning stations.

Consider two main aspects of your space when choosing a projector or display. Both the size of the viewing area and the distance from which students are viewing the information and images. Projector company Epson uses the 4/6/8 rule for AV installations. Taking into account which activities are used with the screen, the ideal viewing distance can be calculated. Four times the height of the screen works well for precise analytical viewing, six times for typical basic viewing and eight times is adequate for passive viewing. The 4/6/8 Simulator Tool lets educators plug in their particular screen or display size, classroom size and seat layout for a visual on where the limits of each type of viewing end. (This could also be handy for seating assignments based on the needs of particular students.)

This Total Cost of Ownership is Juuuust Right!

n a perfect world, every school could blindly pick the tech that fit their needs. But budgets are a reality for any district. How big the hit is determined by far more than the price on the tag. In fact, “soft” costs can add up to 20% to the bill. To reach a true bottom line, it important to compare not just the price but the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO). One big budget concern is ongoing maintenance costs and energy bills. Not only do LampFree or hybrid projector options nix the need to buy additional replacement lamps, they also eliminate the costly process of replacing lamps — time needed for ordering, shipping costs, blocking time in the classroom for installation, man hours with an experienced installer. These costs all add up. Likewise, eco-friendly hybrids can use up to half the amount of power per unit than other lamp-based projectors and extends the operating life up to 20,000 hours. Credits might even be available to offset costs in some states or districts.

Luckily, finding the TCO isn’t complicated, in fact most websites offer TCO Calculators to compare products by simply plugging in a few data points like daily/annual usage, energy cost and filter cleaning or lamp replacement costs (including labor and time resources).

Epson today introduced the BrightLink® 1485Fi and the BrightLink 1480Fi ultra short-throw interactive laser displays for classrooms and meeting rooms. Leveraging a virtually maintenance-free laser light source, these ultra short-throw, 1080p Full HD2 laser displays offer new 16:6 widescreen display options for turning virtually any flat surface into an instant, ultra-wide interactive digital whiteboard. Epson’s new BrightLink 1485Fi will be on display at InfoComm 2019 in Orlando, Fla. from June 12-14 at Epson’s booth, #2129.

Offering 5,000 lumens of equal color and white brightness, the new BrightLink models provide either a 100-inch 16:9 or new ultra-wide 120-inch 16:6 display, delivering up to 4,732 square inches of images, even in well-lit rooms. The ultra short-throw BrightLink 1485Fi and 1480Fi provide one-step calibration of touch and interactive pens to turn virtually any flat surface into an instant interactive digital whiteboard. In addition, a wall mounted control panel allows for power control, source switching and supports HDBaseT connectivity, reducing the number of cables between a computer and the projector to a single cable for image, audio and interactivity.

The Epson BrightLink 1485Fi and BrightLink 1480Fi combine the utility of a whiteboard, projector and interactive display to transform virtually any flat surface into a digital whiteboard and interactive space that doesn’t require a computer or software. Users simply turn on the projector and start writing, with no PC required. Featuring enterprise-level security via integrated wireless networking, users can save, print and email content directly from the interactive laser display, and wirelessly share content simultaneously from multiple devices with Miracast. In addition, users can connect two networked BrightLink 1485Fi models together for sharing one interactive canvas.

The new BrightLink models include a one-year subscription to SMART Learning Suite for education customers. Epson also offers the Brighter Futures® program, a sales and support initiative available for schools. Brighter Futures offers special pricing, extended Epson limited warranty coverage for a total of five years, dedicated education account managers, and toll-free technical support for all Epson projectors and associated accessories.

The Epson BrightLink 1485Fi and BrightLink 1480Fi will be available in late October 2019. The BrightLink 1480Fi is the replacement model for existing BrightLink users, as it is compatible with current BrightLink mount systems. The BrightLink 1485Fi requires a new mount system and intended for new BrightLink users. The interactive laser displays come with a limited three-year warranty with next business day replacement, including free shipping both ways. For additional information, visit www.epson.com/brightlink.

BenQ today unveiled two new 4K laser projectors designed to support 4K HDR presentations in boardrooms, huddle rooms, and collaborative spaces. 

"In today's meeting places, participants are using MacBooks and other notebooks that output 4K resolution as standard, but until now, all that quality was lost in projection," said Bob Wudeck, senior director, business, education and CinePro solutions at BenQ America Corp. "BenQ's LK Series laser projectors leverage technology engineered for our gaming monitors to support true 4K HDR output."

BenQ's LK952 and short-throw LK953ST 4K UHD HDR projectors produce 3840 x 2160 resolution with 8.3 million distinct pixels for each frame, achieving CTA's UHD standard. The projectors generate 5,000 lumens of intense Blue Core laser-powered brightness for 20,000 hours of maintenance-free operation. They utilize the revolutionary 0.47" single-DMD DLP technology to deliver awe-inspiring clarity and crisply defined details for which iOS and high-end 4K notebooks are known for. To ensure a superior picture, BenQ's cutting-edge 4K Image Amplifying Technology further enhances the quality of projected images, while Pixel Enhancer 4K motion-adaptive edge enhancement detects changes in the color between an object and its background to produce sharp edges and precise surface textures.

The 4K UHD HDR projectors allow facilities to eliminate the costs of lamps and filters that traditional projectors require. By incorporating BenQ's DustGuard technology, sealed laser modules protect the laser bank from dust accumulation. The design has passed the dust-chamber test standard for the international dustproof rating of IP5X.

More information on the full line of BenQ products is available at www.BenQ.com.

As educators, we frequently drive home the importance of caring not only for our needs of today, but the needs of the future. This is particularly true when it comes to the environment. While the political climate around the topic might seem unstable, administrators and those in purchasing positions can do their homework and earn an A in protecting students and their future by going green.

Shop Smart

Although it can be tricky to determine how truly green your choices are, a quick scan of awards can offer a handful of options that will meet not only your school’s needs, but the earths. For a broader list of options, many look to nonprofit TCO Certified for a list of tech that not only stays true to environmental issues, but social issues as well. TCO Certification is available for eight product categories: displays, notebooks, tablets, smartphones, desktops, all-in-one PCs, projectors and headsets. Products must meet criteria for energy efficiency, ergonomic design and limited hazardous substance content. This organization looks at more than a surface assessment of how eco-friendly a project is upon purchase, but at the tech’s environmental sustainability throughout the IT product life cycle. Projector and display models from companies like Casio, Epson, BenQ and ViewSonic made the list.

Hybrid Helpers

Hybrids might have taken auto options to the next level in environmental impact awareness, now the concept is driving a new style of projection. Casio's line of LampFree projectors provide eco-friendly data projection by combining a hybrid laser and LED light source to create a high-brightness, mercury-free tool. The developments allow the hybrid projector to use up to half the amount of power per unit than other lamp-based projectors. Although the use of mercury is widely prohibited worldwide today, this hazardous substance continues to be employed as a light source for conventional projector lamps — creating an issue when the used lamps needs to be discarded.

Another element to keep in mind, both financially when it comes to Total Cost of Ownership and environmentally when outdated or inefficient tech has to be replaced and lamps safely disposed of, is the LampFree projectors' long operating life of up to 20,000 hours. This ability to run all day in extended-use applications make them an affordable, low maintenance solution while a new extended warranty program ensures the tech remains viable without the extra eco-footprint of replacing and recycling inadequate machines.

“Whether it is helping to eliminate environmental concerns when using our technology, improving the financial bottom line, or simply making the user experience more convenient, we are always looking to provide the best projection solutions that are both easy and efficient,” said Joe Gillio, Senior Director Strategic Planning and Marketing, of Casio’s Business Projector Division.

Sustainable to the Core

Eco-friendly efforts goes deeper than the final product. Many companies are concentrating their eco-efforts from step one, creating a more green atmosphere in production facilities and corporate buildings. Epson, whose offices use 100% renewable energy, earned an EcoVadis Gold rating in part due to a commitment to sustainable manufacturing in Epson-owned factories and working with partners that support the circular “make, use, return” approach.

Casio America is also celebrating a 4th ENERGY STAR certification from the EPA for superior energy performance. "Casio's U.S. headquarters continues to demonstrate true environmental leadership by reducing harmful greenhouse gas emissions that are proven to contribute to climate change,” Jean Lupinacci, ENERGY STAR Director for Commercial and Industrial buildings. "Improving energy is so critical for our future.”

Imagine taking students for a walk around the solar system during their lesson. Creating more immersive visual experiences with new types of instruction models, such as lesson capture, are possible when digital devices such as document cameras, student devices, and audio equipment are networked with interactive projector displays.

This eBook details how today’s projection software can be used cost-effectively, including:

• Take notes and then send work back to the projector—no PC required.
• Connect up to 50 devices, with built-in moderator features.
• Project web pages to enhance high-quality images on the big screen.
• Share, manage, and annotate displayed content easily and intuitively.

Click here to read the full white paper.

Imagine taking students for a walk around the solar system during their lesson. Creating more immersive visual experiences are possible within the classroom when digital devices, such as document cameras, student devices, and audio equipment, are networked with interactive projector displays.

Download this eBook for ideas on how today’s projection software can be used to do more, including:

• Browse the web and project web pages while enjoying high-quality images on the big screen.
• Share, manage, and annotate displayed content from an easy, intuitive menu.
• Take notes and then send work back to the projector—no PC required.
• Connect up to 50 devices, with built-in moderator features.

Click here to download the full whitepaper.

Even projection display hardware needs to be evaluated through the lens of its impact on student learning. Educators know that interactive collaboration impacts the classroom environment by shifting the mode of teaching and increasing student engagement.

What are the key factors that districts should be aware of when choosing new classroom display options?

In this white paper you will learn:

• Why display size matters – the 4/6/8 Rule
• The impact of interactivity on student engagement
• Creating a cost-effective digital ecosystem that supports learning

Click here to read the full white paper.

The projector is such a vital piece of hardware that it’s difficult to imagine a classroom without one. And in recent years, projector technology has significantly improved with lamp-free models that extend product life and require minimal, if any, maintenance. At the same time, flat panel TVs have become more available as a choice for school projection needs.

Although cost is certainly an important decision factor, other critical factors include:

· Creating a learning culture of collaboration and innovation

· Degree of interactivity of flat panels and projectors

· Defining the acceptable viewing range

· Impact on student learning

· Total cost of ownership (TCO)

There may be some situations where a flat panel makes sense, such as working with small groups of students in learning stations. However, flat panel displays have a fixed size that can be a serious issue in larger classrooms when viewing text and numbers on spreadsheets. In larger classrooms, it would be difficult for students in the back of the class to view the screen in sufficient detail to accomplish the lesson goals.

After the aggravation and costs of replacing lamps and filters on older projectors, many schools and districts may consider flat panels, but the new solid state (Laser and LED) projectors are still more cost-effective when compared to flat panels. Both the newer projectors and flat panels have minimal maintenance costs, but flat panels have a higher TCO due to the initial purchase price.

When thinking about the kinds of interactive, collaborative environment schools want to establish with their projection requirements, the flat panel has limitations. It is two-dimensional whereas one or more projectors can be used to create a 3-D environment, which can illustrate concepts such as the solar system or the inner workings of the heart in a way that immerses students into the lesson not possible before.

Another benefit to using laser or LED projectors is that it is “green” technology and decreases a school or district’s carbon footprint. The projectors use 30% less electricity than older projectors, eliminate mercury, and reduce Coemissions with lower power needs. With an estimated 20,000 hours of operation, projectors may have a longer life span than flat panels and eliminate additional lamp and filter costs.

While schools might opt for an occasional flat panel, most schools will find laser or LED projectors a better option when considering flexibility of use and TCO. Although both new projectors and flat panels have minimal ongoing maintenance costs—the projectors’ initial cost is far less than that of flat panels making them a better financial choice, with the added benefit of promoting sustainable, green technology.

To learn more about projection options, there are links below to additional resources that can be helpful as leaders make this technology decision for their own school and districts.

WEBINAR—Join our panel as two technology directors in Alabama and Illinois share how their schools are using projection technology to create more engaging learning environments for their students. Click here to read more.

CASE STUDY – In Poway United School District outside San Diego (CA), district leaders saved so much money by replacing their aging projectors with new lampfree projectors that they were able to divert funds to their highly innovative initiative to bring more personalized instruction to their students. Click here to read more.

SUSTAINABLE TECHNOLOGY – Looking for a quick brief to understand how laser and LED projectors are changing the projector marketplace? Check it out here.

The AV industry has never backed down from a format war, protocol battle, or competing technology race, but the choice between lamp or laser projectors is a simple one with limited overlapping applications. That is according to Mike Morin, Manager, Strategic Sales Development, Hitachi America, Ltd.

“When it comes to projectors, lamps and lasers each have their own space in the AV industry,” says Morin. “They’re truly designed for different types of installations and the features reflect those differences. It’s for this reason that Hitachi offers a comprehensive range of lamp-based and Solid State Light-source (SSL) projectors; allowing integrators to provide solutions that end-users both need and can afford.”

Solid State Light source optical engines are powered by lasers, rather than a bulb. Laser projectors have a typical life of 20,000 hours and require less maintenance, and therefore less maintenance costs. Laser projectors are ideal for installations where the projector will be running for a long period of time, like sports bars, auditoriums and for digital signage. SSL projectors are also ideal in installations where the projector must be mounted in a hard-to-reach place like in house of worship facilities and museums.

Technology has been improved over the years to offer better total cost of ownership for lamp based models with lower lamp replacement cost, new hybrid filters and longer lamp life. As such, lamp-based projectors are less expensive and may be optimal where the projector is getting occasional use and is easy to access for lamp and filter replacement; these installations include classrooms, conference rooms, and mobile house of worship facilities. Other installation features that are ideal for lamp-based projectors are installations in rooms that must remain lit while using the projector.

“Hitachi is committed to providing projection technologies that empower integrators and dealers to serve end-users in education, corporate, entertainment, retail, hospitality and worship,” says Morin. “That means delivering the most cutting edge, high-performing technologies alongside the most proven and affordable technologies. Integration partners and customers tell us that in today's market, lamps complement rather than compete with laser, and we’re pleased to deliver the best of both.”

This article was sponsored by Casio Corporation.

So now that each student has their own device at their desk we don’t have to worry as much about the teachers display at the front of the room, right? Wrong. Teachers still need to display text, graphics and/or full-motion video in their lesson plans at the front of the classroom to increase the student's chance of grasping and learning the course material.

One solution is to install flat panel displays and take advantage of the improved graphics provided by the new high resolution models. But although the graphics are indeed awesome, many school lesson plans consist mostly of text, and even with the larger flat panels (50” – 70”), text can be difficult to read from the back of the room, therefore this solution only works well in small classrooms. Larger flat panels are available up to 110”, but these are much more expensive and with any flat panel display your maintenance costs increase as you need two people for installation and for repairs when needed.

The most popular solution for delivering course content to the front of the classroom is still a large screen and a projector. Projectors and screens are affordable, they give you the needed large display area so you can show text that is large enough for everyone to see, and projector technology has improved over the years. Whether you choose a DLP projector or an LCD projector, the dramatic enhancements in color purity achieved over the last few years have significantly improved the color reproduction and the projected images look brighter than ever.

Unfortunately traditional lamp based projectors are a maintenance nightmare. The biggest projector complaints heard from schools are about the lamps. Lamp brightness decays over time and the displays get dim and hard to see, they also take a long time to warm up and then they run hot, and of course there are the high costs for replacing the lamps.

Newer projector technologies may be a better solution. With the introduction of solid state projectors (using Lasers and LEDs instead of lamps) pictures are crisper, images are clearer, they maintain brightness for much longer, and they are easier to maintain. By using a solid-state light source instead of a lamp in the projector most of the complaints that schools have about projectors are eliminated. Having a LampFree projector means no lamps to replace, no filters to replace, less down time, and lower maintenance costs. Also since there are no Mercury lamps, concerns for the proper disposal of used Mercury lamps and Mercury pollution are eliminated.

Yes, the initial purchase prices of LampFree projectors do tend to be more expensive than the prices of comparable lamp based projectors, but when purchasing projectors you cannot only look at the initial purchase price but need to look at the total cost of ownership (TCO). TCO includes all the costs that you will actually pay over the life of your projector. TCO not only includes the purchase cost, but also the cost of using your projector, such as energy, repair and maintenance costs. When you add up the original purchase price, the cost of replacement lamps, replacement filters, labor costs, and higher energy usage, LampFree projectors cost much less over the 20,000 hour life of your projector.

Reliability is also an important factor and while lamps on traditional lamp projectors lose brightness between 1,000 and 3,000 hours, many LampFree projectors have an impressive lifespan of up to 20,000 hours. That means a LampFree projector in your classroom could last over 15 years, based on six hours of use a day during a 180-day school year without ever having to replace a lamp or a filter. For a school with projectors in every classroom, that’s a significant savings.

So the best (and the most cost effective) solution for your front of the classroom display may be a LampFree projector projecting a large image onto your wall or your large screen. The LampFree projectors are easy to use, affordable, and produce large, bright, high quality images to help keep your students engaged.

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