Home News & Insights What is an Interactive Whiteboard?

What is an Interactive Whiteboard?

Think of a flat-screen TV. Now think of that TV with a computer in it. And now, think of one which can be manipulated - where you can touch type on it, write notes, swipe, draw, drag, drop and more. In its simplest form, an interactive whiteboard (IWB) is partly a replacement for your old paper flip-chart or dry erase whiteboard, projector, etc, but it’s more like having a giant iPad mounted on your wall.

And its full potential comes to life when you add software that suits your business’s needs, turning it into a powerful collaboration tool, presentation device, learning product and more.

Workplace collaboration and productivity

Any whiteboard allows the sharing of ideas, and an interactive one is no different. Generally, up to four people can write on the screen at the same time, making it perfect for brainstorming sessions, altering plans or discussing designs. The difference is that rather than writing or drawing things out on paper, you can work directly on your file. Imagine a client meeting - how exciting would it be to share your ideas and edit them immediately?

The interactive-ness of a touchscreen allows for a more rewarding experience for both presenter and audience. On the fly, you can highlight important points, use on-screen gestures to animate your presentation or even change things around as the conversation dictates. Giving you total control over your presentation.

Imagine, for instance, a marketing agency that has a client with a flair for the creative walking in with their leather-bound notepad. They want to express their ideas with indecipherable squiggles. Allowing them to tell their story in a smarter way will help the agency understand what they truly want. Not just through words, but visuals. This mitigates the potential for miscommunication. The tool encourages better creative conversations.

What does an interactive touch panel come with?

Pens of the future - inkless pens. With advanced pen software allowing for quick creation and conversion of handwritten notes to text, you’ve got a perfect record of what was agreed in a meeting... and something that changes the lives of many a lefty. Who would’ve thought left-handed people could now take notes in a meeting without getting their hand covered in black marker gunk?

Four ways to use your touchscreen whiteboard:

  1. Get the most out of face-to-face – write simultaneously. Get all those in the meeting involved in handwriting notes (the handwriting recognition function converts selected onscreen handwriting into standard text. Utilise on-screen content to make neat and legible minutes of meetings)
  2. Get the most out of face-to-screen – Today marks an era where remote working in New Zealand is increasingly more acceptable and sometimes encouraged. Productivity need not be sacrificed purely because a colleague isn’t seated in a cubicle next to you. Video conferencing allows for a way to work together regardless of geographical distance. Examples include interviewing potential candidates or, team meetings with staff in other parts of the country, or internationally.
  3. Digital display/signage – Not only is this environmentally friendly by cutting down waste from printing posters or menus, video displays can be updated instantly. They can also be updated remotely, making it much easier for businesses in ever-changing environments.
  4. Interactive presentations – Whether it’s your company’s monthly team meeting or a presentation at a conference, your versatile touchscreen whiteboard is at your beck-and-call. This allows those monthly meetings to capture the audience’s attention.

Interested? Want one for your business? 

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