Transforming Your Projector into a Smart Board: A Comprehensive Guide
If you’re an educator or presenter who’s been using a projector for your lessons, you might have thought about how great it would be to have a smart board without having to shell out a fortune. The good news is that it’s possible to turn your projector into a smart board with a few simple upgrades and additions. In this article, we’ll give you a comprehensive guide on how to achieve this.
First, you’ll need a projector that has some basic interactive features. If your projector doesn’t have touch or pen input capabilities, you can add those features with a smart board kit. There are many options on the market such as eBeam Smartpen and MimioPad that can turn any surface, including whiteboards, into an interactive board. These kits typically come with a pen, which you can use to write and doodle, and a sensor that captures your hand movements and sends them to the projector.
Next, you’ll need software that allows for interactive input. Most regular projectors come with basic software for presentations, but you’ll need to download additional software that will allow you to write, draw, and annotate on your projected image. Some options include OpenBoard, Open-Sankore, and Smoothboard Air. With these software tools, you can create digital whiteboards, insert images and diagrams, and access a range of tools such as pens, highlighters, and erasers.
If you’re using a smart board kit, you’ll also need to calibrate the pen and sensor so that your movements are accurately captured on the projected surface. Calibration is typically done through the software package that came with your kit, and it involves touching certain points on the surface in a specific order. Once you’ve completed calibration, you should be able to use your projector as a smart board just as you would with a traditional smart board.
In conclusion, turning your projector into a smart board is easy and affordable with the right tools and software. With a little bit of investment, you can transform your lessons and presentations into interactive, engaging experiences that will truly captivate your audience. |