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Are Interactive Whiteboards really helpful in Classroom Education, Corporate Systems and Broadcasting Studios? A lot more questions are puzzling our minds. So, Let just try to find it out….

An interactive display which connects a computer to the projector is widely known as an interactive whiteboard (IWB). An interactive whiteboard is a combination of computer and projector where projector projects the desktop over the board’s surface where operator controls it by the help of pen, finger, or other device. This is just a kind of board which is required to be mounted over a wall or floor stand. It is widely used in classrooms for running software which is to be loaded onto the connected PC such as web browsers or proprietary software, capturing notes written on a graphic tablet connected to the whiteboard, OCR software to translate cursive writing on a graphics tablet into text, audience response system so that presenters can poll, conduct quizzes, capturing feedback onto the whiteboard.

According to market research by Futuresource Consultancy it was confirmed that interactive whiteboard industry was expected to reach sales of US$ 1 Billion worldwide by 2008 and By 2011, one of every seven classroom in world will feature interactive whiteboard.

This device is basically connected to a computer via USB or port cable or Bluetooth or even via 2.4 GHz wireless. Interactive whiteboard act as a Human Input Device (HID), like a mouse when it is to be attached to the computer. The video output is need to be connected to a digital projector so that images can appear over the whiteboard surface. Now the user can calibrates the whiteboard image via pointer and this is the device which is to be required for the activation of programs, buttons and menus from the whiteboard itself.

All over the Globe there are four common types of operations which used by the users. These are the operations which develops interaction between the user and the content projected on the whiteboard. These are an infrared scan technology, an electromagnetic pen, a resistive touch-based board, a portable ultrasonic pen, and wiimote.

Today, interactive whiteboards are replacing the traditional whiteboards or flipcharts or even media systems. The software supplied with the interactive whiteboard will usually allow the teacher to keep notes and annotations as an electronic file for later distribution either on paper or through a number of electronic formats. Many companies and projects now focus on creating supplemental instructional materials specifically designed for interactive whiteboards. Electrokite out of Boston, MA, for example, will have the first complete curriculum for schools and districts.

But, According to Larry Cuban, education professor emeritus at Stanford University, “There is hardly any research that will show clearly that any interactive whiteboards will improve academic achievement.

Today also interactive whiteboards are still a question mark. Undoubtedly, they are helpful but not everywhere and needs to be discussed some more.

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