Interactive Display Buyer’s Guide With Smart Technologies
Introduction
The key to purchasing education technology is finding the right formula for your classrooms. But of course there’s no standard formula for student success. Every student, every teacher, every classroom, and every school has different needs. Buying any new piece of technology for your school can therefore be an understandably daunting task. There are hundreds of variables and components to consider, and often not enough guidance to navigate the buying journey. And interactive displays are no different.
You’re probably asking yourself questions such as:
• What is an interactive display?
• Is it the same as an interactive whiteboard?
• Is the value it brings to the classroom really worth it?
• How do I know which interactive display is right for my learning space?
We’ve made this guide to not only answer these questions, but also help you and your team to start making an informed decision about which interactive display fits your classroom’s unique needs.
SMART has had the pleasure of being in the ed-tech industry for over 35 years and we want to share everything we’ve learned so that teachers and IT teams can make class time quality time.
What is an interactive display?
Interactive displays are LCD or LED screens, and though they look like big TVs, they can do so much more. The key difference between an interactive display and a regular TV display is right in the name: interactive. Interactive displays are touch and pen-enabled, allowing you to interact with them like you would with a tablet or smartphone.
They come in sizes typically between 65” and 86”, but can be even smaller or larger. You can share content, interact with digital material, and in some cases host online lessons from them.
Many interactive displays have a built-in Android operating system, with options to connect a personal device or use a dedicated OPS module.
In today’s market, there are now many different makes and models of interactive display that offer a broad range of features, functionality, and learning experiences.
How long do interactive displays last?
The right interactive display can serve your classroom for up to 10 years, with an average lifespan of 50,000hrs. If they have an Android-based OS, then you can expect support updates for 3-5 years, depending on the specs.
The best interactive display providers, however, provide extended lifespan support that can include upgrades to new OS versions, or upgrades utilising the display’s OPS slot.