The interactive whiteboard is an incredibly popular tool for presentations and lessons in classrooms around the world. These displays allow you to connect the computer and projector to a touch sensitive panel so that you can control the presentation by touching objects on the board.
The first step in connecting an interactive whiteboard to your computer is to make sure that the device is turned on and the appropriate software is installed on your computer. Then you can connect the USB cable that came with your unit to your computer and get started.
Earlier interactive whiteboards required special computers with serial ports for connection, but modern boards use a standard USB interface and can be used with any computer that has a USB port. Once the computer is connected, your board should automatically detect it and start displaying your desktop on the display screen.
You may also choose to use a wireless connection, such as Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. These wireless connections are very handy and can save you a lot of time when you’re trying to connect your devices to the board.
There are many different ways to connect your board to your computer, and you should find the one that works best for your needs. In addition, some board models come with a USB-C connection, which is a great feature that allows you to connect your devices to your board with just one cable.
If you’re a Mac user, you’ll need to use an ethernet cord to connect your whiteboard to your computer. This is important because some interactive whiteboards can only be used with Windows operating systems and may not work properly with your Mac.
Some interactive whiteboards require a separate cable for power, but this is typically unnecessary. In addition, if your interactive whiteboard has a wireless Bluetooth connection, you can connect to the device with only a standard USB cord.
Infrared light curtain – Similar to a passive electromagnetic board, this type of IWB uses infrared sensors that detect the movement of your finger or marker over the surface of the board and sends the information back to the computer. It is an affordable option that can be used with any whiteboard material, including chalkboards and other surfaces that contain dry-erase markers.
Magnetic sensing – Active electromagnetic boards contain an array of wires embedded behind the board that interact with a coil in your pen or other stylus. The coil in the pen or stylus senses this magnetic pattern and tells the computer that your pen is moving on the board. This technology is used in professional digital artists and designers’ boards as well as in IWBs for schools, corporate meeting rooms, training and activity centers, and broadcasting studios.
Styli are either active (require batteries) or passive (alter electrical signals produced by the board, but do not need batteries). These IWBs emulate mouse actions accurately and can handle multiple inputs.
Some interactive whiteboards are also available as all-in-one systems, which allow you to connect your computer, audio- and videoconferencing equipment, and even printers and other peripherals to the display at the same time. This can be a useful solution for busy offices that want a single point of entry to all their equipment.