The $75 Smartboard Alternative

THE $75 SMARTBOARD ALTERNATIVEAdam Binet, Supply Teacher – District 2January 2008

Utilizing some low cost gadgets it has been discovered that one can create a “SmartBoard” alternative for as little as $75.

Discovered by Johnny Chung Lee, a Graduate PhD student in the Human-Computer Interaction Institute at Carnegie Mellon University.

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Created Adam Binet / [email protected] / 506.961.6967

Nintendo Wii Remote ($40) IR Keychain Light ($15) USB Bluetooth Adapter ($20)

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Wii Remote connects

wirelessly to laptop

Laptopproject

sthrough data project

or

Wii Remote sensor covers project

ed screen

Computer image

projected onto screen

Teacher uses IR light which acts as

the mouse

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The key is that this system is as easy, if not easier to setup and use as the widely popular “SmartBoards”.

At a fraction of the cost, it is now feasible to have these SmartBoard alternatives running in several classrooms instead of just one or two per school.

And with data projectors as low as $399 now, this whole system can be setup and running for under $500.

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I would propose to setup a prototype at the District Office or at a school to try it out.

Give several teachers and staff a chance to use the system and see if they think it would satisfy their needs and if it could truly replace SmartBoards.

If it is deemed to be an innovative solution, then a bulk purchase of the components could be done, again helping to minimize costs.

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The process to setup and install this system is relatively simple and not time consuming.

Info sessions on PD days or at staff meetings could be done to demonstrate how to use the system – perhaps one lead per school could be in charge of helping to setup these systems in their schools.

I would love to help with a prototype and/or assist the Technology Mentors in setting these up.

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Adam Binet:[email protected]

506.961.6967

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mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]