Asynchronous technologies undoubtedly make a major contribution to the e-learning armoury but sometimes synchronous solutions are required. One such solution, the electronic whiteboard has stimulated some interest amongst some of our faculty. But problems arose from a totally unexpected quarter. Our university has adopted eBeam a solution which converts a conventional whiteboard into an interactive whiteboard at a fraction of the cost of a dedicated digital system.
eBeam, as with other similar systems, use conventional whiteboard marker pens held in holders that transmit ultrasonic signals of the pen movements to receivers attached to the whiteboard and it works like a dream … sorry I should say 'worked' like a dream.
So what's the problem?
Many of our general teaching rooms, in the interest of saving energy, have recently had light sensors installed. The problem is that the light sensors also use ultrasonic radar to detect movement and, as a result, this interferes with the whiteboard system and effectively makes the board unusable.
So what are the solutions?
In the short term we've had to resort to wrapping tape around the light sensors which does bring its own problem - the room lights go out! We may be able to have the ultrasonic frequency of the eBeam system changed and we are investigating this possibility at this time.
Now what's that I was hearing about Bluetooth and microwaves, or mobile phones and fire detection equipment etc?
We are becoming so technology dependent that 'joined up thinking' amongst different parts of an organization is going to have to assume a whole new meaning. If not, one technology is going to progress one aspect of an organization's agenda whilst effectively sabotaging another. Now has anyone got a torch?
