[senit] iwbs vs interactive plasma screens

hi I was looking at the inclusive site on their interactive plasma

As with the others who have responded earlier, plasma screens are much  
better than IWB, and as always, it's not just because they address  
issues that are more prominent for users with special needs (ie  
shadow), they are just far higher quality images and much better able  
to cope in standard classroom environments.

Apart from shadow, no risk of a pupil turning and staring into a very  
bright projector either.
You may well get some responses regarding back-projected IWBs too, and  
these are certainly better than standard IWBs. Similarly, the newer  
short throw projectors overcome quite a bit of the shadow issue, but  
it's not a total solution.

As far as height adjustment and accessibility for users in wheelchairs  
goes, yes these are extremely important, and in my view should be  
crucial considerations when any school is investing, not just special  
schools. Before Inclusive Technology brought their product to the  
market we had recognised that this was what we needed, and we  
initially designed and built our own, including the facility to swivel  
the screen off to the side if using it with individual pupils rather  
than a small group or whole class. Our view now is that the critical  
features are a combination of height adjustability and spacing from  
the wall, so we went to Loxit, who manufacture the Hi-Lo mechanism,  
and they built an adapted version for us which we felt allowed  
children to sit face-on in their wheelchair, or be in long-sitting  
position with the screen down very close to the floor. Or of course in  
a standing frame of tilt table with the screen much higher up.  
Whatever position is valuable for their physical development, while  
they get on with some engaging and motivating work.

http://www.parkroadict.co.uk/Site/School_Developments.html

Regards,

Sean O'Sullivan
sean.frankwise at easynet.co.uk
Headteacher
Frank Wise School, Banbury
http://www.frankwise.oxon.sch.uk

http://www.parkroadict.co.uk

On 24 Jun 2008, at 18:40, david fettes wrote:

> hi I was looking at the inclusive site on their interactive plasma  
> screens. It seems they don't have the problem of shadow . Are they  
> really problem-free in the SLD school? So will schools replace their  
> iwbs with interactive plasma screens? We certainly have problems  
> with the height of iwbs - some of which could not be rectified. We  
> have a couple of height adjustable iwbs and they do not need  
> recalibrating at all. We have some very small students and some very  
> tall ones. Another thing with iwbs is how some students in  
> wheelchairs can't reach the board face on. The height adjustable  
> plasma screens don't look like they will let the wheelchair go under  
> the board any more than height adjust iwbs do? The pics of  
> interactive plasma screens -is the abbreviation ips? look to be  
> smaller than typical iwbs? which could be a disadvantage? if anyone  
> knows any further advantages and disadvantages please let me know
> thanks
> David