eBeam Interactive Whiteboard Technology

Overview: Installation in 3 Steps: How does it work - Capture? Additional features: As mentioned earlier it is possible to use The eBeam is a device, which can convert any flat surface into an The eBeam Interactive (in conjunction with a laptop and projector), is eBeam Capture: a projector with the ‘Capture’ system. It interactive whiteboard or smartboard. It can also be used to capture a complete mobile interactive whiteboard system. Locate the eBeam Referring to figure two below, here you can see the main elements may be necessary to transmit the content digitally in real time for later review or for publishing online. receiver on any flat surface and you create your own giant ‘touch and connections, which are possible when using the system to screen’. Ideal for people who wish to present or hold brainstorming capture hand written content produced on a standard whiteboard. The captured content to another location in sessions, tutorials or other similar sessions. eBeam receiver can be fixed as before, either temporally or real time, such as an overflow room or remote location. This can be achieved How does eBeam work? permanently using the fixings supplied (Magnetic, suction or with by utilising the eBeam server, which Before we look closer at how the eBeam works, you may find it useful Installation of the system is very straight forward and provided the screw fittings). allows other authorised users to log into to refer to figure one and figure two below, as this will help to visualise has already been installed (It is free to download from the an eBeam session by simply and distinguish the two different uses of the eBeam system. The following site: http://www.e-beam.com downloading the free Capture software eBeam works by means of a combination of Infra-red and ultrasonic and logging into the appropriate session technology embedded into the , pens, and an eBeam receiver to as displayed in the menu opposite. translate the movements of these signals and convert them into mouse strokes on a PC or Mac. Step 1: In the above example The MATH 060 When an eBeam pen first touches the board it emits a flash of Connect the eBeam receiver to a flat session has been password protected, infrared, which is, picked up on a sensor in the centre of the eBeam surface, Whiteboard, and link the as indicted by the ‘pad-lock’ icon to the receiver. The pen when being used then emits a series of ultrasonic sensor to your PC/laptop via Bluetooth left of the meeting. Once authenticated signals, which can be heard as a slight ‘buzzing sound’; this signal is or supplied USB cable. the user can participate fully in the received on the poles of the receiver. The eBeam unit then calculates meeting. the difference in time between the two signals and triangulates the position of the stylus or marker sleeve on the pre-calibrated area. The Step 2: principle is not too dissimilar to counting the difference in time Connect a projector to your PC/laptop between lightening and thunder to locate the centre of a storm. and project the desktop onto the whiteboard or any suitable surface where the receiver is attached. Figure 2: Using the eBeam to capture written content on a Whiteboard: eBeam Capture Step 3: Launch the interactive software and calibrate the working area. The system is now ready to use. How does it work - Interactive? There are two significant differences to the previous system The following section will look at both uses individually and will and they are; highlight the pros and cons for each. - there is no need for a data The eBeam Complete comprises the ‘eBeam Interactive’ and eBeam Interactive: projector ‘eBeam Capture’ systems. In addition it is also possible to Referring to figure one below, here you can see the main elements How do I use the eBeam? purchase the eBeam Complete system with Bluetooth and connections, which are possible when using the system as an - the stylus has been replaced by functionality, this will allow the eBeam receiver to connect to any interactive whiteboard. The eBeam receiver can be fixed either Depending on the type of use the interactive menu wheel or palette four coloured pens; Bluetooth enabled . However, this option will require the temporally or permanently using the fixings supplied (Magnetic, will present the user with different options, as appropriate. eBeam receiver to be connected to a power source via the USB suction or with screw fittings). cable and power adaptor supplied. It is also important to note For example, a typical scenario would include presenting a that the separate eBeam systems (eBeam Capture and eBeam PowerPoint TM presentation using a data projector and using the The whiteboard pens are standard Interact) are also available with Bluetooth connectivity. stylus provided to annotate the slides. In this example the non-permanent markers, which fit PowerPoint palette, as illustrated below, would be presented and into their respective coloured only those options, which are indicated, are available for the user to cradles. access at that time; Each cradle is electronically tagged To navigate the desktop in a with a unique identity so that a similar way to using a mouse, colour can be assigned to it and the user is presented with the this colour can then be reproduced Contact details: ‘Desktop Palette’ as onto the computer screen. For further information or a demonstration of the system, illustrated in figure 3 please contact John Conway, [email protected]. Figure 3: The various Desktop Pallets opposite. In addition to the pens there is also an eraser tool, which can erase the ink from the whiteboard and also electronically remove the image from the computer screen.

Figure 1: Using the eBeam as an Interactive Whiteboard: eBeam Interactive