Introduction to Interactive Whiteboards

Full name: Vesutuaije Hondjera

Student number: 110016149

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 Overview of interactive whiteboards (IWBs) and their evolution

Interactive whiteboards, also known as smart boards, have been widely used in education for about 15 years now, but they are becoming increasingly irrelevant with each passing year due to new edtech solutions – the current shift towards remote and hybridlearning is playing a part in this as well. While many educators are looking for IWB file converters, editors, or even special apps that will allow them to still use previously created materials, there might be a better remedy. Using an interactive whiteboard, you can not only keep using all your old content, but also take advantage of all of this smarter equivalent’s functionalities to edit, tailor and update it, too. This is definitely the age of the digital whiteboard app.

Their evolution

Attempts to create a self-motivating and calculating machine that would emulate many of the thinking patters of human beings has been a centuries-long quest for many inventors. The eighteenth-century Turk was alleged to be a chess-playing automaton which defeated the likes of Napoleon Bonaparte and Benjamin Franklin in chess matches; it was later revealed that the Turk was a hoax controlled by a man inside the machine. Still, the idea for creating a human-like thinking machine remained alive and well into the twentieth century. Konrad Zuse, a Germanengineer, developed the first truly programmable computer in 1941. It used a stream of paper tape with holes punched into it to perform calculations based on a complex algorithm. The first commercial computer was the famous UNIVAC of 1951, invented by John Presper Eckert and John W. Mauchly. It used a series of vacuum tubes to perform complex calculations and filled several rooms with its bulk; the computing power of UNIVAC is equivalent to today's pocket calculators.

 

A YouTube video on IWBs.

Comparison between traditional whiteboards and interactive whiteboards

Feature	Traditional Whiteboards	Interactive Whiteboards
Functionality	Simple writing and drawing	Touch-sensitive, interactive features
Technology	Non-digital	Digital technology integration
User Interaction	Handwritten only	Supports touch, gestures, and stylus
Content Sharing	Limited to physical markers	Can display multimedia content
Collaboration	Basic group work	Enhanced real-time collaboration
Storage and Retrieval	No storage capability	Can save and retrieve notes/files
Accessibility	Physical limitations	Can accommodate various input methods
Cost	Generally lower cost	Typically higher initial investment
Maintenance	Minimal maintenance	Requires software updates and tech support
Training Requirements	Minimal training needed	Training may be necessary for effective use
Engagement	Less engaging for students	More engaging with interactive features
Environmental Impact	Paper waste from markers	Reduces paper use, but relies on electronics

 

 Reference

Promack, (2024), Traditional Whiteboard vs. Interactive Whiteboard: Which is Better? Retrieved from https://promark.co.in/traditional-whiteboard-vs-interactive-whiteboard/

Historical Weapons From 1789 to 1864 (synonym.com)

Chade, M (2021) The evolution of interactive whiteboards – from the wall into your hands (or both!) retrieved from The evolution of interactive whiteboards – from the wall into your hands (or both!) | Explain Everything.

Nathaniel (2024) Interactive Smart Boards vs. Traditional Whiteboards. Retrieved from Interactive Smart Boards vs. Traditional Whiteboards (aceofficesystems.com)