Why Use a Glass Whiteboard Over an Interactive Whiteboard?
Whiteboards have been changing and evolving at a rapid pace; we had green chalk boards and blackboards for almost a hundred years and in the short thirty years since whiteboards have existed, there seems to be something new every year. You can find porcelain whiteboards, glass whiteboards, and now an interactive whiteboard. While the ever-changing technology is usually embraced by schools and teachers alike, it seems the new interactive whiteboards still have some kinks to work out.
Interactive whiteboards have been popping up in the U.S. and the U.K. in the past year, but it seems that the boards could cause potential eyesight damage to teachers and children. One investigation by the BBC showed that many of these interactive whiteboards didn’t carry enough warnings about the “dazzle effect” given off by the light.
This “dazzle effect” has been determined to be too strong for most people to stare at for too long. Some may overlook these warnings as overly cautious, but the HSE (Health and Safety Executive) also warns that students and teachers’ peripheral retina could be overexposed, even without looking directly into the beam.
Furthermore, they went on to advise that the users should keep their backs to the projector beam whenever possible to avoid overexposing their eyes. For teachers at the front of the classroom, this could be very difficult to avoid. Users are recommended to make sure that direct beam viewing is controlled and that users restrict themselves to only a few seconds at a time.
Many individuals and schools in the United Kingdom have urged the government to issue warnings on the boards for years without success. While some may not take the warnings seriously, teachers and schools are concerned about the potential health risks. One statistic shows that there are currently over 250,000 interactive whiteboards used in the U.K. for over five million students each and every day.
While these interactive whiteboards may still need some work, glass whiteboards have emerged as one of the newest, most eco-friendly options for universities and businesses. Not only do these boards create a sleek and modern look, but they can be used as a sort of projector screen. Glass dry erase can come in clear, white or back-painted colors; giving you the chance to set your stage for classroom or office presentations.
About Clarus Glassboards: Clarus is the leading manufacturer and innovator of glass whiteboards and glass visual display products. For more information about clear dry erase boards and our other glass architectural systems, please call 888-813-7414 or visit www.clarusglassboards.com.
