Smart Boards Losing To Tablets

It would seem that devices and tools like electronic whiteboards come with a hefty cost to budgets especially when they require repair. Back in 1983, “Steve Jobs said that one day we would be carrying a small, fully functional and networked computer device around anywhere” - Keith Fowlkes. Now there is a way for people to research and develop teaching methods from home, the office, the classroom and even a plane. This technology can do a majority of what is needed for education while remaining compact like a folder. When computers became common in the classroom in the 90’s they were not very reliable and often wasted a great deal of time for students and staff. Projectors and smart boards of the day were often out of calibration causing much frustration. Going into the 2000’s they improved however their efficiency was still very much lacking and getting them to work properly absorbed significant class time. Today though, tablet computing is a reality within financial reach for many teachers and students. Staff members can now literally carry their work with them on the go. Within a touch of a button it is possible to have access to the internet, music, books and all kinds of documents. It is simple for faculty to take their tablet and hook it up to a video projector then draw, highlight, or interact with what is on the screen without needing a smart board’s aid. Users can share their screens with the instructor in real time and vice versa. This is the higher education many have been waiting for and it is likely that IT funding will shift in favor of tablets. 

They are a ways off from perfection though and the industry will have to continue to adjust and adapt to the constantly evolving world. Applications require significant processing power and there has to be cloud services which can handle it. Audio/visual editing and statistical software are just a few examples of these types of services. Apps have to be able to support the many different tablet operating systems. The downside to the devices mobility is size so some may require attachment monitors for those who have dwindling eyesight. A standardization of wireless video connectivity should be addressed too so basically we need a web conferencing service designed for classrooms with multiple tablet types. One other issue that isn’t a simple fix is file systems meaning where people’s documents and other files are stored. Google drive, skydrive, and iCloud are a few services that exist but there is no single file system allowing users to edit in multiple apps. Along with this is the security for these storage systems as hacking is a concern of many. What are your thoughts?

"InformationWeek News Connects The Business Technology Community."InformationWeek. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Nov. 2014.