BenQ Launches Classroom IQ Line at FETC
BenQ today launched Classroom IQ--a line of smart classroom tools including projectors, software, and apps designed to bring interactivity and efficiency to instructors, IT managers, and administrators. The launch was announced at the FETC 2013 National Conference, held this week in Orlando, FL.
The Classroom IQ family is designed to work easily in bring-your-own-device environments, enabling multi-device classroom instruction and management. Multi-device software tools launched today include QDraw3 interactive software and app along with QPresenter 2.0 software and app.
Features of QDraw3 include:
- The ability for teachers to present and annotate directly onto teaching materials such as Microsoft Word files, PowerPoint slides, PDFs, and HTML documents;
- Presenter Mode, which enables teachers to teach from anywhere in the room with access and control directly from their tablet;
- Collaboration Mode, which connects every device in the classroom, allowing students and teachers to share annotations, view each other's screens, and share control of classroom content; and
- Accessibility across all platforms and devices, including OS X, Windows 8, and Linux. It is available as a free download from the iTunes app store and the Google Play store.
QPresenter 2.0 is an alternative for teachers and students to share different types of photos and documents directly from their tablets via iTunes, Dropbox, or e-mail. The new version features virtual keypad control from tablets and allows built-in cameras on both smartphones and tablets to project images directly onto the classroom's projection screen.
As part of the FETC launch of their new products, BenQ announced upgrades to its PointDraw remote control technology, creation of the PointWrite device, and introduction of a new line of interactive projectors and interactive flat panel (IFP) displays.
In the spirit of classroom collaboration, PointDraw 3.0's revamp includes the Dual Pen feature, allowing students and teachers to collaborate simultaneously for up to 20 hours on a full charge. PointWrite enables multi-writing of up to four pens.
BenQ's new interactive projectors, MW821ST and MX822ST, feature technology to eliminate shadows of presenters in front of the screen and HDMI connectivity to enable teachers to integrate 3D content easily from Blu-ray players or PCs to their lesson plans.
MW821ST and MX822ST interactive projector features also include:
- WXGA (1,280 x 800 pixels) and XGA resolutions (1,024 x 768 pixels);
- 13,000:1 contrast ratio;
- More than 3,000 ANSI lumens of brightness;
- PointDraw technology;
- Built-in speakers; and
- Short-throw projection capabilities for easy installation in rooms of all sizes.
BenQ America Corp. is part of the BenQ Group, which comprises more than 15 independent companies operating in more than 30 countries across numerous industries with a combined workforce of over 120,000 employees.
BenQ Classroom IQ solutions will be available for the worldwide market in February 2013.
For more information visit benq.us.
About the Author
Kevin Hudson is a freelance journalist based in Portland, Oregon. He can be reached at [email protected].