Systems Integration | Articles | AVI Latinoamérica

Projectors energize education

Education is the sector that implements the use of projectors as a dynamic tool.

At present, new technologies have allowed approaches and have generated added value in teaching and learning models. Additionally, educational institutions have thought about enhancing interactivity and assuming other methodologies in educational processes, for that purpose they have incorporated interactive tools such as projectors.

Faced with this, several studies argue that "students have increased their degree of motivation and involvement in the classroom, while teachers have a large amount of material, increasingly with better quality, and can even interact with teachers from anywhere in the world, for example". In relation to the above, it is important to note that governments and public education institutions in Latin America have begun to understand the need for technological implementation. According to the Mexican Association of the Information Technology Industry (AMITI), the level of connectivity in public schools in Latin America "currently varies greatly, with countries such as Chile, which have 70% of schools connected to the internet, or Brazil with 40%, to countries with more areas of opportunity such as Mexico, where only 12% of basic education institutions have computers connected to the internet."

From another point, the report Top 100 Latin American integrators AVI states that the AV conditioning factors and barriers to access to digital education are due to "connectivity and the availability of computers, the lack of audiovisual equipment and integrated systems at home conditions access to remote education". For UNESCO and IESALC "in the region, of the total number of children between 0 and 17 years old who attend a public school belonging to poor households with daily incomes of less than 3.1 USD (PPP, 2011), only 22% have access to the internet at home and only 19% have access to a computer. This proportion increases to 26% and 22% when considering children from poor households with incomes of less than USD 5. This, of course, does not take into account whether the connectivity is broadband or the capacity of the computer."

That is, in addition, the use of ICT and the implementation of projects in the education segment go beyond integrating electronic devices in classrooms or computer laboratories. Technology permeates in one way or another all aspects and actors of the teaching process, from students to teachers, and from the transmission of knowledge to school administration.

This then raises to manufacturers that there is a need to evaluate what works and what does not work in their projectors, in order to offer a product with a high impact on quality. Similarly, end users must understand the use of equipment, understand its benefits and characteristics, this is undoubtedly what allows to evaluate whether the incorporation of a projector is a facilitating tool or not.

In order to give a broader perspective on the supply and demand of projectors in the education sector, several companies told AVI Latin America magazine, how they closed the market in Latin America during the last year, the news, the recent projects in education. In addition, they emphasized what are the main characteristics that projectors for education should have, and in turn, made some recommendations for end users.

Understand needs

For Claudius Bezerra, product marketing manager for Latin America of Sony PSLA, mainly in the educational field, "the biggest concern that one should have, is the level of brightness of the rooms, let's say the type of light you use in the environment. All that is going to play you, perhaps, against, at the moment you are going to do the installation. "

Bezerra explained: "Because you have to look at the type of projector, the level of luminance, but also the type of screen. According to the gain of the screen, the level of brightness and the projector, you will have an optimal image. There is also the issue of interference with other equipment, it is not only to take into account the position of the projector. In addition, there is the proximity to other cables that are in the environment and that may soon generate a certain level of noise when transmitting the image."

Along the same lines, Patricia Navarro, general manager of BenQ LATAM, argued that in the case of small projectors they can hinder the sharpness of the letters, the images and the image is not able to see, which affects the concentration and attention of the students. But we must also bear in mind that when it comes to the purchase of a projector, in many cases, the decision is based on the budget. "LED lighting technology projectors help us to make the image much brighter, much sharper, so obviously as I said from the classroom from the middle of the classroom back they will be able to see much better," Navarro emphasized.

Likewise, Ivonne Tan, senior account manager of sales in Latin America at Sharp NEC Display Solutions of America, Inc, said: "Definitely, the application is extremely important, the environment, the type of projection that is required. The light and brightness of each classroom, that's important. In addition to this, you have to identify the qualities or characteristics they have, you have to understand that economic culture."

On the other hand, for Juan Campos, product manager of Latin America of EPSON, "the objective is to understand the needs of the user to achieve an impact and be able to improve performance". Campos explained that from his brand "schools are visited from different areas to identify what works and what does not in order to improve the product. We listen to the youngest students, we take into account the size of the projectors they need, the colors, the interactive models to facilitate the learning processes."

To which he added: "you have to know the portfolio and the schools, according to their characteristics, the requirements must be made."

Key aspects to choose a good projector
Claudius, argued: "When choosing a projector it is important to take into account the flexibility, what type of lenses it is or if they are interchangeable lenses to know the level of aperture you have and the degrees of inclination because many times the calculations are made, it is installed, and suddenly, it falls short. It is also good that the product is backed by local warranty. Another relevant point is after-sales and service. The customer relationship cycle goes beyond selling."

Bezerra gives as an example some models launched by Sony during the last year: VPL-PHZ51, VPL-PHZ61, VPL-FHZ80 and VPL-FHZ85, "are compact models of fixed lenses, which work very well in an educational environment. The first, for example, has a brightness level with Laser Z-Phosphor technology, the second has advanced image processing function with Reality Creation for better color reproduction and higher contrast level, the third has the function of intelligent presets (Intelligent Settings) for quick configuration according to the desired application or environment and the last has a self-cleaning filter system. These are aspects to consider when choosing between one projector or another."

In the case of Ivonne Tan, the recommendation is that the end user makes sure that in reality what they are requiring is what they need, therefore, we must bear in mind that on many occasions products are offered for lower prices, but it is not what technically is not what they are looking for. In the case of the characteristics and in relation to what its brand offers in terms of projectors for education, it emphasizes that the guarantee guidelines as a differential plus "in reality we are with a slightly stronger positioning in laser, it comes with five years of factory warranty. It is extremely important for the brand that the customer understands that they have all our support and that the product is always thinking about the needs and requirements."

To which he added: "Likewise, the program called "Star Student" is implemented only in educational entities and that program - as I indicated - gives extended warranty to the projector and has no cost."

From another point, Patricia Navarro, said that for BenQ it is important to know what is the use of the projector? "So the first important consideration is what is the beneficiary audience of that image that is going to be projected in order to determine what is needed. The second is what are we going to project?"

Faced with the recommendations, he socialized one of the solutions they offer: "Smart Projector is a technology or is a very new type of equipment for many schools, which benefit from the additional after-sales, where we train institutions."

On the side of Juan Campos, "it is relevant that there is a slight bright and easy to read projection in a classroom" This, as evidenced by the company on its website, can be achieved with "the BrightLink EB-725Wi interactive laser projector. Featuring 4,000 lumens of brightness in colour and white1, 3LCD technology, the BrightLink EB-725Wi projector with WXGA resolution delivers lifelike 16:10 images up to 100; and offers 85% more interactive space compared to a flat screen."

"It's a convenient solution, works with new or existing touch modules for models, designed to enhance classroom collaboration, the BrightLink EB-725Wi instantly makes almost any wall or whiteboard interactive, and supports up to eight users when used with new or existing touch modules."