Software and Digital Equipment for Text Media
I. Software for Creating Text Media
Various programs, both online and offline, exist for creating different kinds of text media, whether they are documents, spreadsheets, presentations, or others. Some of the most popular office suites are:
- Microsoft Office
- Apache OpenOffice
- Google Docs
- LibreOffice
- Oracle Open Office
II. Equipment for Digital Text Media Presentation
1. Multimedia Projectors
Multimedia projectors are
basically divided into two groups based on the technology used to create an
image. First are the LCD projectors,
which use an array of LCD screens and color filters to produce an image. Second
are the DLP projectors, which use a Texas Instrument semiconductor called a DLP
chip. The DLP chip is actually an array of microscopic mirrors that can be
controlled electronically. LCD projectors are larger but produce a brighter
image, whereas DLP projectors are more compact and produce higher contrast
images.
For more information and characteristics, see DLP Versus LCD
To learn more about DLPs, visit the Texas Instruments DLP Page.
For more information and characteristics, see DLP Versus LCD
To learn more about DLPs, visit the Texas Instruments DLP Page.
2. LCD/LED/Plasma Televisions
Large-screen flat TVs are becoming more common in classrooms alongside multimedia projectors. They have wide viewing angles, good contrast and brightness, and accept a wide variety of inputs including computer VGA and HDMI. LCD and LED TVs only vary in their thickness and backlighting method: LCD TV’s use cold-cathode fluorescent lamps, whereas LED TV’s use white light-emitting diodes for illumination.
Plasma TVs use a different kind of technology altogether, more closely related to the old cathode-ray tube (CRT) TVs. They produce brighter colors and pictures, but also consume more electricity and produce more heat. However they are much cheaper than LED and LCD TVs.
Plasma TVs use a different kind of technology altogether, more closely related to the old cathode-ray tube (CRT) TVs. They produce brighter colors and pictures, but also consume more electricity and produce more heat. However they are much cheaper than LED and LCD TVs.
3. Visualizers
Visualizers are the digital equivalent of the over-head projector. They consist of a camera, a lamp, and connections to display their output to either a TV or multimedia projector. Modern visualizers are very compact and lightweight, making them much more convenient to transport than an OHP. Their main disadvantage though is that they require a display device, whereas an OHP can project on any plain white surface.
4. Interactive White Boards
Interactive white boards are a combination of a multimedia projection screen and some form of electronic input, so that it acts as a digital white board. IWBs are very expensive and their features can vary widely depending on the manufacturer. The latest IWBs use cameras for position sensing instead of touch-based input, and can work on nearly any projection surface. There is a lot of negative opinion about IWBs though, particularly due to the fact that you have to work in front of the screen, habitually blocking the student’s view of the content.
To learn more about the different types of configurations for IWBs, see the Interactive Whiteboard.
To learn more about the different types of configurations for IWBs, see the Interactive Whiteboard.
5. Tablets and Smart-phones
Tablets and smartphones feature a wide number of connectivity features that can interact with other electronic devices. Because they are essentially portable computers, text media can be broadcast in the classroom and interacted with via Virtual Network Computing (VNC). Tablets and smart-phones are often equipped with Digital Living Network Alliance (DlNA) connectivity, which can stream content and in some cases share their screen with DlNA compatible televisions and multimedia projectors.