Find the Latest Resources in Education Today
Short-throw projectors going ‘extreme’ in education
Presentation tools that don’t require large spaces are gaining traction in schools, experts say
Panasonic's PT-ST10 is an extreme short-throw projector that needs less than two feet to operate.
Not every classroom is a vast lecture hall. There are many small rooms in schools and colleges that serve as meeting spaces—confined areas where projectors must be placed just a few feet away from a surface.
Casting a large, clear picture on a screen or wall is rarely a challenge in the most spacious of lecture halls; instructors can place their projector as far back into the room as needed to get a crisp image that supplements a class lesson.
For faculty members who don’t have the luxury of nearly unlimited space, however, there is a new generation of short-throw projectors that have adopted a new name: “ultra short throw” or “extreme short throw.”
These extreme versions of the short-throw projector can create images up to 80 inches diagonally across, sitting only two feet or less from a screen or wall—making the machines ideal for educators working in a tight space.
Having the projector so close to the wall also lets instructors roam the classroom or stand in front a whiteboard without casting shadows on the projection, experts say.
“This past year it’s been all about who puts the ‘short’ in short-throw projectors,” said Elizabeth Dourley, a researcher and writer for Projector Central, a website that tracks projector technology for entertainment and educational use. “Short throws are extremely popular for applications where space is tight, but they also prevent light hitting a presenter in the face or shadows obstructing the image.”
More news about presentation technology:
3D content for education on the rise
Many extreme short-throw projectors require only about one foot to produce an image—a significant difference when compared to a standard projector used in education. Traditional projectors need at least eight feet to cast a clear image on a wall or screen, and many need several more feet to operate
Ultra short-throw projectors have developed a following both in K-12 schools and on college campuses, Dourley said. And she expects the educational fascination with short-throw projectors to continue in 2011.
“Short-throw projectors have always been favored by schools, because of space constraints and other issues,” she said.
The most extreme of the ‘extreme’ short-throw projectors
Many projector companies have unveiled their latest lines of ultra short-throw options in recent months, but few—if any—compare to the limited distance needed by the Dell S500wi projector, which hit the market in February.
2 Responses to Short-throw projectors going ‘extreme’ in education
You must be logged in to post a comment Login
ekgravely
May 31, 2011 at 5:01 pm
This article missed the flag ship of ultra short-throw interactive projectors–the Epson 450wi, which came out first about a year ahead of other models and has exellent sharp resolution from bottom to top and edge to edge. I have not seen the NEC or Mitsubishi, but so far I’ve seen nothing as good as the Epson. It turns a standard teaching surface into an interactive display area with a very sharp, bright image.
ekgravely
May 31, 2011 at 5:01 pm
This article missed the flag ship of ultra short-throw interactive projectors–the Epson 450wi, which came out first about a year ahead of other models and has exellent sharp resolution from bottom to top and edge to edge. I have not seen the NEC or Mitsubishi, but so far I’ve seen nothing as good as the Epson. It turns a standard teaching surface into an interactive display area with a very sharp, bright image.
jessie586
June 3, 2011 at 12:03 pm
Most of the cases, space isn’t the most important consideration. Budget is.
BOXLIGHT’s interactive projector series provides 6 models with different technical spec. and pricing to fit your budget, so that you can cover more classrooms. Even there is a solution to upgrade your current projectors into interactive projectors, which cost only $599. ($449 if you buy 1 year Glogster together)
http://www.classroom-aid.com
jessie586
June 3, 2011 at 12:03 pm
Most of the cases, space isn’t the most important consideration. Budget is.
BOXLIGHT’s interactive projector series provides 6 models with different technical spec. and pricing to fit your budget, so that you can cover more classrooms. Even there is a solution to upgrade your current projectors into interactive projectors, which cost only $599. ($449 if you buy 1 year Glogster together)
http://www.classroom-aid.com