District Administration - April 2010 - (Page 64)

ProductFocus A GUIDE TO ONE SEGMENT OF EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY • Kurt Eisele-Dyrli VISUAL PRESENTERS BECOME MORE AFFORDABLE THE DIGITAL MODERN UPDATE OF THE OVERHEAD PROJECTOR, VISUAL PRESENTERS CONTINUE to be one of the most popular segments of K12 education technology, as educators ﬁnd more ways to use them in classrooms across content areas and grade levels. When used with a projector or monitor, these devices enable educators to display everything from documents to dissection specimens, even microscopic objects through the lens of a microscope. Current trends with visual presenters also reﬂect the economic realities faced by most districts, as the segment is no longer just characterized by manufacturers outdoing each other with expensive new features but is largely emphasizing value. Several of the latest new models from industry leaders are inexpensive, portable, entry-level units that include basic features, with prices in the $400 to $700 range instead of $1,000 to $2,000 or more for the top-of-the-line with the most powerful capabilities, and more companies are also oﬀering value packages with a projector included. Much of the technical criteria for diﬀerentiating visual presenters have remained the same for years and are similar to those of digital cameras: image resolution, zoom magniﬁcation, video frame-rate capture, and image storage capacity. Here are some of the recently released, aﬀordable, entry-level visual presenters to consider using in your district. ELMO TT-02Rx, $845 alone, $1,640 or $1,740 in a Doc-Tor bundle The fourth and latest generation of the company’s ﬂagship education document camera, ELMO’s TT-02rx includes several features of higher-end models but at an entry-level price. A Sony 1.39-megapixel camera captures video at 30 frames per second and offers image capture at a choice of resolutions: XGA, SXGA or WXGA. The control arm is a solid metal piece that can be rotated to place the camera on the eyepiece of a microscope, and an included remote control aids in making presentations. ELMO also now offers this model as part of its new Doc-Tor (short for “document camera and projector”) value package, bundled with either the company’s new CRP-22 or CRP-26 projectors. EPSON DC-06, $399 Epson’s DC-06 is designed to be both functional and extremely portable, as it folds up into a lightweight brick-sized unit that fits into an included carrying case. The camera captures XGA resolution, has an LED light integrated into the camera arm, and draws all its power through a USB cable linked to a computer or projector. Additional features include auto focus, image rotation, and a large 10.7-inch by 14.3-inch image capture area. The DC-06 is also available in value bundles with Epson projectors. www.epsonbrighterfutures.com www.elmousa.com LUMENS DC166, $799 The recently released DC166 replaced the DC162, one of Lumens’ most popular models. It includes features such as SXGA resolution, 6X optical zoom, an internal hard drive that can store up to 120 images and an SD card slot for additional storage. The design of the DC166 utilizes a unique flexible gooseneck arm for the camera and LED light, allowing for maximum placement flexibility. An Auto Tune function automatically adjusts brightness, contrast, color balance, exposure and focus for optimal image quality. SAMSUNG TECHWIN SAM CAM 860, $799 This new model from Samsung Techwin includes features such as a 1.4-megapixel resolution camera, 6X optical zoom plus 8X digital zoom, SXGA image output resolution, and 30-frames-per-second video capture. An SD card slot enables storage of images, video and audio via the integrated microphone or an optional external microphone, and the SAM CAM 860 also includes a remote control, LED lamp and microscope adapter. www.samcam860.com www.lumenseducation.com 64 April 2010 District Administration http://www.epsonbrighterfutures.com http://www.elmousa.com http://www.samcam860.com http://www.lumenseducation.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of District Administration - April 2010

District Administration - April 2010
Contents
From the Editor
News Update
Health
Standards
District Profile
Administrator Profile
Conversations
Sports for Life
Reaching Digital Natives on Their Terms
RTI Goes Mainstream
Double Duty: Schools as Community Centers
Online Edge
Tech Disruptions
Product Focus
New Products
Student Counsel

District Administration - April 2010