London (UK), February 2015 - (by Jürgen Schlieszeit) Like every year, the world's largest trade fair for digital and interactive media for the education sector took place in London. This year's edition of the BETT show took place from 21 to 24 January, and about 520 exhibitors from around the world presented the latest technologies and software solutions for a contemporary digital school classroom to the international audience.
Renowned speakers such as Bob Geldof and Sir Ken Robinson gave talks in the centrally located BETT area about the future of learning and the major importance of education today. The show itself is free for visitors, and teachers in England usually get a day off to explore the huge range of offerings in London’s EXCEL exhibition hall.
Everything from the Cloud
In addition to the publishers who, without exception, are specialists in interactive learning programs for various subjects and grade levels, hardware and software solutions were displayed that simplify working with devices like tablets, smartphones, interactive whiteboards, and touchscreens.
It was obvious that the future will see more cloud solutions - including those for classroom use. In addition to learning-management and student-management systems, numerous cloud solutions were available in the areas of the promotion of literacy, dyscalculia, concentration exercises, and structuring aids for students’ everyday life. Also on display were creative tools that can be used directly in the classroom via tablet or smartphone, and cloud-based whiteboard software was demonstrated at the Hitachi, SMART, and Triumph Board stands. At the Intel stand and several others, impressive solutions for the use of 3D animations in the classroom were exhibited.
The Interactive Whiteboard Is Dead - Long Live the Touchscreen
Although in the last two years, interactive whiteboards and projectors with various technologies to operate the digital chalkboard were on display at numerous stands, they were nowhere to be seen this year. Only a few Far Eastern suppliers presented old, familiar models, which are still available on the market at low prices.
Instead, all the leading manufacturers and suppliers of interactive whiteboards presented their latest touchscreen technology, which are already regarded as replacements for the classic interactive whiteboard. Oversized TVs are operated via infrared and/or camera technology. They come in the classic 55", 70", and 84" sizes, but panels up to 92" are also available on the market. They are not only impressive because of their excellent image quality in ultra-HD resolution and ease of use, but also because of their price! While there are providers like Prowise who offer 84" models beginning at 5000 euros, most vendors’ prices are still in the 7,000-10,000 euro range. This, however, is only a matter of time. After Microsoft introduces its interactive touch display with the name "Surface Hub" alongside the new Windows 10, prices will soon settle at the level of the current conventional interactive whiteboard systems - assuming demand is similar.
When the German education fair didacta opens its doors in Hanover at the end of February 2015, we will only get to see a fraction of how learning can be meaningfully supported in a truly contemporary way with the help of digital media. There is still a long way to go before we in Germany can really keep up with the conversation.
