By John Mark V. Tuazon
Computerworld Philippines
August 13, 2010

In an unprecedented move, IT equipment vendor Epson recently bid goodbye to interactive whiteboards after the introduction of a ultra short throw interactive projectors at the recent launch of its 2010 line.

The Epson EB-450Wi, which the vendor is targeting at classroom environments, can be mounted 2.8 centimeters from the wall, projecting at least a 60-inch image from a short distance of just 7.6 centimeters.

This eliminates eye-straining glare from projector lights beamed directly at the speaker, and gets rid of shadows that tend to distract the view from the image projected on the screen.

But the prime jewel that may attract teachers and other presenters to the EB-450Wi would have to be its interactive features, which is controlled using a standard-sized infrared pen that communicates with the projector to determine the coordinates of the pen and react with movements accordingly.

During the press launch of the projector in different-themed vignettes that highlight certain functionalities of the products, a representative from Epson merely touched on the projected image to shift the presentation onto the next slide.

This eliminates the need for a bulky interactive whiteboard which tends to be cumbersome, because one would still have to move the equipment about when it is needed for interactive projection. With the EB-450Wi and its infrared capabilities, any screen, wall, or surface can easily turn into an interactive space.

Additionally, interactive whiteboards tend to be expensive. The whiteboard alone costs at least P125,000, compared to the EB-450Wi which only costs around P106,000.

“We believe that the Epson EB-450Wi ultra short throw interactive projector is the ultimate learning tool of the future,” said Ed Bonoan, EPC senior general manager and head of division sales and marketing, Epson Philippines. “Epson took into consideration the needs of education institutions and its business partners while developing this innovative tool. We are confident that its exceptional features, together with its cost-saving capacity, will foster a better learning experience through more effective presentations.”

Among other projectors showcased in the launch include the EB-Z8050W, a 7000-lumens projector which combines Epson’s very own 3LCD technology with optical technology, claiming to deliver unmatched brightness and high resolutions.

The EH-Tw4500, on the other hand, is the vendor’s stake in the home theater department, with its 200,000:1 contrast ratio—which the company claims as the highest in the world—coupled with DEEPBlack Technology, Dual-Layer Auto Iris Technology, and refined frame interpolation, with an adjustable lens.

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