There’s more to buying an interactive whiteboard for your office than meets the eye. Screen size, device compatibility and portability are just a few features to consider before making a decision. As smart boards go, there are more features available to help manage an office than you probably know! It’s best to think about what you need from this device before you end up making the wrong choice.

Read on, and we’ll help you choose the best interactive smart board for your workplace.

 

What do you need from an office whiteboard?

Even the most complex smartboard is just a digital version of the humble blackboard, so let’s start there. A blackboard (or smartboard) needs to be visible for all involved in the lesson/meeting/call/etc. because it will be used to convey various forms of information. So, what types of information do you need to communicate through your whiteboard, and who needs to see it?

If you have a traditional office space—say, with all workers physically present at the same time—and don’t tend to travel for work, then you may not need a white board that you can easily pack up and take on the road. On the other hand, if you and your workers are spread out in multiple home offices, or working hybrid hours, it might come in handy when you want to make presentations or host meetings wherever you happen to be at the time.

Portable smartboards also make sense for teams that travel regularly to meet customers and suppliers. This way, you can create any reports or presentations beforehand and bring the board along with you, instead of relying on the customer to have the right tech on hand.

Here are a few questions you should ask yourself while picking out an interactive whiteboard:

 

How many people can use the same board at one time?

Some whiteboards allow as many as thirty people to use the same board all at once, meaning that a collaborative project can move forward in real time. Alternatively, you can use many boards to share an interactive screen with multiple other devices, so that everyone can collaborate on their own screen.

 

What kind of documents will be uploaded to the board?

Smartboards work via a connection to another computer device, such as a laptop or tablet, via USB or wireless. That means whatever software you use on the computer is what gets shown on the whiteboard, like an interactive projection. Though common Microsoft Office programs are normally transferable on an interactive network, your whiteboard itself may have software that you prefer to use. In addition, each connected device should have the same software so that every user is in sync and able to interact in the same way.

 

Does the board connect to cloud storage?

If you want to save your video meetings, note sessions and presentations, take care to upload them to a storage device. Not every whiteboard will connect automatically to cloud storage, so take care then when you switch off the board you aren’t deleting something important. Though you’ll already have saved your pre-recorded presentations, you’ll have to record live meetings and shared presentations using the whiteboard’s local software, or that of a connected computer.

 

Is it big enough for everyone in the room to see? Is it small enough to fit where you’re going?

If your whiteboard is going to be used in a conference centre or large meeting room setting where people several rows away need to see what’s going on, choose a big screen! Wall-mounted or mobile on a rolling stand, our high-resolution interactive white boards let multiple people make notes onscreen at once, using a finger or a touch pen. Regular office settings, or network-shared presentations, call for a something a bit more modest in size.

Working on-site in somewhat dirty conditions, like construction areas? Look for a smartboard with an extra-large screen and built-in dust protection!

 

Will it integrate with your existing network software, such as videoconferencing and note sharing?

Our smartboards are able to work with a variety of software, including Windows and MacOS, though you may need download compatible apps directly to the whiteboard to run specific programs.

 

Does it already have Windows or another OS?

Interactive smartboards usually come with a MacOS or Windows operating system, but there are some models that work on their own software. Like all devices, Apple machines pair most easily with other Apple devices, and Androids with Androids. Generic OS whiteboards can generally pair with either type of device, especially with the help of a pairing app. If this is too difficult or not possible, you’ll still be able to mirror your device screen on the whiteboard using a good old-fashioned USB or HDMI plug.

 

Are there licensing fees to share white board displays with other devices?

Licensing fees are common when sharing whiteboard screens with a host of other devices, including those of employees, partners and customers. Purchasing a remote licence allows you to share your whiteboard screen both locally and remotely. Without the remote licence, you’ll be able to use the whiteboard in person as a physical display and for interactive use in person.

 

Will it connect to a variety of personal devices?

In many cases, data sharing and collaboration during meetings is easier when everyone has their own device—be it a smartphone, laptop or tablet. Ideally, everyone will be able to connect their own device to the main whiteboard and participate in the meeting. Take care to find out whether the whiteboard you choose pairs primarily with Android or Apple devices. To connect a smartboard to a device that runs on non-compatible software, you should be able to use a pairing app such as the Smart Device Connector.

 

Can you connect the whiteboard to a laptop?

Most models are capable of connecting to an external computer via an HDMI or USB cable. This allows the user to share their computer screen via the smartboard display directly. In many cases, you’ll also be able to connect via Wi-fi or Bluetooth.

 

Is there a built-in microphone?

Don’t get caught out on mute! Though a microphone may not immediately come to mind when looking at whiteboards, you’ll probably want to have an audio component when participating in video conferences. If there’s no mic included, you’ll be able to connect an external microphone via cable.

 

Ready to find your office whiteboard?

Check out our interactive white board listings now to find exactly what you’re looking for! We stock smartboards in all sizes for a range of settings and would love to chat with you about which models fit your needs best. Get in touch if you have any questions; we’re always happy to help!