What to Look for in Dry Erase Boards
You may think dry erase boards are a fairly straightforward subject, but there is a tremendous array of options available. The application really dictates which is most appropriate.
While the dry erase board find primary application in business and education, households are also finding models and options that suit their needs, with options that allow for anything from quick notes to erasable graffiti and artwork.
The dry erase board has generally replaced the chalkboard as the standard medium for writing and displaying information to a large group. started to understand the value of whiteboards}. With the low level of mess, the broad color options in the pens, and creative options that these features open up, users are finding the benefits worth the cost.
Actually, prices have gone down considerably in recent years as manufacturers have increased production to meet the growing demand.
Many believe dry erase boards are made of the same stuff, but that is simply not true. They may look the same, but the materials it is made out of greatly change its performance. The more durable the board is, and the better the material quality, the higher the price. On the other hand, a high-quality board can be used for the life of a building without needing to be replaced, even with heavy use. Heavy-duty boards like these are usually made of stainless steel and contain a porcelain surface layered over a thick laminate. They’re every bit as heavy as old-style chalkboards and require firm, permanent mounting for safe use.
The other extreme is the cheaper dry erase boards which are made of a variety of inexpensive and less durable materials. Materials used as a bad include cardboard, wood, particleboard, Masonite, and stainless steel. Sometimes these are offered in color options from plain white to pretty much any color you in the rainbow. Some boards are very simple, only providing a thin sheet of steel with a light coat of lamination. Boards that are smaller often take on these variations because the market usually calls for more variety and personalization. Because household users probably won’t be presenting information to a large crowd of people, the optics and contrast aren’t as essential of concerns.
Whiteboards with a steel base or frame have the added advantage of being magnetic, allowing for easy placement of additional visual aids to augment whatever’s being presented on the board.
The electronic dry erase board is the pinnacle of technology for presentation. There are a few different companies that manufacture such boards, Panasonic being on of them. There are many different types of boards that can dramatically improve usability compared to the standard dry erase boards. Electronic boards usually allow for instant digital imaging of what’s being written on the board, as well as whatever papers or other materials are stuck to it. By allowing the audience to receive individual prinouts of the material on the board, this can elimate or augment note-taking. This can be extremely useful for complex presentations, allowing students and audience members to fully engage in the presentation as it takes place. Many users find that PowerPoint and other such programs as being far too sterile for certain subjects. Electronic whiteboards are ideal for presentations that need to be digitally recorded, but which benefit from the kinetic energy of ideas being outlined in a visual way.
Whiteboards can also be adapted to suit a variety of applications. Having lines printed across the board is one available option. These can be made into lines that are useful in musical instruction, or ruled lines for writing practice. Dry erase presentation boards may even be made with a grid pattern on it for architecture, engineering, math applications, or geographical maps. Pre-printing options are also available for athletic applications. These pre-printed lines save time and effort for users in these applications, providing reliably clean lines that do not erase and present the subject clearly.
Choose carefully, weighing your needs with the available options and prices. Be sure to test the products themselves. This provides an good purchase on serious functionality and visibility for groups in any setting.
