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| Panasonic will showcase technological products helpful for education making it engaging and interactive |
Panasonic showcased its commitment to education at this year's BETT education technology show, demonstrating a range of technology designed to help teachers and other education professionals create effective educational content and deliver engaging education programmes. Among the technology on show will be applications that demonstrate potential 3D technology for teaching, as well as wireless audio systems, voting terminals for students and third-party applications that run on Panasonic's flagship UB-T880 interactive whiteboard.
3D Technology and Applications
The professional 3D technology on display enabled visitors to the stand to see pictures of themselves captured and displayed live on a Full-HD 3D display. There were demonstrations of 3D content showing ideas that could become part of lessons in the future, for example a biology class demo of the human respiratory system, plus examples of 3D gaming.The 3D demonstration was shown thanks to the latest AV innovation from Panasonic, including 1080p Full-HD professional 3D plasma display TH-85VX200W and the world's first fully-integrated professional 3D broadcast camera, the AG-3DA1. This comes at a time when news reports suggest 3D could have a real future in education and help breath new life into the curriculum.
The use of interactive and engaging technology in education by Panasonic will sharpen the skills of students and teachers |
"3D technology is a hot topic at the moment, and we believe 3D has a strong future," said Brennan Peyton, General Manager, Panasonic System Networks Imaging Group. "The technology also offers new potential for teachers to create exciting lessons, particularly in the fields of science and media studies, and we will be demonstrating some of these concepts at BETT 2011."
Touch-sensitive Interactive Whiteboards
Other technology on show for teachers and students to try out will include 12 of Panasonic's Panaboard UB-T880 interactive touch-sensitive whiteboards, which can be used by up to three students at one time and can also recognise multiple inputs or gestures allowing for pinch, stretching and acceleration on the screen. "Until recently, touch-sensitivity which enables teachers and students to engage with content on interactive whiteboards has been limited by the number of students that can simultaneously use the board, which can be frustrating for teachers and students alike," added Peyton.
The technology used in the Panaboard screens replicates that used in the best smartphones and tablet computers, so it means that students will have exactly the same intuitive experience as using a smartphone. The Panaboard is currently the only whiteboard on the market to offer this technology. These audio and visual learning tools, as well as other upcoming solutions like HD visual communication systems all contribute towards boosting student interest and achievement.
Complete Classroom Solutions Package
The infrared wireless (IRW) microphone systems improve sound quality throughout the classroom |
Pupil Voting Hardware
Personal voting systems for students make classroom tests more dynamic, and help to clearly show the level of understanding of a topic whilst encouraging classroom participation. By effectively auditing pupil understanding of educational activity, teachers can identify stronger and weaker areas in lessons and develop content accordingly during lesson planning.
Wireless Sound Systems
The infrared wireless (IRW) microphone systems improve sound quality throughout the classroom, and enable teachers to focus on teaching the lesson. The infrared technology in the IRW mic system means that there is no possibility of microphone output leakage into adjacent classrooms which has been the problem for systems used in many schools, colleges and universities until now.
Third Party Applications
Along with the hardware, Panasonic will be demonstrating a new version of the Easiteach software package, which is compatible with any interactive whiteboard, regardless of the manufacturer. This allows teachers to share content even if they do not have the same interactive boards. One application on show at the stand, Pop4Schools, gives under 12s the chance to simulate the work undertaken by record companies and compose their own song for release as a download or CD. Children get a better understanding of how pop music is produced, whilst learning a wide range of curriculum subjects from ICT to literacy.
Eco-friendly Heating and Air-Conditioning System
In addition to AV technology, Panasonic will exhibit innovative energy solutions which enable schools to be heated with a new concept of air / heat exchange. The system, called Aquarea, is based on highly efficient heat pump technology, which heats rooms and sanitary water, and also cools it down in the summer - even when outdoor temperatures are extreme. Panasonic's Aquarea heat pump saves up to 78 per cent on heating expenses, compared with electrical heaters.
Company Philosophy and Approach to Education
"Our philosophy at Panasonic is to devote ourselves to the progress and development of society through our business activity. What we're doing in education contributes towards this goal. We want to empower teachers by harnessing our technology to create the best possible lessons for students - using engaging technology that enhances their existing skills. We can also supply equipment for improving buildings where students of all ages are learning. We want to use all Panasonic's strengths as a global technology leader and AV innovator to provide the best solutions for education," continued Peyton.
