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In case you’ve been wondering if Direct View LED video wall vs LCD video wall is synonymous with ‘future vs past,’ you’ve come to the right place. The interest in video walls is only growing and we’ll be seeing more of those, especially within business environments, event solutions, and advertising industries. It all comes down to the technologies that drive both displays, so here’s some food for thought that’ll help with decision making.
Read on to learn about the difference between a Direct View LED video wall and an LCD video wall or go ahead and check ViewSonic’s LED video wall solutions now.
LED video wall vs LCD video wall comparison takeaways will be relevant for several forms of display technology and will help you make the right choice when exploring video wall options. Getting your message across to dozens if not hundreds of people daily is an important endeavor, and you want to make sure the display helps you connect with your audience, team, or community more easily.
Over the past few years, video walls have become ever more ubiquitous; today, you won’t only find them in public places but also in workplaces, schools, art galleries, exhibition centers, research institutions, social and sports events, and even houses of worship. Of course, you want the images to be bright, sharp, and immersive. The beauty isn’t only outside, though, as it’s the underlying technology that impacts the video wall’s quality.
In the past, the most common display technology for video walls was LCD, but today’s large-format all-in-one LED displays have many advantages that have helped them become the new industry standard very quickly. In this post, we’ll discuss the differences between LED and LCD large format displays in more detail, give a general overview of each technology, and delve into the reasons why a high-quality all-in-one LED display is invariably the best option for large-format display requirements.
Historically, LCD video wall display technology has been the most popular and it’s a good place to start with technical insights. LCD stands for liquid crystal display. Liquid crystals are sandwiched between the polarizing filters and electrodes and topped with the display surface (something we casually refer to as a screen). The bottom part of the video wall is made of fluorescent lighting which backlights the liquid crystals. The light passes through the crystals and those – powered by varying electric current – produce the desired color.
LCD video wall displays are usually constructed by linking together four or more LCD screens. That’s because individual panels are not big enough and have size limits. The downside is, the bigger number of panels will be assembled, the heavier the display will become. That makes delivery and installation more difficult.
A major benefit of LCD displays is the sharp, crystal-clear image quality, which is especially apparent when you come up close to the display. Besides, its long-standing status as the most popular technology for video walls has helped to ensure the product’s relatively low price.
LCD technology remains a perfectly viable display option, but, aside from challenging delivery and setup, it is no longer regarded as the go-to video wall solution. Keep reading to find out more reasons.
Although LED technology for video walls is nothing new, it’s quickly gaining in popularity thanks to all its improvements. It has, consequently, become more accessible.
While LCD is a multi-layered thick device, the LED is much thinner and more effective. In contrast to LCD technology, LED video walls are typically constructed from modules of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) making the whole display slimmer and with higher brightness capability (discussed later in the post). Each diode works as the actual display pixel — emitting Red, Green or Blue (RGB) values to create any desired color. Since the LEDs produce the image for the display themselves, they don’t need any backlighting or filtering which considerably reduces the number of layers.
Within the broader category of LED video walls, there are also different packaging technologies. For more context, those include surface mount diode (SMD), integrated matrix device, and dots in place, but the real breakthrough happens elsewhere. It’s the chip-on-board or COB technology, that has emerged as the LED game-changer of recent times. The most revolutionary aspect of this invention was the tightest pixel pitch that allows the direct mounting of the diodes onto the print circuit, placing them evenly along its surface.
The emergence of all-in-one LED displays has also helped to improve the technology’s popularity. A Direct View LED display eliminates the LCD panel, resulting in a brighter picture and greater color clarity. Most importantly, it eliminates the grid issue and image uniformity when combining multiple LCD panels together, so there are no lines breaking up the displayed content. This is why Direct View LED technology can now create much larger video walls. The very latest all-in-one solutions also integrate power, display, image stitching, and control systems for the ultimate user experience.
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At the heart of the LED display vs LCD display comparison, it’s all about the use, impact, and price. In the sections below, let’s explore some of the various elements that make up the user’s experience and the cost-effectiveness of a video wall. That includes some of the plus points and drawbacks of these two competing technologies.
Let’s tackle the overall viewing experience. This is an area where Direct View LED technology excels. Rather than serving as a backlight, the LED display adopts red, green, and blue LEDs for each pixel, and adjusts the values of each of those colors to create billions of possible colors for use on the display itself. Coloring the image directly from the light emitted from the diodes helps to provide a truer depiction of color, which can work magic in terms of heightening the audience’s sensory receptiveness.
Calibrating and synchronizing all the LCD screens require specific software that will add, both in costs and complexity, to the overall system. Each LCD panel operates, and therefore degrades, on an individual basis, which means they require calibration at different times. Panel degradation definitely adds up to the total cost of ownership.
Finally, it should be noted that added thickness of LCD displays — imagine over 110 mm — can also look cumbersome or unwieldy in an indoor space. This can detract attention away from the content being shown on the screen. By contrast, a high-end, All-in-One LED display will have a thickness of 25 mm – 35 mm with a 5 mm frameless edge. This is substantially less thick than LCD video walls and positively influences ideal viewing distance and immersion.
Even if LCD video walls are made of high-end screens, still their lack of brightness invariably results in poor visibility as soon as they’re viewed from a distance or under strong ambient light. This means that there are clear limitations when it comes to using an LCD video wall to display content.
Prior to the emergence of Direct View LED video walls, these limitations may have been more acceptable to the average user, but that has started to change. The high-end LED displays provide higher brightness while also making it possible to adjust brightness levels on the device itself. This often may be essential for optimizing the specific settings of the video wall (as low brightness images won’t be clear even if you can adjust the display for the strong ambient light).
Resolution-wise, most LCD displays come with 1080p but 4K UHD is available, which is the same as LED’s. However, the Direct View LED’s fine pixel pitch means that the LEDs are ultra-close to each other, so even when you’re closer to the display than usual, you’d still be able to clearly see the visuals. This can have an extra impact when showing vivid landscapes, detailed product images, design sketches or mechanical drawings in spaces of various sizes. The real-to-life color depiction is made possible thanks to the light being directly seen by human eyes without going through different materials which is the case for LCD. LED also delivers a wider color gamut, and the very best options on the market offer 120% coverage of the Rec.709 color space.
ViewSonic All-in-One LED video walls address the challenges of the past with finesse thanks to the Direct View technology and, for the most advanced models, Chip on Board (COB) packaging. For example, the multi-award-winning All-in-One LED Display provides up to 4,440Hz ultra-fast refresh rates and 600-nit adjustable high brightness, offering an unparalleled viewing experience in any space.
Another important thing to remember when comparing LED display vs LCD display is the difference in shipping, installation, and all-around maintenance of a video wall. This is one of the areas where all-in-one LED video walls really outperform LCD video walls in almost every way imaginable, resulting in a far better experience for end users and greatly reducing the amount of time and effort needed to set the video wall up.
LCD large-format displays will have significantly higher shipping and installation costs. This is partly because an LCD video wall installation will require at least three people, often taking more than 4 hours. Furthermore, on top of free-standing models, LCD video walls can only be installed on a wall.
By contrast, an All-in-One LED Display can be installed in around two hours, thanks to the all-in-one modular design. Individual modules will automatically configure and calibrate to their location relative to the rest during installation.
One of the challenges associated with LCD video walls is the fact that each panel operates independently, so there is a realistic chance that one panel will wear out before the others. The core issue here is that if one panel wears out, the cost of tearing down the display to replace it and then deliver it will be high. Besides, the repair process takes around a month and during this time the LCD cannot be in use. After fixing, the display will need to be calibrated again. In the long term, this translates to high maintenance costs.
This is not true for LED video walls, thanks to the modular approach. In such cases, you would need to replace the single LED module without removing the whole screen. Besides, the LED modules can be swapped out while the display is powered on and in continuous use. This means anyone can replace a defective piece for quick and easy maintenance. The industry term for it would be “full front maintenance with no downtime”.
Each LCD display has different color and brightness, so calibration is needed upon installation. And each display will change over time (the degree of degradation of brightness and color performance also varies by each display), so users will take further time and effort to calibrate for maintenance.
LCD video walls have traditionally required an additional control box and a variety of other accessories and components to provide a smooth display and an acceptable user experience. Until relatively recently, this has also been true for LED displays and resulted in an unsatisfactory user experience, more complex maintenance, and day-to-day management. Often, a specialist technician would be needed to even get a large format display up and running.
Fortunately, the emergence of All-in-One Direct View LED displays has helped to change all of this. Such a comprehensive solution will combine everything the user needs in a single package. Imagine a control system, display system, and power supply that are all integrated together along with the image stitching technology. Crucially, such an approach results in a far superior and more user-friendly experience, with no need for specialist knowledge.
As the cherry on top, the all-in-one LED display can be turned on with just one click and is easy to operate with remote control. Additionally — aside from wireless content sharing — the display’s I/O port provides easy connection options.
These latest displays are compatible with AV control systems, including Crestron, Extron, and AMX, providing excellent control and automation options without complicated setup. These devices also offer many connectivity options for maximum levels of convenience.
While LCD video walls have historically been the most popular option, improvements to LED technology and thus its greater affordability ensured a clear frontrunner of any Direct View LED wall vs LCD video wall debate. A high-quality, Direct View LED video wall will be easier to install, manage, and operate on a day-to-day basis. There are affordability benefits as well, and modern all-in-one solutions deliver excellent user-friendliness from the get-go.
A Direct View LED video wall, otherwise called LED display, will also offer a superior overall viewing experience, with improved brightness, color gamut, contrast, and all-around flexibility. Users will not need to worry about grid issues or irregular aspect ratios, and for these reasons, LED’s cutting-edge technology is widely regarded as the ultimate solution for large displays.
If you’re in for more insights, feel free to learn more about What is an All-in-One LED Display or explore ViewSonic’s All-In-One Direct View LED Displays.
The term metaverse dates back to 1992, but the realized potential of the metaverse is relatively recent with metaverse education still in its infancy. Naturally, this means educators will have questions about where this technology is heading and what comes next for virtual learning. After all, while education in the metaverse is already delivering benefits, the biggest impact is yet to come.
Keep reading to find out more about the use of the metaverse for education or go ahead and discover UNIVERSE by ViewSonic — a metaverse built for education.
The metaverse is an emerging technological revolution, but the concept itself is nothing new. In fact, the origins of the word metaverse can be traced back to Snow Crash, a 1992 science fiction novel written by Neal Stephenson. The idea has risen in prominence for several reasons in recent times, though. It’s becoming increasingly important for educators and academic institutions to get to grips with the various uses of the metaverse as student needs shift.
The metaverse itself can be described as a virtual setting that users are able to occupy synchronously, which facilitates meaningful social interactions. Most commonly, it’s associated with virtual reality (VR) technology, augmented reality (AR) technology, social media-like features, blockchain technology, and the use of controllable avatars. This allows for an immersive, real-world-like environment where communication is simple yet effective.
One of the biggest factors driving recent interest in the metaverse has been Facebook’s decision to invest heavily in this area and re-branding of the platform as ‘Meta.’ The company saw the metaverse as the future of online social interactions and as the evolution of existing social media. However, in relation to education, the biggest driver of interest is the emergence of possible virtual learning opportunities delivered through the metaverse.
The use of the metaverse for education can, in many ways, be considered another component of the established ideas of virtual learning, or eLearning. After all, these concepts focus on providing learning opportunities in a virtual space – the metaverse education platforms are designed to deliver such opportunities.
In general, education in the metaverse relies on the use of avatars, digital representations of users, which students can use to interact with one another. Educators can also interact within these digital learning spaces using their own avatars, resulting in a classroom situation within a virtual learning environment. The learning potential goes much further, as the surrounding virtual space can easily be changed to suit the lessons being taught.
Some people may already be familiar with the ways in which games like Roblox and Minecraft have been used for education. These types of virtual platforms are part of what is known as the gamification of learning, which is the use of gaming elements to improve student engagement and overall enjoyment. In many ways, it makes sense to relate to the popularity of video games and to students’ familiarity with gaming, especially when used on a whiteboard.
Not all virtual or metaverse platforms are focused on gamification, though. While some of these platforms may still include gamification elements, such as the use of a controllable avatar to explore the virtual environment, the aspect of social interactions should not be overlooked.
Students benefit from the opportunity to learn in an environment that feels game-like, as that familiarity breaks down barriers that could cause social anxieties. This makes the metaverse an accessible tool that many students may benefit from, both educationally and socially.
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Gaining a deeper understanding of educational opportunities in the metaverse helps to fully explore all the benefits it offers. Some areas, such as online shopping or events like concerts are already impacted by the emergence of metaverse platforms, while other areas, such as these listed below, are yet to see an impact:
The ability to provide DE&I benefits is a huge reason why so much money is being invested in metaverse education solutions. In general, the concept of virtual learning has long been touted as a solution for accessibility. But the metaverse takes it a step further, ensuring that all students can feel included within immersive lessons. These platforms can also assist with equity by providing a similar experience for all users, regardless of their personal circumstances.
Equity is key here — in traditional in-person classes, educators are encouraged to place greater focus on personalized opportunities. However, teachers have been struggling to provide whole-child approaches to education due to a lack of resources and support. Tools, like the metaverse, can appeal to students who require extra attention in ways that are less resource-intensive while still appealing to individual hobbies and interests. In turn, this can help level the playing field for many students.
Aside from helping those with impairments or disabilities, the metaverse can deliver a sense of belonging and a reduction in anxiety-inducing behaviors or societal pressures. For instance, some students struggle with making eye contact or speaking out in group situations, and the metaverse can assist with this by putting them in control of an avatar. They are then empowered to use a variety of communication options depending on personal preferences.
DE&I efforts can also be aided by the fact that the metaverse allows students to meet other students with their own various preferences, capabilities and challenges to overcome. Students can participate in classes that would otherwise be physically out of reach. Furthermore, metaverse platforms can adhere to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines’ POUR principles, which ensure content is perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust for all.
Many metaverse education solutions place a strong emphasis on the gamification of learning in order to make learning more enjoyable. This is understandable because many students love playing video games, using technology in creative ways, interacting with one another on social media, and taking part in other forms of modern digital entertainment.
Many of these students are extremely tech-savvy as they have grown up around digital technology. In fact, many have never experienced a time without technology. They are what some academics call digital natives, as they are often more tech-savvy than their parents and teachers. It has been argued by some that the continuous stimulation digital natives have received growing up means that it is unlikely that one information source and simple teacher-to-student lectures will engage them as much as previous generations. While this remains a somewhat contentious area in terms of research, it’s clear that in-class games, eLearning, mobile learning, and other new ways of teaching are gaining traction all over the world, and this momentum shows little sign of slowing down.
Metaverse education is another subset of this trend that attempts to appeal to these same students in ways that will keep them engaged with various learning materials, and allow them to learn in an environment that they are comfortable with. The use of metaverse environments has the potential to cater to all three student engagement types — behavioral, emotional and cognitive.
The ability to immerse students within a learning environment is one of the core benefits of the metaverse as it offers an accessible way into a mirror world. A mirror world is just what it sounds like, a mirror of the real world. The concept of mirror worlds, which are one-to-one digital maps focused on recreating the real world as accurately as possible, is great for building platforms for interaction.
Exploring these environments in the metaverse can be extremely advantageous for immersive learning efforts. In the future, it’s expected that mirror worlds may be so accurate that they can barely be distinguished from the real world. This also makes it easier to apply metaverse lessons to the real world, too.
For example, imagine a class about the importance of well-balanced ecosystems for sustainable habitats. Some of this learning may take place in the metaverse, such as lessons about the symbiotic relationships between trees, flowers, and insects. Afterward, the students can go on an experiential learning field trip and plant flowers in their local community.
This also has the potential for great reach because the lesson can include students from multiple locations or even multiple countries, and the follow-up ‘real world’ lesson can deliver great benefits for many local communities.
Just like with other technological novelties, the use of metaverse for digital learning spaces sparks debate. Much discussion revolves around special education, where some of the practical applications of the metaverse may be limited. It’s expected, however, that this will help to increase demand for an extended reality approach either powered by AR and VR technology or within a virtual learning space.
By the same token, the metaverse could provide real opportunities to actually expand accessibility. While students with certain impairments or disabilities may be unable to experience certain activities like field trips, they could potentially experience similar excursions in the metaverse. This can also be a place for students with different needs to meet in a more inclusive environment.
It’s essential for educators to understand that metaverse education is still in its relative infancy, and as technology becomes more widely used and as investments increase, there are many potential benefits that will be realized in time. UNIVERSE by ViewSonic is one option that is currently exploring the advantages of immersing students in learning, boosting accessibility, and building on and improving mirror worlds and avatars.
It remains to be seen how different companies will implement their own metaverse platforms and how these different metaverses will be able to interact with one another. There are also some significant research gaps, which we hope will be closed in the future. When this is achieved, it should provide greater certainty for educators, with clearer guidance on how to get the most from this technology.
UNIVERSE by ViewSonic platform is an example of a metaverse offering gamification elements, such as the use of customizable avatars, without making gamification its focus. Instead, UNIVERSE by ViewSonic aims to build a more realistic classroom setting within a virtual world.
By providing students and teachers with a virtual learning environment in which to operate, the platform can deliver the benefits of conventional learning while expanding access by making this available through digital devices. The platform can be accessed using a computer, tablet or smartphone, so this means that these benefits can still be achieved in situations where distance learning is required or when all the members of a class cannot be present in the same location at the same time.
The 3D environment itself can be altered based on the lessons being taught and the topics being covered. Discussion and communication features are built-in, and teachers can use included quiz tools to test understanding and make real-time lesson alterations based on the specific needs of students.
Users can walk or run around the virtual environment, and they can also switch views. Screen sharing and webcam casting features are included, as are digital whiteboard options. All these allow for quick and simple information-sharing and collaborative learning. Moreover, students’ needs can be met using breakout rooms, as well as the option to switch between different modes based on the teacher’s requirements.
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Metaverse education is one of the most exciting virtual learning developments, and although gaps in research remain, it’s already clear that the technology has the potential to deliver significant benefits for students and teachers alike. Education in the metaverse is an effective way to meet a generation of new students where they are and allow them to learn in an engaging environment that feels familiar.
There are also clear benefits to be seen in terms of delivering accessibility, which can be essential for schools looking to live up to DE&I obligations.
These platforms also offer greater ownership of learning experiences which fit the current generational needs of learning. The ability to attend classes via an online platform can help, and this also opens the possibility of learning from teachers and experts who are not physically located in the same place as the classroom full of students is. In the future, it’s likely that many schools will turn to the metaverse to achieve greater equity within their classrooms, and we can see world-wide collaborations that allow students to create solutions for their future.
If you liked this article, feel free to read about 5 Benefits of Technology in the Classroom or go ahead and explore ViewSonic’s Metaverse built for education.
What is digital accessibility – this simple question is fundamental as we live in a technologically advanced era. Digital accessibility is important in all aspects of life and it’s especially valid in education. Schools shape how we see the world and pave the way for growth. Allowing everyone access to the same online content, virtual experiences, and digital devices is the only way we can move forward in this ever-connected global village.
Read on to learn about what digital accessibility is and why it’s essential for all academic institutions, or explore ViewSonic’s collection of Education solutions for the modern classroom.
What is digital accessibility, and why is it so crucial in schools and other academic environments? At a basic level, it refers to the provision of equal access to digital products and services, regardless of whether students have disabilities or other impairments. Before exploring this topic in full, though, let’s briefly outline what accessibility means on a more general level and why it’s so important in all aspects of life.
Accessibility is the concept of making something as available as possible for as many people as possible. Therefore, the notion of accessibility is strongly linked to disabilities and impairments. Many countries have been developing and improving their laws and urban planning regulations to provide more accessible living environments. Within the United States, the concept of accessibility is written into the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) serving as equal opportunities legislation. For example, this text mandates the provision of ramps for wheelchair users.
Digital accessibility expands upon this premise and aims to eradicate the obstacles that prevent people from accessing digital products or services. In this article, we’ll explore what digital accessibility is, why it especially matters in schools, and how it connects to other concepts within education.
Until recently, the digital world was not following the same accessibility requirements as the physical world. This is luckily changing, and more people are conscious and willing to create lasting improvements for their communities.
Digital accessibility is about ensuring that all users can perceive, use, and operate web content, software, mobile apps, and other forms of digital media. As the Global Accessibility Awareness Day Foundation explains:
“Every user deserves a first-rate digital experience on the web. Someone with a disability must be able to experience web-based services, content and other digital products with the same successful outcome as those without disabilities.”
Let’s explore some specific examples of digital accessibility in action. This will shed light on what you can do in your school – or any environment, for that matter – to enhance the learning experience, and contribute to a more inclusive environment for everyone.
When thinking about digital accessibility, sight impairment is probably the first thing that pops into mind. And indeed, many vision-related issues have already been addressed. For example, screen reading software can read the content of a website out loud, greatly simplifying browsing for those with visual impairments. Similarly, many web app designers now make color blindness a key consideration when it comes to color management, while high-quality computer monitors include built-in tools to assist color blind individuals.
Yet, there are many other examples of digital accessibility features. Video content will now often display subtitles or closed captions to assist those with hearing impairments. Furthermore, modern software solutions will often include shortcut keys, keyboard navigation options, and even voice control. These can all aid users who may have physical impairments that make it difficult to operate a mouse, laptop touchpad, or touchscreen.
One of the indicators that digital accessibility awareness has gained power is the presence of global guidelines. These greatly contribute to standardizing the various recommendations to make digital media more inclusive and able to reach a wider audience. Digital accessibility is not only good for consumers of digital media but also for the creators of content, products, and services.
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, or WCAG, include success criteria, like the four ‘POUR’ principles, which outline that digital content should be:
Within schools and other academic settings, this means that all digital content should follow all four principles. This is especially important with regard to any digital media that is directly accessible by students, such as online learning materials or any digital media that is used by teachers during lessons.
Digital accessibility is crucial in schools because it’s how students with disabilities and impairments are provided with equal access to education technology (EdTech) and learning materials. At the same time, a focus on digital accessibility can empower these students to enjoy the same learning experiences as their peers.
It’s worth stressing that digital accessibility can be achieved through the optimization of digital media, software, and mobile apps, but also through hardware solutions. For instance, computer monitors may include a color-blind mode, which helps visually impaired users differentiate between colors. Additionally, listening to audio descriptions on headphones amplifies the learning experience without distracting other students.
Digital accessibility is concerned with fairness and inclusive education. Nevertheless, the sections below will explore some of the specific benefits associated with digital accessibility success.
What is digital accessibility’s relationship with student engagement? This is one of the most important aspects of inclusive learning. It’s a way to make kids feel part of the class and be willing to participate. If students with impairments or disabilities are unable to perceive, operate, understand, or otherwise utilize digital media, they are less likely to be emotionally invested in lessons, and their motivation levels are also likely to decrease.
Student engagement can be summarized as the extent to which students are interested and emotionally invested in what they are being taught. True student engagement occurs when students attend classes, take an active interest, participate in the lesson, and become interested in their learning outcomes. However, it can be further broken down into behavioral engagement, emotional engagement, and cognitive engagement. This significant distinction shows that students can be engaged in some ways but disengaged in others.
Digital accessibility assists with student engagement because it means students can have multilevel engagement with digital media during lessons. They can access online learning materials and utilize all the relevant software. Additionally, there is a social component to student engagement, which is hindered when certain students feel excluded or ‘othered’.
Collaboration within schools and other academic settings is a fundamental part of the modern learning experience and offers many benefits. Collaborative sessions can help engage students and keep lessons varied and interesting, but they also teach valuable life skills, such as teamwork, critical thinking, and communication skills.
Over time, however, collaboration within education has relied upon digital media more and more, and this has created a divide between those with disabilities or even temporary impairments and those without impairments.
When digital accessibility is given an appropriate level of focus, collaborative learning becomes more inclusive. Within classrooms, students have equal access to learning materials, and students with disabilities can more freely collaborate with any of their peers, regardless of their own impairments or capabilities.
Another reason why digital accessibility matters in education is that it helps with the goal of providing equal access to resources. This can be especially significant in situations where students are asked to utilize online resources to obtain information or carry out activities outside of the classroom.
For content creators, there are techniques that can help ensure that everybody has the same access to resources. For instance, content could be uploaded in multiple formats, including text, audio, and video, which can cater to people with different disabilities or impairments. Visual content can be specifically designed with color blindness in mind, for example, while written content can be designed with an awareness of issues like dyslexia.
As an article for Codecademy explains, design with digital accessibility in mind is an example of universal design and, as the name suggests, universal design can benefit everyone. One given example is the fact that alt tags used to explain the content of images can assist the visually impaired because the alt tags can be read aloud by screen reading software. However, this also benefits other users too, for example, when an image fails to load.
Education technology, or EdTech, helps teachers and students alike, and there are many types of EdTech that are relevant to the topic of digital accessibility. Some main examples include desktop computers, laptop computers, interactive whiteboards, projectors, tablets, smartphones, and similar devices.
The use of education technology can help students to complete work activities more efficiently, to better understand what they are learning, and communicate and collaborate with others. Furthermore, EdTech can help educators to accommodate different learning styles and can break down physical or geographical barriers.
Digital accessibility is crucial for ensuring that all students have access to the same technology. Of course, it is important to make sure that students with impairments or more complex needs are not unfairly disadvantaged. Without a clear focus on achieving digital accessibility, able-bodied students could potentially have access to additional tools, which students with disabilities would not be able to use effectively.
One of the most significant concepts related to digital accessibility is the idea of digital literacy. This can be described or defined as the ability of ICT-related technology to find, share, create, and communicate information. Essentially, it can be thought of as the development of skills that are required to thrive in an increasingly digital world.
The development of these skills and the achievement of digital literacy are necessary for students throughout their time in school and higher education. Moreover, digital literacy is also in high demand within the workforce, and students who do not acquire the necessary skills may have limited future employment opportunities.
Digital literacy can be acquired through a combination of time spent using digital technology in school and outside of school. However, different households will have different levels of exposure to technology based on a variety of factors, including household income. Therefore, there is a strong argument to suggest that schools should serve as an equalizer in this regard, but for that to be possible, digital accessibility needs to be guaranteed for everybody.
Understanding digital accessibility is extremely important for everyone, especially for educators. We should be able to easily answer this question and continue to ask for its implementation, as new technologies and devices emerge and evolve every day. Digital accessibility strategies aim to ensure that all students have access to digital media, software, apps, and technologies, and can perceive, understand, and operate it effectively, regardless of any impairments or disabilities they might have.
With a focus on digital accessibility, schools can provide students with the skills necessary to develop digital literacy as new digital tools evolve. Additionally, digital accessibility can help level the playing field and assist students with disabilities or impairments in regard to everything from engagement with learning materials to collaboration with others.
If you found this read insightful, you might also want to learn about equality vs equity in Accessible Education or explore inclusive learning solutions by ViewSonic.
The best monitors for teachers solve an important dilemma in today’s digital age: how to keep handwriting alive while implementing EdTech classrooms? Contrary to many people’s fears, using digital touchscreens offers greater flexibility for teachers while driving student engagement. There are many other wins that follow and give liberty in terms of how the lesson is carried out for both online and in-class scenarios.
Read on to find out more about the benefits of pen devices for teachers or discover ViewSonic’s Pen Displays for Education.
What makes for the best monitors for teachers has been evolving alongside the evolution of touchscreen technologies. In the digital age, with an increasing number of learning activities being carried out using a computer, some have questioned whether there is a long-term role for handwriting in education.
And the answer is definitely yes, there is. Writing is undoubtedly one of the most important skills we acquire during the learning process. Witnessing a teacher handwrite, mark, and annotate information improves focus and makes it easier for students to follow the class.
Touch monitors nowadays have become a hybrid between tablets and laptops, giving you the freedom to precisely handwrite on the screen, while having a comfortable and ergonomic device for your desk, smart podium, or online class. Since you can use a pen (a special kind, actually, called a stylus) they can also be named pen devices, or pen displays, and we’ll be using all of these terms when referring to this range of products.
The latest touch monitors allow teachers to create a completely new teaching station for both remote and in-class setups. Intuitiveness and ease of use of such smart podiums not only cater for more original and engaging lessons, but also foster teacher-to-student connections and interactions.
However, it is important that teachers choose to use their pen devices in ways that will get the most out of those technologies. Having the ability to write by hand on a digital device can assist not only with lesson delivery but also with creating a special learning environment. In fact, in some ways, writing tablets can serve as smaller versions of an interactive whiteboard.
In this article, we explore the advantages of writing devices for teachers in more detail and look at some of the best ways that these and other similar pen devices can be used to deliver lessons.
Pen displays have a wide range of potential uses for teachers, but the most crucial thing is to understand how to make effective use of them. Teachers need to try to focus on ways that touchscreens can provide real value for students and contribute to improved learning outcomes. With this in mind, we have broken down some of the best ways to utilize this technology in the classroom.
A touchscreen monitor paired with an active stylus can help with notetaking, explaining complicated concepts, or visual learning methods, such as brainstorming, sketching, mind-mapping, and drawing. Touch monitors can be used by teachers not only for one-to-one tutoring but also to teach an entire class. Effectively, the best monitor then serves a similar role to an interactive whiteboard but all annotation can happen while standing or sitting. The concept of a digital podium equipped with such pen displays designed for teachers is currently gaining momentum
The ideal touchscreen monitors offer USB-C connectivity for a plug-and-play solution that delivers data, video, audio, and power transmission through a single cable.
Best monitors for teachers prove themselves to be invaluable for online teaching. This is especially important in an age where distance and hybrid learning models are becoming widely accepted and implemented. Thanks to EdTech, the gap between in-person and online lessons is being bridged and provides new structures for equitable and inclusive learning environments.
If students also have access to either a dedicated writing tablet or a tablet with a stylus pen, they can also participate in collaborative learning sessions. Here, when combined with digital whiteboarding solutions or screen sharing technology, it allows multiple users to contribute to a shared visual learning space at the same time.
This also enables a more collaborative experience when compared to the alternative of students typing up individual notes on their computers or writing individual notes on a notepad. The notes can be shared with everyone in the session, amended by anyone, and used to collectively dig deeper into specific topics or ideas.
Touchscreen monitors, at least those from the pen displays category, enable teachers to provide handwritten digital feedback on work that students submit. While many modern word processing applications include options for adding digital annotations or notes, the ability to do this by hand can help provide teachers with greater flexibility in this area.
For example, it may be easier to highlight small errors in writing, such as spelling mistakes, by circling the error using an active stylus just like you would with a red pen, or by adding a short-handwritten note explaining the problem. Such annotations can also be easily accompanied by arrows or other marks that can aid understanding.
For certain subjects that use many special symbols or non-standard writing like mathematics, physics, or chemistry, writing tablets are a huge convenience. Even when learning new languages that have different alphabets, letters, and characters, it’s easy to just write on-screen without spending time switching between keyboards. This is especially useful for distance learning, where engagement levels can drop easily if the lesson flow becomes disrupted too often.
Besides, using digital annotation on a writing monitor is environmentally friendly. As students submit different assignments throughout the school year, the amount of paper needed to print all of them for grading is huge. Especially if you multiply the number of assignments, by the number of students by the number of schools in just your city, for example.
Despite the shift towards more and more schoolwork being carried out digitally, let’s not forget handwriting still has a major role to play. Lessons in this area improve children’s motor skills and can assist with learning in general.
This is explored further in an article by Science Daily. Essentially, the process of learning to write by hand and then the activity of actually doing it strengthens the learning process. This occurs for a number of reasons, including the fact that it triggers a kind of ‘learning by doing’ response within the brain.
Teachers can use the monitors effectively in the early years of education for the youngest students. Handwriting sessions can help with the development of fine motor skills, but there is also value in handwriting lessons for their primary purpose – teaching students how to write in a legible way. This is an important life skill that will continue to serve students throughout their time in education and beyond.
A good example of software that teachers can use to deliver handwriting lessons using touch monitors and other writing tablets is Kaligo. The application has been designed to align with international education curriculums, offers artificial intelligence-assisted feedback, and can be used by teachers to create personalized lesson plans.
Purchasing a pen display for the class can tend to be complicated if one isn’t particularly familiar with this kind of product. There are different functionalities for different budgets and purposes. Of course, the features to prioritize will depend on the ways the writing tablet is going to be used. Whether it’s for STEAM teaching, blended learning, digital podium, or collaborative classroom, each teaching model represents a different set of needs to be fulfilled.
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Generally, however, a dedicated touch display for teachers is going to be better for purely academic applications than a more all-purpose tablet. Touch monitors are designed to pick up on the nuances of handwriting, and they tend to be better equipped to handle writing input from left- and right-handed people alike.
Here are the key features that should help you decide which Pen Display Device would suit your teaching and objectives best:
Makes sure the monitor you wish to buy offers palm rejection technology what means no accidental touch of your hand is registered as valid input. This is especially important as the latest models can tilt and be used much like a tablet. Additionally, don’t forget to check if the desired pen display offers multiple touch points so that two or more people can use the screen at the same time. This can be a gamechanger for classroom collaborative activities, homework reviews, or presentations with multiple speakers.
Another thing to keep in mind would be anti-glare coating of the screen. Glossy displays, although they can look more classy, often reflect ambient lights, resulting in poor visibility. For optimal use in both the classroom and at home that doesn’t require adjusting of the light to different rooms and times of the time, chose a model that offers anti-glare technology.
Make sure you’re aware of the hardness of the touchscreen. It will determine how long you can effectively use it and what the total cost of ownership will be. The levels are measured using Moh scale of mineral hardness. For something durable choose monitors with screens offering a hardness of 6H which almost equals that of a steel nail.
Let’s not underestimate the importance of the right stylus pen. When paired properly with the tablet, it can truly work magic. Ideally, you want to go for an active stylus pen that has a smaller nib than the previous stylus generations. The movement and tilting of the active stylus on the touchscreen are more easily detectable thanks to their precise operational protocol. Passive pens with a large nib, on the other hand, will not be able to deliver such accuracy as they are mostly suited for performing touchscreen button press inputs rather than writing or drawing.
While we’re on the topic of stylus pens, you also need to carefully consider their pressure sensitivity. The higher the pressure sensitivity, the better. It’s measured in levels, and there’s quite a few to choose from. For pixel-perfect precision and maximum flexibility choose the 4,096 sensitivity level, that will serve all your needs flawlessly, including elaborate writing and technical drawings
Investing in the best monitor is more important than ever for teachers as the digital age and the rise of distance and hybrid education have shifted the ways we think about learning, teaching, and handwriting. New smart podium setups and distance education solutions have come into place, so it’s the perfect time to hop on the bandwagon and bring new engagement to the classroom while saving some time and energy.
Pen displays can bring lessons into the digital sphere while fostering the learning environment. The ability to provide handwritten feedback on digital files or draw complicated concepts in real-time can be invaluable for teaching all age groups and all topics. While any school subject can become more dynamic and memorable, those which use non-standard writing formats can especially benefit from a reliable touch monitor.
If you liked this read, you might also want to be interested in 5 Benefits of Technology in the classroom or discover the ViewSonic Pen Display products for modern Education.
What is a digitizer? In its broadest definition, a digitizer refers to any accessory that converts analog information (touch, light, sound…) into a digital signal. Today, however, the term is mostly used to designate drawing tablets, which digitally record writing, drawing, screen touches, and similar inputs. Keep reading to find out more about digitizers, their main features and technology, or explore ViewSonic’s Pen Display solutions.
To best answer the question ‘what is a digitizer?’ let’s start with a broad and general definition and see what the term refers to nowadays.
A digitizer is a device that receives, processes and records digitally any analog information such as light, sound, touch, or pressure. For example, a digital camera can be considered as a digitizer, as it takes analog light information and converts it to a digital picture. The process of translating data from the analog version to its digital form is called digitization.
Nowadays, though, the word “digitizer” mostly designates drawing tablets. These are computer accessories, generally paired with a stylus pen, which use touch-based analog information to allow for – you guessed it – digital drawing and writing.
Digitizers are primarily used to facilitate writing, drawing, painting, and the like. Once paired to a computer or a compatible device, they recreate and enhance the familiar pen-on-paper experience. As the applications are plentiful, no wonder they are commonly used for many different purposes.
For writers and artists, processes that once relied on the use of pencils, pens, paintbrushes, paper or a canvas can now be recreated, recorded, and even enhanced on a computer. A digitizer that has been specifically designed for graphic designers and digital artists is called a graphics tablet. Digitizers can also come in handy for casual users to create and edit handwritten notes or text documents. In the business environment, the device is at the very base of many digital signature technologies. And they have even found their way into the classrooms, winning the hearts of teachers and students alike.
By themselves, the uses of the digitizers are relatively limited. That’s why they are often paired with software solutions like vector graphic editors to automatically convert handwriting to digital text for example.
There are five main touchscreen panel types that are commonly used on digitizers. Let’s have a closer look at how they operate and what it means in terms of uses.
A resistive touch panel is a pressure-sensitive panel that is created by combining two flexible and resistive sheets (polyester and glass, for example) with an air gap between them. Most resistive touch screens can be operated using a finger or a passive stylus pen, and inputs are recognized by detecting pressure placed upon the panel.
Resistive touch panels can be used with a wide range of stylus pens, and they can even be operated by a gloved finger. They are also very popular with digital signature devices. Bear in mind, however, that light touch detection can be poor, and most resistive touch screens don’t support multi-touch functionality.
Infrared touchscreen panels utilize LED lights and photodetectors, arranged in a grid-like pattern. The LEDs constantly produce light and if you touch that surface – you can already guess what will happen next – the light will be disturbed. This then enables the infrared touch panel to not only detect that a touch has occurred but also to determine precisely the coordinates of the light disturbance.
Unlike resistive touch panels, infrared touch panels allow for multi-touch functionality. They are also able to detect even extremely light inputs, what brings in the risk of detecting unintentional touches too. Another thing to note is that infrared touch panels perform poorly in direct sunlight.
Optical imaging touch panels use multiple sensors and infrared cameras to register screen touches through a triangulation process. A major advantage of this technology is supporting multi-touch functionality. Many different inputs can be recognized and that includes bare hands, gloved hands, stylus pens, and more.
Generally, optical imaging touch panels provide excellent durability and versatility. However, the technology isn’t the most compact option available as optical imaging touch panels aren’t usually suitable for smaller digitizers. This particular technology is most used for interactive whiteboards and similar displays.
Using electrical-based touch detection technology, projected capacitive touch panels can achieve excellent precision and very good response times. Unlike optical imaging touch technology, projected capacitive touch panels can be easily used on smaller digitizers. This leaves the door open for multi-touch functionality.
The only real drawback to projected capacitive touch panels is the fact that the technology is difficult to scale up, making it hard for manufacturers to use in larger displays. The technology is widely used on modern smartphones, touchscreen tablets, and touchscreen GPS devices and is a safe bet for small and medium-sized digitizers.
Electro-magnetic resonance, or EMR technology, is one of the most advanced digitizer technologies available. It works with a layer of sensors placed underneath an LCD display. These sensors are arranged in a grid pattern and emit an electro-magnetic signal, which extends beyond the surface.
EMR technology helps to provide users with a realistic, pen-on-paper experience, making it the best option for writing and drawing. Crucially, when it comes to using the stylus, this technology allows the peripheral to be cordless. If you remove the internal battery, you automatically get rid of the need to charge the stylus or connect it to a digitizer.
Whether for casual or professional use, there are several factors to consider when choosing a digitizer. The following are the key areas you should put focus on when browsing the market:
Not all digitizers come with a screen, but if you’re looking for a high-quality model, you should focus on those that do. A display that measures over 10-inches is best, and if your needs are more advanced, you should prioritize screens of around 15-inches or more. This is how you’ll achieve a greater level of precision.
Full HD displays are preferable, as they will provide you with a better grasp of the details on-screen. Graphic designers and professionals working in other fields, where concepts like color gamut and color spectrum are important, should consider investing in a digitizer with an OLED display. OLED technology offers vivid color, deep blacks, and excellent clarity for the highest quality artwork possible.
Modern digitizers will often specify the level of pressure sensitivity. This will alter how firm the touch on the screen needs to be for the device to register it. Furthermore, it can also impact the depth of pen strokes, with firmer presses resulting in a more pronounced stroke appearing, and this can be invaluable for serious artists.
As a basic rule, the higher the pressure sensitivity, the better. For a digitizer used for digital signatures, 2048 pressure levels will be sufficient. 4096 pressure levels will be preferable for any needs that are more advanced. Digital artists and graphic designers should consider choosing 8192 pressure levels.
Graphics tablets utilize the lines per inch (LPI) metric to define the resolution of the touchscreen. In simple terms, this explains how many digital lines fit into a one-inch section of the tablet’s touchscreen. Generally, a 1,024 LPI resolution is considered sufficient, although around 5,080 LPI will represent the very best quality. Tablets offering resolutions with a higher LPI than that are unlikely to offer any visible advantages.
Some of the other features you might want to look for include tracking speed or the screen touch. The former measures the lag between touching the screen and registration of the touch, while the latter shows available connection options. Tracking speed is easy to compare – you simply want to find the fastest device. As for the connectivity, there are different USB types to consider, along with the Bluetooth connection. Although it’s less common, Bluetooth offers the benefit of wireless pairing which can be a plus on the go.
While the general answer to the question ‘what is a digitizer?’ means any device that takes analog signals and converts or records them digitally, the term is rather used to describe tablet digitizers and graphics tablets. These devices allow users to input touches using their fingers or a stylus pen, resulting in the creation of digital content. You can write, draw, sign documents, design, and illustrate for the digital world.
There are various touchscreen panel types available, each with its own pros and cons. Beyond this, buyers also need to consider features like the quality of the display, pressure sensitivity and tracking speed. Graphics designers and digital artists should prioritize digitizer devices with the most advanced features.
If you found this read insightful, you might also enjoy visiting Viewsonic Pen Display solutions for Business or learn about What is a Stylus Pen?
What is a stylus pen? If you’re the proud owner of a touchscreen device, you’ve probably found yourself asking this question. And you’re certainly not the only one! Stylus pens have been around for millennia, and their new variants keep emerging. With the development of digital displays, new technologies are coming up to operate them: passive, echo, active… Knowing which stylus is which and what they can do is the first step to figuring out which one you should go for.
Keep reading to learn more about stylus pens, their benefits, and the technologies driving them, or explore ViewSonic Pen Display Solutions.
What is a stylus pen? Put simply, it’s an accessory that can be used to write, draw, or point with precision when using touchscreen technology. This includes various digital devices like touchscreen computer monitors, smartphones, or tablets. Essentially, a stylus recreates the core functions of a pen or pencil, providing you with the ability to write and draw on a screen in much the same way as you would on paper. On top of it, you can use it instead of your finger to tap on different parts of the websites, fill out forms, and other clickable items with maximum accuracy.
Stylus is a Latin word designating an ancient writing and pottery utensil. It can be translated as an “instrument for writing.” In its 21st-century form, it refers to a digital input tool designed for touchscreen safe use. Some specific uses include notetaking, annotations, digital signatures, drawing, sketching, digital artwork, and anything that requires touchscreen precision.
A stylus pen is a common device that caters to lots of everyday needs. No wonder, then, they are so widely used in a broad range of professions. Stylus pens are especially popular among writers, researchers, graphic designers, and teachers. In this article, we’ll explore the different types of stylus pens on the market as well as their pros, cons, and main uses.
There are currently three different types of stylus pens available: passive, echo, and active styluses. Each of them uses different technologies. Keep reading to learn more about what they can – and cannot – do.
Passive stylus pens, also known as capacitive styluses, were the first generation of styluses made for touchscreens. They also adopt the most basic range of features. These pens register input on a touchscreen by either distorting the touchscreen’s electrostatic field or blocking the transmission of light. In other words, the stylus simply replaces your finger.
Within conventional touchscreen technology, touches on the screen are registered when your finger disturbs the screen’s electrostatic field. Passive stylus technology works in the exact same way. The stylus pen distorts the field, and the screen recognizes this contact as a valid touch. For infrared and optical touchscreens, there are also special stylus pens that block the light transmission, and that’s how the touch is marked.
Most passive pens come equipped with a broader tip, as the larger input on the display ensures the device will recognize the distortion or block. Active pens, on the other hand, have thinner tips (and we will get to that in a second).
Pros and Cons of Passive Styluses
The primary advantages of passive stylus pens are affordable price cost, and ease of use. As the technology is fairly rudimentary, passive stylus pens are cheaper to buy than those with more advanced technology. It’s also very user-friendly as the pen can be seen as an extension of your finger.
However, the larger nib on the end of passive stylus pens limits accuracy. They’re then not ideal for advanced tasks such as vector illustrations, photo editing, and the like. Therefore, you’ll see passive pens being used mainly with interactive flat panel displays and smartphones for more basic needs. But let’s not underestimate these tools: they can be a huge improvement for users who are looking for a more intuitive web browsing experience or wish to avoid touching a screen with their fingers.
More advanced features like pressure sensitivity, for example, are generally unavailable. On the flip side, passive stylus pens don’t require batteries, and elemental technology can also mean fewer technical issues.
Echo stylus pens represent the second generation of styluses. They embrace more advanced active electrostatic technology (AES). This technology is often equipped with tablets, and its working principle is simple. The touchscreen of the display uses an electrostatic grid, with the stylus acting as a transmitting unit, generating an electrical field. The grid constantly registers the disruption caused by the nib of the echo pen, therefore determining the position of the stylus on that grid.
The technology results in improved precision and a more authentic writing experience. Drawing becomes more intuitive, thanks to accurate tracking of the stylus’ movement on the touchscreen’s surface. The use of echo stylus pens is most associated with digitizers and other drawing tablets.
Pros and Cons of Echo Styluses
Echo or AES styluses usually represent a mid-range option, and the pros and cons embody that fact. These pens are more precise than passive styluses, which broadens their range of uses. They come very handy for digital writing or drawing, making them a perfect match for both professionals and amateurs.
In terms of price, they are also right in the middle: cheaper than the more advanced active stylus pens, but more expensive than the regular passive stylus. Compatibility is more limited than with a passive stylus, though, and they can usually only be used with compatible models of tablets. In addition, unlike the passive styluses, they’re often equipped with a battery and need to be regularly charged, which may be troublesome for some.
Echo / AES stylus pens represent a good option when your needs are more advanced than just substituting the use of your finger and when you need to use a tablet or any similar echo-compatible device.
Active stylus pens are the third generation of stylus technology and the most advanced of the three main pen types. They offer superior functionality, including excellent precision and, in many cases, pressure sensitivity. As a result, they can be used for writing, annotating, illustrating, or any other advanced graphics tasks.
Active stylus pens come with an internal battery. They can also require an active connection with the chosen device ensured by the proprietary protocol they employ (over a specific carrier frequency) or through Bluetooth. There are many options, however, that are also optimized for out-of-the-box use.
Active stylus pens are by far the most advanced stylus pens available, and so they are perfectly suited for both professional and personal use. They are also the best choice if you intend to use a stylus for precise drawing or frequent writing.
Active pens use specific protocols, which result in greater control but reduce device compatibility. Indeed, the protocols are usually tied to the products of specific manufacturers (Microsoft, Apple, Google…), often preventing them from being used on other devices.
Pros and Cons of Active Styluses
The biggest advantage of the active stylus is its increased functionality. Active pens cater to much more advanced needs while remaining easy to use. They are the preferred choice of many graphic designers, digital artists, illustrators, professional writers, and educators.
An active stylus will utilize specific protocols connected to a particular operating system or a range of devices. This allows for more precise actions beyond just writing, drawing, or menu navigation. For instance, an active pen may include buttons or allow specific motions to be performed to carry out on-screen actions, like writing in a specific font or size, for example. The drawing experience is also enhanced, offering smooth motions and pen-on-paper accuracy.
The primary downside of active pens is related to their limited compatibility, as they can only be used with devices running on the same protocol. Active stylus pens – given their versatility and accuracy – are also more expensive than the other alternatives.
Active pens utilize different protocols offered by manufacturers to connect and communicate with corresponding devices. This means that a stylus pen that has been designed for use with one protocol is unlikely to be compatible with a device that relies on a different protocol. The three most significant protocols are as follows:
USI is a protocol established to try to create a universal standard for stylus pens and is a two-way protocol that can remember user stylus settings. Google is the most significant member of the USI alliance. The Microsoft Pen Protocol, or MPP, on the other hand, is associated with Microsoft Surface devices and software, while the Apple Pencil protocol is associated with Apple devices, such as the iPad or Apple Pencil stylus.
It’s important to note that third-party styluses can be designed to work with different protocols, too. For example, the ViewStylus ACP301, with its 1024 pen pressure levels, meets users’ needs for drawing and annotating on the MPP protocol, while the ViewStylus ACP501 has been designed to be used on iPads and a vast range of capacitive touchscreens.
In general, active pens designed for one protocol may not work properly with another, so buyers will need to choose their styluses wisely, based on the devices they own and are planning to acquire.
Now that we have covered what a stylus pen is and how it works, let’s explore the benefits of using a stylus for different purposes, settings, and devices.
Stylus pens can serve as an important piece of education technology, assisting teachers in smoothly operating the interactive whiteboards, tablet devices, and touchscreen computer monitors. For example, a stylus can help teachers by allowing them to annotate content on an interactive whiteboard for more engaging and efficient lessons.
They can also be used within class to create new written content, which can be especially helpful for group learning and brainstorming sessions. Moreover, styluses can help students to contribute to lessons, add to content presented on an interactive whiteboard, as well as take handwritten notes on a computer, tablet, or smartphone.
People working in artistic and creative fields undoubtedly find themselves in need of a stylus pen. This accessory allows users to digitally recreate actions that would traditionally be carried out with a pen or pencil and paper. This can include writing, illustration, photo editing, speed sketching, technical drawing, and other techniques associated with digital arts.
Writers may utilize a stylus to enjoy the experience of handwriting while keeping all the notes in timeless, digitalized form. Stylus pens are also suitable for intuitive editing, proofreading, notetaking, or annotating content on a touchscreen. Furthermore, styluses can play a role in the design of user interfaces, allowing for greater precision when navigating on-screen menus.
It’s worth highlighting that styluses have plenty of benefits for casual users too. The uses are by no means restricted to work-based applications. On a basic level, a stylus pen can make it much easier to utilize a touchscreen, ensuring smartphone and tablet users can effortlessly browse websites and apps.
Ultimately, this can make it easier to carry out online shopping or enjoy favorite smartphone or tablet apps even more. Styluses may be used to write shopping lists, create short notes, or take up new hobbies like line drawing. The use of these accessories can also protect touchscreens by reducing the number of finger marks left on them.
Besides creative work environments and professional settings, a stylus pen can be used to provide a faster and more intuitive writing experience. This can be especially beneficial when it comes to participating or presenting during meetings.
The use of interactive whiteboards and similar digital display devices within workplaces is greatly enhanced by styluses. They can assist with presentations using the displays and building a stronger interaction with coworkers and collaborators by real-time mark-ups and annotations. A stylus pen can also allow users to draw, sign digital documents, or record information in ways that can’t be easily replicated using a computer keyboard.
To be able to answer ‘what is a stylus pen?’ in full, it’s important to know the distinction between the three different stylus pen generations. Passive styluses represent the most basic technology and are the best substitutes for a finger touch on a smartphone or a tablet. Echo styluses constitute the mid-range solution that allows for digital artwork and digital handwriting. Active stylus pens are the top-tier tools for most professional graphic design and academic use, adopting the most advanced technological solutions.
If you enjoyed this article, you might also check out a read on What is a Digitizer or explore Pen Display Solutions offered by ViewSonic.
CASEL competencies are the foundation of academic success, educational equity, relationship building, and professional growth. They are the key areas of the wider concept of social-emotional learning which revolves around personal development. In modern schools and academic settings, training these competencies and relevant soft skills can be as important as teaching subject-specific class material. The good news is technology can help develop these skills, bringing faster and more robust results.
Keep reading to learn more about CASEL 5 competencies and technology’s role in developing them or take a look at ViewSonic Education Solutions.
CASEL competencies are the five broad and interrelated areas that form the foundation of social-emotional learning. This is a field that schools are increasingly focused on as they also grapple with teaching students about how to gain subject-specific knowledge and pass exams, developing them into competent, resilient, conscientious, and responsible individuals with the necessary skills to succeed.
The CASEL 5 framework has been designed to assist schools and educators with this task. More specifically, it can play a role in helping to teach the relevant competencies and soft skills to students while also laying the foundations to create more equitable learning environments which deliver fairness for all students.
In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the CASEL competencies, explore why they are so important for students, teachers, and schools, then examine their role in creating equitable learning environments. We’ll also delve into the support that technology can bring in helping students to develop these soft skills.
Soft skills can be described as non-technical skills which are applicable to almost all situations. They can be considered competencies, including digital literacy, critical thinking, problem-solving, written communication, teamwork, leadership, or public speaking.
Indeed, there’s a strong argument that schools and teachers need to be equally concerned with the development of soft skills and competencies as they are with teaching specific information related to their subject(s) and the curriculum. After all, the soft skills that students develop will go a long way toward determining how successful they are in navigating their time in education, employment, and in their social relationships.
The development of soft skills and competencies is related to the idea of social-emotional learning. According to the Committee for Children, this concept can be defined as “the process of developing the self-awareness, self-control, and interpersonal skills that are vital for school, work, and life success.”
Before going any further, it’s worth briefly exploring what CASEL competencies are, why they are so crucial within schools, and how they can serve both students and teachers.
CASEL competencies are the five main skill sets that are outlined in the CASEL 5 framework, created by the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL). The framework provides the structure for successful social-emotional learning.
More specifically, the CASEL competencies can be summarized as follows:
For exploring the CASEL competencies in greater depth, including more complete definitions of each area and a more thorough examination of how they all connect to one another, take a look at our article What is Social-Emotional Learning and Why is it Important?
The CASEL competencies serve as a great starting point for educators looking to help students to develop the various skills, abilities, and personality traits that will set them up for lasting success. Improving these competencies won’t just be helpful at school, but can be further used in students’ personal lives and future workplaces, too.
Within each of the five competencies, there are a number of smaller skills that can be developed. For instance, effective communication and conflict resolution are relationship skills. The competency of self-management, meanwhile, consists of developing, target setting and impulse control, for example.
CASEL competencies can be used by teachers and schools as a foundation to help students to grow into well-rounded individuals. One of the most significant aspects of the CASEL 5 framework is that the five competencies outlined can be taught, expanded upon, and reinforced at various points during childhood — and into adulthood, too.
A major benefit of focusing on CASEL competencies — and one that may be overlooked by educators — is its ability to contribute to the creation of equitable learning environments. This is because the CASEL framework can help schools establish the conditions that are required for the necessary changes to occur over time.
In particular, there are two major areas where teachers with an awareness of the CASEL framework can assist students to develop their own CASEL competencies and positively influence them.
Self-awareness is one of the key skills a student must develop in today’s world. By being able to understand the differences between various experiences and identify one’s own emotions and reactions in regard to those specific situations, students can improve their problem-solving skills, embracing a broader and more responsible place in the world.
Students who are equipped with self-awareness are also apt to have higher empathy levels. They are more likely to examine their own behaviors and behavioral patterns — as well as notice them among their peers — and take corrective action when necessary. This could include speaking out when witnessing discrimination or examining and transforming their own biases as part of self-management. At the same time, CASEL competencies are not designed to promote conformity but instead to nourish understanding and encourage open-mindedness.
Digital accessibility is concerned with providing equal access to digital media to all students, regardless of any disabilities or impairments they may have. The social awareness component of the CASEL framework can help students to display empathy and try to see things from other people’s perspectives.
This heightened awareness can be valuable for the promotion of digital accessibility in schools and within individual classrooms since students can highlight issues that their peers may experience, and take steps to assist students who may require an extra level of support to successfully utilize technology and engage with digital media.
Schools that adhere to this framework are also more likely to be aware of issues surrounding digital accessibility and, where possible, can invest in equipment to optimize digital content so students — regardless of physical or cognitive impairments students — can understand and engage with the subject at hand.
The core CASEL framework and the five main competency areas can help students to develop more specific skills along the way. Education technology, or EdTech, can also assist with this development of skills. In the sections below, we will explore some of the specific skills that can be developed from a combination of EdTech and the CASEL 5 framework itself.
As a skill, problem solving has connections with several CASEL competencies, including responsible decision-making and self-management. However, many examples of problem solving also involve working with other people and trying to come to a consensus, even in the face of conflicting opinions. This then ties in with relationship skills too.
In terms of education technology that can assist with this, interactive whiteboards can help students, teachers, groups, and whole classes to collaboratively work through ideas, organize thoughts, understand the nature of the problem, and form a unified conclusion on the best course of action to resolve that problem.
The relationship skills component of the CASEL framework places a strong emphasis on effective communication with other people, but this is just one part of the relevant CASEL competency. Communication also involves managing emotions and understanding the consequences of words, which brings both self-management and responsible decision-making into the equation too.
Communication skills can be aided by a wide range of EdTech. Computers, laptops, tablets, and smartphones all provide digital communication tools, while digital whiteboards allow for effective written communication, even in collaborative situations. Furthermore, screen readers, computer monitors, and a wide variety of software solutions can all assist people living with vision or hearing impairments to communicate effectively in a digital world.
Cooperation and collaboration form the basis of the relationship-building component of the CASEL framework, with students needing to develop the relevant skills to work together with other people and resolve any conflicts that may arise along the way. However, social awareness is another vital competency here, as good teamwork requires an ability to understand other perspectives and set shared, mutually beneficial goals or objectives. Along the way, students will need to develop leadership skills, as well as the ability to delegate tasks to others at the right time rather than simply assuming or overtaking full control over a joint project.
Computers, smartphones, tablets, digital whiteboards, and visual learning platforms, like myViewBoard, can assist both the students who are participating in collaborative activities, as well as teachers who are overseeing collaboration-based lessons that develop teamwork skills.
For teachers to effectively teach CASEL competencies – or develop these competencies within a group of students – it’s vital to understand the emotions students are experiencing at any given time. Seeing how different moods may impact the learning experience, educators can tailor their approach to meet the needs of that moment. Of course, relying on their own capabilities alone requires great empathy, perception, intuition, and a certain amount of guesswork.
The framework can be used to adapt lessons — based on how students are reacting — and can also help teachers to identify whether there are common emotional responses within the room that may require further attention. This is when technology comes into play and solutions like myViewBoard Sens can greatly help and reduce the guesswork part.
All of this is achieved without the device storing any images of students, avoiding any potential issues linked to student privacy.
CASEL competencies are five broad interrelated areas that form the foundation for social-emotional learning. Using the CASEL 5 framework, schools and other academic institutions can help students to develop the kind of soft skills and personality traits that will set them up for success in school and beyond. So instead of simply teaching students how to pass exams, it offers them skills that will serve them well into adulthood.
By using the CASEL framework, educators can create more equitable learning environments. The development of these competencies can be further aided when both students and their teachers make effective use of relevant education technology. This can include computers, smartphones, tablets, digital whiteboards, screen readers, and even facial expression recognition technology.
If you found this read inspiring, you might also enjoy What is Digital Accessibility? (And Why It’s Crucial at Schools) or discover Viewsonic’s EdTech solutions.
If you want to master visual arts, you should turn your eyes to color management. Why? It’s one of the most important processes for photographers and digital artists to maintain color consistency between multiple devices. Many different elements may impact your color management efforts, and creating a viable color management workflow can be more complex than it seems. But don’t worry, we got your back with this post summarizing all you need to remember to create awesome pieces of design!
Read on for a complete checklist of color management for digital artists. Or, why not check out ViewSonic’s solutions for creative work?
Color management isn’t just a “nice-to-have” — it’s a must-have for digital artists, photographers, video editors, and pretty much anyone creating visual content. Get it right during your editing process, and your colors stay crisp and consistent. Get it wrong, and you might end up with unexpected (and unwelcome) surprises in your final design.
Now, color management may initially seem daunting, especially at the beginning if you’ve never had to perform such tasks before. Remembering all the different steps involved is a large part of the battle.
All visual artists must go through it, and to help you with your daily process, we’ve summed up the most important steps in this color management checklist for digital artists. With this guide, you’ll have every crucial step covered — no guesswork, no missed details, just vibrant, consistent results every time. Let’s get started!
Before we dive into the nitty-gritty of color management, let’s clear up what it actually means. The best way to think of this concept is as a process for managing the way in which color is presented at every stage of your creative workflow. From your camera to your computer monitor and, finally, to your printer, each device sees color a little differently. Without proper management, what looks perfect on your screen might look off in print, and that’s a headache no artist wants.
Even subtle differences in the way the various devices represent color can have an undesired effect on the quality of your final work and how it’s perceived, leading to mismatched hues, duller tones, or just plain inaccurate visuals. Imagine crafting a stunning design on your screen, only to see it come out looking flat or “off” in print. Frustrating, right? That’s why color management matters.
Color plays a crucial role in our lives on many different levels. All forms of visual design reflect that importance. The right choice of hues, opacity, balance, brightness, and contrast, fine-tuned for hours before your screen, is meant to evoke certain moods, feelings, or thoughts. This is why, as a digital artist, you want to be certain that the work you are creating is going to be experienced as you intend.
For this reason, above all, you need to take the time to configure your hardware and software properly. Don’t skip this part and pay close attention. Instead, spend a little time upfront optimizing your devices and settings. It’s a small effort that pays off big when your final masterpiece looks just as bold, bright, and brilliant as you imagined.
Let’s start by getting a better understanding of the different elements that contribute to a robust color management strategy and what kind of role they play. In general, this can be broken down into two categories: hardware and software. Hardware includes all the physical tools you’re using — like monitors, cameras, and printers — while software refers to the programs, apps, and operating systems that control how colors are displayed. Let’s break it down.
If you’re working as a digital artist, photographer, or content creator, it’s likely you’re going to use a wide range of devices in your workflow. The challenge? Each device has its own way of displaying color, thanks to different color spaces, hardware quirks, and device-specific settings. This means a single image can look vibrant on one screen and dull on another. Annoying, right?
Without getting too technical, colors are generally assigned numeral values to identify specific tones or shades. Here’s a quick example: The RGB color space defines each hue using a mix of red, green, and blue values. While those values might be technically the same across devices, subtle hardware differences mean they may not look identical. Imagine designing a stunning teal on your monitor, only to see a washed-out blue when printed. Frustrating, right?
That’s why investing in the right hardware is step one. It’s not just about buying “good” devices — it’s about buying the right devices for your creative needs. Take the time to research, configure, and fine-tune their settings. It’s a little upfront work that pays off big when your colors stay consistent from screen to print.
When people think about color management, the focus is often on computer monitors and cameras. Yet, in truth, the amount of hardware that can be included within a color management workflow is much larger than this. Here’s the list of main hardware relevant to this process:
While each of these plays a role in your creative process, it’s not enough to just have the right gear. Even the most high-end hardware needs proper setup and calibration to give you the color accuracy you’re looking for.
Great, you’ve adjusted the settings and calibrated the various devices used for your digital artwork. Now, what happens next? You still need to optimize the settings at the software level.
Again, the aim is to achieve consistency throughout the whole editing process. This means fine-tuning settings so that color is displayed accurately everywhere. You want the colors to look the same – or as similar as they possibly can – regardless of whether your design or image is displayed on a screen, a printed page, or online.
Within the category of software-based color management, there are several concepts vital for artists to understand and remember. The most significant ones are explained below:
Digital artists and professional content creators also need to be aware of the color gamut. While color spaces like sRGB and Adobe RGB define the theoretical range of colors available, color gamut refers to the range of colors a specific device (like a monitor) can actually display.
In other words, think of color gamut as the “real-world” version of a color space. For example, modern OLED displays have a much larger color gamut than older LCD monitors. If you’re serious about color management, it’s worth investing in a monitor that supports a wide color gamut. This way, you can see more colors while you work, which is especially useful for artists working in Adobe RGB or higher-end color spaces.
VP16-OLED
Creation Happens Anywhere
When it comes to color consistency, having the right hardware and software is only half the battle. The real magic happens when you lock in a solid workflow. Why? Because color management isn’t a “set it and forget it” kind of process. Every new project is a fresh opportunity to make sure your colors stay true — from screen to print, and everything in between.
If you’ve ever designed a stunning visual masterpiece only to see it look off in print, you’re not alone. In fields like photography and digital art, there’s an essential technique called soft proofing, where you see an accurate digital representation on your monitor of what the final printed product will look like.
But for soft proofing to be accurate, all your hardware needs to be on the same page (literally and figuratively). Don’t worry — it’s not as complicated as it sounds. Just follow this simple 3-step process to keep your colors consistent:
Choose a color space that matches your creative goals. The sRGB color space is considered the standard and the best option if your work is going to be published on the web. However, the Adobe RGB color space was created to encompass the colors that are possible on color printers and so may be preferable for printed work. For a deeper dive into the details, check out our article: sRGB vs Adobe RGB: Which One to Use?
Without color calibration, you’re basically guessing what you’ll see in print. Here’s how to do it right:
If color spaces are the “language” of color, ICC profiles are the “translators.” An ICC profile tells your devices how to display colors correctly, so what you see on screen is as close as possible to what prints out. It’s like having a universal color dictionary for your hardware and software.
Here’s how to make it happen:
Assuming your color management strategy has been successful, the output finished product should be identical, or as close as possible – to what you have been working with on your input device and your computer.
Color management is the unsung hero of every digital artist’s workflow — the difference between “nailed it” and “not quite right.” From hardware and software calibration to choosing the perfect color space and ICC profile, every detail matters. Plus, your input, editing, and output devices all need to work seamlessly together. Sounds like a lot? It is — but that’s where a solid color management strategy comes in, keeping your colors true, your work consistent, and your creative confidence sky-high.
If you liked this read, you might also enjoy learning about Color Management and Color Blindness. And if you’re looking for tools that bring your vision to life, explore ViewSonic ColorPro monitors—designed with digital artists in mind.
Color management and color blindness are often perceived as two contradictory things. While color blindness has long been a major challenge to color management, the latest monitor technology provides extended controls over this workflow, making it more user-friendly than ever. This is especially important in the creative industry, where you need the highest level of color precision for your work to impact any audience in a desired way.
Read on to find out more about color management, color blindness, and relevant monitor technology, or explore ViewSonic solutions for creative work.
For visual media creators, color management is at the core of the creative workflow – it’s therefore easy to see how color blindness can become a barrier. While maintaining consistent settings and color palette across devices is common knowledge among professionals, it’s not the only thing that matters. The design world is now becoming increasingly aware of the importance of digital accessibility and catering to those with color blindness.
Color management refers to the process ensuring that colors are continuously represented the same way across media, from the beginning to the end of the creative course. Right now, the technology facilitates analyzing various use cases, including more of those with visual impairments. For starters, there are tools like browser-based color vision simulation that help visualize how contents appear to people with different color vision deficiencies.
But for the best results, high-quality computer monitor technology will provide a more comprehensive and reliable solution. Before going any more granular on how color management and color blindness can be addressed by monitor technologies, let’s start by having a closer look at color blindness and its most common forms.
Within visual media, color management can most succinctly be described as the process of controlling the way colors are represented through the entire creative workflow. This most commonly refers to ensuring that all hues are displayed properly across all devices, such as cameras, computers, and smartphones, as well as print media.
Although you can take steps to make sure everyone has the same experience when interacting with visual content, you shouldn’t forget those with a varying visual perception capacity. Among these, color blindness (or color vision deficiencies) represents one of the biggest groups of people. Color blindness is estimated to affect around 8 percent of the world’s population. It’s a vision deficiency, which impacts a person’s ability to either see or make the distinction between colors. As a condition, color blindness can be separated into three main types or categories, which are as follows.
As the name suggests, red-green color blindness is characterized by difficulties differentiating between red and green. This can be further broken down into deuteranomaly, where green colors appear redder, and protanomaly, where red colors appear greener. Deuteranopia, the most common form of color blindness, means inability to perceive green light and protanopia an inaptitude to perceive red light.
Blue-yellow color blindness – also called tritanomaly – follows the same principle but is defined by difficulties differentiating between blue and yellow. Tritanopia is its more acute form and makes it impossible to distinguish blue from yellow and vice versa. People with tritanopia may also struggle to tell the difference between red and purple, as well as yellow and pink.
The most complex variant of color blindness is referred to as total color blindness or achromatopsia. When a person experiences this type of color blindness, they are unable to see color at all. Instead, they perceive all colors to be black, white, or in shades of grey. This means that, while they may be able to differentiate between black and white – or darker and lighter shades – they either cannot identify differences in actual color or just find it very hard to do so.
One of the main ways color management and color blindness testing can be brought together is with computer monitor technology. In recent years, high-quality computer monitors started to be fitted with built-in color blindness tools for an easier approach to the creative process.
A monitor with a color blindness mode option will adjust the display of colors on the screen, assisting color blind viewers, or those with color vision deficiencies (CVD), to better differentiate between assorted colors on the screen. In the past, however, this often led to a distortion of colors for non-color-blind users, so it’s important to keep the balance between all the modes.
Top-end solutions, such as ViewSonic’s ColorPro vDisplay Manager, are helping to change this by providing a greater level of color accuracy while still providing the same benefits. In fact, an independent technical report on the feature, carried out by TÜV SÜD, found that vDisplay Manager helped color blind users to recognize colors with 90% accuracy. In comparison, solutions offered by other manufacturers only offers accuracy levels of around 70 percent achieved when using other leading solutions on the market.
The second main monitor feature used to assist with color management and color blindness design testing is a color blind simulation. The simulator works by allowing all users to see how people experiencing color blindness would see the visual media on a screen, with options to move between the types of color blindness.
As a result, those involved with color management – including photographers, digital artists, web designers, and software developers – can understand how different audiences will experience their designs. This also enables you to make more informed decisions about which colors to use in order to provide a consistent experience.
Color management and color blindness awareness all play into a broader concept, which is known as universal design. This is the process of creating visual media for everyone, regardless of their gender, age, cultural background, ethnicity, or whether they have disabilities, impairments, or other challenges.
Within the field of universal design, seven principles – originating from North Carolina State University – have helped designers to better understand the concept. One of these principles is ‘equitable use’, which means all users should have the same means of use. Another is ‘perceptible information’, which focuses on the ability to access and perceive the necessary information and differentiate between design elements.
Those who are involved with color management should try to frame their efforts in assisting color blind users within the wider context of universal design. Of course, this also means balancing the competing needs of people with a diverse range of difficulties, disabilities, and obstacles to overcome to obtain or perceive information.
Color management helps to control the ways in which colors are perceived within visual media and to provide a consistent experience for all users across all devices. Previously, color blindness offered a significant challenge to this aim because some users perceive the same colors differently.
Fortunately, monitor technology, such as color blind simulators and color blindness modes has come to help. Being part of universal design concept, they make it easier to provide a consistent and satisfying experience for every user, regardless of whether they have any color vision deficiencies or color blindness.
If you liked this read, make sure to check What is a Color Gamut? or discover ViewSonic range of ColorPro monitors for digital artists.