Smarter Classrooms Flourish with Sustainable EdTech

Education may start at home, but when schools come into the picture, that’s where the most potential for beneficial change manifests. As technology providers, our job is to help educators and learners. We do this by offering the best tools we can make and ensuring those same tools contribute to a healthier, safer, and more sustainable world. Because that’s the world kids now in school will grow up into, and protecting their future is part and parcel of our mission. The ViewBoard interactive display product family embodies every aspect of our company-wide ESG efforts, going further than mandated standards to improve education and lessen environmental adverse effects.

Service for the Duration

Like all our products, classroom interactive displays such as the ViewBoard IFP53 and IFP63 Series have the principles of environmental protection and durability in their so-called design DNA from the get go. They’re made to last and provide an extended service life. As such, these advanced EdTech platforms offer long operation lifespans and dependability. We believe that planned obsolescence, which leads to frequent product purchases or upgrades, should be avoided at all costs. Digital classroom tools that replace traditional icons like the whiteboard must have the longevity of school stalwarts, not just the excitement of new features. A digital board needs to offer dependable service for years and steer clear of the frequent upgrade model. We design tools that become classroom fixtures, just as intuitive as desks and backpacks.

To further prolong ViewBoard operation, plug and play slot-in PC modules turn the interactive display into a fully-fledged PC. That’s a very cost-effective way to expand feature sets. It also helps you keep up with updates, new apps, and emerging social media platforms.

ViewBoard interactive displays stay for the long haul. Previous design philosophies often had schools buying new boards every couple of years. That’s a sure way to raise costs and generate a whole lot of e-waste. It certainly isn’t a path to sustainability. To bolster environmental effect reduction, we offer an end of product life takeback program in 15 markets as of this post to free schools from the burden of disposal and ascertain proper recycling. So even after years of usage, ViewSonic interactive displays have a path to sustainable retirement.

Our ViewBoards are also designed for easy disassembly, further facilitating the recycling process. Dependable products with long lifespans and no need for upgrades or even extensive maintenance highlight our approach, but as we like to say, there’s more.

Material Differences Bring Positive Change

The ViewBoard interactive display product cycle complies with our corporate policies at every step to minimize the overall environmental footprint of our ViewBoard range. All ViewBoard models in production are made of 80% post-consumer recycled plastic. We work hard to make sure every sourcing partner and supplier avoids the use of harmful materials and conflict minerals. ViewSonic follows the latest science and adapts design and production to guarantee the safest and most sustainable interactive displays available. We lead the industry in this effort to contribute towards a healthier and more equitable world, which is the goal of ESG efforts.

Due to this unwavering commitment, ViewSonic was the first signage display brand to become EPEAT Gold registered, starting with the ViewBoard IFP33 Series and then encompassing our new ViewBoard IFP53 Series and IFP63 Series, which also carry EPEAT Gold certification. All of these serve as an indication that we’re doing the right thing and headed in a direction that verifiably contributes to global wellbeing.

Meticulous material science factors into every part of ViewBoard design, which extends to packing materials. Made with up to 75% post-consumer recycled materials as a baseline, ViewSonic ViewBoard interactive display packaging is additionally 97% recyclable after users receive the product. We ship ViewBoard interactive displays in reusable wooden crates, and employ soluble water-based ink for everything printed on packaging and items such as user guides. ESG commitment means attention to detail. Ink that may harm the water table must be excluded to protect the health of humans and other animals. It’s all part of making a material difference.

An Education in Energy Saving

Current ViewBoard interactive displays promote power savings. The new IFP63 Series operates at 24% lower energy consumption than its immediate predecessor. It offers more technology, usability, and features with less power draw, translating to a shift from an EEI level G rating to a level F. We will continue to develop technology that requires less power without compromising performance. ViewBoard interactive displays reduce power consumption while in operation, as well. Presence sensors automatically set them to standby when no activity is detected, for example when the class is empty during lunch. That reduces idle consumption. Configurable power modes help users reduce electricity bills by optimizing power draw for each type of task and activity.

Beyond the hardware, we also develop software solutions to reduce energy consumption. IT teams can remotely set up and power interactive displays on and off via ViewSonic Manager software, adding more granular control over ViewBoard operation and ensuring they’re in use only when needed. Should users forget to completely shut down a ViewBoard interactive display before going on the weekend, IT can then power it off remotely using the ViewSonic Manager software. All these highlights result in big power savings, and while there’s a long road ahead, we’ve already achieved much in this regard.

Closer to Paperless with ViewBoard Versatility

Thanks to ever-improving technology, we’re now closer to the highly sustainable paper-free future the world has been waiting for. ViewBoard interactive displays do their part by negating the need for printouts and even textbooks. Big, bright, and color-accurate 4K screens provide high visibility and clarity for teaching materials accessed online. Extensive connectivity brings online resources right to the classroom and on display with utmost accessibility. Multi-touch screens, whether using fingers or a stylus, allow teachers and students to collaborate and create, freed from cumbersome heaps of paper. The myViewBoard software included with our interactive boards offers tools for teachers to make the most of interactive displays, with a very intuitive interface to facilitate paperless activities.

Everyone in class can also share with better ease than ever before. Users effortlessly cast projects and content from laptops, tablets, and phones through ViewSonic AirSync. This is a far more sustainable way than a printer churning out paper whenever knowledge and work need to be shared. From streaming multimedia content and school notices to setting up new features, everything’s fast and intuitive. Educators worldwide have taken to ViewBoards with a passion, evident in the growing ViewSonic Educator Community forums. With over 60,000 members, the community offers a great venue for experience and idea sharing as well as socializing.

We invite you to take a closer look at how ViewSonic ViewBoards can help your school. Also, please feel free to contact your local ViewSonic rep for additional details and in-person product demos.