New @ InfoComm 2016

I’ve been an educational technology director for 25 years, with a significant track record in large educational technology and AV purchases. I returned from walking every aisle of InfoComm 2016, searching for promising trends, developments, and products that might offer value for the education market.

What does an educator see? I look for both memes that make sense in education as well as the practical solution: the product that potentially meet a need or solves a pain somewhere in my organization. Something crisply new and eye-catching can also spark a burgeoning idea in an educator’s mind. And at times, we chuckle when we see the emperor’s new clothes (vaporware, hype, or solutions in search of a problem to solve).

Frankly, this year’s InfoComm hoopla—from an educator’s perspective only—left me underwhelmed. There were no blockbusters, killer educational technologies, nor grand entrances as in past years. There was little to get us to stand to our feet and applaud great educational potential. This was a tepid year—a year of stolid incrementalism at best. Nevertheless, here are some of my ed-market visualizer observations:

A Document Camera Uptick? 

This year I noticed far more document camera companies displaying their wares (Qomo, Elmo, Wolf, HoverCam, et. al.) But does this represent an uptick in document camera sales? Not really. Some data suggest that 60% of U.S. classrooms already have document cameras. So here's a trend I am seeing: It seems each of these companies is moving away from their core competency (manufacturing visualizers) and branching out to ancillary markets by retooling or creating alliances. Thus, these companies were all featuring lecture recording devices, 360° cameras, collaboration software, presentation stations, or other technologies that leverage their know-how. Still, I wish these companies understood a bit better how to reach the remaining 40% of viz-less classrooms, and how to enter the legacy replacement market in a more positive and proactive way. I wish I could hep them more...

Train Me!

Although document cameras are easy to use, it is rare that teachers take advantage of some of the best and most powerful instructional features of these tools. One resource that many educators are unaware of is the training video library for your manufacturer’s document camera

Check these out (shown in alphabetical order):

       Elmo

       Hovercam

       Ken-A-Vision

Lumens Recordex

I am willing link to the training libraries of any vendor that contacts me, so manufacturers should never feel that I am playing favorites. Just send me your links to add here. For now, these are the only ones I could find.

Doc Cams @ ISTE 2013

While the number of document camera companies exhibiting at the ISTE 2013 conference was down this year, offerings in visualizer features evidenced a small spike upwards. Here is a quick survey of new things happening in the world of document cameras at the ISTE 2013 conference, in blistering hot San Antonio:

HoverCam

Hovercam was featuring a new partnership with Zoom, offering a nice troika of document camera—video conferencing—remote collaboration that is hard to beat. Basically, they are combining forces to offer high-definition screen sharing, annotation, MP4 recording, and live conferencing for up to 25 participants—on any Mac, Windows, iOS or Android device.  The extensibility to mobile devices is noteworthy. They were also showing off their new HoverCam mini 5, which is smaller than a water bottle, but as powerful as the big boy visualizers.

QOMO

QOMO was on display with great enthusiasm, revealing their new visualizers, like the QD3900 and the nicely portable QPC70, with new HDMI input/output features. Basically, this allows schools to connect high-def devices to the document camera or connect the document camera itself to projectors or classroom displays that offer high-definition capabilities, like HD TVs.

Elmo

Elmo rolled out their UVC (USB video class compliant) TT-12i. That means it is able to stream video smoothly, enabling high-quality use in video conferencing, distance learning, and lesson recording.

IPEVO

IPEVO was highlighting their new VGA/USB Dual-Mode document camera, the VZ-1 HD. This feature allows the educator to bypass the computer, if necessary, and display directly through a projector. Nothing new, but a useful functions  in some school settings. What I liked better was the hard switch for selecting camera resolution.

Color Me Wonderful

In this series I am hoping to cover three trends that I really like in the world of document cameras. I like that...

• document cameras are getting smaller 
• doc cams are turning colorful
• high-definition is providing a crisp image viewing experience

Let's face it. I like pretty. It breaks up the monotony of life. Kids like color, too. Color matters, methinks. In particular, two visualizer products are really making their mark by turning on their colors.

The first noteworthy product in this regard comes from Ken-a-Vision. Look at the beautiful colors of their Vision Viewer: 

When I saw this display at a recent conference, I thought of a flower garden. In this case, a visualizer garden. A learning garden. Definitely the kind of visualizer that I want to plant in the learning garden of my classroom.

The second product is from Elmo. I love the subtle colorations of this visualizer.  Three flavors. Not so bright, and oh-so-easy on the eyes. 

Classrooms can be pretty places too, you know.

Small is Beautiful (1)

In this series I am hoping to cover three trends that I really like in the world of document cameras. I like that...

• document cameras are getting smaller 
• doc cams are turning colorful
• high-definition is providing a crisp image viewing experience

Our first posting will focus on the fascinating topic of small-form-factor document cameras. Here are the three best examples on the market:

The Elmo MO-1 Visual Presenter

Here is their Elmo website for some additional insight and information.





Please view this short video that will give you a better look at this tool.

The All-In-Learning Portable Document Camera

Here is their website for some additional insight and information.







Below please find a short video I took, in my simple effort to give you a better look at this tool.

The Hover Cam Mini 5 

Here is their Mini 5 website for some additional insight and information.







Last, below please find a short video I took, in my simple effort to give you a better look at this tool.

Grants, Contests, and More

It’s hard to muster your visual teaching kung fu without a document camera of your own! Use these opportunities to make things happen for your classroom. I will keep you posted as other companies step up to the plate for schools. Here are the only opportunities I can find for the Spring of 2013 to win or earn a document camera or other freebie for your school or classroom:

1. ELMO Lesson Idea Contest (Contest extended through the end of April)
2. Recordex Free Wireless Tablet Offer (for the cost of shipping, when you buy an entry-level document camera/one per school; use the promotion code SCE12 with any online retailer)
3. Samsung Superhero Competition (Deadlines May 31 and November 30)
4. Samsung Lesson Plan Contest (Deadline May 1)

For now, I want to give kudos to the companies above. But let’s just say that document camera companies should do much more than they are doing if they want to reach schools. Document camera companies should offer regular and creative contests, grants, and freebies to struggling schools. Once a school or department gets a successful implementation going, it is certain to spread. Sometimes they just need to prime the pump. 

2013 Super List

2013 List of Visualizer Manufacturers

Here’s my comprehensive list of all known visualizers on the market. (If you see one missing, please leave a comment below.) Use this list for purposes of product evaluation, comparing features, bidding, and identifying RFP resources for your classroom document camera needs:

Top Manufacturers in K-20 settings (in alphabetic order)

AVerInformation www.averusa.com/presentation

Elmo http://www.elmousa.com/

Ken-A-Vision http://ken-a-vision.com/cameras/groups/document-cameras-visualisers

Lumens http://www.myladibug.com/

Pathway Innovations      http://www.thehovercam.com

QOMO http://www.qomo.com/ProductList.aspx?CategoryID=1

Recordex http://recordexusa.com/PresentationSolutions.html

Samsung Techwin: http://www.samcam860.com/

Other Notable Manufacturers (in alphabetic order)

All in Learning ($25 dollar Doc Cam) www.allinlearning.com 
Buhl http://www.hamiltonbuhl.com/store/c/3161-Visual-Presenters.aspx

Califone http://www.califone.com/visual.php

Epson http://www.epson.com/cgi-bin/Store/jsp/EdProjectors/Home/ClassroomSolutions.do?BV_UseBVCookie=yes

iPevo http://www.ipevo.com/

Luna http://www.learningresources.com/product/luna--8482-+interactive+projection+camera.do?sortby=ourPicks&sortby=&

Optoma http://optomausa.com/products/detail/DC300

VidiFox http://www.vidifox.com/documentCamera.php

WolfVision http://www.wolfvision.com/visualizer/index.php/en

InfoComm-ISTE Update

The new  ELMO small form factor document
camera, shown this June.

Two of the largest technology shows in the U.S. were held this last June. Both InfoComm (in Las Vegas) and ISTE (in San Diego) continued the trend toward more products, rapid feature improvements, and new manufacturers in the arena of document cameras. Over the next few months, I intend to cover in the pages of this blog some of the most intriguing and surprising developments in the document camera field to date. For now, let’s just say that this industry shows no signs of waning. Instead, innovation and feature advancement are alive and well.

Wolfvision showcased their offerings
for the  medical and university markets.
This basic unit retails in the $3,000 range.

Every major manufacturer was present at these shows, along with some newcomers. Most were in the exhibit halls, while some (like Lumens) featured personalized private showings in nearby suites along with a solid exhibit hall floor presence. My book, DigitalShapeshifter, was on sale or on display at ISTE. But what was missing—and needs to be there—is a stronger “instructional practice” presence: presentations, workshops, and poster sessions evidencing effective classroom use of document cameras. It's not good enough to just be in exhibit hall booths. Document camera technologies, which are so potentially transformative in nature, must navigate their way into the educational and intellectual currents of these major conferences.

Pathway Innovations was showing new
versions of their HoverCam document cameras.

Watch for my list of updated document camera manufacturers, which will follow in the conclusion to this series. And don’t worry— I’ll continue to pepper this series and the entire blog with great instructional ideas and suggestions, not just new product reviews. It’s all about learning in the classroom…

The Lumens 3D and wireless document cameras
were also shown at ISTE

Wireless Doc Cams

At two recent technology conferences, teachers in my sessions have evidenced keen interest in the instructional freedom offered by wireless document cameras. Only three companies make wireless document cameras as of this date.  To compare on your own, take a look at these brief videos on each product. I have simply ranked the products by published wireless transmission distances:

• Lumen’s Wireless Ladibug offers a healthy distance of 95 feet and is a strong player.
• AVerInformation’s W30 offers a 45 foot range, and a sleek look.
• Elmo's brand new wireless document camera offers a slick, small form factor look, and collapses nicely, with a wireless distance of 33 ft.

Choices Abound (1)

Some of the common questions that educators ask include: "who makes document cameras?" or "what are the options?" You actually have many solid choices. The document camera manufacturers below represent the largest presence in the educational market. I have provided links for connecting with each of them.

Common Manufacturers in K-20 Settings (in alpabetic order)

AVerInformation averusa.com/presentation

Elmo www.elmousa.com/digital-visual-presenters.php

Lumens www.myladibug.com/

Pathway Innovations www.thehovercam.com

Qomo www.qomo.com

Samsung Techwin: http://www.samcam860.com/