Microsoft Surface

The screen is one of the smaller offerings but has toughened Gorilla glass and a smooth unobtrusive frame.  The unique Pixel sense system has replaced the traditional infra red camera to create the highest number of individual touches whilst allowing for an ultra slim profile suited to wall as well as table mounting.

Finger and gesture controls are very quick and supremely accurate.  Object recognition works through tagging to trigger a digital response to objects placed on the surface.  This includes opening specific software packages or using the built in wifi to connect to web based content.

The start price has reduced significantly from the first release and is good value for such a high powered offering.

The fixed height and lack of tilt option is a barrier to accessibility in the classroom.  The lack of wheels makes movement more difficult too and has gone someway to this being unfairly described by some as a luxury coffee table.

This good looking feature rich top end touch table is in our opinion highly suited to the office environment but not quite so much for schools.

Smart table

The responsiveness to touch from this system is not as good as others listed here but works fine with the more basic programs for this age group.  Bright light shining on to the surface can be read as a touch by the software which may cause problems.

The Smart Table is mobile but does not have height adjustment or tilt options and therefore access is restricted for wheelchair users.

The cost of a Smart Table reflects the lower level of technology involved and represents good value when the available free activities are added in to the equation.  There will however be ongoing costs for projector bulbs and maintenance in the region of £95/ year.

In our opinion the Smart Table is a good choice for very young children due to its child friendly design and free activities available online.

Displax Oqtopus

In our opinion the Oqtapus as a complete package including the overlay, LED screen and pc looks expensive in comparison  to other tables listed in this review.

Tap-it

Any pc compatible software can be used with the Tap-it platform but it is not supplied with a PC or any free software packages.  The drivers for the table need to be downloaded to your PC from the Tap-it website.

In our opinion this is a well made and thoroughly researched product for specific special needs provision.  On the down side it is expensive particularly as it has no pc built in or software packages included.  It is a large unit too so although it is mobile it is not easy to move between rooms, especially if you are balancing a computer on the rear shelf.

Source iTable

The height is not adjustable but there is a choice at purchase and the open centre will accommodate wheel chair users comfortably.  The iTable is not designed specifically to be mobile.

The iTable works with windows 7 software and ships with the Snowflake suite included free of charge but there is no pc supplied as standard within the price.

In our opinion this is a very stylish and good looking product that would create an effective static work area probably better suited to venues than classrooms.

Clever LCD Fusion

The touch screen is accurate and very responsive with scratch resistance and anti glare features.  Thanks to the all in one construction (as opposed to use of overlays), the screen rarely needs recalibrating with optical mapping and memory chipped cameras staying fixed and focused even when moved between rooms.

In our opinion the Clever LCD Fusion is an outstanding choice for schools.  The strength and toughness of the construction combined with the inclusive adjustment of screen position meet a wide range of demands in a classroom environment.  The package including pc and software bundle make for excellent value.  We would have said it was unquestionably the the best choice if it wasn’t for the brand new i-Core detailed below.

i-Core

At the heart of the system is a powerful Mac mini that delivers rock solid reliability and high speed performance.  The Lion OSX operating system is the perfect platform for graphics, multimedia and collaborative art projects.  Available as a duo or 32 touch option this is the touch table that Apple fans will love.

With all the benefits of the Clever Touch Fusion, the added extras of an Apple driven system and the latest high performance energy saving LED screens, this in our opinion is the absolute best choice for forward looking schools and represents superb value for money. ]]> http://techblog.osbornetechnologies.co.uk/touch-table-review/99/feed 0 http://techblog.osbornetechnologies.co.uk/sensorypod-recognised-as-a-haven-for-special-needs/90 http://techblog.osbornetechnologies.co.uk/sensorypod-recognised-as-a-haven-for-special-needs/90#comments Fri, 03 Feb 2012 13:39:29 +0000 admin http://techblog.osbornetechnologies.co.uk/?p=90 Visitors to the largest educational technology show in the world flocked to experience the calming oasis created by the latest addition to Osborne Technologies ltd list of home grown products.

The SensoryPod is a multisensory environment packed with cutting edge technology including an interactive floor, video with responsive lighting and scent systems all selected through touch control.

Visitors were amazed at the sense of calm that descended when the door was closed and the hustle and bustle of a busy exhibition completely shut out.

SensoryPod was recognised as a haven for special needs, a positive environment for dealing with challenging behaviour and an unmatched system for stress reduction. One visitor saw the SensoryPod as the perfect facility for creating podcasts as a sound proofed room within a room.

The greatest advantage for many was the fact SensoryPod has been designed to be equally comfortable indoors or outside with commercial guarantees of up to 30 years. Visitors from Sweden, Finland and the Russian department for education were highly impressed that the SensoryPod can be adapted not only to meet their sensory needs but also cope with their freezing winters.

The demonstration model from BETT has now been rebuilt in the show room at Osborne Technologies ltd head office in Barnsley. If you would like to try the SensoryPod experience for yourself please contact us to arrange a visit.

Managing Director of the Chamber, said, “Osborne’s solution was genuinely innovative and will provide a very lean but effective framework for the Chamber’s future development.  The net result of this was that the cost base has been reduced considerably”.

Incredible news to have so early in the year.

Tom Atkinson, General Manager at Osborne Technologies, said, “We are delighted to have secured this contract with Doncaster Chamber.  As a Member of the Chamber it is very important that the Chamber’s communications with all its Members is as effective and powerful as possible and we shall be doing everything we can to help them become even more of a force in Doncaster.”

We will be at the Scottish Learning Festival this year with EntrySign

To be held on Wednesday 21 and Thursday 22 September 2011, SECC, Glasgow.

The Scottish Learning Festival is about teaching and learning and offers a number of opportunities to enhance the education profession. In addition, teachers want practical advice and ideas about effective use of ICT in their classrooms to improve the quality of learning and teaching.

Osborne Technologies will be showcasing the EntrySign product.

Osborne Technologies Ltd developed its innovative EntrySign product to log visitors to reception at its own base on Fall Bank Industrial Estate, Dodworth.

It so impressed customers that managing director Tom Osborne quickly moved to adapt it for the education sector, taking on board feedback from schools themselves.

Just over a year on, the firm’s engineers have installed the system in 50 schools and colleges and its success has pushed up overall sales figures by 70 per cent since last April, compared with the same period the previous year.  A corporate version is also available.

Specialist coaches from Enterprising Barnsley, which offers free support to high-growth local companies, are now helping Osborne Technologies to structure expansion as interest in EntrySign increases from across the UK and Ireland.  Included is assistance with marketing and the development of a dedicated sales team, with plans to boost the existing 22-strong workforce with an extra five sales staff.

Tom said:  “Most schools still have paper-based, and often separate, signing in books for staff, visitors and pupils.  EntrySign brings to an end all the scribbling of names, times and other details.  It’s a unique piece of software that uses touch screen technology to integrate all the health and safety and auditing systems, printing visitor badges for an instant visual check.
And its administrative side allows staff to manage the system, view live information and even quickly print off a list of everyone in the building in the event of a fire evacuation.  Also schools can customise the main screen for a great first impression.

“Because we developed EntrySign by trialling it with our existing school customers, we’ve made it to fit and it’s very easy to use.  We’ve also developed a corporate application and are looking at a version for hospital wards.  The future looks exciting and Enterprising Barnsley’s expert guidance is a big help because it’s addressing areas that need improvement while I concentrate on the day-to-day running of the business.”

Scissett Middle School, in Kirklees, had EntrySign installed at the start of the current school year.

ICT Manager Neville Roberts said:  “The system is quick, easy to use and produces bespoke visitor badges within seconds. Visitors are always impressed when they see the self-service touch screen in our reception area and this also helps to show that our school has a strong focus on ICT from the minute they walk through the door.

“During a recent Ofsted inspection our school was judged ‘outstanding’ and, with the current focus on safeguarding children, I have no doubt that our ability to record and monitor visitors on site contributed to our success.”

EntrySign won a Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber of Commerce Award for Innovation in Business and was recently showcased at BETT – the world’s largest technology in education show – at London’s Olympia.

The story of Osborne Technologies began in the early 1990s when Tom, then a retail manager, started refurbishing computers in his garage.  Osborne Computers became a limited company in 1998 but changed its name in 2007 to reflect the range of Internet Protocol (IP) technology it had taken on.

The company provides a wide range of cutting edge IT and audio visual solutions for education and business.  Its state of the art demonstration suite allows clients to see and use working products, including CCTV, plasma and LCD screens, projectors, interactive whiteboards, touch screen technology and an array of computers to suit different needs.

For more information about EntrySign, go to www.osbornetechnologies.co.uk or www.entry-sign.co.uk or call 0800 037 2904.

EntrySign Wins Innovation Award at Magna

The cutting edge digital EntrySign system was highly praised at the recent Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber of Commerce Award Ceremony held at the Magna Centre.

The Innovation in Business award was presented by Harry Gratian to MD Tom Osborne in recognition of the success of the digital EntrySign system after beating off fierce completion from other technology companies.