Interactive Smart Boards

Posted by robd on November 25, 2014
Interactive Boards

So this is a little off topic for me but recently I’ve been playing with a range of new and old Interactive Smart Boards.  A client reported some problems with their boards and how they align, i.e. if you draw a straight line then the line on the board appears above where your drawing.  Here’s my findings (some of these have been confirmed with a Smart Engineer):

Installation

When the board is installed there are a couple of factors which can cause the board to loose calibration.

  • Check there is a sufficient gap under the pen tray to the wall, and that the board is not bent because the brackets are too tight.
  • Check the screws into the bracket are not drilled into breeze block, the metal in the bricks pick up the electric current. Solution is to insulate the screws and the screw heads with electrical insulation tape so it does not connect with the metal bracket.
  • Check for the nearest wireless AP, if it is on the same wall or very close it will cause interference.
  • Electrical wires running vertical in the wall can produce interference if the board is installed directly over them.

Hardware

  • Controllers SC9 are no longer supported and generally considered temperamental.
  • SC9 Controllers work better will SMART Software 10.1 and earlier.
  • SC9 & SC10 Controllers don’t work consistently with entended USB Cables.

Diagnostics

  • If you encounter dropped lines, see below. Reset the controller by holding down the reset button for several seconds, recalibrate and test.
  • Smart1
  •  The boards works from electric resistance and we can measure the ohms from the board to check is the board/controller/membrane is causing a problem.
  1. Open SMART Diagnostic Tool and take not of the sheet resistant for X & Y measured in ohms. Take note of the reading.
    • Smart2
  2. Click Service from the toolbar and select Stop
  3. Using a SMART Pen draw around the perimeter of the board firmly a couple of times (to clear any static buildup), wait a couple of minutes and then proceed to draw at random. Start the service again.
  4. Repeat steps 1-3 until you have the recorded reading for at least three measurements in ohms.
    Results
  • 1 ohms in difference – Board is OK.
  • 2 ohms in difference – Board is showing signs of End Of Life.
  • 2> ohms in difference – Board is rendered as useless.

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