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PolyVision Simplifies
Visual Communications for the Classroom
-New Point of View strategy creates easy-to-use technology-
With an approximate 100,000 interactive whiteboards projected for classroom
installation in 2004 and teachers eager to reap the benefits the boards
promise to deliver, PolyVision is taking major steps to ensure that their
products don’t wind up collecting dust in a corner due to underutilization.
At a time when other interactive whiteboard manufacturers battle over
adding more features to their products, PolyVision has set out to transform
the industry with a New Point of View that focuses on increasing user
adoption.
“With PolyVision’s New Point of View strategy, visual communication
technology is simple to use and accessible for everyone,“ Mike Dunn,
president and CEO of PolyVision, said. “There will always be a place
in the market for standard interactive whiteboards, but, truthfully speaking,
the people who prefer to spend the time required to become proficient,
and remain proficient, in their use are definitely in the minority. PolyVision
is listening to educators and providing products that allow teachers to
concentrate on teaching, not on how to use the tools with which they teach.”
PolyVision performed significant research, observing people interacting
with their boards in their own learning environments and garnering feedback
from focus groups. The result is their New Point of View: a three-principle
strategy intended to make technology adoption in classrooms around the
world an easy, rewarding experience. The principles of PolyVision’s
New Point of View ensure the creation of products designed with the user
in mind, including:
- Support Existing Work Practices and Tools: PolyVision’s
newest solutions are designed to integrate seamlessly with existing
tools and software that teachers know and use every day. Educators shouldn’t
have to change their teaching methodology or abandon the current tools
they use with the introduction of new technology.
- Walk-Up-and-Use Experience: A majority of classroom
discussions and interaction are spontaneous. The problem with interactive
products in the past has been, if teachers didn’t plan ahead to
use an interactive whiteboard, they weren’t used. PolyVision has
changed that by creating products that are as easy and spontaneous to
use as a television. Everything required to walk up and use the whiteboard
is a part of the product itself.
- First Use Must Inspire Future Use, or FUMIFU™:
For many users, across all industries, the first experience with a new
technology product can be daunting. If a person is unsuccessful in the
use of a product the first time, they seldom try to utilize it again.
If it happens a second time, they never go back. PolyVision’s
mantra is to develop products that inspire users during their first
experience so they’re inspired to use the product again and again.
PolyVision products embracing the New Point of View include:
- CopyCam® Image Capturing System which
enables the instant capture of ideas and information from any marker
or chalk board; and
- Walk-and-Talk™ Presentation Series Interactive Whiteboard,
a new, intuitive generation of interactive whiteboards embodying PolyVision’s
three user-centric design principles.
Teachers at PolyVision’s U.S. field test sites are responding to
the New Point of View with great enthusiasm.
“In my classroom, I encourage students to think a little differently
so I challenge myself to think a little differently when I teach,”
Mimi Szutz, a secondary school business education teacher, said. “I’m
much more effective when I’m accessible to each student during class,
so the new Walk-and-Talk interactive whiteboard is a testament to PolyVision’s
commitment to create a positive learning environment where both students
and teachers are actively engaged.”
The full range of PolyVision products is available through Maverick Presentation
Products, PolyVision’s trusted distributor in the United Kingdom.
With more than 4,000 resellers throughout the United Kingdom, Maverick’s
network of dealers is always available to help schools determine the best
solutions for their learning environments.
About PolyVision Corporation, a Steelcase Company
PolyVision Corporation enhances the way people learn, work, and communicate
visually through a broad portfolio of visual communication products. Since
1954, PolyVision focuses on creating products and services that inspire
users to be more productive, effective, and creative when collaborating
and communicating visually. Whether it is developing the world’s
number one selling P3ceramicsteel™ surface, or creating the industry’s
first multimedia whiteboard system, PolyVision has an unparalleled track
record of new breakthroughs in the visual communication market. For more
information, visit www.polyvision.com.
About Steelcase Inc.
Steelcase Inc., a Fortune 500 company, helps individuals and organizations
around the world to work more effectively by providing knowledge, products
and services that enable customers and their consultants to create work
environments that integrate architecture, furniture and technology. Founded
in 1912 and headquartered in Grand Rapids, Michigan, the company has led
the global office furniture industry in sales every year since 1974. Its
product portfolio includes interior architectural products, furniture
systems, technology products, seating, lighting, storage and related products
and services. Fiscal 2003 revenue was approximately $2.6 billion. Steelcase
Inc. and its subsidiaries have dealers in more than 900 locations, manufacturing
facilities in over 50 locations and approximately 16,000 employees around
the world. The company’s Class A Common Stock trades on the NYSE
under the symbol SCS. For more information, visit www.steelcase.com.
About Maverick Presentation Products Ltd.
Maverick Presentation Products Ltd is Europe's No.1 trade only distributor
of presentation equipment, including LCD and DLP Projectors, LCD Monitors,
Plasma Screens, and Interactive Displays.
“Webster” and “P3ceramicsteel”
are trademarks of PolyVision Corporation.
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