[access-uk] Re: Financial assistance for school students.

Léonie:
Yes, interactive whiteboards (IWBs), are really just very large touch sensitive 
panels coupled up with a computer and projector. The machine projects an image 
on to the panel, the user interacts (touches, drags, writes) and this 
interaction is communicated back to the computer which adjusts the projected 
image accordingly. All very quickly so you can seamlessly drag items around on 
the IWB with your finger or a stylus depending on the make and model you're 
using.

Because the whole thing is powered by a standard machine, sometimes dedicated 
but often just the teachers laptop it isn't all that difficult to hook up a 
secondary means of accessing the IWBs content.  There are various ways of doing 
this:
1. portable interactive panel - many of the big brands now offer a 2nd panel, 
effectively a smaller IWB coupled to and displaying the same content as the 
large one which can be located anywhere in the same room. Roughly the size of a 
PC monitor this is a good way to facilitate access for anyone who can't get to 
or see the large display, the downside at present is that the 15 inch versions 
cost about the same as the 50 inch models.
2.  attaching a second monitor to the hoste machine - simply add a 2nd monitor 
located on a desk where anyone needing to be close to it can sit, limitation 
obviously being that it is only a monitor so you can't interact with it, and 
you're location is constrained by the cable length and routing although 
wireless or access via the school network might also be possible. Advantage is 
the low cost, a monitor splitter cable being about £15.
Have a look at:
http://inclusion.ngfl.gov.uk/index.php?incQATopicId=26&i=235&p=17
for a bit more and links to our VI-forum archives where you can search for more 
or join the forum to discuss.

An alternative to this is a distance view cctv which would allow the pupil to 
focus on the IWB from their desk, there's a few of these on the market now 
including the magnilink range and models and one I think from humanware, and 
probably others that I don't know of too. These can be standalone units or a 
small stand mounted camera which connect via USB, and is powered and controlled 
from a laptop or other computer.  Very portable, easy to fit in the case with a 
laptop. Downsides are again price, about £2k ish, and in order to work well the 
camera needs to be quite stable which means being mounted on a robust stand. 
Robust amounts to weighty so packing the whole thing in the same bag as a 
laptop about doubles the weight and isn't something you'd want a child to be 
carrying around for any length of time. Or yourself for that matter.

Again AbilityNet are an excellent first port of call for specific advice - I 
can find a named contact for you if you're client has trouble finding the right 
person.

Adrian Higginbotham,
Manager, Leading edge research
Tel: Direct dial 024 7679 7333 - Becta switchboard 02476-416994
Email: Adrian.Higginbotham@xxxxxxxxxxxx
Web: http://www.becta.org.uk/
BECTA, Millburn Hill Road, Science Park, Coventry, CV4 7JJ 

-----Original Message-----
From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of 
Léonie Watson
Sent: 29 May 2008 19:51
To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [access-uk] Re: Financial assistance for school students.

Dave & Everyone,

        Thanks all for your replies. It's enabled me to help the gentleman who 
was enquiring on behalf of his son. Incidentally, has anyone come across anyone 
else trying to sync a laptop up with these digital smart boards?

Regards,
Léonie. 

-----Original Message-----
From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of 
Dave Taylor
Sent: 29 May 2008 00:25
To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [access-uk] Re: Financial assistance for school students.

Hi

You'll find more expertise on this subject on the Abapstas list, and probably 
other ideas for sources of help: 
abapstas-subscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Cheers
Dave


--------------------------------------------------
From: "Léonie Watson" <tink@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Wednesday, May 28, 2008 8:05 PM
To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [access-uk] Financial assistance for school students.

Evening,

I'd be grateful if anyone could shed any light on whether there are grants 
available for school students with disabilities. Specifically, a 13 year old 
boy who is looking to buy a laptop that will enable him to remain in mainstream 
school and access information written up to the digital wipeboards that his 
school uses.


I know it's possible to obtain a grant as a higher education student, but I 
don't know anything about school students. Is the school perhaps obliged to 
help, or the LEA? Any guidance would be much appreciated.
Thanks.

Regards,
Léonie.

--
http://www.tink.co.uk/


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