Interactive smart boards are quickly becoming a must-have for modern classrooms, offices, and other workspaces in Kenya. These innovative boards offer major benefits over traditional dry-erase and chalkboards.

A smart board is typically:

A large-format touch-sensitive whiteboard
Connected to a computer and projector
Packed with collaborative software features

This allows presentations, documents, images, videos and more to be displayed. Content can then be annotated on using touch pens or fingers.

Smart boards empower dynamic group work and learning. Multiple people can gather around and directly engage with the content by writing, drawing, manipulating images, saving work digitally, printing out, and more.

Some key advantages of smart boards:

Increase engagement and collaboration
Allow easy inclusion of rich multimedia content
Provide tools to annotate, save and distribute material
Foster participation from anyone in the room
Create engaging lessons, trainings and presentations
Enhance productivity in meetings and workshops

This blog post will explore the key things schools, offices and others in Kenya need to know when purchasing and implementing these innovative collaboration boards.

Types of Smart Boards

There are a few main types of interactive smart boards available in the Kenyan market:

1. Interactive Whiteboards

These are the original and most common variety of smart boards in Kenya. They consist of:

A large high-resolution whiteboard surface
Wall-mounted or freestanding with support arms
Paired with a short throw projector mounted nearby
Control system with pens and eraser

The projector beams images and content onto the whiteboard. Users can then fluidly annotate, highlight, manipulate images and text, erase content, print, save locally or to the cloud, and more.

These offer the most native-feeling writing experience since you’re directly interacting with an actual whiteboard surface.

2. Interactive Flat Panel Displays

Flat panel smart boards integrate the display and writing surface together in a slim, modern profile. These consist of:

An ultra HD LED monitor with touch overlay
Screen sizes ranging from 55″ to 86″
Built-in Android computing module
Pens, eraser and sometimes remote control

Because the display surface is the board, flat panels allow very precise and lag-free writing and touch interaction. Many also support up to 20 touch points.

Thinner than whiteboards, they can fit in more spaces but do come at a premium.

3. Interactive Video Walls

Video wall smart boards tile multiple displays together to create one massive digital canvas:

Arranged in various configs like 2×2, 3×3, 4×4
55-85 inch commercial displays with narrow bezel
Outputs driven through a controller
Rear touch overlay allows annotation

Stitching displays provides an incredibly immersive experience thanks to the scale. Certain panels can also be set interactively while others show static content. High cost but ideal for large rooms.

Here are some common optional accessories available for smart boards:

Height-adjustable stands – Let users sit or stand
Wall mounts – For mounting boards safely
Trusted pens and erasers – High performing w/smart features
Remote controls – Allows operating boards from anywhere in the room

Key Features and Benefits

Smart boards unlock a wide array of advantageous and innovative features not possible with traditional dry erase or chalk boards.

Here are some of the most notable capabilities:

Touch Interaction

At their core, all interactive boards allow direct touch control of content from the screen surface.

Using included pens and eraser accessories
Touch gestures like swipe, drag/drop, pinch/zoom
Precisely annotate over documents, images, video and any content

This tactile interaction facilitates dynamic presentations and workshops, group learning, collective note taking, collaborative design sessions, and more.

Software Integration

Smart boards seamlessly connect with software ecosystems and learning management systems:

Microsoft – Office, OneNote, Teams, Whiteboard
Google – Workspace, Jamboard
Popular education/business apps
Annotation over any content

This allows powerful integrations with existing workflows and unlocking platform-specific features.

Most boards allow wireless casting of content from other devices:

Screen mirror laptops, mobile devices using WiDi or Miracast
Annotate over shared content from your seat
Pass control between multiple presenter devices

Makes boards highly accessible for meetings and learning environments.

Multi-Touch

Advanced models boast enhanced multi-user capabilities:

Recognize multiple touch points at once
Allow simultaneous co-annotation from different users
Up to 20 touch points on certain flat panels

This facilitates more engaging group interactivity.

Cloud Compatibility

Natively interact with cloud storage for accessing and saving work:

Google Drive
Microsoft OneDrive
Dropbox
Box

Conveniently manage content remotely.

Built-In Android OS

Flat panels feature integrated Android computing:

Standalone operation without external device
Download Android apps, content and files
Update display software/firmware

Less hardware required for streamlined setup.

By harnessing the collective capabilities above, smart boards create dynamic and productive environments for meetings, teaching, creative sessions and other applications.

Choosing the Right Smart Board in Kenya

With various types, sizes and specifications now available, selecting the ideal interactive board takes some careful consideration around:

Intended Use

Small meeting rooms vs large conferences
Auditorium presentations vs intimate workshops
Engineering design sessions vs art classrooms

Required viewing angles, seating arrangements, audience sizes and applications should inform form factors and features.

Display Size

Dimensions affect suitable applications and viewing experience:

65-75 inch – Optimal for small-mid size rooms
80+ inch – Better suits larger rooms
Multi-panel video walls – For expansive display surface

Factor in room dimensions, seating proximity to board, projected audience size and content format.

Aspect Ratio

Common options include:

16:9 – Best for widescreen media playback
16:10 – More vertical space for documents
Custom – Specialized applications

Resolution

Determine required crispness and clarity:

FHD 1080p – Entry level sharpness
Quad HD 4K – Visualizes finer detail
Ultra HD & 8K – For razor clarity

High density displays enhance annotations/visibility but cost more.

Panel Technology

Main options:

LED – Vivid colors, strong contrast. Mainstream choice.
OLED – Most vivid/responsive. Premium pricing.
LCD – Affordable but image quality not as robust.

Response Time

Important for precision annotations:

< 8 ms – Render movements with good fluidity
< 5 ms – Ideal for lag-free illustration

Faster is smoother.

Touch & Writing

Consider touch and writing fidelity:

Touch points – More touch points enhance collaboration
Palm rejection – Helps avoid accidental touches
Pen sensitivity – Pressure levels for dynamic width strokes

Integrated Stand

Built-in stands offer convenient mobility but take up space. Consider:

Fixed vs adjustable – Ability to change height/angles
Wheels – Roll unit to different locations
Wall mount – Alternative space-saving option

Accessories

Extra accessories that may be useful:

Pens – Specialized pointer pens
Erasers – Erase annotations
Remote – Control from your seat

Connectivity

Look for quantity and type of ports needed:

HDMI – Universal display input
VGA – Legacy video input
USB – Connect storage, peripherals
LAN port – Hardwire internet

Top Smart Board Vendors in Kenya

A variety of technology manufacturers have added interactives boards to their portfolio of visual display solutions.

Here are some of the most prominent vendors with models available in the Kenyan market currently:

Microsoft

A dominant force in interactives thanks to deep software integrations with their ecosystem.

Microsoft Surface Hub 2S

Sleek 50” or 85” 4K rotating flat panels
Seamless Office 365 and Teams integration
Multi-user Whiteboard and collaboration tools
Advanced conferencing cameras and far-field mic arrays
Integrated edge compute hardware with WiFi and Bluetooth

Google

Web-based boards natively built for Google Workspace cloud.

Google Jamboard

55” 4K LED touchscreen on locking stand
Jam sessions with remote G Suite users
Cloud-based for real-time collaboration
Notes auto-save to associated Google Drive
Simple lightweight design for mobility

Cisco Webex

Integrates directly with their leading video conferencing platform.

Cisco Webex Board

55”-85” 4K touch-enabled LED panels
Run Webex meeting platform directly
Wireless casting, annotations
Webex Assistant AI integrations
Quad camera, microphones, speakers

Promethean

Specializes solely in education-focused interactive solutions.

Promethean ActivPanel Titanium

Refined pen-on-paper writing feel
Classroom-optimized lesson features
Educational suites like ClassFlow
65” to 86” 4K models

Boxlight

Offers both flat panels and traditional whiteboard models.

Boxlight ProColor

High-performing interactive flat panels
Budget Mimio traditional whiteboards
Software like MimioStudio
Sizes from 55” to 98”

Hitachi

Focus on commercial applications like meeting rooms.

Hitachi Starboard

Interactive flat panels and whiteboards
Commercial-oriented feature sets
Installed base reporting
USA-based support services

Sharp

Leverage their seasoned LCD display engineering capabilities.

Sharp Windows Collaboration Display

70″ 4K with integrated Windows 10 computer
20-point infrared touch overlay
Annotation software pre-installed
Aquos Board interactive display

This covers some main options but additional competing vendors continue emerging as the industry expands. We represent many top models from these brands.

In fact, some of the brands you will find in our store include:

ViewSonic

ViewSonic offers interactive flat panel displays known as ViewBoard, which are ideal for education and business environments. These displays come in various sizes, such as 65″ and 75″, and feature 4K Ultra HD resolution and multi-touch capabilities.

They also support a range of connections, including HDMI, USB, and VGA. The ViewBoard displays allow multiple users to annotate on the screen simultaneously, and they come with built-in software for wireless content sharing and collaboration.

Additionally, ViewSonic provides a suite of software tools called myViewBoard, which includes annotation tools, multiple presentation options, and cloud storage. The displays can be used for presentations, brainstorming sessions, and decision-making processes, and they are designed to enhance engagement and collaboration.

Huawei

Huawei offers a range of interactive displays under the IdeaHub series, designed for various collaboration scenarios.

The IdeaHub is an interactive display that integrates 4K or full HD video conferencing, intelligent writing, and wireless sharing, making offices, classrooms, and meeting rooms smarter.

The IdeaHub Board 2 is specifically tailored for education, integrating teaching hardware and a software ecosystem to provide a one-stop smart classroom solution.

On the other hand, the IdeaHub S2 is a meeting room interactive display that delivers an innovative meeting experience, with features such as HD video, acoustic noise shielding, and Wi-Fi 6 for direct projection technology.

Additionally, Huawei’s IdeaHub Interactive Whiteboard is an all-in-one collaborative smart board that integrates essential functions of an interactive whiteboard, video conference, projection, and information sharing.

The IdeaHub B2 is the next-generation intelligent meeting panel, featuring 1080p HD cloud conferencing experience and an optical anti-blue light screens.

These products are designed to enhance collaboration and productivity in various environments.

Maxhub

Their interactive displays integrate the functions of a projector, whiteboard, advertising signage, computer, microphone, audio, etc. to satisfy the needs of local meetings and remote collaborations.

They also offer flexible accessories options and software solutions to enable brainstorming, content sharing, instant video calls, and device management.

Maxhub’s products are designed for enterprise and education solutions, and they offer conferencing solutions for all room sizes.

Hisense

The 75″ Advanced Interactive Display by Hisense is a high-quality interactive digital board designed for various applications, such as businesses, educational institutions, and conference rooms. Key features of this interactive display include:

4K Ultra HD: The display offers perfect color and rich details in various environments, ranging from shops to restaurants and office buildings.
Plug-in Camera: The optional plug-in camera has an ultra-wide 120° angle, allowing for smooth videoconferencing. The 4K monitoring image sensor ensures clear visibility of people even in dark light conditions.
Screen Transmission: The WR series interactive digital boards can wirelessly connect with two or more auxiliary screen devices. Near-Field Communication (NFC) touch transmission and A&C screen transmission simplify the process.
Array Microphones: Six array microphones filter out ambient noise, providing an optimal video conference experience without auditory distractions.
Automatic Sound Bar: The power of the sound bar can be turned on or off simultaneously with the interactive digital board, creating an instant auditory experience.
Collaborative Interaction: The touchscreen recognizes up to 20 touches at once, making it ideal for simultaneous use by meeting attendees.
Built-in Whiteboard App: Users can smoothly write, draw, and erase information on-screen through touch, either by hand or with a stylus pen.
Intuitive Controls: Users can switch between tasks, annotate content from any source, make handwritten notes, zoom in/out, and undo changes with their fingers.
Powerful Architecture: The display is powered by an octa-core processor and 3+32GB large memory, ensuring smooth and speedy processing.
Tempered Glass: Hisense’s WR series features heat-treated tempered glass, preventing damage to the touch panels.
Anti-Glare Optical Technology: The technology diffuses mirror-like reflections and bright lights, helping to keep the content on the screen visible.

The 75″ Advanced Interactive Display by Hisense is a versatile and user-friendly solution for various applications, offering a combination of advanced features and intuitive design to enhance collaboration and interaction.

Please check our online store for current inventory with pricing.

Key Purchasing Considerations

Once you’ve settled on the ideal display size, dimensions, and features, there remain some key factors around acquisition and implementation:

Pricing

Costs vary greatly depending on:

Screen size
Display resolution/panel technology
Computing hardware integrations
Accessories and warranty

But expect to budget:

55-65” Panels

Interactive Whiteboards – $1,500 – $3,000+
Flat Panels – $2,500 – $5,000

70-90” Panels

From $3,500 up to $15,000+

Volume discounts available for bulk purchases across chains and districts.

Consider total lifetime value against alternatives. These modern solutions promise strong ROI long-term through enriched learning, collaboration, engagement and productivity.

Shipping Logistics

Factors around delivery:

Special handling requirements of larger delicate units
Import taxes that swell costs
Provide school/office addresses, contact names
Secure storage options until installation

Setup & Installation

Consider physical mounting, cable routing and location challenges:

Unit dimensions and weights
Wall reinforcement, mounting brackets
Available wiring paths to device

Training

While most boards are very intuitive, training helps users capitalize on full potential:

Onboarding workshops with packaged content
Admin training for device managers
IT support training for troubleshooting

Warranties & Support

Maximize uptime via strong service plans:

Advanced parts replacement warranties
Onsite support response times
Local vs international help desks

So factor these key aspects into your budgeting, logistics, and rollout planning. Our BuyTec sales engineers can further consult around ideal procurement and implementation strategies tailored to your specific environment.

The Future of Smart Boards

As prices fall and capabilities rise, interactive smart boards promise to Claim an increasing role as a standard essential technology in modern offices, conference rooms, higher education and K-12 classrooms.

Here are some emerging improvements and trends that demonstrate these solutions still remain early on the adoption curve:

Getting Bigger

Fixed installations will feature ever-larger displays thanks to narrower bezels and emerging manufacturing techniques:

Seamless video walls comprised of countless panels
Curved and flexible form factors
Immersive floor-to-ceiling digital canvases

More display real estate facilitates more collaborative engagement from broader audiences.

Getting Sharper

Improved display engine technology will make annotations and viewed content increasingly crisp:

Mainstream adoption of 8K resolution
High dynamic range (HDR) for dazzling contrast and colors
High frame rates for smoother motion clarity

Allowing truly life-like and lag-free interaction.

Getting smarter

boards add intelligence and automation:

Voice control via assistants like Siri, Alexa and Google Voice
AI-driven meeting productivity features
Automated transcriptions, background noise suppression and more to optimize video conferencing and learning environments

Making interaction more convenient while optimizing outcomes.

Getting Greener

Eco-conscious enhancements like:

Lower energy consumption through LED advancement
Mercury-free panels
Integrated sensors to automatically power down during periods of inactivity

Will please cost and environmentally-conscious buyers.

Getting Cheaper

Economies of scale and display panel competition combine to make solutions ever more affordable allowing better access across education systems and enterprises:

Decrease TCO
Enable broader adoption

Driving pervasive penetration.

So for all the reasons above, conscious adoption of smart boards in Kenya promises to transform static workspaces and classrooms into dynamic, immersive and intuitive environments that will unlock richer levels of ideation, creativity, productivity and human collaboration.

Please visit our online store for current models available from Kenya with pricing. Or contact us to discuss bulk pricing and special financing rates to equip your organization across locations.