In an interview with EduKida, Vijay Sharma, Country Head, Optoma India explained about AI-Enabled Interactive Flat Panels and more

Explain what AI-Enabled Interactive Flat Panels (IFPs) are and how they differ from traditional smart boards?
AI-enabled Interactive Flat Panels (IFPs), Creative IFPs, projector and traditional smart boards all serve valuable roles in educational and corporate environments, yet they differ considerably in their technology, features, and user experience. With voice recognition, touch screen, pen input, and adaptive learning features, AI-Enabled Interactive Flat Panels (IFPs) are advanced display technologies that enhance user interaction and functionality. The power of AI facilitates simultaneous collaboration from multiple locations. It converts handwriting to text, recognizes shapes, and provides intelligent suggestions during presentations which makes the entire learning process easier for students.

What specific AI technologies are integrated into Optoma’s IFPs, and how do they enhance the learning experience?
Optoma is developing AI enabled Interactive flat panels. The upcoming AI enabled devices are expected to be part of classroom learning where their features like voice recognition, touch screen, pen input, and adaptive learning features will be able to deliver personalised learning experiences to students by analysing the data and adapting to their learning styles, providing tailored feedback and recommendations. In-turn the classrooms of the future would have enhanced engagement and learning can adapt to each classroom and student type. Optoma’s Creative Touch Interactive Flat Panel Displays offer enhanced functionality and additional interactive features tailored to the changing demands of educational and corporate settings. Available in 65″, 75″, and 86″ sizes, the Creative Touch 5-Series and 3-Series IFPDs come with intuitive and user-friendly software, including an upgraded whiteboard for seamless one-on-one collaboration in remote, in-person, or hybrid environments. These displays are ideal for classrooms, boardrooms, and other professional settings.

How do these IFPs personalize the learning experience for students and adapt to different teaching styles?
IFPs are perfect devices for teachers to apply innovative teaching methods. With touch-screen capabilities and the ability to connect to a variety of devices, IFPs allow students to fully participate in lessons, ask questions, and share their own ideas and work. This can help foster a more collaborative and inclusive learning environment, which can be especially beneficial for students who may be shy or hesitant to speak up in a traditional classroom setting. IFPs in classrooms can also help to facilitate learning at a distance. Students can access lessons on their home devices that are being used in the classroom in real time, increasing their engagement with their teachers and students present at the classroom.

Please share some examples of how IFPs and projectors have transformed teaching methods in classrooms?
With education continually evolving, Interactive Flat Panels (IFPs) and projectors have emerged as flexible tools for classroom learning and teaching. These devices help incorporate interactive elements into lessons, such as presenting a simple mathematical problem for students to solve directly on the IFP or displaying a map and inviting them to point out specific locations during a geography class. Engaging students in these activities not only makes learning more enjoyable but also encourages active participation of students in discussion and solving their queries in the classroom.

How have teachers reacted to the implementation of IFPs? What kind of feedback have you received from educators?
We have been supplying IFPs and projectors to a number of education institutions and universities and teachers are very excited with these devices. On the other hand, many studies have shown that students show a greater interest in tablets and IFPs as compared to traditional pencil and paper activities. This directly translates into higher levels of motivation. Teachers tend to perceive students that use interactive displays as being more enthusiastic and motivated, so teachers have shown a great interest in implementation of IFPs in the classrooms. By actively involving students in IFPs, teachers can tap into their natural excitement for new technology, fostering a positive learning mind-set.

How do these panels increase student engagement and participation in the classroom?
One of the biggest advantages of IFPs is that they can help to improve engagement and interactivity in the classroom. Traditional chalkboards or whiteboards can be quite static, which can make it difficult to keep students’ attention focused on the lesson. With an IFP, teachers can easily display dynamic content such as videos, animations, or simulations that can help to hold students’ attention and keep them engaged in the lesson. Additionally, IFPs allow students to directly interact with the content through touch, which can further improve their understanding and retention of the material.

What are the trends in EdTech that you believe will shape the future of education in the next few years?
The rising use of technology, innovative products, AR and VR in education is setting a path for big change in the sector. We, being a tech company, have been noticing that the increasing demand for devices like IFPs and projectors from educational institutions is transforming classrooms into interactive spaces, replacing traditional chalkboards to create more engaging, innovative, and interactive learning environments.

I believe that education and innovation go hand in hand and therefore we expect amalgamation of new age devices like projectors, IFPs and other AV products will keep on reshaping the teaching and learning process going forward.

In your opinion, how will AI continue to evolve in the education sector, and what new capabilities might we see in the future?
AI is the future in every sector and the education sector is not an exception. In the time to come we are definitely going to see increasing use of AI and other tech innovations in the daily learning and teaching process. With use of AI, it will be easier for teachers to prepare lessons that integrate seamlessly with materials across various platforms and software. Students actively participate in class, and this interactivity can be recorded for sharing and future reference. Also, real-time content building will also be possible. The File Manager Software allows users to manage files and folders efficiently. They can access cloud drives, browse, create, rename, copy, move, and delete files. Creative sharing is made easy with a ready-to-use whiteboard that features built-in annotation tools. These tools encourage collaboration and can display engaging graphics, videos, animations, and other types of media.

What are some of the challenges schools and colleges might face when integrating AI-Enabled IFPs, and how can they be addressed?
This is true that Integrating AI-Enabled Interactive Flat Panels (IFPs) into schools and colleges presents several challenges but they can be resolved in a proper manner. Institutions need to upgrade their existing IT infrastructure to integrate the AI Enabled IFPs. A seamless internet connectivity and good quality hardware and updated software can help manage this transition smoothly.

Regular training programs, tutorials and workshops for teachers on how to use AI-enabled IFPs effectively will support them to adopt the working of IFPs. Universities and institutions will need to align the curriculum with the new technology. Curriculum developers will have to work with new ways to integrate AI-enabled IFPs into the curriculum to ensure that the technology enhances the learning experience rather than disrupts it. Also there will be a requirement for strict data privacy policies and using secure platforms can help mitigate these cyber security concerns.

Optoma anticipates a surge in demand for IFPs and projectors in the latter half of the year. What factors do you believe are driving this demand?
We see a growing potential for large screens, video, and display products, particularly in the education sector. As far as IFPs and projectors are concerned, the use of interactive flat panels enhances teaching and learning environments using the best technology to maximize the performance. I think the rise of technological advancement in education with basic requirements such as easy connectivity, simple deployment, and intuitive use will encourage schools, colleges and universities to create demand for IFPs and projectors. Also, as the government encourages the use of technology in education with initiatives like Digital India, we anticipate a significant rise in technological adoption in the coming years which will boost the sales of IFPs, projectors and other audio-visual products in the country.

How does Optoma plan to stay ahead in the competitive EdTech market with its IFPs, projectors and other AV products?
Optoma’s interactive displays are meticulously designed to meet the needs of both teachers and students. By actively listening to educators and incorporating customer feedback, Optoma always develops solutions that address the challenges teachers face today. The output of our IFPs is intuitive and user-friendly that fully supports the teaching methods used in classrooms. The latest IFPD range is Google Enterprise Device Licensing Agreement (EDLA) certified, allowing users to experience the full Google Suite for real-time collaboration globally. Without compatibility issues or the need for an external PC, users can easily access Google Drive, Google Docs, YouTube, and more from their Chromebooks, computers, and other devices. In a way this feature makes them a perfect fit for classrooms.

Are there any upcoming innovations or features in the pipeline for Optoma’s AI-Enabled IFPs that you can share with us?
We are working on AI-Enabled IFPs and will be launching soon for educators, subject experts and teachers. Our current IFP range aims to enhance teaching and learning environments using cutting-edge technology to maximize learning experiences and performance. Designed specifically to meet educational needs, our IFPs offer easy connectivity, simple deployment, intuitive use, and affordability—making them an ideal solution for educators and schools.

Designed to support educators, Optoma’s Interactive Displays are equipped with two subwoofers, eight built-in microphones, WiFi 6e, and a built-in Android system compatible with Windows, Mac, and Chrome operating systems for enhanced multitasking and compatibility. Additionally, these displays offer an optional sensor box that monitors air temperature, humidity levels, and harmful particles like mold and fungi. The sensor box also includes PIR sensors for motion detection and an NFC reader for secure logins using a designated pass.

Optoma’s Creative Touch Interactive Flat Panel Displays (IFPDs) boast enhanced functionality and added interactive features to meet the evolving demands of educational and corporate environments. Available in 65″, 75″, and 86″ sizes, the Creative Touch 5-Series and 3-Series IFPDs come with intuitive, user-friendly software, including an advanced Whiteboard for seamless 1-to-1 collaboration in remote, in-person, or hybrid settings, ideal for classrooms, lecture halls, boardrooms, and other professional spaces.

What is your vision for the future of classrooms and how do you see AI-Enabled IFPs playing a role in that vision?
As a tech company we foresee tech enabled classrooms in the time to come. There will be a growing demand for large screens and display products in the education sector. We have seen in the past, during the pandemic in 2020 that the entire education, teaching and learning system and process need to be transformed with an advanced technological infrastructure. This change will lead to increased use of audio-visual and large display products. Now going forward AI Enabled Interactive Flat Panels (IFPs) will become an essential in educational settings.

As we see, artificial intelligence will gradually become an integral part of classroom learning. I think Interactive Flat Panels, equipped with features like mounted camera systems and large screens, will deliver personalized learning experiences. By analysing data and adapting to individual learning styles, these panels will provide tailored feedback and recommendations. Consequently, future classrooms will see enhanced engagement and learning experiences that are adaptable to the needs of each classroom and student.

What advice would you give to educators who are hesitant or unsure about integrating AI-Enabled IFPs into their classrooms?
There is no need for educators and teachers to hesitate with the use of technology and innovative devices in the teaching process. They should try little use of any device initially and gradually make a complete shift. I advise teachers and education experts to attend training sessions to learn how to effectively use the IFPs. There are many providers that offer comprehensive training resources. They should begin with one or two features of the AI-enabled IFP to gradually ease into the new technology. Another way is to connect with other educators who are already using AI-enabled IFPs and other AV products and take guidance from them as sharing experiences and strategies can provide valuable insights and practical tips.