Data+Projectors

All you wanted to know about projectors and never thought to ask More and more schools are finding a projector a really useful teaching tool, using a projector and Interactive Whiteboard as part of their everyday teaching. We are often asked our opinions and, though the final decision has to be yours, the following questions and answers might help you to find the projector best suited to your needs and budget. ** Q Why do I want a projector? ** **  A  ** To link to an Interactive Whiteboard To demonstrate computer applications to the whole class To give presentations to groups of parents or pupils To be able to demonstrate on a large screen in the school hall (Assembly, PE lesson) ** Q How does a projector connect to my equipment? ** **  A  ** A projector connects to a computer/laptop and/or video and projects the image directly onto a screen. There are two types: video only and video/data. Data projectors accept both video and computer signals, and can provide large-screen displays with high resolution. Video projectors cannot be connected to a computer and receive digital output signals. **  Q How much will a projector cost? ** **   A   ** A projector will cost between £800 and £1300. There are over 300 models on the market, so it is important to get independent advice about which model would most suit your needs. The best quality projectors are generally those that are made by the company whose name is on them, for example Sanyo, Mitsubishi, NEC. A possible standard to aim for would be an XGA resolution projector, 1500 lumens with a 5000 hour lamp life and 3 year warranty on the projector and lamp. ** Q What are ANSI lumens? ** **  A  ** ANSI stands for American National Standards Institute and ANSI lumens are the accepted standard measurement of brightness for projectors. This is an important consideration when choosing your projector. The minimum recommendation would be a projector with 1000 ANSI lumens and a classroom projector need not exceed 1500 ANSI lumens. Becta recommend that schools purchase XGA projectors of around 1500 lumens for use in the classroom. Strong sunlight can affect the visibility of a projected image. We recommend that the room is fitted with blinds. ** Q How much do bulbs cost? ** **  A  ** Prices vary considerably and projector lamps are still relatively expensive, a 750w metal halide bulb will cost about £250. The recommended option is to buy a projector with a 3 year lamp warranty. Some schools have found that bulbs fail quickly and repeatedly. Investigations suggest that air filters are clogging, resulting in heat build up, which subsequently shortens the bulb life. Keeping the filters clean, ensuring that the projector has cooled before turning off completely and turning it off when not in use (at lunchtime, after school and at weekends) will help to ensure you get maximum life from your bulb. ** Q What does resolution mean? ** **  A  ** Resolution measures the amount of detail that can be seen in an image and relates to picture clarity. For computers, resolution is expressed in the number of pixels displayed. VGA is 640 pixel width x 480 lines, SVGA 800 x 600 and XGA 1024 x 768. SVGA and XGA are current common formats and SVGA should be the minimum resolution for class use. The higher the resolution the crisper the projected image will be, so schools are advised to purchase XGA projectors. ** Q What sound systems do projectors have? ** **  A  ** Most projectors have a sound system, but they are usually small and can be somewhat ineffective. With the increased use of multi-media in the classroom, including the use of sound files and moving images, external speakers are well worth having. They will ensure that the sound is of better quality and carries better across the classroom. The cost of fully installed 60 watt wall mounted speakers and amplifier would be around £125. ** Q Is the weight of the projector important? **  ** A ** Projectors are getting smaller and smaller and whilst this might be helpful if the projector is moved around the school, most projectors are now mounted. The smaller the projector, the less space there is around the lamp, which in turn reduces the airflow available for cooling. Also, the smaller the projector the less likely it is to be able to withstand regular daily use. ** Q Does the projector need to be mounted? ** **  A  ** The majority of schools now install projectors, rather than having portable ones. They are safer, better used and last longer. The cost of installation is between £400 and £600. They can be attached to most types of roofs and ceilings. Health and safety regulations require a ceiling mounted power point installed by qualified electrical fitters. It is essential that the school refer to the Asbestos Register prior to any installation. The recommendation is that installations are performed by qualified personnel as part of a purchase agreement. ** Q How do I protect my projector from theft? ** **  A  ** Some simple security steps you can take to reduce the likelihood of your projector being stolen include, ensure that blinds or curtains are drawn in classrooms with outer perimeter windows so projectors are not on view, consider locking classrooms if they are unoccupied for a periods of time during the day, mark the projector with the school postcode so it is obvious to any potential thieves or with hidden details and a label to say it has been security marked. Newer Mitsubishi printers can be projected with a PIN number and can be labelled to say they will not work without the PIN number. ** Q Where can I purchase a projector? ** ** A ** When looking for a projector you should try to get information from a company that deals with a wide range of manufacturers rather than being tied to one single brand. Information about purchasing can be obtained from OCC Contract and Purchasing Services, Frank Collier, tel 01865 815052 or email frank.collier@oxfordshire.gov.uk. The web address where details of county purchasing agreements can be found is    [|http://www.countypurchasing.org.uk] for which you should have a username and password. If you do not contact Frank Collier for details. Below is a list of companies, who will give information about a range of projectors and how to purchase them. Inclusion of a supplier in this list does not imply endorsement of the company or product by Oxfordshire LEA, nor does the absence of a supplier from the list imply the reverse. Once you have decided on the make and model it is worth spending some time using the Internet or the phone to compare prices. Further information and a long list of suppliers can be found on the Becta website, which is aimed at helping schools to find suppliers for a range of ICT equipment. All the suppliers listed on their website are Becta accredited. [|http://www.ictchoice.org.uk] Locally we recommend the following suppliers who offer competitive rates and good service: ** Matrix Display ** Midlands Office Studio 308B The Big Peg 120 Vyse Street Birmingham, B18 6NF Tel: 0121 244 4040 Fax: 0121 244 5050 Email: sales@matrixdisplay.com [|http://www.matrixdisplay.com] **Research Machines** RM PLC Unit 140 Milton Park Abingdon Oxon, OX14 4SE Tel: 08709 200200 Fax: 01235 869999 [|http://www.rm.com] **Justlamps.net** [|http://www.justlamps.net] A company specialising in replacement lamps for projectors, should your lamp not be covered by a warranty.