Talking about the Interactive flat panel ( IFP), we have introduced the Interactive flat panels display (IFPD) features and the functions in the article: Interactive Flat Panel For Education. But many customers always ask:” do you have any interactive smart board with a camera?” ” Can it use for video conference? ” Answers are YES!

When customers use IFPD for video conferences, meetings, or online teaching, they have 2 choices, one is the interactive smart board with a built-in camera, and another is a solution of an external video conference camera(like a PTZ video camera) together with an Omni-directional microphone.

Then you may have questions, what is the difference between an all-in-one IFPD with a built-in camera and an ordinary IFPD without a built-in camera? What is the functional difference between the built-in camera IFPD? Is the IFPD with a built-in camera more competitive or an IFPD with an external web camera?

As an interactive flat panel (IFP) OEM factory, DS tech produces both standard interactive smart boards and interactive flat panels with built-in cameras and microphones. DS Tech has developed the KS18 series, 16H Series, and DV21C series interactive screen smart board with a built-in camera, large size 55″ 65″ 75″ 86″ and 98″ interactive boards are available. Check out our latest Android tablet interactive panels here.

Let’s answer your doubts bit by bit, there are 5 points you should know the interactive flat panels with cameras. Let’s take DS KS18 smart board as a sample.

1. Major difference-Function, structure, price!

Function, structure, and price are 3 obvious differences when comparing ordinary interactive screens and interactive screens with cameras.

• Functions difference: IFPD’s basic functions include multi-touch and writing, making annotations on screen, inserting pictures, Zoom-in/out, gesture erase, wireless screen share function, etc. A Smartboard with a built-in camera has some advanced functions. For cooperate, users, it can realize video conference or online meeting function; for school users (teachers), it can record class and realize online teaching function.
  • Because smart boards with cameras always come with microphones, these enable more possibilities for diverse applications. DS KS18 IFPD 8Mega pixel camera captures video pictures, and the microphone can pick up voices or sounds within 0 to 8 meters in diameter. Just imagine, when using DS KS18 for a Zoom or Skype video conference, users just need to turn on the smart board as a display screen, click the ZOOM or Skype APK installed on it, then can start the meeting because it already has a camera and microphone to process both picture and audio for a meeting, no need to connect other hardware like PTZ video camera and wireless microphone to the smart board.
  • What is the situation for education users? With a built-in camera and microphone, together with the KS18 screen record function, When the teacher lectures, it will record the content played on the smart board and the audio content that the teacher verbally explains. And export these files to email.
• Structure and appearance difference: Some models IFPDs have very narrow bezels to provide a beautiful appearance and nearly boundless screen vision. While an IFPD with a camera and microphone requires larger space on the top bezel, the DS DV18 Smartboard narrowest bezel only 12mm, but the KS18 bezel width with a microphone and built in camera width min size is 24.6mm.
• Price difference: smart boards with built-in cameras and microphones are more expensive than ordinary smart boards. In terms of hardware, the IFPD with a built-in camera adds a camera and a microphone, which is part of the reason for the higher cost. On the other hand, in order to support and process the video signals and sound signals, the processor configuration of the IFPD chip is usually required to be relatively high to ensure the smooth run of the video conference software or Apks like ZOOM, Skype, etc. For example, DS KS18 uses HISI’s 811 chip, RAM 4G plus a 32G SSD. Its CPU uses Dual-core A73+Dual core A53, and GPU uses Four core Mali-G51, so even if users run ZOOM and SKYPE software under the Android system, it does not freeze pictures and audio.

2. Why smart board requires a camera and microphone?

Some people may have doubts, what can I do with a smart board if it has a camera and microphone? The answer is that a lot of activities can be applied, including video conferences, online teaching, and class record. No matter it is a built-in camera and microphone or externally connected video conference cameras and Omni-directional microphone

.

3. What’s the advantage of IFPD with a built-in camera?

Well, the biggest advantage is that users just need one click on the screen Zoom, Skype, and Microsoft Meetings APPS to start a video conference meeting. That’s all? Yes! Users do not need to connect the camera and microphone or another device, no worry about complications and troubles. Even technical novices, users, or teachers who have never received professional training know how to use it. And DS tech interactive smart board is pre-installed with Zoom, Skype, and Microsoft Meetings Apps, Users turn on the smart board, then click the App icon, then can start a video conference meeting instantly, easy and high efficient!

This is a situation for corporations, but how do the education users or classroom teaching activities benefit from the interactive smart board with camera? The answer is that teachers can record classes and online teaching. Not only the contents shown on the smart board but also what teachers teach in class can all be recorded by a built-in microphone and camera. As mentioned above, the interactive screens are built-in cameras and microphones. What if teachers want to have online teaching? Yes, SAME!

4. Is the smart board with a built-in camera better or an external camera?

• To conclude, if users have high requirements for video conferencing and require some advanced functions of the camera, an external camera is a better choice.
• If competitive cost is the first consideration factor, and users want an interactive flat panel that is cheap which is capable of video conferencing, then a built-in camera is better.
• First point: if users require advanced functions of the camera, External professional cameras have advantages: No matter in education or corporation, some users may have higher requirements for video conference or camera functions, say in a video conference, the speaker needs to be tracked, or need to zoom. In these cases, externally connected cameras have a big advantage. Here are some reasons why :
  • High picture quality: External professional video conference camera can be 1080P or 4K, real 4K. And normally this type of camera has good a chip to process pictures, so the video conference meeting picture quality is much better than a built-in camera.
  • Optical zoom: External connected professional video conference camera, like PTZ camera, refer to video camera here it can be 3X and 10X optical zoom, while smart board built-in camera is the fixed lens and cannot Zoom. This is function may be critical for some users who often need to have a video conference, so a professional PTZ video camera is better.
  • People tracking or voice tracking: Except optical zoom function, professional video cameras can realize more advanced functions: people tracking or voice tracking when having a video conference. While a built-in camera or smart board does not have these properties.
  • Considering the above factors, for professional video conferencing users with sufficient budget, an external camera is a better choice
• The second point, if the user considers price or cost as the most important factor, then a smart board with a built-in camera is better.
  • A built-in camera& microphone smart board can be used for a video conference, with no need for other peripheral equipment. And built-in camera and microphone costs are much lower than a video conference solution that includes a professional camera and microphone. So if users care about the cost, but also require video conference, then a built-in camera is the better choice.

5. How to set an IFPD built-in camera?

Nothing special needs to be set with the smart board built-in camera! When opening a video conference App ZOOM, SKYPE, or Microsoft Team, the camera will auto run! All you need is to power on the smart board and click the App.

If you have more questions on interactive flat panels with built-in cameras, welcome to write to us and discuss them.