Using the
Interactive Whiteboard
GUIDE
v1.2.1
User Services
IT Services
User Services
IT Services
University of Malta
Msida MSD 2080
Malta
Email: support.itservices@um.edu.mt
Web: www.um.edu.mt/itservices
Tel: +356 2340 4113
Last Updated: 13 March 2014
This work is licensed under the Creative
Commons Attribution-NonCommercialShareAlike 4.0 International License. To
view a copy of this license, visit
http://goo.gl/R8rwUW.
Based on a work at www.smarttech.com
Table of Contents
A.
Introduction __________________________________________________________ 1
B.
Understanding how the Interactive Whiteboard works __________________________ 1
C.
Understanding the Pen Tray ______________________________________________ 1
D.
Orienting the Interactive Whiteboard _______________________________________ 2
E.
Writing, selecting and erasing using object awareness _________________________ 3
Using Lockable Pen mode ______________________________________________ 3
F.
Gestures _____________________________________________________________ 4
Best practices for gestures and tools _____________________________________ 5
G.
Quick Reference Guide __________________________________________________ 6
The Interactive Whiteboard ____________________________________________ 6
SMART Notebook Software _____________________________________________ 7
Using the Interactive Whiteboard v1.2.1
A. Introduction
This quick guide provides an overview of the information you need to start using a SMART
Board interactive whiteboard available at IT Services.
B. Understanding how the Interactive Whiteboard works
The interactive whiteboard (IWB) is a type of touch screen whiteboard that comes as part of
the integral system to use in conjunction with a computer and projector:
•
The workstation (computer) sends an image of an application to the projector.
•
The projector casts the image onto the interactive whiteboard.
•
The interactive whiteboard acts as both the monitor and input device, letting you
control any application by touching the screen.
When you touch the interactive whiteboard’s surface, the four cameras located in the
interactive whiteboard’s corners detect the contact’s horizontal and vertical coordinates. The
computer interprets these coordinates and moves the pointer to the corresponding location on
the interactive whiteboard’s surface.
C. Understanding the Pen Tray
In addition to providing a convenient place to hold the pens and the eraser, the pen tray on
interactive whiteboard has several controls, sensors and indicators.
Power module buttons
The Power module at the pen tray’s left side has Power, Orientation and Help buttons, as well
as the Ready light.
Power button
Press the Power button to switch on/off the interactive whiteboard.
Orientation button
Press this button to start the orientation process. Orienting the interactive whiteboard ensures
that the mouse pointer or digital ink appears directly below your finger or pen tool when you
touch the interactive surface. Refer to Section D for information on performing an orientation
procedure.
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Using the Interactive Whiteboard v1.2.1
Ready light
This light indicates the status of the interactive whiteboard's controller module. The Ready light
is solid green when the system is working properly.
Pen tray buttons
The centre of the pen tray contains six buttons. The middle four change the colour of digital
ink for the pen tool. The buttons on either side of the pen colour buttons default to the onscreen keyboard (left button) and mouse right-click (right button) functions.
D. Orienting the Interactive Whiteboard
It is recommended that you orient the IWB prior to its use in case any of the hardware has
moved since its last used, or whenever the mouse pointer isn’t properly aligned with your
finger or an IWB pen when you touch the IWB surface.
To orient your interactive whiteboard:
1. Press the Orientation button on the pen tray. The orientation screen appears.
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Using the Interactive Whiteboard v1.2.1
2. Starting from the upper-left corner of
the screen, using the IWB pen touch the
centre of the target firmly with the tip of
the pen. When you remove the pen, the
target moves to the next orientation
point. Try not to flick the pen when you
lift it from the interactive surface, and
make sure that you lift it from the screen
at a 90° angle.
3. Repeat step 2 until you complete the orientation process. The orientation screen closes.
Note that:
•
Although you can use your finger to orient your interactive whiteboard, a fine-point tool
such as an IWB pen provides greater precision when touching the targets. The more
precisely you touch the targets, the more accurately your finger or IWB pen appears on
the interactive screen.
•
You can re-orient a target by pressing the left arrow key on your keyboard, or the
Keyboard or Right-click buttons on the pen tray.
E. Writing, selecting and erasing using object awareness
The interactive whiteboard features object awareness, which means that you can pick up a pen
and write, select or erase without replacing the pen. The IWB software interprets your intent
when you press the interactive surface, based on both the type of tool you are using and the
size of the contact area.
•
If you touch the interactive surface with the pen tool, the software identifies its
reflective surface, thus your gesture will write or draw in digital ink on the screen.
•
If you touch the interactive surface with your finger, the software will identify this
accordingly, thus your gesture will perform a left click.
•
If you touch the interactive surface with an IWB eraser, your palm or the side of your
hand, the software identifies a large contact area, thus your gesture will erase digital
ink from the screen.
Refer to Section G. Quick Reference Guide - SMART Notebook Software for further
information on how to input, edit, save and distribute information written on an interactive
whiteboard.
Using Lockable Pen mode
If you want any touch on the interactive whiteboard surface to register as a specific tool (such
as a Pen, Eraser, or Select tool), activate that tool and then, hold down a pen colour button on
the pen tray until its light flashes (approx. three seconds). The interactive whiteboard locks
into that mode.
Example: If you want every touch to create red ink, press the red pen tray button until the red
light flashes (approx. three seconds). Then on, every time you touch the board with your
fingers, a pen or an eraser, your gesture will create red ink.
Note that:
•
The selected pen tray light blinks to indicate you are in Lockable Pen mode. To unlock
the pen, press any pen tray colour button.
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Using the Interactive Whiteboard v1.2.1
F. Gestures
Touch gestures enable you to use pre-determined commands without using the keyboard or
mouse. With a series of touches on the interactive whiteboard screen, you select and access
objects, erase digital ink and more.
Selecting and deselecting an object (clicking)
Quickly press and release the interactive surface to select or
deselect an object or option. This performs a standard mouse
click.
Displaying menu options (right-clicking or control - clicking)
Press and hold the screen with your finger. This will be identified as a
standard right-click, to which the right-click menu appears.
Alternatively, press the Right-Click button in the interactive
whiteboard pen tray. The first screen press will be identified as a
standard right-click.
Dragging an object, scroll bar or window
Press and hold an object or scroll bar on the screen. Keep your
finger on the screen and slowly move the object or scroll bar. When
you reach the position you want, release your finger.
Double-clicking
Quickly press and release the interactive surface twice in the same
spot. This performs a standard double-click.
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Using the Interactive Whiteboard v1.2.1
Erasing digital ink
Using the IWB eraser, your flattened hand, palm, or fist, press the
interactive surface and move your hand/eraser across the area you
want to erase.
Move your hand in a circle around the area you want to erase, and then
swipe your hand across the middle of the circle to erase a large area of
ink.
Best practices for gestures and tools
Follow these guidelines when you use gestures and tools with your interactive product.
Hold your fingers perpendicular (90°)
interactive surface at the contact point.
to
the
Keep your thumb, other fingers, elbows and loose
clothing away from the interactive surface. They can
generate unintentional commands.
For “click” commands, quickly tap your finger on the
interactive surface. Also, make sure you lift your
finger far enough away from the interactive surface
between presses so that your finger is out of the
interactive whiteboard cameras’ view.
For “erase” commands, use your flattened hand, palm or
the bottom of your fist when not using the IWB eraser.
When using the IWB eraser, use the wide surface for large areas,
and the smaller, angled surface for smaller areas. Do not use the
edge of the eraser because this could be interpreted incorrectly.
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Using the Interactive Whiteboard v1.2.1
G. Quick Reference Guide
The Interactive Whiteboard
This quick reference guide provides an overview of the information you need to use an
interactive whiteboard (IWB) at IT Services.
Starting the Interactive Whiteboard
1. Ensure the projector is switched on. In case of
technical difficulty, contact IT Services staff on ext.
4113 or 4100 (Helpdesk & Reception, before
1700hrs), or ext. 4160 (Helpdesk, after 1700hrs).
2. Ensure the interactive whiteboard is switched on.
Press the Power button on the Pen Tray if the Ready
Light is not lit green.
3. Log on to the Tutor workstation using your UoM IT
Account.
Orienting the Interactive Whiteboard
It is recommended that you orient the IWB prior to its use or whenever the mouse pointer isn’t
properly aligned with your finger or an IWB pen when you touch the IWB surface.
To orient your interactive whiteboard:
1. Press the Orientation button on the pen tray. The orientation screen appears.
2. Starting from the upper-left corner of the
screen, using the IWB pen touch the
centre of the target firmly with the tip of
the pen. When you remove the pen, the
target moves to the next orientation
point. Try not to flick the pen when you
lift it from the interactive surface, and
make sure that you lift it from the screen
at a 90° angle.
Your Finger is your Mouse
A finger press on the interactive whiteboard is interpreted the same as a left-click with a
mouse. To open an application (such as Open-Sankore, or SMART Notebook), double-press the
application icon with your finger.
Writing and Erasing Notes
To write over your desktop image or application, pick up the IWB pen from the pen tray and
write on the interactive whiteboard. To write in a different colour, press a pen colour button on
the pen tray.
Pick up the eraser from the pen tray and move it in a smooth motion over your notes to erase
them.
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Using the Interactive Whiteboard v1.2.1
SMART Notebook Software
SMART Notebook software acts as an electronic notebook that can be used to input, edit, save
and distribute information written on an interactive whiteboard. Notebook can be used to act
as a traditional flipchart, allowing you to easily create and flip back through
lecture notes on multiple pages.
Opening Notebook
To open Notebook software:
•
click Start > Programs > SMART Board Software > SMART Notebook, or
•
click the Notebook icon in the SMART software docked menu on the side
of the screen (refer to the adjacent snippet).
Notebook Layout
1
The Notebook software user
interface consists of the following
components:
1. Toolbar: provides tools for
creating and presenting
files
2. Tabs: provides
additional tools and
features
2
3. Page Sorter: lets you see an
overview of all pages in the
Notebook file, navigate to a
different page and reorder
the pages
4. Page Area: the workspace
used to work with objects,
including handwritten notes,
typed text, and graphics.
3
4
Using Notebook
Use the IWB pen on the Page Area  to write and draw digital notes on the IWB. You will
notice that your drawings appear on the page thumbnail in the Page Sorter tab . Each
Notebook file is comprised of a series of pages, each with its own objects and graphics.
Using Toolbar  commands, you can:
•
navigate to the next and previous pages,
•
insert a blank page directly after the active page, and
•
delete the currently active page,
•
switch your view to full screen (press Esc on your keyboard to exit full screen),
•
store the session on your UoM IT profile for future reference or use.
IT Services, University of Malta
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7
User Services
IT Services
University of Malta
Msida MSD 2080
MALTA
Email: support.itservices@um.edu.mt
Web: www.um.edu.mt/itservices
Tel: +356 2340 4113
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0
International License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://goo.gl/R8rwUW.
Based on a work at www.smarttech.com