Upgrade to Interactive Touchscreen Technology Drives Efficiency and Impact for Large Education Service Center in Wichita Falls, Texas

Upgrade to Interactive Touchscreen Technology Drives
Efficiency and Impact for Large Education Service Center in Wichita Falls,
Texas

The Challenge

The Region 9 Education Service Center (ESC) in Wichita
Falls, Texas, provides professional development and specialized assistance to
36 school districts. A vital support system for its schools and communities,
Region 9 ESC is a busy place, routinely visited by educators and
administrators. Maintaining the tools to deliver services is a critical
component in delivering on its mission to provide a strong foundation for
student success.

Driven by the vision of its new IT Director Brett Thomas,
the time had come for the Region 9 ESC to upgrade to interactive display
technology. Having worked at several of the area’s schools for many years,
Thomas was a proponent of the educational benefits delivered by touch. Having
previously partnered with design-build integrator Beyond Integration Group, he
turned to owner Steve Matney to assist with the upgrade.

“Implementing touchscreen displays throughout the large facility
was one of very first things he wanted to do,” said Matney, “At the time there
was no consistency in size and feature sets among the large-screen displays,
and none had touch capabilities.”

The Solution

Within a month of coming on board at Region 9, Thomas
convened a meeting with IT leaders from area schools. In addition to discussing
internet security, student devices and the like, demoing touchscreens was high
on the agenda.

To obtain an objective team consensus, Thomas asked Beyond
Integration to demo touchscreens from several manufacturers. Other vendors on
hand that day brought in additional brands.

Based on previous experience, Thomas anticipated that
ViewSonic might end up their chosen brand. “I’ve done this for 25 years and
used ViewSonic products a lot over that time,” he said. “It’s always been very
stable and done a quality job for me.”

“We used the ViewSonic ViewBoard display for the
presentation,” said Matney, “But in addition to that, at lunch break everyone
came up and played with the screens on all the different displays. There was
100% consensus that none of them compared to the ViewBoard display’s
performance.”

Region 9 purchased seven ViewSonic ViewBoard displays for
rapid deployment including one 65” IFP6550 4K 20-point touch display and five
86” IFP8650 4K 20-point touch displays.

The Results

The functionality and features that made ViewBoard displays
the favorite at that initial meeting continue to deliver as anticipated to the
educators and students served by the Region 9 ESC.

“The number one reason they liked the ViewBoard display was
the quality of the touch. It was much more reactive than the other displays
tested,” Matney said. “Another attractive feature was the ViewBoard software,
which was much more robust than anything else on display.”

Also among the ViewBoard features that stood out was the
casting. Not only did it work better, according to Matney, it is built in and
ready to go compared to most other brands that offer casting only as an add-on.

According to Thomas, user feedback after several months
continues to be positive.

“Everyone really likes the ViewBoard touchscreen,” said
Thomas. “It works the way you want it to – responsive and accurate. They also
appreciate that glare isn’t an issue, which was a problem with other models we
demoed.”

“The casting really adds to the product experience,” Thomas
added. “We can cast directly from portable devices, and the configuration and
connection of that fit very nicely within our network.”

With teacher in-service trainings as well as classes for
special needs students and administrator meetings, the education center’s
ViewBoard displays get a good daily workout. Thanks to Beyond Integration’s
deployment strategy, the center enjoys flexible options that meet its fluid
needs.

Outfitted on rolling carts, one of which is adjustable for use
by young students, the 65” ViewBoard displays are a mobile resource that can be
easily relocated as needed throughout the facility. Mounted in the main
classrooms, the 86” ViewBoard deployment includes two displays mounted
side-by-side for visual impact. One is on a fixed wall mount and the other on
an adjustable wall mount, enabling the center to serve anyone from the short of
stature to those who are six-feet tall.

Educators exposed to the ViewBoard displays at the ESC are
taking note of their benefits, and Beyond Integration has received calls from
several schools to bid on providing these touchscreens for their classrooms –
and more.

“The ESC held a seminar for the district’s principals,” noted
Matney. “Several principals contacted me after the seminar. One wanted a
ViewBoard display for teaching music in the band hall; another wanted one for
the football program; and another for supporting math curriculum. They’re using
them all over, not just in classrooms.”

Beyond Integration
Group, LLC, is a design-build integrator with over 40 years of combined staff
experience in audio, video and lighting. Located in Quanah, Texas, the company
serves a nationwide base of customers ranging from churches and schools to
indoor sports parks and fitness facilities. Beyond Integration provides
comprehensive services that include design, sales, service and fabrication as
well as training on systems of any size.