7 Reasons to Buy an LED Classroom Projector
An LED classroom projector is arguably one of the most convenient ways for a teacher to display visual content. Although this new type of projectors has only been around for a few years, it’s steadily winning over the familiar lamp projectors. This new iteration brings a lot to the table thanks to operational ease, low maintenance, and technological advancements. Still wondering which kind of projector you should pick for your school? Well, here are 7 reasons why LED projectors are the solution.
Keep on reading to learn more about the benefits of LED projectors in the classroom, or discover ViewSonic’s solutions for education.
Projectors are, nowadays, very common classroom equipment. They are a remarkably convenient tool for teachers to present content, be it to hundreds of students or small classes. Until recently, lamp and laser-based projectors accounted for the vast majority of models found in schools. But given the swift rise of LEDs and the recent development of this technology, LED classroom projectors are becoming a very interesting alternative. Let’s have a look at the advantages they offer to help you to make a solid and informed decision.
Understanding Classroom Projectors
Displaying content has huge benefits when it comes to teaching a class. No wonder, then, that display devices have been constantly developing to play an ever-increasing role in the classrooms over the last decades. Overhead projectors, TVs, VHS players, and interactive whiteboards, all found their way into modern teaching strategies. But, even if the interactive displays are experiencing real momentum, the projectors still remain a convenient and economical solution for most school classrooms.
In the education realm, we currently find three main types of projectors: lamp-based, laser-based and LED based. Each type is defined by its light source, and all of them have their own advantages in different settings. The ultra-bright laser projectors, for example, are especially well suited for large venues like amphitheaters and large auditoriums, while lamp and LED projectors are perfect for small and medium-sized classrooms.
7 benefits of an LED Classroom Projector
Chances are you’re already well acquainted with lamp projectors, but still a bit in the dark regarding the benefits of having an LED projector in your classroom. Let’s have a look at the 7 main reasons why these new models are perfect for your classroom.
| 1. Image quality | LED classroom projectors provide an enhanced viewing experience, keeping eye care in mind. Since they produce a better perceived brightness thanks to higher color saturation, they can even be used in environments with lots of ambient light. Interestingly, the bright and vivid images don’t take the same health toll that some displays do. Indeed, since the images are mediated by a wall or another surface, the blue-light emissions are reduced to a minimum. And as LED projectors don’t use color wheels to produce images, the irritating rainbow effect usually encountered when using a lamp projector is no longer an issue. |
| 2. Instant Power On | One of the main benefits of an LED classroom projector is its instant power-on feature. Lamp-based models need to warm up first – which can take from a few seconds up to a few minutes – to become fully operational. But since LEDs produce a steady beam of instant light, they’re ready to go right off the bat. In a classroom setting, this feature really goes a long way. No more wasting precious class time waiting for the projector to finally display the desired content. No more risking havoc in the classroom while setting up the presentation. Turn on the LED projector, connect your device, and the class can seamlessly continue without any interruption! |
| 3. Reliability | LEDs don’t just allow for instant power on, their lifespan is also much longer than the one of the mercury lightbulbs used by the lamp projectors. And since LEDs don’t generate heat like lightbulbs, there’s no more need for a big and noisy fan like back in the days. And the newest models come sealed in an IP5X case, preventing dust from affecting the optical engine and thermal system. Moreover, LED projectors aren’t subject to brightness and color decay like their lamp-based counterparts. With time and use, especially when the lamp projector isn’t set in Eco mode, the lightbulb’s brightness will start to diminish, resulting in the color fading. LEDs, on the other hand, steadily produce the same brightness over time, bringing in a more reliable color output in the long term. |
| 4. Portability | As LED classroom projectors don’t need to be geared with a big fan to dissipate heat, they now also come in a more compact format. This results in a new breed of portable projectors, in addition to the familiar stationery ones. These offer similar specs as the regular projectors but come equipped with high-quality integrated speakers, a Wi-Fi connection, and (when it comes to portable projectors) a powerful battery pack. These projectors can be, therefore, used both in the classroom and on field trips. Moreover, as they easily fit into a backpack, they can also be assigned directly to the teachers instead of a specific classroom, allowing for greater flexibility when designing classrooms. |
| 5. Ease of use | Whether in its portable or regular form, an LED projector is amazingly easy to use in a classroom setting. Its comprehensive connectivity, with HDMI, VGA, and USB ports, enables the connection of any electronic device. The most advanced models are also compatible with wireless HDMI dongles to cut down on cable management. With instant power on and a comprehensive keystone correction, LED projectors now allow for a perfect image within seconds. Once you’re done using them, they can be easily stored in a cupboard. They don’t require any cool-down time which saves space and resources. |
| 6. Low maintenance | Classroom equipment must be handy for the teachers and students, but let’s not forget the administrators. On that end, LED projectors work miracles. The lamp-free design alone, paired with the longevity of the latest 3rd generation LED technology, means that there is no more downtime to periodically change the lamps. An LED classroom projector lasts up to 30,000 hours, which works out to a use of about 4 hours per day for over 20 years. No lightbulb changes also mean no more downtime waiting for repairs or maintenance. And, a final perk for the administrators, the operating software of LED projectors can now be updated onsite using a simple USB cable to connect it to a laptop, saving them the trips to the service center. |
| 7. Total Cost of Ownership | The total cost of ownership (or TCO) of LED projectors is another great benefit administrators need to weigh in when making a purchase decision. LED classroom projectors are usually a bit more expensive than their lamp-based counterparts. But they are cheaper to operate in the long run. Indeed, as we have seen, they require very little maintenance: no expensive mercury lightbulbs to replace, a longer lifespan, and less hassle with sending them to the service center for repairs or updates. The icing on the cake is that LEDs also need less power to operate, allowing schools to save up to 50% more energy than if they were using a lamp-based projector. This is huge, especially as education facilities are using more and more electrically powered digital technologies. |
Final Thoughts
An LED classroom projector surely packs a lot of punch in a very compact design. It addresses not only the needs of the teachers and students but also those of school administrators. They offer a great alternative to the familiar lamp-based projectors and bring a whole new range of possibilities thanks to their portable format.