Overhead Projectors - Obsolete Technology? Not so

Overhead Projectors - Obsolete Technology? Not so long ago, one of the greatest innovations in classrooms and boardrooms across the country was the chalkboard with eraser. Soon, there was the overhead projector, which was seen as the best way to give presentations for many years. However, computer-based technology has changed the way that the world works, and has made many past technologies obsolete. Much of the technology utilized in classrooms and boardrooms two decades ago is now obsolete.

While traditional 16mm overhead projectors are still in use at many schools and companies, many vendors are no longer distributing educational information on film today. In the 1980's, most distributors stopped producing educational films and switched to the less expensive VHS video format (Yudkowsky, 1997). As a result, the traditional 16mm projector is not used as frequently. Still, this does not mean that overhead projectors are obsolete. It simply means that they must keep up with the times. Overhead projectors are now using computer-based presentations.

Many companies and schools have already invested in projector technology and are aware of the new presentation possibilities. Besides sales presentations, today's overhead projectors can be used for training and education of students, customers and employees, for marketing events and presentations to large audiences, and for complex internal meeting presentations. Thus, rather than becoming obsolete, overhead projectors have evolved into technologically advanced, cost-saving devices. According to Chaim Yudkowsky (19970: "Training costs, preparation costs, preparation time and even travel costs can be reduced by using projectors.

Last minute changes and spelling corrections may be made on the computer." The traditional 16mm overhead projector has definitely become obsolete. It has been on the edge of irrelevance for years, and the growing popularity of portable computers and presentation packages has finally rendered it obsolete for any presenter seeking to make a real impact. The future for presenters lies in the new computerized overhead projectors and the integrated conference room.

Early computerized projection units were designed for a single purpose: taking an image from a computer screen and projecting it on to a wall. While this eliminated the need to print overhead transparencies when presenting, many of these basic projection panels still.