Case Studies

CASE STUDY

Third Grade Teacher Achieves Increased Engagement, Visibility and Collaboration with ViewSonic^® ViewBoard^® Interactive Displays

SCHOOL

Denver Green School Southeast serves around 570 students from kindergarten through eighth grade. A part of the Luminary Learning Network (LLN) and the Innovation School Zone established in 2008 by the Colorado General Assembly, Denver Green Schools (DGS) use relevant instruction and shared leadership to serve a diverse community and create an inclusive environment that engages all learners to flourish and live a sustainable life. Along with high academic achievement, goals for learners at DGS campuses include partnering with teachers to engage in relevant, student-directed learning; building leadership capacity by embracing a democratic decision-making model; using service learning as a way to become community stewards; creating mind-body connections as well as community connections; and using the school buildings and neighbourhoods as laboratories for the study and implementation of carbon footprint reduction and sustainable living.

“There was so much excitement from the kids around going up to the ViewBoard and working on it. Engagement increased one hundred percent. Everyone actually wanted to come up and show their work. That didn’t used to happen nearly this much. Honestly, the kids just love it.”

Sam Sheppard, Third Grade Teacher

THE CHALLENGE

Now looking forward to her fifth year at the school, third grade teacher, Sam Sheppard, began her career at the Denver Green School Southeast as a student teacher, and has never looked back. Grateful to be hired as a staff teacher at this innovative school, which empowers teachers with greater autonomy than typical public schools, Sheppard describes the learning environment as rewarding and joyful.

“I love it here. We have a farm where the kids harvest things that end up on their lunch table, and we raise chickens in the classroom,” said Sheppard. “Teachers have a voice here. We’re able to write our own plans and have ownership over how we teach.”

As a Title One school, DGS Southeast has limited funding for technology. Sheppard did her best with an old, glitchy projector.

“I’d say it only worked about half the time,” she said. “We got used to waiting for it to warm up. The kids invented ‘magic fi ngers’ that they would wiggle at the projector to help it get going.”

When it did work, Sheppard said it was often hard for the kids to see what she was projecting, due to shadows and fuzzy images. Thinking back to her own school years, she reminisced about the usefulness of Smart Boards.

“It made me sad that my kids didn’t have this advantage,” she said. “Asking myself why not, it came down to funding. Projectors were what the school could afford.”

THE SOLUTION

In her fourth year at the school, Sheppard decided to take action. She created a project page on DonorsChoose – like a GoFundMe just for teachers – asking donors to contribute to her request for a ViewSonic ViewBoard interactive display.

“I had done some research and discovered the ViewSonic ViewBoard displays,” said Sheppard. “They had great reviews and I wanted a great interactive display that was clear and easy for the kids to see. I also really liked that it could be put on a cart and could move around the classroom with us.”

As a crowdfunding platform, projects on DonorsChoose are most often supported by small individual contributions. Sheppard had high hopes for her project to get fully funded (around 70% of projects do), and was working hard to drum up supporters, but recognized that progress might take a while. Little did she know that ViewSonic had caught wind of her DonorsChoose fundraiser and decided to surprise her with a 65-inch ViewSonic ViewBoard IFP6550 4K Interactive Display.

On a typical Monday, Sheppard was going about her usual classroom routine when DGS Southeast Lead Partner, Jessica Krichbaum, showed up at her door. Two ViewSonic team members brought in a ViewSonic ViewBoard display on a rolling cart. Sheppard was astonished. Her excitement, as well as the fast and easy setup are captured in this Instagram reveal: vsfinch.es/DenverGreenSchoolIG

“I was so surprised,” said Sheppard. “It was amazing. Such an amazing surprise for which we are all so grateful.”

Her students had a similar reaction when the board rolled in, happily yelling things like, “Yay! No more projector!”

THE RESULTS

As anticipated based on her research, Sheppard’s students absolutely adored the new classroom technology. Although they only had three weeks of the school year left, Sheppard made sure to make the most of the beautiful new display. Active participation in math and learning games were two of her students’ favorite activities, she said, and collaboration and engagement went through the roof.

“There was so much excitement from the kids around going up to the ViewBoard and working on it,” she said. “Engagement increased one hundred percent. Everyone actually wanted to come up and show their work. That didn’t used to happen nearly this much. Honestly, the kids just love it.”

Another big benefi t provided by the new tech was the clear visibility for every student in the classroom, with no more “weird head shadows” blocking the view.

“Like many classrooms, we celebrate at the end of the year by watching movies,” said Sheppard. “It was so amazing to have clear views and builtin speakers. Finally, my kids could see and hear clearly, and I didn’t have to keep asking them to scootch down in their seats so their heads wouldn’t cast shadows on the screen.”

Krichbaum seconded all the above, commenting that, “It has been amazing to see the ViewBoard display up and running so quickly, and kids being so much more engaged as they manipulate things on the screen. Not to mention that everyone can actually see what is happening on it!”

Despite only having the new technology for a few weeks, Sheppard and her students were able to quickly learn how to use it.

“The ViewSonic ViewBoard display is so user-friendly for the kids, which aligns perfectly with my goal of putting more student voice into the classroom next year,” Sheppard commented. “I envision more student leadership; things like having them rotate through roles where they’re in charge of the board in one way or another.”

Sheppard looks forward to many more applications for her new ViewSonic ViewBoard interactive display in the upcoming school year, including the use of Google Slides to structure the day – a growing trend among Google Classroom teachers.

“I am so excited to use it for full year next year. Along with all our teachers I’ll be moving toward using Google Slides,” said Sheppard. “Everything throughout the day will be presented on slides, and will be visible on the big display. My students and I will be able to interact with each slide using whatever type of content I’ve embedded into it.”

Happily, Sheppard won’t be the only teacher at DGS Southeast using a ViewSonic ViewBoard interactive display.

“Amazingly, the ViewBoard on my DonorsChoose page was fully funded, so my teaching partner will have one next year too,” said Sheppard. “It will be great to collaborate together on ways to use them, and we hope to do some PD with ViewSonic to deepen our understanding of what’s possible when teaching with this amazing interactive display.”

65-inch ViewSonic® ViewBoard® IFP6550 4K interactive display

ViewSonic VB-STND-005 rolling cart

CASE STUDY

Splitsville Delivers a 21st Century Entertainment Experience Using ViewSonic® Large Format Displays and Projectors

PROFILE

Splitsville Entertainment is an expanding Canadian chain of bowling and entertainment centers that provide an innovative, immersive experience for patrons. The Splitsville concept was created in 2006 with a mission to transform bowling into an engaging entertainment-focused experience that would attract the interest of a younger, tech-savvy customer base. The strategy was to acquire, update, and manage bowling venues that had fallen out of favor with the public. Since its inception, Splitsville has opened four locations in Ontario and British Columbia, making it the largest chain of bowling and entertainment centers in Canada. A cornerstone of the revamped entertainment concept has been Splitsville’s significant investment in high-end display and HD projection technologies from ViewSonic.

“ViewSonic digital signage, projection systems, and large format displays are now front and center in every area of every Splitsville facility, serving up music, sports, event reminders and acknowledgements, celebratory notices, advertising, and business presentations.”

— Pat Haggerty, President Splitsville Entertainment Group

THE CHALLENGE

The bowling landscape in Canada has undergone significant changes over the years. During that time, it’s lost its appeal for many sectors of the population.

Many people have images of bowling alleys as throwbacks to a decades-old past, says Pat Haggerty, president, Splitsville Entertainment Center. “The typical impression was a place characterized by smelly shoes, unpleasant noise, and ugly shirts.”

Revenues have taken a hit. From the 1960s to the 1980s, bowling revenues came from four areas: corporate teams, birthday parties, open playing, and leagues. During that period, up to 85% of bowling lane revenue was generated from bowling leagues. With the societal shift to home entertainment, the number of registered bowling leagues has dropped dramatically.

“Once entertainment technology came on the scene, leagues shrunk to one-tenth of their original size and technology started to come into play,” Haggerty says.

Shifting demographics have also played their part. As millennials surpass baby boomers in numbers, interest in bowling as a source of entertainment has declined. For Splitsville, that was a wakeup call, Haggerty says. “Millennials carry the money and are much more tech-savvy. We knew that with that shift, bowling had to do something completely different to survive.”

To attract an entirely new generation, Haggerty says they needed to create an attention-grabbing digital and immersive experience. “The question we needed to answer was: How can we communicate to this large group of consumers and turn bowling into an entertainment experience?”

THE SOLUTION

In 2006, Splitsville embarked on a mission to shatter stereotypes and attract a new generation of bowlers to the scene. This major renovation project included leveraging the latest and greatest display technology to create a multi-faceted entertainment experience. The goal was to create an audio-visual extravaganza throughout each facility, from the bowling lanes to the lounges and party rooms.

To accomplish this, Splitsville invested more than $1 million into each installation project. A key factor in the decision to purchase commercial grade displays was the desire to ensure top picture quality and a longer life.

The ultimate solution included ViewSonic product in the following areas:

• Bowling lanes - Each bowling center features from 16 to 34 bowling lanes. These lanes are divided into zones of six, each of which was outfitted with 10 X 12 foot ViewSonic CDE series (commercial grade) drop-down displays that can be programmed to play different content and music. When not in use, the displays can be raised behind a masking unit via a remote control switch at the front desk.
• Each site was also equipped with a suspended ViewSonic Full HD LED projector system for the walls behind the lane displays. These can be used to create a wallpaper effect showcasing Splitsville branding, or configured to present multiple image panes and messaging tailored for the audienceand/or time of day.
• Party Rooms - LED projector systems were installed in each party room, all of which are connected to the main system and can access the satellite network via HDMI cable or cellular port.
• Bars - The Splitsville bars were adorned with a video wall comprised of multiple 32” to 48” ViewSonic CDE series commercial-grade displays (11 to 14 units depending on the size of the location). Up to three satellite dishes provide customized visual and audio content to the various displays. Screens are connected to the satellite dish or the Bowling Music Network, which runs commercials every 15 minutes.

Additional display synchronization technology was deployed at the Hamilton location to enable increased selection of splitting options based on 16 to 20 inputs. These can be loaded at the head office, which, Haggerty explained enables them to dictate what they want to feed into those lanes at any time.

THE RESULTS

Since its technological evolution, Splitsville has delivered on its promise to bring a state-of-the-art bowling entertainment experience to a new generation of customers.

"ViewSonic digital signage, projection systems, and large format displays are now front and center in every area of every Splitsville facility, serving up music, sports, event reminders and acknowledgements, celebratory notices, advertising, and business presentations," said Haggerty.

“The instant gratification of digital has been a big tool for getting people out,” said Haggerty. “Also, adding more visual richness to our ads has moved people to buy more food, more quickly.”

The first location to undergo an overhaul quadrupled its earnings within two-and-a-half years, said Haggerty. “It took about eight months for it to get its sea legs, but after that, everything came together.”

The sites have become a popular draw for activities outside of bowling, from party bookings to business meetings. “People can even do PowerPoint presentations over the lanes if they like. With one push of the button they can have all screens showing the same input,” said Haggerty.

Plans are in the works to add interactive touchscreen capabilities to displays at the individual bowling lanes to enable sign up, scorekeeping, points collection, and messaging.

Now armed with a proven concept with definitive results, Haggerty has his eyes on expansion into the U.S.

ViewSonic CDE Series Commercial Displays

CASE STUDY

University Adds Esports Impact with ViewSonic ELITE™ Gaming Monitors and LAN Center Partnership

SCHOOL

Harrisburg University of Science and Technology (HU) is a private non-profit university accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. Located in Harrisburg, PA, the university serves a student body of nearly 7,000 students from over 100 countries, offering bachelor and graduate degree programs in science, technology, and math fields. Every undergraduate major requires an internship, giving students real-world experiences that are valued by employers.

“In a rapidly evolving digital world, it’s essential for academic institutions to embrace emerging technologies and provide students with opportunities to learn and explore their passions through experiential learning. This stateof-the-art equipment will bring a wide range of possibilities for growth and learning to our students.”

— Charles Palmer, Program Lead and Associate Professor of Interactive Media

THE CHALLENGE

With a STEM curriculum that prepares students for in-demand careers, it’s no surprise that HU has become an esports powerhouse. A growing billion-dollar industry, esports relies on employees with a range of creative and technical skills, and HU is distinguished as a trailblazer in developing programs that connect students to these careers. The university’s esports focus began by blazing trails in esports participation.

In 2017, the university launched its fi rst (and only) varsity sports team, the HU Storm, which went on to win the Collegiate Overwatch National Championship in its fi rst two seasons. The university invested in state-of-the-art arena space, full scholarships for team members, and hosting an annual competition, the HUE invitational, the largest esports invitational competition in North America. Continuing its pioneering ways, the HU Storm was the fi rst collegiate team to employ former professional esports players as coaches. For those interested in more casual competition, HU offers an esports club open to all students.

Shortly thereafter, the university introduced a Bachelor of Science degree designed to prepare students for careers in the burgeoning esports industry. One of only a handful of schools offering a degree in this area, HU Esports Management, Production and Performance courses develop the skills needed to become a media content creator, event manager, specialized coach, organizational/team manager, marketing manager, analyst, and more. According to HU materials, this program combines three of the university’s strengths – business administration, interactive media, and technology integration – to build an industry pipeline for the next generation of esports decision-makers in management, production entrepreneurship and innovation.

Finally, in 2019, HU President Dr. Eric Darr and Professor Charles Palmer provided strategic direction and support for the launch of the Harrisburg, PA-based Soniqs professional esports team. From this winning partnership came a shared vision for the development of a LAN Center that would be the official competitive home of the Soniqs, while also providing space to support students, the HU Storm, and the surrounding community.

“We wanted to build on our successes in a way that would support the need for a growing number of esports professionals,” said Palmer, whose roles at the university include Program Lead & Associate Professor of Interactive Media, and Executive Director of the Center for Advanced Entertainment & Learning Technologies. “Our vision was to expand the ways in which we could position our students to become those professionals, and we wanted to do it in a way that supported our community.”

THE SOLUTION

That initial conversation in January 2021 triggered the formation of a development team, which Palmer worked with to develop the concept into a workable plan. Participants included HU CEO and President Dr. Eric Darr and HU CFO Duane Maun; Soniqs CEO Darren Moore and Soniqs Director of Operations and HU Adjunct Professor Luke Goodling; and Dr. Jennifer Metz, Associate Professor and Program Lead of Esports Management.

“The facilities we envisioned would not only be the home of the Soniqs, it would be like the labs in our life science departments,” said Palmer. “A place where our students can get hands-on learning about the products, services, and management of esports.”

During this phase, the working group sought partners to help bring the plan to life. A known advocate in the esports ecosystem, ViewSonic was thrilled to join the team though its community outreach division.

“ViewSonic is committed to both community outreach as part of our Empowering Future Generations initiative and to growing within esports,” said Danny Ordway, Vertical Marketing Manager at ViewSonic. “Supporting Harrisburg University and the Soniqs was a natural partnership for us. We’re thrilled to back an organization that is so focused on investing in the success of its students.”

The LAN Center team connected with Ordway who recommended ViewSonic products to meet their needs.

“We were excited to partner with HU, which shares our holistic vision for esports in education. By providing the latest ViewSonic ELITE™ gaming monitors, as well as the latest commercial displays and other display solutions, we’re helping the Soniqs’ coaches and staff develop strategies and prepare players,” said Ordway. “We’re also supporting HU in providing learning opportunities that create a pathway to careers within the esports industry.”

Ultimately, the team selected 20 ViewSonic ELITE™ XG270 27-inch 240Hz G-Sync gaming monitors to provide smooth, ultra-responsive gameplay. Nine 65-inch ViewSonic CDE6520-W premium 4K digital displays would be mounted throughout the space to showcase competitions, support the LAN Center brand, and deliver dynamic background videos, with one ViewSonic CDE8620-W 86-inch premium 4K digital display serving as a dramatic focal point.

THE RESULTS

Along with additional sponsors, Intel and Zipchair, the team created a worldclass esports LAN center, with power-packed stations that feature Intel NUC PCs with 12th Gen Intel® Core™ i9-12900 CPUs, 16GB of RAM, and RTX 3060 Tis; ViewSonic ELITE™ 27-inch 1080p 240Hz IPS gaming monitors; and Zipchair Glide Gaming Chairs with numerous ergonomic settings. With gratitude to their partners, Palmer notes that leading tech is about so much more than feeds, speeds, and specs.

“In a rapidly evolving digital world, it’s essential for academic institutions to embrace emerging technologies and provide students with opportunities to learn and explore their passions through experiential learning,” said Palmer. “This state-of-the-art equipment will bring a wide range of possibilities for growth and learning to our students.”

The 2,000-square-foot LAN Center opened its doors on March 27, 2023, with a ribbon cutting ceremony attended by everyone in the local esports community. Moore delivered a brief speech and, with HU President Eric Darr beside him, cut the ribbon that symbolized the center’s o cial opening for private events. Press and other visitors got a taste of the action ahead, as HU esports club members tested out the top-of-the-line gaming stations.

The main gaming room features a central row of tables with 10 gaming stations on each side. It is both dim and dynamic, with enough ambient light to help reduce eye strain, plus LED accent lights in Soniq-blue and purple for added aesthetic impact. Standing room behind the players, along with adjacent seating facing a large 86-inch ViewSonic digital display, will allow spectators an up-close and in-person view of esports events. Additional 65-inch ViewSonic digital displays throughout the space allow for extended viewing along with the display of stakeholder brands and mood-enhancing multimedia content.

Centrally located in downtown Harrisburg, the LAN Center is a leisurely twominute walk from Harrisburg’s Whittaker Center for Science and the Arts, the offcial home stadium for HU’s esports arena, practice space and digital locker room, as well as the hub for esports scrimmages, competitions, tournaments, conferences and meet-and-greets.

“The location meets all of our initial objectives,” said Palmer. “We can engage the community, opening the Center for people to enjoy esports as entertainment, while we provide convenient and state-of-the art facilities for our esports management students to grow their professional skills.” An additional advantage of the location, added Palmer, is its proximity to two Harrisburg high schools.

“We envision our esports management students developing and running events for the high school students,” he said. “This will be a great experiential learning opportunity for them, while adding another link in the pipeline, engaging younger students and introducing them to the broader opportunities offered by esports.”

Community members of all ages will be able to participate in educational workshops taught by esports pros, use the Center’s gaming stations during public hours, and watch games as spectators, both in person and online. The space will also be available to rent for community and private events.

“We are deeply grateful to our sponsors for helping bring our vision to life. The LAN Center not only enhances the educational experience of HU students, it also creates opportunities for networking, mentorship, and career development in the competitive esports industry,” said Palmer. “Students will be able to conceive, design, plan, produce and refl ect on their own events, and they’ll do so while increasing the understanding of esports in our community. It’s a win for everyone involved.”

ViewSonic® 135” All-in-one Direct View LED display LD135-151

ViewSonic 75-inch ViewBoard® IFP7552-1C-E1

CASE STUDY

ViewSonic^® Delivers Seamless, High-Impact Video Wall Solution for Exclusive Business Center in Costa Rica.

PROFILE

Suministros Comerciales y Tecnológicos S.A. (Sucotec) is a company in Costa Rica with over nine years of experience on the domestic market. With a group of highly specialized professionals providing tailored IT services, Sucotec S.A. helps increase the competitiveness of its customers, with scalability to manage future growth. Sucotec S.A. primarily provides businesses in Costa Rica with a wide range of simple, highly flexible, in-demand video wall systems. One of Sucotec’s customers is GBT Technologies, a company that offers high technology software solutions to customers of a variety of industries, including the financial, banking and stock market sectors. GBT Technologies is located in the San José Business Center in Escazú, a high-growth business hub in San Jose where a great number of service industry companies are located.

“Many factors motivated our decision to choose the ViewSonic displays – the quality of the equipment, the warranty, the cost, and the support provided during the decision-making process.”

— Salomón Ocón, GBT Technologies Director of Operations

THE CHALLENGE

For any digital signage solution provider, installing a video wall is always a challenge. For Sucotec S.A, not only did they require perfectly aligned displays, but they also needed to provide equipment that met the expectations of their customers, GBT Technologies.

According to Salomón Ocón, operations director of GBT Technologies, they wanted to invest in a video wall solution that would push effective communication and teamwork throughout the company.

“In our business, since most of our customers are in the financial market, we needed a visual tool capable of managing two main areas: software development and stock market indicator monitoring.

“Our developers needed a video wall for displaying programming jobs in an agile and simultaneous way. The rest of our staff wanted the video wall to display reference information about stock markets around the world. For these reasons, the video wall was installed in the lobby where everyone could see the different messages,” explained Ocón. “Obviously, the quality of the images should be flawless, and the edge of the displays should also be thin enough to make sure we have a better general view.”

To achieve this, Sucotec S.A. suggested to GBT Technologies the use of 12 ViewSonic CDE4803 commercial displays that, in addition to features like high brightness, wide viewing angles and narrow bezels, come with value added features, as highlighted by Ocón.

THE SOLUTION

“Many factors motivated our decision to choose the ViewSonic displays – the quality of the equipment, the warranty, the cost, and the support provided during the decision-making process,” said Ocón.

Fernando Ramírez, Sucotec S.A. representative added, “We were always sure that the ViewSonic displays would be the most suitable for this video wall, given the requirements of big screen size, image quality, and symmetric alignment of the displays.”

The representatives of both companies highlighted a very successful purchasing and installation experience, not only due to the quality of the equipment, but also the support provided by ViewSonic and its wholesale distributor.

THE RESULTS

“How has the installation of this video wall impacted our offices? I can say that it has improved the productivity of our daily activities. It provides better guidance to our staff for very specific software programming processes by sharing and displaying projects in a fast and efficient manner,” said Ocón.

In addition, there are no complaints related to the quality of the equipment provided. 

ViewSonic 75-inch IFP7550

CASE STUDY

ViewSonic myViewBoard Software Brings Streamlined Collaborative Learning to Fourth Grade Classroom

SCHOOL

Granite School District, located in Salt Lake City, Utah, serves around 67,000 students enrolled in programs ranging from kindergarten to twelfth grade. Granite is the third largest district in Utah, with nine high schools, 15 junior high schools, 62 elementary schools, as well as several specialty schools. Jim Bridger Elementary serves approximately 478 students in grades PK-6.

“Most teachers are using it much more than they did the basic smart boards. They like being able to have more than one student at a time write, draw, or interact with the ViewBoard displays. And everyone likes the ability to get away from their desk, to be able to work directly at the ViewBoard or move around the room with their laptops.”

— Wendy Jones, Granite Technology Coach

THE CHALLENGE

Like many districts, the classroom displays at Granite School District were an assortment of aging projectors and projection-based smart boards. Then came the pandemic, and with it the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Funds from the Department of Education, which the district used in part to upgrade classroom displays for enhanced digital learning. The first challenge the team faced was selecting display models to deploy.

“The Granite way is to provide building principals with options, so we narrowed the field to ViewSonic ViewBoard interactive displays and a board from another manufacturer,” said Granite EdTech Team Lead Heidi Meenen. “The other option was a holdover from an initial elementary school deployment several years prior. Once we were introduced to ViewSonic ViewBoard interactive displays, it became the more appealing choice due to the robust whiteboarding software.”

Along with the deployment of the ViewSonic® ViewBoard® 86-inch IFP8650 interactive displays came the typical challenges of getting teachers acquainted with new tech. As is also often the case, one teacher was particularly enthusiastic about scaling the learning curve. At Jim Bridger Elementary School, enterprising fourth grade teacher Heidi Ritchie and her tech-savvy students challenged the ViewSonic® myViewBoard® software to deliver collaborative group learning.

THE SOLUTION

The ViewSonic ViewBoard displays were deployed at Jim Bridger Elementary over winter break. By mid-January, Ritchie had reached out to Granite Technology Coach Wendy Jones.

“Everyone was in the very early stages of learning what they could do with the displays, but Heidi was already thinking about how to use the panel in more expansive ways,” said Jones. “She wanted to do more than just display content or write on the screen.”

ViewSonic myViewBoard software is included with every ViewBoard display. So Jones downloaded the app and she and Ritchie began exploring, guided by the mantra, “Let’s see what we can do!”

Their esports led them to the Classroom component of the myViewBoard ecosystem, which provides students with their own canvas that can be shared with classmates to form team “huddles.”

Available as a browser-based app for Windows, Android, and iOS, Classroom can be used on any teacher or student device with a web browser.

One of Ritchie’s aspirations was to use the app to facilitate small group projects. The myViewBoard Classroom software provided the (almost) perfect solution.

Imagine a typical elementary classroom. The teacher has just shown an informational video or slides about a topic. Now students arranged in small groups, each working on one part of a lesson, such as identifying components of the water cycle. Some work together to agree on what they want to say; some are less involved. Invariably, one student takes control and begins to fill in the paper diagram provided by the teacher. When the groups are finished, the teacher may simply collect the sheets or capture each one with a document camera and project them onto the classroom screen.

Now consider a classroom such as Ritchie’s, equipped with a ViewSonic ViewBoard interactive display and myViewBoard software. Using the Classroom component of the software, the teacher can start in lecture mode, which shares her canvas – such as the informational videos or slides – onto the ViewBoard screen, and/or to each student’s Chromebook. Next, she can switch seamlessly to huddle mode, which enables her to arrange students into groups that each receive segments of the work. The student Chromebooks replace the paper documents and students use tools like text, pen, and sticky notes to add content to the digital worksheet.

The teacher can track each groups’ work on her laptop and provide feedback digitally or verbally to each student and/or huddle group. When everyone is finished, students share their group canvasses to the big screen with a click. Everything is quick and seamless – and can accommodate hybrid learning for students that are unable to be in the classroom.

These huddle capabilities were exactly what Ritchie was looking for. Working with Jones to master setting up huddles, Ritchie developed lesson plans that leveraged this collaborative functionality.

Ritchie’s first huddles involved creating images and diagrams then assigning students to add labels.

“My students and I learned how to use it together, and it was an amazing journey,” said Ritchie. “To start, I created pictures of a plant, or an animal, then put them in groups to label the various parts. They were so enthusiastic about doing lessons this way.”

Then one day, the students were midway through a huddle-based lesson when class time ended and Ritchie realized that the only way to save the huddle was by using the snippet tool to grab a screen shot. This captured the students’ progress, but would not allow them to manipulate the content. When students returned the next day to complete the project, they had to start from scratch.

Jones and Meenen reached out to their ViewSonic rep Max Green, who worked with the company’s development team on a fix.

“We contacted Max on a Wednesday,” said Jones. “By Monday, the problem was fixed and huddle content was automatically saved to Google Classroom; the students didn’t have to do a thing. It was a game changer for us.”

THE RESULT

On any given day, Heidi Ritchie’s fourth grade students can be seen gathering in groups to huddle over a science, social studies, or language arts assignment. Students view teacher-created canvases on their Chromebook web browser, individually or as a group. Ritchie can pre-select huddle teams or allow students to choose and create their own group of huddle-mates.

Ritchie can customize lessons to fi t learning objectives, providing students with a pre-built chart, graphic organizer, or diagram, or giving them a blank canvas with instructions on what she’s looking for. Either way, students view the canvas on their individual Chromebooks, sitting together with their huddle companions. To encourage collaboration each student has a role in completing the assignment.

“Every student in each huddle sees the full canvas, but they each are responsible for completing one particular part,” said Meenen. “Each of them can add content, attach a sticky note, create a drawing, or pull in an image, but Heidi sets it up so that they can only create and edit in their own content area. This helps encourage everyone to participate.”

To reinforce concepts covered in a literacy unit, for example, Ritchie created a graphic organizer for the key components of a story.

“Students logged onto myViewBoard and clicked the URL that Ritchie sent them, which linked them to their huddle groups,” said Meehen. “Each student was assigned an area, such as setting, plot, or character development, which they could complete using their choice of tools.”

Along with the collaborative, paper-free learning that her ViewBoard display and myViewBoard Classroom bring to her students, Ritchie also loves the ease with which she can create and deliver lessons.

“I can build a lesson on my laptop, save it to Google Drive, then pull it up on the ViewBoard display without needing to attach my computer,” she said. “It’s fast and convenient; everything is seamless with Google.”

The ViewSonic solution has also streamlined the process of prepping for days off - often a great source of stress for teachers.

“I created a PowerPoint with an entire day laid out to guide substitute teachers, which I save to a USB drive,” said Ritchie. “The subjust plugs the USB into the ViewBoard and opens it on the large screen. Having this template makes creating a sub plan so much easier. I just love it.”

Another important benefi t of this method, added Jones, is that it eliminates the need for subs to get content from teachers’ personal Google Drives. Plus, she said, the substitutes that have been the benefi ciaries of this system so far have been big fans.

“They don’t need to worry about compatibility or connecting their laptop,” said Jones. “They just open the file on the ViewBoard and all the lessons are right there, step by step, with instructions for the students. So far, the subs who have used it told us that it was one of the easiest days they’ve had as a substitute teacher.”

Similarly, said Meehen, instructors at district high schools, like those who teach upper-level math, use the Record feature to save lessons for use by substitutes.

“When a sub comes in, they don’t need to actually know calculus,” said Meehen. “They can plug in the USB drive and show the recorded lesson on the ViewBoard. It’s a huge win for everyone.”

Word of Ritchie’s successes using the ViewSonic solutions are spreading through the school, as instructors at various points along the learning curve find ways to integrate the new tech into their teaching.

“Most teachers are using it much more than they did the basic smart boards. They like being able to have more than one student at a time write, draw, or interact with the ViewBoard displays,” said Jones. “And everyone likes the ability to get away from their desk, to be able to work directly at the ViewBoard or move around the room with their laptops.”

Jones has been holding PD sessions on advanced features like pop quizzes and the huddles, and anticipates that teachers across the district will begin using them throughout the remainder of the school year, and beyond.

As for students, just about all of them appreciate the integrated learning games embedded in the myViewBoard software, said Jones. When it comes to huddles, said Ritchie, virtually all her students like working together in this way.

“My kids love using it, and they absolutely love the save feature,” said Ritchie. “They know they won’t lose their work, that they can pick up where they were the next day and keep working on their huddle project. We all very much appreciate the way ViewSonic jumped in and figured out a fix for this so quickly. They’ve been just great to work with.”

ViewSonic Manager Advanced™ subscription

ViewBoard® IFP7550 interactive displays

CASE STUDY

High School Principal Broadcasts Positivity with ViewSonic Manager Advanced and ViewBoard Interactive Displays

SCHOOL

Robert E. Lee High School is a public secondary school in Montgomery, Alabama, serving grades 9 - 12. Operating since September, 1955, the school is one of 10 high schools in the Montgomery Public Schools system. According to U.S. News & World Report data, among the student population of 1,386 the total minority enrollment is 95%, and 86% of students are economically disadvantaged.

“Students can interact with text on the board, which allows them to annotate, highlight, and request audio readings, which is an outstanding way to improve vocabulary and comprehension.”

— Dr. Antjuan Marsh, Principle at Robert E. Lee High School

THE CHALLENGE

When Dr. Antjuan Marsh became principal at Robert E. Lee High School in Montgomery, Alabama, one of the first things he did was assess the school’s education technology. The classroom displays, he discovered, were aged, underutilized, and included a difficult-to-manage mix of models that included ViewSonic^® ViewBoard^® interactive displays. Teachers reported that they preferred the ViewSonic ViewBoard interactive displays because they were easier to use and enabled them to do much more digitally than the Promethean boards.

After assessing the ViewBoard interactive displays, Marsh and the school improvement team agreed to purchase current-model 75-inch ViewSonic ViewBoard interactive displays for every classroom. It was a wise investment. Teachers use the ViewBoard displays daily for instruction, Dr. Marsh said, and are well-versed in using the included myViewBoard^® software tools to boost collaboration and engagement.

“For example, one English teacher breaks students into workstations, with one group working at the ViewBoard display,” said Dr. Marsh. “Students can interact with text on the board, which allows them to annotate, highlight, and request audio readings, which is an outstanding way to improve vocabulary and comprehension.”

With the instructional technology upgrade behind him, Dr. Marsh turned his attention to finding innovative ways to build a stronger school-wide community. The leader of a school where 80% of the students qualify for free or reduced lunches and live in an often violent and uncertain environment, Dr. Marsh recognized a unique opportunity presented by the ViewSonic ViewBoard displays installed in every classroom across the school. His plan was to leverage the displays to extend the power of the positive through dynamic and compelling school-wide multimedia messaging.

THE SOLUTION

The ViewSonic Manager™ software included with ViewSonic ViewBoard displays allows for remote centralized management of all networked displays, along with the ability to distribute text-based messages across some or all ViewBoard displays. Text alone, however, was not compelling enough to meet Dr. Marsh’s goals. To deliver video and other media messaging, he would need the Manager Advanced™ subscription-based software upgrade.

After a 90-day free trial, Dr. Marsh was ready to go all-in with the subscription at the start of the next school year. Guided by the school improvement theme Connectedness, Dr. Marsh began creating videos that highlighted the good stuff: students winning awards, following the rules, having fun, attending school events, and supporting one another. Most were fun, but decidedly not frivolous.

“The CDC defines ‘school connectedness’ as when students know that adults in their building care about them academically and also as a person,” said Dr. Marsh. “By broadcasting videos showing the positive things they’re doing we are showing them that we see them and recognize them as valuable.

”When students feel connected to their school, the CDC further notes, they’re less likely to experience poor mental health, sexual health risks, substance abuse, and violence. The ViewSonic ViewBoard classroom displays provided an important means of reaching these critical goals.

Dr. Marsh uses the Connectedness videos to shape school culture, positively impact social-emotional learning, provide public service announcements, and run safety drills. To capture student attention, he broadcasts these messages to every ViewBoard display in the school at random times – including in the middle of classes.

“I’ve broadcast many types of messages,” said Dr. Marsh. “Most of them are about the great things our students are doing, but the broadcasts are also helpful for utilitarian messages. For example, yesterday we ran a PSA on where and when students can and cannot use cell phones. Teachers appreciate these PSAs because when they see students in the hallways not following the rules, they can remind them of the videos.”

Other examples noted by Dr. Mash were a looping broadcast highlighting award-winning students, including one who won a national competition based on her work with tornado victims; clips from sporting and fine arts events; and a collage of students from the required career preparedness class looking sharp in their interview attire.

Creating the broadcasts is as easy as using his iPhone to record video, along with using apps on his laptop, Dr. Marsh says, which enable him to edit and add captions. The Manager Advanced software further enables him to broadcast YouTube videos or other web-based content, another feature that he leverages for positive impact. Occasionally he will send messages to certain classes, easily identifying and selecting the ViewBoard display endpoints using the Manager Advanced interface. Next on his agenda is learning how to use the Manager Advanced software to broadcast Google Slides presentations.

As hoped for, the videos have become a happily anticipated part of the school environment.

“The more videos I create, the more they want to see them,” said Dr. Marsh. “If I can’t make it to an event or leave something out that they think should be there, the students let me know.”

The opportunities to notice, capture and broadcast connection and caring are endless. On March 14th, otherwise known as “Pi Day,” the school held a pie-throwing event. A student unexpectedly tossed the edible kind at the principal, who accepted the gesture with extreme grace. The student exclaimed that she was now wanted for “pie-ing” the principal. Someone caught it all on video and it became a hit among the many memorable broadcasts bolstering the community at Lee High School.

ViewSonic Manager Advanced™ subscription

ViewBoard® IFP7550 interactive displays

CASE STUDY

Conference Room Makeover Brings State-of-the-Art ViewSonic Direct View LED and ViewBoard Interactive Displays to School

SCHOOL

Located in Ellisville, MS, the Ellisville State School is a state-operated regional program providing comprehensive services to persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Ellisville State School offers services to people in a residential setting and provides an array of programs and services in the community through the Community Services System. Ellisville State School serves approximately 240 people on the main campus and additional persons in the community. It is the goal of Ellisville State School to provide each person with the appropriate services so that each will develop to the maximum of his or her potential.

“They were able to use the ViewBoard interactive display while looking at the audience, and everything they did was mirrored on the big Direct View LED display, which made it highly visible to everyone in the room no matter where they were seated. The two displays are a great pairing.”

— Dean Yelverton, Network Administrator

THE CHALLENGE

During the COVID-19 pandemic, when Ellisville State School (ESS) closed its doors to protect residents and staff, Director Rinsey McSwain found herself conducting daily video calls in the conference room. She quickly became frustrated by the limited capabilities of the aging projector and conference phone. This frustration was the springboard for change, as McSwain envisioned the development of a fully-interactive environment powered by the most current technology.

“She wanted top-notch video conferencing equipment that could be used in multiple, flexible ways,” said IT Director Bobby Sterling. “The room was already equipped with a divider, and she wanted to be able to leverage it for simultaneous smaller meetings as well as ones that used the full space.”

Along with Network Administrator Dean Yelverton, Sterling reached out to reseller partner RJ Young for assistance. Together they looked at potential solutions from various manufacturers, and settled on the Direct View LED display as their technology of choice for the room’s main display. This would be supplemented with an interactive flat panel display on the other side of the room.

THE SOLUTION

Next, Sterling and Yelverton visited the reseller’s installer, who favored ViewSonic among the suppliers under consideration.

“He showed us photos of ViewSonic Direct View LED display installations he had done,” said Yelverton. “Seeing those, along with the great bang-for-the-buck offered by ViewSonic, took us quickly in that direction. We knew that our director would be pleased with the seamless display.”

It didn’t hurt that both Yelverton and Sterling had previous positive experience with ViewSonic products. “I’ve used ViewSonic displays going back a long time,” said Yelverton. “They’ve always been very good quality at a fair price. And for what you get with the huge Direct View LED display, it’s really rather affordable.”

The team took their proposal to McSwain, who was impressed by the display’s size and features. The final signoff came from business services, and with these approvals, the IT team obtained the required quotes. RJ Young presented the best pricing, and received the purchase order for a ViewSonic® 135” All-in- One LD135-151 Direct View LED display and a ViewSonic® 75-inch ViewBoard® IFP7552-1C-E1 display with VPC25-W53-01-1B slot-in PC, along with Logitech control panel, webcams, a controller and Sure speakers to round out the solution. The IT department further ordered a ViewSonic® LD-MK-001 vacuum maintenance tool, which would enable them to easily remove and replace LED panels without having to bring in third party support.

The final challenge would be installing the new equipment in time for the annual Department of Mental Health Board of Directors meeting that the school would be hosting just three weeks after placing the purchase order. Fortunately, one of the key features of the ViewSonic Direct View LED display system is streamlined installation that makes it faster and easier to deploy than a traditional LED wall.

THE RESULTS

Thanks to the support and hustle from RJ Young and ViewSonic, the equipment arrived about two weeks after the order was placed. This left under a week to get everything installed and working.

“The Department of Mental Health is our school’s oversight organization, and this meeting is very important,” said Sterling. “Our director wanted everything perfect to showcase videos on the new Direct View LED display and to accommodate interactive presentations on the ViewSonic ViewBoard interactive display. We were under a tremendous time crunch.”

Thanks to the efforts of all involved – and the ease of installation because of ViewSonic Direct View LED technology – everything went smoothly, said Yelverton. They even had a couple days to conduct training. The meeting went off without a hitch.

What was once a standard-issue conference room with basic and outdated equipment has become a state-of-the art facility that provides flexibility and ease of use.

“We didn’t realize how much we were going to be able to take advantage of by going from what we had to the fully interactive setup we have now,” said Sterling.

For groups like the board of directors meeting, the full room supports a range of needs, from a larger-than-life video display and immersive video calls on the Direct View LED display, to interactive presentations using the arm-mounted ViewSonic ViewBoard interactive display, which can be height-adjusted and angled to meet user needs as well as a variety of seating arrangements.

“During the board meeting we had several attendees present who were accustomed to using whiteboards,” said Yelverton. “They were able to use the ViewBoard interactive display while looking at the audience, and everything they did was mirrored on the big Direct View LED display, which made it highly visible to everyone in the room no matter where they were seated. The two displays are a great pairing.”

When the full room isn’t needed, the school can book dual meetings in the divided space. The collaborative capabilities of the ViewBoard display have been particularly useful for conducting remote and hybrid training, commented Yelverton, and the room has become an in-demand hub for trainings as much as for meetings.

Sterling and Yelverton emphasized that both RJ Young and ViewSonic went above and beyond, throughout the process.

“I have to give a shout out to ViewSonic’s tech support,” said Yelverton. “We had issues with a couple of the LED panels, which they anticipated by including some spares with the kit. Then after that the tech support team sent us a couple more spares to keep on hand.” The Ellisville State School director who requested the conference room makeover has been more than pleased with the results, the IT duo said. “She still gets a big smile every time she sees the beautiful Direct View LED display,” said Sterling. “When visitors come from our central office it’s the first thing that she shows them.”

ViewSonic® 135” All-in-one Direct View LED display LD135-151

ViewSonic 75-inch ViewBoard® IFP7552-1C-E1

CASE STUDY

School District Upgrades Teaching and Learning Capabilities with ViewBoard Interactive Displays and myViewBoard Software

SCHOOL

The Alisal Union School District (AUSD) serves around 7,500 students in 12 neighborhood K-6th grade schools (including preschool programs) and one virtual school in East Salinas, California. Many of the teachers and staff are from the community, and a significant number of the students served are from farmworker and immigrant families. In addition to its 13 schools, AUSD offers three family resource centers. Each school is also supported by its own counselor, library specialist, instructional coach, and assistant principal. Additionally, every school is further supported by district-wide psychologists, school nurses and LVNs, and speech therapists. Additional offerings include seasonal sports, music, folklórico dance, and after-school and weekend academic support and enrichment, including NASA STEM Academy and Intro to Coder Dojo.

“When we looked at the reliability and price point of ViewSonic’s ViewBoard product, along with the training and support they were offering, it all added up for ViewSonic. They were the sweet spot of everything we were looking for.”

— Joshua Harris, AUSD Director of Edtech

THE CHALLENGE

Imagine using the same edtech – for 20 years. That’s how long the Alisal Union School District had relied on classroom projectors and pull-down screens. The time to replace them was long overdue.

“The projectors just weren’t cutting it,” said AUSD Director of Edtech Joshua Harris. “20 years is quite old for digital and electronics technology. It’s not going to be reliable.”

The push to purchase new front-of-classroom display technology came from a newly appointed superintendent, who intended to update classrooms for 21st century learning. Café seating and other flexible furnishings were planned to support active, project-based learning. Harris was asked to find a complete solution that would support this classroom modernization.

“The edtech professional mindset deeply considers teacher perspective,” said Harris. “Top of mind for us was finding a solution that would ease the transition for teachers unaccustomed to modern instructional technology.”

Another key requirement was the ability to untether teachers from their desks, which would allow them to take full advantage of the updated classroom and evolving pedagogical direction.

“We wanted a solution that allowed the teacher to be freed from their desk and from the need for added tech like a document camera or tablet,” said Harris. “We also wanted a simple, stable solution.”

Asking themselves, ‘what will meet these goals while giving us the closest to 100% uptime,’ the IT team assessed current available technology and found the answer: interactive flat panel (IFP) displays.

THE SOLUTION

After some months of research, the team further determined that interactive flat panel displays would meet all their criteria. They narrowed the field to ViewSonic^® ViewBoard^® interactive displays with myViewBoard^® software, which provided them with an ideal combination of features.

“When we looked at the reliability and price point of ViewSonic’s ViewBoard product, along with the training and support they were offering, it all added up for ViewSonic,” said Harris. “They were the sweet spot of everything we were looking for.”

After piloting the solution in 14 K-6 classrooms, the edtech and IT teams together recommended that the district outfit all learning spaces with ViewSonic ViewBoard interactive displays. The district purchased 300 ViewSonic ViewBoard IFP7550 75-inch interactive displays with myViewBoard software, which would be installed in waves following the start of the next school year.

THE RESULTS

As with any change, some teachers were initially resistant. At the same time, teachers in the pilot classrooms began talking about how much they enjoyed using the new interactive displays.

“We’re a very word-of-mouth community, and the teachers who had used the ViewBoard interactive displays were sharing their opinions,” said Harris. “They commented on the improved clarity and brightness of the images, and how much they liked being able to keep the lights on and shades open. The early adopters quickly started using the myViewBoard digital whiteboarding software and spread the word about how useful it was to be able to annotate and highlight content.”

While the peer encouragement helped immensely, Harris knew that much more was needed to smooth the transition.

“We lean heavily into training teachers,” said Harris. “My motto for this department is that investment in teachers is investment in students.”

First, he and his team introduced the full teaching staff to the new tech at the annual district convocation meeting, where they demonstrated the solution’s capabilities, including the handy toolbar with one-touch access to apps, pens, and other front-of-glass tools; the ability to share and receive content using the ViewBoard Cast™ software; and the smooth 20-point touchscreen.

“Our goal was to build positive anticipation for the devices,” said Harris. “I think this demo definitely did that. For one thing, there were audible gasps when we demonstrated some capabilities – like the ability to draw 3D shapes.”

For another, Harris said, after the presentation he was approached by teachers who told him how excited they were to use the interactive displays in their classrooms. Resistance among change-and tech-averse teachers was waning.

ViewSonic 75-inch IFP7550

ViewSonic myViewBoard Software

CASE STUDY

Peruvian School Boosts Hybrid Learning and English Language Instruction with ViewSonic ViewBoard Interactive Displays

SCHOOL

Founded in 1954, Centro Cultural Peruano Norteamericano (CCPNA) is a distinguished educational institution dedicated to English language instruction in southern Peru. Headquartered in the city of Arequipa, it not only serves as a center for language learning but also plays a vital role in fostering cultural exchange and promoting American culture through a diverse range of events such as plays, musicals, art galleries, film screenings, round tables, conferences, and more.

Apart from its main office in Arequipa, CCPNA has branches in the cities of Puno, Juliaca, Ilo, Moquegua, and Tacna. With a comprehensive array of 20 English learning programs tailored to different age groups, academic intensity, and frequency, the institution accommodates a total of 7,000 students. These programs offer immersive National Geographic Learning experiences, ensuring a dynamic and engaging learning environment.

“ViewSonic was the most suitable solution to meet our needs. The fact that other companies off ered similar teaching support tools that were only compatible with Android helped us make our decision.”

— Álvaro Salinas, CCPNA General Director

THE CHALLENGE

CCPNA needed an easy way of implementing hybrid teaching across all of its campuses. Initially, they experimented with non-native touchscreen solutions and television sets. However, these options proved unsatisfactory due to subpar resolution and limited functionality. As a result, CCPNA embarked on a quest to find alternative teaching methods that could eff ectively support their new educational approach.

Álvaro Salinas, General Director of CCPNA, explains, “To achieve this, we required a cutting-edge interactive display as the cornerstone of our implementation. While we were already utilizing AI cameras and microphones in our classrooms, we lacked an interactive display solution with a robust platform to complement this transition.”

Consequently, the institution’s authorities directed their efforts towards finding a display that off ered user-friendly teaching tools and functionalities, such as those provided by the ViewSonic^® myViewBoard^® platform for content creation and casting. They sought an easily manageable application that could enhance both physical and online learning experiences.

The implementation process was a race against time as it needed to be completed by the beginning of 2023. To accomplish this, they relied on a slot-in OPS mini PC to power the display, making it the central component of the interactive learning experience. This setup enabled the utilization of myViewBoard software and provided teachers and students with an extensive range of resources.

THE SOLUTION

After careful evaluation of various market proposals, CCPNA made the decision to procure a total of 120 ViewSonic^® ViewBoard^® interactive displays for their campuses. This included 109 ViewBoard IFP6532 65-inch interactive displays, and 11 ViewBoard IFP8632 86-inch interactive displays. To complement these displays, 120 VPC25-W53-O1 slot-in PC units were also included in the order. These technology resources were installed not only at CCPNA branches in southern Peru but also at their sister institution, the Instituto de Diseño Thomas Jefferson.

To facilitate efficient management and control of the interactive display network, ViewSonic^® Manager Advanced™ software was seamlessly integrated into the solution. This software offers centralized control for executing tasks, performing updates, and sending messages or alarms directly to the displays, eliminating the need for physical presence in the classroom. Undoubtedly, this feature is a significant time and resource-saving advantage. Thanks to this implementation, 100% of the classrooms at the CCPNA Arequipa headquarters are now equipped with interactive displays. In the other cities, coverage reaches an impressive 90%, with the remaining margin representing areas where this implementation is not currently necessary.

RESULTS

The ViewSonic solution has significantly improved the hybrid teaching experience within the CCPNA educational community.

One notable aspect of the ViewSonic solution is its compatibility with both Android-supported tools and Windows-based applications for delivering classes, as well as integration with the Google Workspace platform. Additionally, the inclusion of myViewBoard software for content creation further enhances the teaching experience.

“ViewSonic was the most suitable solution to meet our needs,” said Salinas. “The fact that other companies offered similar teaching support tools that were only compatible with Android helped us make our decision.”

Salinas further adds that the teacher training process progressed smoothly, as the use of the new equipment proved intuitive, and many teachers already possessed a clear understanding of how to handle technology. This familiarity with the capabilities of the interactive displays made it easier for them to leverage all the features.

The delivery of technology resources began in the fi nal months of the previous year, and the implementation proceeded swiftly, concluding in March 2023. According to Alex Carlos, Regional Sales Manager of ViewSonic in Peru, CCPNA has now become “the best-equipped English educational center in the country, surpassing institutions in both the south and even those operating in Lima or the north of Peru. Moreover, it has emerged as a leading educational institution in terms of technological facilities in the Andean region.”

The CCPNA representative concludes, “For us, it was essential that this experience be extended to all students, not limited to certain classrooms, such as schools or universities. We aimed to create hybrid classrooms equipped with state-of-the-art technology, ensuring that all our students can enjoy a high-quality hybrid learning experience.”

ViewSonic Manager Advanced™ subscription

ViewBoard^® IFP6532 interactive displays

ViewBoard^® IFP8632 interactive displays

CASE STUDY

Retail Market Chain Shines with Cost Savings and Contemporary Look of ViewSonic Digital Signage

CUSTOMER PROFILE

Founded in 1951 by brothers Bernard and Eugene Gelson as an extraordinary grocery shopping experience for discerning consumers, Gelson’s Markets is recognized today as one of the nation’s premier supermarket chains. With stores in neighborhoods throughout Southern California, each location is singularly known as the area’s best market for superior produce, highest quality meat, seafood and deli, an unmatched selection of wine and liquor, and exceptional service.

“Everything on the ViewSonic displays looks better than printed signs. Images and text are crisp and clear and we can also use video. It’s a lot more compelling and eye catching.”

— Yvonne Manganaro, SVP Customer and Team Experience

THE CHALLENGE

Known as “the ultimate foodie paradise,” and a “place to spoil yourself,” by fans on Yelp, Gelson’s is not your average supermarket. Amenities like wine and craft beer bars, gourmet cheese islands, and chef-led prepared food stations distinguish Gelson’s shopping experience. Offering made-fresh daily dishes is clearly an outstanding recipe for customer satisfaction. However, keeping the signage as fresh and up-to-date became a costly and time-consuming burden.

“Many of our departments needed to update their signage on a very regular basis,” said Yvonne Manganaro, SVP Customer and Team Experience. “We realized that we needed to do something different that would allow us to reduce print costs while also bringing a more contemporary look to the stores.”

To find a solution for this dilemma, Manganaro and a coworker from the company’s procurement department traveled to a digital signage trade show in Las Vegas to assess the options.

THE SOLUTION

The duo visited a host of booths, talking to reps from many companies. By the time they left the ViewSonic booth, Manganaro was convinced that they had found their digital signage partner.

“The first thing that we liked about ViewSonic was that they’re based in California, close enough for us to easily visit their showroom,” she said. “Along with that, and probably the primary deciding factor, was the free software that is included with their digital signage solutions.”

While not as feature-packed as some of the available software, said Manganaro, the ViewSonic software had everything they needed to meet their retail signage needs.

“The more robust software usually has monthly or annual subscription fees and that would have added a lot of cost to each unit,” she said. “We loved that the ViewSonic program was included and very functional for what we needed.”

Manganaro was sold on the ViewSonic solution, which included vibrant ViewSonic^® 43-inch CDE4320 professional-grade commercial displays and ViewSonic network media players (models NMP309-W and NMP589-W) with included Signage Manager software. Gelson’s began installing the ViewSonic digital signage throughout their stores, for what has amounted to a total of 16 ViewSonic CDE4320 displays (plus one EP4220 ePoster) in each of 27 stores over the past 10 years.

THE RESULTS

Take one look and it’s clear that the digital screens deliver a more modern look than printed signage, easily meeting Manganaro’s first goal.

“Everything on the ViewSonic displays looks better than printed signs. Images and text are crisp and clear and we can also use video,” she said. “It’s a lot more compelling and eye catching.”

What’s more, department managers can update content in a fraction of the time it took when the stores relied on printed signs.

“The ViewSonic digital signage gives us a lot more flexibility,” said Manganaro. “There were times in the past when budget wouldn’t allow us to update a menu because it was going to cost a couple thousand dollars to change out signs. Now that’s not even a factor; we can change content whenever department owners want to.”

The convenience and good looks of the ViewSonic digital signage came with another outstanding benefit – substantial cost savings.

“We calculated the ROI before we purchased the displays,” said Manganaro. “For our departments that had the most variability in menu and ingredient content it took about 10 months to break even. A few took a bit longer, but not much.”

As the Gelson’s business continued to grow and add departments, increasing the number of screens to manage with the ViewSonic software, Manganaro acknowledged that they did encounter a constraint in the free software.

“The ViewSonic software has a limit of 50 screens on one set up, but because it’s so wonderfully straightforward and easy to work with our IT team was able to create a work around,” she said. “They created channels of content for departments – one for meat and seafood, one for the front desk, and so on.”

This, she added, makes it easy for their designer to create content, then copy and paste as needed, and finally upload quickly to multiple units. Content is then scheduled through the software, another basic yet critical feature, according to Manganaro.

“The ability to schedule is key,” she said. “I can’t imagine trying to have a designer physically at a computer at 6 am before we open or right when our ad breaks, or on Friday when suddenly there’s something new to communicate in the produce department.”

After nearly 10 years of using the ViewSonic CDE displays and software, Manganaro says that the most beautiful thing about the solution is that it ‘just works.’

“We didn’t need or want to pay for bells and whistles; this is a very functional program that does everything we need it to do in a retail environment,” she said. “We looked at a lot of other systems and we’re so glad to be working with ViewSonic. We service hundreds of thousands of customers per week and need to deliver a uniformly good experience – our stores get so busy that the last thing we need to worry about is tech failing.”

In fact, Manganaro confessed, they once installed a digital signage system in a store because of a technology ViewSonic didn’t have at the time, and it has been a headache.

“The downtime at that store has been horrible,” she said. “The ViewSonic system is just so reliable. I don’t have to worry about it and my team doesn’t have to worry about it. It just works.”

As Manganaro and her team became more experienced with the digital signage equipment and its benefi ts, they began looking for a solution to the unwieldly signage in the stores’ entryway.

“We replaced some rather cluttered-looking printed signage with the sleek ViewSonic EP4220 ePoster,” she said. “Now we can display multiple moving images and when visitors walk into the store it delivers an upscale look in line with our brand.”

Beyond saving a substantial amount of time and money, and imparting a contemporary feel, the ViewSonic digital displays have added value to Gelson’s markets in another notable way, said Manganaro – for their partners.

“We are able to do some terrific storytelling and create videos that showcase our amazing partners,” she said. “For example, our director of meat and seafood went on a fishing trip with a vendor and shot a video we used to showcase their sustainable practices and how they bring product to market so quickly.”

Gelson’s partners are thrilled to receive this additional visibility and support, she added, and customers are big fans of the content as well.

“While they’re waiting for service customers have something interesting to watch,” she said. “This compelling content helps improve customer satisfaction and informs them about the vendors, products and care that sets us apart from other groceries.”

In every way, working with ViewSonic has been a very positive experience, concluded Manganaro.

“We manage well over 300 screens in our chain, and when there’s a problem it’s virtually always because one of our team members accidentally bumped a media player, unplugged something, or broke an antenna,” she said. “It’s rarely a problem with the ViewSonic solutions.”

ViewSonic 43-inch CDE4320

ViewSonic NMP309-W media player

ViewSonic NMP589-W media player

ViewSonic 42-inch EP4220 ePoster

CASE STUDY

Custom Motocross Gear Company Creates High-Impact Dealer Sales Kit with ViewSonic ePoster Interactive Kiosk

CUSTOMER PROFILE

Founded in 2015 by former professional supercross racer Michael Leib, Canvas MX is a motocross gear manufacturer that specializes in completely customizable kits and other apparel. The first MX gear company to offer the clean look of blank black and white gear, Canvas MX evolved into its current bespoke design focus, offering a wide range of customization lines through its 3D design portal at canvasmx.com.

“It showcases our 3D design portal beautifully, and I love how you just can’t miss the ViewSonic kiosk in a store. It’s big, clean, modern and high-quality – a perfect partner for displaying our modern, high-quality product.”

— Michael Leib, Founder of Canvas MX

THE CHALLENGE

After leaving the racing circuit in 2020, pro rider Michael Leib had more time to focus on his business enterprise, Canvas MX, which offers customizable motocross apparel though its 3D website portal. The company fills a unique niche in a business where fans, riders and dealers looking for custom apparel typically wait 18 months for customized apparel shipped from overseas – or settle for off-the-shelf designs.

Until recently, the company’s sole operational focus was on internet sales. By producing its product in the US, Canvas MX was able to deliver items quickly, within three to four weeks. The 3D portal was well-designed and easy to use. With these pieces in place, Leib was ready to expand on the concept.

“We knew that to scale the business we needed a way to take it into the dealerships,” said Leib. “We have an outstanding website customization and ordering interface, so we knew that what we needed was a way to take that interface directly to the dealers.”

In fact, Leib had already discovered the ideal solution during the early days of the business, while Leib was still spending most of his time involved in racing.

“I connected with Mad Moose Media, an on-site event photography company, at a race. They were using ViewSonic kiosks to display photos of race participants,” said Leib. “Riders and fans could scroll through images and order directly from the kiosk. I immediately realized that this was the platform we needed to use when we were ready to move forward with the dealership model.”

THE SOLUTION

The slim, freestanding kiosk Leib saw at the photo display was a ViewSonic^® EP5542T 55-inch Multi-touch Digital ePoster. He tried one out at a tradeshow, which confirmed his initial reaction to the display.

“It was exactly what we wanted as the centerpiece of our dealer package,” he said. “It’s tall, great-looking, and attention-grabbing, and it was easy to run our website and offer customization right there on demand.”

With this vision in mind, Leib ramped up the company’s manufacturing capabilities in the US. When he was satisfi ed that he could meet dealer demand, he created the Canvas MX Dealer Kit, which includes a 55-inch ViewSonic ePoster kiosk, a mannequin, and 50 sets of dealer-specific
gear fit kits.

THE RESULTS

The Canvas MX Dealer Kit enables motorcycle dealers to easily offer custom gear and apparel in a way that conserves floor space and cash flow. Importantly, it also enables dealers to incorporate their own brand on the gear.

“It’s everything we need to deliver for our dealer partners,” said Leib. “This package lets them offer their own branded apparel without taking up tons of floor space, or tying up cash flow while waiting months and months for delivery of the product.”

Offered for a set base price, with no ongoing costs, the Canvas MX Dealer Kit revolutionizes the way gear is purchased in store, said Leib.

“Now customers can order custom motocross gear directly from their dealership,” he said. “Our Fit Kit is really cool because it allows people to touch and feel and try on the products as they’re designing their own custom gear on our ViewSonic kiosk.”

In an industry where motorcycle dealers that want to carry apparel typically must commit to buying upwards of 100,000 pieces then wait many months for delivery, this model is indeed ground breaking. The ViewSonic kiosk, said Leib, was central to making it happen.

“It showcases our 3D design portal beautifully, and I love how you just can’t miss the ViewSonic kiosk in a store,” said Leib. “It’s big, clean, modern and high-quality – a perfect partner for displaying our modern, high-quality product.”

Among the excellent features, he added, are the vibrant colors, crisp graphics, and smooth touchscreen response.

“The ViewSonic kiosk enabled us to provide dealers with an amazing display,” said Leib. “It has enabled us expand into new markets and to do it in a way that fully meets dealer needs for a great-looking showcase.”

EP5542T - 55" Display, 3840 x 2160 Resolution, 450 cd/m2 Brightness, 16/7

Learn More

CASE STUDY

Special Needs Classrooms Add Adaptable, Expanded Access with ViewSonic ViewBoard Displays

CUSTOMER PROFILE

Founded in 1864, Seymour Community Schools is a public school district located within Jackson County in Seymour, Indiana. With facilities that include five elementary schools, a 6th grade center, a middle school and a high school, Seymour has a culturally diverse student population of over 5,000 and employs over 680 faculty and staff . The district’s high school boasts the world’s largest high school gymnasium, seating 8,228, and the district offers a wide array of both college preparatory courses and technical career courses.

“I had one elementary teacher tell me on her first day of using the ViewBoard display that it was the most successful morning calendar meeting she had ever had. Her classroom has students with significant autism needs, and the really big touchscreen held their attention like nothing ever before.”

— Mika Ahlbrand, Director of Special Education

THE CHALLENGE

Seymour Community Schools meets the needs of differently-abled students in developmental and life skills classrooms at each learning level. In 2011, three of these classrooms were outfitted with touchscreen displays, which quickly proved to enhance accessibility and learning. This success compelled Mika Ahlbrand, Director of Special Education, to find a way to extend these benefits to the remaining special needs classrooms.

THE SOLUTION

“We had some grant funds available,” said Ahlbrand. “And I wanted to use them to enhance learning with interactive displays in the rest of our classrooms.”

Ahlbrand approached district Technology Director Brian Rodman, who agreed with her recommendation to apply these funds to the purchase of large screen interactive displays. Working through reseller partner AVI, the team purchased three 75-inch ViewSonic^® ViewBoard^® 4K Ultra HD interactive displays.

“We thought we wanted the same brand and model we were used to,” said Ahlbrand, “But as it turned out, the ViewSonic ViewBoard touchscreen displays were much more cost effective, even for much larger displays.”

THE RESULTS

Because of the cost advantage presented by the ViewSonic ViewBoard displays, Ahlbrand was able to purchase larger displays and outfit more classrooms than would have been possible with the other options she and her team looked at.

“The size of the ViewSonic ViewBoard displays is just about double that of our other displays, and this has been very helpful for my classrooms,” said Ahlbrand. “Being able to present larger content is terrific for students with visual or cognitive diffculties, who are more easily able to engage with a bigger screen, whether it’s a website, a Google doc, 1:1 curriculum, or a teachercreated activity.”

Additionally, she said, the smooth, accurate touchscreen response, crisp graphics, and clear sound quality further augment the positive experience for these students, for whom these features are particularly important.

Mounted on height-adjustable mobile carts, the ViewBoard displays gain added adaptability to meet the varied needs of students.

“We were pleased at how easy it was to adapt the displays to function on mobile carts,” said Ahlbrand. “Teachers can roll the display next to students in adaptive seating, and adjust the height perfectly to give them an up-close-and-personal view of the material.”

Similarly, teachers can easily move the cart around the classroom throughout the day to support curriculum – one corner for the morning meeting, another area for small group stations, and again to facilitate one-to-one lessons.

“Versatility in the classrooms is critical for us to achieve our goal of meeting varied student needs, and the ViewBoard displays accomplish that beautifully,” said Ahlbrand.

Teachers unanimously report that the ViewSonic ViewBoard displays have improved engagement for their students in every area, she added. And they’ve also found that the displays are intuitive to use, offering easy accessibility for themselves as well as their students.

“I had one elementary teacher tell me on her first day of using the ViewBoard display that it was the most successful morning calendar meeting she had ever had,” said Ahlbrand. “Her classroom has students with significant autism needs, and the really big touchscreen held their attention like nothing ever before.”

Today, eight of the Seymour Community Schools developmental preschool and life skills classrooms meet student needs using large screen interactive displays. Soon, the district hopes to add ViewSonic ViewBoard displays district-wide.

ViewBoard IFP8650

86" interactive display

Learn More

VPC25-W33-P1

ViewBoard OPS-C-i5 slot-in PC

Learn More

myViewBoard Suite

Full software suite includes secure cloud storage, multiple presentation options, digital whiteboarding and more.

Learn More

CASE STUDY

Esports Education Learning Center and ViewSonic Bring the Magic of Esports to a Broader Audience

CUSTOMER PROFILE

Esposure is a global education technology company focused on increasing access and opportunities for future innovators seeking careers in the esports industry. Esposure has built an Educate to Entertain (E2E) ecosystem that connects immersive learning experiences with proprietary gamifi cation technology.

Esposure’s Global Learning Experience Platform, DEEP™, helps educators, parents, and STEM professionals prepare learners for the future by developing skills and creating opportunities to engage and contribute to the growing demand of digital professions of the gaming and esports industry.

“Being able to view the content together, to interact as a group instead of in silos, really brings everyone together. The ViewBoard display lets everyone visualize the same content at once and creates more dialog around the topic being presented. This helps teachers, administrators and parents learn about the value of esports and draws them into the excitement their students are feeling about the industry.”

— Brittney Seals, Esposure COO

THE CHALLENGE

Esports is a rapidly expanding $1.38 billion-dollar global industry that encompasses over 200 related digital careers including front-line pro gamers and a huge range of behind-the-scenes roles like talent manager, tournament promoter, shout caster and digital marketer, to name just a few. Regrettably, for both aspiring young people and an industry in need of talent, these opportunities are not widely recognized.

Increasing awareness of esports career prospects and training students in the corresponding skills is exactly what esports education company Esposure is all about. Founded by a mother-son team with deep experience in technology and gaming, Esposure highlights core esports career areas and helps students build related skills through a variety of educational resources. CEO Danny Martin entered the collegiate gaming scene when he became the go-to console repair person on his college campus. Martin’s mother and Esposure CTO, Rose Johnson, owned a technology consulting firm for 30 years.

“Through his connections at school, Danny learned who was playing which games, and he started creating tournaments, first in the dorm, then the student center, then business locations in and around San Antonio,” said Johnson. “He became known as ‘Esports Danny’ and his dorm room served as the breeding ground for talent, and esports organizations started asking for his recruiting expertise.”

In the early days Martin mentored talent, facilitated tournaments, and grew his esports network. Johnson began exploring ways to use technology to build a much-needed ecosystem to support the gaps of the industry. Then came Covid.

“Schools started contacting us, saying football is out, basketball is out, volleyball is out – what can we do with esports?” said Johnson. “The global pandemic exposed the learning gaps with traditional classroom environments that became evident with the abrupt transition to online learning. The opportunity to bridge the technological gap presented itself and we were able to deliver a solution to create more engagement in education.”

The first component of the solution was to build a digital learning experience platform that could be used from any location. The result was a program designed to grow awareness and build competencies by combining education with entertainment in a way that engages and empowers learners. The second component turns knowledge into experiential learning, with a communal online space that allows learners to create, share their work, and connect with likeminded peers in a secure environment. The final piece was to create a physical space for hands-on and immersive learning plus workforce development.

“Ultimately we wanted to focus on providing fun and engaging experiences for students,” said Martin. “We understand the value of classroom education, and learning through our digital platform, but more importantly, we understand the value of hands-on experience in the industry.”

THE SOLUTION

Today the company provides services from an 8,000 square foot facility conveniently located just off a main highway in the Dallas suburb of Duncanville, TX. This custom-built space has allowed the founder’s dreams to flourish.

“Our Esports Studio and Education Center brings it all together: the curriculumbased learning, the digital collaborative workspace, and the hands-on experience,” said Martin. “We have 20+ pro-gaming stations – plus a shout caster booth, production booth, video editing equipment, and a podcast room, along with classroom spaces – everything needed to learn, produce, manage and participate in esports.”

What they realized was missing was a way to maximize the learning experience platform in a physical environment. The solution became clear when they connected with ViewSonic team members at an Esposure Discovered LIVE experience.

“We learned about the ViewSonic ViewBoard interactive displays, tested them, and ultimately integrated five IFP5550 ViewBoard displays on mobile carts throughout our facilities,” said Martin. “They’re exactly what we needed – the magic sauce that connects the digital platform with in-person engagement and collaboration.”

THE RESULTS

Even in a facility decked-out with high-end digital and production equipment, the ViewSonic ViewBoard displays quickly stood out as a game-changer.

“Esports is all about the entertainment and the experience,” said Brittney Seals, Esposure COO. “We designed our competitive space to deliver a truly immersive experience that conveys this excitement. The ViewBoard displays allow us to bring that feeling to every learning area by enabling a larger number of people to see the content and to work hands-on with the collaborative features.”

For example, Seals also stated that “when a student is working with a large ViewBoard display in the arena or any other learning zone, peers are more engaged and excited to get involved, interact, and learn along with a team.”

The same goes for students reviewing their digital portfolios. When their work is displayed on the big screen, conversations begin, feedback flows, and peer-to-peer learning is in full force.

“The peer learning model works,” said Johnson. “Using the ViewBoard displays with our curriculum allows students to be much more interactive, to learn from each other, and to collaborate. And it’s much more immersive.”

Along with amping up the interaction at their facilities, the Esposure team now takes a ViewSonic ViewBoard display with them for their off-site experience across the Dallas/Fort Worth metro area, in what they call “activations.”

“Schools ask us to bring our mobile interactive experience to their location, and we work closely with the Dallas Independent School District, which is huge,” said Martin. “They have partnered with us to visit more than 200 DISD schools by the end of 2023.”

It was at his first activation using a ViewSonic ViewBoard display that Martin had a powerful “ah-ha moment” about the value of the interactive displays. “We were at Austin ISD and the students were engaged in our ‘Test Your Knowledge’ esports quiz, which invites learners to showcase their knowledge of the industry. It was at that moment I realized the value and impact we can make with a ViewSonic ViewBoard. It was actually enlightening for me,” said Martin.

“We have activated many Discovered LIVE experiences before but none that brought the experience to life until we integrated the ViewBoard.”

In the past, a student would tackle the quiz on their individual laptop, a purely solo endeavor.

“The ViewBoard display allowed the experience to become interactive and collaborative,” Martin said. “There was a group surrounding the student, helping with the quiz, learning together. The use of the ViewBoard display was critical to elevating the experience, which elevates the learning. It was a profound moment for me.”

What’s more, Martin was able to witness the impact and excitement among educators observing the engagement and interaction fostered by the use of the ViewBoard display.

Seal agrees: “Being able to view the content together, to interact as a group instead of in silos, really brings everyone together,” she said. “The ViewBoard display lets everyone visualize the same content at once and creates more dialog around the topic being presented. This helps teachers, administrators and parents learn about the value of esports and draws them into the excitement their students are feeling about the industry.”

Along with the collaborative big-screen benefits brought by the ViewBoard displays, the Esposure team was thrilled with how easy they were to set up and use.

“The ViewSonic team was going to send someone out to help with set up, but we didn’t need it; everything was very intuitive,” said Seals, adding that using the displays has likewise been easy and intuitive.

Furthermore, the Esposure team noted, they appreciate the aesthetic appeal of the ViewSonic ViewBoard displays – from the crisp, clear graphics to the ViewSonic brand cachet and the sleek product design that compliments their modern facilities.

“We love the way our platform looks on the ViewSonic ViewBoards; it looks digitally superior, and the colors are crisp, clean and engaging,” said Johnson. “The ViewBoard displays amplify our highly digitized user interface. Students get excited about using the LXP because the crisp and clear display on the ViewBoard doesn’t make it look like a traditional learning management system – it looks more like a fun game.”

And that, the team agrees, is exactly what they needed to bring the magic of esports – and its vast career potential – to their learners, their community, and beyond.

LD135-151 Direct View LED

135" Display, 1920 x 1080 Resolution, 600-nit Brightness, 24/7

Learn More

ViewSonic ViewBoard IFP8662 Interactive Display

86" 4K Touch Enabled ViewBoard Smart Display

Learn More

ViewSonic VB-STND-003 Motorized Trolley Cart

90-degree tilting for tabletop mode, Integrated tray for pens and other items, ADA Compliant

Learn More

CASE STUDY

ViewSonic Partners with Esports Event Group to Promote Career Pathways

CUSTOMER PROFILE

College Esports International (CESI) is a strategic production group focused on elevating the esports industry and collegiate competition by creating national and international events that emphasize education, networking and safety.

CESI events support and encourage the development of college students by helping them expand their abilities and providing insight into a variety of trending global markets.

“We’re not just offering access to a game or tournament; we’re providing a way for students to learn about and develop their passions; to meet leaders in the industry that may one day become mentors or employers”

— Gordon Hinkle, CESI President

THE CHALLENGE

The main challenge for scholastic esports is educating students, families and schools about the myriad of ways that esports can serve as a foundation for their future.

Although esports is a 198 billion dollar industry, many administrators and students remain unaware of the abundance of opportunities available in the field.

Digital marketing, logistics, game development, event planning and broadcasting are all components of competitive esports and potential career pathways for today’s students.

Students who participate in esports often experience improved academic performance and self-esteem, along with decreased negative behaviors like truancy and illegal drug use. School-based esports also fosters the development of social-emotional skills in a cohort that is often less inclined to participate in social activities.

At both the high school and college level, participation in organized esports provides a place for students interested something other than playing. This includes activities like shoutcasting, technical setup, game development and marketing.

“Esports creates an exciting convergence of the tech world and competitive gaming,” said CESI President Gordon Hinkle, “It’s a lot more than just a video game.”

THE SOLUTION

Founded by former entertainment professionals, CESI was created to provide a platform for college students in esports – one which centers a career-oriented education as much as it does entertainment and competition.

“It’s still pretty much the wild west out there when it comes to collegiate esports competition,” said Hinkle. “We are laser-focused on providing events that offer a safe space, education on career opportunities and introductions to industry leaders like ViewSonic, who has been an outstanding partner for us since day one.”

Thanks to the energy, experience and resources Hinkle and his partner Margaret Wong brought to CESI, the organization was able to hold five large-scale events in its first year.

Participants were able to use equipment like ViewSonic ELITE™ gaming monitors - the same gaming monitors used by professional esports teams across the country - for tournaments, training and events.

“Our events aren’t just about showing up, playing the game and leaving,” said Hinkle. “They’re about showing students, families and higher education personnel that there is a bigger ecosystem connected to esports. An ecosystem with many pathways to career success.”

That, said Hinkle, is what excites him the most about what CESI has to offer.

“We’re not just offering access to a game or tournament; we’re providing a way for students to learn about and develop their passions; to meet leaders in the industry that may one day become mentors or employers.”

THE RESULTS

Five large events within a year speaks to the success of CESI as an event production company. The structure of these events reveals the organization’s success at connecting students to a broader network of related career paths.

“We offer so much more than just competitive participation,” said Hinkle. “At every event we facilitate in-person social interactions and educational activities with industry leaders. We get students there with the excitement of competition and while they’re there, we introduce them to ideas to get them thinking beyond the short term.”

The Second Annual CESI Championship tournament held in Sacramento exemplified this unique approach. 22 teams from universities in California, Oregon, Utah, Arizona, Colorado and New York battled for $50,000 in prizes, bringing over 2,000 spectators to the Golden 1 Center. Another 5,000 logged in to watch the livestream.

CESI welcomed registered participants with a message highlighting their mission:

“Congratulations on your team’s successful registration!... The 2022 CESI Tournament will not only create an exciting environment for your team to interact in a healthy esports tournament… more importantly, [it] also provides a creative platform for interactions with other great teams and numerous business and community leaders – to share, learn and inspire!”

As with all CESI events, the activities kicked off with an in-person bonding and networking event – in this case, tickets to a Sacramento Rivercats baseball game.

Competition began the following day after students had participated in two educational activities. First up was a one-on-one conversation with Hinkle and Sharon Gill, founder of Purpose Centered Leadership and an esports strategist. They discussed leveraging esports as a means of developing student leadership, team building and career development.

Next was a panel of four industry insiders who discussed the growth of the esports industry and different career opportunities. The panelists broke down misconceptions about esports and ways in which participants can overcome stereotypes associated with gaming.

“Our panel of participants ranged from Ruben Caputo of ViewSonic Gaming, who founded the very successful CSUDH esports league, to a former Intel and General Motors executive with extensive expertise in AI and complex data solutions, to an award-winning event producer and director that works at the intersection of performance and technology,” said Hinkle. “We encouraged them to share insights from their personal experiences and roles, which we hope was meaningful and inspiring to the student participants.”

Also unique to CESI events are the students they enlisted to help develop, set up and run the tournaments.

“We have students manage the livestreaming of events and tournaments,” said Hinkle. “We let them produce content themselves, allowing them to use and showcase their skills.”

In addition to hosting events and competitions, CESI works with colleges and universities to help implement their esports programs. Recent examples include the University of Colorado, Butler University and the University of Las Vegas, which is looking to expand its globally-acclaimed hospitality school to include esports.

“Each university has different needs. Some have big programs and are trying to nail down specific objectives. Others need help getting started or growing an existing esports club. Often, they want help getting buy-in from their administration,” said Hinkle.

“We offer our expertise and operate as an advocate for esports, helping schools demonstrate the ways in which esports can impact students in a positive way. We’ve seen amazing responses when faculty and administrators understand the wide range of opportunities it presents for students.”

Just as esports represents a unique convergence of technology, gaming and entertainment, CESI connects esports, education and business. This positions them as a key resource for schools and students looking to make a mark in this rapidly growing industry.

“We’re building personal relationships with students, schools, university clubs and so much more,” said Hinkle “We become a trusted source for them. I have students calling me, asking for letters of recommendation, asking what CESI can do to help. We are thrilled to get those calls.”

Producing successful events is undeniably rewarding, said Hinkle. But being a catalyst for positive student growth is the most satisfying part of what CESI does.

“Anyone can put on a tournament,” says Hinkle. “Bringing that educational component, introducing students to esports leaders and business leaders, opening their eyes to the entire ecosystem of gaming – that’s what excites me the most.”

Helping parents get on the bandwagon is a close second. Many start out decidedly anti-esports, like the parent Hinkle met at a reception following the first day of competition at the 2021 CESI Finals.

“This parent pulled me aside and told me that he was planning to encourage his child to stop playing games and focus on his studies,” said Hinkle. “But then he said that he had come to realize how much the esports community provides to his son, who now wants to study technology and pursue a related career. He told me that since joining the esports club that his son was more enthusiastic than ever about school and he wanted to thank me!”

Next up, Hinkle and Wong plan to expand on their West Coast success and have been asked to consult with colleges and universities in New Jersey, Atlanta and more. They are likewise connecting with K-12 schools and adult-learning organizations that recognize the potential inherent to the esports industry.

“Many schools want to learn more about the educational side of esports - about the benefits and career pathways,” said Hinkle. “Eighty percent of college students consider themselves gamers and only about a half percent ever go pro. There’s huge potential there for helping students of all ages cultivate their interests in a future-focused way.”

LD135-151 Direct View LED

135" Display, 1920 x 1080 Resolution, 600-nit Brightness, 24/7

Learn More

ViewSonic ViewBoard IFP8662 Interactive Display

86" 4K Touch Enabled ViewBoard Smart Display

Learn More

ViewSonic VB-STND-003 Motorized Trolley Cart

90-degree tilting for tabletop mode, Integrated tray for pens and other items, ADA Compliant

Learn More

CASE STUDY

ViewSonic ViewBoard Displays Boost Digital Education “Revolution” in Struggling School District

CUSTOMER PROFILE

The Hoquiam School District, founded in 1891, serves over 1,600 students in the city of Hoquiam, located in western Washington state. To achieve the district’s mission of Linking Learning to Life, Hoquiam consistently strives to be a world leader in employing the latest in educational technology, curricular design, and equity and inclusion principles. The district operates three elementary schools: Emerson, Lincoln, and Central; the Hoquiam Middle School; Hoquiam High School; and an alternative learning environment, Homelink.

“Student engagement is the essential element in successful teaching. I think the most important thing teachers do is earn students’ attention. The ViewBoard displays are like a cheat code – they draw students in and kids want to get up and touch them.”

— Chris Nitti: Digital Age Coordinator, Hoquiam School District

THE CHALLENGE

When the Covid-19 pandemic hit in 2020, the Hoquiam School District, like so many across the country, was ill-equipped to meet the needs of remote learning. To address this challenge, Superintendent Dr. Mike Villarreal charged English and technology teacher Chris Nitti with providing immediate-response support to educators that were learning to teach remotely on the fly. The following year, Dr. Villarreal promoted Nitti to Digital Age Coordinator, tasking him with determining and deploying technology to upgrade the district’s digital teaching capabilities.

“At the start of the 2021-22 school year I inherited a tech department run for 30 years by the person who started it in 1993, who ran the first five cables,” said Nitti. “Most technology was well beyond end-of-life. We didn’t have the infrastructure needed to support technology-based learning.”

The seismic changes brought by the pandemic called for a corresponding seachange in the district’s approach to education technology. Additionally, Nitti envisioned equipping the community’s young people with critical career skills.

“There’s a tech industry hungry for trained people,” said Nitti. “Along with using tech for teaching, we can give students technology skills that they can use to work remotely right from Hoquiam.”

Before this Hoquiam technology revolution could begin, Nitti and his team would have to equip teachers with the tools and training they needed to deliver on this visionary goal.

THE SOLUTION

Difficult as it was, the Covid-19 pandemic was also the spark that helped ignite the flame of the Hoquiam edtech revolution. Students needed individual devices to be successful at remote learning. Educators needed support and training in how to use these new tools.

“At the direction of Dr. Villarreal, we set out to bring the district up to 21st century digital learning standards,” said Nitti. “The first step was to tap into FCC EFC grants to procure student Chromebooks. After that, the goal was to equip classrooms with interactive displays.”

With two grants across two years, Nitti and his team created the first true 1:1 fleet. Every student now had a Chromebook less than 1 year old. Next, Nitti teamed up with KC Merchant, supervisor of the Washington State Digital Equity and Inclusion grant, and John Buyse at reseller partner Vivacity. With the support of Merchant, the district earned a substantial DEI grant. Buyse arranged demonstrations of interactive flat panel (IFP) displays from six major manufacturers.

Right away, it was clear that the ViewSonic^® ViewBoard^® IFPs were a perfect fit for the district, said both Nitti and Tech Assistant Jen Thorp. The integrated myViewBoard software tools were intuitive and expansive. The touch response and image quality were outstanding. And the IT team was thrilled with the centralized management that would allow them to handle all maintenance without having to physically go to seven buildings.

“We’re a MAC district and it was notable for us that the ViewBoard displays connect with a single USB cable,” said Nitti. “We just connect them and they work. It couldn’t be more simple or efficient.”

What’s more, Nitti emphasized, was that ViewSonic was the only company that sent a team along with their demo display.

“Our sales rep, a trainer, and the ViewSonic national sales manager all came to Hoquiam. That meant a lot to us,” said Nitti.

Thrilled to move forward with this level of support, the IT team purchased 105 ViewBoard IFPs – one for every classroom, library and learning lab. That order was quickly followed by one for another 16 ViewBoard displays, for specialists and coaches.

“Everyone wanted a ViewBoard,” said Nitti. “I took a demo board to the schools, showed them what it could do, and the ViewBoard sold itself.”

THE RESULTS

The start of the 2022-23 school year was unlike any other in the history of Hoquiam. Not only did every student walk in with a personal Chromebook, virtually every teacher, coach and other educator was ready to begin engaging and educating using their ViewSonic ViewBoard IFP. This was better than Nitti had anticipated.

“Initially we planned three rollouts spanning the summer and the upcoming school year. The pandemic years were tough on our teachers and I only expected twenty percent or so to take time away from their summer plans to do extra training,” said Nitti.

To his happy surprise, 97 of the district’s 105 teachers signed up for the training needed to receive a ViewBoard at the start of the school year.

“Those that didn’t sign up had conflicts, otherwise they would have been there,” Nitti said. “If that’s not buy-in, I don’t know what is!”

Hoquiam teachers embraced the potential provided by the ViewBoard displays as they planned their curriculum for the new school year.

“We coached them to see the ViewBoard as a full ecosystem, not just a board you can write on,” said Nitti. “It’s essentially an entire classroom support system: anything teachers do on their Chromebook, iPad or phone they can throw to the screen, then several students can annotate on it. The applications are endless.”

A middle school teacher who received two ViewBoard displays to support her stations-based approach to math education exemplifies this versatility.

“This outstanding math teacher does incredible work with stations. She’s like a juggler, it’s incredible to watch,” said Nitti. “We set her up with two displays and two management accounts so that she can be logged into both at once and guide students to bounce between complementary activities on the ViewBoard displays.”

District English teachers tell Nitti that the ViewBoard displays will be a game changer, adding mobility, proximity and interactivity to lessons.

“In the past, our teachers were stuck behind their desks. Now they can display the assignment on the ViewBoard, move around the classroom to work with students individually, and direct them to interact with the board,” said Nitti.

Beyond core subjects, educators throughout the district are finding unique ways to use the ViewSonic ViewBoard displays to increase engagement.

For example, said Nitti, not only can the high school athletic coaches review recorded game tape with students on the large ViewBoard screen, they can stop the recording, annotate on top of the video, then keep this record for reference.

“The technology is enabling things that weren’t possible before,” said Nitti, “The coaches say, it’s just like ESPN! They’re certain this will amp up engagement in sports.”

An elementary PE teacher that works with mobility-impaired students asked Nitti to create an app for the ViewBoard that turns it into an interactive target board. Students learning to throw would receive a visual reward when they successfully hit the target. While Nitti acknowledges that this is a bit of an “out there use case,” he has no doubts about making it a reality. He knows that the ViewBoard displays can take it.

“When evaluating displays, I always do what I call a ‘knock test,’” he said. “The ViewSonic ViewBoard IFPs have the toughest surface I’ve come across. I can pound on it and it does no damage.”

Engagement is the common denominator of the countless ways in which Hoquiam educators are using (and plan to use) the ViewBoard displays.

“Student engagement is the essential element in successful teaching,” said Nitti. “I think the most important thing teachers do is earn students’ attention. The ViewBoard displays are like a cheat code – they draw students in and kids want to get up and touch them.”

ViewSonic^® ViewBoard^®

Learn More

CASE STUDY

ViewSonic Direct View LED Display Brings Efficiency, Reliability and Visibility to Career Tech Presentations

CUSTOMER PROFILE

Headquartered in Montgomery, Alabama, Montgomery Public Schools is a large district serving over 30,000 students in 27 preschools, 32 elementary schools, 12 middle schools, and 10 high schools, according to US News & World Report. The Career Tech Department provides career and technical instruction to prepare students for life after high school, whether that may include postsecondary education, employment, or a combination of both.

“[The ViewSonic Direct View LED is] a showstopper. There’s no better word for it than that. When I meet visitors at the front office, which is maybe 105 feet from the display wall, I always get astonished comments. It’s vivid and clear even from there. Even the students stop and talk about how amazing it is.”

— Auburn Brown, Career Tech Bookkeeper

THE CHALLENGE

The Montgomery Preparatory Academy for Career Technologies (MPACT), the career tech building for the district, is a hub of activity, where students, staff, trainers, and recruiters frequently gather to attend and deliver presentations.

“We host countless seminars, training, PD, and recruitment presentations every month,” said Career Tech Director Todd Davis. “The process for facilitating these activities was very cumbersome. We had to go to another building across town to get a projector, screen and sound board, set them up, then quickly return it all so that it was available for other users.”

Not only was this incredibly inefficient, but with larger meetings and presentations not everyone could see the screen from the back of the room, added Davis.

Inspiration hit as it often does, when one least expects it.

“I was out to dinner during my daughter’s national volleyball tournament and saw what I thought would be the ideal solution,” said Davis. “It was a bunch of TVs put together into a screen so big you could just about see it from another state.”

Davis immediately sent a photo of the image to the CTE team’s Bookkeeper Auburn Brown whose responsibilities include sourcing and purchasing technology to support the district’s dozens of CTE instructors.

“I take care of around 80 teachers and two education specialists,” said Brown. “So when my boss texted me a photo of a huge video screen and said ‘I want this for our commons area,’ I started doing the research right away.”

THE SOLUTION

The large display that sparked Brown’s interest was a traditional video wall created by lining up several TV-like monitors into a grid. Not realizing there would be an alternative, Brown initially assumed that this was the format they would use.

“As I researched manufacturers, I made sure to look at ViewSonic because we use their 65-inch ViewBoard interactive displays here at Career Tech and the district has purchased many of them as well,” said Brown. “I had no idea that there was an option like their Direct View LED displays, which are huge and give a much cleaner look than the other video walls.”

Brown narrowed the options to a few brands and sought advice and pricing from their rep at reseller partner InCare. When she saw the price of the ViewSonic^® Direct View LED display she was thrilled.

“I expected it to be more expensive than the video walls that didn’t look as good,” she said. “Going with the ViewSonic Direct View LED just made sense based on my research. It was bigger, had no lines breaking it up, and it was an easier to manage all-in-one solution.”

She took her recommendation that they purchase a 135” ViewSonic Direct View LED display to Davis.

“Auburn said to me, ‘I think we can do a whole lot better than a bunch of TVs lined up together,’” said Davis. “When I saw the ViewSonic display, I absolutely agreed.”

THE RESULTS

Installed in the center’s commons area, which can seat up to 100 people, the ViewSonic Direct View LED has been a big hit. After over a year of use, Brown and Davis can confidently say that the eye-catching display has exceeded their initial hopes for the presentation space – from its visual appeal to its functional benefits.

“It’s a showstopper,” said Brown. “There’s no better word for it than that. When I meet visitors at the front office, which is maybe 105 feet from the display wall, I always get astonished comments. It’s vivid and clear even from there. Even the students stop and talk about how amazing it is.”

When it comes down to utility, the ViewSonic Direct View Display has more than served its initial purpose.

“It has saved Todd a lot of time, not having to go to the downtown central office to sign equipment in and out every time we have a presentation,” said Brown. “I love it because no one has to hassle with it, it just works and looks amazing.”

Now, presentations of all kinds are reliably crisp, clear, and large enough for everyone in the room to get a good view, no matter where they’re seated.

“We use it year, round, even in the summer,” said Brown. “Presenters include trainers from the State Department of Education, military recruiters, our CTE instructors, and more. And if there are no meetings scheduled and no announcements that we need to run, we’ll put up music, football games or other content that the students and staff enjoy when passing by.”

Everyone is so happy with the display, in fact, that as of this writing, Brown was working on a purchase order to obtain one for their sister center, a magnet high school that focuses on career tech education.

“The advertising design teacher there fell in love with it and convinced us to get one for his school,” said Brown. “They’re going to install it in their ‘Crossroads,’ an intersection of two long hallways that pretty much every student walks through during the day, and run Career Tech announcements and other information.”

LD216-251 Direct View LED

216" Display, 1920 x 1080 Resolution, 600-nit Brightness, 24/7

Learn More

VB-WPS-001

ViewSonic^® ViewBoard^® Cast Button

Learn More

CASE STUDY

High School Boosts Pride and Communication with Seamless 216-Inch ViewSonic Direct View LED Display

CUSTOMER PROFILE

Located in Will County, Illinois, the Joliet Township High School District 204 (JTHS) encompasses Joliet Central High School and Joliet West High School. Founded in 1899 it is one of the area’s oldest school districts. Four regional middle school districts attend JTHS: Joliet Public Schools District 86, Rockdale School District 84, Troy School District 30-C, and Elwood School District 203.

“It sounds corny but when they first saw it pretty much everyone was in awe of how it looked. It is such a superior product than what was installed at Central. Everyone from the principal to the support staff was excited to see a display that big with no seams.”

— Matt Kellett, Director of Information Technology Services

THE CHALLENGE

The cross-town rivalry is classic, perpetually played out at high school sporting events and club competitions. At the Joliet Township High School District (JTHS), the rivalry between Joliet Central High School (Central) and Joliet West High School (West) goes beyond athletics and debate.

It began in 2016, with the completion of Central’s expansive new Student Center, which included a large video wall made of a 4x4 grid of 55-inch displays. Used for daily announcements about clubs, sports, tutoring opportunities and more, the space was also used after hours for meetings and presentations, according to JTHS Information Technology Services Director Matt Kellett.

“It’s been very useful for community meetings and professional development, as well as for student-focused content,” added Wendy Davis, JTHS Network and Media Manager. “Folks at West were quickly saying, ‘We want a cool video wall.’”

The true level of competitive intensity over the video wall is anyone’s guess, but it’s not hard to imagine students and educators at Central boasting about it to their counterparts at West. While it took a few years to amass the funds, as soon as they were able, district administrators – committed to equity between the schools – authorized implementation of a video wall at West. Kellett and Davis began researching display technology.

THE SOLUTION

ViewSonic was top of mind when the IT team began looking into display wall solutions. Three years prior they had outfitted libraries at both high schools with ViewSonic® ViewBoard® interactive displays, chosen from a review of several manufacturers.

“At that time the ViewSonic interactive displays were the most affordable and had the most desirable features. We ended up also putting them in spaces around the school because everyone wanted them,” said Davis. “Little did we know when we started looking for a video wall that it would be the same story this time around.”

Once again, the team looked at several options, and once again the ViewSonic product won out – and by no small margin, Kellett and Davis agreed.

“When we saw the ViewSonic presentation it was almost like we didn’t need to look at anyone else,” said Davis. “They had the best price by quite a bit and the other three we looked at were the old-style walls that put together several standard displays. The ViewSonic solution was completely seamless.”

It was like the proverbial apples to oranges. On the one hand, traditional video walls made up of large monitors with visible frames that required separate components and on-going maintenance and calibration. On the other, a system of thin and light, perfectly pre-calibrated 12x12-inch panels that install quickly and deliver a huge and completely seamless image in an all-in-one, easy to maintain solution.

The team chose the largest among several available sizes: the ViewSonic 216” LD216-251 1080p Direct View LED Display.

“Sure, ViewSonic had the lowest bid, but the Direct View Display was also the best choice for so many reasons,” said Davis. “It is truly an all-in-one turnkey solution that also was the best-looking of all the options.”

To streamline connectivity and enhance security, the team also purchased ViewSonic ViewBoard Cast Buttons (Model VS18189), which they affectionately call the “pucks.”

THE RESULTS

As expected, installation went smoothly and was completed in less than a full workday.

“We were thrilled with how truly all-inclusive this display is. For setup all we had to do was hook up a network drop and connect remotely. It was seamless,” said Kellett. “And the installation process was interesting to see. First they leveled and attached the brackets, then after that adding the LED panels went very quickly.”

The following week the massive screen was unveiled to West High School staff at an institute day.

“It sounds corny but when they first saw it pretty much everyone was in awe of how it looked,” said Davis. “It is such a superior product than what was installed at Central. Everyone from the principal to the support staff was excited to see a display that big with no seams.”

According to Davis, the display is in use from the start of the school day to well past the last bell on most days.

“During the day it’s used as digital signage, like the one at Central, displaying announcements like sports schedules and extracurricular opportunities, and giving shout outs to students,” she said. “After school teachers use it during club meetings, then after that we often hold community meetings in the space.”

Beyond looking downright amazing, the ViewSonic Direct View LED display has provided enhanced security and features that save time and extend staff resources.

“One terrific feature is the ability to connect in someone who’s remote by giving them a URL link and access code,” said Kellett. “Another great feature that increases our security and saves time is the ViewSonic ViewBoard Cast Button, which plugs into the display and enables visitors to connect to the display without having to access our network.”

Kellett added that the IT team is looking forward to the reduced (and easier) maintenance of the ViewSonic Direct View LED compared to their “old school” video wall.

“With our older video wall if a screen goes bad it’s a major issue. We have to call someone in to take it out and replace it,” he said. “This involves a lot of time leveling the screen and even once it’s positioned perfectly it will never look completely right because it’s newer than the other screens and the calibration will be off.”

By contrast, the ViewSonic Direct LED system came with spare panels right off the bat, said Kellett, and each one is perfectly calibrated in the factory and never needs adjusting.

“Swapping out the LED panels is fast and easy. You need a lift, but beyond that anyone can do it, and this is going to save us time and headaches,” said Kellett.

“For example, say we have an after-hours presentation scheduled. A tech will assess the display and make sure everything is working perfectly. If they need to swap out a panel they can do it in five minutes. With the stacked display wall, you’d be out of luck – you’d have to call in a third party and cancel the presentation.”

Kellett noted that the ViewSonic Cast Button is also a signifi cant timesaver that reduces staff tech support.

“For me the pucks are a huge benefit. With our old video wall, when we have a visitor come in there are often problems with them accessing the screen,” he said. “The puck makes everything seamless and provides peace of mind.”

The list of time-savers goes on, not the least of which is the seamlessness of the LED Display as an all-in-one solution, said Kellett and Davis.

“We didn’t add a single third-party product to this solution: not a media player or anything else was needed,” said Kellett. “This cuts down the components that could require maintenance, adds to the overall system reliability, and keeps this beautiful, thin display clean and aesthetically uncluttered.”

The video wall at Central, by contrast, requires a separate computer and separate software to run it as a digital display.

“At Central there are more components to the system,” said Kellett. “And when there are more components there are more potential points of failure.”

Once more we can imagine that the competitive pride at West continuing to grow, as according to Davis, many area schools have reached out to arrange for viewings.

“The tech director from a neighboring school district was at West for a sporting event, saw our huge display, and is considering it for his school,” said Davis, “We get so many people from the community and surrounding region admiring it.”

A major win in our imagined battle of the video walls came with the annual State of the District event, at which the superintendent hosts community members and area business.

“The event was scheduled to be at Central, and when the organizers saw the ViewSonic Direct View LED wall at West, they mentioned that it was unfortunate that we did not have the same display at both campus, noting that the bar graphs and other content would show up better on the seamless display,” said Kellett.

And so the rivalry goes on. Kellett and Davis, of course, support both schools and are neutral observers, but one thing is clear: When it comes to big screen tech, West is currently in the lead.

“It’s truly outstanding in all the ways we’ve talked about,” said Kellett. “Plus, the colors are so vibrant, they just pop. In this, too, we have found the ViewSonic Direct View LED display to be superior to a traditional video wall.”

LD216-251 Direct View LED

216" Display, 1920 x 1080 Resolution, 600-nit Brightness, 24/7

Learn More

VB-WPS-001

ViewSonic^® ViewBoard^® Cast Button

Learn More

CASE STUDY

Workforce Training Center Supports XR with ViewSonic 135” Direct View LED Display and 86” ViewBoard Interactive Displays

CUSTOMER PROFILE

Hinds Community College is a public community college with its main campus in Raymond, Mississippi and branches in Jackson, Pearl, Utica, and Vicksburg. Encompassing Hinds County, Claiborne County, part of Copiah County, Rankin County, and Warren County, the College is staffed by over 700 student-focused faculty that serve over 25,000 students annually with an 18:1 student-to-teacher ratio. The college offers 447 academic courses guaranteed to transfer to Mississippi universities as well as over 70 career and technical program options.

“Every day we get interested visitors. The first thing they say is invariably, ‘Wow!’ We get that over and over. The huge 135-inch ViewSonic display is doing exactly what we wanted – drawing in potential partners and showing them what we do in a dramatic way.”

— Corey Durham, Workforce Systems Administrator

THE CHALLENGE

The Workforce Division of Hinds Community College (HCC) aligns community members with local jobs and fulfills training needs for local industry and business partners. Job seekers receive workforce training, assessment/testing, and adult basic and continuing education. Community businesses gain an educated and well-trained workforce flowing out of the Division’s programs. This synergistic relationship strengthens regional commerce and community by helping retain, grow, and attract businesses and industries.

In 2020 HCC joined an expansive development project that would transform a historic building in Vicksburg, Mississippi into a state-of-the-art accelerated technology transfer center. The Sen. Thad Cochran Mississippi Center for Innovation & Technology (MCITy) was scheduled to be fully operational in Spring 2023. The HCC Workforce division agreed to use their space to showcase the rapidly evolving world of eXtended Reality (XR) for education and training, with the goal of opening as soon as possible.

“Our vision was to develop a space that would bring awareness to the use of AR/VR for employee training and put it in the hands of local business and industry, as well as to offer classes in XR content development,” said Workforce Systems Administrator Corey Durham. “Businesses are facing a constant revolving door of employees and they can’t keep up with the training needs. When companies use XR to help prepare workers they conserve resources and reduce turnover.”

With that vision in place, Associate Vice President of Workforce David Creel tasked Durham with determining the technology needed to transform it into the functional HCC Emerging Technologies Training Center.

THE SOLUTION

The scope of the plan encompassed four distinct areas. A central demo center would showcase the capabilities of XR for training; this space required a large display that would make visible the modules trainees would experience through their headsets. Three labs would serve as facilities for teaching AR content development and providing specific employee training experiences; these rooms needed interactive displays to facilitate engagement and collaborative learning. All of this hardware needed to be reliable, commercial grade tech capable of meeting the Center’s anticipated high demand.

To source this tech, Durham partnered with Dan Wilkins from technology solutions provider RJ Young.

“Dan is phenomenal at matching the utility of the space and pairing equipment to achieve all the desired outcomes,” said Durham. “I told him what we wanted to accomplish and he was able to find what we needed.”

Wilkins brought in large screen and interactive displays from several manufacturers for Durham to test out. According to Durham, the ViewSonic products clearly stood out from the rest.

“One thing that sold me on the ViewSonic products was the versatility of the equipment – how much we could do with it and how integrated it could be,” he said. “We wanted modularity and integrated products from a sole provider and ViewSonic was the only manufacturer we looked at that had everything we needed.”

The demonstration room called for a large and eye-catching display to draw in visitors and quickly raise awareness for the impact of XR. A 135” ViewSonic LD135-151 Direct View LED display provided this critical focal point. Two 86” ViewSonic^® ViewBoard^® IFP8662 high-performance 4K touchscreen displays in the back of the room provided additional training and learning stations.

The classroom labs required interactivity and the versatility to use the displays vertically for presentations and training, and horizontally as a tabletop for collaborative design development. These rooms were outfitted with the 86” ViewBoard IFP8662 interactive displays mounted on ViewSonic VB-STND-003 motorized trolley carts with 90-degree tilt.

THE RESULTS

The Hinds Community College Emerging Technologies Training Center opened its doors with a ribbon cutting ceremony December 7, 2022. Shortly thereafter the Workforce Division began hosting its first classes. Interest from local enterprise has been non-stop. Students, trainees and visitors alike are treated to a continuous flow of vibrant, rolling content on the showcase display: from ads and publication outtakes to clips from HCC’s VR training content.

“Every day we get interested visitors,” said Durham, “The first thing they say is invariably, ‘Wow!’ We get that over and over. The huge 135-inch ViewSonic display is doing exactly what we wanted – drawing in potential partners and showing them what we do in a dramatic way.”

Once they see what we do, Durham added, they ask, ‘What can we do with this? How can we leverage this technology?’ It’s all so new and innovative that it can be hard to wrap your mind around it initially.

One of the Center’s first partnerships involved augmenting the Colleges’ Diesel Equipment Technology Program.

“Potential employees tend to envision being covered head-to-toe in grease, which isn’t very appealing, so we partnered with local developers to build a VR experience to show them what this job is really like,” said Durham. “Our VR training lets prospects walk the shop floor and see how clean it is, along with learning how to perform the work. It helps them determine whether this is something they can see themselves doing.”

Students learn how to develop augmented reality content in the Center’s lab spaces, using the 86-inch ViewBoard interactive displays to collaborate and create. Integrated conferencing equipment enables companies to virtually teach extended reality courses, while the ability to cast content onto the screens lets students and instructors easily share content.

“Again, it was this versatility that really drew us to the ViewSonic products. They had all the functionality we needed – the content casting, big screen conferencing capabilities and the mobile cart, not to mention the gorgeous 135-inch display,” said Durham. “The smooth touchscreen response has provided an incredible experience for students working on 3D modelling, especially when using it horizontally like a table. Everything has been ideal.”

This success has been replicated at Hind’s Rankin campus, with a similarly outfitted XR-focused space.

“We only had one room to work with, but we packed in as much as we could, using the blueprint we created for the Vicksburg Center.” said Durham. “It has a ViewSonic 135-inch display and the same lab capabilities, with an 86-inch ViewSonic interactive display.

It was a relief to see everything come together so well, Durham acknowledged, expressing thanks ViewSonic and RJ Young for their support. Clearly a huge boon to the region, the HCC Emerging Technologies Training Center provides exactly the mutually-beneficial relationship among students, businesses and workforce trainees that is at the heart of the Workforce Division’s mission.

LD135-151 Direct View LED

135" Display, 1920 x 1080 Resolution, 600-nit Brightness, 24/7

Learn More

ViewSonic ViewBoard IFP8662 Interactive Display

86" 4K Touch Enabled ViewBoard Smart Display

Learn More

ViewSonic VB-STND-003 Motorized Trolley Cart

90-degree tilting for tabletop mode, Integrated tray for pens and other items, ADA Compliant

Learn More

CASE STUDY

Indonesian Luxury Hotel Chooses ViewSonic Direct View LED Display Kit for State-of-the-Art AV Solutions Upgrade

CUSTOMER PROFILE

The Gaia Hotel Bandung is a 5-star hotel located in West Java, Indonesia. Modern accommodations include 280 rooms and world-class facilities perfect for meetings, weddings, and conferences. Gaia Hotel Bandung aims to accommodate its guests with luxurious amenities and to become a leading brand in Indonesia’s hospitality industry.

“With the All-in-One Direct View LED Display Kit (LDS135-151), the challenges of mobility, flexibility, and connectivity are easily answered. ViewSonic’s LDS135-151 is a fantastic and innovative solution.”

— Subakti Wangsanegara, Managing Director of Gaia Hotels & Resorts

THE CHALLENGE

To provide the best experience for its guests, the hotel needed new digital signage solutions and AV equipment to be used during its various events. The hotel found that most solutions and traditional LCD video walls provided limited screen sizes and were unable to deliver seamless viewing experiences.

In addition, because different events are held in different rooms and locations throughout the hotel property, fixed video walls lacked the flexibility needed for each space. Installing would require extensive effort and investment, not to mention the downtime needed to renovate the venue. What’s more, most solutions are not equipped with professional speakers and would need to be connected to external audio devices, which also takes additional time and cost to set up. Considering all these issues, Gaia Hotel needed a comprehensive solution that could deliver stunning visuals and powerful audio while remaining simple to operate and install.

THE SOLUTION

The Gaia Hotel Bandung found exactly what it needed in the ViewSonic^® LDS135-151 Direct View LED Display Kit. Thanks to an included flight case, motorized mobile cart and convenient foldable 135” screen, this all-in-one solution delivers for big-screen messaging right out of the box. With its foldable screen design and 360° silent wheels, the display can fit in elevators and be effortlessly moved from one floor to another, and from venue to venue.

The hotel deployed the Direct View LED in its ballroom and conference rooms.  The display’s huge 135” screen, 1080p Full HD resolution and 120% Rec.709 wide color gamut delivered stunning, larger-than-life images for different events and business presentations. In addition, built-in Harman Kardon speakers provided theater-level audio that was perfect for celebrations and parties at the hotel.

Finally, the display also offers a great user experience. Wireless content sharing solutions enable content to be conveniently streamed from mobile devices onto the display, and the embedded operation system and Wi-Fi allows users to work in a familiar interface.

THE RESULTS

The ViewSonic LDS135-151 Direct View LED Display Kit was an incredible AV upgrade for Gaia Hotel Bandung’s world-class facilities. Not only did the solution enhance the sharing of ideas and information for business use, but it also created memorable and inspirational experiences for all types of events.

Thanks to the all-in-one design of the kit, installation and configuration was quick and easy. Already pre-assembled, the display can be used instantly after unpacking, immediately minimizing costs and saving time and labor. The foldable screen and 360° wheels make moving effortless, so no matter where an event is held, the hotel enjoyed the benefits of flexible setup, while guests were blown away by an immersive audiovisual experience.

“With the All-in-One Direct View LED Display Kit (LDS135-151), the challenges of mobility, flexibility, and connectivity are easily answered,” said Subakti Wangsanegara, Managing Director of Gaia Hotels & Resorts. “ViewSonic’s LDS135-151 is a fantastic and innovative solution.”

ViewBoard IFP8650

86" interactive display

Learn More

VPC25-W33-P1

ViewBoard OPS-C-i5 slot-in PC

Learn More

myViewBoard Suite

Full software suite includes secure cloud storage, multiple presentation options, digital whiteboarding and more.

Learn More

CASE STUDY

Colegio San Luis Maristas - Barranco Engages Students with ViewSonic ViewBoard Interactive Displays

CUSTOMER PROFILE

Founded in 1923 as one of ten Catholic schools in Peru, the Brarranco branch of the Colegio San Luis Maristas serves students from kindergarten through high school.

The founders of the school were heavily infl uenced by the teachings of St. Marcellin Champagnat, a Catholic saint who was devoted to education. Today, there are over 900 students currently enrolled at the Colegio San Luis Maristas – Barranco campus.

"One of the benefits of these displays is that they combine the best of both hybrid and in-person classroom setups. Educators can access Zoom, Google Drive, OneDrive and other popular applications to create a richer learning experience.”

— Renzo Urresty, High School Communication Teacher.

THE CHALLENGE

In 2021, administrators were tasked with preparing their campus for the return of in-person learning. Although it had been less than two years since students had started learning remotely, in that time, the learning landscape in Peru had shifted dramatically. Students had become accustomed to using computers, laptops and other devices during lessons rather than just learning from whiteboards and textbooks.

Administrators began to seek out solutions that would work cross-functionally with their existing devices and educational software programs that the teachers had adopted. Additionally, administrators were also seeking a solution with features that would enhance learning, such as QR code scanning, questionnaire management and interactive quizzes.

“Children could not go back to traditional learning. They had already been studying through their displays for quite some time. They were used to screens already so the best decision was to look for an alternative for their continued interaction and participation in their pedagogical development in the classroom,” said Renzo Urresty, a communications teacher at the Colegio San Luis Maristas.

According to Maria del Carmen Marini, a fellow kindergarten and first grade teacher, “It’s not easy to be in a classroom in front of 40 students from a different generation who are more familiar with the technology than the teachers.”

In 2019, chalk and whiteboards were still heavily in use at the school. Administrators were mindful that some educators struggled with newer forms of technology and their ultimate solution needed to provide training and support to help get their staff up to speed.

THE SOLUTION

After weeks of deliberation, the Colegio San Luis Maristas ultimately selected ViewSonic to equip 29 classrooms with 75” ViewBoard® IFP7550-3 interactive displays and accompanying WMK-047-2 fixed wall mount brackets. 14 displays and brackets were to be sent to its elementary school, 10 to its secondary school and five to its kindergarten classrooms. Additionally, educators also received myViewBoard® entity accounts and access to training so that they could make the most of their new devices.

“One of the benefits of these displays is that they combine the best of both hybrid and in-person classroom setups. Educators can access Zoom, Google Drive, OneDrive and other popular applications to create a richer learning experience,” said Urresty.

Another benefit of using ViewSonic products is the ease of setup and deployment. Although the ViewBoard interactive displays arrived on February 28, the displays were installed and set up by the time students started school in April.

THE RESULTS

Since the Colegio San Luis Maristas installed its ViewBoard interactive displays and implemented training, educators reported a significant increase in student engagement and interest in lessons. At the kindergarten level, teachers have been impressed by their students’ ability to learn and interact with this new technology.

“The youngest children have had two years of virtual learning and have adapted naturally to these tools and games that enable them to leverage displays and get actively involved in their own learning. During a lesson, students can take turns leaving once they’re done and the screen can be split into three sections, resulting in high interaction,” explained Marini.

ViewSonic educational solutions have also helped to reduce inequality as well. Students in higher grades no longer need to purchase a printer and ink to complete their homework – a proposition that is as expensive as it is unreliable. Thanks to the ViewSonic companion app, students can synchronize their devices with a simple QR code. Students can then answer questions, share content and get information on lessons and coursework.

The Colegio San Luis Maristas was pleased to fi nd that student performance improved in multiple areas following the adoption of ViewSonic myViewBoard^® software.

“The Colegio San Luis Maristas has excelled in leveraging the benefi ts of inclass interactivity and teacher training. Educating teachers has in turn enabled them to connect to today’s students – who are extremely savvy when it comes to interactive experiences. ViewSonic ViewBoard displays encourage students to step outside of the realm of rote learning and memorization and pivot to engaging, interactive lessons that simulate all of their senses and enhance student involvement. This is a defi nitive step forward for modernizing the Colegio San Luis Maristas,” said Alex Carlos, ViewSonic Territory Manager for Peru, Columbia and Ecuador.

ViewBoard IFP8650

86" interactive display

Learn More

VPC25-W33-P1

ViewBoard OPS-C-i5 slot-in PC

Learn More

myViewBoard Suite

Full software suite includes secure cloud storage, multiple presentation options, digital whiteboarding and more.

Learn More