Projectors: The Big Picture New projection systems are allowing
teachers to bring the world largeright into the classroom.
REMEMBER THE DAYS when projection systems came in big carrying
cases, were large, heavy, and unwieldy—and cost $3,000 to
$5,000? Setup was fraught with the challenges of multiple wires
plugged into the backs of desktop computers, often causing
confusion about what went where. Systems were sometimes so
difficult to set up that teachers had to spend pre-class time
putting them together. Once the projectors were in place and
teachers flipped them on, they sometimes found the lamps were
too bright to project clear images in a classroom with many
windows. Now, thanks to new and emerging technologies, the
experience of using the projector has been completely
transformed. State-of-the-art, lightweight projection systems
(some new models weigh as little as five pounds) offer advanced
features and capabilities at prices less than $1,000. Many of
the latest systems provide plug-and-play setup capab