The Benefits Of Using Interactive Displays

Interactive displays have already made a noticeable impact in the classroom, and that impact will only deepen as display technology is improved upon. But interactive displays were first introduced as a novel approach to retail and marketing, and they remain a powerful tool for businesses of any size. The real power in interactive displays is their incredible versatility. They are limited only by the user’s creativity, and with the right approach, they can leave customers with a memorable experience. In the classroom, interactive displays are an instant draw for students and a relief for teachers, as they make lectures easy to manage and more interesting to sit through. Educators and business owners both can address many of their needs with smart use of interactive technology.

Learning and Selling

Interactive displays are used broadly in the education and commercial world, though they are relied on to do different things for teachers and businesses. In both the classroom and in shops, though, the technology excels because it is interesting to observe and use. That may not sound like a compelling reason to opt for interactive displays, but consider how much mileage a business owner or educator can get out of it:

1. Interactive displays grab attention immediately – This is invaluable in a retail setting, where everything is competing to get noticed. Displays placed near a shop’s entrance are great for capturing foot traffic and bringing people into the store. Allow passersby to scrub through a carousel of specials or new arrivals. Advertise a loyalty program or use motion sensing to speak to people directly as they walk past the display. Restaurants can put their menu out front for people to look through. Professionals like architects and designers can advertise their portfolios to the public and impress without having to say a word.

2. Interactive displays can go anywhere – Because displays have excellent potential in educating and building experiences, it’s ideal to place them wherever they can go. A small display installed on retail racks can demonstrate how products are used or what they can be accessorized with. Small displays can also be used with electronics or phone sellers, allowing people to customize their purchase or see it in action before buying.

3. Interactive displays enhance the customer service experience – There are tons of mundane, repetitive tasks assigned to human workers that could be done more efficiently by interactive displays. Selecting seats at a venue, purchasing and printing tickets, providing contact information – interactive displays make these ordinary tasks a bit more novel for users. That novelty is key in convincing customers to come back.

4. Interactive displays reduce customer frustration – Business owners invest a great deal of money into keeping their customers happy, and nothing makes a customer angry like a confusing trip to the store. Interactive displays can help with that, providing helpful information for customers as they navigate the shop. In larger businesses, interactive displays can provide searchable maps and building layouts, getting people to exactly where they want to go. Shops can also use interactive displays to help people bring up their loyalty accounts or coupon codes, speeding up their checkout process. In short, when interactive displays are integrated properly, they give customers more agency over their experience.

What should be clear is that interactive displays can do some impressive things in a commercial setting. But what about education? How can a tool originally designed for business owners and customers be adapted for teacher and student use? With ease, as educators have found out. Few digital tools are making the kind of transformative impact that interactive displays are. And it looks like this:

1. Interactive displays give teachers an impressive array of tools – A teacher’s work is never done, whether they are in or out of the classroom. Much of an educator’s time is spent putting together lessons that must be interesting, full of knowledge and in accordance with subject curriculum. It’s a tough balance to strike and takes a lot of effort. Interactive displays designed for education come with excellent lesson planning and construction tools, which solves most of the lesson planning issues. Once a teacher gets used to the software, they can develop lessons in a matter of minutes that are visually stimulating for students. As such, it’s safe to assume that students will respond better to instruction and retain more information following the lesson.

2. Interactive displays also give teachers immediate feedback – Teachers may have an idea of which students are having trouble with a lesson prior to test time, but it’s only an idea. And it’s impossible to know exactly where students are struggling before they are graded on their knowledge attainment. It would be helpful, then, if educators could gather this information in real time.

Interactive displays built with quick assessment software allow teachers this window. With quick assessment, rapid response questions can be formed in seconds and the answers delivered to the teacher’s device or desktop. Students don’t see each other’s results, so they can answer without reservation. And educators know exactly who needs more instruction and on which topics.

3. Interactive displays get students involved – This is especially useful with younger students who aren’t as affected by stage fright. In addition to lesson planning and rapid response software, interactive displays also come preconfigured with quizzing software delivered in a game-like format. Students are encouraged to answer questions about math, science or language, and compete against each other or against a timer. This adds another engaging element to a lesson and can fire students up to pay attention.

4. Interactive displays encourage group collaboration – Collaboration is a guiding principle in the business world, and it is increasingly being adopted for use in the classroom as well. Some interactive displays can be split-screened so that multiple students can use them at once. And if total collaboration is desired, displays can be installed at desk pods for group use or designed for connectivity with student devices, allowing students to add media from their desks or even from home.

Interactive displays are one of the most open-ended solutions available through A/V integrators. They combine function and flash, along with a deep roster of tools that both educators and business managers can put to excellent use.