05/ 25/ 2006
Low-cost ways to capture your whiteboard creativity
The whiteboard has become a universal ubiquitous business tool. From tiny desktop ones to wall-size versions, they serve as the focal point for developing strategic business plans or for planning your stop at the grocery store on the way home.
Recognizing that business-altering ideas can often emerge on whiteboards, many large companies have invested in expensive, high-tech tools that capture what is recorded on the boards. At the high end of these tools and products are whiteboards or writing devices that digitally record everything added to the whiteboard. Some of these products even play back the whiteboard session as it developed.
If those tools aren't in your budget, here are some low-cost alternatives that will allow you to capture and share those brilliant (or mundane) ideas from your latest whiteboard session:
Take a picture: Use a digital camera to photograph the whiteboard and download it to your computer for saving or sharing. Better yet, if you have a compatible printer nearby, simply pop out your camera's memory card, insert it into the proper slot on your printer and output the whiteboard session to paper, PDF or, if you write legibly and have the right software (such as OCR, optical character recognition), you can turn your whiteboard notes into a text document.
Camera phone scan: If you have a cell phone camera with at least 1.0 megapixel resolution, try out a service like Scanr that allows you to take a photo of your whiteboard session and then e-mail it to an address that will automatically convert it to a searchable PDF document and post it on a private Web site. (This service is currently free.)
Use an online whiteboard: New (and currently free) online whiteboards are widely available through sites such as Writeboard and Google's Writely. Use a small projector and conduct your whiteboard session on your computer, remembering to hit save once the session is complete. Downside: Not as much fun without the markers.
iSight: For Mac users who have an iSight camera plugged into their computer, simply point the camera to the whiteboard and click "Take a Snapshot." Then save or share.
Declutter and Decorate
Not quite enough room on that desk for all 15 of your favorite photos? With the high-resolution Westinghouse LCD digital photo frame, you don't have to choose just one. No PC is required—just insert your memory card and upload as many photos as you want. With 8 MB of internal memory, there's now room on your desk for all your cherished memories. Available in two sizes.
Cost: From $150
Buying Info: www.westinghousedigital.com
