Hunting for the Perfect Wireless Presentation System?

Today’s new wireless presentation systems (WPS) offer far more flexibility and ease of use – at a fraction of the cost of traditional wired systems. There are three major types of wireless presentation systems available today: 1) hardware-based solutions – that use a physical connection to your notebook, 2) Wi-Fi network hub solutions – that use the Wi-Fi network to connect, and 3) TV-based wireless transmitters – a single unit HDMI transmitter / receivers typically for consumer use. However, they’re not all created equal. In evaluating these solutions, there are three things to consider: how much IT support is needed for each solution, whether or not it uses an app, and if the system allows non-notebook devices to connect.

From an IT support perspective, WPS that use physical buttons offer the ideal combination of functionality, ease of use by employees and visitors using notebook computers while minimizing the impact to IT resources. Because of the designs of these systems, the corporate network is used only for monitoring the devices instead of taking on the bandwidth burden as is the case in the Wi-Fi network hub systems.

For IT security experts, unknown third-party apps are a significant risk to notebooks from snooping apps, malware and other software techniques used to breach security. Poorly designed apps can be cloned, injected with a virus, or enable the theft of data. In addition, some Wi-Fi Network hub solutions that rely on the corporate network to transmit data from a notebook may create additional vulnerabilities to the corporate network.

For optimal productivity and engagement, the meeting or learning space needs flexibility. Not only should there be flexibility for who is connecting to the system but what source content can be shared to the screen. Many systems only allow mobile devices and notebooks to connect, but imagine if you could connect and share Blu-Ray players, document cameras, AV receivers, and even Chromebooks, BrightSign or Scala digital signage players, digital microscopes as well as monitors and projectors with HDMI out ports?

BenQ’s hardware-based InstaShow Wireless Presentation System was designed to introduce ease, security, and flexibility to the collaboration space. The InstaShow transmitter buttons do not need any additional software apps to be loaded on a notebook prior to use. The transmitter acts as a standard monitor to the computer enabling a plug-and-play usage model for both employees and visitors. The transmitters can also be connected to other devices such as Blu-ray players, cameras, and more, often eliminating the cost of expensive switchers and cabling.