How does the BenQ RM compare to the latest Tatung Interactive display?

For schools looking at lower priced interactive displays, the Tatung interactive display is considered as a way to help schools equip more classrooms on a fixed budget.  While the BenQ’s RP series is the world’s most awarded education touch display, it is more expensive than the Tatung, so this article will compare the less expensive BenQ RM series that is in the same price range as the Tatung interactive display.  Since both displays have 20 touch points, 4K resolution, and similar brightness and contrast specifications, what are the main differences?  We will look at these five areas:

• In-Person and Remote Whiteboard Software
• Classroom and Lesson Recording Features
• Health and Safety Features for students and teachers
• Display network and setting security
• Warranty and product support

When comparing whiteboard software that comes with interactive displays, there are a number of key features that most schools are looking for as they transition from traditional whiteboard platforms such as Smart Notebook or Promethean ActivInspire.  So what are the functional whiteboard features you want to look for?

Both BenQ and Tatung boards each recognize 20 points of touch, and can recognize inputs from both pens and fingers.  The BenQ has a more advanced object recognition software.  For example, the BenQ will recognize a palm as an eraser – while the Tatung requires three or more fingers to erase.   The BenQ also has a “Paintbrush” mode that will recognize the width of a real paintbrush or other tool being used on the screen – enabling the panel to be used for calligraphy or writing variable-width non-Latin characters such as Kanji or Hebrew. 

BenQ’s EZWrite software can also recognize shapes and text on the screen – making it easy for teachers to save and share their notes with other applications. BenQ has multiple tools such as smart calculators and the ability to divide the screen up to three ways to allow three students to solve the same problem on the board at the same time.  The software can also recognize shapes and text on the screen – making it easy for teachers to save and share their notes with other applications.  BenQ’s EZWrite even has a scoreboard and number generator for teacher gamification and contests.  

Hybrid learning is essential to enable students in – and out of the classroom to have the same learning experience.  While the Tatung software is designed for exclusively in-person learning, the BenQ has a cloud whiteboarding system that is directly integrated into a classroom touch panel.

With the teacher in the classroom, students can interact with the board in real-time via their device at home, making it easy for remote tutoring or coaching.  The teacher can also allow the student to interact directly on the board with the device with a single tap on the whiteboard – say to allow the student to solve the math problem on the board.   Since the system is network agnostic, it enables unprecedented flexibility to both teachers and students that complement other classroom systems such as Zoom or Teams.  There are no additional licensing fees for this software and it does not require a connection to a PC.

The ability to record, store and replay lessons to students who are not in the classroom is a key element in improving student performance in hybrid classrooms.

The BenQ RM interactive display enables instant recording directly on the board with a single two-finger tap.  This enables a teacher to record any lesson – from any software or application that is running on the board – making it easier for teachers to record their classes.

The Tatung 6000K+ interactive display does not come with any built-in lesson recording software 

An effective classroom display should be designed with safety in mind. Here are the important safety features that separate a classroom interactive display from a traditional flat screen TV. 

The BenQ RM has is built with heat-tempered hardened glass, which minimizes the risk of an errant baseball or elbow shattering the display and injuring a teacher or student, and is also treated to reduce glare. 

Tatung does not specify any glass hardness or anti-glare coatings on their interactive display.

The BenQ RM interactive display is coated with an anti-microbial coating, which then is baked onto the glass. This model has been certified by Europe’s TUV against the five most common types of bacteria, including e. Coli, Salmonella, and pneumonia.  The BenQ display is also certified as classroom safe and toxin-free under Japan’s SIAA standard tests for potential risks such as long-term touch and oral toxicity.

The Tatung interactive display does not have any anti-microbial coatings or certifications against germs or toxins.

The BenQ interactive displays come standard with TUV Certified blue light filtering features. The sensor on the BenQ’s display senses when a teacher or student approaches the display – will adjust the blue light automatically, minimizing the risk to students and teacher from excessive blue light exposure.  The Tatung does not specify any blue light protections or third-party certifications.

Unlike projectors or older flat-screen displays, LED-powered displays can have a nearly invisible flicker that can be harmful to the eyes. This was originally a problem with LED-powered gaming monitors, and so BenQ invented a flicker-free backlight that provides great color and brightness – without the harmful flicker. This technology also has been certified by TUV for teacher and student safety.   The Tatung interactive display does now show any flicker-free technology on their display specification sheet. 

Tatung and BenQ have two different approaches to how a teacher engages and connects to the display in the classroom.   

The BenQ RM series uses Tap N’ Teach technology that enables instant and secure teacher login with individual personalization – without typing a password.  The sensitive settings such as cloud passwords, network, and language settings are protected – but can easily be integrated with the teacher data on Active Directory, enabling a teacher to log in to their personal “board space” from any connected display on campus. That means the same display will adapt to any teacher that is using it – including backgrounds, apps, and network drive connections.

To use a display, the teacher merely taps the BenQ board and it will display a QR code for the teacher to scan with a phone to securely login to the display – without having to type in the password in front of the students.  Once they log out the next teacher can tap the panel and it will reconfigure itself for them.  The system is easy to use – and very secure since no passwords are typed into the screen.

The Tatung uses an open approach where anyone can change the network settings or language settings, potentially disrupting the classroom.

The BenQ RM have been designed with remote management in mind. BenQ’s solution is the Device Management Solution which permit admins to push settings, updates, apps, and send text, graphic, or video messages to any or all boards in their network.

One major difference is that the BenQ software can control any model of BenQ interactive displays, BenQ projectors, and BenQ wireless presentation systems such as InstaShow, but it will also control popular legacy projectors like Sony, Epson, Hitachi, and NEC.   This means with BenQ your department can remotely control more equipment from one screen and without having to budget for costly software licenses.  In addition, to reduce the extra work of managing a special database for these displays, school IT admins will like the fact that BenQ’s account management system also integrates with Active Directory.

Tatung does not have any remote or centralized device management software for their display.

The BenQ RM have been designed with remote management in mind. BenQ’s solution is the Device Management Solution which permit admins to push settings, updates, apps, and send text, graphic, or video messages to any or all boards in their network.

One major difference is that the BenQ software can control any model of BenQ interactive displays, BenQ projectors, and BenQ wireless presentation systems such as InstaShow, but it will also control popular legacy projectors like Sony, Epson, Hitachi, and NEC.   This means with BenQ your department can remotely control more equipment from one screen and without having to budget for costly software licenses.  In addition, to reduce the extra work of managing a special database for these displays, school IT admins will like the fact that BenQ’s account management system also integrates with Active Directory.

Tatung does not have any remote or centralized device management software for their display.

Both the BenQ and Tatung interactive displays have standard three year warranties which require a substantial investment by a company to ensure that classrooms in North America have parts and people available to address any issues. 

BenQ has been the #1 brand of DLP-powered education projectors for over a decade according to Futuresource and has been recognized as a worldwide market leader in interactive displays since 2012.  This RP series is currently sold in over 45 different countries in 2021, and the company also has market leadership in monitors, digital signage, wireless presentation systems, and corporate displays.

Tatung is relatively new to the education business in North America, so there is limited information on their support for interactive classroom displays.

While both models share similar features such as 4K resolution, wireless screen mirroring, screen messaging applications, and centralized management software, understanding the key differences will help you decide which brand of interactive touch display will be right for your classroom.

It’s important to do research and consult important stakeholders before deciding which board your school district should adopt. But there are some major advantages that BenQ brings to the table that can make a difference to a school that might want more flexibility in its curriculum. When deciding on your chosen solution, consider the following differences:

• The BenQ RM has more functionality built-in directly to the board such as screen recording, cloud whiteboarding, and extensive security protection to make it easy for teachers to use it for hybrid learning environments.
• The BenQ has more advanced classroom safety features, including anti-microbial glass, automatic blue light filters, air quality sensors, and a flicker-free screen that helps protect the user’s vision.
• BenQ’s Tap ‘N Teach technology enables fast and secure teacher login from their phone– and can be integrated with Active Directory. With a single tap on their phone, an enrolled teacher can transform any board on campus into their personalized display in under 10 seconds.
• BenQ remote device management system allows school IT admins to centrally manage BenQ displays, projectors, and even equipment from displays from legacy brands including Epson, NEC, Hitachi, and Casio
  
• BenQ panels are designed and tested to run a wide variety of classroom education curriculum including Smart Notebook, ActiveInspire, Google Classroom, Microsoft Whiteboard, and dozens of other curriculum software platforms to enable teachers to use the teaching tools they feel are the most effective.
• BenQ is a larger company with proven market leadership and support infrastructures for education display.  The RM display comes standard with a three-year warranty – and an established track record of supporting education displays in schools in North America for nearly 20 years.