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mimio - Digital Technology for White Boards
The Need
Other than web/video conferencing, there is another way to be able to contribute ideas and share knowledge, from anywhere in the world. A new, portable internet device, mimio instantly turns any whiteboard into a digital tool that captures handwritten, color drawings and text as real-time data for use on PCs anytime, anywhere. mimio can be utilized for team meetings, distance-learning classes or networked brainstorming sessions. mimio streamlines the transfer of information so everyone on the team can contribute to a whiteboard session - whether they're in a different room or a different time zone. mimio can eliminate busy work, because user can drag and drop notes into any standard Windows application. And a handwriting recognition plug-in makes it easy to convert whiteboard writing into usable text. mimio is fully compatible with any Windows applications, so user can share information with non-mimio users.
The Technology
mimio is a unique collaboration tool that captures everything user write or draw on a whiteboard, in color and real time -- and then transmits the information directly into user's computer. User can then revise, print, share, export to HTML, or drag-and-drop user's whiteboard notes into any Windows application. mimio attaches to any standard whiteboard, connects quickly to user's computer, and uses sophisticated infrared and ultrasound technology to track the position of marker stylus and eraser on the board. The generated mimio INK files can be saved as bitmaps, JPEGs or - for high-clarity, vector-based images -- enhanced metafiles. INK files can be also exported to HTML for sharing across the Internet or intranet.
The Benefits
Only the whiteboard host needs the mimio software. Everyone else can participate through NetMeeting's whiteboard feature. Participants can add information to the whiteboard by writing with the Pen tool, and have their contributions seen in color and real-time by everyone else on the team.
- Fast documentation: Handwriting recognition converts words to text in the order they were written on the whiteboard - not necessarily as they appear on the board.
- Spell Check: helps user correct any misspelled words.
- Text-to-Ink Correlation: let user edit handwriting after it's converted to text, so user can identify and fix any unclear or misspelled words written on the whiteboard.
- Cordless mouse: Mimio stylus becomes a cordless mouse, so user can click, double click, right click, drag and drop and otherwise control software right from user's whiteboard.
Potential Applications to Construction
Timesaving tool for communications between designer, contractor and client, site and headquarter
- Presentation
- Training seminars
- Corporate training sessions
- Remote team meeting
- Distance-learning classes
- Networked brainstorming sessions.
Status
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology's center for Advanced Educational Services is planning to use mimio this fall for its Singapore MIT Alliance, a distance education collaboration that the Cambridge, Mass., university is conducting with Nanyang Technological University and the National University of Singapore. Since it began shipping products in September 1999, Virtual Ink has shipped more than 50,000 mimios worldwide, 40 percent to markets outside the U.S. Master distributors import and distribute Virtual Ink products today in Japan, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Korea and Australia. Distributors operating in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines further extend coverage in this market.
System requirement
- IBM Compatible, 486, 100 Mhz (Pentium recommended if using NetMeeting)
- 10 MB hard disk space
- 16 MB RAM (32 MB RAM recommended)
- Available Serial Port - 9 pin DB-9 (or USB port with the optional mimio USB adapter)
- Available PS/2 Port (for pass through connection)
Points of Contact
- Mr. Louise Domenitz, Director, Public Relations. Virtual Ink, 56 Roland Street Boston, MA 02129, Tel: (617) 574-4235, E-mail: ldomenitz@mimio.com
- Virtual Ink Corporation, 56 Roland Street, Suite 306, Boston, MA 02129. Toll-free: (877) my-mimio (696-4646), Main telephone: (617) 623-8387, Fax: (617) 623-9965. Email: General e-mail and sales inquiries: productinfo@virtual-ink.com
Refrences
- Mimio website http://www.mimio.com/
- ZDNet. eWeek, June 26, 2000
Disclaimer Statement
Neither the Construction Industry Institute nor Purdue University in any way endorses this technology or represents that the information presented can be relied upon without further investigation.