WARF TECHNOLOGIES

The most effective learning, ideation, and collaboration still occurs in physical spaces. Advancements in technology have allowed for sophisticated virtual education and office meetings, but many still prefer to gather in person when the group size exceeds just a few individuals. Additionally, the recent quarantine and stay-at-home orders quickly revealed that the most active learning and the highest level of student participation stems from in-person instruction. In the classroom setting, while some interactive whiteboards and displays provide desirable features, the elevated cost, the difficult learning curve, and the requirement for skilled maintenance technicians has not allowed for their widespread use. Thus, educators at grade schools, colleges, and universities routinely instruct their students using large, traditional whiteboards that often occupy the majority of one or more walls. Whether they are working through long complex mathematical equations, or they are writing down student responses during the discussion of a classic novel, the whiteboard is still an essential fixture in the classroom. However, when transitioning between lessons or topics, these educators are forced to slowly clear the material from the board using a small handheld eraser. This pause during the lesson allows for distraction and a loss of focus by the students. As the market for traditional whiteboards continues to grow and learning environments continue to upgrade, an advancement is needed to provide instructors with a faster, superior way of erasing the board that ensures the students remain engaged.

An Alumni from the University of Wisconsin – Platteville has developed a single sweep whiteboard eraser that can be installed and retrofitted to any traditional whiteboard. Spanning the entire height of the board, this eraser can clear all written material in a single pass and in a fraction of the time it takes with a handheld eraser alone. This eraser also has the capability to lift away from the board and relocate to any location while preserving any desired content during the transition. As an example, an instructor can work in a left to right manner, lift the eraser, and return to the beginning to erase the oldest material while still allowing the students time to copy the newly written material. Attached to the eraser is an added holder for markers and an additional holder for a small handheld eraser to fix minor mistakes. This ensures anything the user needs will be nearby as they work across the board. A stage 2 prototype, “1Swipe”, has been developed and tested in a University classroom setting.

Useful in the classroom or workplace environment

• Erases the entire contents of a whiteboard in a single sweep motion;
• Considerably reduces the time spent erasing a whiteboard compared with a handheld eraser;
• Fast and efficient erasing ensures students in a classroom will remain focused during lessons;
• Smooth movement where eraser gently glides across the board with minimal pressure;
• Eraser can lift away from the board and relocate to any position while preserving desired written material;
• Device has an added holder for markers and a small handheld eraser to fix minor errors;
• Eraser pad can be easily removed for cleaning or replacement;
• The overall system can be retrofitted to any exiting whiteboard or blackboard or developed to be sold as one complete package.

A single sweep whiteboard eraser has been developed that can be installed and retrofitted to any traditional whiteboard. A stage 2 prototype, “1Swipe”, has been developed and tested in a University classroom setting.

Tech Fields

• Education & Training : Professional