One of the advantages of the Point 2 View USB Document Camera is that it does not need its own light source, unlike overhead projectors or certain types of other document cameras. However, there may be times when you need to operate in a low-light environment. These scenarios include a darkened presentation room when visibility of the viewing screen is most important, or demonstrations of devices with LCD screens, such as smartphones or the iPad.

In the special situation of the LCD screen, the star of your show is the screen itself, so any additional lighting may or may not be helpful. It’s important to understand that your Point 2 View is constantly adjusting itself to arrive at what its computer brain thinks is the best exposure for the image. And it’s pretty darn good with even just a little light. In the case of most LCD screens, your Point 2 View will be smart enough to adjust exposure accordingly for the best image quality.

Ratcheting down the brightness level on your demonstration device, for example, will cause the Point 2 View to “open up” and let more light in, resulting in an image that’s just about the same either way. Similarly, the Point 2 View will respond to increased brightness by letting in less light, and again the image is about the same. In any case, make sure your device fills up as much of the Point 2 View’s screen as possible. The bigger your device appears, the better your Point 2 View will be able to “guess” at the proper exposure.

Next, let’s tackle three-dimensional objects and text. We mentioned that the Point 2 View is very good at picking up your subject with even a little light. But it can’t make something from nothing, and if there’s too little light, it will lose details. In a darkened room, consider using a separate, portable, directional light source. An ideal source is a pharmacy table lamp featuring multiple joints for maximum flexibility in placement—much like the Point 2 View’s stand itself.

Your goal is bright, even coverage, but not too bright; remember, cameras don’t have the dynamic range of the human eye, and something that looks great to your eye might look blown out on the screen. For that reason, a lower-watt bulb is recommended, something like a 40W or 60W incandescent bulb (9W or 13W if you’re using fluorescent bulbs).

As for the position of the lamp, you’ll want to place the bulb at a high angle above the object or text. This minimizes shadows and gives you nice, even coverage. However, don’t place the camera body between the bulb and subject, as it will create a nasty shadow.

One more tool you have at your disposal is the exposure adjustment in the Point 2 View‘s interface. The second tab on the interface is for exposure, and you can darken the image (by selecting -1 or -2) and brighten the image (by selecting +1 or +2), with Exposure 0 meaning there is no artificial exposure change. This is a good option for fine tuning.

In any case, trial and error is your best friend. Experiment with different light placements, light strengths, and brightness/exposure settings prior to your presentation. It’s always better to figure out the optimal setup beforehand. Remember, don’t trust your eyes: trust what everybody is going to be looking at, the projector screen!

* Prices are subject to change, please visit www.ipevo.com for the latest price infomation.
* Find more tips and stories about P2V at www.ipevo.com/p2v.

We’re sometimes asked about the best way to configure the Point 2 View USB Document Camera for one of the most common objects you might wish to capture: a standard sheet of paper. This is the A4, 8.5 x 11” (or 216 x 279 mm), “letter”-sized piece of paper. We’ll give you a couple of handy tips to make sure this task is a breeze for you.

First of all, while the Point 2 View has a remarkable amount of versatility with its multi-jointed stand, it’s not quite high enough to completely capture an entire sheet of paper, if that’s what you’re after. The Point 2 View mounted on the stand needs about a 6-inch boost to maintain the proper distance from the paper.

As it happens, our Tubular Wireless Speakers, when locked together in a tube, are the perfect height and circumference to provide a steady base for the Point 2 View to capture a sheet of paper. No, you don’t need to buy Tubular just to act as a stand! But if you happen to own Tubular—which is a terrific way to enhance audio for Bluetooth devices like the iPad, by the way—you’ve already got a compact accessory to give you the necessary boost.

Of course, there are many, many other objects around the office, classroom, or home that can give you an extra 6 inches: be creative! One of the handiest might be textbooks: four or so usually works great. Others options we’ve heard about are one of those 100-count containers of blank DVDs, and a drawer pulled from a desk.

Actually, though, the Point 2 View basically comes with its own boost: the box itself! Set the Point 2 View package on its side, and you’ll have the 5 or 6 inches you need. That’s pretty easy, right?

Once you have the height, you need to tackle orientation. The temptation is to put the camera body on the “default” center attachment and position the camera such that the base of the stand is sitting at the bottom of the piece of paper. Resist temptation! The Point 2 View was designed with not one, but three attachments on the tip of the stand for just this reason. Position the Point 2 View on a side attachment, not the center. This gives you the ability to place the stand at the side rather than the bottom of the piece of paper. This position will be much easier to capture the sheet from.

One last tip. Say you need to capture a detail from the paper, such as a particular passage, chart, or picture. Remember that you have two ways to get a closer look. You can physically reposition the Point 2 View—which is easy, given the stand’s several joints—or, you can use the zoom option, which is located in the upper left-hand corner of the camera interface on your computer screen. Anywhere from 1x to 3x zoom is possible.

* Prices are subject to change, please visit www.ipevo.com for the latest price infomation.
* Find more tips and stories about P2V at www.ipevo.com/p2v.

In this blog entry, we share with you a real-life IM session that took place between a teacher inquiring about our Point 2 View USB Document Camera, and Matt, one of our friendly customer service representatives here in Sunnyvale, CA. It’s kind of nice to share because a) it’s real and unfiltered, and b) it shows just the kind of friendly service you can expect if you, too, happen to have a question or two. Someone is always available to assist you Monday through Friday from 9am to 5pm PST. Just click on the little guy with the chat bubble on the top of the IPEVO home page. And after hours, please send an email!

So, without further ado, here is the chat transcript, with a little commentary from yours truly.

Matt: Hi!
Matt: Thank you for contacting IPEVO
Matt: How may I help you today?
Teacher: I am a classroom teacher
Matt: Ok, thank you

[Super polite! Our success begins and ends with you, the customer. You deserve super politeness =) ]

Teacher: and I would like to know about IPEVO Point 2 View USB Camera
Teacher: How will it help me in my math class?
Matt: It is the most affordable document camera on the market right now

[Matt speaks the truth. The Point 2 View is only $69, hundreds less than other document cameras.]

Teacher: I heard about that… but, if I buy this product today, how can I use in Classroom?? What other products along with this I need…
Matt: Ok thanks
Matt: The camera has to be connected to the computer via USB port
Matt: You will need a projector connected to your computer too
Matt: For setup, please refer to this link: http://support.ipevo.com/download/doc/p2v/p2v_education.pdf

[All of our customer service superstars are armed with plenty of helpful information and links to get you headed in the right direction, as you can see.]

Teacher: So, I need projector and Computer… right?!
Teacher: Now, How can I present my math lesson to entire class??
Matt: You may also check out this review from a teacher’s point of view: http://vimeo.com/15203145

[Independent reviews. Video links. Document links. Matt's got the goods.]

Teacher: Does it works as an overhead projector??
Teacher: If I have Computer, IPEVO and Projector….
Matt: The projector can project the images to your whiteboard
Matt: Here is what the setup looks like: http://support.ipevo.com/download/doc/p2v/p2v_education.pdf
Matt: You may also check out our blog: http://blog.ipevo.com/?cat=37

[You have to love the shout-out to the blog.]

Teacher: So, I can write my lesson on piece of paper… and I have whiteboard in my class… so, my lesson will reflect on whiteboard and my class can see? Right?
Matt: It has a lot of articles on how the camera is being used in classrooms
Matt: Yes
Matt: While you are writing anything on that paper or pointing to anything on that paper, the students will see
Teacher: So, last thing… let me be clear on this… and I will let you go hold on…
Matt: here is the user manual for reference: http://www.ipevo.com/rma. All returns or exchanges are accepted within 30 days of the purchase date. IPEVO does not refund items without a receipt.

[Matt delivers the facts. We stand by our products, and your satisfaction is guaranteed.]

Teacher: Ok.. Thanks.. I am about to place an order..
Matt: Thank you very much!
Matt: You might also be interested in the P2V case
Matt: When bought together, you will automatically get $20 off the case
Teacher: buy what??
Matt: The P2V case
Matt: http://www.ipevo.com/Carrying-Case-for-P2V-USB-Document-Cam_p_97.html

[This is the full-service treatment. We not only answer your questions; we just might have a suggestion or two to make your experience even better.]

Matt:
Teacher: Thanks… I will…
Matt: Thank you very much!
Matt: BTW
Matt: Please make sure to install the latest software found at our website: http://support.ipevo.com/#P2V

[Making sure the customer is taken care of till the very end. Now that's customer service!]

* Prices are subject to change, please visit www.ipevo.com for the latest price infomation.
* Find more tips and stories about P2V at www.ipevo.com/p2v.

The Point 2 View USB Document Camera is finding its way into a ton of different places and disciplines. This entry is all about the music. Dave is a music teacher at Rice Avenue Middle School in Girard, Pennsylvania. Dave was able to try out the Point 2 View for his music classroom. And we’ll let Dave do the talking about the value of the camera in his class:

“Our music classroom has a large smart board connected to a projector and a controlling computer. There are times in both my general music and ensemble classes where projecting an image last minute is necessary. For instance, say I am working with a concert band and I need to explain a particular rhythm or melody. Rather than writing the figure on the board, I can place it under the camera, and it is instantly projected larger than life on our smart board.  I can then point to or even write on the projected image to illustrate my point.”

So, while his students are busy keeping time to the music, Dave is able to keep more of his own time, by projecting sheet music and musical notations rather than writing figures out on the board. That’s a very smart way to keep the rhythm of the class going!

We also asked Dave what he thought about the camera’s setup and features:

“I was incredibly impressed with the Point 2 View’s ease of use and simple setup. I had the camera working on my projector within minutes and used it in class that day. The mirroring features are especially valuable: I’m able to use the camera like a document camera and place it above the document for easier use. I can also take an instrument I need to repair and zoom in while finding that hard-to-locate screw or spring.”

Great point about the mirroring feature, which is changed with a tab on the Point 2 View’s onscreen interface. By being able to flip (or flop) the projected image, Dave is able to get the proper orientation without inconveniently fussing with the documents.

Thanks very much to Dave for kindly sharing his experiences. Where else will the Point 2 View turn up? At the risk of a bad pun, stay tuned!

To visit the Point 2 View USB Camera’s product page: http://www.ipevo.com/Point-2-View-USB-Camera_p_70.html

* Prices are subject to change, please visit www.ipevo.com for the latest price infomation.
* Find more tips and stories about P2V at www.ipevo.com/p2v.

Here’s a math problem: The Point 2 View camera, plus 4th grade math, multiplied by 21. Does that all equal success in the classroom? According to one teacher, yes indeed! We had a chance to check in with Terry Rex, a 4th grade teacher from Wings Park Elementary School in Oelwein, Iowa. He teaches 21 students in a self-contained classroom.

Earlier in the year, Terry was introduced to the Point 2 View at a math workshop, and he saw the potential for the camera to help students with math problems. Terry told us about the school’s decision:

“The extremely affordable price allowed us to purchase enough cameras to outfit all of our classrooms that wanted one. I think affordability is one of the camera’s biggest selling points.” The school ended up purchasing 21 cameras.

Terry explained how he uses the camera in class:

“I have used the camera multiple times to have students share their math work during our problem-solving activities. I have also used it to make YouTube videos of our class pets to put on our class website; I really like the ability to take snapshots. And early on, we purchased 15-foot USB extension cables, so the portability of the camera has been wonderful.”

To maximize visibility of the text and equations projected on screen in the dim classroom, Terry had a ready solution:

“We had some initial issues with lighting, but we solved them by setting a lamp next to our camera, so that when we turn off the lights, we can still clearly see the items under the camera.”

Terry also emphasized how easy the Point 2 View is to use, particularly for those who might otherwise find such technology to be bothersome or intimidating:

“Many of our tech-challenged teachers have expressed how easy it has been to use their camera. I know some of these teachers use the Point 2 View every single day. It’s perfect for large group sharing opportunities.”

A sincere thank you to Terry and everyone at Wings Park Elementary. It’s great to know the Point 2 View is making fractions, decimals, long division, units of measure, and all that other good stuff a little easier to learn!

To visit the Point 2 View USB Camera’s product page: http://www.ipevo.com/Point-2-View-USB-Camera_p_70.html

* Prices are subject to change, please visit www.ipevo.com for the latest price infomation.
* Find more tips and stories about P2V at www.ipevo.com/p2v.

We are particularly pleased to bring you this story of another real-world application of IPEVO’s Point 2 View USB Document Camera. Recently, we had the opportunity to chat with Eric, a Police Surveillance Specialist with the Los Angeles Police Department. Eric found a use for the Point 2 View we could never have anticipated.

Among other duties, Eric is tasked with examining cell phones for use in ongoing investigations and court cases. In addition to taking closeup pictures of the phone itself, specialists must also examine and record information contained on the phone. While some cell phones have ways to send certain types of data to the computer, often specialists like Eric have to literally take pictures of the cell phone screen itself displaying texts or call histories or other information. And that’s where the Point 2 View comes in.

“There are a few products on the market that cell phone examiners are stuck with trying to capture these small, low-light screens,” said Eric. “I was introduced to the Point 2 View by a fellow examiner, and I’ve found the camera to be a great tool for the work I do, and a significant improvement over competing products.”

And what features of the Point 2 View impressed Eric?

“A dim screen in a semi-darkened room makes for a tough subject to photograph,” Eric explained. “The Point 2 View’s high resolution and good performance in low-light situations make it an ideal camera for this situation. I’ve been impressed with the functionality of the Point 2 View, particularly its ability to focus well and easily for clear pictures.”

It’s great to learn the Point 2 View is making a difference, however small, in something as important as law enforcement. Thanks for sharing your story, Eric! Who knows what other uses our savvy customers will find for the Point 2 View? Keep checking in to find out.

To visit the Point 2 View USB Camera’s product page: http://www.ipevo.com/Point-2-View-USB-Camera_p_70.html

* Prices are subject to change, please visit www.ipevo.com for the latest price infomation.
* Find more tips and stories about P2V at www.ipevo.com/p2v.

The response among educators and others has been overwhelming for our Point 2 View USB Document Camera. Featuring a unique and versatile stand, a great macro mode, and extremely easy operation, the Point 2 View is quickly becoming a favorite alternative to clumsy and much more expensive traditional document cameras.

That’s why, if you’re a European distributor or reseller, we need your help to give the Point 2 View its long overdue tour of Europe! We’ve received numerous inquiries from educators, IT professionals, and others across Europe who want the Point 2 View for their classroom or office. Due to this demand, we’re eager to find a trusted retail partner to serve European customers.

Is your company in a position to help us share the Point 2 View with Europe? If so, we’d love to hear from you. Check out our Point 2 View product page, and also our Education Flyer. From interactive presentations to product demos, web conferences, and much more, our customers are finding tons of uses for the Point 2 View.

Send a message to sales-america@ipevo.com for more information or to express your interest. We’re excited about this opportunity, and we hope you are too!

* Prices are subject to change, please visit www.ipevo.com for the latest price infomation.
* Find more tips and stories about P2V at www.ipevo.com/p2v.

How can IPEVO’s Point 2 View USB Document Camera benefit educators? Marco Torres of Alas Media has some first-hand experience he was kind enough to share with us. Marco is an e-learning specialist and producer of multimedia content for businesses as well as educational institutions. He travels the world, including places around the United States as well as Australia and Europe, sharing his knowledge with educators excited about the possibilities of new technology and its place in the classroom.

Recently, Marco was in need of a solution to present Apple’s iPad and iPhone, as well as text and writing, to his clients.

“Traditional document cameras are expensive and too bulky for travel, so I created my own rig for sharing video through iChat,” Marco explained, “But this rig was cumbersome and complicated, and I did some research for a better solution. I came across the Point 2 View USB Camera, and its portability and ease of use have been an ideal fit for my presentations.

“I appreciate that I can get very close to the subject with the Point 2 View,” Marco continued. “The camera’s simplicity, including the no-frills software, results in none of the ‘intimidation factor’ that comes with similar devices, and that’s important to educators.”

Marco also told us that he frequently uses the Point 2 View in conjunction with Livescribe technology, which involves a special pen and paper that records writing to be uploaded into a computer:

“I have found the combination of the Point 2 View and Livescribe to be an inexpensive but effective alternative to something like a smartboard. With the Point 2 View, I can project what I’m writing for the benefit of the group. And meanwhile, Livescribe is recording the text so that it can viewed and accessed digitally well after the live presentation is concluded.”

Finally, Marco pointed out an important benefit for educators using the Point 2 View over much more expensive alternatives:

“Too often, I see institutions spending large portions of their budget on a small amount of technology, such as the smartboard or traditional document cameras. The result is that relatively few students and teachers have access to this limited supply of teaching tools. Purchasing inexpensive devices like the Point 2 View would get more creative teaching tools into the hands of more students and teachers, and education budgets could be more smartly distributed across the board.”

Thanks so much to Marco for providing his insight, and we are glad the Point 2 View is a fit for your needs. For more about Marco’s work and Alas Media, visit http://www.alasmedia.com.

To visit the Point 2 View USB Camera’s product page: http://www.ipevo.com/Point-2-View-USB-Camera_p_70.html

* Prices are subject to change, please visit www.ipevo.com for the latest price infomation.
* Find more tips and stories about P2V at www.ipevo.com/p2v.

Today we check in with Dr. Alisa Cooper, a Professor of English at Glendale Community College in Glendale, Arizona. She has a particular interest in the power of mobile learning. As she summarizes it,

“Mobile gadgets are everywhere, and just about every student has a mobile phone in his/her pocket. Why not take advantage of these learning tools?”

Normally, Dr. Cooper has access to conventional (and expensive!) document cameras in her classrooms. But recently, she had the opportunity to present a mobile learning workshop at the Sloan Consortium (Sloan-C) conference in San Jose, in order to teach other educators about creating and utilizing mobile content. For this event, she needed a portable document camera solution to present a range of mobile devices, from the iPhone and Droid to e-readers and the iPad. After reading about the Point 2 View USB Document Camera, she ordered one, and we’re happy to learn that Dr. Cooper is pleased with her purchase:

“My initial impressions were that the camera was just what I needed. It was small, yet sturdy, and the picture quality was great. I really didn’t think the quality would be so good. It was super easy to set up.”

Dr. Cooper also spoke about how she might use the Point 2 View going forward:

“I will use it when I travel and for web demos. I’m going to also try to use it for online conferences with students. I teach writing, so it might be good to mark up a paper in a live online conference session in DimDim [a web conferencing software]. The student could listen and watch me mark up the paper.”

Finally, we asked Dr. Cooper how the Point 2 View compares to the conventional document cameras in her classrooms. These bulky cameras can cost anywhere from $500 to several thousand dollars, versus just $69 for the Point 2 View. Here’s what she had to say:

“It wasn’t until we were in San Jose that I got to see a real comparison image, and I still think the image quality is just as good. What is so amazing is I didn’t feel the need to have a light. The document cameras in the classroom have these lights. Sometimes I have to use them even in the bright classroom. The Point 2 View didn’t even need a light.”

Sincere thanks to Dr. Alisa Cooper for sharing her thoughts. Take a look at the demo video she made with the Point 2 View. You can also check out Dr. Cooper’s mobile learning blog.

* Prices are subject to change, please visit www.ipevo.com for the latest price infomation.
* Find more tips and stories about P2V at www.ipevo.com/p2v.

In this entry, we check in with Phil Goodman, who owns Goodman Consulting. Phil is an Apple Certified Trainer, and in addition to corporate consulting, he enjoys teaching various topics focused on Apple products and portable tech. Based in Los Angeles, he has taught at several Apple Stores and the annual Macworld Expo, among other venues. Phil also runs the Los Angeles Portable User Group (LAPUG), a group of about 300 members dedicated to portable technologies.

As you can imagine, the latest hot topic for LAPUG has been Apple’s iPad. We were happy to learn that Phil has exclusively used IPEVO’s Point 2 View USB Document Camera to conduct iPad training for members of LAPUG and others in the Los Angeles community.

Phil was good(man) enough to share why he decided to use the Point 2 View:

“After using many different products to view the iPad, I settled on the Point 2 View, because it appeared to be an inexpensive yet flexible method to demonstrate the products we’re discussing. In the past, I’ve used camcorders on tripods as well as overhead camera/document readers. Those products were bulky, and were always limited to television resolution. Although they did provide 30 frames per second quality, the resolution left much to be desired. The P2V has much higher resolution [up to 1600 x 1200, if you're curious!], and is much lighter and more flexible to set up and carry around.”

To expand a little on what Phil expressed so eloquently, the Point 2 View is a nice choice for showing iPhone, iPad, and similar electronics because of its macro mode and excellent rendering of details up close (as close as 2 inches). Autofocus means your focus will stay nice and sharp, and the Point 2 View’s jointed stand lets you position the camera exactly where you need it to be. Cool? Cool.

So whether you’re teaching a group of portable tech enthusiasts, like Phil, or just sharing an app with a friend over video chat, the Point 2 View is a smart choice. Consider that your free consultation!

To visit the Point 2 View USB Camera’s product page: http://www.ipevo.com/Point-2-View-USB-Camera_p_70.html

Click here to download the tabloid printable template for Point 2 View USB Document Camera and your smart phone.

* Prices are subject to change, please visit www.ipevo.com for the latest price infomation.
* Find more tips and stories about P2V at www.ipevo.com/p2v.