The classroom of the 21st century: The interactive learning wall

The Interactive Learning Wall is a Windows/PC-based virtual blackboard system that can be controlled remotely by a classroom instructor and/or students. A laser pointer used by the instructor emulates mouse actions on a computer projection screen. An inexpensive video camera sends each projected frame to a video capture card in the computer; our software detects the bright laser spot, moves a screen cursor, and performs other mouse operations according to user actions. The system frees the instructor to move about the classroom as he/she controls the presentation. Other software allows students, from their laptop computers, to request control of the main computer's mouse and keyboard over a local network. This facilitates student interaction with the main computer's screen to perform tasks like: go to specific parts of the presentation; enter text; annotate diagrams; run programs. Both systems can help increase interactivity between instructor and students in a large classroom environment. Technical details are given in this paper.