HP Injects Thin Client, Tablet Into Teachers' Lesson Plans

HP's Digital Learning Suite includes the MultiSeat t150 thin client, which maximizes a school's IT resources by allowing up to 10 students to simultaneously share a single host PC through a USB connection. It comes loaded with HP Classroom Manager software, which aids the teaching process while also giving teachers the all-important ability to monitor student PCs and clamp down on daydreamers and class clowns.

Another new tool that's sure to be popular with teachers is HP's Digital Sketch wireless tablet, a small, lightweight device that connects wirelessly to a host PC and lets teachers conduct lessons while walking around the room. The tablet comes with a stylus and works in conjunction with another new product, the HP Pocket Whiteboard, which projects a digital workspace of up to 10 diagonal feet on a wall or any other flat surface.

Teachers can use the Pocket Whiteboard to introduce their students to the wonders of Powerpoint at an early age, and given the gigantic footprint Microsoft has with Powerpoint, this particular skill will yield lasting dividends.

"We are bringing to life a compelling suite of education solutions and connected devices that will better prepare students for whatever environment they’ll face -- in school and out," said Stephen DeWitt, senior vice president and general manager, HP's Americas Personal Systems Group.

HP also unveiled its Presentation Station 1000, a mobile education cart that includes HP dock integration hooks, notebook arm and tray, document camera tray and bracket, keyboard tray and mouse holder.

To keep notebooks up and running, HP is debuting its 20-notebook and 30-notebook Managed Charging Carts, which prioritize the charging of weaker batteries and includes a network connection so that this downtime can be used to download updates to PCs.