From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
A whiteboard is the name for any plastic glossy surface, most commonly coloured white, where markings can be made. Whiteboards operate analogously to blackboards - they allow markings that temporarily adhere to the surface of the board and that can be easily removed.
However, instead of using chalk (as on blackboards) to make the markings, a special whiteboard marker containing removable ink is used.
Whiteboards, however, are slightly more expensive than blackboards. In addition, only special whiteboard markers are suitable for use on whiteboards; using other markers that resemble whiteboard markers but that contain the wrong kind of ink creates indelible (or very hard to remove) markings. Also, the white background can cause contrast problems for people with vision impairment, and some people have allergies or sensitivities that are affected by the strong odor of most whiteboard markers. For the latter, reduced-odor markers are available.
Advantages and disadvantages
Whiteboard ink markings are less susceptible to external influences, such as water or accidental erasure, because the ink adheres slightly more strongly than chalk adheres to blackboards. The ink is also less messy than chalk, which generates chalk dust during use and erasure.Technical advances
Most whiteboards provide temporary viewing of markings. However, there are automated whiteboards that rotate the surface through a built-in scanner, allowing the markings to be saved electronically for later printing or viewing on a computer.
