Today’s schools face a multitude of  challenges – from investing in the latest education technology for the  classroom (global spending reached $13-billion in 2013, according to  FutureSource Consulting), to keeping up with government policies and economic  forces, to managing tight budgets.   Likewise, businesses desire greater collaboration with stakeholders to  derive competitive advantages.  By 2018,  Gartner predicts digital business will require 50 percent fewer process workers and 500 percent more key digital business  jobs compared to traditional models.  The  emergence of digital businesses is driving a shift in the relationship between  people and machines. 

To help address these issues, NEC Display Solutions of America announced today the UM351W and UM361X ultra-short-throw  projectors.  The units enrich the classroom  learning experience while improving the ability of business professionals to collaborate  on projects and to meet the increasing challenges of a digital, mobile economy.

UM Series Projectors’ Benefits

• Eliminate the need for external audio systems with  integrated 20w speaker, a 25 percent improvement over the predecessor models
• Horizontal and vertical keystone correction tools, which  give installers greater flexibility in mounting the projectors and confidence   the image will fit the screen every time
• Dedicated HDMI/MHL input, which makes it easy for presenters  to connect their smart devices to the projectors; second HDMI input also  included for customers utilizing multiple digital sources
• Brightness levels of 3,500-lumens and 3,600-lumens  respectively, which deliver brighter dynamic images in the highest ambient  lighting conditions
• Include ECO Mode™ technology, which helps  extend lamp life thousands of hours and lowers power consumption to support  eco-friendly environments
• Work with NEC  DisplayNote Software, an app that lets leaders and participants present,  share and annotate content from any device so their notes are automatically  saved

The models also  include table top projection capabilities, which allow images to be projected on a table or other  work surface for easier collaboration.   In addition, NEC’s new NP03Wi auto calibration interactive whiteboard  kit, available separately or bundled with the projectors, includes two wireless  pens for annotation but supports up to 256 separate pens, so businesspeople,  instructors and students stay engaged.  Coupled  with DisplayNote software, the projectors deliver complete collaboration  between a mobile device and the interactive surface.

“Schools  and teachers face the daunting task of training our children for the 21st  Century workplace, while businesses need to empower their current employees for  increased collaboration and productivity,” said Rich McPherson, Senior Product  Manager for Projectors at NEC Display Solutions.  “NEC has made some significant changes reflective  in its UM351W and UM361X ultra-short-throw projectors, underscoring its commitment  to listening to customer needs and ensuring that they have the tools to  succeed.”

The UM351W and UM361X projectors are available now at an estimated street price of $1,369 and $1,149,  respectively.  Each model ships with a  2-year limited parts and labor warranty.   The NP03Wi system includes two wireless pens, and is now available in the UM351Wi-WK and UM361Xi-WK projectors at an estimated street price of $1,899 and $1,699, respectively.