Interactive whiteboard sales approach a million

Some 900,000 units to be sold to schools worldwide by the end of 2010

Futuresource Consulting has released the latest figures on interactive whiteboard (IWB) sales, suggesting that the numbers will reach almost 900,000 globally by 31 December.

Colin Messenger, senior consultant at Futuresource, explained that global classroom penetration is sitting at seven per cent, and that many more sales worldwide are on the cards.

"These numbers only represent the tip of a potential market iceberg," he said. "The ever-expanding penetration of IWBs and associated technologies has helped drive a significant evolution in interactive education from a relatively passive one-to-many learning experience."

Messenger believes there is little doubt that the availability of IWBs is changing teaching styles towards "digital, interactive learning".

"Certainly there are still elements of passive learning," he said. "There probably always will be, but digital technology is allowing passive styles to evolve, as educators are able to draw from numerous multimedia platforms and create more visually rich content."

Some 750,000 boards were sold worldwide in 2009, according to Futuresource.

The evolution of IWBs may also give the market a push in the future, with IWBs following advances made in flat-panel and projection technology, the analyst firm said.