The Microsoft blueboard

Generally described, the blueboard is a system for providing an interactive, collaborative, educational environment.

The system includes a large format collaboration display that is capable of simultaneously displaying multiple documents and simultaneously accepting multiple inputs from multiple students, and offers real-time communications and collaboration tools. Users may interact together simultaneously either on the same display or from one or more remote locations. The ability to support multiple simultaneous users will enable a variety of new types of collaboration, enrich existing collaboration models, accelerate peer teaching and learning, and reduce communication issues.

The blueboard is primarily optimized for stylus input but supports a variety of input devices including, but not limited to, the trackball, mouse, and keyboard. The combination of the resistive touch screen film and the stylus input creates a paper-like feel for writing and drawing and provides teachers and students with a blackboard-like interface for accessing documents, taking notes, and annotating documents.

The system is extensible and connects to the global learning environment through a distributed network, such as the Internet, using XML Web Services. The system is capable of running a variety of curriculum management tools and resources required for the educational institutions.

Blueboard users may interact together simultaneously either on the same display or from one, or more, remote locations.

Multiple users may simultaneously collaborate on the same document or work separately on different documents and/or applications in a shared user interface working environment.

In addition to the shared user interface working environment, the system also supports partitioning the workspace to enable a side by side (i.e., separate and parallel) working environment.

The system supports multiple customizable cursors, to allow easy recognition of the multiple users and their interaction. The customizable cursors may be selected from a library that contains various symbols and colors. Alternatively, the customizable cursors may be created in any application that is capable of exporting graphics

The customizable cursor selection occurs during the first time a new user registers with the system and becomes part of the new user’s profile information.