| One of the staple activities that any | | | | content themselves with primitive devices |
| business entity undertakes on a regular basis | | | | like the whiteboard marker, or the |
| is the holding of a meeting. The reasons for | | | | traditional overhead projector (a device that |
| meetings vary; e.g., discussion of reports, | | | | projects the content of a hardcopy document |
| presentation of concepts, issue resolution, | | | | printed on transparent film (modern versions |
| etc. Invariably, these meetings require the | | | | can now display documents printed on plain |
| use of documents to assist in the discussion. | | | | paper). The use of multimedia projectors then |
| When the meeting is between 2 to 3 people, | | | | was not really considered cost-effective. |
| hard copy documents will suffice, but when | | | | |
| there are more participants, it is more | | | | The days of the prehistoric multimedia |
| effective to have everyone viewing just one | | | | projector, however, are over. Thanks to the |
| document so that the interaction is specific | | | | new technologies used in designing and |
| to one part of the document. Huddling around | | | | manufacturing them, multimedia projectors are |
| a document is one way to do this. However, it | | | | now much, much smaller, lighter, project |
| does become quite a task. That is why the | | | | brighter, media-friendlier, (you can connect |
| multimedia projector is fast becoming part of | | | | it to almost any computer or media player. |
| the standard office equipment of most | | | | There are even models that do not even |
| businesses, large and small. | | | | require separate equipment! All you need is |
| | | | your disc or flash drive), easier (and, of |
| Having a multimedia projector in the office | | | | course, cheaper) to maintain and, most |
| did not use to be so common a few years ago. | | | | importantly, cost a mere fraction of what |
| In fact, it was even considered to be | | | | their ancestors used to cost. This rise in |
| excessive to have one. The early versions | | | | technological superiority and fall in |
| were very bulky (some were big enough to fit | | | | investment has accelerated the availability |
| into a standard check-in suitcase. Some | | | | of a multimedia projector in almost every |
| actually even came with one!), difficult to | | | | business, both large and small which, as a |
| set-up (fickle mindedness seemed to be a | | | | result, has made interaction in meetings more |
| design consideration, i.e., you could not | | | | focused, efficient and productive. |
| just connect it to any medium), required that | | | | |
| the venue be completely dark, and cost as | | | | There are several suppliers of multimedia |
| much as your boss's annual salary in terms of | | | | projectors (both in brick-and-mortar and |
| acquisition as well as maintenance. The bulb | | | | online stores) that you can choose from so be |
| alone, which is almost guaranteed to get | | | | sure that before you purchase one, you check |
| busted when the number of hours stated in the | | | | out a few of them and ask as many questions |
| manual occurs, probably costs more than all | | | | as you want so that your purchase is an |
| your lights in the office! As a result, only | | | | informed one. They will only be too happy to |
| large organizations could actually afford the | | | | assist you. |
| investment. Smaller organizations had to | | | | |