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 andUM361Xi-WK projectors at an estimated street price of $1,899 and $1,699, respectively.