Interactive whiteboards help demonstrate how the Internet can exponentially expand the impact of visual communication by conveying digital images almost anywhere in the world. But while innovative devices like the Wiimote Interactive Whiteboard enable us to write almost directly on our computer screens, sometimes you just want to quickly touch base with someone and share some scribbled-down ideas over the Web without all the extra equipment. Online whiteboards represent the most complete union between whiteboard and computer you can imagine, at least for now. Current online whiteboard services host webpages where you can draw, type and send messages with your keyboard and mouse. Most importantly, many of them are free to use and don’t require you to register your contact information. To give you an idea of what’s out there, I’ll be trying out different whiteboard sites over the next week or two and profiling them for you.
Let’s start off with a relatively simple online whiteboard site called Scriblink. Think of it as a cross between Microsoft Paint and AOL Instant Messenger. You get your own digital whiteboard space where you can draw, add some basic automated shapes, type in characters, erase, upload images and even display a grid to help you align what you write and draw. The control panel also features a color palette and Size slider that enables you to adjust the thickness of your marker and eraser as well as the size of your text. If you make a mistake, you can Undo your last move or Clear the board and start with a clean slate. The sidebar features a chat window and buttons where you can save, print and send your images. There are also buttons under the dialog box for phone and VoIP conferencing, although the VoIP button didn’t open when I tried it.
Overall, I think Scriblink does well with the basics and has definite potential as a whiteboard communication application. Keep in mind that the Save feature is a bit deceptive in that the site sends you an online link instead of a file. While it’s nice to pick up where you left off right away when you’re online, having a copy of your saved whiteboard in JPG or PDF enables you to access and print out notes and ideas anytime, whether you’re on- or offline. And with the advent of social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace, saved files can make great uploads to share with friends and co-workers. I ended up taking the very professional-looking image for this article with my camera phone and the lines minimize any chance it had of hanging on my refrigerator, let alone in a high-end art museum. Seriously though, I recommend Scriblink as a quick and convenient spot to brainstorm or have a study session with anyone connected to the Internet. It’s free, easy to use, and preserves your privacy, so try it for yourself and contact the developer if you have any input on how to make it even better.
Posted by Taeho Lim
