Communicate! - Dry Erase Boards

Dry erase technology is simply a great invention. These clean replacements for chalk boards are those shiny white flat surfaces that are even more quickly replacing the traditional ‘black board’ in schools, colleges, and businesses everywhere. Anyone that does any amount of teaching or presenting is probably familiar with dry erase boards.

A Dry Erase Board is great for messaging staff in a physical way. No more missed email, lost message slips etc. The only thing anyone needs to be aware of is that these boards require special markers to work. Use basic markers and the result is permanent writing on a temporary surface. Although it can be cleaned up, it's better just not to have the accident in the first place.

Dry erase boards work in the same way that black boards do. You write whatever you want on them, and just a quick swipe or two with cloth eraser, the markings are gone. Be aware though that the longer the message stays on the board, the more it becomes permanent. Even old messages can be removed but they take a lot more work that a quick wipe.

Dry erase boards are an improvement over black boards, however, because you don't have to fuss with messy chalk anymore. Instead, dry erase boards work with special pens that are as easy to use as regular marking pens.

Like normal markers, the dry erase board pens have felt tips that draw out ink from an internal reservoir. They last seemingly forever, as long as they are tightly capped when you're finished using them. Once dried out, it's still possible to revive them using a bit of acetone type chemical like nail polish remover. In a business situation, the question would be why bother given the cost of paying someone to save a 1 dollar item just isn't worth the trouble.

Regular felt pens will not work on a dry erase board; their ink is very hard to wash off and could ruin the board. You have to be careful not to mix in any regular felt markers with your dry erase board pens.

Dry erase boards are also a lot easier to clean than black boards. Erasing chalk was never really a perfect process, and really just smeared the chalk all over the board. These board also have some weaknesses in the cleaning department. Remember the comment that over time the message can be more permanent. Sometimes it takes special chemicals to clean the surface to remove all traces of older messages. Still even if your dry erase board does get dirty, they're easy to clean with some basic spray on chemical cleaners.

These boards are now commonly used as instructional surfaces in classroom type environments, lining entire walls and even becoming the wall surface itself. Inexpensive, convenient, easy to use and easy to clean, dry erase boards are a very versatile tool for anyone that regularly makes presentations.

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