Is bigger better? Well, in the case of an Interactive LED or Interactive Flat Panel (IFP) I would definitely have to say that it is. As a company, over the last few years we have certainly seen the trends change. The market has seemed to move up a size every year! To give you an idea, when we first started doing IFPs in 2014, we offered a whole host of sizes, far too many to be honest, but we had a large range. Our smallest size was a 32″! To put that in perspective, today, in 2019, the smallest size that we now offer is 65″ – the market has moved on.
The main driver in the IFP market is of course the home market for televisions. You will find the same physical panel inside the LED that hangs on your wall at home that you will inside an IFP. We’re always looking for a bigger TV so that has an impact on the touchscreen market. Less and less of us are buying under 65″ for our homes so the availability and the demand for the lower sized screen has dropped. This was the main factor in TouchIT Technologies opting to not carry anything less than a 65″ – we simply couldn’t guarantee the panel supply.
What is the most popular size in 2019?
It is probably still a little early to say, however, what I can say is that the most popular screen size last year in 2018 was a 75″ up from a 65″ in 2017 and a 55″ in 2016. Of course, the prices have come down to make the larger sizes more affordable. I remember that when we first launched an 82″ it cost almost $17K when you can pick up an 86″ for under $6K now. How times have changed.
How do I pick the right sized IFP for me?
There are a few factors that will affect the size of IFP that you choose in 2019. Let’s take a look at some of the variables and see how they can affect things.
Available Space
Let’s face it, if it isn’t going to fit, then there is not point in even considering it. You should make sure that you fully size up the area to make sure that the 75″ that you really want to purchase is going to fit on the wall. It may seem somewhat of a mundane point, but remember that the size of an IFP (and a TV) is measured on the diagonal – so it is 75″ top left corner to bottom right corner and this is usually the rounded up viewable area. With a frame, it could be larger than that. It is always advisable to get the dimensional CAD drawing from the manufacturer.
Who will use it?
If you are going to use this in a Pre-K class, having a 86″ LED on the wall is not going to work. There is no way that the children will be able to real all of it, even if it is mounted at ground level. You have to be sensible here and think about who will be using it and how tall they actually are. Yes, you can use height adjustable wall mounts such as the TouchIT BalanceBox, but sill have a good think about size and your users being able to reach the top of the screen. In a regular room being used by adults, you don’t want the top of the screen to be more than 80-82″ (205-210cm) high as the average person will not be able to reach the top.
Budget
Bigger costs more, sure it does, it makes sense. Have a look at your budget and see what you have available versus what is on the market, If you have a sub $3K per room budget then there is no point in looking at an 86″! To give you a rough idea of pricing, TouchIT Technologies offers in the USA a 65″ delivered at $2499, a 75″ a $3999 and an 86″ you should be able to pick up delivered for under $6K.
Room Size
How big is your room? Well, some of us are just not good at guesstimating size. So, for the purpose of this blog post, what I am going to do is advise on the number of “viewers” or in an educational sense, students in a room.
Less than 20 users/students, go for a 65″
More than 20-40 users/students go for a 75″
40-50 users, go for an 86″
Any more than this, you need additional projection to show what is being shown on the touchscreen to your audience.
We’ve got some great specials on at the moment so if you are look looking for interactive LED for this summer, get in touch.
