BETT 2010 attracts manufacturing heavyweights

The largest technology education event in the world kicks off in London next week, running from 13-16 January.

BETT brings together more than 600 educational suppliers and nearly 29,000 visitors every year. The event showcases the very best in British and international technology, products and best practice.

LG Electronics, a global leader and technology innovator in electronics, is one of the many big names that will use BETT 2010 to highlight how it can support colleges and other education institutions.

“Education is a key market for LG,” says Barrie Guy, general manager of the company’s new Business to Business Group within Business Solutions.

“And we are delighted to have the opportunity to use this important show to demonstrate our ability to provide more access to ICT solutions for more learners and to drive the development of interactive teaching across the education sector.”

LG will be demonstrating its complete solutions portfolio for the sector, from educational projectors to networked storage.

Mr Guy adds: “We have recently seen strong growth in volume sales into the sector. As part of our expansion drive in the business-to-business (B2B) market, we plan to recruit UK resellers with expertise in education and to launch further solutions specifically dedicated to this market.”

Japan-based electronics manufacturer Panasonic will use BETT 2010 to unveil what it believes will be the “classroom of the future”.

The classroom promises a complete technology solution designed to improve both visual and audible communication, in a secure environment. Its features include a “multi-touch” interactive whiteboard, which enables learners to interact with images, data and text by touching up to three points at once on the board’s surface.

Brennan Peyton, general manager of Panasonic System Network Company Europe’s (PSNE) imaging department, says: “The education sector is by its very nature interactive, and these new digital technologies will improve the experience of teachers and students alike.

“Being able to count the number of raised hands in a class and offer the appropriate encouragement to students will enhance learning throughout the class and deliver more fun, engaging and rewarding lessons. Gesture recognition technology really has to be seen to be believed.”

BETT 2010 offers visitors the opportunity to touch, test and compare resources for learners at all levels, and free hands-on training and technical advice will also be available.

Jason Rainbow