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What is eBeam and how does it work?
eBeam from Luidia is an elegantly simple way to preserve and communicate the spontaneous notes and sketches you make on a whiteboard.
You can share your data by hosting eBeam meetings with networked guests, or join meetings held by other eBeam hosts. At any time, the captured notes can be printed, saved to disk in a number of file formats, replayed, edited, annotated and emailed.
When you attach the eBeam pods on either side of any existing dry erase whiteboard, eBeam transforms the board into an electronic capture area. Both the eBeam eraser and the sleeves that house the EXPO markers are essentially transmitters that emit signals to the two pods.
The eBeam pod's technology triangulates the position of the eraser or marker sleeve and sends the information through the serial cable to the eBeam application.
Learn more (What Is eBeam.pdf - 377KB)
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How is eBeam System 1 set up?
eBeam uses a technology
based on ultrasonic transmitters to capture what is written on a stroke-by-stroke
basis and sends it to a connected PC or Mac. The data is preserved within
the eBeam software application which the user can then play back, print,
email,
edit
or annotate.
- Press the
left and right pods against the whiteboard at the upper-left and upper
right edges of the whiteboard
- Run the pod
cable from the left pod to the right pod, and plug
it into the right pod.
- Plug one end
of the serial cable into the right pod.
- Plug the other
end of the serial cable (large DB9 connector) into one of the computer's
9-pin COM ports.
- The serial
connector also has a socket for the power adapter cable. Plug one end of
the power cable into the power supply, and plug the other end into a wall
outlet. Plug the power adapter cable into the connector you just plugged
into the computer.
- Insert the
batteries and EXPO markers
into the eBeam sleeves and eraser.
 
- Install the
eBeam software on your PC, Macintosh, or handheld device.
You are now ready
to capture your data!
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What are the minimum system requirements for eBeam?
- Windows 2000, XP, Server 2003, or Vista
- Pentium II, 400mhz processor or better
- Available USB port
Screen recording requirements:
- Pentium IV, 1.4Ghz processor or better
- 512MB memory available
eBeam
data conferencing:
- All users wanting
to share or participate in an eBeam meeting must be on an Ethernet network
using TCP/IP protocols and each computer must have a valid IP address.
- Users on a
network can participate in a meeting by downloading eBeam software free, even if they don't have their own eBeam systems. They can also log
in through the web using the latest version of Netscape Communicator or
Microsoft Internet Explorer on PC or the latest version of Safari on Mac OS X.
- If you experience any trouble using the web-based meeting feature, please get the latest version of Sun Java for PC, or run Software Update from Mac OS X's Apple Menu and install any applicable updates to Java.
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What size boards will eBeam retrofit?
eBeam Interact can be used with any blank, smooth projection surface from 1.5 by 1.5 feet to 6 feet by 4 feet. (Consult the specifications of your projector if you are unsure about the area of the image it projects.)
eBeam
Whiteboard can be installed on any whiteboard from 1.5 by 1.5
feet to 8 feet by 4 feet.
eBeam
System 1 can be installed on any whiteboard from 1.5 by 1.5
feet to 8 feet wide and up to 4 feet high.
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What type of serial cable does eBeam use, and what is maximum length of cable that can be used?
eBeam ships with
a special 20-foot serial cable that uses the Electronic Industries Association
(EIA) RS-232 standard for serial communications with the PC or Mac.
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The
small RJ12 connector of the serial cable plugs into the right pod. |
Plug the other
end of the serial cable (large DB9 connector) into one of the computer's
9-pin COM ports. The large connector also has a socket for the power adapter
cable.
If your PC or
Mac only has a 25-pin serial connector available, you will need to purchase
a 9-to-25-pin
adapter from a computer supply store or catalog.
If you want
to have a longer serial cable, you can daisy chain onto the eBeam cable a
standard, shielded serial cable. The maximum serial cable length tested and
supported is 50 feet.
Note, that
if an extension cable is used, and the eBeam pods do not function properly,
the extension cable may not support all of the pins required.
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Does eBeam work with USB?
eBeam
Whiteboard and eBeam Interact are available in two versions, USB and USB/Bluetooth.
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Are special markers and erasers required?
Four color-coded
eBeam marker sleeves with caps are included with eBeam. These sleeves house
four standard Sanford EXPO or EXPO2 dry erase markers (black, red,
green and blue).
When a
marker dries up, simply replace it with another Sanford EXPO or EXPO 2
marker, bullet tip. Using markers other than EXPO could damage
the eBeam sleeve.
The eraser supplied
with eBeam has a 2-inch circular felt surface. In order to capture eraser strokes, the eBeam eraser must be used. (Standard dry erasers will erase
the whiteboard, but will not erase the digitized strokes.)
Additional
eraser pads are available should your pad need replacing.
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What types of batteries do the eBeam sleeves and eraser use?
Ten coin cell
batteries are included with the eBeam hardware (two for each sleeve and two
for the eraser).
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Sleeve
Battery
Insertion
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Eraser
Battery
Insertion
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Periodically,
you will need to replace the two coin-sized batteries, with the plus (+)
side up. If the pen or eraser doesn't make any noise when you touch it to
the board, it could be time to replace the batteries. For replacement batteries,
use coin cell batteries, size CR2032.
Note: To prolong
the life of eraser batteries, avoid resting the eraser on the pad.
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What file format does eBeam use and can I export the data to other applications?
eBeam uses two proprietary,
vector-based formats. eBeam Software uses .WBD format, and eBeam Interact uses .ESB format. eBeam Interact can read and write .WBD for backward compatibility.
You can save any
eBeam file in a variety of formats including vector & raster PDF (*.PDF),
HTML (*.HTM), 256 color Bitmap EPS (*.EPS), JPEG (*.JPG), Windows Bitmap
(*.BMP), and TIFF (*.TIF).
In addition:
- Images can
be copied and pasted into other files
- All or portions
of an eBeam file can be sent as a mail attachment via Microsoft Outlook Express, Microsoft Outlook, or
any other MAPI-compliant email program. Any file format in which you can
save an eBeam meeting can also be used as a mail attachment. However, HTML
is
not
available
because
a
folder
is
created (containing meeting pages) and eBeam cannot attach a folder to
an Exchange message.
When you export
one or more eBeam files to HTML, you can then publish the files created
in the HTML folder to any web server of your choosing, making the images available for viewing in any standard
Web browser.
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Will eBeam work on a Macintosh PC?
Yes! eBeam Whiteboard is available in USB and USB/Bluetooth versions.
You can
find Macintosh
versions of eBeam software for Mac
OS 9.x and Mac OS X.
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Will eBeam work on UNIX, Linux, or AIX?
At this time, there
is not a Java version of the eBeam software available that will allow versions
of Unix & Linux to use the eBeam systems.
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What does "record and playback" presentations mean?
When using the
eBeam system, you actually record information as it is created. Unlike
other systems, eBeam does not capture an image of what is on the board.
eBeam captures the motion of your pen and eraser strokes over time.
This is a very
powerful tool that can provide immediate value. For example, suppose
you are designing a workflow process on the board, but erase part of it by
mistake. With eBeam, since all strokes of the pen and eraser are captured,
you simply use the eBeam Play Controls to "rewind" and "playback" to
the point in time that the workflow data was visible and print that point
in time.
This not only
lets you capture "lost" data, but allows you to distribute recordings
of whiteboards with more information. Instead of merely reviewing the end-result
of notes, audiences can choose to follow the thought process by viewing a "playback" recreation
of the notes as they were created.
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What about handwriting recognition (HWR)?
Handwriting recognition
is possible using eBeam even though Luidia, Inc. does not make a HWR add-on
for the eBeam System. Microsoft™ Office
XP™ now supports handwriting recognition. This is most useful in
projection mode where the user can write information on the whiteboard that
is automatically converted to text on the computer.
Any 3rd party
handwriting recognition package (e.g. EverNote RitePen or PenOffice
from Phatware) that allows input using the computer's mouse can be used
in conjunction with the eBeam in projection mode.
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Will eBeam allow me to use my whiteboard as a "touchscreen"?
Yes. eBeam Whiteboard software has a projection mode that allows you to
convert your whiteboard into a touchscreen.
What this means
is that when you use an LCD projector with the eBeam Whiteboard projection mode, a
sleeve housing the eBeam mouse insert will control the mouse cursor from
the board. The
eBeam mouse insert is included in the package and is a piece of plastic shaped
like a marker pen, but with no ink.
After a simple
calibration process, the eBeam mouse stylus can point, click, drag and drop,
and otherwise control most PC or Mac operations directly from the whiteboard
to which the eBeam pod(s) are connected.
If you will be using a projector exclusively, we recommend the eBeam Projection system. Instead of marker sleeves, it includes a special stylus with buttons for easy access to menus and tools. It also includes the eBeam Interact software, which is optimized for use in projection mode.
We also offer the eBeam Projection Companion Kit for owners of System 3 (Whiteboard) who would like to upgrade to the Projection system.
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When I'm using eBeam mouse and a projector, how do I "right mouse" click?
Simply touch
the eBeam mouse (eBeam sleeve with digital stylus insert) to the board and
hold in one place without moving for 1 second, then pull the eBeam mouse
away from the board.
A right-click
menu appears.
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Is rear projection supported?
Usually, the
eBeam pods retrofit and attach to the front of an existing whiteboard
or flat surface. However, the
eBeam pods could be mounted on the front of a rear projection display system.
The eBeam mouse
option allows you to use a sleeve with a digital stylus insert as a mouse,
pointer or pen. This would give you the ability to control the PC without
the "shadows" typically seen on front projection systems and "draw" on
the rear projection display panel without leaving any marks.
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Is there an SDK or API available for eBeam?
Yes. We have a SDK
and offer support packages as well. Please contact us for more details.
(Please let us
know if you will require SDK support.)
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How do I stop the eBeam application from automatically detecting the pods at application startup?
By default, when
you start the eBeam application, it tries to detect the eBeam pod(s). If
you frequently use the software without the eBeam hardware, you may prefer
to
disable "Detect eBeam at application start."
On Windows-based
computers: Choose Edit > Setup.
Click the checkbox next to "Detect eBeam at application start". Click OK to
close the Setup dialog box.
On Macintosh
computers: Choose eBeam > Preferences. Click the checkbox next to "Detect
eBeam Hardware at application start" under the eBeam Hardware tab. Click
OK to close the dialog box.
When this preference
is disabled, and you then want to use the eBeam-enabled whiteboard, you will
have to detect eBeam manually. To
manually detect eBeam, select Tools > Detect eBeam (PC) or System
> Detect (Mac).
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Can I upgrade my receiver(s) with new firmware?
Because the eBeam system is equipped with a digital signal processor, it can
be upgraded by downloading new firmware. Be sure that you check your firmware
version as shown in the image below and upgrade as necessary by downloading
upgrades.
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My eBeam pen sleeve has stopped working. What can I do?
We strive to make
sure that eBeam components meet strict manufacturing requirements, but sometimes
there are problems. If your eBeam system was purchased within the last 24 months
and your pen sleeve has stopped working, fill out the RMA
form and fax or mail the completed form to us. We will give you instructions
on how to return your defective pen for a free replacement. Note: your eBeam
warranty does not cover damage from misuse.
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What are the specifications for the power supply and where can I get one?
Replacement power
supplies can be ordered through our online
store or through your local reseller.
If you would like
to use your own power supply, be aware that this will void your warranty.
If you are having problems identifying the eBeam power supply from others in
your collection, use this
photo of the System 1 power supply to help locate it.
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What is eBeam's warranty?
Should your eBeam
fail due to a materials defect or faulty craftsmanship, a two year parts and
labor
warranty protects your purchase.
Please leave a message on our technical support line
at 877 Go eBeam (877-463-2326), option 3, or use our tech
support request form.
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How do I contact Technical Support?
Technical Support
is available Monday through Friday 9
am to 5 pm Pacific Time. Support requests will be answered by the close of the business day following their receipt.
Please use our Technical
Support Request Form
Phone: 877 GO-EBEAM x3 (877.463.2326), or 650-413-7550
Luidia is currently
offering complimentary technical support for 30 days upon registration of
your purchase.
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How do I care for my eBeam hardware?
At Luidia, we
take pride in the products that we manufacture and design and we hope that
you take pride in them as well. For this reason
we have put together a separate page on care for your eBeam components. Find
it here.
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