Right now is the perfect time to be a part of utilizing technology in the enterprise. There are so many products in the industry that not only make your job easier, but also include innovative features that make mundane tasks, for lack of a better word, FUN.

What better place to get creative and brainstorm with the team than in the conference room. If your office hasn’t upgraded its equipment yet, it’s time to do away with the oversized Pictionary pad or traditional dry erase board and catch up to speed with the future of collaborative technology for enterprise mobility: an interactive whiteboard.

Don’t actually have a conference room? Work from home? Not a problem. eBeam by Luidia is an interactive whiteboard far ahead of its time that can transform any flat surface into an interactive and collaborative workspace.

After spending about month using the eBeam, I’ve had the opportunity to use it in a variety of different settings, and let’s just say it’s a compact, all-in-one solution that can apply to just about any situation or environment.

From the minute I opened the compact box containing eBeam’s contents, I knew the product was something special. ebeam Edge Projection by Luidia proves the saying true that good things come in small packages because for the punch this interactive whiteboard packs, its portable enough to fit in your laptop bag or purse and can be transported from place to place, further enhancing the goal of enterprise mobility.

eBeam is so versatile and with the help of a projector and a computer can create an interactive workspace on just about any surface be it a  projector screen, table or wall.

Set up for the eBeam was effortless and with a helpful nine step guide, I had it up and running in about a half hour. Contents include the eBeam projection receiver, (less than a foot long), software, interactive stylus, mounting plates and necessary power supply. 

After downloading the eBeam software, and connecting the receiver and projector to my computer, it was time to play. For my first trial run, I fixed the receiver to a plain white wall over my desk (who wouldn’t want to “write” all over the walls in their office if they had the chance). Once the software and receiver were synced (which literally takes all of one minute) it prompted me to calibrate the receiver to the stylus.

After setup is complete, eBeam provides its user with a plain white canvas to do as you choose. Depending on your preference or role in the meeting, you can access the tools through either your computer screen or what is being projected on the wall.

The software allowed me to create as many pages as I desired and provided me the ability to insert pictures as well as other images or snapshots, Adobe (News - Alert) files as well as plain text. I could also bring up a website and edit it using the color wheel and “paint-like” features to draw and annotate as I chose – a feature that is very useful when in meetings or on a conference call to display edits, suggestions, etc.

The interface of the software was nicely designed and very intuitive. Users can also change the viewing settings to full screen, zoom in or out change the layers or settings and utilize a shortcut toolbar called the eBeam tool palette.

Once you have a completed document on your canvas, you can save and send it to others as a file. For those who are collaborating with another party who also has an eBeam system, both have the ability to share or join meetings which prompt you with an instant message box . One aspect that I found particularly cool is the ability to record a virtual meeting. Therefore, if someone isn’t present, or if you just want to save your work in real time, you can save the recording as a file and view it again later.

eBeam is available directly though Luidia’s website as well as through participating resellers and is available in a number of different models to accommodate any office or non office environment. 

Not only is the eBeam system effective in education and enterprise instances, but it can also be utilized for personal use. In my time reviewing the product, I can’t tell you how many of my co-workers said the words, “My children would love this.”

Let’s be honest, what kid doesn’t wish for their parent’s consent to write on the walls. I know I did...

Want to learn more about the latest in communications and technology? Then be sure to attend ITEXPO West 2011, taking place Sept. 13-15, 2011, in Austin, Texas. ITEXPO (News - Alert) offers an educational program to help corporate decision makers select the right IP-based voice, video, fax and unified communications solutions to improve their operations. It's also where service providers learn how to profitably roll out the services their subscribers are clamoring for – and where resellers can learn about new growth opportunities. To register, click here.

Stefanie Mosca is a Web editor for TMCnet. Previously she worked as a freelance copy editor for Digital Surgeons LLC. She holds a master's degree in journalism from Quinnipiac University and a bachelor's degree in communication from the University of New Haven. To read more of her articles, please visit her columnist page.

Edited by Jennifer Russell