OVER HEAD PROJECTOR

Roger Appledorn is credited for inventing the overhead projector technology in the early 1960's.

An overhead projector typically consists of a large box containing a very bright lamp and a fan to cool it. On top of the box is a large fresnel lens that collimates the light. Above the box, typically on a long arm, is a mirror and lens that focusses and redirects the light forward instead of up. Transparencies are placed on top of the lens for display. The light from the lamp travels through the transparency and into the mirror where it is shone forward onto a screen for display. The mirror allows both the presenter and the audience to see the image at the same time, the presenter looking down at the transparency as if writing, the audience looking forward at the screen. The height of the mirror can be adjusted, to both focus the image and to make the image larger or smaller depending on how close the projector is to the screen.

HISTORY
The first overhead projector was used for police identification work. It used a cellophane roll over a 9-inch stage allowing facial characteristics to be rolled across the stage. The U.S. Army in 1945 was the first to use it in quantity for training as World War II wound down. It began to be widely used in schools and businesses in the late 1950s and early 1960s.

USE IN EDUCATION
The overhead projector facilitates an easy low-cost interactive environment for educators. Teaching materials can be pre-printed on plastic sheets, upon which the educator can directly write using a nonpermanent, washable color marking pen. This saves time, since the transparency can be pre-printed and used repetitively, rather than having materials written manually before each class. The overhead is typically placed at a comfortable writing height for the educator and allows the educator to face the class, facilitating better communication between the students and teacher.

The enlarging features of the projector allow the educator to write in a comfortable small script in a natural writing position rather than writing in an overly large script on a blackboard and having to constantly hold his arm out in midair to write on the blackboard. When the transparency sheet is full of written or drawn material, it can simply be replaced with a new, fresh sheet with more pre-printed material, again saving class time vs a blackboard that would need to be erased and teaching materials rewritten by the educator. Following the class period, the transparencies are easily restored to their original unused state by washing off with soap and water.

Compared with other projected aids, the OHP also has the great advantage that it does not require the room to be blacked out, thus allowing students to take notes; indeed it can be used in all but the very brightest light (eg direct sunlight), an advantage that tends to be lost when direct transmission of coloured electronic images is introduced, however. The OHP is also clean, quiet, and 'user friendly', requiring no technical skill or knowledge on the part of the operator apart from the ability to change the occasional lamp.

SOME WEAKNESSES OF THE OHP

It requires a power supply, and needs a suitable flat (preferably white) surface on which to project its image. Also, unless this surface is inclined forward at the correct angle, the image will probably suffer from 'keystoning

Unlike chalkboards, OHP's do also require a certain amount of routine maintenance. They are also liable to break down occasionally (generally at extremely inconvenient times), so it is always advisable to have a spare bulb close at hand (most modern machines do in fact have a built-in spare bulb that can be brought into use at the turn of a knob.) A further disadvantage is that some lecturers find the glare from the OHP troublesome, although this can generally be overcome by attaching a suitably-positioned shade to the machine.

Apart from these possible 'hardware' difficulties, the main problems associated with the overhead projector stem from the fact that many users do not give sufficient thought to the production of their display material. In many cases, writing is too small or too untidy to be read easily (both in some cases), quite apart from the fact that it frequently extends beyond the visible area of the transparency. Teachers and lecturers tend to forget that the illuminated projection area in most overhead projectors is not the same size as the acetate sheets that are used to produce OHP transparencies.

SOME BASIC GUIDELINES ON HOW TO USE THE OHP

Position the projector and screen so that the latter can be seen clearly by all the members of the class or group with whom you will be using the machine. In many cases, it is best to place the screen in one of the front corners of the room, especially if locating it in a central position would deprive you of access to a fixed chalkboard or markerboard, which you might well find that you want to use in the course of the session.

Adjust the distance from the projector to the screen so that the image fills the full area of the latter when properly in focus; failure to use the entire area of the screen can make it difficult for people at the back of the room to make out details. Make sure that the platen and head lens surfaces are clean and free from dust; dirty or dusty surfaces can reduce image brightness and detract from the clarity and quality of the display. (Seasoned users of overhead projectors have been known to carry around a small container of methylated or surgical spirit and a soft cloth for on-the-spot cleaning of the lens and platen.)

HOW TO DESIGN AND PRODUCE OHP

SOFTWARE

The continuous roll. Some overhead projectors are fitted with a system whereby a long roll of acetate film can be wound across the platen from one spool to another. This enables a virtually endless supply of blank film to be used in the course of a lesson, either for writing out a continuous set of notes or for providing a succession of blank surfaces for the display of specific items of material. Continuous rolls of this type are best suited to the requirements of those who prefer to create their supportive display material during the actual course of a lesson rather than produce it beforehand. They constitute, for example the standard display method that is used by many mathematics lecturers.

The single transparency. The second basic form that OHP software can take is the single transparency, whether mounted or unmounted. Although single OHP transparencies can again be used for the creation of display material during the actual course of a lesson, their principal use is in the production of pre-prepared materials.

The computer disk. Due to the high cost of the associated equipment, electronic display of material via a data projector has been slower to enter education than to be used in training, commerce and industry. However, modern highpowered overhead projectors can be used to display magnified versions of the computer screen using a liquid-crystal display tablet. This is placed on the illuminated surface of the OHP, and a serial lead used to link the tablet to a personal or laptop computer. The computer image - text, graphics, still pictures or moving video -is then duplicated on the OHP screen.

DESIGNING AND PRODUCING OHP TRANSPARENCIES - SOME BASIC PRINCIPLES.

First, do not try to put too much information on a single transparency. This is one of the most common mistakes that are made when preparing overhead projector materials Second, use a clear, systematic layout. The material should be laid out clearly and systematically, with any key words or items highlighted in some way (eg by making use of contrasting colours). Third, make sure that all the material will be seen when the transparency is projected.

Producing OHP transparencies by hand: Hand-produced OHP transparencies can be prepared using either water-soluble or permanent marker pens. Medium-tipped pens are best for most OHP work, and four basic colours - black, red, blue and green - are usually sufficient for most purposes

SIZE OF LETTERS
lower-case printing: just over 1/8 inch (3mm) (excluding ascenders and descenders) upper-case printing: just over 1/4 inch (6mm) handwriting: as for lower-case printing. It is also advisable to leave a gap of roughly 1/4 inch (6mm) between lines and to leave generous spaces between words, since this greatly increases legibility. Thus, use of guidelines 1/4 inch (6mm) apart (as recommended in the previous section) can be of considerable help in getting both the size of the lettering and the spacing of the lines right

Typing OHP material: This can be done either by typing directly onto the acetate sheet using a special ribbon or carbon sheet, or by first typing the material onto paper and then making a transparency from this (eg using a photocopier that can copy onto acetate).

Producing OHP transparencies from opaque originals: Another standard method of producing OHP transparencies is to use a suitable photocopier to prepare a transparency from an opaque original - eg a page of text.

Producing computer-generated OHP transparencies: Many laser printers can print directly onto suitable acetate sheets - but be careful! If you put the wrong kind of acetate into a laser printer (or into a photocopier), the acetate will melt, causing severe damage to the equipment. Thermal acetate sheets designed for laser printers or photocopiers are made of special material which withstands a considerable amount of heat.

SOME USEFUL DISPLAY TECHNIQUES

Progressive disclosure: It involves covering up all or part of the material on a given transparency, and progressively revealing the material as the presentation proceeds. This has the double advantage of concentrating the minds of the learners on whatever item or section is being discussed at the time, and maintaining interest by keeping them in suspense over what is going to be revealed next (always a good psychological ploy).

USE OF OVERLAYS

This differs from progressive disclosure in that the whole of the area of the transparency is revealed from the start, with additional information being added to the original display by superimposing further transparencies on the original. Again, this can be used to guide learners through the development of a complicated display stage by stage, thus avoiding the confusion and/or distraction that might well arise if the entire display were shown right from the start.

PRECAUTIONS Practice giving your presentation using your visual aids to check out how well they project. Stand off to one side of the overhead projector while you face the audience Do not face the "projected" image on the screen Cover the transparency when you are done using it Bring a spare bulb!

Place the overhead to your RIGHT if you are right handed and to your LEFT if you are left handed Place your overhead projector on a table low enough so it does not block you or the screen Place your screen on a diagonal instead of directly behind you Tape the power chord to the floor-to protect you or someone else from tripping Store your overhead transparencies in a sturdy box or container so they will stay clean and protected for the next time you need them.