Sliding into the Past, Projecting into the Future: Examining the Development and Future of Projector Technology

Excerpt

When I started my journey in the education profession over twenty-three years ago I used a slide projector regularly during my instruction. It was part of my shtick. I made my own slides and even bought my own slide projector, which accompanied me to job interviews. I used my father’s old Konica camera and bought a set of close -up lens filters to capture images from a variety of print sources. On any given Saturday one could find me outside of my residence, underneath an awning or stairwell where the light was even, hovered above an ironing board opened to a page in a book, capturing an image. Utilizing slides required effort. They took much time to organize. Stacks held together with rubber bands and binders filled with special sorting sheets filled file cabinet drawers. Placing them in the tray correctly also required much focus. Sometimes I accidentally inserted the in the tray upside down or backwards. All had to be tested well before a presentation. Regardless, slide shows helped make my content “come alive.” The maneuverability was helpful in this essence as well, as I would often place a sheet on the wall and project from the back of the room to make images extra-large. …