Recently, a digital whiteboard supplier called CTOUCH reached out to BSL, requesting permission to include the Canon of the Netherlands app in their store. Making our app available on their CTOUCH screens and whiteboards will help teachers use it in class, making learning history more enjoyable. We liked the idea, and over the last couple of weeks, we’ve created a special version of our app designed specifically for the big screen.
Canon of the Netherlands
The Canon of the Netherlands app is a BSL development. We designed and built the app for use by children of all ages, with help from the “canonvannederland.nl” foundation and Mediant, a pedagogical consultancy. The app utilises material from the Canon of the Netherlands, which includes 50 carefully selected subjects explaining how various events and people have influenced the country. Each topic highlights a significant historical figure, object, or event that contributed to developing the Dutch state and culture. The Canon is a frequently used resource in primary and secondary schools across the Netherlands for educating students about Dutch history.
CTOUCH digital whiteboards
CTOUCH screens and whiteboards promote interactivity, productivity and engagement during meetings and in classrooms. They achieve these objectives by leveraging the extensive functionalities offered by touch screens. CTOUCH has extensive knowledge of the possibilities inherent to the touchscreen experience for educational purposes and business meetings. The applications are diverse, encompassing teaching tools, business meeting software, and apps designed to inspire individuals and share knowledge. In any desired environment where collaboration needs to be encouraged, CTOUCH provides appropriate support to realise these goals. The organisation is committed to facilitating a seamless experience, regardless of the context in which the interactive technology is deployed.
Mega screen for the Canon
After our initial contact, CTOUCH lent us a screen to work on. After installing the Canon of the Netherlands, we found that it worked well, but we did notice some design issues on CTOUCH screens. Interface components we designed for tablet use needed adjusting for display on a large screen. For instance, the standard font sizes used in the app were challenging to read from a distance, leaving text fields nearly empty.
Other issues affected the Challenge Chooser, a spinning wheel randomly selecting class assignments. There were problems displaying the wheel on the big screen, and the chosen assignments were barely legible from a distance.
Support for CTOUCH whiteboards
Our developers were eager to solve these problems. Challenges included determining the correct fonts and font size that could be viewed easily from a distance without affecting the rest of the design. We had to make many changes to the assignments screen and tested every feature in the app. The result is a new release specifically designed for large screens. With the next update of the Canon of the Netherlands, we may also release this version in the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store, giving users of larger tablets an optimised experience.
Conclusion
BSL is committed to improving our users’ experience through investing in our apps and embracing change. Please contact us if you have any ideas for new or existing software. We will be delighted to arrange a meeting to discuss how we can assist you.
