The digital canvas retains all of the flexibility that paper-based systems offer (e.g., large workspaces with persistent information) while overcoming many of the challenges (e.g., the awkwardness of physically moving large numbers of sticky notes, sticky notes that fall off the wall, inclusion of remote participants in the process, the need for transcription, and storage and retention of the work). The Span ideation system allows multiple teams to use a collaboration space that previously may have been dedicated to a single team for months.
The canvas offers 40′ (12.2 m) of digital space (10′ visible on the WM210i and 20′ visible on the WM220i) that can be panned horizontally. Users contribute content in the form of notes, sketches, flip charts and images from their personal devices and organize content by moving and grouping.Multiple types of digital artifacts can be created on a personal device or at the canvas:
- Note – This digital 3″ x 5″ (7.6 x 12.7 cm) note allows users to enter up to four lines of text
- Sketch – This digital 9″ x 12″ (22.9 x 30.5 cm) page for sketching and wire-framing comes with three different ink colors and an eraser
- Flip chart – This large digital 30″ x 42″ (76.2 x 106.7 cm) flip chart for capturing notes, decisions and action items comes with three different ink colors, a highlighter and an eraser. One flip chart can contain multiple pages.
- Image – Users can post images to the canvas, then manipulate them
The software is accessible on Chrome browsers and as apps on iOS and Android tablets.
The HD panoramic projector creates an ultra-wide display in a 16:6 aspect ratio at a spec of 3000 lumens and a contrast ratio of 1800:1 Touch and pen interactivity are provided by a touch module, supporting simultaneous multi-user and multi-touch activities.On the WM220i model, the image-alignment module melds the two projected images through an onscreen alignment process performed at the time of installation to create one seamless 20′-wide (12.2 m) image.The software has an annual subscription of US$239 for a single-user license. The hardware has an MSRP of US$9,999 and US$21,999 for the WM210i and WM220i, respectively.