Whether it’s sand, dust, pollen, or other particulate matter, dirty air is simply a fact of life for most of the world’s population.
In fact, research from the World Health Organization has revealed that over 90% of people live in areas with air pollution.
While improvements have been made in developed countries, overall air pollution levels worldwide have remained high and stable over the past 6 years. While going inside and closing the windows may seem like a way to avoid air pollution, this is often not the case, as evidenced by a recent study of UK schools that showed PM10 concentrations were often higher inside than outside. The effect of poor air quality on human health is well documented. But did you know that dust is also an invisible killer of equipment, particularly in schools? Most classroom equipment is constantly exposed to the air even when not in use, resulting in dust accumulation that can cause damage. Furthermore, pieces of equipment that use fans for cooling, such as projectors, will constantly suck in air while in use, making them especially susceptible to harmful dust.
Three major dust-related issues that affect education projectors
Overheating, lag, and system crashes
The bulbs in traditional lamp projectors often reach temperatures as high as 800~900°C while operating, meaning heat dissipation is especially important. But accumulated dust on the vents can disrupt heat dissipation, reducing speed and performance and occasionally even forcing automatic shutdowns due to heat surges.
Dust accumulation degrade images
Even in projectors that employ a dust filter to safeguard against heat-related issues, finer dust can still accumulate on the colour wheel, leading to degraded images and reduced brightness.
Frequent maintenance and increased cost
Whether it’s overheating, crashing, or colour degradation, failing projectors can’t be fixed by teachers or students. Regardless of whether a school relies upon on-site IT personnel or outsources to a contractor, increased repair costs lead to higher school budgets.
The fact of the matter is that education projectors need to be dust-resistant. In recent years, BenQ has been actively investing in and developing dust-resistant technology for use in its Education Laser Projectors. In addition to using convex colour wheel sensors that prevent dust buildup and prolong colour performance, BenQ’s Education Laser Projectors also feature comprehensive Dust Guard Technology. The sensor in Education Laser Projectors uses a magnetic system for timing, making it impervious to dust accumulation.
BenQ Education Laser Projectors also come equipped with IP5X-certified optical engines that are designed to keep out hair, dust, and fibres. Meanwhile, the Dust Guard Pro model wards off PM2.5 while still maintaining free air flow to ensure safe operating temperatures. The Dust Guard Pro model is also equipped with a sealed optical engine to fully protect chips, colour wheels, and other optical components. By preventing colour wheel failure, BenQ Education Laser Projectors can avoid common projector issues such as spotty projection and colour degradation.
Most importantly, however, is the fact that Dust Guard Technology can reduce expenditures on maintenance and also reduce the time and trouble required to fix equipment. Employing models with DustGuard Technology in every classroom can significantly lower a school’s total cost of projector ownership, making BenQ Education Laser Projectors the ideal long-term projection solution for educators everywhere.