Clicker Integration and Comparisons

Because we have native IP applications, a robust H-ITT clicker integration, and text to response coming the summer, we can work in any classroom in any situation.

In addition to this flexibility, Via Response leverages the Internet to create a "personalized" cloud-based platform for instructor-student interaction that goes well beyond the capabilities of current learning management and classroom assessment systems. We have provided this list of proprietary clicker systems. We have the ability to integrate to all legacy clickers systems to squeeze out the last couple of semesters of useful service. Contact us for details.

We have also already completely integrated to H-ITT clickers to provide a lowest common denominator option for classrooms with limited wifi and carrier signal options.

Meridia™
Reply®



Website

Overview

Fleetwood makes many types of Audience Keypads and relies on a distributor network to write software and sell rebranded systems and consulting services. Larger resellers include: Meridia, Option Technologies, ComTec, Brahler ICS Digivote, PowerCom, and Padgett.

Features

Standard ARS Features Generally yes, depends on software vendor
Presenter Consol for Moderating Questions No
Free-text Response ReplyPlus: Yes, but awkward ReplyIQ: Discontinued
Recent Cutting-Edge Features Most flexible hardware platform to develop new software for

Technical

Underlying Technology 2-Way RF
Response Speed 200/second per base on Reply+, 100% accuracy. 18K/s max.
Maximum Devices per Reciever Reply Plus: 500; Reply WW/Mini: 250. Up to 71 bases for max 35,500.
Software Notes Varies, but most impressive is ComTec software
Range of Wireless Depends on model. Usually 400 - 650 feet. Reply Plus and Mini+ incorporate Wifi avoidance features.
Reference Customers Between all software and distributors, there's too many to mention

Pricing

Rental Price per Keypad, High Quantity (List Price) Varies by company, but see Meridia pricing for a comparable. For corporate accounts Option Technologies is about $8 per participant for one day, and $5 per person per day for week-long events.
Recommend Technician for Rental Yes, especially through VARs or for first use
Technician Price, 1 Day Varies by VAR. One VAR quoted $1000/day +$100/hour over 10 hours, another quoted $800/day.
Purchase List Price per Keypad As of 4/09: $35 (mini), $60 (WW), $100 (Plus), $190 (IQ) + $400-$700 per base station. Software additional.
Best Deal Heard of (Street Price)
Poll Everywhere



Website

Overview

Simple ARS using mobile phones in place of clicker keypads. Less features but significantly cheaper than any ARS purchase or rental.

Features

Standard ARS Features Yes, but First-to-buzz-in games not accurate over SMS
Presenter Consol for Moderating Questions Yes
Free-text Response Yes
Recent Cutting-Edge Features Web 2.0, simplicity (no training necessary), SMS, Twitter and smartphone voting

Technical

Underlying Technology Web2.0, AJAX, and text messaging or Twitter
Response Speed Depends; while audiences of >3000 concurrent participants have been done, SMS will be slower than clickers. Web and Twitter support hundreds per second.
Maximum Devices per Reciever Unlimited
Software Notes No software to install - live results in PowerPoint or web "widgets". Less features than hardware ARS.
Range of Wireless 99% SMS coverage in US meeting locations and classrooms
Reference Customers Google, McDonalds, GE, Discovery Channel Education, Notre Dame

Pricing

Rental Price per Keypad, High Quantity (List Price) Between $.10 and $.30 per participant per month
Recommend Technician for Rental No
Technician Price, 1 Day n/a
Purchase List Price per Keypad Software-as-a-Service model. As compared to hardware, cost averages $3.00 per "virtual clicker" (audience participant) per year; but of course participants pay $0.01-$0.20 per text.
Best Deal Heard of (Street Price) (One price for everyone)
eInstruction™, Interwrite PRS, EduQue



Website

Overview

eInstruction is the result of M&A by GTCOCalComp. Combined, the companies have a long history including the historically popular Interwrite "PRS" (and eInstruction's "CPS"). Acquired FSCreations Examview and their partnerships with content publishers. 70% education. Financially stable.

Features

Standard ARS Features Yes
Presenter Consol for Moderating Questions No
Free-text Response No. Awkward short answer capabilities on PRS
Recent Cutting-Edge Features LCD screens (overall not very innovative)

Technical

Underlying Technology In-house IR/RF
Response Speed 1000 in 4 seconds
Maximum Devices per Reciever CPS RF: 1000, PRS RF: 2000, IR: 64
Software Notes Standalone: CPS and PRS comparable features. Supports latest Win, Mac, Office. PRS adds Linux. PRS's PowerPoint Integration is better.
Range of Wireless PRS RF: 150, CPS 200 ft, PRS IR: 60 ft
Reference Customers Purdue. University of Massachusetts. University of New Hampshire: >10,000 students/semester

Pricing

Rental Price per Keypad, High Quantity (List Price) Rentals very uncommon
Recommend Technician for Rental n/a
Technician Price, 1 Day n/a
Purchase List Price per Keypad Sells in 24, 32, and 40 packs. 32 pack RF: $2995, IR: $1995. Volume discounts begin at 10 systems. Software is free.
Best Deal Heard of (Street Price) School purchase: PRS/CPS: $50 per clicker, $160/$200 per receiver. Bookstore model: CPS: $16 to bookstore ($13 if standardized), so $22 to students plus $15 per semester. PRS: $39 to bookstore, $53 to student, but no per-semester fee. Receiver hardware is free.
IML (Machine Dreams)



Website

Overview

IML is an innovative leader in ARS features, and is probably the most secure system. They target high-end corporate event rentals such as shareholder meetings, elections, and resolution voting. IML launched the Connector (a BlackBerry form factor device) in May, 2010.

Features

Standard ARS Features Yes
Presenter Consol for Moderating Questions Yes
Free-text Response Yes ('Connector' model) or as on a 10-digit phone keypad ('Communicator')
Recent Cutting-Edge Features Voice communications, ID cards, BlackBerry-style text entry, alarms when clickers "walk away", live auctions

Technical

Underlying Technology In-house designed hardware and software
Response Speed Undisclosed, but comparable to other systems
Maximum Devices per Reciever 1500
Software Notes Very impressive and flexible - has almost every feature of other systems except SpotMe (which doesn't have every feature that IML has)
Range of Wireless n/a - consultants will set up system to suit needs
Reference Customers Gartner, Medtronic, British Airways, Jewish National Fund, HSBC

Pricing

Rental Price per Keypad, High Quantity (List Price) List $20/participant for the first day
Recommend Technician for Rental Always
Technician Price, 1 Day
Purchase List Price per Keypad Keypads are deliberately over $500 each; IML prefers the rental business
Best Deal Heard of (Street Price) Pricing can vary quite a bit. Confirm a large but short event for an unbooked or uncommon time in a local market, and < $8 per participant is possible.
Qwizdom™



Website

Overview

In business for 25 years without merger or acquisition. 50/50 education/corporate.

Features

Standard ARS Features Yes
Presenter Consol for Moderating Questions No
Free-text Response Single word
Recent Cutting-Edge Features Offers standalone ARSapplication (Interact) which includes a hovering toolbar, and a PowerPoint Plug-in (ActionPoint)

Technical

Underlying Technology Their own RF technology
Response Speed 1000 in 6 seconds
Maximum Devices per Reciever 999
Software Notes PowerPoint and Keynote plug-in
Range of Wireless 500 feet
Reference Customers Hyundai, Several K-12

Pricing

Rental Price per Keypad, High Quantity (List Price) $12 per participant for the first day
Recommend Technician for Rental Yes - ~1 per 500 keypads
Technician Price, 1 Day &$36;1,000
Purchase List Price per Keypad &$36;40
Best Deal Heard of (Street Price) $6/participant/day rental
iClicker™



Website

Overview

Purchased by MacMillan Publishers in 2005. iClicker has a large user base in higher ed fueled by high-value pricing. Estimated 75% education, 25% corporate.

Features

Standard ARS Features Yes
Presenter Consol for Moderating Questions No
Free-text Response No
Recent Cutting-Edge Features Book model: Very pedagogical product development model. Software is open source. API.

Technical

Underlying Technology RF, designed in-house
Response Speed 750, 1ms per confirmation. High accuracy.
Maximum Devices per Reciever 1500
Software Notes Standalone software hovers over other applications. Win and Mac equally robust.
Range of Wireless 200-250 feet
Reference Customers Wal-Mart (training). 600 schools, incl: Cornell, Boston College, UC Bolder

Pricing

Rental Price per Keypad, High Quantity (List Price) Limited rentals (usually corporate)
Recommend Technician for Rental n/a
Technician Price, 1 Day n/a
Purchase List Price per Keypad One price: $27 to bookstore Bases are free at 1 per 100 remotes, extra bases &$#36;110
Best Deal Heard of (Street Price) $26.50 net
H-ITT™



Website

Overview

H-ITT prides itself on stable, rugged hardware and software. 75% Higher Ed, 25% K-12. It was founded by 2 Arkansas professors around 1998 and purchased by the hardware manufacturer in 2006.

Features

Standard ARS Features Yes
Presenter Consol for Moderating Questions No
Free-text Response Yes, but limited to 20 characters on the TX3200
Recent Cutting-Edge Features Reliability of software and durability of clickers. In-class Test and Homework mode with all IR and RF remotes.

Technical

Underlying Technology RF and IR
Response Speed 500/sec
Maximum Devices per Reciever Unlimited
Software Notes CRS, Classroom Response Software imports popular file types such as *.ppt, *.doc, *.pdf, *.txt, web pages and more. Most functionality is in standalone app (hovering toolbar) that can be utilized with any content. Software compatible with Win, Mac & Linux.
Range of Wireless 200 ft outdoors, long-range base available.
Reference Customers UC Riverside, University of Florida

Pricing

Rental Price per Keypad, High Quantity (List Price) $316 event fee + $3 per remote, per day for the iCue Multiple Choice RF remote only
Recommend Technician for Rental Sometimes. Rental not a large part of the business.
Technician Price, 1 Day $250 + $75/hr (min 8 hours)
Purchase List Price per Keypad $35 before bookstore/university markup to $44. H-ITT makes receivers free for universities who distribute clickers in bookstores. 32 pack of the TX3200 iCue Pro RF go for $1653, everything included.
Best Deal Heard of (Street Price) 2-way, 32 clicker IR class pack for $795, everything included
Turning Point®

In the past, Turning Technologies has declined to do a product comparison to cloud based services so in deference to them. As a result we have elected not to include them. Like other clicker company, we can integrate to Turning Technologies if there technology is robust enough to provide integration points and they approve the release of those "integration calls."