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Ask Slashdot: Whiteboard Substitutes For Distributed Teams?

Posted by timothy on from the just-wire-your-brains-together dept.

DoofusOfDeath writes I work on a fully distributed software development team with 5-10 people. Normally it's great, but when we're doing heavy design work, we really need to all be standing in front of a whiteboard together. This is expensive and time consuming, because it involves airplanes and hotels. Conference calls, editing shared Google docs, etc. just don't seem to be the same. Have people found any good tools or practices to replace standing in front of a real whiteboard?

3 of 164 comments (clear)

  1. Rocketboard by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Informative

    http://www.rocketboard.it/

  2. How about using a whiteboard? by SeaFox · · Score: 4, Informative

    No, seriously.

    I know I've seen systems that use sensors you mount around the edge of a whiteboard and special markers to track where you are drawing and reproduce it electronically on remote monitors -- it's on a cheap system, but it's cheaper than flying people in airplanes all over the place.

    You could also just have the whiteboard person use a graphics tablet, and skip the big arm movements.

    1. Re:How about using a whiteboard? by vanye · · Score: 3, Informative

      We use two E-Beam Edges, one in the US (with projector) and one in the UK (large TV).

      I'm pretty happy with them - I'd recommend them.

      Coupled with video-conferencing using TelyHD gives use an effective remote office presence in the UK.

      It means I can still participate in interactive design meetings while I'm in the UK.