Apps To Control Your Computer

Splashtop Whiteboard & Doceri

If one is an instructor, and one needs or wants to use one’s mobile device to control the computer in one’s classroom, then there are two very nice apps that will allow one to do this. They are: Splashtop Whiteboard and Doceri. 

Both will allow one to connect one’s mobile device to a PC (i.e. Windows) or Mac in the classroom and allow one to control the computer from the mobile device. These two apps are great tools to add another dimension to one’s instruction by allowing teachers and students to interact with the content as well as each other. Splashtop Whiteboard and Doceri will also allow the teacher to maneuver 

throughout the class while still providing instruction. Because  the mobile device is connected to the computer, students can also be given the opportunity to teach and interact with content or the computer. This is a nice way to allow students to present information or content, or allow students to conduct presentations right from the mobile device. 

How Does This Work? 

First the apps have to be downloaded from the appropriate app store depending on which mobile device one uses. For iOS devices (iPad, iPhone, etc.) one needs to download the app from Apple’s app store. If one is using an Android-based device one will need to download the app from the Google Play store. Once the apps have been downloaded, then one will need to download the application software from the respective websites (Splashtop Whiteboard and Doceri). Then, it is just a matter of connecting the mobile device (using the app) to the computer (be sure to have the application software running on the computer when making the connection). Once the connection is made between the app on the mobile device and the computer, you are on your way!

If one is wondering which app is better or which app one should use, below are some comparisons:

1. The Splashtop Whiteboard app costs $19.99 but the software for the computer is free.
2. The Doceri app is free but the Doceri software for the computer costs $30.00 per license.
3. Both allow one to make annotations on the screen but I found the Splashtop Whiteboard annotations feature to be more user-friendly.
4. Doceri allows a teacher to record what is on the screen to be shared later with students who are absent or reviewing the information covered in class at a later time.
5. Both will allow a teacher to turn their computer into a touch-based device as one uses the app on the mobile device to control the computer.

Recommendation:

As much a I enjoyed Splashtop Whiteboard, and even though it costs less than Doceri, I found Doceri to be more robust and the recording feature gives it the edge. While $30 for a license is a little more than one would expect to pay, I think it is well-worth the cost.