In some cases it is used as little more than a notice board, or as a convenient close-up projector screen. It may be a self-contained piece of software, and there is a plethora of open source and free examples from which to choose online. The white board is a ubiquitous piece of hardware that you find in classrooms and board rooms all around the world. In other situations it is used (rarely) as a highly interactive aid to group work and decision-making.