Sharp today announced its new PN-C Series AQUOS BOARD interactive display systems. Available as a 70″ Class (69.5″ diagonal) model and as an 80″ Class (80″ diagonal) model, the new PN-C series is aimed at businesses and schools looking for value-priced interactive displays.

Priced 30 percent lower than the PN-L series, the PN-C805B and PN-C705B both recognize up to 10 touch points with four-person simultaneous use, up from six touch points and two-person use with the previous PN-C series.

With the launch of the new PN-C805B and PN-C705B, Sharp is for the first time introducing direct bonding technology to its AQUOS BOARD interactive display line, allowing for a highly ergonomic touch and feel. Sharp says this technology creates a user experience as close to pen on paper as possible. That’s because the protective glass is bonded directly to the LCD panel without any air gaps. This minimizes parallax difference, allowing for smooth writing operations and clear visibility.

Designed for a more intuitive experience, the PN-C series brings frequently used features, such as power on/off and input switching, backlight and freeze, to the front bezel. The new backlight control button allows for energy savings during breaks, and allows users to hide their screens without removing the content, adding a layer of convenience and security for fast-paced business and learning environments.  The new freeze function allows users to easily capture a freeze frame from a video to quickly enable on-screen annotation.  Another new feature added to this AQUOS BOARD interactive display series is the ability to connect webcams at multiple locations, providing users with even greater flexibility when videoconferencing. The new PN-C series is engineered to be used continuously for up to 16 hours a day /7 days a week, making it an extremely reliable tool for the classroom or the office.

The SHARP Pen Software incorporates a menu comprising of icons that provide easy access to pen settings and other functions. In overlay mode, users can write onscreen annotations or graphics directly onto photos, videos, Adobe PDF documents and common Microsoft files, such as PowerPoint. Downloadable SHARP Display Connect software allows the PN-C805B/C705B interactive displays to share its onscreen content with up to 50 devices, helping facilitate lively discussions and paperless meetings in both business and educational settings.

Both will ship in late January. Here are the tech specs.