A flip chart is a stationery

Stationery

Stationery has historically meant a wide gamut of materials: paper and office supplies, writing implements, greeting cards, glue, pencil case etc.-History of stationery:...

 item resembling a whiteboard

Whiteboard

A whiteboard is a name for any glossy, usually white surface for nonpermanent markings. Whiteboards are analogous to chalkboards, allowing rapid marking and erasing of markings on their surface...

, typically supported on a tripod

Tripod

A tripod is a portable three-legged frame, used as a platform for supporting the weight and maintaining the stability of some other object. The word comes from the Greek tripous, meaning "three feet". A tripod provides stability against downward forces, horizontal forces and moments about the...

 or four-legged easel. A pad of paper

Paper

Paper is a thin material mainly used for writing upon, printing upon, drawing or for packaging. It is produced by pressing together moist fibers, typically cellulose pulp derived from wood, rags or grasses, and drying them into flexible sheets....

 sheets is typically fixed to the upper edge. Such charts are commonly used for presentations. The flip chart is thought to have been invented by Peter Kent who built one to help him in a presentation. He went on to found the visual communications group Nobo plc.

Although most commonly supported on a tripod, flip charts come in various forms. Some of these are:

• stand-alone flip chart: resembles a big isosceles triangle box that usually sits on a table. Imagine a book that you would open at 270° angle and then lay on a table. The paper is flipped from one side of the top of the triangle box to the other.
• metallic tripod (or easel) stand: usually has 3 or 4 metallic legs that are linked together at one extremity. A support board is attached to two of these legs to support the large paper pad. This is the most common type of flip chart stand.
• metallic mount on wheels: usually has a flat base to support the paper pad and is mounted on one or two legs that then have a set of wheels. The advantage of these more recent forms of stands is that it is easier to transport the flip chart from one location to another.

Recently, scientists have developed a digital self writing flip chart which writes word for word everything it is instructed to record. The disability action group "Armless" has stated that this is a significant step forward for disabilities groups to have conferences like people without disabilities.
Also being released into public sale is a flipchart which is self heighteneing. This system is known as the POGO system, named after the children's bouncy toy made famous in the 1970s.

Text is usually hand written with marker pens and may include figures or charts(recently scientists have developed a self writing system). A sheet can be flipped over by the presenter to continue to a new page.

Some flip charts may have a reduced version of the page that faces the audience printed on the back of the preceding page, making it possible for the presenter to see the same thing the audience is seeing. Others have teaching notes printed on the back.

Flip charts are used in many different settings such as:

• in any type of presentation where the papers pads are pre-filled with information on a given topic
• for capturing information in meetings and brainstorming sessions
• in classrooms and teaching institutions of any kind
• to record relevant information in manufacturing plants
• a creative drawing board for Art students
• a palette for artists in “life-drawing” classes
• for strategy coaching for sports teams
• for teaching

External links

• Using Flip Charts