Can chalk dust damage computers?

The use of 'smart boards' requires a computer and a projector in the classroom. Some have been installed in our classrooms. My administration is removing the black boards because they claim the chalk dust will damage the computers, which are encased in large wooden, locked cabinetry. Are there any studies that indicate whether this is a real problem?

Can chalk dust damage computers?norten

The quick answer is yes, it can. Any dust can damage computers. Most schools have moved toward removing chalk boards and replacing them with white boards for that very reason, and also to protect people from the effects of the dust.

Can chalk dust damage computers?panda

Although this question belongs more in the technology category than in Education%26gt;Teaching, here is an answer for you...

Any type of dust particles in the air can cause problems for computers. I had a computer in a very dusty area one time and the heat built up so high in the power supply that the supply popped two or three resistors out, sounding like a .22 went off in my classroom. After that, our IT people went around and placed better fans inside the computers and vacuumed out as much dust and lint from the machines. Chalk dust is very fine, and it can get into some pretty tiny cracks and openings, which can lead to a computer nightmare.
I have heard this is the case, and my college has removed all the chalkboards from computerized rooms, and use marker boards instead.

Consider how adversely a vacuum cleaner is affected by sheetrock (when working with it...), which is essentially the same thing as chalk dust. It kills it in a couple minutes. So yes, I would say there is tremendous validity to this claim, though I know of no studies verifying this.
eventually it can