Spirit boards and scrying tools have gotten a bad reputation by the incorrect use of Ouija Boards in television and movies. When used correctly, Spirit Boards can be amazing divination tools. There is nothing "evil" about them, only bad intentions. If you have good intentions, you'll have a positive experience with these boards.
Scrying bowls, mirrors, and other things such as tea leaf reading, is another way of receiving intuitive information. They are the tool, you are the magick.