Smartboards By: Willetta J. Jackson EDUC 8841 Walden University

What is a Smartboard? is an interactive whiteboard developed by SMART Technologies. When introduced in 1991, it was the first interactive whiteboard to provide touch control of computer applications and annotation over standard Microsoft Windows applications.interactive whiteboard SMART Technologies

Need: What problem or need existed that gave rise to your innovation? There wasn’t a display for the computer No interaction with the students The need to be more involved When you interacted using the Internet it was computer and student, now it involves the whole group The need for big screen resolution

Research: What research organization or people developed a solution to this problem or need? What were their findings? Who were the “lead thinkers” for this innovation, and how did they convince a manufacturer to produce it? SMART Technologies is the industry pioneer and market leader in developing collaborative products for classrooms and meeting rooms. Founded in 1987 by partners David Martin and Nancy Knowlton, SMART began as the Canadian distributor for a U.S. projector company SMART forms strategic alliance with U.S. computer giant Intel ® Corporation The alliance results in joint product development, joint marketing efforts and Intel's equity ownership in SMART.

Development: What problems did your innovation encounter in the development process: Who was the intended audience for your innovation? low speed modems, early versions of Microsoft Windows software that were often unstable and slow processors with little graphics capability. Some of the early adopters of SMART’s products were educators with a need to give lectures at a distance.

Commercialization: Describe the production, manufacturing, packaging, marketing, and distribution of your innovation. Revenue generated through projector sales was directed toward the research and development of the SMART Board interactive whiteboard that would enable groups to interact and instantaneously share information with people in the same room or around the world. In 1992 SMART formed a strategic alliance with U.S. computer giant Intel Corporation. This alliance resulted in joint product development, joint marketing efforts and Intel's equity ownership in SMART. While the initial project that caused the investment to be made has long since been completed, the equity ownership in SMART remains. Other than the Intel equity investment and some small investments from family and friends, the company has relied on its retained earnings to fuel its growth.

Commercialization: Describe the production, manufacturing, packaging, marketing, and distribution of your innovation. Those early years were characterized by a great deal of financial uncertainty, and at various times, SMART’s future was in serious doubt. However, with a long-term focus, a firm belief in the opportunity to forge a new way for people everywhere to work and the patience of its bankers, SMART got through the many difficulties. In the process it developed most of the key operating parameters that define the way in which SMART runs its business and serves its customers. In 1992 SMART formed a strategic alliance with U.S. computer giant Intel Corporation. This alliance resulted in joint product development, joint marketing efforts and Intel's equity ownership in SMART. While the initial project that caused the investment to be made has long since been completed, the equity ownership in SMART remains. Other than the Intel equity investment and some small investments from family and friends, the company has relied on its retained earnings to fuel its growth. That early relationship with Intel was another of the key building blocks in SMART’s history. The equity investment helped SMART push forward in both its hardware and software development activities. Perhaps just as importantly, SMART staff felt something akin to a “seal of approval” for all of the pioneering efforts that it had undertaken with the SMART Board interactive whiteboard and in trying to help people achieve better results in classrooms and meeting rooms.

20+ Years of Innovation 1986 Company co-founder forms idea for an interactive whiteboard Partners David Martin and Nancy Knowlton are on a long drive through Upstate New York when Dave first describes the product idea he’s been working on to Nancy. SMART Technologies is founded the following year SMART introduces the world's first interactive whiteboard SMART sows the first seed for interactive whiteboards and continues to lead the product category SMART forms strategic alliance with U.S. computer giant Intel ® Corporation The alliance results in joint product development, joint marketing efforts and Intel's equity ownership in SMART SMART CEO establishes the SMARTer Kids Foundation of Canada The foundation offered several hundred million in grants to qualifying public or private, accredited, not-for-profit education institutions over a nine-year period SMART receives ISO 9001 certification SMART is one of few companies in the interactive whiteboard industry to achieve this recognized quality management standard SMART launches Research Assistance Program The program supports research on technology that supports group collaboration and whole-class teaching and learning SMART opens offices in Bonn, Tokyo and Washington, DC SMART continues to expand operations worldwide and localize support for distributors SMARTer Kids Foundation begins sponsoring US State Teacher of the Year Programs The SMARTer Kids Foundation is the only National Teacher of the Year sponsor to award technology products and training, worth US$17,000 for each nominee.

20+ Years of Innovation 2002 Carnegie Mellon research says SMART Board interactive whiteboard is fastest, most accurate way to interact with projected information Interacting at a Distance: Measuring the Performance of Laser Pointers and Other Devices says the SMART Board interactive whiteboard beats conventional mouse, laser pointers and semantic snarfing, where the image is copied to a handheld device and the user interacts with the device's touch screen using a stylus SMART and SMARTer Kids Foundation begin support of Intel Teach to the Future Program More than US$300,000 in classroom technology is donated annually to enhance learning environments SMART Board interactive whiteboard wins Comenius Medal The award presentation marks the first time a hardware product wins the Comenius Medal SMART invents breakthrough touch technology SMART introduces DViT (Digital Vision Touch) technology, a breakthrough technology that enhances the functionality 2004 SMART awarded Worlddidac Quality Charter SMART is the only interactive whiteboard manufacturer certified under charter. Judging criteria include pedagogic value, innovation, ease of use, design, quality, safety, multifunctionality, adaptability, degree of interactivity, eco-friendliness, aesthetics and performance/cost ratio SMART Sponsors 21st Century Schools of Distinction Awards More than US$300,000 in SMART products awarded to 20 outstanding US schools SMART Board for Flat-Panel Displays plays integral role in Mars mission The product has been incorporated with NASA's plasma displays to create a network of MERBoards, or a large, touch-enabled, plasma display system with custom MERBoard software America's 25 largest school districts use SMART Board interactive whiteboards SMART products are installed in schools in every U.S. state, in each of the 25 largest school districts and in the majority of the top 500 school districts.

20+ Years of Innovation 2004 SMART Technologies Inc. facilitates cutting-edge research at Georgia Tech The world's largest SMART Board interactive whiteboard is facilitating research into virtual rear projection (VRP), a breakthrough in front- projection technology, at the Georgia Institute of Technology Lifetime Achievement Canada Export Award This prestigious national award acknowledges SMART for its significant contribution to Canada's economy and highlights excellence in global competitiveness SMART launches database of K-12 lesson activities correlated to state standards SMART is first interactive whiteboard company to enable educators to browse content by curriculum standards Notebook software wins prestigious Comenius EduMedia Signet award Notebook software wins this prestigious award for exemplary education media – the first time that a software product for interactive whiteboards has been recognized by the society SMART named Canada’s 50 Best Managed Companies for eighth consecutive year First named one of Canada’s 50 Best Managed Companies in 1996, SMART achieved Platinum Club status in This latest award marks the eighth consecutive year the company has been awarded the 50 Best distinction SMART launches new Sympodium products SMART introduces the Sympodium™ ID350 and ID370 interactive pen displays SMART releases Notebook software version 9.5 Version 9.5 becomes the first cross-platform version of award-winning Notebook collaborative learning software, supporting Microsoft Windows, Mac OS and Linux SMART launches Senteo student response system The system includes a handheld device for each student in a classroom and a central receiver that allows teachers to send information out to each device and receive information back from each student. The system increases one-to-one interaction by allowing teachers to survey and engage students and collect responses to personalize the learning environment.

20+ Years of Innovation 2007 SMART introduces Notebook interactive viewer The new viewer enables sharing of Notebook files with anyone (even those without Notebook collaborative learning software), and can be used to present material on any brand of interactive whiteboard SMART wins 2007–2010 Worlddidac Quality Charter Accreditation The Worlddidac Foundation is an independent, international trade association for the education market. This award certifies companies that demonstrate a strong understanding of educators’ needs SMART co-founder wins outstanding achievement award from ERA Executive chairman and co-founder, David Martin, receives Outstanding Achievement Award at the British Education Suppliers Education Resource Awards for inventing the interactive whiteboard and “changing the nature of what happens in classrooms all over the world.”

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References SMART Technologies. Retrieved on January 14, 2010, from SMART Board interactive whiteboard. Wikipedia The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved on January 14, 2010, from