The SMART Board is an interactive whiteboard that can improve the way students and instructors meet, teach, train and present. It combines the look and feel of a regular whiteboard with the power of a computer so users can save and print notes, collaborate on electronic documents, share information and run multimedia materials. With this new electronic whiteboard, educators can e-mail all notes to their students, or they can post notes as HTML files so that others can view them from a Web browser.
SMART Boards come equipped with OptiPro, a new screen surface designed for use with today's brighter, higher lumen projectors. OptiPro reduces glare by providing a crisp, clean image, even in harsh lighting environments. In addition, when combined with an LCD panel or projector, the SMART Board becomes a large, touch-sensitive screen. Thus, users can rely on their fingers to move between spreadsheets, word processing documents, CD-ROMs or Web sites. The Board also features a pen tray that allows users to write notes over applications. SMART Technologies, Inc., Calgary, AB, (403) 245-0333, www.smarttech.com.
This article originally appeared in the 02/01/2001 issue of THE Journal.