SMART+Board+Interactive+Whiteboard


 * Description**

The [|SMART Board] is a variation of [|interactive whiteboard] developed and marketed by the brand [|SMART Technologies]. SMART Boards are used in education and business settings as a [|digital] alternative to chalk or marker whiteboards while offering additional features such as [|data] storage/recall and [|multimedia projecting].

Smartboards are currently offered in a variety of portable and permanent options, the preferred models for education being the 600, 600i, and 685 wall-mounted units. (Ref.1) Wall-mounted units measure between 65.25” and 77.5” wide, 49.5” deep, and 5.125” thick, and weigh between 30 and 42lbs., though the active screen area is smaller (see Figure 1). All new SMART Boards come with four marker-style remote controls for manipulating objects projected on the [|screen], although [|finger-touch manipulation] is supported on some models. Current models allow for connection to local computers via VGA, DVI, [|HDMI], or [|Bluetooth] and are [|network] and [|Wifi-capable], depending on model.

Integrating with [|Microsoft Windows], [|Mac OS X], and [|Linux] [|operating systems], SMART Boards come preloaded with [|SMART Notebook] collaborative learning [|software] (see Figure 2). The software includes interactive lessons and activities, organizing content by grade level and subject, and spanning pre-Kindergarten through Post-Secondary education. Additional lessons can be downloaded from the [|SMART Exchange], a SMART Technologies website designed to allow users of SMART Notebook software to share [|lesson plans].



Figure 1. SMART Board 600-series Interactive Whiteboards



Figure 2. Screenshot of SMART Notebook software


 * History** (Ref.2)

The first SMART Board was introduced in 1991 as a [|peripheral device], acting as a touch-control interactive projection surface for Windows-based computers. Early SMART Board interactive whiteboards were slow to be accepted, being hindered both by computers using early versions of Windows operating systems and slow [|graphics-processing]. In 1992 SMART Technologies formed an alliance with [|Intel Corporation], which provided strong financial support and additional resources for development.

Important milestones in SMART Board development history:
 * 1991 SMART Board interactive whiteboard first released
 * 1992 SMART released the SMART Board 585, the first rear-projection interactive whiteboard
 * 1998 SMART Notebook 2.0 released
 * 2002 SMART Video Recorder and Wireless options became available
 * 2004 SMART Board software v8.1.2 released for Mac operating systems
 * 2008 SMART Exchange lesson-sharing website launched

**Impact on Teaching and Learning**
SMART Board interactive whiteboards have changed the way students and teachers interact with learning material in the classroom. Providing a more engaging learning experience, users are given the ability to go hands-on with material, which can relieve some of the abstract qualities of lessons and appeal to a variety of learners. Teachers are able to create interactive lesson plans, fine-tune them at a moments notice, and share them with other teachers in the SMART Exchange. Though some features of SMART Board interactive whiteboards rely on a connection to the [|internet], the whiteboards can be used [|offline], using only the preloaded software and/or a connection to a neighboring computer workstation. (Ref.3)

One potentially deterring aspect of SMART Boards is their cost. The retail price for the SMART Board 685ix model can be as high as $5,999.00US per unit (Ref.4), with other models varying in price depending on features. As with most educational products, group purchases yield lower per-unit costs, but may not be available to smaller and/or private districts and educators. Not included in the base price of SMART Boards is the cost of [|professional development] which is needed to ensure the productive use of the new technology.

**Alternatives**
As is common with new technologies, a number of interactive whiteboards with similar features have been marketed under other brand names. Some alternatives offer similar features at a lower price, but may vary in terms of [|product development] or [|end-user support].


 * [|Promethian ActivBoard 300-series for Education]
 * [|PolyVision Interactive Whiteboards]
 * [|MimioTeach Interactive System]
 * [|Luida eBeam System]
 * [|Johnny Chung Lee's Wii-mote Whiteboard]

**Examples and Demonstrations**

Video - SMART Boards - Why are they so easy to use? (SMART Tech. promotion video) media type="youtube" key="0U05WeXPGlk?fs=1" height="401" width="477"

Video - SMART Board interactive whiteboard use in Elementary Education. media type="youtube" key="lCfmJCSAG70?fs=1" height="385" width="480"

Video - SMART Board interactive whiteboard use in Higher Education. media type="youtube" key="35kEVtltwA0?fs=1" height="385" width="480"

Video - Johhny Chung Lee's [|Wiimote Whiteboard], a low-cost interactive whiteboard technology. media type="youtube" key="5s5EvhHy7eQ?fs=1" height="385" width="480"

About the Author
Billy Meinke is a graduate student in the ETEC M.Ed. Program at the University of Hawaii, Manoa. This Wiki Project Article was completed as part of an ETEC 602 course.