Convenience and affordability hallmarks of new product
SMART Technologies has announced the launch of the new SMART Board™ 600i interactive whiteboard system, SMART's most convenient and affordable interactive whiteboard system. This second-generation integrated system combines the SMART Board 680 interactive whiteboard with the new Unifi™ 45 projector and will cost 25 per cent less than the original system.
Launched in 2006, the SMART Board 600i interactive whiteboard system quickly became one of the most sought-after classroom solutions. Its short-throw, high-offset projector reduced shadows cast onto the interactive whiteboard, and with the projector connected directly above the interactive whiteboard, there was no need for complicated wiring, ceiling mounting or the installation of a power outlet in the ceiling. The new system builds on those strengths and, with extensive input from teachers, features a number of enhancements. The Unifi 45 projector offers a brighter image and true color quality, and its unique collapsible boom protects the system from deliberate damage. The control panel below the interactive whiteboard allows teachers to turn the entire system on or off with one button, eliminating the need for a remote control.
"Integration and ease of use are two factors that are top of mind for teachers and technology coordinators as the adoption of technology accelerates in classrooms around the world," said Nancy Knowlton, SMART's CEO. "With the new 600i system, we have incorporated customer feedback to provide a highly affordable solution that makes teaching and learning in a 21st-century classroom fun and engaging."
Maher Husseini, Director, Intmark Distribution, SMART's authorised Middle East distributor, said,
"SMART's latest product, the 600i system, reflects how technology-enabled education can facilitate more effective and higher-quality learning. Educational institutions in the region will certainly be impressed by the second generation interactive whiteboard system, especially since they were developed based on extensive input from teachers themselves."
With the latest interactive whiteboard system, teachers can easily connect computers or switch between peripherals, such as MP3 players, document cameras and DVD players. They can also add hardware to the system to best meet the needs of their students. The addition of the new SMART classroom audio system or USB speakers allows teachers to turn the system into a complete multimedia center. They can also easily add the height-adjustable wall mount to adjust the height of the interactive whiteboard so that all students can use it.
The SMART Board 600i interactive whiteboard system comes with the SMART Board 680 interactive whiteboard, which offers teachers 77 inches (195.6 cm) of active screen area. Simply by touching the large display, users can access and control any computer or multimedia application, including the Internet, CDs and DVDs, and write notes in digital ink and save their work to share later. The SMART Pen Tray automatically detects when a user picks up a pen or the eraser. Buttons activate the On-Screen Keyboard, right-click and help functions. The SMART Board interactive whiteboard comes with feature-rich Notebook™ collaborative learning software, which offers teachers access to more than 100,000 pieces of educational content.
-Ends-About SMART
SMART Technologies is an industry pioneer and global education market segment leader in user-friendly ICT products and group collaboration tools. The award-winning line of SMART Board interactive whiteboards is the most widely installed in the world because of its unsurpassed product quality, versatility and ease of use. The SMART Board interactive whiteboard is used to teach over 18 million students in more than 600,000 classrooms in more than 100 countries around the world.
SMART is a private company founded in 1987. Employing more than 1,000 people, SMART is headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, with assembly facilities in Kanata, Ontario and offices in Bonn, Paris, Tokyo, Shanghai, New York City, Chicago and Washington, DC. SMART has been issued and maintains a broad portfolio of patents with numerous U.S., Canadian and other patents pending. In 1992 SMART formed a strategic alliance with Intel® Corporation that resulted in Intel's equity ownership in the company. SMART products are sold through dealers across North America and distributors worldwide. To learn more about SMART visit www.smarttech.com.
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© 2008 SMART Technologies ULC. SMART Board, Notebook, Unifi, smarttech and the SMART logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of SMART Technologies ULC in the U.S. and/or other countries. All other third-party company names and products are for identification purposes only and may be trademarks of their respective owners.
© Press Release 2008
