Innovative frame brings low-cost interactivity to meeting rooms
CALGARY, Alberta --- June 18, 2008 --- SMART Technologies announces the SMART Board™ interactive display frame. Combining the high-resolution image quality of a plasma display, the precision of camera-based touch technology and the simplicity of a pencil tool, the interactive display frame turns plasma displays into interactive collaboration tools. The lightweight, slender frame attaches easily to most commercial plasma displays and integrates seamlessly with SMART’s recently announced collaboration solutions – SMART Meeting Pro, SMART Hub SE and SMART Hub PE. Built-in reliability, tracking speed and touch accuracy make the SMART Board interactive display frame ideal for meeting and training rooms.
The SMART Board interactive display frame uses SMART’s patented DViT™ (Digital Vision Touch) technology. Two cameras in the bottom corners of the frame register finger, pencil and touch contacts on the surface of the display. Users can easily select a menu option with a finger, and write and erase digital notes with the pencil. The new pencil operates like an everyday pencil, with one end for writing and the other for erasing. There is never a need to return the pencil to its tray in order to switch functions. This unique combination of plasma display, camera technology and pencil tool functionality is a breakthrough in ease-of-use and performance. Drawing on users’ existing familiarity with whiteboards, pencils and computer desktops, the SMART Board interactive display frame makes interacting with high-performance displays easy. Users simply turn on the display and begin.
“In business today, effective collaboration is a critical component of success,” says Nancy Knowlton, SMART’s CEO. “The SMART Board interactive display frame allows us to extend our SMART Board product offering and provide corporate customers with an easy and effective means of making their plasma displays interactive.”
Features
Flexible frame size – Fits most commercial plasmas ranging from 42 to 65” (106 –165 cm).
Lightweight – Weighs 9–11 lb (4–5 kg), depending on screen size, making installation quick and easy.
Slim profile – Frame adds less than 1” (2.5 cm) to the width of the display and only 2” (5 cm) to its height.
Wide viewing angle – Ensures that viewers can clearly see the information on the screen from any angle.
Precision touch – Direct, precise touch control for accurate data selection and interaction.
Calibration – Calibrated once on installation and it is ready to use.
Low maintenance – Low total cost of ownership and maintenance, with no expensive after-purchase parts to replace, such as projector bulbs.
Pencil – Operates like an everyday pencil, with one end for writing and one for erasing. The ergonomic design enables a natural grip and effortless writing on the plasma display’s surface.
SMART product integration – Integrates with all SMART products, including SMART’s collaboration platforms – SMART Meeting Pro, SMART Hub SE and SMART Hub PE.
Pricing and availability
The SMART Board interactive display frame will be available in August 2008. The suggested list price is from US$2,899 to US$3,299, depending on frame size. The frame is available from SMART authorized resellers. For more information, specifications and a list of SMART authorized resellers, visit www.smarttech.com/corp.