SMART Awarded Additional U.S. Patent for Interactive Whiteboard Technology
U.S. patent number 6,747,636 protects SMART’s innovation in product category
Atlanta, GA – June 9, 2004 – SMART Technologies Inc. announces that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has granted SMART another patent for SMART Board™ interactive whiteboard technology. The patent is directed to the following: “a projection system display with pressure sensing at the display surface, and computer-assisted alignment implemented by applying pressure at displayed calibration marks.” This patent follows the issuance of other key patents for SMART’s interactive whiteboard technology, including U.S. Patent No. 5,448,263 directed to an interactive display system, U.S. Patent No. 6,141,000 directed to a projection display system with touch sensing on the screen, computer-assisted alignment correction and network conferencing, and U.S. Patent No. 6,337,681 directed to an interactive display system in which a control signal is generated when pressure is applied at the display surface.
U.S. Patent No. 6,747,636 is directed to “an interactive display system comprising a touch sensitive display surface for sensing pressure applied thereto and in response generating control signals indicating locations of the applied pressure, a personal computer for receiving the control signals and in response generating graph images, and an LCD panel in combination with an overhead projector for receiving and projecting the graphic images onto the touch sensitive display surface at the indicated locations. The LCD panel and overhead projector may be provided an integral unit.” SMART first introduced the interactive whiteboard in 1991 and continues to offer software and hardware innovations for each product generation and upgrade. Several more technology patents are anticipated in the United States and around the world.
“David Martin, chairman and co-CEO of SMART, originally conceived the idea and technology for SMART Board interactive whiteboards embodied in this patent,” says Nancy Knowlton, SMART’s president and co-CEO. “Products based on this technology were successfully brought to market in 1991 and continue to be the foundation of SMART’s global leadership in interactive whiteboards.”
About SMART Board interactive whiteboards
The SMART Board interactive whiteboard is the world’s leading interactive whiteboard. Simply by touching the large interactive display, users can access and control any computer application or multimedia platform, including the Internet and CD-ROMs. Users can also write over applications in digital ink and then edit, save, print or post their notes to a website for future reference. SMART Board interactive whiteboards are used in classrooms, briefing rooms and boardrooms around the world, helping people to collaborate effectively whether they are in the same room or in another location. Feature-rich software and intuitive functionality make the SMART Board interactive whiteboard the number one choice of educators, presenters and trainers in more than 65 countries worldwide.
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Public Relations
SMART Technologies Inc.
300, 1207 - 11th Avenue SW
Calgary, AB CANADA T3C 0M5
Phone +1.403.802.3337 Fax +1.403.228.2500
pr@smarttech.com
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