SMART Announces Touch Technology Breakthrough That Advances Interactive Whiteboard Functionality
DViT (Digital Vision Touch) technology enables on-screen touch gestures
Calgary, AB– June 9, 2004 – SMART Technologies Inc. announces touch gestures, a new breakthrough in DViT™ technology that enhances the functionality of SMART Board™ interactive whiteboards. Touch gestures enable users of both Rear Projection SMART Board and SMART Board for Flat-Panel Displays interactive whiteboards to scroll simply by placing two fingers on the touch-sensitive screen and dragging them either up or down or side to side. Users can also place a finger on the screen and touch another finger to the right of it for a right mouse click. These advanced mouse features eliminate the need to press extra buttons or find scroll bars on the screen.
DViT technology, introduced by SMART in March 2003, uses proprietary digital cameras and sophisticated software to pinpoint contact by a finger or stylus on a display. The cameras communicate position information to a digital signal processor that determines the exact location of contact, enabling precise touch control. No special pens or tools are required to interact with the display, nor are special materials required on the touch screen, making the image crystal clear. A ground-breaking technology for touch-sensitive displays, DViT technology has been recognized by a number of industry awards, including CeBiT America Best of Show Award 2003 – Digital Imaging, IEEE Top Hardware Products of 2003 award, GCN Best New Technology Award 2003 – Display Devices and NSCA Innovations in Technology 2003 Award – Video. Multiple U.S. and foreign patents for DViT technology are pending.
“When we launched DViT technology last year, we promised to continue developing features that would enrich the user experience and improve the ease of use of SMART products incorporating this technology,” says David Martin, chairman and co-CEO of SMART. “This new advancement delivers on that promise, and we will continue with our research and development efforts to bring even more benefits to our customers.”
Pricing and Availability
All Rear Projection SMART Board and SMART Board for Flat-Panel Displays interactive whiteboards will start shipping with touch gestures on June 15, 2004. While the new functionality of DViT technology will enhance these products, their suggested retail prices remain unchanged.
About Rear Projection SMART Board interactive whiteboards
Connected to a computer and combined with a projector, the Rear Projection SMART Board interactive whiteboard allows users to simply touch the screen to access computer-based materials. With award-winning SMART Board software – the power behind all SMART Board interactive whiteboards – notes written on the interactive whiteboard can be saved for future reference and distribution. The Rear Projection SMART Board interactive whiteboard turns any computer into a powerful presentation and collaboration tool. SMART’s rear-projection product line includes the Rear Projection SMART Board 2000i interactive whiteboard, the Rear Projection SMART Board 3000i interactive whiteboard, the Rear Projection SMART Board 4000i interactive whiteboard and the In-Wall Rear Projection SMART Board interactive whiteboard.
About SMART Board for Flat-Panel Displays interactive whiteboards
The SMART Board for Flat-Panel Displays interactive whiteboard is an overlay that attaches to a plasma display or liquid crystal display (LCD) panel and transforms it into an interactive whiteboard. The overlay fastens easily and securely to the display, enabling users to control computer applications or navigate websites simply by touching the display surface. Users can write over applications in digital ink and then edit, save, print or post their notes online for future reference. The interactive whiteboard preserves the crisp, bright image of the display and is available for many popular models, for screen sizes ranging from 37 to 63" (94–160 cm).
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For more information, please contact:
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
Please note that SMART is written in all capital letters.