Tarrant County Justice Center integrates SMART products in courtrooms
Criminal district courts in Fort Worth use collaborative technology to present cases
CALGARY, Alberta --- January 31, 2005 --- SMART Technologies Inc. announces the integration of SMART products into two criminal district courtrooms at the Tarrant County Justice Center in Fort Worth, Texas. One large, ceremonial courtroom uses a Rear-Projection SMART Board™ 2000i interactive whiteboard and a Sympodium™ interactive pen display integrated into a courtroom lectern. Another smaller courtroom utilizes a front-projection SMART Board interactive whiteboard and an Expression™ 103 multimedia cabinet for all its cases.
These high-traffic criminal courtrooms rule on more than 3,000 cases per year. Each case is presented using SMART products and evidence is submitted and stored electronically as SMART Notebook™ files. Evidence, crime scene photos and diagrams, and autopsy analyses are presented on the large, touch-sensitive displays, and witnesses or presenting lawyers can write over the images in digital ink to highlight pertinent information for the judge and jury. Those notes can be saved to file and examined at a later date. Litigants also have the option of printing the files for their records. Storing evidence and trial exhibits electronically saves the Justice Center and appellate courts storage costs and space, as evidence from criminal trials must be archived for 15 years. The judge and court reporter provide lawyers appearing in the courtrooms with training on the SMART products and access to the software to prepare for court cases.
"The trial attorneys are rejuvenated and enthusiastic about trying cases in our courts," says Judy Miller, technology coordinator and court reporter for the Tarrant County Justice Center. "They have embraced this technology and are discovering innovative ways to present their evidence and arguments for the court and jury."
"Implementation of this technology into the courtroom has saved time and costs, and allows the presentation of testimony to proceed smoother," says Judge George Gallagher, 396th District Criminal Court, Tarrant County Justice Center. "The use of SMART products by the lawyers also helps them persuade the jurors more effectively. Every lawyer that has used the equipment has remarked how much they enjoyed using it and look forward to using it again in the next trial."
"The effectiveness with which evidence is presented can help judges and juries make more informed decisions and save time and money in court administration," says Nancy Knowlton, SMART's president and co-CEO. "SMART products are proven to engage audiences and increase information retention making them ideal for the lawyers in Fort Worth to present evidence in an efficient and useful manner."
About SMART Board interactive whiteboards
The SMART Board interactive whiteboard is the world's leading interactive whiteboard. Simply by touching the large display, users can access and control any computer application or multimedia platform, including the Internet, CD-ROMs and DVDs. With SMART Board software, users can write over applications in digital ink and then edit, save, print or post their notes to a website for future reference. Notebook software, included at no additional charge, allows users to save digital notes and screen captures of other applications or websites. 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 75 countries. The SMART Board interactive whiteboard product range includes front projection and rear projection interactive whiteboards and interactive overlays for flat-panel displays. For more information, visit www.smarttech.com/smartboard.
About Expression mobile multimedia cabinets
The Expression mobile multimedia cabinets are part of SMART's line of award-winning multimedia furniture. With Expression cabinets, users can store and access a computer, projector, VCR and DVD player in one convenient location. With the X-Port audio, video and data switch, you can press a button to switch between the internal computer and a range of peripheral devices including a connected laptop or document camera. Expression multimedia cabinets are mobile and lockable, allowing easy movement of resources within and between rooms. All models are compatible with SMART Board interactive whiteboards. For more information, visit www.smarttech.com/expression.
About Sympodium interactive pen displays
The Sympodium interactive pen display, with its 15" (38.1-cm) display, can be placed on top of or integrated into a podium, desk or table so presenters can face their audience while using the battery-free pen to control computer applications, write over any application in digital ink and save work to a single file. It is the only interactive pen display that can connect directly to a projector and simultaneously display a computer image on its screen and a larger presentation screen for everyone to see. Unique pen-tool buttons make it easy for presenters to change pen colors or erase notes. Notebook software, included at no additional charge, allows users to save digital notes and screen captures of other applications or websites. Presenters can adjust the tilt stand for maximum comfort and rest their hand on the screen, without interference, while using the tethered pen to interact with digital material. Shipped with SMART Board software, the Sympodium interactive pen display features all the interactive capabilities of the SMART Board interactive whiteboard, SMART's flagship product. For more information, visit www.smarttech.com/sympodium.
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For more information, 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.