2. Need: What problem or need existed
that gave rise to your innovation?
• There wasn’t a display for the computer
• No interaction with the students
• The need to be more involved
• When you interacted using the Internet it was
computer and student, now it involves the
whole group
• The need for big screen resolution
3. Research: What research organization or people developed a solution to this
problem or need? What were their findings? Who were the “lead thinkers” for
this innovation, and how did they convince a manufacturer to produce it?
• SMART Technologies is the industry pioneer and
market leader in developing collaborative
products for classrooms and meeting rooms.
Founded in 1987 by partners David Martin and
Nancy Knowlton, SMART began as the Canadian
distributor for a U.S. projector company.
• 1992 SMART forms strategic alliance with U.S.
computer giant Intel Corporation The alliance
results in joint product development, joint
marketing efforts and Intel’s equity ownership in
SMART.
4. Development: What problems did your innovation encounter in the
development process? Who was the intended audience for your
innovation?
• Low speed modems, early versions of
Microsoft Windows software that were often
unstable and slow processors with little
graphics capability.
• Some of the early adopters of SMART’s
products were educators with a need to give
lectures at a distance.
5. Commercialization: Describe the production, manufacturing, packaging,
marketing, and distribution of your innovation.
• Revenue generated through projector sales was directed
toward the research and development of the SMART Board
interactive whiteboard that would enable groups to interact and
instantaneously share information with people in the same
room or around the world.
• In 1992 SMART formed a strategic alliance with U.S.
computer giant Intel Corporation. This alliance resulted in
joint product development, joint marketing efforts and Intel’s
equity ownership in SMART. While the initial project that
caused the investment to be made has long since been
completed, the equity ownership in SMART remains. Other
than the Intel equity investment and some small investments
from family and friends, the company has relied on its retained
earnings to fuel its growth.
6. Commercialization: Describe the production, manufacturing,
packaging, marketing, and distribution of your innovation. :
• Commercialization: Describe the production, manufacturing, packaging, marketing,
and distribution of your innovation. Those early years were characterized by a great
deal of financial uncertainty, and at various times, SMART’s future was in serious
doubt. However, with a long-term focus, a firm belief in the opportunity to forge a
new way for people everywhere to work and the patience of its bankers, SMART
got through the many difficulties. In the process it developed most of the key
operating parameters that define the way in which SMART runs its business and
serves its customers. In 1992 SMART formed a strategic alliance with U.S.
computer giant Intel Corporation. This alliance resulted in joint product
development, joint marketing efforts and Intel's equity ownership in SMART. While
the initial project that caused the investment to be made has long since been
completed, the equity ownership in SMART remains. Other than the Intel equity
investment and some small investments from family and friends, the company has
relied on its retained earnings to fuel its growth. That early relationship with Intel
was another of the key building blocks in SMART’s history.
7. What is a Smartboard? :
• What is a Smartboard? Is an interactive
whiteboard developed by SMART
Technologies? When introduced in 1991,
it was the first interactive whiteboard to
provide touch control of computer
applications and annotation over standard
Microsoft Windows applications
8. 20+ Years of Innovation :
• 20+ Years of Innovation 1986 Company co-founder forms idea for an interactive
whiteboard Partners David Martin and Nancy Knowlton are on a long drive through
Upstate New York when Dave first describes the product idea he’s been working on to
Nancy. SMART Technologies is founded the following year. 1991 SMART introduces
the world's first interactive whiteboard SMART sows the first seed for interactive
whiteboards and continues to lead the product category. 1992 SMART forms strategic
alliance with U.S. computer giant Intel ® Corporation The alliance results in joint
product development, joint marketing efforts and Intel's equity ownership in SMART.
1997 SMART CEO establishes the SMARTer Kids Foundation of Canada The
foundation offered several hundred million in grants to qualifying public or private,
accredited, not-for-profit education institutions over a nine-year period. 1998 SMART
receives ISO 9001 certification SMART is one of few companies in the interactive
whiteboard industry to achieve this recognized quality management standard. 2000
SMART launches Research Assistance Program The program supports research on
technology that supports group collaboration and whole-class teaching and learning.
2000 SMART opens offices in Bonn, Tokyo and Washington, DC SMART continues to
expand operations worldwide and localize support for distributors.
9. 20+ Years of Innovation :
• 20+ Years of Innovation 2002 Carnegie Mellon research says SMART Board
interactive whiteboard is fastest, most accurate way to interact with projected
information Interacting at a Distance: Measuring the Performance of Laser Pointers
and Other Devices says the SMART Board interactive whiteboard beats
conventional mouse, laser pointers and semantic snarfing, where the image is
copied to a handheld device and the user interacts with the device's touch screen
using a stylus. 2002 SMART and SMARTer Kids Foundation begin support of Intel
Teach to the Future Program More than US$300,000 in classroom technology is
donated annually to enhance learning environments. 2003 SMART Board
interactive whiteboard wins Comenius Medal The award presentation marks the
first time a hardware product wins the Comenius Medal. 2003 SMART invents
breakthrough touch technology SMART introduces DViT (Digital Vision Touch)
technology, a breakthrough technology that enhances the functionality 2004
SMART awarded Worlddidac Quality Charter SMART is the only interactive
whiteboard manufacturer certified under charter. Judging criteria include pedagogic
value, innovation, ease of use, design, quality, safety, multifunctionality,
adaptability, degree of interactivity, eco-friendliness, aesthetics and
performance/cost ratio. 2004 America's 25 largest school districts use SMART
Board interactive whiteboards SMART products are installed in schools in every
U.S. state, in each of the 25 largest school districts and in the majority of the top
500 school districts.
10. 20+ Years of Innovation :
• 20+ Years of Innovation 2004 SMART Technologies Inc. facilitates cutting-edge research at
Georgia Tech The world's largest SMART Board interactive whiteboard is facilitating research
into virtual rear projection (VRP), a breakthrough in front-projection technology, at the
Georgia Institute of Technology. 2005 Lifetime Achievement Canada Export Award This
prestigious national award acknowledges SMART for its significant contribution to Canada's
economy and highlights excellence in global competitiveness. 2005 SMART launches
database of K-12 lesson activities correlated to state standards SMART is first interactive
whiteboard company to enable educators to browse content by curriculum standards. 2006
Notebook software wins prestigious Comenius EduMedia Signet award Notebook software
wins this prestigious award for exemplary education media – the first time that a software
product for interactive whiteboards has been recognized by the society. 2006 SMART named
Canada’s 50 Best Managed Companies for eighth consecutive year First named one of
Canada’s 50 Best Managed Companies in 1996, SMART achieved Platinum Club status in
2004. This latest award marks the eighth consecutive year the company has been awarded the
50 Best distinction. 2006 SMART launches new Sympodium products SMART introduces the
Sympodium™ ID350 and ID370 interactive pen displays. 2006 SMART releases Notebook
software version 9.5 Version 9.5 becomes the first cross-platform version of award-winning
Notebook collaborative learning software, supporting Microsoft Windows, Mac OS and
Linux. 2007 SMART launches Senteo student response system The system includes a
handheld device for each student in a classroom and a central receiver that allows teachers to
send information out to each device and receive information back from each student. The
system increases one-to-one interaction by allowing teachers to survey and engage students
and collect responses to personalize the learning environment.
11. 20+ Years of Innovation :
• 20+ Years of Innovation 2007 SMART introduces Notebook
interactive viewer The new viewer enables sharing of Notebook files
with anyone (even those without Notebook collaborative learning
software), and can be used to present material on any brand of
interactive whiteboard. 2007 SMART wins 2007–2010 Worlddidac
Quality Charter Accreditations The Worlddidac Foundation is an
independent, international trade association for the education
market. This award certifies companies that demonstrate a strong
understanding of educators’ needs. 2007 SMART co-founder wins
outstanding achievement award from ERA Executive chairman and
co-founder, David Martin, receives Outstanding Achievement Award
at the British Education Suppliers Education Resource Awards for
inventing the interactive whiteboard and “changing the nature of
what happens in classrooms all over the world.”
13. Innovators and Early Adopters :
• Educators with a need to give lectures at a distance
• Business Leaders
• Presenters
• Speakers
• Group Meetings
• Government Staff
• Military
14. Strategies used to Persuade Early
Adopters
• Presenting to the audience using the
Smartboard Technology
• Showing the benefits of using it in their
environment
• Allowing the presentation to be interactive
• The presentation will not be boring and dull
15. Laggards in Adopting Smartboards :
• Anyone in the education, business,
professional, and governmental industries that
are not ready for advancements in technology
16. Strategies used to Help Move the
Laggards toward Adoption
• Presenting to the audience using the
Smartboard Technology
• Showing the benefits of using it in their
environment
• Allowing the presentation to be interactive
• The presentation will not be boring and dull
17. 299 × 284 - Time
What attributes would be best for helping Smartboards
meet critical mass in the education arena? :
• Interaction of the product amongst users
• Benefits in the classroom and meeting rooms
• Presentation more interactive and involved
• Ability to record movements and replay
• Ability to interact across time zones
• Ease of use, not having to always set up the
screen for presentation
• Saves time
18. Decentralized Approach :
• A decentralized approach would work best for
the use of Smartboards within the school
system
• This would allow someone with experience to
train the educators on the benefits and uses of
the Smarboard in the classroom, presentation
purposes, and to deliver interactive learning
19. Key Change Agents in Tucker Middle
School :
• All the content teachers will have a
Smartboard
• This technology has already met critical mass
in society
