Smart Technologies is an international company headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, Canada and partly owned by Foxconn. Established in 1987, Smart is most well-known as the manufacturer of touch screen digital whiteboards highly popularly used in teaching and business. Innovative technologies are a group of computer software and hardware products developed by the combined effort of many companies. These products include intelligent pads, smart pens, interactive wall panels, digital egg printers, digital signage and many other computer accessories.
The new integration of classroom learning is smart technologies that will connect the world through the Internet. SmartBoard is one such example. This revolutionary product is the first of its kind and is expected to revolutionize classroom teaching in Canada. The new integration of education technology will enable students to teach from the comfort of their desk.
SmartBoard uses the Internet and webcams to provide teachers with easy access to their classroom during the day. The teachers can communicate with the students using personal computers or handheld phones while the class is not in session. The system enables teachers and their students to share valuable information and experiences on real-life experiences. The integration of smart technologies in education systems expects to enhance learning experiences for all classes irrespective of the physical location of the types.
Another smart technology in education technology coming up in the classroom is the interactive whiteboard or the SmartBoard. This board allows for the easy sharing of large amounts of data like notes, sketches, images, videos, PowerPoint presentations etc., by enabling the teachers to share these data with the classroom audience. It also provides interactive fun such as painting games, photo puzzles, mathematical games etc., that enhance the learning experience of the students.
One smart technology in education technology making a significant impact in the classroom is the blended learning approach of incorporating virtual reality technologies into traditional teaching methods. The blended learning approach means that the instructor teaches, and the students participate in a virtual world using smartboards. For example, in an education lesson, the student must draw a lesson plan on the board in the shape of a map. With the help of a digital pen, the student can draw the program on the smartboard using simple finger gestures, such as clicking or rotating. The instructor can also give voice commands to the students using a handheld wand that transmits the voice commands to the students via virtual reality glasses.
Other smart technologies in education technology that is making a significant impact are the Interactive Whiteboard. This interactive board has two major features that make it very different from traditional chalkboards. Firstly, it offers the opportunity to write on the board, just as you do on a chalkboard, and allows the presentation of graphics, video presentations or audio presentations, just as they do on a regular whiteboard. Secondly, the Interactive Whiteboard has a video projector built into it, which projects images or text on the board just as they do on a regular chalkboard.