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SMART Unveils World's First Fully-Integrated Touch-Enabled Interactive ProjectorCALGARY, Alberta, Nov 14, 2012 (GlobeNewswire via COMTEX) -- SMART Technologies Inc. (Nasdaq:SMT) (TSX:SMA), a leading provider of collaboration solutions, announces the upcoming release of the world's first fully-integrated touch-enabled interactive projector. The SMART LightRaise(TM) 60wi interactive projector is a touch and pen-enabled projector that allows two students to simultaneously interact and collaborate with either a pen or finger, making it the only interactive projector solution that enables rich, seamless multi-student collaboration using either touch or pen. The LightRaise 60wi projector allows users to turn virtually any surface into an interactive learning space and is designed for teachers who want the flexibility to deliver interactive and collaborative digital content. The LightRaise 60wi projector includes the award-winning SMART Notebook(TM) collaborative learning software and access to the SMART Exchange(TM) website, where educators can connect, share and download over 60,000 digital resources. It features easy integration with other SMART products as well as training and professional development offerings. The new projector is part of a comprehensive solution for delivering interactive content that engages students and enables improved learning outcomes. It provides educators and administrators with the flexibility to meet the specific needs of individual classrooms and learning spaces for small-group and whole class collaboration. The LightRaise 60wi projector complements SMART's line of interactive displays which provides solutions for every type of classroom and learning style. "Interactive projectors have been available since early 2010 and in Q2 2012, 35,000 were sold into education across the world," says Colin Messenger, Senior Market Analyst for Futuresource Consulting, a leading research firm that has been tracking display technology for over 15 years. "Touch is now considered a standard feature with interactive displays and is ubiquitous in the market. By offering an integrated interactive projector with touch, complete with SMART Notebook software, SMART will place themselves in a strong position in this fast expanding product category." The LightRaise 60wi projector allows educators to deliver collaborative digital content with finger-enabled touch functionality for increased accessibility and ease of use. Using a finger or the interactive pen, two students can simultaneously write, draw and manipulate content in SMART Notebook software. The LightRaise 60wi projector uses SMART's proprietary DViT(R) (Digital Vision Touch) technology, offering the advantage of effortless zero-force touch, the ability to scale images to large sizes and support multiple touches. Designed for use as a lesson delivery and student collaboration tool, the projector can produce screen sizes up to 100 inches (254 cm) in widescreen format, making it a flexible solution designed to fit into nearly any classroom or collaborative space. With its ultra-short throw, the LightRaise 60wi projector eliminates most shadow and glare and delivers a crisp, bright image. For more information on the LightRaise 60wi projector, visit http://www.smarttech.com/lightraise. For more information, watch this video featuring the LightRaise 60wi projector. View images of the LightRaise 60wi interactive projector. "The introduction of the world's first fully-integrated touch-enabled interactive projector reaffirms SMART's focus on innovation and its position as a leading global provider of a full range of interactive displays to meet the evolving needs of teachers and students," says Linda Thomas, Vice President, Products, SMART Technologies. "We are committed to continuously finding new ways of encouraging collaboration in the classroom and helping to enable transformational teaching and learning." Features Touch and pen-enabled interaction -- Supports accurate touch and pen-input interactivity Enables true student collaboration with dual-user interactivity -- Two students can simultaneously interact and collaborate with a finger or interactive pen Add interactivity to a wide variety of learning and collaboration spaces -- Flexible image size, providing opportunities for increased student engagement in almost any learning environment Includes SMART Notebook software -- Collaborative learning software that is proven, popular, and backed by a large global community of educators Provides a crisp, bright image the entire class can see -- With a 0.36 throw ratio, teachers can create a 100 inch (254 cm) image when the projector is just 36 inches from the wall. Eliminates most shadows and glare, reducing unnecessary classroom distractions when delivering engaging, interactive presentations. Connect, share, and download lesson content -- Includes access to SMART Exchange, where educators meet to connect, share, and download over 60,000 ready-made lesson resources to help save lesson preparation time Interactive pen and pen holder -- Ships with two rechargeable interactive pens for effortless writing on the display surface and a pen holder for storage and security Built-in sound -- Includes a 10-watt speaker and a microphone input, providing audio capabilities in an all-in-one solution Pricing and availability The SMART LightRaise 60wi projector will be available in Q1 2013, at a suggested education list price of US$1,999 in the United States. Prices outside the United States vary by country and may include applicable taxes, duties and import costs. Information on suggested education list prices is available from authorized SMART resellers. For purchasing information, specifications and a list of authorized SMART resellers, visit smarttech.com. About SMART SMART Technologies Inc. is a leading provider of collaboration solutions that change the way the world works and learns. As the global leader in interactive whiteboards, our focus is on developing a variety of easy-to-use, integrated solutions that free people from their desks and computer screens, making collaboration and learning with digital resources more natural. Our products have transformed teaching and learning in more than two million classrooms worldwide, reaching over 40 million students and their teachers. In business, our Freestorm(TM) visual collaboration solutions improve the way that people work and collaborate, enabling them to be more productive and reduce costs. The SMART Technologies logo is available at //www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/ pkgid=7573 Reader's advisory Certain information contained in this press release may constitute forward-looking information or statements. By their very nature, forward-looking information and statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, and risks that predictions, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking information and statements will not be achieved. We caution readers not to place undue reliance on these statements as a number of important factors could cause the actual results to vary materially from the forward-looking information or statements. We do not assume responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of the forward-looking information or statements. Any forward-looking information and statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. (C) 2012 SMART Technologies. LightRaise, SMART Board, SMART Notebook, SMART Exchange, DViT, Freestorm, smarttech and the SMART logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of SMART Technologies in the U.S. and/or other countries. All third-party product and company names are for identification purposes only and may be trademarks of their respective owners. Please note that SMART is written in all capital letters. This news release was distributed by GlobeNewswire, www.globenewswire.com SOURCE: SMART Technologies (Logo: http://media.primezone.com/cache/12858/int/8345.jpg) CONTACT: Marina Geronazzo Manager, Public Relations SMART Technologies Inc. +1.403.407.5088 [email protected] smarttech.com |
