New wide-screen interactive whiteboard provides teachers with more work space
SMART Board 685 interactive whiteboard supports wide-screen computers and
projectors
CALGARY, Alberta --- January 9, 2008 --- SMART Technologies announces the
SMART BoardTM 685 interactive whiteboard, a wide-format interactive
whiteboard with a 16:10 aspect ratio that measures 87 inches (221 cm) on
the diagonal. The extra wide format offers 20 percent more working space
than a SMART Board 680 interactive whiteboard and provides a solution for
teachers who choose to adopt 16:10 wide-screen projectors.
The SMART Board 685 interactive whiteboard adds to SMART's existing
wide-format interactive whiteboard offering -- the SMART Board 690
interactive whiteboard with a 16:9 aspect ratio -- making SMART the only
company to offer two wide-format interactive whiteboards. The new product
caters to the growing number of teachers using native 16:10 laptops and
projectors. The 685 also offers an expansion slot on the pen tray, enabling
teachers to easily upgrade their hardware by adding other SMART products.
Like all SMART Board interactive whiteboards, the 685 comes with
feature-rich NotebookTM collaborative learning software, the core
application for the creation and delivery of lesson activities.
"SMART places tremendous value on input from our customers, and then we
work hard to incorporate their input into our products," says Nancy
Knowlton, SMART's CEO. "The SMART Board 685 interactive whiteboard succeeds
in meeting teachers' needs for a 16:10 aspect ratio that gives them more
work space."
Pricing and availability
The SMART Board 685 interactive whiteboard begins shipping in April 2008,
and suggested pricing will be announced at that time. Special pricing will
be available for education customers. School officials, administrators and
teachers who are interested in purchasing the SMART Board 685 interactive
whiteboard software should contact SMART or their local authorized reseller.
About SMART
SMART Technologies is an industry pioneer and global education market
segment leader in user-friendly ICT products and group collaboration tools.
The award-winning line of SMART Board interactive whiteboards is the most
widely installed in the world because of its unsurpassed product quality,
versatility and ease of use. The SMART Board interactive whiteboard is used
to teach over 18 million students in more than 600,000 classrooms in more
than 100 countries around the world.
SMART is a private company founded in 1987. Employing more than 1,000
people, SMART is headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, with assembly
facilities in Kanata, Ontario and offices in Bonn, Paris, Tokyo, Shanghai,
New York City, Chicago and Washington, DC. SMART has been issued and
maintains a broad portfolio of patents with numerous U.S., Canadian and
other patents pending. In 1992 SMART formed a strategic alliance with Intel
Corporation that resulted in Intel's equity ownership in the company. SMART
products are sold through dealers across North America and distributors
worldwide. To learn more about SMART visit www.smarttech.com
