Innovation Story Board Karen V. Bunn: EDUC 7101 SmartBoard Technology

 Background: Smartboard Technologies founded in 1987 by partners David Martin and Nancy Knowlton, this venture initially began as a projector distributor company

Stage 1  Need: low speed modems, early versions of Microsoft Windows software that were often unstable and slow processors with little graphics capability created need for quicker, faster, and more stable modes of collaborative communication

Stage 2  Research: Revenue generated through projector sales was directed toward the research and development of the SMART Board. An interactive whiteboard that would enable groups to interact in real-time and allow them to share information with people in the same room or anywhere in the world.

Stage 3  Development: Intended audience: Corporate offices, Education field.  Early years characterized by slow sales as few knew of the technology or why it was needed, or its potential/benefits.

Stage 4:  The initial small group of educators has grown into an international community spanning over 75 countries. Hundreds of thousands of teachers and students use SmartBoards in classroom all over the world.  To market its many technology products, Smart technologies often holds video contests for educators. Commercialization cont’d

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