SMART Launches Software Accreditation Program
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CALGARY, Alberta --- July 5, 2006 --- SMART Technologies Inc. announces the launch of the SMART Software Accreditation Program. The program aims to identify and mark content and software based on its level of compatibility with and customization for SMART Board interactive whiteboards and SMART's family of products. Accreditation will enable customers to confidently purchase software and content from third-party developers to complement SMART's interactive whiteboards and family of products. As the global education market leader in interactive whiteboards, SMART is working with software and content companies to ensure their offerings meet customer expectations for compatibility. The program will designate content and software according to a three-tiered logo framework, and companies in the program will be authorized to use one of these logos on their software or content packages.
Software developers and content providers are creating a wide range of resources specifically designed for and integrated with SMART products. The SMART Software Accreditation Program has three accreditation levels designated as Ready, Enabled and Select. The accreditation designation indicates the level to which the content or software has been enhanced or customized for use on SMART Board interactive whiteboards and Sympodium interactive pen displays. Additionally, a number of the content developers will provide samples of their materials (either Macromedia Flash files or images) for inclusion in the Gallery in Notebook software, the whiteboarding application in SMART Board software.
"Educators and business people around the globe continue to choose SMART for our quality products," says Nancy Knowlton, SMART's president and co-CEO. "The SMART Software Accreditation Program will direct customers to additional resources, curriculum-based programs and digital content so they can get the most from SMART's collaborative learning products."
About SMART Software Accreditation Levels
Ready
This is the basic accreditation level for an application or content product, indicating that SMART Technologies Inc. has approved the software title for suitable performance with SMART products.
Enabled
Products at this level meet the requirements of the Ready level and are integrated with SMART Board Tools. The integration provides more interactivity because it takes advantage of features like SMART Ink Aware to make the product easier to use with SMART products.
Select
Products at this level meet the requirements of the Enabled level and contain content designed specifically for Notebook software.
Level One (Ready) already boasts 11 relationships with software developers and content providers (including 2Simple USA, BrainPOP, Cabrilog, Core Learning, Daydream Education, Discovery Education, McDougal Littell (a division of Houghton Mifflin Company), Math Resources Inc., Plato Learning, Texas Instruments and Tom Snyder Productions: A Scholastic Company) representing 36 titles,. There is no charge for software developers or content providers to participate in the program at the Ready Level.
Tools and Resources
SMART provides participants wishing to develop to the Enabled level with development tools for several popular application and content development environments. The SMART Board Software Development Kit for C++, C# and Java provides access to SMART Ink Aware functions such as SMART Board contact events and pen tray events. The SMART Development Kit for Macromedia Flash includes SMART Ink Aware components, aggregation libraries to identify how Macromedia Flash content communicates with Notebook software and a development environment with debugging and testing tools to execute and test content.
Availability
All software titles accredited by SMART can be purchased directly from accredited vendors and an online listing of all accredited titles will be available from SMART in September. For more information regarding the Software Accreditation Program e-mail softwareaccredication@smarttech.com.
About SMART
SMART Technologies Inc. is both the industry pioneer and global education market leader in easy-to-use interactive whiteboards and other group collaboration tools. The award-winning SMART Board interactive whiteboard is the most widely installed interactive whiteboard in the world. Many school jurisdictions have standardized on the product, which is used to provide interactive learning opportunities and enhance student achievement in more than 330,000 classrooms spanning every U.S. state, all Canadian provinces, every Local Authority in the UK and upwards of 100 countries worldwide. SMART products also include interactive pen displays, interactive digital signage, wireless slates and software. SMART's education customers include New York City Board of Education (U.S.), Oxford University (UK), Barnier Public School (Australia), University of Ottawa (Canada), United World College (Singapore), Stephen-Hawking-Schule Neckargemuend (Germany), Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind (U.S.) and Harvard University (U.S.).
SMART is a private company founded in 1987. Employing more than 800 people, SMART is headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, with assembly facilities in Ottawa, and offices in Bonn, Tokyo, New York City and Washington DC. SMART has been issued and maintains a broad portfolio of patents with numerous other U.S., Canadian and foreign patents pending. In 1992, SMART formed a strategic alliance with Intel® Corporation that resulted in joint product development and marketing efforts, and Intel's equity ownership in the company. SMART products are sold through dealers across North America and distributors worldwide.
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For more information, contact:
Jennifer Poole
Public Relations Specialist
SMART Technologies Inc.
1207 - 11th Avenue SW, Suite 300
Calgary, AB T3C 0M5
CANADA
Phone +1.403.802.2519 Fax +1.403.228.2500
JenniferPoole@smarttech.com
www.smarttech.com
