SMART Technologies

Founded in 1987

Founded by David Martin and Nancy Knowlton

Industry sectors: Computer Hardware and Software

Customers: Education, corporate clients in various industries

Geographical presence: International

Staff: 1200+

Locations: 8

SMART introduced the first SMART Board™ interactive whiteboard in 1991, which provided touch control of computer applications and annotation on a large screen using standard Microsoft Windows applications.

SMART Technologies is a private company headquartered in Calgary, with offices in Germany, Paris, Japan, China, New York City, Chicago and Washington DC.

SMART Technologies – Pioneers of Technology and an Industry

Perseverance Takes SMART Board From Unknown Product to Industry Leader

Founded in 1987 by partners David Martin and Nancy Knowlton, SMART began as the Canadian distributor for a U.S. projector company. Revenue generated through projector sales was directed toward the research and development of the SMART Board™ interactive whiteboard designed to enable groups to interact and instantaneously share information with people in the same room or around the world. Today, SMART Technologies is the industry pioneer and market leader in developing collaborative products for classrooms and meeting rooms.

SMART introduced the first SMART Board in 1991. It was the first interactive whiteboard to provide touch control of computer applications and annotation over standard Microsoft Windows applications. In those early years no one knew about an interactive whiteboard, much less why they might want or need one, so sales for SMART started slowly. At that time, it took a substantial effort to let people know about the product and the benefits that they could enjoy from using them.

Some of the early adopters of SMART’s products were educators with a need to give lectures at a distance. Imagine the challenges inherent in doing that in the early nineties – low speed modems, early versions of Microsoft Windows software that were often unstable and slow processors with little graphics capability. However, bit by bit teachers, business people and government staff around the world came to appreciate the new way in which they could do their work, and a new product category was officially born.

Those early years were characterized by a great deal of financial uncertainty, and at various times, SMART’s future was in serious doubt. However, with a long-term focus, SMART got through the many difficulties. In the process it developed most of the key operating parameters that define the way in which SMART runs its business and serves its customers today.

Never content to rest on its laurels, SMART continues to develop new generations of its groundbreaking interactive technology. With the company’s future and success completely dependent on its SMART products, there is a very high degree of focus on innovation to meet customers’ needs.

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