SMART extends classroom offering with new document camera

BANGALORE, INDIA: SMART Technologies announces the SMART document camera, the latest addition to its 21st-century classroom solution. This easy-to-use product enables teachers to display detailed images and video of any physical object, and instantly incorporate that material into digital lessons using a SMART Board interactive whiteboard and Notebook collaborative learning software. Millions of teachers and students currently use the SMART Board interactive whiteboard and Notebook software to develop and deliver digital lessons. With the flexibility to digitize and assimilate images of physical objects into their SMART lessons whenever the need arises, teachers and students can now respond more easily to shifting classroom dynamics throughout the day.

Using the SMART document camera teachers can zoom in or out, write over images and capture stills directly into Notebook software or any application they are using. While presenting to their classmates, students can interact with objects placed under the document camera. For example, they can dissect a frog for the whole class to see. Student presenters can then capture their work as an image or video to add to a Notebook file on frog dissection. The teacher can then go to the interactive whiteboard to access a website and review additional information about dissection, also adding it to the Notebook file. In this manner, the document camera, Notebook software and the SMART Board interactive whiteboard provide seamless bridges between the digital and physical worlds that co-exist in 21st-century classrooms.

“SMART prides itself on providing solutions that enhance the classroom experience and make learning fun,” says Nancy Knowlton, chief executive officer, SMART. “The SMART document camera allows teachers to quickly capture vivid images into Notebook software to direct learning and make hands-on lessons easy to understand.”

Features



Notebook software integration – Use Notebook collaborative learning software to capture images and video projected onto a SMART Board interactive whiteboard.

Control panel – Highly intuitive and easy to use.

Automatic focus – Focus projected images with the press of a button.

Automatic brightness control – Adjust brightness levels for varied lighting conditions, and provide sufficient lighting in darkened rooms with the LED lamp.

Optical and digital zoom – Project sharp, detailed close-ups of an object’s smallest features.

Removable stage – Remove the tablet stage to comfortably write over documents from anywhere in the room or to set up objects under the camera.

Rotating head – Adjust the camera to view an object at almost any angle or to precisely align with a microscope eyepiece.

SD memory card slot – Save data to an SD memory card (not included).

Lightweight and secure design – Easily move and carry the camera, and secure it in the classroom with a Kensington cable lock.

Pricing and availability

The SMART document camera begins shipping in spring 2008 at a suggested education price of US$849. School officials, administrators and teachers who are interested in purchasing the SMART document camera should contact their local authorized SMART reseller.

Using the SMART document camera teachers can zoom in or out, write over images and capture stills directly into Notebook software or any application they are using. While presenting to their classmates, students can interact with objects placed under the document camera. For example, they can dissect a frog for the whole class to see. Student presenters can then capture their work as an image or video to add to a Notebook file on frog dissection. The teacher can then go to the interactive whiteboard to access a website and review additional information about dissection, also adding it to the Notebook file. In this manner, the document camera, Notebook software and the SMART Board interactive whiteboard provide seamless bridges between the digital and physical worlds that co-exist in 21st-century classrooms.

“SMART prides itself on providing solutions that enhance the classroom experience and make learning fun,” says Nancy Knowlton. “The SMART document camera allows teachers to quickly capture vivid images into Notebook software to direct learning and make hands-on lessons easy to understand.”

Source: India PRwire