What is a SMART Board?
The SMART Board is an interactive whiteboard. An Interactive White Board is a broad name for a device that, when used with a computer and some type of large video display, makes the surface of the display become touch sensitive in some manner and allows it to be used to control the computer.

Using the SMART Board, you can:

• Save notes written on the Board to a computer file
• Use your finger to press on the Board to control Windows and Macintosh applications and other multimedia materials projected onto the Board’s touch-sensitive surface. You can then write over top of your applications and save the annotations to a computer file. 
• Print notes and annotated images from a computer printer, e-mailed, posted to a network, copied and pasted into other applications or saved as an HTML file.
• Use SMART Board Software, included with every SMART Board, to dramatically enhance group collaboration, instruction, and learning.
• Let their audience collaborate, draw, and interact with information on the screen.
• Allow lessons and activities in a classroom setting to become more engrossing for students and increase overall retention of the lesson content.
  
  
  

Installing the SMART Board software

• SMART Board driver 5.5- It is the control software for the SMART Board. It handles signals from the Board and Pen Tray and communicates with whatever software is running on the PC
• SMART Notebook 2.11: This program allows you to save notes written on the SMART Board into a series of pages, similar to writing and saving your notes in a standard spiral notebook.

Starting the SMART Board

• Connect SMART Board and projector to computer
• Turn on the projector, then the computer. The interactive whiteboard draws power from the computer and will be activated automatically.
• A ready light, indicating the status of the interactive whiteboard, will be red while the SMART Board and the computer are establishing communication. The ready light can be found either on the right side of the SMART pen tray or the lower-right of the frame bezel. When the ready light turns green, the computer and SMART Board have established communication.
• The SMART Board is now touch sensitive, and you can open any application available on the connected computer.

Orienting the SMART Board

The interactive whiteboard must be oriented if it uses a projector.  It should be oriented before the first use and if the projector moves at all, so that the touch screen and pens will work properly.

• Press and hold the keyboard and right mouse buttons simultaneously (either in the middle of the tray or on the right side) until the orientation screen appears.
• Use a finger or SMART Board pen to firmly press the crosses as they appear on the screen until the task is complete.
• The SMART Board will now be oriented with its projector so you can interact successfully!

Using the SMART Board

Interact:  Touch the Board to control any computer application.  
Create:  Write notes, draw diagrams and illustrate ideas.  
Focus:  Highlight key information with electronic ink.  
Capture:  Save, print or e-mail notes.   
Simplify:  Work naturally at the Board with familiar, easy-to-use tools


See the Classroom Applications section for more uses of the SMART Board!

These resources were used to support the information provided on this page:

http://computer-monitors.suite101.com/article.cfm/what_is_a_smartboard

• The software can convert handwritten text into computer editable text.
• Recorder can be used to record dialogue for use with a substitute teacher.