SMART Technologies
Canadian education-technology company best known for SMART Board interactive displays and classroom collaboration software.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
SMART Technologies is a Canadian education-technology company headquartered in Calgary, Alberta. It became widely recognized for developing the SMART Board, an interactive whiteboard designed to let teachers, presenters, and business users control digital content through touch or other interactive inputs. The product helped establish interactive displays as a distinct category in classrooms and meeting rooms, and the SMART brand became closely associated with interactive teaching and presentation environments. The company was founded in 1987 by David Martin and Nancy Knowlton. Its early business developed around interactive display technology, and in 1991 it introduced the first SMART Board product. The product combined a large display surface with computer connectivity and software that enabled users to annotate, manipulate, and present digital material. This positioning differentiated SMART from conventional whiteboards and projectors by making the display an active interface rather than merely a passive screen. A major technical development came in 2003, when SMART developed and later patented DViT, or Digital Vision Touch, technology. DViT was used to detect touch interactions on the board and became an important component of later SMART Board systems. Over time, the company expanded beyond physical boards into display hardware, classroom software, collaboration tools, accessories, and related services. Its principal customer groups have included schools, school districts, universities, government organizations, and corporate users. SMART experienced substantial growth as schools and businesses adopted interactive presentation systems. At the end of fiscal 2011, its SMART Board products were reported as holding leading shares of the interactive-whiteboard market in the United States, the Europe-Middle East-Africa region, and worldwide. The company nevertheless faced increasing competition and pressure from constrained education budgets, particularly as school-board spending declined. In 2012, founders David Martin and Nancy Knowlton resigned from executive positions, and SMART announced a restructuring that resulted in workforce reductions. The company pursued intellectual-property and product expansion strategies during this period. In 2009, SMART filed a patent-infringement action against New Zealand-based interactive-display company NextWindow and acquired NextWindow in 2010. SMART also became a public company in July 2010 through an initial public offering on both NASDAQ and the Toronto Stock Exchange. The IPO was followed by shareholder class-action litigation alleging that important information had not been disclosed before the offering; the matter was settled in 2013. SMART was acquired by Foxconn in 2016 for approximately $200 million, ending its public-market status. Under Foxconn ownership, the SMART brand continued to operate in interactive displays and education technology. Its portfolio has remained centered on large-format interactive displays and software intended to support classroom instruction, collaborative work, digital annotation, and hybrid participation. The company’s brand proposition is built on combining physical display hardware with software and services that make group learning and presentation more participatory.
History
SMART Technologies was founded in 1987 in Canada by David Martin and Nancy Knowlton. The company focused on technologies that could make computer-based information more useful in group settings, especially classrooms and meeting rooms. This work led to the launch of the SMART Board interactive whiteboard in 1991. The SMART Board combined a large display with touch or pen interaction and computer connectivity. Unlike a traditional whiteboard, it allowed users to operate software, display multimedia, write over digital material, and save or share annotations. The product’s adoption in schools made SMART one of the most recognizable names in interactive whiteboards and established a platform for later software and display products. In 2003, SMART developed Digital Vision Touch technology, commonly known as DViT, and later patented it. The technology became an important part of the company’s touch-detection approach. As interactive-display adoption grew, SMART expanded its business across education, corporate presentation, government, and other collaborative environments. The company also pursued acquisitions and intellectual-property enforcement. In 2009, it filed a patent-infringement lawsuit against NextWindow, a New Zealand interactive-display company. SMART acquired NextWindow in 2010. That same year, SMART completed an initial public offering on NASDAQ and the Toronto Stock Exchange. The offering raised more than $660 million according to the cited historical account. The company encountered increasing pressure after its public listing. Competition in interactive displays intensified, while reductions in school-board spending affected demand. At the end of fiscal 2011, SMART Board products were reported to have leading shares in the United States, EMEA, and the global interactive-whiteboard market. In April 2012, founders Martin and Knowlton stepped down from executive positions. SMART also announced a corporate restructuring and reduced its workforce by roughly one quarter. Management said the restructuring was intended to reduce costs and respond to competitive conditions. Several U.S. class-action complaints were filed after the 2010 IPO. The suits, brought on behalf of purchasers of SMART’s Class A subordinate voting shares, alleged that the company had omitted important information before the offering. The litigation was settled in March 2013. Martin and Knowlton later left SMART’s board in April 2014. In 2016, Foxconn acquired SMART Technologies for approximately $200 million. The transaction removed SMART from the public markets and placed the company under Foxconn ownership. The SMART brand continued to be associated with interactive displays, classroom technology, collaboration software, and digital learning environments. Its historical importance rests on helping popularize interactive whiteboards and on linking classroom hardware with software for participation, annotation, and collaborative instruction.
- 2016
Foxconn acquisition
[1]Foxconn acquired SMART Technologies, ending its status as a publicly traded company.
- 2013
IPO class-action settlement
[1]Class-action litigation arising from the 2010 IPO was settled.
- 2012
Restructuring and executive transition
[1]SMART announced a major restructuring, reduced its workforce, and saw founders David Martin and Nancy Knowlton leave executive roles.
- 2010
NextWindow acquisition and public listing
[1]SMART acquired NextWindow and completed an IPO on NASDAQ and the Toronto Stock Exchange.
- 2009
Patent action against NextWindow
[1]SMART filed a patent-infringement lawsuit against NextWindow in New Zealand.
- 2003
DViT technology is developed
[1]SMART developed Digital Vision Touch technology and subsequently patented it for use in interactive-board systems.
- 1991
SMART Board launches
[1]SMART introduced its interactive whiteboard, creating the product category with which the brand became most closely associated.
- 1987
SMART Technologies is founded
[1]David Martin and Nancy Knowlton founded the Canadian technology company that would become SMART Technologies.
Products and positioning
A specialist education-technology and collaboration brand that combines interactive display hardware with classroom and workplace software. SMART is particularly associated with touch-enabled teaching, digital annotation, collaborative learning, and interactive presentations.
Interactive whiteboard and interactive display · 1991
SMART Board
The SMART Board is SMART Technologies’ defining product family. Introduced in 1991, it brought touch-enabled interaction, digital annotation, multimedia presentation, and computer control to a large shared display. It became particularly prominent in schools, where teachers could present lessons, manipulate digital objects, write over content, and involve students in group activities. Later generations extended the concept from projection-based boards to large-format interactive flat-panel displays.
Touch-detection technology · 2003
DViT
Digital Vision Touch, or DViT, is a touch-detection technology developed by SMART in 2003 and later patented. It was used as an important technical feature in SMART Board systems, helping the displays recognize interaction and support collaborative digital writing and manipulation.
Education and collaboration software
SMART classroom software
SMART’s software portfolio supports the company’s interactive-display hardware with tools for lesson delivery, digital annotation, classroom participation, collaboration, and presentation. The software-oriented layer allows SMART displays to function as shared learning and work environments rather than as simple monitors or projection surfaces.
Controversies
2010
Class-action allegations following the IPO
Following SMART Technologies’ July 2010 IPO, several U.S. class-action complaints alleged that the company had not disclosed important information before the offering. The claims were brought on behalf of purchasers of the company’s Class A subordinate voting shares and were settled in March 2013.
Brand decisions
2016
Sale to FoxconnM&ABackground
SMART had experienced market and financial pressure after its public listing and restructuring.
Action taken
Foxconn acquired SMART Technologies.
Aftermath
SMART became privately owned and continued operating under the SMART brand within Foxconn’s ownership structure.
Acquisition value. $200 million (2016 acquisition)
2012
Corporate restructuring and workforce reductionStrategyBackground
SMART faced intensified competition and weaker sales associated with reduced spending by school boards.
Action taken
The company announced a restructuring and reduced its workforce by approximately 25 percent. Management said the plan was expected to save about $40 million.
Aftermath
The restructuring coincided with the departure of founders David Martin and Nancy Knowlton from executive roles and reflected a shift toward cost control.
Expected annual cost savings. $40 million (2012 restructuring announcement)
2010
Acquisition of NextWindowM&ABackground
After filing a patent lawsuit against NextWindow, SMART pursued ownership of the New Zealand interactive-display company.
Action taken
SMART acquired NextWindow outright.
Aftermath
The acquisition expanded SMART’s control of interactive-display technology and complemented its SMART Board business.
2009
Pursuit of patent enforcement against NextWindowOtherBackground
SMART operated in an increasingly competitive interactive-display market and asserted that NextWindow’s technology infringed its intellectual-property rights.
Action taken
SMART filed a patent-infringement lawsuit against NextWindow.
Aftermath
SMART acquired NextWindow outright in 2010, converting the dispute into a corporate acquisition.
Recent events
Smart Technologies receives Dell Technologies FY26 Core Server Partner of the Year Award[2]
Reported:
Smart Technologies (BD) Ltd. received Dell Technologies’ FY26 Core Server Partner of the Year Award – Emerging Markets at the Dell Technologies South Asia Partner Summit 2026.
SMART Learning Suite wins 2021 EdTech Awards category[3]
Reported:
SMART Technologies announced that its SMART Learning Suite software won the 2021 EdTech Awards Collaboration Solution category, awarded by EdTech Digest.
SMART announces enhancements to SMART Learning Suite[4]
Reported:
SMART Technologies announced new enhancements to SMART Learning Suite, including ready-made classroom resources, more options to personalize activities, training features, and integrated image tools. The enhanced software was available on the announcement date.
Bett and SMART Technologies announce global partnership[5]
Reported:
Bett announced a three-year global partnership with SMART Technologies covering the UK, Asia, the Middle East and Africa. SMART Technologies will be the headline sponsor of Bett's Teaching Tech zone and provide education content programmes at Bett events.
Foxconn to acquire SMART Technologies[6]
Reported:
Foxconn Technology Group agreed to acquire all outstanding common shares of SMART Technologies for US$4.50 per share, subject to a shareholder vote in July.
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