What is the Difference Between a Smartboard and an Interactive Whiteboard?
Aninteractive whiteboard is a general term that refers to any large, touch-enabled digital display designed for interaction. Users can write, draw, annotate, manipulate content, and control connected devices directly on the screen. The definition focuses on what the technology does rather than who makes it.
Brand Identity vs. Product Category
Interactive Whiteboard as an Industry Term
As an industry term, interactive whiteboard includes products from many manufacturers, each offering different feature sets, operating systems, and hardware designs. These products are used across education, business, healthcare, and training environments. The term itself is neutral and descriptive, focusing on function rather than origin or brand.
Smartboard as a Trademarked Brand
Smartboard is a trademark owned by SMART Technologies and refers only to devices produced under that brand. Smartboards follow specific quality standards and design principles defined by the manufacturer. This brand identity often brings trust and familiarity, especially in education, but it also means users are working within a controlled ecosystem.
Software Platform and System Environment
SMART Notebook and Proprietary Software
Smartboards are closely integrated with SMART Notebook software, which is designed primarily for structured teaching and lesson delivery. The software includes tools for interactive exercises, digital handwriting, object manipulation, and lesson organization. This tightly controlled environment ensures stability and consistency but may limit flexibility for non-educational use cases.
Open Software Environments on Interactive Whiteboards
Most interactive whiteboards outside the SMART ecosystem operate on open platforms such as Android or Windows. These systems allow users to install and run a wide range of third-party applications, including office software, cloud services, and collaboration tools. This openness makes them suitable for diverse environments and evolving workflows.
Software Flexibility and Customization
Interactive whiteboards typically offer higher levels of customization. Users can choose apps, adjust interfaces, and integrate cloud services according to their needs. This adaptability is especially valuable in business and higher education settings, where workflows vary significantly between users and departments.
Hardware Design and Display Technology
Projector-Based Smartboard Systems
Earlier Smartboards relied on projectors paired with touch-sensitive surfaces. While effective at the time, these systems required frequent calibration and were affected by ambient light, shadows, and projector maintenance. Despite these limitations, many institutions continue to use them due to their long service life.
Modern Flat-Panel Smartboards
Newer Smartboards have transitioned to flat-panel displays, offering sharper image quality, improved touch responsiveness, and reduced maintenance requirements. These models provide a more streamlined experience while maintaining compatibility with SMART software tools.
All-in-One Interactive Whiteboard Displays
Many interactive whiteboards are designed as all-in-one flat-panel displays. They integrate speakers, cameras, microphones, processors, and operating systems into a single unit. This design reduces installation complexity and improves reliability, making them ideal for modern collaborative spaces.
Final Conclusion
Smartboard vs. Interactive Whiteboard in Practice
Smartboards are ideal for environments committed to SMART Technologies, while interactive whiteboards offer greater versatility across education and business.
Making an Informed Decision
Understanding these distinctions helps organizations choose the most effective and future-proof interactive display solution.
Impact of Branding on User Perception
Because Smartboards were among the earliest widely adopted interactive whiteboards, the brand name became strongly associated with the technology itself. Over time, this led many users to treat “smartboard” as a generic term. While this reflects strong brand recognition, it can also create confusion when comparing products from different manufacturers.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. Is a Smartboard the same as an interactive whiteboard?
No, they are not exactly the same. An interactive whiteboard is a general category of touch-enabled digital displays used for interaction and collaboration. A Smartboard is a specific brand of interactive whiteboard produced by SMART Technologies. All Smartboards are interactive whiteboards, but not all interactive whiteboards are Smartboards.
2. Why do people often call all interactive whiteboards “Smartboards”?
Smartboards were one of the earliest and most widely adopted interactive whiteboards, especially in schools. Because of this early popularity, the brand name became commonly used as a generic term, even though it technically refers only to products made by SMART Technologies.
3. Which is better for classrooms: Smartboard or interactive whiteboard?
Both can be effective in classrooms. Smartboards are particularly well-suited for K–12 education due to their structured teaching software and long-standing presence in schools. Interactive whiteboards from other brands may offer more flexibility, modern hardware designs, and broader software compatibility, especially in higher education.
4. Are interactive whiteboards better for business use than Smartboards?
In many cases, yes. Interactive whiteboards are often preferred in business environments because they support open platforms, video conferencing tools, cloud collaboration, and multiple operating systems. Smartboards can be used in offices, but their software ecosystem is more education-focused.