SMART Technologies Introduces OS-Free SMART Board

Interactive display company SMART Technologies has released the GX Zero SMART board, a simple USB-C cable plug-and-play device that needs no embedded software or operating system.

Once plugged in, it can make any content interactive, the company said, and works with Windows, Mac, and ChromeOS.

GX Zero SMART Board

GX Zero

The GX Zero is for users who "want the benefits of an interactive display and aren't planning to use embedded software," the company said. Users can pick up a pen, write, and save annotations in PDF or Microsoft Office file formats.

Multiple users and different tools can use it simultaneously, the company said, adding that the device uses 52% less energy than similar products.

Features include:

  • SMART Ink software that allows writing directly into programs and files "without screen freezing or clunky overlays";
  • Multiple users writing, moving, and erasing at the same time;
  • Multiple USB-C ports; and
  • Forty touch points on Windows, 20 on Mac, and 10 on ChromeOS.

Buyers can customize the display by adding a SMART OPS PC and AMGI Android appliance to provide Windows or Android-based computing. This allows compatibility with future developments, the company said.

The GX series boards are available in 65", 75", and 86". The boards come with a free SMART Notebook and resource library for teachers. Included are also real time technical support, advanced replacement, and two-way shipping. Extended warranties are also available.

To learn more about the series, see the GX in action, download a spec sheet and a brochure, or book a demo, visit the GX device page.

About the Author

Kate Lucariello is a former newspaper editor, EAST Lab high school teacher and college English teacher.

Featured

  • AI toolbox containing a wrench, document icon, gears, and a network symbol

    Common Sense Media Releases Free AI Toolkit, AI Readiness & Implementation Guides

    Common Sense Media has developed an AI Toolkit for School Districts, available to educators free of charge, that provides guidelines and resources for implementing AI in education.

  • elementary school building with children outside, overlaid by a glowing data network and transparent graphs

    Toward a Holistic Approach to Data-Informed Decision-Making in Education

    With increasing access to data and powerful analytic tools, the temptation to reduce educational outcomes to mere numbers is strong. However, educational leadership demands a more holistic and thoughtful approach.

  • three silhouetted education technology leaders with thought bubbles containing AI-related icons

    Ed Tech Leaders Rank Generative AI as Top Tech Priority

    In a recent CoSN survey, an overwhelming majority of ed tech leaders (94%) said they see AI as having a positive impact on education. Respondents ranked generative AI as their top tech priority, with 80% reporting their districts have gen AI initiatives underway, or plan to in the current school year.

  • AI-powered individual working calmly on one side and a burnt-out person slumped over a laptop on the other

    AI's Productivity Gains Come at a Cost

    A recent academic study found that as companies adopt AI tools, they're not just streamlining workflows — they're piling on new demands. Researchers determined that "AI technostress" is driving burnout and disrupting personal lives, even as organizations hail productivity gains.