SMART Technologies Launches SoundFlow, the First IFP-to-Device Audio Broadcasting System for Classrooms using Auracast
SMART Technologies has launched SoundFlow, an audio broadcasting accessory designed to send sound from compatible SMART Board interactive displays directly to students’ hearing aids, earbuds, headphones, personal listening devices and speakers using Auracast technology.
The system connects by USB to compatible SMART Board displays running the company’s iQ4 software, according to SMART Technologies. It is intended to allow teachers to broadcast lesson audio to multiple devices at once, including individual student devices and portable Auracast-enabled speakers positioned around a classroom.
The launch is aimed at classroom accessibility needs, particularly for students who are Deaf or hard of hearing, as well as students who may have difficulty following instruction because of distance, background noise or room acoustics. SMART said the product can also be used by neurodivergent and multilingual learners, though the effectiveness of the system for specific student populations has not been independently assessed. [VERIFY]
SoundFlow’s controls are accessible through the iQ4 interface, SMART said. Teachers can start and stop broadcasts, manage access, password-protect a channel and limit its broadcast range. The company said the product does not require audio wiring to be installed in classroom walls.
When used with SMART SoundLift, the company’s classroom microphone system, SoundFlow can combine a teacher’s microphone audio with lesson audio from the display into a single broadcast stream, SMART said.
Sara Murray, SMART Technologies’ executive vice president and chief product officer, said the product is meant to provide students with direct access to classroom audio through compatible personal devices without requiring teachers to make significant changes to instruction.
SMART Technologies described SoundFlow as the first interactive-flat-panel-to-device audio broadcasting system for classrooms to use Auracast. That claim has not been independently verified. [VERIFY]
The company did not disclose pricing, availability by market, a full list of compatible SMART Board models, or which hearing aids and other devices have been tested with SoundFlow. [VERIFY]
Auracast is a Bluetooth-based broadcast-audio technology that enables one audio source to transmit to multiple compatible receiving devices. In SoundFlow’s case, SMART said the technology can be used for either individual listening or broader classroom sound reinforcement through compatible portable speakers.