New Tool in the Toolkit

New Tool in the Toolkit

SMART Podium 500

One of the new tools that we have added to our trial toolkit and in our Mock Courtroom/Training facility is the SMART Podium 500.  The SMART Podium is an interactive display that provides the functionality of a SMART Board in an 18” or 24” monitor.  It uses a pen instead of your finger or mouse to interact with content.  One of the reasons I like the pen instead of the touch screen is the ability to rest your hand/arm on the display and not have to worry about the display getting confused with new and unexpected sources of input.  It comes with a gas spring stand that is easy to adjust and adapt to your liking. 

To add the Podium into your Courtroom configuration, you can use the Video In and Video Out interface to pass the signal through the display.  The Video In source comes from your laptop/computer and the Video Out source then plugs into the rest of the Courtroom video distribution or projector.  If you don’t have a DVI output on your laptop, make sure you have DVI-to-VGA adapters with you as the input/output connections on the Podium are DVI-I.  You will also need to attach a USB cable from your laptop/computer to the Podium.  I highly recommend getting the SMART GoWire autolaunch cable.  It is a USB cable with the SMART Meeting Pro software included on the cable and you kill two birds with one stone/cable.  A major benefit of the GoWire is that you can switch laptops or use someone else’s computer and you don’t have to install any software – it’s in the cable.   To use the podium with all of the SMART Board tools, you need to make sure that you have their Meeting Pro software installed. 
   

TrialDirector has been integrated to work with the Podium incorporating the same features and functionality as the interactive whiteboards.  Use the Presentation Preferences inTrialDirector to set the tool options for the pen color buttons that are on the top portion of the Podium.  The pen connected to the Podium becomes your mouse and makes zooming, highlighting etc. with TrialDirector easy.  It is an ideal piece of equipment to include as part of your toolkit, especially if the Attorney wants to run the presentation from the lectern in the Courtroom.  Add in a USB amplifier to extend the cable and some longer VGA cables, customize the toolbar and you are good to go.

Sometime within the next year, SMART will be offering a touch version of the SMART Podium.  For now, the 18” or the 24” monitors are much easier to ship or transport to your nearest Courtroom and much easier to find a place to put it.  If you are interested in the specs/pricing or want to order one, contact Judy Miller atjudymiller@smartcourtconsulting.com

Why Use Visual Aids in the Courtroom? ...the answer is common sense. We navigate our daily life through the use of visuals. We have been conditioned to use visuals to inform us and entertain us. Advertisers have been using visuals to tell us information for hundreds of years.  To not use visuals in the courtroom would be a mistake.  Don't tell the jury about your clients' injuries ...show them. A quality illustration can make the audience feel the plaintiff's pain. Let Med Art & Legal Graphics help you tell your story ...a story the jury will understand, empathize with and most importantly they will remember it in the deliberation room. Call/Email to get more information about Med Art & Legal Graphics ShelleyWatts@med-art.com  888-715-0784 LorrieThomason@med-art.com  770-891-3103 www.med-art.com

Trial Director for IPAD!!!!

TDMobile is a simple, easy to use evidence management and presentation tool designed specifically for use with the iPad. With TDMobile, you can create a case folder, add exhibits to your case through a Dropbox™ or iTunes® account and interact with your evidence using the annotation and presentation tools. Or... prepare complex exhibits in TrialDirector and export to TDMobile for presentation.

TrialDirector for the iPad

• Case Management on the Go!
  Manage multiple case folders
  Create new case folders right on the device
  Import entire folders from Dropbox with folder structure intact
  Import files one at a time from Dropbox
  Export a workbook from TrialDirector specifically for use with TDMobile.  

         
Annotation Features

• TDMobile gives TrialDirector users their favorite annotation and markup tools including:
• Callout Tool - Use multiple callouts from different pages. Callouts can be zoomed, rotated, and placed anywhere on the screen.
• Pen Tool - Multiple colors supported
• Highlight tool - Bright and fully transparent Redaction tool
• Laser Pointer tool
• Whiteboard tool

Video Playback

Export your video from TrialDirector with embedded closed caption to an MPEG-4 format. TDMobile supported formats include industry standards such as:

• H.264 video up to 1080p
• MPEG-4
• Motion JPEG (M-JPEG)

Other Features

TDMobile also has the ability to freeze output on an external display while you prepare a different exhibit on the iPad. Zoom and Rotate your exhibits with normal iPad touch gestures.