Group items tagged

Some interesting commentary on the future of touch screens. Potentially has implications for educational uses as well: "Anyone who has used one for a long time will tell you that they quickly revert to using the keyboard and mouse. And it isn't because of the software or touch technology - both are fine.The problem is that you get tired keeping your hands up and on the screen for a long period of time. Touch experts I've spoken with say it's because your hands are above your heart, which isn't comfortable for very long."

Will bendable computer screens save newspapers?

Ha-hah! Thats awesome. I guess it was only a matter of time until we had flexible computer screens. I'm not sure if it will save and/or replace newspapers. I could definitely see consumers buying this screen and having their news constantly updated. Sure you can look to a computer or smartphone for news, but there's something appealing about this newspaper-like screen...

concerns about how much time children spend interacting with media

Many studies, contradictory results, whom to believe?

There's an emerging "app gap" in which affluent children are likely to use mobile educational games while those in low-income families are the most likely to have televisions in their bedrooms. Parents are increasingly allowing their young children to use IPads and IPhones apps for learning and entertaining.

Article warns against effects of screen time on the developing mind. The article also states that quality programs are only educational if the child understands the content and context, which children under two usually can not.

Digital books allow students with disabilities to read more easily.

I think the main idea and KEY affordance is getting books to these kids faster and more efficiently. In the past, for a visually impaired student, a district would have to request or find the book in Large print or in Braille after the typical book had arrived, so by making an HTML version of the printed book available (at the same time) as the print, allows for screen readers to work and be available to the students without the traditional wait time. Excellent use of technology.

http://www.ted.com At TEDIndia, Pranav Mistry demos several tools that help the physical world interact with the world of data -- including a deep look at his SixthSense device and a new, paradigm-shifting paper "laptop." In an onstage Q&A, Mistry says he'll open-source the software behind SixthSense, to open its possibilities to all.

Hi there Hongge, thanks for sharing this amazing video. He's managed to bridge certain key technologies and made them more intuitive for the daily user. It's great that he's made it open-source too! Maybe we could pay a visit to MIT to check it out? I wonder though, whether such a device would in the future not only project thoughts and programs but also capture user data and begin to 'suggest' or advertise certain things to you. Scary but the potential is enormous. Again, thanks!

Thanks, Matthew. That video was actually filmed three years ago (yes, even before iPhone 4) and I wonder if Pranav is still at MIT Media Lab. Maybe Karen knows more about him and could make an introduction for us? Machine learning and personalizing content for us is already happening. Personally, I like the idea of personalized content simply because nowadays we can be so easily info-overloaded. It is quite normal for CEOs and political leaders to digest pre-screened/selected info by their secretaries and/or advisers, right? And Google has been doing this for advertising to consumers. I don't mind the right ads appear at the right time when I need the product or service. What really strikes me about Pranav's idea is that it reminds me about the movie Inception, where you can transplant an idea into someone's mind and the distinction between reality and the virtual world is so blurry.

The unholy marrage of violent gaming and hightened advert recall...Clearly there are educational implications to be considered here.

I get really nervous about these "shifts" when they become sensationalized. Despite our insistence that students are not created equal, we keep searching for the one-size-fits-all solution to education, and in this era that solution is bolstered by anything containing the word DIGITAL. How much socioemotional development will students lose if this trend increases over time? How do we provide for human relationships, mentors, even confrontation and conflict resolution when we are all hiding behind computer screens? It has to be about more than convenience.

I worked in Newport News, VA and around that time the current governor was huge with technology initiatives and this school district benefited greatly from this. I see now that they are still being used for projects like this. My concern with Virginia is that they will gladly try technology in schools, but the use of the technology is not always practical. If a person goes on the VDOE website, they will see the state touting their advances in the use of technology. They are calling themselves a leader in online testing, for example, but their 'bragging' points all reflect how the technology has made life easier for all the adults and not necessarily the children. It is the exact same thing that was on paper now on the computer screen: http://www.doe.virginia.gov/testing/online_testing/index.shtml

Is foreign-language software and technology impacting how Japanese learn their own language and negatively impacting their national culture?