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A few people posted about using Skype in the classroom. Thought I would add to that especially since this article reminded me of the virtual session we had on Monday when HGSE had cancelled classes due to weather conditions.

A teacher's perspective on the issue: http://gazette.teachers.net/gazette/wordpress/steve-sherman/innovation-10-reasons-google-skype-should-be-used-in-the-classroom-a-teachers-view/

This looks promising. If Skype/Google Hangout add a few more features to their interface, it could render obsolete Blackboard and other paid software for video conferencing and online classes. I think the engineers at Google and Microsoft have the skills to put together a better product than what's currently out there. It's just a matter of whether they seize the opportunity.

This is the thing I really wanted people to see related to collective note-taking. See 27:00 to approximately 34 or 35 minute mark. His students take shared notes and create a master exam review sheet.

Emerging technologies exhibit at computer graphics conference in August 2012. The web page has a video (which could be less glitzy and more informative) and below that brief descriptions of the various exhibits. Some interesting and even simple uses of digital technology, such as using plants as an interface to a computer.

Conceptual change is aided by model building. Visualizing the relationships between different components of the model using a graphical interface is a powerful technological capability. Powersim is one such tool. Such an iterative model building activity to predict theoretically principled outcomes is stated to be conceptually engaging. There are other tools like Stella and VSim that fall into the same category.

That takes care of the display challenge, now if we could only develop a more sophisticated and biologically intuitive method of data entry (no keys or multi-touch surface), the world will be a very different place. Def. an emerging technology with wild educational/training implications.

Interesting article on why touch screens are dominating in new technologies--and the basis for why they're more attractive to us.

designing e-textbooks

Physical toys can be recognized by the iPad touch screen, utilized by free game app. The interaction (maybe requirement?) of physical toys, that must be purchased, in order to utilize a free app... curious to see if this kind of interaction will gain footing in education

Nice article. Technology in every facet of life - cars, homes, and public places, statiums, etc. It underscores focus on user interface, integration, and simplicity. We are getting more data than we can comsume. We know so much about daily lives of our friends, it has become, as the other puts it, "A New Reality Show."

Here is a 2 year old TED talk, with innovative ideas for seamlessly blending the real world and the digital world

For those with "locked-in" syndrome, this development could be a blockbuster...