Pattie Maes and Pranav Mistry's Sixth Sense

This amazing piece of technology was created by a PhD student in the Fluid Interfaces Group at MIT's Media Lab. His name is Pranav Mistry. Before his studies at MIT, he worked with Microsoft as a UX researcher. Although he has many projects such as, intelligent sticky notes, Quickies, that can be searched and can send reminders, a pen that draws in 3D, and TaPuMa, a tangible public map that can act as Google of physical world, the Sixth Sense is his most recent project, and one that is very eye catching. The Sixth Sense is a wearable device that enables new interactions between the real world and the world of data. It can go anywhere you do and can do just about all you can imagine. Its simple really, one must were these so called finger caps, and with those finger caps you can do things such as take a picture by framing the object with your hand, go to the grocery store and get all of the information you need on a product by simply touching it. It is incredible and very hard to believe, but it is real. With all of the amazing things this device to do, it is much to hard to explain and go into the great detail that is needed in order for you to get the full picture so here is a YouTube video for you!







Article Citation: http://hubpages.com/hub/pranav-mistry-sixth-sense-technology-physical-world-to-digital-world



YouTube Video:

One Laptop per Child!!!

One laptop per child, or OLPC, is a great organization that gives children in developing countries the oppurtunity for an education through such technology.  With a mission to provide an education also comes with self-expression, and exploration to approximently two BILLION children in lesser developing countries. 

   There are many different ways for someone to participate in the fantasitc organaization.  One way is to doneate one or more laptops to www.amazon.com/xo.  Another way is to start your own fundrasign drive, help at a nearby pilot, or simply by word of mouth, telling your friends and family about the organization.

   These laptops are very neat.  They are all low-cost and have wireless internet built right into them.  The laptops are also built with a special screen so these kids don't have that very irratating problem we sometimes do when we bring our computers outside and get that awful glare.  These screens prevent this problem there for making it possible for children who attend an outdoor school, an education!  How fantastic!

Internet site: www.laptop.org/en/

Picture site: www.erniesuggsharvard.files.wordpress.com/2008/12/olpc.jpg

Microsoft Surface!

So in my Ed Tech and Design lecture the other day, we learned about this really cool thing called Microsoft Surface.  Its like a coffee table but with a computer built into the top surface!  However when I say computer don't picture an average P.C or a laptop, this computer is a multi-touch screen that can do everything imaginable.  On the clip we watched in class about the Microsoft Surface, I honestly thought I was dreaming when the creator demonstrated how this machine transfers pictures from the camera to the computer and to the computer to a cellular device.  It was unbelievable!  What he did was he took is digital camera, took a picture of his coworker, then just set the camera on the "table" itself and BAM there it was.  It transferred itself from the camera, to the computer!  And that's not all!  He then set is cell phone down on the "table" and dragged the image with his finger to where the cell phone sat and the image disappeared off the surface, and went into the cellular device!  I was astonished and asked my neighbor sitting next to me if that had really just happened.  It was amazing.  As I'm watching this I think to myself, "how cool would it be my future student's desks were these exact things?"  If my future students could have this type of technology it would be so beneficial.  Not only could they do research from their desk, along with typing up any work, they could also go out to websites (when asked by me) to play games and do activities on certain subjects to enhance their learning.  Having these in the classroom would make learning so much more fun and exciting for students and that's exciting for the teachers as well.  Right now the Microsoft Surface is only being sold to commercial and developer unit companies, that can be seen in the hotel business, Cellular providers, big name restaurants such as The Hard Rock Cafe, and other big and popular corporations.  However soon they will be able to everyday consumers just like you and me, and I cross my fingers that some day we will see our youth having an educational experience with them as well!






Informational site: http://www.microsoft.com/surface/Pages/Experience/Showcase.aspx

SMART Boards in Today's Classrooms!

In many of today's classrooms one can easily spot a SMART Board.  A SMART Board is an interactive white board developed by SMART technologies, that allows students to get a full hands on experience on any topic in any subject.  While using the SMART Board, you are able to access the internet, write on the actual board, do classroom activities and much much more.  Forget about all of those boring worksheets that your students dread doing, with the SMART Board students are able to do activites as a whole class, or in groups, and will recive the same education as they would with any worksheet, the only difference is they are having a blast doing the work, resulting in better comprehension!  The SMART Board has interactives for all subjects, math, social studies, science, reading, and writing.  Now im not saying that worksheets are no good anymore and you should only use the SMART Board, but what I am saying is this technology is something new and fun for your students.  It is something that can be used to liven students moods on a more boring topic and will get them excited to learn and participate!  The SMART Board is good for all types of learners.  For example, visual learners are able to see digarams and images even from all the way in the back of your classroom, auditory learners are able to use the speakers that comes with the board in order to have things better described to them, and kinesthetic learners are able to control the screen by using their fingers, giving them a hands on and fun learning experience.  The SMART Board benifits all and is a great thing to have in your classroom!

Article: http://eduscapes.com/sessions/smartboard/

Image: http://www.musicteachersblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/whiteboardimage.jpg

My New Blog!

Welcome to my new blog! Not only is it new its my first! In this blog one will find my personal opinions, feelings, and thoughts about education! Check often for updates :)

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