NECC’s over. But I suspect that I’ll have more to say as time goes on and I have a chance to review some of my notes and some of the stuff that I’ve pulled from the bottom of my computer bag.
I was lucky enough to run into David Thornburg in the exhibitor’s hall on Tuesday afternoon, and he directed me to two pretty interesting products. One was a portable computer called, one2oneMate. It is an AlphaSmart style contraption that is actually a full computer running Linux and a pretty rich set of instructional and productivity applications. The OS is tricked out for speed and memory management, so it is mostly not possible to install your own applications — which I think is a weakness. But what’s there is better than anything else if seen for $399 (Volume discounts available). If you can recommend some other inexpensive portable computers, please do.
Thornburg also pointed me to P3D, a virtual walk through of the human body. It was very slick, when used with an interactive white board. You can grab part of the body, expand, turn, and enter, exploring the visual aspects easily and interactively. You can see some video demos by going to the web site, at http://www.p3d.com.br/. Click your preferred language (the company is in Brazil), then products, then Biology 1, Biology 2, or Geography. They are working on a Physics product.
One of the aspect of the product that I found intriguing was that there is no text utilized, enabling it to be used regardless of language and when appropriate, regardless of age.
At some point in the next few days, I’d like to write about about some of the trends that I saw in this years NECC Exhibit Hall.
It sounds like you had a wonderful time at the conference. I am curious what was included in the many conversations that you mention regarding methods for disseminating information, training, and technological capabilities to our schools? For all of the wonderment in these exciting ideas, what can be done to get our schools up to speed and prepared to address the educational crisis that seems to be ever present?
Hi David … I am interested in 1:1 and have been watching the UMPC
(Ultra Personal Computer Market) which is technially a mini tablet
http://www.via.com.tw/en/initiatives/spearhead/nanobook/
around $600.00 – this will run everything my tablet/pc will and will be affordable for students…
http://www.umpcbuzz.com/blogs/umpc_news/archive/2007/06/13/The-VIA-NanoBook-reference-design-launch.aspx
The VIA NanoBook reference design launch
Published 13 June 07 07:26 PM | Layne Heiny
NanoBook Features
Microsoft Windows XP/Vista
Multimedia Playback
1.8″ 30 GB HDD (optional 60 GB)
7″ WVGA Touch
Full Keyboard and Touch-Panel
Lisa asks a BIG question. I guess that the comment answer is what happened with the blogger cafe. Imagine bloggers suddenly standing up and leaving the various presentations that are sitting in, to all converge where John Pederson has just twittered an amazing panel discussion happening in GWCC204. The magical, almost esp that was going on.
Yet, I wonder if we congratulate our selves prematurely. I’ve suggested that we may be maturing as a profession. But we’re certainly not there.
I ran into the Nova5000 at NECC and when I got home we got a loaner to test drive. We are pretty impressed. It runs on Windows CE, has an active directory so we can access our server, it is wireless, rugged and has some nice science and math applications. It includes 3 points to connect probes and the software to analyze the data. It is rugged and uses a keyboard or stylus.it is made by fourier http://www.fourier-sys.com/….
The cost is about $600