"Techpresence" is the ability of electronic devices to wirelessly communicate and interact with each other just by placing those devices in close proximity to each other.
A smart phone that that exhibits "techpresence" automatically syncs images with a desktop computer (perhaps via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi) when placed close to the desktop. An example of techpresence in the living room might be picture frames or other art that "senses" the presence of "techpresence-enabled" devices and presents custom images or custom artistic content.
Techpresence can also happen with items that we now think of as "dumb". Your refrigerator, for example, could respond to your iPod playing a "don't eat that ice cream" message. Your "techpresence" wrist watch could talk to your front door locks and unlock when you approach from the outside.
In the classroom, "techpresence-aware" devices could reconfigure based upon the presence or absence of selected students. A computer in a lab could present custom bookmarks. A message board on the wall could announce the scores of last night's basketball game when the "star center" enters. A student's cell phone could turn into a "learning key" that unlocks technology and other resources as long as the student is present. Cell phones could also interact with schoolwide networks tracking the movements (presence or absence) of students in class. (No more calling the roll!).
For educators, techpresence could assist with security (locking your keyboard when you walk away from your desktop computer) or provide access to the faculty resource rooms. Place your laptop next to your home computer and that day's grades and assignments are synchronized. Place the same laptop next to your television and a list of educational films you'd found and bookmarked appears as a selectable menu on your TiVo.
The possibilities are endless. Watch as "techpresence" comes to a home (and classroom) near you!
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Wednesday, January 02, 2008
Educational Media via (Smart) Phone?
With the advent of all the media-ready cell phones, why don't we use the new channel to distribute content, like educational movies/videos, to those devices?
The Challenges
Moving the media between convention DVD and digital distribution isn't that hard. Most schools have a server somewhere from which they can stream media directly to a mobile device (or any computer, for that matter) - or have access to a subscription streaming service and view from there.
You'd think there would be more technical challenges - but most of today's "smart" devices can display a web page with digital movie content (QT, WMP, MPEG, etc.), and, in some cases, support Flash or other multimedia content. Streaming a video is still a bit painful at "cellular" speeds, but if the device can access Wi-Fi, you're all set. Downloading entire videos (and passing them around on SD cards or through network connections) might work too.
The experience of watching a movie or video content on devices like an iPod or smartphone is becoming more common and accepted - especially among students used to viewing their world through a playing-card sized window. The iPhone or other "larger screen" smart devices, offer even more screen real estate and are surprisingly "watchable" - especially for a generation of student used to staring at a smaller screen.
The Opportunities
Because streaming media can be archived and delivered outside of the classroom (time-shifted) it's available on-demand for students and teachers. Sometimes, in today's world, "on demand" means when you're riding the bus, waiting for baseball practice, or hanging out at the mall with friends. Why not put the two together and leverage the use of mobile devices for delivering important and meaningful content.
Making it So
Some educators have stepped out and experimented with podcasting or even videocasting. This involved the creation of content for student use, or professional development. The idea is to take traditional content and offer it up for consumption on a mobile device.
There are several ways you could test the effectiveness of "mobile-video" offerings with your students. They include the usual things you would do to leverage video viewed through the student's home computer such as:
* making an (optional) assignment for students to access a (short) video on their mobile phone and report back to the class the next day
* offering mobile access to video content for students who are absent or infirm as an alternative to, or accent for, book work
* offering video content as preparation for class lectures or as a review for an upcoming exam
Before you can get started with all this interesting exploration, be sure to run some tests yourself. Fire up your Treo, iPhone or other browser-ready mobile device and view some videos. Try You Tube! first, then try surfing to your streaming video network (like Discovery education streaming aka United streaming) and see how it looks. Remember, Wi-Fi connectivity is better for streaming. Stand-alone (saved) video is OK on any video-capable device. If you're satisfied (make sure and listen to the audio, too!), then
I've always landed in the "student responsibility" camp when it comes to the use of cell phones and smart devices in school. I think banning these devices is short-sighted. Restricting the use of the devices is wise. Holding students accountable for "appropriate use of devices" while in school is the gold standard.
I'm off to watch "Cosmos" on my iPhone.
The Challenges
Moving the media between convention DVD and digital distribution isn't that hard. Most schools have a server somewhere from which they can stream media directly to a mobile device (or any computer, for that matter) - or have access to a subscription streaming service and view from there.
You'd think there would be more technical challenges - but most of today's "smart" devices can display a web page with digital movie content (QT, WMP, MPEG, etc.), and, in some cases, support Flash or other multimedia content. Streaming a video is still a bit painful at "cellular" speeds, but if the device can access Wi-Fi, you're all set. Downloading entire videos (and passing them around on SD cards or through network connections) might work too.
The experience of watching a movie or video content on devices like an iPod or smartphone is becoming more common and accepted - especially among students used to viewing their world through a playing-card sized window. The iPhone or other "larger screen" smart devices, offer even more screen real estate and are surprisingly "watchable" - especially for a generation of student used to staring at a smaller screen.
The Opportunities
Because streaming media can be archived and delivered outside of the classroom (time-shifted) it's available on-demand for students and teachers. Sometimes, in today's world, "on demand" means when you're riding the bus, waiting for baseball practice, or hanging out at the mall with friends. Why not put the two together and leverage the use of mobile devices for delivering important and meaningful content.
Making it So
Some educators have stepped out and experimented with podcasting or even videocasting. This involved the creation of content for student use, or professional development. The idea is to take traditional content and offer it up for consumption on a mobile device.
There are several ways you could test the effectiveness of "mobile-video" offerings with your students. They include the usual things you would do to leverage video viewed through the student's home computer such as:
* making an (optional) assignment for students to access a (short) video on their mobile phone and report back to the class the next day
* offering mobile access to video content for students who are absent or infirm as an alternative to, or accent for, book work
* offering video content as preparation for class lectures or as a review for an upcoming exam
Before you can get started with all this interesting exploration, be sure to run some tests yourself. Fire up your Treo, iPhone or other browser-ready mobile device and view some videos. Try You Tube! first, then try surfing to your streaming video network (like Discovery education streaming aka United streaming) and see how it looks. Remember, Wi-Fi connectivity is better for streaming. Stand-alone (saved) video is OK on any video-capable device. If you're satisfied (make sure and listen to the audio, too!), then
I've always landed in the "student responsibility" camp when it comes to the use of cell phones and smart devices in school. I think banning these devices is short-sighted. Restricting the use of the devices is wise. Holding students accountable for "appropriate use of devices" while in school is the gold standard.
I'm off to watch "Cosmos" on my iPhone.
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