On 01/18/2011,
in 21st century, analytics, computer science, learner profiles, learning agents, learning ecosystem, mathematics, music, personalized/customized learning, programming, science,
by Daniel Christian
The Ultimate Study Guide: Wolfram Alpha Launches “Course Assistant” Apps — from ReadWriteWeb by Audrey Watters
The computational knowledge engine Wolfram|Alpha is launching the first three of a series of new “course assistant” apps today. These apps, available for iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad, are designed to take advantage of the Wolfram|Alpha technology in the service of supporting some of the most popular courses in high school and college.
The idea is to be able to quickly access the pertinent capabilities of Wolfram|Alpha relevant for specific subject areas. Currently, these subject areas are Algebra, Calculus, and Music Theory. But the company says it plans to add apps for other subjects – “for every major course, from elementary school to graduate school,” – including those fields outside math and science.
From DSC:
Notice the term engine (in bold maroon above). This is the type of sophisticated programming that will increasingly be baked into future learning products — as the software seeks to learn more about each learner while providing each learner with a more customized learning experience…pushing them, but aiming to encourage — not discourage — them. I can see an opt-in program where each of us can build a cloud/web-based learner profile — and allow such an engine to be “fed” that data.
New Garageband Killer uJam is the best web app of 2011 — from Cool Stuff for Nerdy Teachers blog
Excerpt:
Ujam is without a doubt the best free app I have seen pop on the web in the last 12 – 18 months and it is a really fresh and unique piece of software that is going to blow your students minds. Essentially uJam let’s anyone create a professional piece of music in minutes by simply singing. No instruments required. ( You must see the video below to believe it.)
On 01/17/2011,
in music,
by Daniel Christian
iTrump, MusicReader apps help musicians stay on track — from USAToday.com
A technology maestro — from The Economist
A COMPOSER, inventor and educator, Tod Machover wears many hats. The son of both a pianist and a computer-graphics pioneer, his own career melds these two fields in a mix of music and technology.
…
This led him to modify his own cello at 14, using headphones and an amplifier. A few years later, while studying composition at New York’s Julliard School in his early 20s, he learnt computer programming. “I definitely caught the computational bug,” he says. In 1978 Pierre Boulez, a French composer, invited him to work at IRCAM, a music research institute in Paris. Seven years later, Mr Machover joined the MIT Media Lab, where he still teaches. He also leads the affiliated Opera of the Future, a research group that explores ways “to help advance the future of musical composition, performance, learning, and expression”.
…
So what’s next? After spending much of his career looking for ways to make music an active experience for all, Mr Machover predicts the future of the field is in personalisation. “I think more and more we will be developing music that can be customised for a particular person at a particular time,” he says, “almost like a prescription.”
The Magic of the Music — from Mobile Learning Services; original posting from Katherine Burdick’s Mobile iEducator blog
Features:
- Audio and video features bring a deeper level of understanding to the text.
- Fun, interactive geography lesson encourages readers to use maps and scale of miles to calculate distance.
- Motivating math activities give the opportunity for participation by individuals or pairs.
- User is able to personalize the story by uploading personal photos and drawings.
- Recording feature lets readers record themselves singing or retelling a favorite tale.
- Links to the company website allow parents or teachers to download additional support materials to keep the learning growing outside the book.
On 01/03/2011,
in music,
by Daniel Christian
Music Tech: 8 Digital Instruments for the Cutting Edge Composer [VIDEOS] — from Mashable.com
— from “Misa digital guitar set for CES launch as the Kitara” at gizmag.com by Paul Ridden
On 12/23/2010,
in media/film, music, new business models, programming, publishing,
by Daniel Christian
Alibris launches marketplace for books, movies and music — from ProgrammableWeb.com by Romin Irani
Alibris, an online marketplace that brings together Indepenent sellers of popular, collectible and bargain books, music and movies has launched a Developer Network. The company is inviting developers to use its API to not only build applications but earn commissions via its affiliate program. The Alibris API exposes most of its data like current books, music and movies on sale, item information, seller information and item/seller reviews.
On 11/23/2010,
in A/V -- audio/visual, cloud-based computing / apps / other cloud-related, digital audio, digital learning, digital photography, digital storytelling, digital textbooks, distance education, homeschooling/homeschoolers, innovation, internet, media/film, mobile learning, multi-touch, multimedia, music, New "Amazon.com" of Higher Education, online learning, online media, online tutoring, podcasting, teaching online, technologies for your home, workplace,
by Daniel Christian
Cutting the Pay TV Cord, Chapter 5: Unlimited Internet TV — from Phil Leigh
In short, often there is no reason why modern flat panel TV screens cannot function as giant monitors for up-do-date computers.
Thus a growing number of us are attaching computers to our TVs. The trend is especially prevalent for WiFi enabled computers because they can connect over a home network and thence to the Internet. In such configurations computers – commonly dedicated laptops – function as Internet gateways for televisions. They transform TVs into dual function devices normally controlled from a comfortable viewing distance with ordinary TV remote units.
Also see:
- Cutting the Pay TV Cord, Chapter 4: Broadcast Reception
- Cutting the Pay TV Cord, Chapter 3: Televisions
- Cutting the Pay TV Cord, Chapter 2
- Cutting the Pay TV Cord, Chapter 1
If you’re tired of paying for television service you’re not alone. The number of domestic pay TV subscribers declined for the first time ever at the end of the June, 2010 calendar quarter. The drop was about 200,000. It declined again at the end of the September quarter by an estimated 100,000. Since there are over 95 million pay TV subscribers, the industry publicly minimizes the significance of the trend reversal. But they are wrong to do so. It’s been a growth business for half a century. It’s run its course and Internet video is the successor.
On 11/08/2010,
in digital audio, emerging technologies, learning spaces, mobile learning, multimedia, music,
by Daniel Christian
On 11/08/2010,
in Apple, learning spaces, multi-touch, multimedia, music, smart classrooms, vendors,
by Daniel Christian
— originally found at Bob Sutor’s blog