From DSC: Expectations, today, are getting hard to beat

Since Apple’s event yesterday, I’ve heard some conversations on the radio and reviewed several blog postings and articles about Apple’s announcements…many with a sense of let down (and some with the usual critical viewpoints by the backseat drivers out there who have never tried to invent anything, but who sure like to find fault with everyone else’s inventions and innovations).

It made me reflect on how high our expectations are becoming these days!  It wasn’t enough that iCloud is coming on 10/12 (and who knows the directions that will take society in). It wasn’t enough to introduce some serious software-based innovations such as Siri (which bring some significant advancements in the world of artificial intelligence) or AirPlay for the iPhone.  It wasn’t enough to enter into the multi-billion dollar card industry with their new Cards app for the iPhone.  Wow…tough crowd.

What might these announcements — and expectations — mean for education? 
Well…I can see intelligent tutoring, intelligent agents, machine-to-machine communications, the continued growth of mobile learning, learning from the living room, the initiation of programs/events caused by changes in one’s location, continued convergence of the television/computer/telephone, continued use of videoconferencing on handheld devices, cloud-based textbooks/apps, and more.


 

Siri on the iPhone 4S -- October 4, 2011

 

 

 

Tagged with:  
Steve Jobs has resigned as Apple CEO "effective immediately"

 

From DSC:
I want to post a thank you note to Mr. Steven P. Jobs, whom you most likely have heard has resigned as Apple’s CEO. Some articles are listed below, but I want to say thank you to Steve and to the employees of Apple who worked at Apple while he was CEO:

  • Thank you for working hard to enhance the world and to make positive impacts to our world!
  • Thank you for painstakingly pursuing perfection, usability, and excellence!
  • Thank you for getting back up on the horse again when you came out of a meeting with Steve, Tim and others and you just got reamed for an idea or implementation that wasn’t quite there yet.
  • Thanks go out to all of the families who were missing a dad or mom for long periods of time as they were still at work cranking out the next version of ____ or ____.
  • Thanks for modeling what a vocation looks like — i.e. pursuing your God-given gifts/calling/passions; and from my economics training for modeling that everyone wins when you do what you do best!

Thanks again all!

 

 

Smashing the cubicles — from technologyreview.com by Tom Simonite
By sketching future spaces around tablets, smart phones, and social technologies, companies can operate with far fewer desks.

 

Designed for mobility:
This conference table, from the design firm Steelcase, allows employees to dock their mobile devices and take turns sharing the displays at the ends of the table.  Credit: Steelcase

Also see:

  • The Rise of the Virtual Office — from technologyreview.com
    As the definition of the workplace changes, dramatic increases in productivity could be ahead.

How to give your webcam video an audio punch: Use a shotgun microphone — from ReelSEO Video Marketing by Grant Crowell

 

rode video mic 200x97

rode videomic pro 200x200

Tagged with:  

Intel predicts Smart TV is the device of the future — from nyxiotechnologies.com’s blog
Chipmaker Intel believes that the Smart TV is the electronic device of the future, in the living room anyway.

Excerpt:

The Smart TV is already upon us, in its various forms from various manufacturers. It has arrived with 3D capabilities, web browsing and social networking and applications. Currently Samsung and LG seem to be two of the big players pushing the Smart TV to consumers.

Also see:

 

Steelcase sets out to discover where HD video links will take the next-generation office — from Crain’s Detroit Business by Matthew Gryczan

 

MATTHEW GRYCZAN/CMB

Ideo Chairman David Kelley (on screen) in Palo Alto, Calif.,
and Steelcase CEO Jim Hackett are constantly connected
from Hackett’s office in Grand Rapids.

Some excerpts from SmartDesks.com — my thanks to Mr. Cal Keen at Calvin College for these resources

 

Equator™ Conference Table

 

Equator™ Conference Table with Wings Raised

 

MacTable™ for iMac and Mac Pro Computers

 

 

Quark™ Mobile Computer Table

 

 

Collab Tables by CBT SMARTdesks installed in Learning Center Studio Space

 

Nice elevated flooring design here:

 

Nice raising flooring example from SmartDesks.com

 

Addendum later on 7/18/11:

 

  • Get the Most Out of Your Learning Space — from Chief Learning Office by Natalie Morera
    Corporations can learn much from higher education institutions when it comes to utilizing physical learning spaces. When used properly, they can facilitate better learning.

 

Some items re: Blackboard’s announcement of their Collaborate product:

 

 

Required features of video wall controllers — from videowalls.org

 

 

Telepresence in the classroom: Enhancing breadth and depth of learning — from Cisco by Kerry Best

Excerpt:

All of a sudden, the classrooms lost their walls, and prior geographic and instructional limitations ceased to restrict learning.

  • …[telepresence] can bring in teachers for important subjects in which current instructors may not have specialized expertise
  • …take students on virtual field trips
  • …for teacher education
  • …bring historical figures to life

 

Christie Serves Up Content With Modular Multi-Touch Interactivity Kit and High Performance Software and Media Server

INFOCOMM/ORLANDO, Fla. – (June 15, 2011) –  Christie, a global visual technology company, today unveiled the newest members of its Christie® MicroTiles™ solutions family, the Christie® i-Kit touch interactivity kit, powered by Baanto™ ShadowSense™, and the Christie® JumpStart software and media server, both on technology preview at the Christie InfoComm booth #2127 through to June 17.

 

Also see:

Example shown above from Weill Cornell Medical College

 

Announcing the Cisco umi Mobile App for iOS and Android– from Cisco by Gina Clark

 

Cisco umi mobile app


Excerpt from Cisco (emphasis DSC):

Today, I’m pleased to announce a new addition to the umi family — the Cisco umi mobile app is now available for iPhone, iPod touch, iPad, and Android devices.

The umi mobile app is a cool new way for umi subscribers to access video messages and recorded videos on the go. In addition, you can use your mobile device’s touchscreen to add/edit contacts easily with the onscreen keyboard, or even as a remote control for umi on your HDTV.

 

Relevant addendum later on 6/16/11:

fuze-telepresence-diagram.png

 

Telepresence no longer just for the board room – New Cisco value-priced endpoint makes widespread enterprise adoption more affordable — from Cisco
Enhances “any to any” interoperability; Makes Telepresence conferencing easier, smarter and more cost effective to deploy

ORLANDO, Fla. – June 14, 2011 – Cisco today introduced a number of new telepresence products and enhancements as part of its collaboration portfolio designed to give customers new ways to simply, quickly and cost effectively scale telepresence throughout their organizations. The advancements also enhance “any-to-any” interoperability between Cisco TelePresence® endpoints and any standards-based devices, and make the telepresence experience even more intuitive with user-friendly features and capabilities.

Large Photo

 

Addendum later in the day:

 

 

© 2024 | Daniel Christian