learning posts

Disney's 'Sum of All Thrills' Ride Lets Kids Use Math Skills

by Caleb Johnson (RSS feed) — Oct 15th 2009 at 5:03PM

Thanks to those imagineers at Walt Disney World, you no longer have to be an engineer to design a theme park ride, or be a nerd to have fun doing math. A new interactive feature, developed by Disney and military contractor Raytheon, and called Sum of All Thrills, opened yesterday at Disney's Epcot park. Both of the parties involved hope it'll teach kids that engineering and math can be fun and useful.

According to The New York Times, visitors to the exhibit use a touchscreen to design a roller coaster, bobsled, or jet ride. While you add head-spinning corkscrews and stomach-churning drops via onscreen tools like rulers and dials, mathematical formulas for velocity and acceleration appear on the screen. When your dream ride is complete, you can even hop into a robotic simulator to experience your custom creation.

Tags: disney, engineering, epcot, kids, learning, math, raytheon, robot, rollercoaster, theme park, ThemePark, top

Computers, Web

Cutting-Edge Curricula Killing the Textbook

by Caleb Johnson (RSS feed) — Aug 14th 2009 at 6:10AM

Throw away those old, heavy textbooks, kids. But don't get too excited. There will still be plenty of studying, just in a less back-breaking way. With many school systems crunched for money, there's a move toward digital learning in the classroom.

According to The New York Times, classrooms may be devoid of traditional textbooks within the next five years. As previously reported, California is already digitizing curriculum, but educators in other states are championing the array of tools the Web has to offer, as well. Dr. Sheryl R. Abshire, chief technology officer for the Calcasieu Parish school system in Lake Charles, LA, told the Times that modern students think in less concrete ways than their forebears, so they need more fluid learning tools in the classroom. "They don't engage with textbooks that are finite, linear and rote," she says. However, the move toward digital learning isn't without naysayers. Some argue that it could widen the already large educational gap between the rich and poor since not all students have access to the Internet at home.

Tags: classroom, e book, EBook, education, flexbooks, learning, money, school, textbooks, top, web

Computers

Self-Taught Einstein Bot Learns to Smile

by Leila Brillson (RSS feed) — Jul 12th 2009 at 11:01AM

In another step towards self-awareness, researchers at University of California, San Diego have developed a robot that teaches itself facial expressions. The realistic Einstein bot formerly required individually programmed facial movements, but through a trial-and-error technique UCSD has dubbed 'body babble,' the AI experiments with its mug until it achieves a real expression.

Linked to facial recognition software, each time robo-Einstein experimented with a position that was an actual expression, it received positive feedback. Next time it 'body babbled,' its motors had a bias towards already established emotional displays, and a type of experimental learning evolved through the bots random movements.

Tags: ai, bot, experiment, learning, robot, science, top, weird

Audio/Video, Computers

SMART Unveils Multitouch Table for School Kids

by Engadget Staff (RSS feed) — Oct 27th 2008 at 12:25PM

Determined to make us jealous that our kids' childhood experiences are more marvelous than ours, SMART Technologies will tomorrow unveil the SMART Table, a primary education "interactive learning center" (we'd rather call it Surface Jr.). It'll be available Spring of next year, and will work out of the box with learning applications that can be operated by any number of kids and all their fingers. Other classroom multitouch devices are on the horizon, but most of them are a little further from market than this Canadian contraption, which includes custom lesson plans, gesture support and a (touted but unspecified) wide viewing angle.

At $8,000 we're not sure it's an option for public schools whose budgets only have room for essentials, but if you work at a school that's totally loaded with cash and think the kiddos would dig this, feel free to look at SMART's short promotional vid after the break.

Tags: children, education, grade school, gradeschool, kids, learning, multi touch, multitouch, primary education, school, smart, smart table, smart technologies, table, touchscreen

Computers, iPod

Oxford and Cambridge Universities to Offer iPod Lectures

by Evan Shamoon (RSS feed) — Oct 9th 2008 at 8:47AM

In what is sure to be seen as yet another argument for college students not to attend class (or college, for that matter), England's venerable Oxford and Cambridge universities launched a service earlier this week that allows lectures, videos and podcasts to be downloaded from the iTunes store. The goal is to make the elite institutions more accessible to people across the world (particularly those who have iPods/iPhones).

Cambridge will make available more than 300 lectures, short films and interviews with academics (some of which are Nobel Prize winners, it should be noted). Oxford, on the other hand, will offer more than 150 hours of audio and video podcasts, including interviews with experts in genomics and the economics of climate change.

Students hoping to apply to the universities can also find helpful videos to help them through the process. Sadly, none of these appear to be a guide on how to change the grades on your high school report cards. [From: DailyMail]

Tags: college, education, learning, podcasts

Cell Phones, Computers, iPod, iPhone

Colleges Handing Out iPods to Incoming Freshman

by Terrence O'Brien (RSS feed) — Aug 21st 2008 at 4:02PM

iPhones in Class: Distraction? or the Wave of the Future?

We've spoken before about schools dolling out iPods, iPhones, and generally going high tech. In fact, luring kids in with flashy gadgets is becoming less the exception, and more the rule (Duke, MIT, Abilene Christian University, and Drexel University have all gotten in on the trend). Colleges seem to be encouraged by the potential for innovative education applications and a constant line of connection with students. Of course, giving out digital devices shows that the university is hip to cutting edge technology.

However, some educators do worry about the distraction such devices provide. Students already carry cell phones and laptops with them, but an iPhone or iPod touch provides a level of distraction comparable to a laptop or the quick and quiet access of a cell phone.

Most expert agree that mobile electronics will play a bigger role in education, but that the movement is still very much in its infancy. Schools and teachers have experimented with lectures on iPods and Zunes, software on Nintendo DS's, and iPhone specific applications. What, if anything, will stick to the wall? We're not sure, but it is an exciting time to be an educator or a student. [From: NY Times]

Tags: ds, education, gadget, gadgets, learning, nintendo ds, NintendoDs, school, zune

Computers

Emotional Robot Has Empathy, Understands Your Frustration

by Darren Murph (RSS feed) — Jul 19th 2008 at 1:37PM

Not that robots with emotions are anything new, but a project going on in Europe could perfect the art of crafting mechanical people that can "learn when a person is sad, happy or angry." The Feelix Growing project is getting even more advanced with software that gives robots the power to understand how a person is feeling based on feedback from cameras and sensors.

The bots look at a human's facial expression and key in on their voice and proximity to determine what kind of mood they're in. As with the recently announced UMass Mobile Manipulator, this creature too learns from experience, and there's a video explaining just what we mean waiting for you in the read link.

[Source: ICT Results via Physorg]

Tags: emotion, emotional, Emotional robot, EmotionalRobot, europe, Feelix Growing, FeelixGrowing, learn, learning, research, robots, software

Audio/Video, Computers, Gadget Head

Robot Listens To You, Controls Your Home Theater

by Will Safer (RSS feed) — Mar 26th 2008 at 4:13PM

We fear a robot takeover.

That said, this new robot from Toshiba, named ApriPoko, is so darned cute, how could we not want one in our very own home theater?

Its special purpose is the ability to memorize infrared signals from your remote control and assign each command to a certain action – like turning on your television or changing the channel – based on what you SAY to the little guy.

For example, if you use your remote control to turn on the TV, ApriPoko will sense the IR signal and then ask you, "What did you just do?" Your response, "I turned on the TV," is recognized and the command is assigned within ApriPoko's memory. The next time you want to turn on the TV, just say to the robot, "Turn on the TV," and it will be done. It works the same way with other devices and even more specific commands like changing channels, raising and lowering volume, and so on.

At least that's what's been promised by Toshiba, which at this stage is only demonstrating a prototype. ApriPoko is 8 by 11 inches and weighs about five pounds.

From Engadget via Pink Tentacle via Asahi News (crudely translated version of the article can be found here.)

Related links:

Tags: learning, prototype, remote control, RemoteControl, robot, toshiba, voice activated, VoiceActivated

Computers

$50 PC Will Teach Chicago School Kids

by Thomas Houston (RSS feed) — Mar 14th 2008 at 10:34AM

Here's another entry in the expanding line of low-cost computer technology that's geared towards the classroom: Innovations for Learning, a Chicago-based nonprofit, recently debuted its $50 Teachermate handheld, which now joins the OLPC XO and Intel Classmate in the quest to teach kids how to compute on the cheap. The bare-bones PC comes with 512MB of RAM, an SD slot (for external memory), a tiny 2.5-inch display, and a microphone and speaker. It lacks Wi-Fi (wireless connectivity) or Ethernet, however, so the Teachermate won't be able to go online. Because the handheld device also lacks a keyboard, it forces the user to maneuver around the onscreen interface with just a four-way directional pad and three buttons.

Innovations for Learning will be launching the new computers in over 500 Chicago public elementary schools during the next two years. While both the OLPC and Intel Classmate are built on freely-available open-source software -- which makes them more versatile and upgradeable -- the Teachermate currently only runs a small proprietary set of classroom management tools and reading and math educational software.

The Teachermate will be available soon on Amazon, for those who are interested in trying it out on their own.

From Engadget

Gallery: Teachermate - $50 PC

Audio/Video, Computers, Video Games, CES 2008

'Guitar Wizard' -- Like 'Guitar Hero' With a Real Guitar

by Terrence O'Brien (RSS feed) — Jan 9th 2008 at 9:39AM

'Guitar Hero' may be fun and cool, but one thing it certainly can't do is teach you how to actually play guitar. In fact, the connection between playing 'Guitar Hero' and actually playing guitar is tenuous at best. Just ask Slash.

That's where Music Wizard is hoping to one up the gaming phenomena by taking the basic concepts of 'Guitar Hero' and applying them to an actual guitar. 'Guitar Wizard' should drop in August with a suggested retail price of $149.95 when packaged with the Sound Tech Interface that gets mounted on a guitar or $299.95 with student quality electric guitar.

Different colors and shapes are used to represent the different frets on the strings. Slowly the game evolves, from what is essentially an extremely complex 'Guitar Hero, until you're no longer playing a game, but instead reading music. Sadly, Music Wizard's creators dont have the deep pockets that Activision has, so don't expect to jam along to original performances of 'Godzilla' or 'Welcome to the Jungle.' Instead you'll have to make do with MIDI versions of the tracks. Upside, less red tape involved so you can download thousands of tracks from WizardTunes.com. Down side, it's like jamming along to a Super Nintendo.

Related Links:

Tags: guitar, guitar hero, guitar wizard, GuitarHero, GuitarWizard, learning, music wizard, MusicWizard, video game, VideoGame

Computers, Video Games

"Force Feedback" Suit Teaches You to Box

by Terrence O'Brien (RSS feed) — Nov 2nd 2007 at 2:39PM

We're all familiar with force feedback at this point, a technology usually associated with video games that allows you to feel every bump, jerk, and hit in a video game through the vibrating joy stick or even vest. Now researchers at MIT are adopting the technology to help us learn and perfect motions based on a teacher's instruction.

In an example explored by Wired, a boxing student could be learning to throw the perfect jab. The student's elbow keeps popping out as opposed to staying tucked in as it should. So the instructor dons a motion-capture suit and records himself throwing that desired punch. The teacher's correct movements are then "played back" on the force-feedback suit that the student then dons. Tiny vibrations on his arm indicate the correct movement for the punch and guides his elbow back in.

One of the perks of this according to researchers is that the force feedback effects our motor functions unconsciously, so that replicating the jab requires no effort or thought once learned.

The suit increased learning rates by 23 percent and reduced errors by 27 percent among its student subjects, but it still seems to have a long way to go before it becomes a practical teaching tool.

From Wired

Related Links:

Tags: force feedback, ForceFeedback, Future tech, FutureTech, learning, research, science

Geek Gifts for Bush's Birthday

by Terrence O'Brien (RSS feed) — Jul 6th 2007 at 10:11AM

Smithsonian Amazing Talking Globe

Another thing we learned early on is that Bush Jr. is not real knowledgeable 'bout them other places. Sure he's gotten better, but there's always room for improvement.

This talking globe will help him learn what countries are where and teach him a bit about different cultures, so he can avoid the early boondoggles of his administration's reign when Daddy had to call and smooth some things out for him.

After he's explored the globe, he can play with a built-in in trivia game that features over 10,000 questions, which should help him locate the next country we send troops to on the map.

Related Links:

<< Back Start Over >>

Tags: geography, globe, learning, talking

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'Black Friday' Deals to Watch For

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Black Friday' Deals to Watch For

Traditionalists might balk, but the holiday shopping season is already underway. Skeptical? Head to your local department store and you'll be inundated by Christmas trees and ornaments. Bargain hunters, though, know that the real deals are more than a month away.

Black Friday, traditionally, is when retailers truly slash prices. Early birds can save hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars off of their holiday bills. Switched.com checked with a few elves, who gave a sneak peek at what you can expect deal-wise this year.

Blu-ray Players and Movies: Blu-ray is shaping up to be the biggest door buster of this year's Black Friday. de Grandpre expects at least one retailer will offer a Blu-ray player for just $49. Look for bargains on Blu-ray films as well, with last year's hit titles (such as "Iron Man") to fall as low as $5.

Laptops: With the proliferation of Netbooks this year, it's never been easier to find affordable portable computing, but Dan de Grandpre, CEO of DealNews.com says it will get even cheaper on Black Friday. Look for well-equipped Netbooks to sell for $199 – and basic 15" laptops to go for as little as $249.

HDTVs (Pretty big): The holidays are typically the best time to buy a new TV – and Black Friday is the time to do it. If you're looking for a normal sized set, you're in luck. Piper Jaffrey analyst Mitch Kaiser says he expects to see 32-inch LCD sets for as low as $299. GottaDeal.com is estimating 37-inch plasma and LCD sets will fall to $399 or less.

HDTVs (Really big): Need something bigger? How about a 46-47 inch LCD set for $599 – a 25 percent savings? Or a 52-inch LCD for $999? Dealnews says you can expect both. Plasma deals will be a little harder to come by, but a 50-inch set should run roughly $899.

HD Camcorders: You've wanted to shoot your child's school play in HD for a while, but haven't been able to spring for the pricey camcorder. This might be the year. Low-end, flash-based 720p models could drop as low as $60 (though you won't be able to zoom with those). Expect a high quality 1080p HD camcorder for $349.

GPS: While navigation systems have dramatically expanded their reach this year – even making it onto the iPhone – there's still a market for car-based systems. Dealnews predicts you'll be able to find a no-name entry-level system for $49, while a Garmin or Tom-Tom brand will be as low as $69.

Digital Picture Frames: Showcasing your digital pictures consistently gets cheaper. This year, skip the 7-inch screens and focus on the 8- or 9-inch ones, which should be available on Black Friday for as little as $30.

Monitors: Computer monitors might not be the sexiest of gifts, but they're usually welcomed with open arms – and they'll be cheap this year. Name brand 22-inch LCD models may go for as low as $99, while 24-inch models will drop below $150.

Memory: Don't know anyone who needs a monitor? External hard drives are always popular, since they're an easy way to back-up data. Dealnews expects a 1TB drive to fall as low as $49 this year. Gottadeal is looking for 8GB flash drives to hit $15.

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