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November 15, 2002
Top 10 Smart Technologies for Schools (cont'd)
2. Next Wave Mobile Computing
Laptops, handhelds, tablet PCs or customized combination devices-what options are out there for schools?
By Susan McLester
What does the dream mobile computing device look like? A lightweight, low-cost, pocket-size, secure, durable, Internet-connected, e-mail-ready, powerful, wireless network-enabled, peripheral-friendly, memory-rich, expandable computer, with pager and phone? For some, perhaps. But as high-end integrated solutions such as Handspring's Treo and Palm's new Tungsten W duke it out for the perfect mobile combination, many schools are still grappling with the why, how, and, of course, how much.
What does mobile computing offer schools? The first and most obvious answer is: freedom to pursue learning anytime, anyplace. But with price, ruggedness, battery life, security, and tech support among the prime considerations in the education environment, finding a comfortable mobile match for schools is not easy. Everyone seems to agree that wirelessly connected computers are our future. And for schools, where outdated infrastructures, portable classrooms, and space constraints are often a fact of life, wireless makes a lot of sense.
Since Microsoft's pioneering Anytime Anywhere Learning program first put laptops in the hands of students and educators back in 1996, wireless technology has become increasingly accepted in K-12 education. Since then, wireless carts have allowed budget-strapped schools to get more from their technology dollars through the sharing of laptops among several classrooms. But research shows a greater benefit of wireless for schools is its potential to empower and motivate students with their own Internet-connected personal digital devices for home, school, or anywhere. And though laptop programs still remain a very viable option for some schools, their high price, bulk, and risk for theft make them less than ideal for many others.
A lower-priced alternative schools have experimented with is the handheld, whose light weight and suitability for certain tasks-such as note taking, real-time scientific measurement in the field, or information management on the fly-have carved it a niche in certain areas of education. However, the scaled-down capabilities of most handhelds-the tiny screen, lack of a keyboard, and reduced memory and processing power-make it impractical for performing many of the tasks a laptop or desktop can.
In general, hardware companies in both consumer and education worlds are competing to create the device that becomes that elusive "missing link" between the handheld and full-blown laptop or desktop. One promising newcomer for the school market is AlphaSmart's Dana, a lightweight, low-priced, Palm OS-enabled device which offers Internet connectivity, a full-size keyboard, PC-width screen, and the teacher-friendly option to disable the beaming function, which many fear has encouraged cheating.
Tablet PCs are another option currently being brought to market by Microsoft, Acer, and others. Thin and lightweight, they offer sophisticated handwriting recognition software that can transcribe even quickly scribbled notes into typed text. For those new to technology, no Graffiti training is necessary, and they're great for users on the go, with voice recording and single-handed writing capabilities. Acer's TravelMate incorporates both laptop and handheld, converting from the "clamshell mode" for keyboard input into a folded-down tablet for pen use. At this point, drawbacks to tablets include a high price tag, fragility, and a stylus with an embedded circuit board that is prohibitively expensive-around $50-to replace.
But as the technology becomes increasingly sophisticated and options broaden, it may be that we move toward not just a single solution, but a few devices with narrower, more dedicated purposes, such as the cell phone. Palm's new $99 Zire targets users who primarily want a tool for personal information management. The higher-end Tungsten T has one-handed navigation, voice recording, and is Bluetooth enabled, making possible a Personal Area Network up to 30 feet. This means a Bluetooth-enabled cell phone, printer, scanner, and so forth could all receive commands from the handheld. It's possible that in the future PANs might find a home in classrooms for collaboration projects, or simply as time-saving devices.
With the technology evolving at such a rapid rate and educators only just beginning to investigate the imaginative approaches to learning it makes possible, it's difficult to predict which specific mobile device or devices will be the best fit for students and teachers. What we can predict, however, is that they'll be more powerful, more versatile, and more commonplace in schools.
Next: Hybrid Computing > > >
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