summer technology workshop day 2 gadgets and toys for the classroom tuesday, july 28, 2009 – 9:00...
TRANSCRIPT
Summer Technology Workshop
Day 2
Gadgets and Toys for the Classroom
Tuesday, July 28, 2009 – 9:00 -12:00 Loyola University
Gadgets and Toys for the Classroom
How in incorporate them in the classroom for learning
How to use them as a productivity tool
Voice Recorders
MIDI Keyboards
Portable PA Systems
Document & Barcode Scanners
CD & Label Printers
Are our “tools” becoming old?
Let’s Spice Things Up!
Gadgets
Usually small
Technological object Such as a device or appliance
Functions as designed Often thought of as a novelty
Often referred to as a “gizmo”
Two sides to every Gadget
Productivity
&
Pleasure
Gotta Have it!!
WHY DO I NEED IT??1.Revolutionize by
making “it” easier2.Offers opportunities for
other applications3.Looks cool4.Fun to play with
Fun & Useful
USB Fans, USB Lights, USB Coffee Warmer, etc.
MIDI Ant
Laser Pointers
iPods & MP3/MP4 players
Security & Spy Stuff
Wii, PSP, Playstations (Rock Band, Guitar Hero, etc.)
Slingbox, TV Tuner Cards
USB
Because it passes electricity (from the laptop’s battery or the desktop computer’s connection to the AC) Provide power to electrical devices:
Electric motors (fans, vacuum cleaners, brushes, etc)
LED lights Heating elements
Coffee Cup warmer Seat rest warmer
USB microphones and Headsets
MIDI
MIDI Ant / Insect / Bug When eyes light up, you know you’re sending
MIDI data
MIDI Keyboards / Controllers Depending on the controller’s features, you
can manipulate sounds in many ways Some have Proximity sensors
Gestures control the sound
Laser Pointers
Come in several colors Red, Orange, Green, Blue & Violet
Red is the least expensive laser color
Blue & Violet laser pointers can start at over $1,700.00
iPods, MP3 / MP4 Players
Began with Apple – Apple iPod is the STANDARD
Other companies tried to copy
Some say Microsoft came the closest with its “Zune”
Designed as a portable music player
Some models evolved into video players
Different iPod models & companies’ players can do different things
The iPod(1st Generation)
Came out October 23, 2001
Standard Controls: Play Skip / Fast Forward Back / Rewind Pause Volume Control
Jack for Headphones
The iPod(1st Generation)
Plays digital music that you download
Scrollwheel navigation
5GB internal HDD
2nd Gen – 20 GB
Contacts
Calendars
Games
iPod(3rd Generation)
April 8, 2003
Touch Sensitive controls
Sleeker design
Improved Display
Orange Backlighting
20GB HDD
iPod mini & iPod (4th Gen)
iPod Mini January6, 2004 - mini Anodized Aluminum Introduction of the Clickwheel
iPod (4th Gen) Thinner than predecesors Included the Clickwheel 20GB
iPod photo
October 26, 2004, also February 23, 2005 and June 28, 2005
Color LCD display
Display color photos
Clickwheel
iPod shuffle(1st Generation)
January 10, 2005
No Display
Made use of “Shuffle” Can be disabled
Simple design
Wearable
iPod Nano(1st Generation)
September 7, 2005
World’s 1st 4GB Flash player
Thinnest iPod to date
Bright color screen
Photo iPod
Screen scratches easily
iPod(5th Generation)
October 12, 2005
Aka: “The Video iPod”
A/V cables not bundled
Music Player 1st
Video 2nd
iPod Shuffle(2nd Generation)
September 12, 2006
Aka: The iPod Microscopic
Still screenless
Smallest in the world
Wearable
Easy to use
iPod Touch(1st & 2nd Generations)
Complete touch screen interface (except for the “home” buttonWireless built-inMulti-TouchAmbient Light SensorAccelerometerPlays music, videos, access internet & email though wi-fi8GB & 16 GB models (32 GB in 2nd Gen)
iPhone & iPhone 3G
iPhone
Debuted 2 years ago at the WWDC Conference
Revolutionized cell phone technology (AT&T Network)
Most phones are compared to the iPhone
Same features as the iPod Touch
Uses the 2G technology (EDGE=SLOW…very SLOW)
Included a decent built in camera
Included wi-fi and Bluetooth radios
iPhone 3G
iPhone 3G
Came out last year
Comes in 2 colors (plastic shell): White Black
Incorporated 3G (3G=faster network performance)
Proprietary headphone/mic jack replaced with standard
iPhone 3G S“S” is for Speed
iPhone 3G S
Improved Camera
Record video
Includes a compass
Install applications (as in previous iPhones)
Has a microphone for recording (as in previous iPhones)
Largest storage capacity (32GB) Others were 8GB & 16 GB
What can I do with these?
MUSIC Small form factor can replace bulky CD
players CON: You’ll need external speakers to hear the
audio Store collections & multiple albums of CD’s on
one device User created audio & songs can be synced
with the device View your library by song, composer, artist,
genre, album, etc. Group songs into playlists
Set a list of songs for a particular class, group, personal interest
What can I do with these?
VIDEO (for iPods that have this feature) All iPods that can playback video can be
connected to an external display and sound system
Carry home-made videos, downloaded videos, ripped DVD videos with you
Because it’s not linear based, you can easily move to specific points in a video quickly
With some “hacking” knowledge, you can put videos recorded from your home DVR on your iPod
What can I do with these?
iPhones & iPod Touch Applications & Apps Store
FREE and paid applications for almost any purpose
Once you pay for an application (including free) you can un-install the app at any time and re-download for free
Not tied down to specific iPhone or iPod touch Have same app on multiple devices (must be
synced with the same computer)
App Examples
Pandora Music player Pandora.com Music genome project
OmniTuner Chromatic tuner Shows pitch played on staff & fretboard Show frequency (numerical & waveform)
App Examples
Cowbell Plus Instant cowbell sound by touching or shaking Different instruments
Claves, cowbell, Crash Cymbal, Cymbal bell, drum sticks, egg/tube shakers, Gong, hand claps, Hi Hat Open/Closed/Stomp, Maracas, Ride Cymbal, Rim Shot/Tap, Sleigh Bells, Snare Drum, Tambourine, Triangle, Vibraslap & Woodblock
Can vary volume with force of shake or position on screen
Tap Tempo BPM Tap Tempo Calculator
Gives note values in milliseconds and equivalent in Hertz
App Examples
MiniPiano Instant piano for finding pitches
Recorder (native on iPhone - iPod Touch users need a mic) Record live sound (like a voice recorder Transfer to computer over network
Voice Memos (iPhone 3.0 software) Just like Recorder Includes a VU meter
Do you have any
QUESTIONS??
Portable PA Systems
Portable PA Systems
Save your voice
Depending on system, mics can be passed around room during student/teacher discussion
Can be connected to other devices with 1/8” audio jack
Some speakers can be tuned to reject feedback
Some systems can run off battery power as opposed to AC
Some work wirelessly over Bluetooth, IR, or standard RF
Portable PA Systems
FYI IR systems need a “line of sight” to work
IR systems work better in small to medium size rooms Sounds may cut out in rooms like gyms and
auditoriums
Bluetooth systems usually have a maximum range of 30’
RF devices may have interference from other RF signals
QUESTIONS??
Document Scanners
Document Scanners
Great for scanning music to show on an overhead
Scan documents to edit for music software Optical Character Recognition (OCR) Put scanned documents on website or include
in emails
Create presentations using scanned photos Great way to convert non-digital photos to
digital DIGITIZE
Document Cameras
DIFFERENT from a Document Scanner Integrates a video camera to capture images
Primarily used to show live video of any content Widely used in Science classes Very handy in demonstrations of “hands-on”
material
Some can output different formats VGA S-Video Composite
Document Cameras
Standalone cameras tend to stay powered until you turn them off
Depending on the amount of ambient lighting, some document camera systems have “lighting” built in
Alternative to consumer document cameras are consumer camcorders mounted on a tripod Most, if not all, camcorders have fill lighting
built in that can be turned on or off Fill lighting may need white-balance correction
ARE THERE ANY
QUESTIONS??
This concludes Day 2…
As always, if you have any questions, please don’t
hesitate to send me an email. My email address is:
Thanks….see you tomorrow!!