OLPC goes XP

One of my favorite projects to follow has been the OLPC (One Laptop Per Child) by founder Nicholas Negroponte. Announced now is a joint partnership with Microsoft, promoting Windows XP on the OLPC.

There are two sides to this... the anti-Microsoft-conglomerate will say Linux was perfectly suited to this little machine, and far more kid friendly. (Note the super-imposed "Blue Screen of Death" on the image.) The other side would suggest that joint efforts can only help this project. There is no bigger name in computers than Microsoft.

What we have seen now that OLPC is here, along side the Asus EeePC and others coming out is a change in hardware that's been a long time coming.

Read more about this from Wired.

Read a different perspective from CNN.

Not All New Tech is a Good Idea

Not that it needs to be said, but not all ideas are good ideas.

I'm not sure if "The HandPhone" is an example of convergence, of shrinking technology, or a kid's toy. Thankfully, this is only a concept at this point... not likely to ever make it to production.



Maybe it's just me, but this reminds me so much of Maxwell Smart's shoe phone.

Singapore in 2015

Some interesting projections here in this promotional video produced by the Singapore government. There is some technology here under development that is not far off at all... but remember, 2015 is only 7 years away!

The Evolution of Digital Community

This is an entertaining and informative video of the evolution of the digital age. It was an introduction to a sub-committee, but is now making the rounds via YouTube.

RBC Giving Away Free Computers

Anyone who knows me knows I love free stuff. I really do. I know, I know, not much of a shocker...

I have been marvelling at the Asus EeePCs for a couple of weeks now, and think they are great punch per pound in computer portability.

Now, I see that RBC is giving away the 2G Surfer Asus EeePC. Check it out here.

This is the smallest of the EeePC, which originally was launched up to 8G, but now the 900 is out, and the 901 Atom is also coming.

As for the RBC deal, it's fantastic to get something this cutting edge, this good, for free, but of course, there are many hoops you need to jump through. That said, if you are thinking about moving or changing banks, or are already with RBC, this is a fantastic deal.

Note the 2G surfer isn't much for real use, but is a great kid machine, a great travel buddy, and may be a nice introduction into the ultra-portable for many people. If you get hooked, pick up a 8G, a 900, or look for a 901 Atom, and donate this one to the kids.

Student Video from Classrooms

The digital world we live in has made video capture any time, any where, and at times, without the subject's knowledge, permission, or awareness. Today's classroom is such a place.

Take a few minutes to look at this post from Leader Talk, a blog about educational administration. Be sure to take a few minutes to read the comments posted by readers as well. It brings up a great many questions.

Check out the posting and commentary here.

Some of my thoughts...

It's alarming at times the antagonism that can be shown, not just student - teacher, but person to person. Purposefully pushing someone's buttons just seems... I don't know the word. Having lived through some of these types of experiences, I understand the frustration on both sides in some, but the first and last video seem extreme, antagonistic, and purposefully mean.

As one of the readers commented, it's not surprising that teachers are leaving the profession in droves, yet they are often not prepared for the classroom of today. I know my professional training offered a lot on pedagogy and subject matter, but almost nothing on classroom management, which was, by far, the biggest challenge of my first several years (and, if I was still in a classroom, current years, I'm sure). How do we expect new teachers to excel when the most difficult aspect of the job is the one they learn the least about?

That may be the best question to examine out of this posting... the legalities of the videos seem insignificant to me next to this.

Your thoughts?

2,000 Frames Per Second

Advancements in cameras project a 1/1,000,000, per second frame camera coming out before the end of the year. I'm sure there will be some phemominal things done with that type of frame capture.

Have a look at this very cool video of a popped water balloon at a relatively pathetic 2,000 frames per second.




Very cool.

Free Online File Conversion Tool

Ever wondered how to download online files in any format you wish? For free?

Zamzar is now offering a great, free tool that takes any embedded online video and allows you to save the video on your own computer in several different format option.

This really is fantastically easy to use. You can sign up for a free account, you can do it without signing up, or you can pay a fee for even more benefits.

I've used it without registering, and it worked well, and is very simple to use. Keep this valuable tool in your toolbox.

Blackboard Gradebook

One of the larger LMS (learning management systems) around is Blackboard, who has finally overhauled their Gradebook in the next release of 8.0. You can see a preview of the gradebook's release here.

Nanobots and Cancer

There's a lot of questions floating around asking about nanobots, and what are the actual application of them. It all sounds so sci-fiction, and sounds a long way off.

This story from 60 minutes (12 minutes long) shows some of the future applications of the nanos, and how the greatest of scientific discoveries can come from the most unlikely of sources. While this is still several years away, and is still a long way from a saviour, it is a good indication of how close the world is to the land of sci-fi.