Anyone who has enjoyed (or resented) having a conversation with me for longer than 2 minutes knows that I have a private addiction to electronics. I have an even deeper addiction to 'affordable' and just plain awesome electronics. Over the past three years, you may say that a new type of electronics evolution has taken place in the East and has shaken up the electronics game in the West. If you are thinking about Apple, I would say that you are partially correct.
The revolution that started in 2007 is known on many techblogs as the 'Netbook Revolution'. Netbooks are computers who lack the size of your typical work laptop. They usually weigh less than 3 lbs. (1.4 kg) and have screens less than 11" (30 cm). The ancestors (yes, they are that old in technology years) to the netbooks that we see today in local electronic stores and supermarkets were ridiculed as the 'home-maker's computer'. The original netbook, the Asus Eee PC, only held a laughable 2GB of Hard Drive and 512MB RAM. They were quickly considered not a threat to full sized laptops and only appealing to older generations who did not know how to check their email and contact their grandchildren.
In only 3 short years, the netbook has now become the computer of choice for college students, the business traveler, and the grandmother who can barely operate her television. More netbooks were purchased during the holiday season last year than regular sized laptops. Current netbooks can carry as much memory and hard drive as full sized computers. A current Acer Aspire One 10.1" Netbook carries 1GB RAM and 250GB Hard Drive (which is enough to carry well over 60,000 songs, 200,000 photos, or 250 hours of video) and goes for a measly $299.99!
The netbook is evolving at a pace unimaginable. I monitor the netbook market like a hawk and I am still taken aback by the thought that the netbook that I purchased last week was obsolete this week. Sometimes, I hesitate recommending a netbook because of fear that by the time the person purchases a netbook it will be obsolete. In the upcoming year, we will see netbooks that will be tablet hybrids. This year we saw the introduction of the Apple iPad (and I will not start a discussion on the name of their fabulous new gadget) was deemed the savior of newspapers, magazines, and college textbooks. The e-reader battle of the 2009 Christmas Holiday also revealed the evolution of the small over the giant. Holiday wish lists did not include 19" Gamer's Laptops. On Amazon, it was all about netbooks and e-readers and this holiday season is proving the same trend.
The introduction of the Apple iPhone in July 2007 was considered the evolution of the smartphone. The introduction of the App Store revolutionized the way we viewed a phone. The phone was no longer a device we used to make phone calls and in some cases keep appointments. The phone became a multi-tasking device that became a device for academics, business professionals, students, small business owners, food trucks, and amateur video producers. Such a small device that fits in the palm of your hand can become command central for an entire business and especially an entrepreneur. Even the iPod Touch was an excellent (and much cheaper device) which still allows access to the Apple App Store. The iPod Touch 8GB has become the device of choice for college students across the United States. For approximately $199, students basically have access to a very small computer which allows them to quickly check email, watch video lectures, use study aides, read textbooks and research papers on the go, and of course be entertained every now and again.
This post and blog however is not talking about the evolution of the small against the giant (trust me, if you want to hear that bedtime story just comment below but I warn you I can get a little lengthy). It's about how this revolution in consumer electronics can be used to aid education in the United States and around the world.
Many education professionals are looking at netbooks and the upcoming 'tablet hybrids' to use for education. This is a great solution in the United States and other First World Countries where school districts have approximately $4,500 to spent on each student. If a student can be given an netbook at $300, the cost of purchasing hard cover textbooks for that student alone for one year, the school already is saving money. It will also eliminate the need for a computer lab and introduce students at an early age to computing. However, in other parts of the world where public schools have less than $20 to fund each student, netbooks seem very out of reach. This is where some very creative solutions come into play.
If a very high end 8GB touch screen device and companion App store costs $199, I can almost guarantee that it can be made for less than $50. The device doesn't necessarily need to be a phone or a high end tablet or a netbook. The device could be a simple black & white e-reader that allows students WiFi access and a library full of Apps and textbooks. It should also have a keyboard to allow students to type and effective web browser for simple internet access. The device should also use a solar panel or perhaps can be shaken for a short period of time in order to be charged (think a of those flashlights). However, there seems to be little interest by electronic companies in this type of device so we must stick to what is currently available for us. This is where this blog comes in.
Periodically, I will post on this blog the Top 10 Technology Tools to look out for based on a low technology budget and high technology budget and that will fulfill various education requirements including but not limited to:
- Student Friendly: Device Construction
- Budget Friendly: Nice Price Point for Educators and Institutions
- Function: The practicality of the device
- Design: May not seem a very important component to a device but determines whether students will actually use the device or not
- Performance: Does the device perform as expected?
- Competition: How does the device measure up against it's competition
- Availability: Locations where the device is available
- Target Audience: The target audience for the device (e.g. educators in K-12, Secondary Students)
- Pros & Cons: The positive and negative points about the device
- Overall Experience
I hope that you find these posts helpful, and feel free to comment on my posts about any other electronics or even electronics that you are developing that can be useful in educating students.
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