Nokia Morph Concept

I learned about the Nokia Morph concept phone couple months ago and was very impressed with Nokia’s vision for how handsets might evolve.  The Morph concept is a collaboration project of Nokia Research Center (NRC) and Cambridge Nanoscience Center.

Morph concept phone is a flexible two-piece device that can adapt its shape to different use modes. Nanotechnology enables to have adaptive materials yet rigid forms on demand.  Morph is a concept demonstrating some of the possibilities nanotechnologies might enable in future communication devices.  Morph can sense its environment around us and empower us to make better choices.  Also, Morph is self-cleaning and self-preserving and hence repels water or dirt.  Furthermore, Morph has built-in solar absorption capabilities to re-charge itself.

I am excited about the R&D of Morph and its potentials of creating a world of radically different devices that open up an entirely new spectrum of possibilities.  Morph concept and nanotechnology will unleash new applications and services that will allow us to communicate and interact in unprecedented ways.  This will in turn revolutionalize the way we use mobile devices in teaching and learning in the future.  To learn more about Nokia’s Morph concept, please view the below video.

Print What You Like

I recently found an interesting and useful Web-based printing application called PrintWhatYouLike. Instead of printing out an entire Web page, PrintWhatYouLike lets you remove elements from the page that you don’t want to print, set the page to a particular width, or print specific areas of a site.   Using PrintWhatYouLike, you don’t have problems of printing web pages with full of ads, empty space and other junk you don’t want.  PrintWhatYouLike is a free online editor that lets you format a Web page for printing.  I have used PrintWhatYouLike for several days and found it is a very useful tool.  Furthermore, it saves your money by reducing your paper and ink usage.

To print what you like on a Web page, you follow these steps:

• Go to PrintWhatYouLike.com and click Start.
• Make the page more readable by changing the font size and type and removing the background.
• Remove ads and other junk you don’t want.
• Save ink by removing all the images on the page.
• Save paper by making narrow columns of text fill up the entire page.
• Combine multiple web pages – edit & print them as one document.
• Save your modified page as a PDF or HTML document.

Multi-touch Technology

Multi-touch technology is getting popular since it was adopted by the iPhone couple years ago.  However, multi-technology is nothing new and it has a long history.  According to Wikipedia, multi-touch technology started in 1982 when Nimish Mehta at the University of Toronto developed the first finger pressure multi-touch display.  Multi-touch denotes a set of interaction techniques which allow computer users to control graphical applications with several fingers.  Multi-touch consists of a touch screen and software that recognizes multiple simultaneous touch points, as opposed to the standard touchscreen that recognizes only one touch point.   Recently, there are some interesting developments of multi-touch technology.  Here are some examples:

Multi-Touch iTable

Multitouch

Microsoft Multitouch Computer Display

Multi-Touch in Windows 7

21st Century Skills

Schools today face a serious challenge of preparing students with 21^st century skills.  Since the report “A National at Risk” published by National Commission on Excellence in Education in 1983, many similar definitions from different sources have emerged.  However, most definitions point to the same goal: that being technology literate is much more than just having good technology skills. It is learning core subjects with application of these learning skills and communication tools (SREB, What are 21st Century Skills?).

A SREB’s Web site “21st Century Skills and Information and Communications Technologies Literacy: From A Nation at Risk to ICT Literacy” has done an excellent job of compiling information on 21st Century Skills, including standards, instructional resources, assessment resources and organizations and initiatives.  In addition, the site provides an outstanding graphic illustration of key literacy documents that show the evolving development of these literacies from A Nation At Risk in 1983 to the present.

So, what are the 21^st century skills?  I have recently read the 2008 report “21^st Century Skills, Education & Competitiveness:  A Resource and Policy Guide” published by Partnership for 21^st Century Skills.  The Partnership for 21st Century Skills has emerged as the leading advocacy organization focused on infusing 21st century skills into education. They define 21^st century skills as follows:

• Learning and Innovation Skills (creativity and innovation, critical thinking and problem solving, etc.)
• Information, Media and Technology Skills
• Core Subjects and 21st Century Themes (global awareness, financial literacy, etc.)
• Life and Career Skills (initiative and self-direction, among others)

The report emphasizes that all Americans need 21^st century skills that will increase their marketability, employability, and readiness for citizenship such as:

• Thinking critically and making judgments
• Solving complex, multidisciplinary, open-ended problems
• Creativity and entrepreneurial thinking
• Communicating and collaborating
• Making innovative use of knowledge, information and opportunities
• Taking charge of financial, health and civic responsibilities

Finally, the report summarizes the challenges and opportunities and also warns the consequences.  If we do not infuse 21^st century skills into our school curricula, we will diminish our global competitiveness and standing in the world.  Unfortunately, the 21^st century skills are not included in many state learning standards or measured on state or local assessments.  I, therefore, urge schools must do more to keep pace with rapid changing technology, embrace new learning based on emerging research, and integrate 21^st century skills into standards, assessments, and graduation requirements at all levels. Also, for those of us who involve in teacher education programs, we should embed 21^st century skills into teacher preparation and professional development.

Did You Know 3.0?

I came across the third and latest version of the popular “Shift Happens/Did You Know?” video by Karl Fisch and Scot McLeod.  I have enjoyed viewing the previous versions and thought it is a great educational video for students.  This version was released in late 2008 with updated statistics and a much better visual presentation.