Folks, I wanted to share this information, it really looks like one incredible device.
>> Date: Mon, 10 Dec 2007 09:13:26 -0800 >> >> Hi: >> >> In my view, this is one of the coolest things to come along in a >> long time. Way to go Josh! >> >> Though I half shudder at the thought, it makes me wish (just a >> little bit) that I could be back in ninth grade and trying to learn >> Geometry with this. I bet I could have been darned good at it, or >> at least a whole lot better. >> >> Programming flow charts, or Web site design sketches, anyone? >> Obviously, small maps. Project management diagrams . . . the list >> is endless. >> These are just the kinds of things *I* want. >> >> This is the kind of creativity and innovation . . . that leaves me >> wordless with appreciation, and that's saying something. >> >> I hope there'll be an audio demo on Blind Cool Tech and other well- >> deserved publicity. >> >> Jennifer >> >>> Subject: New Smartpen And Paper To Help Teach Blind College Students >>> >>> >>> > Science Daily >>> > Monday, December 03, 2007 >>> > >>> > New Smartpen And Paper To Help Teach Blind College Students >>> > >>> > ScienceDaily (Dec. 3, 2007) - Subjects like physics, calculus >>> and biology >>> > are challenging for most students, but imagine tackling these >>> topics >>> > without being able to see the graphs and figures used to teach >>> them. A new >>> > smartpen and paper technology that works with touch and records >>> classroom >>> > audio aims to bring these subjects to life for blind students. >>> > >>> > "Mainstream approaches to teaching STEM (science, technology, >>> engineering >>> > and math) courses all rely strongly on diagrams, graphs, charts >>> and other >>> > figures, putting students with visual disabilities at a >>> significant >>> > disadvantage," Andy Van Schaack, lecturer in Vanderbilt >>> University's >>> > Peabody College of education and human development, said. "Our >>> goal is to >>> > enable students and teachers to produce and explore diagrams and >>> figures >>> > through touch and sound using a smartpen and paper technology >>> that is >>> > low-cost, portable and easy to use." >>> > >>> > Van Schaack and colleague Joshua Miele, a researcher at the >>> > Smith-Kettlewell Eye Research Institute who is blind, have >>> received a >>> > $300,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to apply the >>> new >>> > technology, created by technology company Livescribe, to this >>> effort. Van >>> > Schaack is Livescribe's senior science adviser. >>> > >>> > "My area of expertise is instructional technology. I spend a lot >>> of my >>> > time trying to figure out how to use technology to make teaching >>> and >>> > learning more effective, efficient and accessible," Van Schaack >>> said. "A >>> > new world of possibilities has opened for the rapid creation of >>> portable, >>> > low-cost, high-quality accessible graphics enhanced with audio. >>> For >>> > example, a visually impaired psychology student could learn >>> neuroanatomy >>> > by exploring a diagram of the brain, with each lobe, gyrus and >>> sulcus's >>> > name spoken as the smartpen touches it." >>> > >>> > The Livescribe smartpen recognizes handwritten marks through a >>> camera >>> > inside its tip that focuses on a minute pattern of dots printed >>> on paper. >>> > It captures over 100 hours of audio through a built-in >>> microphone and >>> > plays audio back through a built-in speaker or 3D recording >>> headset. Files >>> > are uploaded from the pen to a computer using a USB connection. >>> The >>> > technology will be much more affordable and portable than previous >>> > products used for this purpose -- students can just put it in >>> their >>> > backpacks with the rest of their books and notebooks. >>> > >>> > Van Schaack and Miele will be using a prototype of the >>> Livescribe smartpen >>> > and a Sewell Raised Line Drawing Kit, a Mylar-like film that is >>> deformed >>> > when a student writes on it with a pen, creating raised >>> drawings. Students >>> > will be able to touch a hand-drawn figure with their smartpen to >>> hear >>> > audio explanations of its features. >>> > >>> > As for other uses of the smartpen, Van Schaack believes the >>> possibilities >>> > are endless. >>> > >>> > "It really is a new computer platform -- it includes most of the >>> > technology found in a typical laptop, but gets its information >>> from >>> > handwriting rather than from a keyboard and mouse," Van Schaack >>> said. "One >>> > of the most immediate uses of it that I see will be for college >>> students. >>> > It will allow them to spend more time listening in class while >>> taking more >>> > of an outline form of notes. Later, when they are reviewing their >>> > handwritten notes, they can tap within them to hear what the >>> professor was >>> > saying when they wrote a particular note, giving them the >>> opportunity to >>> > annotate them for accuracy and additional detail." >>> > >>> > The smartpen is expected to hit stores during the first quarter >>> of 2008 at >>> > a cost of less than $200. Livescribe interactive notebooks will >>> run about >>> > the same price as a good quality notebook from a college >>> bookstore. >>> > >>> > Adapted from materials provided by Vanderbilt University. >>> > >>> > >>> > http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/12/071203121438.htm > Scott Howell [EMAIL PROTECTED]
