New Educational Technology from CES 2009.

If you are into new technology, like me, you were keeping your eyes on CES or the Consumer Electronic Show. The products shown at this convention in Las Vegas showed some of the new technologies that will be showing up in products we will use in our everyday lives. After reading about all the new products that companies were unveiling I started thinking about the application of some of this new technology in classrooms. Sure there are plenty of things like cell phones and flat screen tvs that really don't have much place in the classroom, but there were a couple things that I thought were worth mentioning.

1. Programming for Kids

This year Bill Gates handed the keys to his kingdom to new CEO Michael Ballmer who showed out some of the new things to come out of the Microsoft camp during the keynote speech. The big news was about the new version of Windows coming out later this year called Windows 7. The thing worth mentioning about Windows 7, for educator purposes, is that it will incorpororate new touch screen technology which might be useful in a classroom for easier interface for students. However the one thing that made me think about education from the Microsoft opening speech was an introduction of a program called Kodu. Kodu is a program that requires no programming language skills and lets you pick and choose the elements of your design with point and click. In the showcase a 12 year old showed off a game that she had designed. My feelings are that, for kids who are into computers, having a simple design for those who want to make their own games is a great educational opportunity. We need programmers to continue to deveop technology and software. Those programmers have to start somewhere and Kodu might be a good place.

2. 3-D in the classroom

Nvidia, famous for designing graphic cards, showed off a set of 3D glasses that hook up to your computer and let you play some of your favorite games in 3D. Does 3D technology have a place in the classroom? I think it will, but I think it will take some time. I imagine a classroom full of kids going on a virtual field trip through Ancient Greece or exploring the International Space Station (which will probably be complete by the time this technology is possible). 3D technology has been popular in the past and died out, but is making a comeback courtesy of new technology. Anyone who has seen an Imax or animated movie in 3D knows it's not the old red and blue cheap technology of the past. It's becoming a real option that directors like James Cameron, who is releasing Avatar later this year in 3D, and Peter Jackson, who is in talks of making his new Hobbit films in 3D as well as a re-release of his Lord of the Rings Trilogy remastered in 3D. The problem encountered with these films is that needed special projectors and screens to be played on, but new technology is being developed to show these fims on existing equipment. You will see it in theatres with 9 out of the 10 next Disney movies coming out in 3D..... It's hard to say if 3D movies will go the way of the HD-DVD and die out gracefully or if it will blow up and make its way into everything we do. If it does we might just be seeing 3D technology making its way into our classrooms in the future.

If you are interested in learning more about 3D films coming out this year or where theatres that show 3D films are located in your area here is a link to a great website I found...

http://marketsaw.blogspot.com/2007/04/list-of-upcoming-3d-movies.html

Although this isn't a long list, it does give you something to think about as technology continues to shape the future of our classrooms.