I recently did a demo of the DanaWireless by AphaS...

2005-04-08T06:32:00.000-07:00

I recently did a demo of the DanaWireless by AphaSmart. The price is around $400. It runs the Palm OS and facilitates the concept that Dan is describing. The main draw backs are very limited network authentication and painfully slow Internet Browsing.

Fox Meadow Middle School in the Harrison School District is looking at purchasing a classroom set of these and we will be using the HP 760wl controller to control access and manage wireless security.

I debated with one of the other engineers in the shop as to whether the AphaSmart was a good solution. He argued that availability of cheaper laptop (he sited one just under $1000) was better investment.

What about a Vertical Market? What if education r...

2005-01-06T15:52:00.000-08:00

What about a Vertical Market? What if education represented a market for inexpensive equipment, like a Pentium I machine, and educational software that was developed to run on it? We would install the devices for specific purposes rather than general purpose computing and these systems could be used to truly transform instruction... because we could afford to put a quality product in the hands of every kid! Imagine if we had small laptops with instructional software, textbook replacing resources and office productivity tools all on one simple device. We don't need the latest video accelerator or the most advanced office suite for instruction. Especially at grades below high school. Our efforts continually put the most powerful tools in the hands of children who, for the most part, won't use the full capabilities in their educational activities. I think it might be possible to do this educational technology business affordably if we look at getting down to what we need as opposed to the latest and the greatest.
-Dan Maas

Comments on CALET Department Blog: What's it going to take?

I recently did a demo of the DanaWireless by AphaS...

What about a Vertical Market? What if education r...