Idea Warehouse

IPhone Anticipation just another ploy?

The New York Times reports that Apple seems a bit anxious about its carefully gauged hype on the I-Phone. Obviously, they try to build up anticipation for this product they hope will become the next BEST THING WE CAN'T DO WITHOUT, like they tried (and fairly successfully, I might add) to do with the IPod.  The only thing is: it undoubtedly does ToO much. I got a Treo 700p for Christmas this year, which I had specifically asked for, nearly begged for, but when I got it, I realized I would become too dependent on this little gadget, and I didn't really like having my phone mixed in with my email mixed in with my web browsing, mixed in with my music. So I took it back and got a regular phone (admittedly, it has music capability too).

I think this so-called "God machine" will have the same effect. Only a prediction. We'll see how it plays out. Steve Jobs' success, though, seems more to rely on its cool packaging and viral marketing techniques than an item's functionality. Also, the simplest things thrive on their simplicity. Just an observation. For example, the iPod Shuffle I have, with its clip, seems the perfect thing for busy people on the go, who especially need to listen to something while exercising or waiting, but don't need a lot of extra stuff with it. Now, if only they had an IPhone shuffle come out.....? That picture comes from Mac Geeks, a blog written in German, showing the wishful thinking others have as well.

Nightmare Waiting to Happen

The Chronicle of Higher Education's Wired Campus news today reported on this "Smart Pen" that's being touted at a digital conference in hopes of being marketed (probably successfully, considering the price is not out of this world) to college students. It's not enough that cellphones, Treos, and IPods are in the classroom and we have to be aware of the potentials for threats to academic integrity with these gadgets, but now we have a pen that records what is written and spoken! Yikes! This is a nightmare waiting to happen! Students will love it, of course, but it opens up a whole new can of worms for the teacher.

Coffee Table Computer

Here's an innovation that might actually take hold: a coffee table that is a computer! (Or is it a computer that is a coffee table?) CNN Money's article today mentions how whenever another object with a digital chip in it is placed on the tabletop, it recognizes it and displays its specs or pictures on the tabletop screen. Sure, it's a mere $10,000, but I can't wait until it ends up in Woot's Bag of Crap! (like when they threw in a 61" HDTV)

Facebook

Interesting article over at Slate today: "Fiftysomething, Facebooking, and Fabulous." About a month ago, a former student of mine sent me a "friend request" on email, but I didn't even know what that was. I had started an account last fall before classes started, in order to access Facebook for a point I was making the first day about technology, and so I had an account already, but that's about it. Then when Daryl, this student, sent me a friend request, I thought "hey, why not?" After I investigated a bit further, I was startled to find that one of his favorite quotes was from ME (?!), when I apparently was in one of my word-mangling days. I guess I referred to the top two social networking sites as "Spacebook and MyFace." In retrospect, that's pretty funny. No wonder he was laughing his head off the rest of class time.

At any rate, since that fateful friend request, I now have 73 friends and I'm in 6 "groups" (some for random reasons) and have politely declined an invitation to another. I can see why a lot of my students get distracted looking at and posting on Facebook during class.

iPod shuffle

The other day I got my ipod shuffle, and after downloading a bunch of songs onto it--so easy it was incredible!--I was bebopping around. I read in an article about podcasting that this one professor's podcasts are pretty popular and his students tell him that they listen to them when they're waiting for the bus and such, but they bop their heads up and down like they're listening to some music sometimes just to look more cool, when they're actually listening to his lectures or reviews.

Gadget Lust

Today I went to a presentation at my school by Apple representatives on podcasting, and ok, yeah, now I want an IPod and all the I-attachments. It seems very easy to put together an podcast, but the problem that I see with all of it is that the educational philosophy they rely on to market the idea of podcasting is completely wrong-headed for many progressive educators. They kept stressing that it makes easier and more convenient CONTENT DELIVERY, but the language alone of that phrase is so strongly rooted in the banking concept of education that I have difficulty swallowing the whole hook, line, and sinker of the podcasting wave. Okay, too many mixed water metaphors there...Anyway, I'd like to know how to adapt podcasts so that we do not solely DELIVER CONTENT. Sure, there's some content we need to deliver, but I find the term problematic.

Crackberry

Saw an article today on CNN Money that Blackberrys help improve the balance between work and life. I had to chuckle a little at the observation that "It is now jokingly called the "CrackBerry" by many users." Wish I had one...but I'll live. Holding out for a Treo 700 Smartphone

Last Week of Summer 2006

Random thoughts. . . Next week marks the last official week of summer for me, since school starts Aug. 28. I'm finishing up the Technical Writing syllabus today and will finalize the other one by Wed. for sure. We may go to see Scott and Lisa and family this weekend, but that's yet to be determined.  Retired colleague Ron Woodland died this past week; even though he wasn't around the office halls anymore, it'll be weird knowing he's just not here with us anymore. Nephew Jay stayed with us unexpectedly this past week and will be leaving this morning. I did not expect the visit; It is hard to get any work done. What do I want to do in these last few days of summer? Go swimming, see a silly movie, travel early in the morning, have a cold O'Doul's on a hot day, maybe even go to a fair. I had my debut acting stint at Fallingwater last week, which seemed to go well. I certainly hope it works out for their film, which is sponsored by NHK (the Japanese public television station) and produced by M Square, can't wait to see the actual documentary. I loved that place! After being there for nearly 16 hours in two days, I began to feel like I could live there! I wouldn't mind being a tour guide there in the summers, actually. Well, enough about dreaming of summer even though I'm still in it, back to work....(if I can concentrate).

Book Push

After that ridiculously long delay and carrot-dangling Pearson put me through, I am hoping my book will have a new home soon.  Renamed slightly as Due Credit: Avoiding Plagiarism in a Remix Culture, this 7-chapter text should be heading out the door today again. Every time I work on it, I like it all over again. 

Getting interested in a related topic as well: ghostwriting. After reading up on it, I am beginning to realize how muddled the authorship is within medical research journal ranks.

Good Blog Book

I just picked up "Blogosphere Best of Blogs" book (shown in the Books I'm Reading List) this weekend.  Spent a good bit of time Saturday and Sunday looking over the various blogs that are listed in it, and then printed the bonus chapters (13 and 14) because they were more useful than the other parts of the book to me. For anyone who feels like they need to fill in some gaps in their blog knowledge, this seems like a good place to go.  I just wish I had a week to just blog things and read others' blogs.  Funny post-script: check out the back FOUND page in Wired this month, note the spine of the book on the left....wonder if that's what the future will hold...?