Very interesting post, and a useful machine you describe there. IMHO,
however, it isn't the best solution for children. Comments below.-David
Rothman
 
On Wed, 1 Sep 1993, Harry Stevens wrote:
 
> A bit different than TeleReaders and likely to be especially powerful in
> schools...
 
...in your opinion...
 
>would be NetPads.  These evolve out of electronic
>kiosks of the sort
> first introduced at the Olympics when held in L.A.  Atlanta's 1996 Olympics
 may
> introduce what are being called Walking Kiosks, which ultimately could become
> NetPads in an evolutionary chain leading towards fully interactive digital TV:
>
>   personal computer => community kiosk net => NetPad => interactive media/TV
>
 
TeleReaders could have multi-media capabilities, but please remember the
main intent--to encourage reading and writing and mass use of databases.
Besides, I myself have in mind tablet-style technology. I'd of course want
the resolution to be fit for hour after hour of reading, and I would
provide for the use of detachable keyboards. Note: my original proposal
described the TeleReaders as I'd want them; but for the purpose of
community nets, I have told what we could do with low-cost machines using
today's technology.
 
 
>   NetPads may evolve from personal computers, wireless phones and pagers,
>   television as it changes from being analog to become digital based, and
>   community kiosks.  They look like notepads or clipboards of the fold-over
>   variety.  They have no recessed keys.  One of two sides may have a keypad
>   image on touchscreen or pressure-sensitive pad as a default, which can
>   change to pen input.
 
I myself am a great believer in the pen interface, but again let's not forget
the *detachable* keyboard for occasions when the users are writing (there's
little need for the keyboard for reading alone, of course).
 
What a waste to have an educational computer for mass use if it doesn't
encourage reading and writing alike!
 
 These netpads can be "captured" by wireless local-area
>   nets (LANs) that define schools for learning, malls for shopping, etc.
>   Some information transfer may be done by "plugging" into LANs or phones-
>   linked-to-WANs (Wide Area Nets).  However, changing calendar events, dynamic
>   data, prices, polls, bids, etc. would come and go wireless.  NetPads could
>   be used in practical ways -- for teacher-student interaction in testing and
>   in making purchases in malls, reservations for events, etc.
 
Ah, the Minitel goes wireless. Children deserve more. BTW, I'd hope that
those tests wouldn't all be multiple choice or fill-in-the-blank. The
keyboards would encourage the greater use of essays in schools. Children
can learn to *type* faster than they hand-write if schools encourage them
from the start. Even in the era of voice recognition, typing skills will
be useful for detail work. Caveat: I would not hassle the children to
become touch typist at the very start. Let 'em acquire the skill naturally
and in a fun way.
 
  Multimedia
>   appears on one screen.  Computer operating systems may be accessed as needed
>   but most people (meaning anyone at all) could use these in default modes
>   that will be simpler than Macs and Newtons and cheaper than phones to use.
>
 
Still no mention of the keyboard. :-(
 
> I'm currently trying to get the U.S. Census Bureau to consider running tests
> in 1995 of both NetPads and more stationary community kiosk networks to prep
> for collecting (and displaying) census data (& other geo stuff) that way in
 the
> next three censuses (etc.) in Years 2000, 2010, 2020.  Who knows beyond then.
>
 
Actually for census takers on the go, the described machine would be
*splendid*. But let's not dumb down children by depriving them of
keyboards.
 
> What do you think of the education potential of NetPads?  What's/who's close?
>
 
In my biased opinion the TeleRead wins out for education, unless, of
course, children are in training to be stock clerks or census takers.
 
> Harry Stevens; [log in to unmask]; fax:507/433-0361; phones:-0364 &
 437-2974
 
Innocent and not-so-innocent bystanders may request a copy of the full
TeleRead proposal by e-mailing me.
 
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David H. Rothman                                  "So we beat on, boats against
[log in to unmask]                                 the current...."
805 N. Howard St., #240
Alexandria, Va. 22304
703-370-6540(o)(h)
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