Computing And Technology

In the mobile touch screen computing world there are two classes of computers. They are either the slate PC or the convertible laptops. Convertible touch screen laptops are more common among typical computer users because of the versatility it offers in being able to function as both a regular PC and a touch recognition capable tablet. A slate PC on the other hand only functions as a tablet but as a result offers a lighter weight alternative for those who need to use their touch recognition display while on the go. Obviously each device offers its own advantages.

The slate PC is a single piece where the screen makes up most of one of the large surfaces. This is in contrast to the convertible laptop with looks and functions much more like a standard laptop that opens and shuts. The slate PC is essentially a tablet with no keyboard or mouse pad but the option to use those peripherals is made possible through the USB connection. Otherwise the all user interface and command inputs are communicated to the computer entirely through the touch screen.

What makes the slate PC so useful is their dedicated purposefulness makes it a great tool for certain job functions. It is much lighter than the convertible laptop making it more portable and the lesser weight makes a difference for someone who has to carry the computer in their arms all day. Think about the waiter taking your order into a tablet PC or a nurse who has to take notes while following a doctor around the hospital.

Convertible touch screen laptops are heavier since they are designed with the keyboard as well as a separate slate for the screen which is attached by a special hinge that allows the screen to swivel. The swivel action is what makes this laptop convertible into a tablet as the screen is folded down with the screen side facing outward at which point the user can operate the computer as if it were a tablet. This makes taking notes and drawing much more reasonable with the stylus.

In the tablet mode, a student can create hand written notes and the versatility of the software will allow the user to draw diagrams into the document. This is much more useful than typing notes with a keyboard into a word processor where drawing objects is not as easy. It is also useful for presentations and making highlights and underlines in the middle of a live presentation will impress some bosses. It offers the functionality of a continue reading…

Rather than the actual scientific experiments

According to a new research conducted by scientists at the Ohio State University (OSU), students taking various courses have the same easy time learning from computer simulations of the concepts they are studying, as they do from actual, practical experiments.

In their experiments, the investigators looked at how the youngsters understood the phases of the Moon, when some of them learned from simulations, while others actually went out and collected the data themselves. In some cases, those from the simulation group learned the concept better than their peers.

According to OSU Associate Professor of Science Education Kathy Cabe Trundle, the lead author of the new study, the new research seems to suggest that placing computers

capable of carrying out simulations in science classes may actually result in a better, faster and less expensive learning experience for children. Naturally, this only applies to some scientific knowledge, as some concepts need to be demonstrated experimentally, or cannot be modeled by the world’s fastest supercomputers. “These results give us confidence that computer simulations can be effective in the classroom. But now we need to do further study to see if it works in others areas of science,” Trundle says.

“Our expectation was that the computer simulation would be at least as effective as direct observation in teaching about moon phases. When we did our analysis, the simulation was just as effective in teaching two aspects of moon phases, and more effective in a third aspect. So we were excited by that,” the researcher adds. The investigation was conducted on about 157 Master’s students, who were well on their way to becoming teachers themselves, for the next generation. “We believe that the computer simulation was more effective at teaching moon sequences because the students who used it had a complete set of data. Those who observed the moon in nature didn’t – there continue reading…