Eric Baber's blog

The New York Times came out with an article about how the traditional, paper-based textbook is going the way of the dodo and how it'll ultimately be replaced by teachers putting together their own learning paths for their students based on materials that are available online for free. This predictably has caused the various camps who have strong opinions one way or the other over how the educational sector should operate to jump on this as being the ultimate truth, or as being complete nonsense. Personally, I think neither of these points of view are particularly helpful, and that we need to look at the realities of how teachers and the educational establishment actually works. Here are some of my predictions and opinions.

• For students to be able to access core material digitally, all students in a particular school need to have their own electronic reading/working devices (laptops, netbooks, ebook readers, whatever). Percentage-wise globally speaking, especially in the parts of the world that ELT reaches, this isn't going to be particularly widespread anytime soon. In those areas, paper-based textbooks will persist for some time yet.
• Like it or not, many teachers aren't hugely interested in putting together a bespoke set of materials for each class every day. They've got 20+ teaching hours per week, grading of assignments to do, homework to mark, their own families to look after... They like having a clear learning path with related materials mapped out for them and their students from the beginning to the end of the term/semester/schoolyear. This means that even in classes where all learners have their own devices, most teachers will prefer it if they can work with one piece of content which will see them through the entire schoolyear. Sure they'll supplement it here and there along the way, but they'll still want one core set of materials they can work through linearly.
• Let's not forget that it's rarely actually the teachers who decide what happens in the bigger picture; instead, that's done by Directors of Studies, principals etc. Concerns that they have include overall quality control (we like to think) - i.e. they want to be able to tell parents/educational authorities/school inspectors that all learners come out having had the same learning opportunities. This - unfortunately, perhaps - is one of the largest things against learning personalisation. Schools nowadays have to protect themselves from being sued, and one easy way of doing that is assigning the same textbook/coursebook/set of materials to all learners of a certain level/age/whatever. It also protects the school from less-good teachers in that they can argue that if the materials at least are good, that can make up for shortcomings of individual teachers. Yes this may straightjacket the better and more enthusiastic teachers, but that's the way it is.
• Following on from that, in many parts of the world, teachers have only received very basic training, may only be fresh out of schools themselves, may have ongoing health issues which stop them from being able to teach regularly etc; so having a set of linear materials which they can rely on is vital both for them as teachers and for the learners.

So: death of the fixed-beginning-fixed-end-work-through-linearly coursebook? No. Neither on paper, nor in electronic format (but a shift from paper to electronic core materials will happen gradually as individual markets become more high-tech). And designing materials that build on each other and achieve an externally imposed set of learning objectives (i.e. exams) takes time and professional input. Yes there will be open courseware initiatives, some of which will no doubt produce excellent results. Is it likely that many educational establishments will adopt these though? Not many, I personally don't think. There are too many entities along the line - parents, principals, school boards, even the learners - who want some form of guarantee that the materials have been put together by a well-known brand and a set of people who know what they're doing. This will, of course, come with a price tag. While some educational entities or even entire authorities will consider that price tag too high and go for an open source alternative, I really think these will be few and far between.

None of this is meant to be a value judgement in favour of the book, in favour of a particular form of delivery mechanism or whatever. These are just my interpretations of own observations about how things actually are, and how I think they will continue to be, rather than what some enthusiasts one way or another think should happen.

Those of you who follow me on Twitter will know that I've recently taken on a Samsung Omnia i900 mobile phone.

The main reason for it is that a) I need a mobile with Windows Mobile OS on which to try out various applications, and b) it's got a touchscreen roughly the size of the iPod/iPhone so we can compare apps and content to a certain degree.

Now - I was really looking forward to getting it. And while I wasn't expecting it to be wildly exciting (it's Windows, after all) I was at least expecting it to be enjoyable. You can probably feel a "but" coming on and you're quite right. Herewith a part-rant (thanks for listening!) and part request for clarification. If I've done either the handset or the OS a misjustice, please do correct me - I'd be delighted to be proven a mobile-klutz.

So then - after having it for less than a day, I already hate it. Here are some of my gripes:

- Being Windows, there are lots and lots of options for everything everywhere. On a large desktop screen this is useful, but on a small screen - correction, *touch*-screen - seeing and *accessing* the options is impossible. My fingers are probably average sized for a male, and trying to access options and generally interact with the interface is utterly frustrating. Yes you can buy a stylus, but how old-fashioned is that?

- Speaking of the touchscreen, it needs to be calibrated, in the same way that interactive whiteboards need to be calibrated. The very first time you turn it on it prompts you to tap on the various crosses on the screen in order to set it up. a) I didn't need to do this with my iPod, so how come I need to do it with the Samsung? b) "tap" is completely the wrong word for it. It took me 5 minutes of increasingly frustrated jabbing before I realised (through trial and error) that during the calibration process you need to actually push and hold for around 3 seconds before the screen registers the touch.

- Settings and options are hidden in utterly unintuitve places. It's Windows, but not as we know it, Jim. It feels like Microsoft have taken the various features within Windows, stuck them into a bag, given it a good shake and then let them fall out whereever they felt like it. I have spent inordinate amounts of time trying to find how to turn off the screen lock and other features

- Wireless (1). In addition to 3G it can pick up wireless signals. It picked up my home network alright, but - get this - there is NO field into which to enter the password for my network. I entered it fairly randomly into various fields that were presented to me, but come on, how difficult can it be to have a field called "password". Some publicly available wifi networks and many private networks ask for passwords, so please make it easy to input it!!

- Wireless (2). Having entered my password at random, it *appears* that the Samsung is connected to it. However, when I access my e-mails on it, it informs me that it's connecting to my t-mobile Internet provision. Why?! Surely if I've connected my phone to a wireless provider - which is likely to be faster than 3G - then why isn't that the default connection? I can probably change a setting somewhere that will tell my phone to do just that, but why should I have to - isn't that what most people will want?

- Using Opera on it is sloooooooow. This may have been my connection so far, but pages are very very treacly to load. And once they're loaded, trying to navigate around a page by dragging it around with your finger a la iPod is a nightmare. Sometimes the screen recognises that you're trying to do that, sometimes it doesn't. Oh, and I still haven't figured out how to reliably zoom in and out. It appears that by dragging your finger up/down on the right hand side of the screen that activates zoom, but again that doesn't work reliably. Or is all of this down to the screen not being sensitive enough? If so, can the sensitivity be set? I've looked but haven't found an option for that.

- Here a request for help - this is neither the Samsung's nor Windows Mobile's fault. I'm looking for a good Twitter app along the lines of ubertwitter (for Blackberry). I've tried Tiny Twitter and ceTwit and they have various issues (I can't figure out how to follow a link in a tweet in Tiny Twitter; ceTwit doesn't seem to load people's icons properly; and a few other things). Granted this may be a personal thing, but any other suggestions for Twitter apps?

- The address book and its use is stupid. The address book displays names in the format surname, firstname. If I start a text or email message and into the To: field enter my wife's first name, it's not recognised. I have to either scroll through the address book and choose her name, or if I enter it exactly as surname, firstname it'll detect it, but it won't offer me up her name as someone I probably want to send the message to if I only enter her first name. Primitive.

- THE PHONE IS SO NOISY!!!! Have just arrived at my meeting in London and it's bombarding me with messages like "connecting to web'n'walk"; "found another wireless network - do you want to join" (no, I've already told you which one I want to join!!!) This sort of stuff never happens with my Blackberry or my iPod....

I think that's it. Gary Motteram has just made me jealous by showing me his new touch-screen mobile running Android - looks properly intuitive, didn't need any calibrating etc. I think I'll use the new Samsung for trialling relevant software, and apart from that leave it at home.

Why oh why did Motorola stop manufacturing the Razr - best phone I've ever had...

What with all of the recent hoopla regarding the recently-announced new Kindle DX I've had various conversations about eBooks and eBook readers. There are a number of things that I find so obvious I'm surprised nobody else has addressed them (though maybe they have and I haven't noticed). Here are some of them:

• The concept of eBooks is great (convenience of transport, ability to annotate etc) but the implementation of dedicated eBook Reader devices just isn't there yet. Page turning is too slow, annotation clumsy because the input capabilities are limited and first-generation etc.

• The dedicated eBook Reader device (of whatever manufacturer) is a very transient phenomenon, or at best a niche one in the long run. Everything is heading towards convergence: instead of having to carry around more, we all want to carry around less, but while being able to do more. At the moment we have to carry around a laptop or netbook for web browsing, e-mailing, working on files etc; a mobile phone for making phone calls and listening to music; and now we're supposed to buy an eBook Reader device as well which only lets us read text (well, some let us listen to music as well, but.) And the prices of eBook Readers given their functionality is far too high. What I foresee in the next 3 - 7 years is this: laptops and netbooks with dual screens - one backlit one like they have now for fancy graphics in full colour, and a second one with e-ink technology that is far better on the eyes, for extensive reading. A side benefit of that would be that if you use the e-ink screen battery life is significantly longer - always a good thing on a netbook or laptop. The limitation on those at the moment is that they only do black, white and shades thereof - but that's going to change in, at most, 5 - 10 years when we'll have full-colour e-ink screens. At that point we'll go back to having one screen. In any event, the sole USP of eBook Readers - screens that are better on the eyes - will be wiped out as soon as there are netbooks on the market that do everything we want to do on the move.

  Refinements will be in there too - making the screen foldable and unfoldable, meaning the device will get smaller while the viewable screen size will get larger; being able to switch the device from read-only to full-input mode, for prolonged battery life; accelerometer and touchscreen capabilities; integrating mobile telephony into the devices; etc.

I guess the main thing that I'm surprised about is the amount of hype that is generated around devices that I consider limiting, transient, and vastly over-priced.

Keynote: Alan Mulally, Chairman and CEO of Ford. 8 January 2009, afternoon

Ford Work Solutions + Sync: large screens, voice-activated, wireless devices in cars. Music, Office apps etc.

“Automotive leader in Connectivity”. Infotainment.

Link up with Sony for hardware

Mobile phone central as well

“We're a car company, but we're learning to act like an electronics company”. Working with partnerships

Unifying home and office etc. Culturally specific?

Cell phones will always evolve quicker than cars.

MyKey – key that works in conjunction with car which can be programmed by parents for e.g. Highest speed, stereo volume etc.

HD radio in 2010

Car can automatically dial 911 after accident. Speaks to operator or lets you do it.

Vehicle health report – informs user of state of vehicle

Traffic, directions services. Gathers data from millions of cars such as speed and location in order to plot traffic and reroute drivers

Systems will detect whether your phone has a data plan. If so, it'll stream more services through that plan.

Sync will be able to access Apple apps etc

Access Facebook etc messages through voice commands

Lots of info about vehicle economy so that driver can adjust driving

Ford Focus more economic than some hybrids

Configurable displays in future. “Intelligent” systems, giving driver information depending on habits, time of day etc etc. E.g. At lunchtime, suggesting local restaurant that suits preferences.

Sync available globally in 2010. Europe first, then Asia

At the keynote speech of Day 1 (8 January 2009). The speakers are Gary Shapiro, President and CEO of the Consumer Electronics Association, and Sir Howard Stringer, Chairman and CEO of Sony Corp. There are 3D glasses on the seats which should make it a fun session! 3D glasses have come a long way by the way – no longer are they cardboard and one lens green/one lense red, but they're hard plastic and both lenses are the same colour, a sort of coffee colour.

Very entertainment-focused intro – movie trailer while getting seated, videos of PSP and games etc.

New service launched – Yoostar. Allows user to personalise old films (e.g. Putting own head into films, splicing in new content etc).

Shapiro: recession time for innovation – new inventions, re-examining what we're doing.

In day of 24-hour news easy to focus on micro, need to look at macro.

Entertainment industry not going cap-in-hand to government, unlike automobile industry. Need to be self-sufficient.

In 1930s radio blossomed, helped lift Great Depression by creating jobs in itself, help spirit, help disseminate information = knowledge.

Industry has had 7 years of uninterrupted growth. Only paralysis during 9/11. 5.4% growth in 2008, not quite the 6% anticipated, but still positive. 2009 – revenue growth unlikely, flat growth. Unit sales will grow but prices will fall, i.e. No revenue growth. Larger leisure costs (e.g. Vacations) likely to be cut by consumers, larger spending as a result on smaller-cost items (films, games etc)

Obama has won on message of change. Change defines entertainment industry; consumers' willingness to engage in change heralds good news for the industry.

Obama first digital president, can offer US industry opportunity to grow through innovation, globality..

CEA's job to educate politicians who while they're trying to legislate for technology may not be sufficiently knowledgeable about it. CEA has created an “innovation Checklist” for politicians (“does it create jobs? Does it spur new technologies? Does it encourage the best and brightest to come to the US? Does it reward risk taking? Doest it promote exports? Will it help deploy broadband?”)

Green electronics big growth field.

How many technologies have been stifled by fear of litigation? Sony & CEO had to take to court battle for devices that will allow users to record TV shows.

Transition to Digital TV will be complete by February 17th 2009 (US). Government got involved in transition by offering coupons for digital converter boxes.

DTV ideal for new applications, not just one-way TV broadcasting.

CES more than just platform for launching new products. Networking key component – single most important platform for business making for the industry.

Sony – recently named one of 10 most innovative global companies

Stringer:

Intro – trailer of Angels and Demons, with Tom Hanks (a Sony film of course). Tom Hanks comes on stage to introduce Stringer. Very entertaining and quite unflattering to Sony! Lots of scripted product placement which he did with a LOT of tongue-in-cheek.

Good rapport between Tom and Stringer who's just come on.

Demonstrating new glasses in development that replaces a screen basically. Allows you to watch a film while seeing reality as well. Also gaming etc.

Excellent exit by Tom Hanks – I wouldn't want to have been in Stringer's position!! Took it all with very good humour though.

Stringer: no quick fixes to economy, can't say it'll all be positive. But entertainment industry probably more resilient than many. Consumers have reasessed their spending; must offer customers products and services they actually want to buy.

7 Imperatives:

1.Embrace the Fusion of Industries. Devices must be created to operate seamlessly across industries.
2.Adopt a Service-enhanced Philosophy.
3.Products must be multi-functional. Access multiple sources of content. At heart of product development for at least 10 years.
4.Support Open Technologies. Consumers expect choice, services to work with any devices.
5.Advance the shared experience. Virtual worlds, social networking etc.
6.Create new value chains. Technologies that offer better user experience. New HD tv screens will lead to purchase of other relevant devices.
7.Go Green. Consumers want it. Big screens, big sounds, but small carbon footprint.

By 2011, 90% of Sony product developments will be connected wirelessly.

New devices such as the Bravia TV models which are wirelessly enabled to access new films etc next generation.

Sony Cybershot cameras will have tie-in with AT&T so that users can upload images to file-sharing sites, Bravia TVs etc.

Clock radios on bedside tables. With wifi, it can collect customised content immediately and serve it up with your wake-up call (movies coming to town, new song releases of favourite artists, weather etc)

New screen technology – OLED. Allows for thinner screens. Flex OLED – flexible, foldable screen. Ereader of the future, but not just static text but also video etc. Wireless again.

Bluray at centre of HD.

John Lasseter, Chief Creative Officer, Disney and Pixar on stage to talk about Bluray.

Wants customers to always have best experience possible – so they can see what creators see in the studios.

Showed clip of new films, straight off Bluray. Given the gigantic size of the screens in the auditorium the resolution and quality is very impressive.

Not just high-quality film, but also features. Internet-connected. Allows for example to pull in weather report and time of day from location and impose that on a film. People can watch same film in different locations while being connected, can talk about it while watching it.

Can pull in information off the web while watching something – e.g. A car in a film etc. This is neat; say you're watching a film and want to know more about an actor; highlight them and they could be recognised, then info on them served up from imdb or whatever.

With home projectors can introduce 3D videos in cinema quality at home.

3D version of Toy Story and Toy Story 2 coming out; Toy Story 3 in 2010.

PSP and PS3 integration ideal – can transfer content from one to the other wirelessly.

President of Sony Computer Entertainment, Kaz Hirai, on stage.

Play, listen, watch, learn, discover, communicate, create, and share. Elements of next-gen consumers want these. All enabled on PS3 and PSP. Games introduced that tap into both platforms.

Beyond games though – networked content and services (PSN – PlayStation Network).

LittleBIGPlanet – indication of where mass media is headed. Allows user to create/design games and content. Launched with 50 levels; with additional UGC, over 300,.000 levels.

Sony Online Entertainment brand.

FreeRealms – online 3D environment. Launch on PC, then PS3.

PS Store. Content is portable – played on TV, PS3 etc. Downloadable titles and games. MTV partnering for additional content.

Area of learn and discover. Life with PlayStation. 900,000 unique monthly users. Can use it to activate interactive mode while watching something, pull in information from Life. Demod weather again; is this all there is?!

Home – 3D virtual environment. EA has come on board to create online place for gamers.

Dr. Oz on stage – big name in the US, about to have his own show. Lots of show placement and telling us how to be healthier. Lovely.

On stage now – baseball player. Sony putting products into Yankee Stadium. One room containing lots of Sony technology..

New energy-efficient line of TV screens – 40% less electricity use. Also take-back recycling programme.

New solar cell which collects light emitted in rooms and re-uses it.

Concept phone by Sony Ericsson.

Digital cinema. Time now to try the 3D glasses at last!

First short film in digital 3D. Version of Cars. Excellent!! Very good quality.

Also 3D games – Grand Turismo. Live TV – demo of recording of football game. Very good; really does bring it closer.

Jeffrey Katzenberg, CEO Dreamworks, on stage to talk about 3D.

Two equally big developments in film: talking films from silent ones; and colour from black and white. 3D next big shift equal to those.

Dual projectors synched to display it. No longer causes viewer to feel sick, unlike previous 3D attempts!

All new Dreamworks films will be authored in 3D. Another demo of first Dreamworks 3D film. Wow, very good – especially action/chasing scenes etc.

Sony bringing out new “lifestyle notebook” - slightly smaller than a netbook, slimmer in sense of being able to fit into a pocket.

New Sony Ericsson phone connected to music store. Can also recognise music playing in background and offer song to user for purchase.

All in all a good session though very long (2+ hours). Some talk of merging between genres (entertainment and learning).