You can now purchase a cell phone with a built-in projector. The cost is $373.oo (cheaper than some iPhones!).There has been some talk for the last few years about the possibility of cell phones having built-in LCD projectors. This could eliminate the need for schools to purchase expensive LCD projectors, instead using their own cell phones as the projection tool. Additionally, teachers and students will always have a projector with them (for conferences or instant presentations).
What else is coming for cell phones?
1) By 2010 (2 years from now) you will be able to hook up to your laptop or desktop computer from anywhere using your cell phone. (Read About It).
How this affects schools:
Students, teachers, and parents could retrieve their school files and documents anytime from anywhere! No worries if you forgot a homework paper, or forgot to hand something in, you could do this via cell phone.
2) By 2010 most cell phones will allow you to store all of your files and documents and share them (similar to a USB Flash hard drive). (Read About It).
How this could affect schools:
Students could share files with each other by beaming them through cell phones (similar to Palm pilots, only now with a basic cell phone). Students could also collect research and data by using their cell phone to store the papers, journal articles, and other documents that they uncover. Always having their research with them.
3) DSL/ Broadband Internet connection will be available on most cell phones by 2010. (Read About It).
How this could affect schools:
Students who do not have Internet access at home ( As of 2007; 78% of U.S. households have a computer, 75% of U.S. households have Internet, while 82% of U.S. citizens have cell phones) could easily access the web for research, course webpages, and class assignments/projects (quickly and efficiently unlike current basic cell phones, where it is still cumbersome and clunky).
4) Cell phone will become a home remote controller. For example, if you forgot to set your coffee pot to turn on or off, you can do that virtually through your cell phone! (Read About It).
How this could affect schools:
Teachers may be able to use this feature to live-stream to their classroom when they are sick or at a conference. They could also use the live-streaming with students who are home sick or unable to make it to the classroom (parents could even watch the lessons so they can better help their children with their class assignments). In addition, teachers could remotely set up their classroom for the next day activities (such as setting the DVD player, or loading their PowerPoint presentation on the classroom computer).
5) Your phone number could become as important as your social security number! You will be able to use it for e-commerce and identification. (Read About It).
How this could affect schools:
Students could use their cell phone as their school ID. Attendance and school purchases could be taken via cell phone. Grades and project feedback could be disseminated via cell phone.
6) Solar-Powered Cell Phones (Read About It)
Soon you will not be confined by electricity or have to worry about charging your cell phone, solar-powered cell phones are coming soon!
How this could affect schools:
Students can truly learn anytime, anywhere, anyplace, at any pace with solar powered cell phones. We know from the Millennial's Rising and Speak Up reports that this is how 21st Century student's like to learn best.
Get ahead and use the right cell phone plans and save.
2 comments:
I work in an area where cell phones are the technology of choice. Still, I don't think everyone has txt plans, and not all elementary students have phones (a surprising number do though). I have a smart-ish phone with (limited) Web capabilities. This costs more money, and my cell plan is not cheap. I wonder how many families will be able to pony up the bucks for all their children (in some families 4-6 of them).
Good Point! I agree, which is why I try to focus on basic cell phone use. I do often wonder if in a few years a basic cell phone includes all these features (will cost rise though?)? In addition, I wonder if the increasing options on cell phones might cause more digital divides?
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