Location-based services, also know as LBS, are most often used with mobile devices to gain information from the current geographical position. This can be applied to maps, parcel tracking, discovering the closest Italian restaurant, etc. This can also be used by advertisers to provide consumers with useful items such as coupons for local businesses.
In November I encouraged you to check out Dropbox or MobileMe as alternatives to sending files as bulky e-mail attachments. Today I’d like to share another practical use for these tools–if you have a compatible, Internet-connected mobile device, you can access your important files from just about anywhere.
I spent several days over the past couple of weeks traveling throughout the Pacific Northwest. I had flights to keep track of, a rental car agreement, and other travel-related documents to help me get from Point A to Point B. As I was printing them out, as I normally do, I had an idea–why not just keep digital copies handy on my iPhone?
So that’s what I did. To cover my bases I put PDF copies of my itinerary in folders on my Mac that sync with my Dropbox and MobileMe accounts. (I could have also copied files in other formats, like Word or image files–PDF worked best for me.) Then instead of rummaging through my bag for this information, I just pulled out my phone and pulled up the appropriate document. It worked great, and next time I travel I’m not going to mess with printing anything.
To access files on MobileMe from an iPhone, you’ll need a MobileMe account and the free iDisk app for the iPhone or iPod touch. A basic Dropbox account is free, as is the iPhone app. The Dropbox version of this solution adds some other nice touches, like the ability to save files to your phone for viewing while not connected to a network (such as when you’re on the plane). If you don’t have an iPhone or iPod touch, you can use the mobile version of Dropbox to access your files.
Last week was a busy one on the Stratepedia Blog! Here are some of the things you may have missed:
On Tuesday, I provided a short review of Nota, an online tool for creating interactive, media-rich posters. We got some good ideas in the comments about ways to put Nota to use at conferences–please add your thoughts!
On Wednesday, Amber shared the scant details of an upcoming Apple press event. Among other things, Apple is rumored to be announcing its long-anticipated tablet computer at this event. If it supports a stylus, I’m sold–but I’d be content personally with updated MacBook Pros and news on iPhone OS 4.0.
On Thursday, Amber provided a definition of SIM card. If there’s a tech term you’ve been wondering about, let us know via our help request form and we’ll explain it in a future blog post.
Also on Thursday, we announced two upcoming Depot webcasts to provide an introduction or refresher to Depot, our site for sharing your Content Enhancement examples. Still plenty of virtual seats, but enrollment in each session is limited. Register today!
On Friday, I offered five ways to get the most from your Flip (or other cheap video camera). Be sure to add your own tips in the comments area.
Finally, on Saturday, we celebrated Stratepedia’s third birthday.
We also shared lots of links, as usual. Thanks to Amber for helping out with this while I was away.
Enjoy your week!
By the time you read this I’ll be in the Pacific Northwest; specifically in my old stomping grounds of Seattle, Washington. I left because of the gray, rainy winters–but after a few weeks of snow and bitter cold in Kansas I’m ready for a respite.
Here’s what we shared last week:
On Tuesday, I shared information about an application for managing your e-book library.
On Wednesday, I gave you a sneak peek at our new mobile version of Dossier.
On Thursday, Amber provided a definition for the term jailbreaking as it applies to computers and gadgets–in particular, the iPhone.
Finally, on Friday Amber gave a rundown of five technology trends to watch after CES 2010.
We also collected lots of links about privacy and security online, new gadgets, and more tech-related news for your perusal. Have a great week!
Photo: Alaskan Dude on Flickr
If you have a web-enabled device such as an iPhone, iPod touch, Android phone, Palm Pre, or Blackberry, and your school uses Dossier to collect data about CLC implementation, you can now use your handheld device to enter observation data. Just load Dossier on your handheld to automatically load the mobile version, optimized for a small screen.
Dossier Mobile is our first attempt at a mobile-aware Stratepedia application (not counting mobile versions of our blog and Stratedirectory). It’s a work in progress–watch for us to take advantage of features available in more advanced mobile web browsers, while keeping as much backward compatibility for older devices.
Dossier is currently only available to select schools in the state of Virginia. Watch our blog for updates on when we’ll be expanding it to other regions.
Now’s the time of year when people look back, reflect, compile best-of lists, and so on. I thought I’d wrap up Friday Five for the year by taking a look at five new ways Stratepedia and the Center for Research on Learning put technology to use in 2009.
2009 kicked off with one last printing of Stratedirectory, CRL’s index of SIM® professional developers. A brand new online version took its place and added search functionality not possible in a paper-only edition. PDers can also make updates to their directory profiles online, anytime, and make that new contact information available to other professional developers instantly.
At this summer’s SIM® conference, Patty Graner’s team took a bold leap and placed presenters’ slides and handouts on a portable flash drive, as opposed to sending reams of paper back with each attendee. Not only was this a more green (and economical) approach to dissemination, it probably saved some attendees the added costs of extra checked-in baggage or trips to the chiropractor!
Then, last October, CRL’s final issue of Strategram hit mailboxes in paper form. Our Communications Director, Julie Tollefson, pointed out in that issue that a paper-only format limited the overall message and means in which to communicate it to teachers using SIM®. In the coming months, Strategram‘s replacement will go online-only and feature more multimedia and more accessibility to strategy and routine-specific supports. Archives of past issues of Strategram continue to be available in PDF format in SIMville.
Did you know that if you look at the online Stratedirectory on an iPhone or Blackberry (or possibly other devices) you’ll see a nice, mobile-friendly version? If you’ve got access to such a device (or an iPod touch) check it out sometime. As I mentioned a few weeks ago, we’re going mobile with Stratepedia apps as well (and our blog is iPhone-friendly, too!).
Also on the mobile front, Jim Knight’s Instructional Coaching Group has developed a Time on Task application exclusively for iPhone and iPod touch devices. You can buy it through the App Store, if interested.
2009 was the year that social networking technologies went beyond their roots with Millennials and Gen-Xers as the Baby Boom generation latched on to tools like Facebook and Twitter to connect with old friends, family, and remote colleagues. Facebook groups for SIM Professional Developers and the Kansas Coaching Project launched, as did our own “fan” page, as means to help like-minded individuals stay in touch.
Usage of Twitter also jumped leaps and bounds as celebrities like Oprah joined the popular micro-messaging service. CRL began tweeting via @StrateTweets and @KUCRL, and a number of SIM professional developers and instructional coaches tried Twitter on for size. (Not to brag, but we’ve been posting from @stratepedia since 2007!)
Another point on the social networking landscape that grew quite a bit this year is Ning, a tool for essentially creating your own focused social networks. It’s become very popular with educators. The Big Four, a Ning network for instructional coaches, was started by Jim’s Instructional Coaching Group. This network currently boasts 792 members and includes downloadable materials, discussions boards, and links to interesting things Jim finds on the web. Sue Woodruff has also started a Ning group focused on doing action research with SIM®. This relatively new group is already 65 members strong. If you have any interest in either topic I highly recommend joining these Ning networks and collaborating with their members.
If you attended the 2007 SIM conference, you may recall us predicting that cheap video cameras were going to change how we teach, learn, work, and share. Fast-forward to the end of 2009, and what’s happened? Between cheap, easy-to-use video devices like Flip cameras, built-in video cameras in mobile phones and computers, and online streaming video, it’s now quicker and cheaper than ever to get a message out with video. The CRL media team posted lots of great footage to the CRL Media Archives, making it available for review or to people who otherwise wouldn’t have been able to catch presentations.
The private sector has long taken advantage of collaborative technology like webcasts to cut travel costs and extend reach. We did a few webcasts of our own earlier in the year to get a feel for the technology and explore how the CRL could use it in its own work. We’ve gotten a pretty good handle on it, for the most part, and have since held webcasts like one we recently held for the CLC® work going on in Virginia. I personally hope to continue using this technology in the coming year to help people stay up-to-date with the work we do at the CRL, as well as work happening out in the field.
We’re also looking at ways technology can help us connect one-on-one, over a distance. To this end, we’re developing protocols and best practices for coaching via iChat and Skype, including ways to share documents and video clips. With a few new, recently funded projects focusing on this, look for us to make major strides in 2010. You may never have to leave your house!
Friday Five will be back on January 8, 2010, but we’ll otherwise stick to our regular blog schedule between now and then.
Photo: spike55151 on Flickr
I’ve been playing around with an ASUS Eee PC mobile computer this week. The lowdown: This is a super-small mobile computer, 7 inches wide and weighing in around 2 pounds, with built-in wireless, speakers, and an optional camera. It comes out of the box with a stripped-down version of Linux, an office application suite, Internet applications, and a few other goodies; you can opt to run Windows XP on it if you’d prefer. The model I got has 512 MB of memory and 4 GB of storage. No CD drive or big hard drive, but plenty of USB ports and a SD card slot (similar to what your digital camera might use) for extra room.
Here’s what I like:
Here’s what I don’t care for:
If you use your laptop for more than just e-mail and web browsing I don’t know that I’d recommend replacing it with this–but if you’ve got some other computer for your heavy-duty work this might be a nice accessory for you road warriors. As for me, I’m debating whether I can get away with just bringing this along with me while I’m out of town next week, or bringing my MacBook so I can keep working on the new Library–
