Comments on: Phones Are a Real Alternative to Computers http://edutechdebate.org/mobile-phones-and-computers/phones-are-a-real-alternative-to-computers/ Educational Technology Debate Thu, 11 Mar 2010 20:04:28 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Chris Hernandez http://edutechdebate.org/mobile-phones-and-computers/phones-are-a-real-alternative-to-computers/comment-page-1/#comment-1550 Chris Hernandez Wed, 10 Mar 2010 02:08:22 +0000 http://edutechdebate.org/?p=231#comment-1550 Fantastic, thanks for sharing this information. Looks great on my iPhone, but on the Blackberry Pearl's browser your site comes out a little erratic. Fantastic, thanks for sharing this information. Looks great on my iPhone, but on the Blackberry Pearl’s browser your site comes out a little erratic.

]]> By: Matthew C. Kriner http://edutechdebate.org/mobile-phones-and-computers/phones-are-a-real-alternative-to-computers/comment-page-1/#comment-1490 Matthew C. Kriner Mon, 01 Mar 2010 05:19:17 +0000 http://edutechdebate.org/?p=231#comment-1490 It's the exact same way when I go home to Trinidad and Tobago. Tons and tons of bugs...ewww! I recommend wearing capris so that way most of your legs are covered and I either wore 3/4 sleeve tops or t-shirts. It’s the exact same way when I go home to Trinidad and Tobago. Tons and tons of bugs…ewww! I recommend wearing capris so that way most of your legs are covered and I either wore 3/4 sleeve tops or t-shirts.

]]> By: jamie http://edutechdebate.org/mobile-phones-and-computers/phones-are-a-real-alternative-to-computers/comment-page-1/#comment-774 jamie Fri, 30 Oct 2009 05:01:20 +0000 http://edutechdebate.org/?p=231#comment-774 dont be meaan dont be meaan

]]> By: Ryan http://edutechdebate.org/mobile-phones-and-computers/phones-are-a-real-alternative-to-computers/comment-page-1/#comment-773 Ryan Fri, 30 Oct 2009 05:00:56 +0000 http://edutechdebate.org/?p=231#comment-773 The answer that you are looking for is ...................... The answer that you are looking for is ………………….

]]> By: jamie http://edutechdebate.org/mobile-phones-and-computers/phones-are-a-real-alternative-to-computers/comment-page-1/#comment-772 jamie Fri, 30 Oct 2009 04:52:57 +0000 http://edutechdebate.org/?p=231#comment-772 can u plz ans my question can u plz ans my question

]]> By: jamie http://edutechdebate.org/mobile-phones-and-computers/phones-are-a-real-alternative-to-computers/comment-page-1/#comment-771 jamie Fri, 30 Oct 2009 04:49:56 +0000 http://edutechdebate.org/?p=231#comment-771 What are the disantages of being part of a social networking community? What are the disantages of being part of a social networking community?

]]> By: Ryan Pike http://edutechdebate.org/mobile-phones-and-computers/phones-are-a-real-alternative-to-computers/comment-page-1/#comment-770 Ryan Pike Fri, 30 Oct 2009 04:48:40 +0000 http://edutechdebate.org/?p=231#comment-770 Hey im 13 and im awsome Hey im 13 and im awsome

]]> By: MattYork http://edutechdebate.org/mobile-phones-and-computers/phones-are-a-real-alternative-to-computers/comment-page-1/#comment-362 MattYork Sun, 26 Jul 2009 16:39:55 +0000 http://edutechdebate.org/?p=231#comment-362 Is a smartphone a mobile phone with PDA functionality? Or is a smartphone a PDA with mobile telephony as a feature? A PDA does not require connectivity or a carrier. PDAs have local storage for text, audio and video files. Text files are impractical to read on a smartphone by more than one person at a time, but four people can watch a video on a smartphone at the same time. Ten people can listen to an audio file on a smart phone. With an external speaker, 30 people can listen to an audio file. In many situations, these examples are much more practical compared to a computer. Is a smartphone a mobile phone with PDA functionality? Or is a smartphone a PDA with mobile telephony as a feature?

A PDA does not require connectivity or a carrier. PDAs have local storage for text, audio and video files. Text files are impractical to read on a smartphone by more than one person at a time, but four people can watch a video on a smartphone at the same time. Ten people can listen to an audio file on a smart phone. With an external speaker, 30 people can listen to an audio file.

In many situations, these examples are much more practical compared to a computer.

]]> By: alex van de sande http://edutechdebate.org/mobile-phones-and-computers/phones-are-a-real-alternative-to-computers/comment-page-1/#comment-358 alex van de sande Fri, 24 Jul 2009 17:06:22 +0000 http://edutechdebate.org/?p=231#comment-358 Wayan I am shocked you did not mention the ONE thing that makes phones different from computers and ultimately prevents them from being an option on the savior of the digital divide: the carrier. The phone needs a cell phone network by definition. And this means the uses of the device, where it can be used and when it can be used are completely dependent from one central company. The carrier doesn't want to cover that remote area? The carrier decides not to allow voice over the data stream? The carrier wants to charge by minute? They have the right. Unless we can have a phone with some kind of mesh networking, that the user can install and run any app he wants, with any functionality he decides then using cell phones for the poorer is basically giving unlimited power to the carrier. And the whole point of the movement is to distirbute knowledge and power around. Wayan
I am shocked you did not mention the ONE thing that makes phones different from computers and ultimately prevents them from being an option on the savior of the digital divide: the carrier.

The phone needs a cell phone network by definition. And this means the uses of the device, where it can be used and when it can be used are completely dependent from one central company. The carrier doesn't want to cover that remote area? The carrier decides not to allow voice over the data stream? The carrier wants to charge by minute? They have the right.

Unless we can have a phone with some kind of mesh networking, that the user can install and run any app he wants, with any functionality he decides then using cell phones for the poorer is basically giving unlimited power to the carrier. And the whole point of the movement is to distirbute knowledge and power around.

]]> By: JonCamfield http://edutechdebate.org/mobile-phones-and-computers/phones-are-a-real-alternative-to-computers/comment-page-1/#comment-357 JonCamfield Fri, 24 Jul 2009 14:43:15 +0000 http://edutechdebate.org/?p=231#comment-357 I had to leave halfway through the webinar, so perhaps this was addressed, but a lot of the examples were using specific smartphones (and could be done via non-cellular PDAs as well). The problems I see with embedding smartphones in traditional education are cost and compatibility. If the school takes the cost, it can guarantee all the cell phones in use will be the same with the same features, but ownership/personal use is difficult (or expensive) If the school externalizes the cost, how do lower-income students justify ponying up for a more expensive smartphone (or a specific smartphone)? How does the curriculum change to accommodate non-standard phones, or set requirements (phone must have a camera, bluetooth or USB connection, texting plan, SIM card... ?). It reminds me of the always-frustrating laptop standards colleges post which exclude unusual configurations, older OSes, and almost always fail to support Linux OS. This is not to say that cell phones aren't wide-spread and could be used as part of the curricula, but I'm not sure the cost and compatibility of phones is at a point that they should be mandated. I had to leave halfway through the webinar, so perhaps this was addressed, but a lot of the examples were using specific smartphones (and could be done via non-cellular PDAs as well). The problems I see with embedding smartphones in traditional education are cost and compatibility. If the school takes the cost, it can guarantee all the cell phones in use will be the same with the same features, but ownership/personal use is difficult (or expensive)

If the school externalizes the cost, how do lower-income students justify ponying up for a more expensive smartphone (or a specific smartphone)? How does the curriculum change to accommodate non-standard phones, or set requirements (phone must have a camera, bluetooth or USB connection, texting plan, SIM card… ?). It reminds me of the always-frustrating laptop standards colleges post which exclude unusual configurations, older OSes, and almost always fail to support Linux OS.

This is not to say that cell phones aren't wide-spread and could be used as part of the curricula, but I'm not sure the cost and compatibility of phones is at a point that they should be mandated.

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