While the use of tablet PC as a teaching aid in classrooms isn’t new, what seems certain is that tablet computers will have a greater role to play in the classrooms of future. But then, while the enhanced use of technology is surely welcome, more so when it has the potential to make it simple and efficient for the students, there are also the risk of students getting distracted from the real thing. Its here that the 7 inch Kineo tablet from the Florida based company Brainchild promises to keep the use of tablet PCs in classrooms as a pure learning device.
As Jeff Cameron, the President of Brainchild puts it, “Learning devices need to enhance instruction, not be a distraction … Kineo removes the temptation for students to text or surf.”
So how does Brainchild ensure the Kineo will keep students tied down to where it matters most – education?
Well, to begin with, the tablet has been built tough and rugged so as to ensure it can take up some degree of abuse. The touchscreen too has been built to render problem free service even after about half a million touches. Also, the Kineo has been built with just basic features while fancy stuff like integrated cameras and messaging features has been kept out. These apart, the Kineo also comes with specially built apps and controls which will ensure teachers or parents have a fair amount of control over the way the tablet is used. Students will also not have the liberty to surf the web at will. Instead, the teachers will be able to maintain a list of approved sites and apps and the students will be able to sync their result to the cloud.
Spec wise, the Kineo does pack in some punch in the form of a dual core 800 Mhz CPU though RAM size is limited to only 256 MB DDR. Internal storage is also a low 2 GB though the SD card slot can help things here a bit. The 7 inch touchscreen display has a resolution of 800 x 480 pixels. The Kineo features 802.11g Wi-Fi to connect to the internet while on the ports side, the Kineo includes a HDMI port and a USB port along with a stereo and headphone jack.
However, the Kineo will come with Android 2.1 Eclair with only the basic Flash support. On the battery front, a 4,500mAh pack will ensure things last for a respectable 10 to 12 hours.
Pre orders are currently being accepted for the Kineo and is expected to start shipping from the beginning of March. Price for a Kineo stands at $300.
via electronista
With a keen interest in tech, I make it a point to keep myself updated on the latest developments in technology and gadgets. That includes smartphones or tablet devices but stretches to even AI and self-driven automobiles, the latter being my latest fad. Besides writing, I like watching videos, reading, listening to music, or experimenting with different recipes. The motion picture is another aspect that interests me a lot, and I'll likely make a film sometime in the future.
