Years ago, I told my students that I intended to teach until all the futuristic sci-fi things in the movies and on television came true. For instance, teleportation. I want to be able to go places, see things, and meet interesting people – all without the road trip or airport waits. “Beam me up!” so to speak.
Well, I may find myself back to that future sooner rather than later! Have you paid attention to what is out there right now?
A few years back I saw a live demonstration of the 3D imaging technologies that enabled thousands of attendees at a tech conference to see and hear the speaker, who was in Chicago, as a holographic display on the stage in Philadelphia. Now, there are holographic people at museums and airports! http://www.theatlanticwire.com/entertainment/2011/02/when-holograms-are-greeting-you-at-airports-what-s-next/21212/
Does that video mean that someday I’ll be ordering takeout from a holographic pizza guy? Look here to learn how this technology works: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pSICZ_7hpho&NR=1
Want something more affordable that would add real world technology to your school? Listen to this young man teach you a lesson about 3D printers! www.youtube.com/watch?v=oyZxzkd-Jsk
3D printers have now become so inexpensive that schools all over the country have purchased them. Students learn real-world skills that apply to manufacturing, problem solving, invention, computer programming – what’s not to love about that? http://videos.webpronews.com/2010/02/10/build-anything-with-makerbot-3d-printer/
Even newer on the stage are gesture technologies and augmented reality. This marries 3G and 4G connectivity, holographics, and augmented reality. What a fascinating world this creates! http://www.youtube.com/watch?annotation_id=annotation_121798&feature=iv&v=HW9gU_4AUCA
Soon, I won’t actually touch the keyboard or mouse or other device – I’ll just gesture, and voila - the world at my fingertips! Take a peek here at the Sixth Sense projects from MIT: http://www.pranavmistry.com/projects/sixthsense/#VIDEOS
Your students may already be familiar with these new technologies, as many of them find their way into TV, movies, gaming, smartphones and other handheld devices long before they reach the K-12 classroom. Take a journey to discovery – this future is now!