Field Trips - no bus? no budget? NO PROBLEM!!

Google I/O, the yearly extravaganza that shows us what the Mega-Tech Giant has been up to, ran last week in Northern California.  While a lot was shown and released, this item really caught my fancy...

Virtual Field Trips.

Yes, your read correctly - Virtual Filed Trips.  

It can be very difficult to get a bus load of 4th graders over to China to walk on the Great Wall.  The bathroom breaks alone would drive a teacher crazy!!  The solution?  Grab a lab of Google Cardboard viewers with smart phones, a teacher tablet and press go!!

Yep, That easy!!  AND IT IS RUNNING RIGHT NOW!!!

Check out this video from Google

(The part of the video that has the most meaning for me is when the kids all go "whoa!!")

The really cool part is how they make the videos.  Google has partnered with GoPro cameras to make the "Google Jump" camera aray.  Shoot a video with this device, upload it to YouTube and Google will do the rest of the magic for you to make your very own, 3D, HD, VR Video!!

Click to watch video

So, You don't have the $8K to buy a Jump Camera array... what now??

Well, you can purchase your very own Kodak SP360 Camera and make some really cool video.  I have one and we recorded a 360 video that we played at the Shalhevet annual gala. It was absolutely AMAZING when viewed on the Google Cardboard.  For a less personal version, click below and give it a try on your computer, smart phone or tablet.  When playing on an iPad/iPhone, you MUST use the YouTube app.  Also, hold the iPad/iPhone at eye level and move it around.  The Gyroscope moves the point of view... very cool!  When on a PC or Mac, you MUST use the Google Chrome viewer.

click here to play the video

OK... I hear you... My video is not HD and 3D, but you have to admit it IS pretty cool.  And all for under $300.00! 

Do you want higher resolution and more field of view?  Well... there ARE new 360 degree cameras coming out on the market that will now give you a full 360degree video that ALSO has a full 300 degrees (or more) of vertical view... you just won't be able to see your feet!

Giroptic 360 Cam - click to see video

Bubl Cam - click to see video

And how to view these videos on you iPad or 'Droid phone using Google Cardboard... there is a fantastic viewer called Kolor!  Just don't take my word for it - try it it yourself.  That's right... download the app right now, put it in "cardboard split screen mode" and watch a video.

http://www.kolor.com/panotour-viewer/

By the way... try not to fall over!!

As always, your comments are solicited on the blog page.

Regards!

Yossie

Yossie Frankel
Director - Consortium for Information and Academic Technologies
Member Schools:
Harkham Hillel Hebrew Academy - yfrankel@hillelhebrew.org
Oakland Hebrew Day School - y.frankel@ohds.org
Shalhevet High School - y.frankel@shalhevet.org
Yeshivat Yavneh - www.yha.org
Arete Preparatory Academy - yfrankel@areteprep.org

Midreshet Emunah V'Omanut - Jerusalem - yfrankel@emunahvomanut.org
Checkout my blog @ technorebbe.blogspot.com
Twitter @yossiefrankel
YouTube Channel: YossieFrankelChannel
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/yossiefrankel

URGENT..... iPhone texting bug

URGENT INFO TO CONSORTIUM SCHOOLS....

Sorry about the delay on this... I only found out about an hour ago...

There is a text that will bring your iOS device crashing down - really, it truly exists!!!

Rather than go into detail... here is a link to a reputable site explaining it.

http://www.wired.com/2015/05/hack-brief-theres-new-iphone-text-message-attack/

While it is annoying, this bug CAN stop your iPhone from texting properly until you fully delete the "key text" that started this....  Here is a series of recommendations to fix the problem..  (The "text me" from Siri seems to work the best...)

http://9to5mac.com/2015/05/27/how-to-fix-ios-text-message-bug-crash-reboot/

Please be aware of this and the possible fixes.  Apple will release an update at some point, but no one knows when yet...

If you need more info, please contact me directly.

Regards...

Yossie

Yossie Frankel
Director - Consortium for Information and Academic Technologies
Member Schools:
Harkham Hillel Hebrew Academy - yfrankel@hillelhebrew.org
Oakland Hebrew Day School - y.frankel@ohds.org
Shalhevet High School - y.frankel@shalhevet.org
Yeshivat Yavneh - www.yha.org
Arete Preparatory Academy - yfrankel@areteprep.org

Midreshet Emunah V'Omanut - Jerusalem - yfrankel@emunahvomanut.org
Checkout my blog @ technorebbe.blogspot.com
Twitter @yossiefrankel
YouTube Channel: YossieFrankelChannel
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/yossiefrankel

I have fat fingers

I have a major complaint - I have fat fingers...

Don't misunderstand me, I LOVE using the touch screen on my 'droid smart phone.  It does so much for me while I am on-the-go, but I HATE taking notes with it as I just cant get used to the small on-screen keyboard.  Using my fingers to "write" with is no option either.

You know what else I hate?  Having to take my smartphone off my belt clip in order to jot down a quick note.

Well, it appears, that there is a solution to my "kvetching" (complaining).

Welcome the Phree - fresh out of "The Startup Nation!!" It is the coolest input device that answers all of my dreams.

  

You just MUST watch their video.... and then go to the kickstarter page.

Now if I can only convince my wife to allow me to spend the money. (Hey, OTM Tech... can I get free demo unit and keep it?... Just asking!)

Kol Ha Kavod Gilad, Opher, Uri and Elisha.

As always, please leave you comments on my blog site.

Yossie

Yossie Frankel
Director - Consortium for Information and Academic Technologies
Member Schools:
Harkham Hillel Hebrew Academy - yfrankel@hillelhebrew.org
Oakland Hebrew Day School - y.frankel@ohds.org
Shalhevet High School - y.frankel@shalhevet.org
Yeshivat Yavneh - www.yha.org
Arete Preparatory Academy - yfrankel@areteprep.org

Midreshet Emunah V'Omanut - Jerusalem - yfrankel@emunahvomanut.org
Checkout my blog @ technorebbe.blogspot.com
Twitter @yossiefrankel
YouTube Channel: YossieFrankelChannel
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/yossiefrankel

HUD Displays: Evolution of Augmented Reality

The speed at which Augmented Reality is invading our world is staggering!!  In a previous post (here), I predicted that AR and VR (virtual reality) is going to change the way teach and that change is only five years away!  Well, I may have to revise my estimate and make it much shorter.

While "trolling" through the web to hunt for trends in innovation that we can implement in our classrooms, I cam across the SEER Headset.   It is a HUD (Heads Up Display) style of device and it BLEW ME AWAY!!   Here, why should I inundate you with my words when a video says it all...

click here for video

The cool thing is that this device is only $119.  To make it work, you put in your own smart phone (like Google Cardboard) or go for the $219 version that comes with one of CAPUTER's screens included.

As soon as this is released for consumer sale, I am getting one!!

I have a special request for the folks at Caputer... can I please borrow a demo unit for my STEM conference keynote speech on May 18th?  Please??!!

As always, your comments are solicited on the blog.

Regards...

Yossie

Yossie Frankel
Director - Consortium for Information and Academic Technologies
Member Schools:
Harkham Hillel Hebrew Academy - yfrankel@hillelhebrew.org
Oakland Hebrew Day School - y.frankel@ohds.org
Shalhevet High School - y.frankel@shalhevet.org
Yeshivat Yavneh - www.yha.org
Arete Preparatory Academy - yfrankel@areteprep.org

Midreshet Emunah V'Omanut - Jerusalem - yfrankel@emunahvomanut.org
Checkout my blog @ technorebbe.blogspot.com
Twitter @yossiefrankel
YouTube Channel: YossieFrankelChannel
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/yossiefrankel