Tag Archives: iOS

Lego mindstorm EV3 for Android and iOS

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Lego is finally coming out with a tablet and Smartphone compatible Lego Mindstorm set. The Lego Mindstorm EV3 was announced at the 2013 CES show.

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It is not quite clear how the new EV3 Mindstorm will work with Tablets and Smartphones but a new processor is the key. According to Lego:

“the EV3 Intelligent Brick now un‐tethers robots from the computer by providing users expanded on‐brick programming and tighter integration with smart devices.”

The new Intelligent Brick uses an ARM processor and Linux OS base that allows on board programming. My guess is that apps can be created to interact and program the smart brick. Right now it appears that the only app that Lego will release will be a remote.
The new EV3 intelligent brick does allows connection via bluetooth and wifi. This should make things easier.
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Unfortunately the new Mindstorm set will not be available until the summer of 2013. The Lego education website lists the availability as the fall of 2013. The education set also appears to be $10 cheaper at $340 but it does not include software. Hopefully software will come with the non educational set and hopefully in the future you will not need a PC.
What do you think? Will you wait until the fall to pick up the new Lego Mindstorm set?

Restrictions for iPod touch and iPad

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iPhone restrictions

When your child has a small device like an iPod touch there are some cautions you should take.  Now I trust my children but I do not trust the Internet or technology.  There are many harmful things that can take away from my child’s innocence.  Recently we experienced this with my son.   He was up in his room watching You-tube clips from the movie Chronicles of Narnia.  While he did nothing wrong there was still the potential for him to see something unintentional that would harm him.  I am thrilled that he likes Narnia but I do not want the video to take the place of actually reading the book.  On the positive side of things I now know what book to let him to read next.

Here is how you can customize the restrictions in the iPod, iPhone, and iPad settings.  If this is the first time you have changed this setting then you enter a 4 digit pass code and then re-enter it for verification.  The one confusing thig about the setting is that it on the options page when it says Allow and you select OFF to keep it from being accessible.  For instance you would select OFF if you did not want YouTube to show up as an app.  So basically you select OFF for anything you don’t want accessible.

Restrictions

If all else fails you can always password protect your Wireless Internet.  If you subscribe to Bsecure online filtering then you can use their mobile app for controlled Internet browsing.

Bsecure Mobile Browserhttp://www.bsecure.com/Products/Mobile.aspx

http://itunes.apple.com/app/bsecure-mobile-browser/id329198773?mt=8

Here is a link to a tutorial for setting up the restrictions on you iPhone or iPod touch. (iPad similar.)

Ramasubbu, Suren. How To Setup Parental Controls on iPhone & iPod Touch (OS 3.0 Edition):Simple Steps for the iChallenged Parent [Internet]. Version 15. Knol. 2010 Jul 30. Available from: http://knol.google.com/k/suren-ramasubbu/how-to-setup-parental-controls-on/2hrtmvjs09ng1/3.

Ramasubbu, Suren. How To Setup Parental Controls on iPhone & iPod Touch (iOS 4 Edition):Simple Steps for the iChallenged Parent [Internet]. Version 5. Knol. 2010 Dec 21. Available from: http://knol.google.com/k/suren-ramasubbu/how-to-setup-parental-controls-on/2hrtmvjs09ng1/6.

Why the iPad is Good for Homeschooling

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    I remember one of the first computers I used at school was the Apple IIc. I think the school even purchased it using points from box tops.  While you probably can’t get an iPad with box tops,  Apples website does say that Homeschool teachers qualify for education pricing.  The discounts not much considering anybody can get a refurbished iPad for $429 right now.  To some the cost still seems high for a tool that currently can only be used to supplement your current curriculum.  Even though the price is high I believe there are still some pretty good reasons to get and iPad for homeschooling.  Here are some of the reasons I came up with. 

  •  There are a lot of educational apps – a are free or less than $5.00
  • Apple has a history of working with education
  • The iPad it the best tablet for the money (or until a good Android tablet comes out)
  • Homeschoolers are not tied to traditional classrooms.
  • The iPad is more suited for families than institutions.
  • You can control content with your own iTunes account
  • Homeschoolers customize school to each individual child’s learning style.
  • The iPad makes learning fun
  • You can do school on the sofa or outside.

Feel free to add any additional reasons in the comments below.

Why iPads Aren’t Ready For Classrooms… Yet

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Why iPads Aren’t Ready For Classrooms… Yet.

Gizmodo had has an articleabout iPads for Classrooms.  iPads may not be ready for the “classroom” but they are definitely a tool for learning.  While the iPad might not be ideal for a “classroom” setting it does have excellent potential for learning.  What is important to note is that children are always learning.  With education you must remember that the end product is education, not an output of the tablet itself.  Children now are learning more from electronics than ever before.  I would much rather have my child use a tablet then a Game Boy or other gaming device for his electronic content.