A small team of Microsoft and University of Washington researchers are developing a technology that will allow ordinary computers--and eventually mobile devices--to detect gestures and motions in order to control them. SoundWave, as it's called, uses the speaker and microphone already built into most computers to sense in-air actions, such as a wave of the hand to specify an action like, "scroll the screen up" or "scroll it down."
- By Dian Schaffhauser
- 05/08/12
Research group Project RED has launched a new, replicable method for integrating technology in schools, to be detailed in an upcoming webinar, held May 15, 17, and 23.
- By Stephen Noonoo
- 05/08/12
Worldwide shipments of tablets increased significantly in the first quarter of 2012, driven by strong sales of Apple's iPad. But owing to a slump in Android tablet sales, overall growth was weaker than expected. Meanwhile, on the smart phone front, Apple dropped to second place as Samsung more than tripled its unit shipments in the quarter to land in the top slot.
Is the American education system stifling creativity? That's the attitude held by a majority of Americans, according to a new worldwide survey focused on attitudes toward creativity in schools, the workplace, and the home.
Spending on IT software, equipment, and services is projected to reach $3.75 trillion worldwide this year, driven by solid growth in computer hardware and enterprise software.
To help parents and educators contend with a profusion of digital media marketed as educational, nonprofit Common Sense Media has begun a new ratings initiative to evaluate the learning potential of websites, video games, and mobile apps.
- By Stephen Noonoo
- 04/10/12
Organizations are putting more of their IT budgets into software as a service (SaaS). According to a report from market research firm Gartner, spending on SaaS will reach nearly $15 billion this year and will grow to more than $22 billion in 2015.
More than 916 million smart connected devices--including PCs, smart phones, tablets, and other similar devices--shipped worldwide last year. And, according to a new report, that number could double in the next five years.
- By Caitlin Moriarity
- 04/02/12
Server consolidation, cooling technologies, and expanded use of virtualization are helping to drive down costs in K-12 IT operations, according to a new report released Monday.
Despite the substantial growth of mobile handheld and tablet devices, traditional PC desktop and laptop systems aren't going away anytime soon. Just the opposite, according to a report released this week: Annual PC shipments could grow by nearly 50 percent worldwide between now and 2016.