Brainchild Debuts Android Tablet for Schools -- THE Journal

Mobile Computing

Brainchild Debuts Android Tablet for Schools

By David Nagel
02/01/11

The Kineo tablet limits student access to the Internet and disables texting.

Ed tech developer Brainchild this week debuted a tablet designed specifically for K-12 schools. The new device, called Kineo, is based around Google's Android 2.1 operating system, like a number of popular tablets, but provides security features for schools that want to limit what students can do. The device was introduced this week at the FETC 2011 conference in Orlando, FL.

Although it's a full-featured tablet, Kineo is being positioned more as an e-book reader because it's focused squarely on instruction and assessment. It includes security features designed to prevent activities that some schools might consider disruptive, and it integrates with Brainchild's Achiever! assessment suite (through GlobalSYNC, which "synchronizes Achiever! data from every Kineo and computer and makes it easy for teachers to manage from a convenient Web-based interface," according to Brainchild).

For security, the tablet includes a feature that prevents students from accessing Web sites except those whitelisted by the school. It also has messaging disabled by default.

The tablet itself features a 7-inch, 800 x 480 touchscreen display; an 800 MHz, dual-core processor; 2 GB internal storage; and 256 MB RAM. It also includes an SD Card slot for storage expansion.

Other features of the Kineo include:

802.11 b/g WiFi;
Ruggedized construction for school use;
HDMI output;
Stereo audio and headphone jack;
USB port; and
10-hour battery life.

Kineo is expected to start shipping in March. It will run $299.99. Preorders are open now. Further information is available here.

About the Author

David Nagel is the former editorial director of 1105 Media's Education Group and editor-in-chief of THE Journal, STEAM Universe, and Spaces4Learning. A 30-year publishing veteran, Nagel has led or contributed to dozens of technology, art, marketing, media, and business publications.

He can be reached at [email protected]. You can also connect with him on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidrnagel/ .

E-Mail this page

Printable Format

Featured

Nonprofit LawZero to Work Toward Safer, Truthful AI

Turing Award-winning AI researcher Yoshua Bengio has launched LawZero, a nonprofit aimed at developing AI systems that prioritize safety and truthfulness over autonomy.
Report Identifies Malicious Use of AI in Cloud-Based Cyber Threats

A recent report from OpenAI identifies the misuse of artificial intelligence in cybercrime, social engineering, and influence operations, particularly those targeting or operating through cloud infrastructure. In "Disrupting Malicious Uses of AI: June 2025," the company outlines how threat actors are weaponizing large language models for malicious ends — and how OpenAI is pushing back.
You've Paid for Tutoring. Here's How to Make Sure It Works.

As districts and states nationwide invest in tutoring, it remains one of the best tools in our educational toolkit, yielding positive impacts on student learning at scale. But to maximize return on investment, both financially and academically, we must focus on improving implementation.
New National Academy for AI Instruction to Provide Free AI Training for Educators

In an effort to "transform how artificial intelligence is taught and integrated into classrooms across the United States," the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), in partnership with Microsoft, OpenAI, Anthropic, and the United Federation of Teachers, is launching the National Academy for AI Instruction, a $23 million initiative that will provide access to free AI training and curriculum for all AFT members, beginning with K-12 educators.