Kindle or iPad? Where you read may determine what you buy.

As a reading enthusiast, I have debated buying an e-reader, but have delayed the process due to my love of overflowing bookcases. However, I recently saw an advertisement by Kindle calling out the iPad for its poor outdoor lighting. This led to an investigation into which device operates better under certain environmental conditions. Granted, the Kindle is strictly an e-reader while the iPad is a multimedia device, but for my research I was primarily interested in the results each provided in various reading environments.

Kindle uses e-ink, which show shades of gray and is made up of real ink that is manipulated using tiny electrical charges within the display. The use of this technology allows a reader to go outside and not have any glare issues when looking at the screen, and also allows the reader to not feel an overwhelming amount of eye-strain. Conversely, the iPad uses LEDs to emit light and as a result can produce really vivid colors and are generally very bright, but also creates a mirror like image when used outdoors, making it impossible for the reader to see the text.

When using the iPad and Kindle indoors, one experiences some of the same issues with the iPad, but the screen is not totally un-readable. In night time situations, however, this changes. Because the Kindle relies on external illumination, the screen is dimly lit and one would either need to have the lights on or use a book light. While this is not as inconvenient as the complete ability to read the iPad outdoors, it does present some challenges to the night reader who is sharing space.

The iPad does provide much better back-lighting, which can eliminate the use of room lights or a book light, but it is similar to a computer monitor and the screen can almost become too bright and be too harsh on the eyes. The iPad does offer a text setting that allows a switch to white writing on a black background that lessens the brightness of the screen, but the eye strain problem is still prevalent.

Other factors that may weigh in on ones decision are price, size and memory. The Kindle 3 runs from $139-$189, while the iPad ranges from $499-$829. The iPad is also larger, heavier, and can provide more memory, ranging from 16GB to 64 GB. This device, however, is designed to be used as a multi-media device and is priced and weighted accordingly.

Personally, I will be investing in a Kindle. With trips to the gym, beach, and long car-rides ahead, I believe the benefits of being able to read during the day outweigh those of reading in the dark at night. And besides, I already have my iPod nano, home computer and flat screen television for my multi-media usage.

August 3 Roll Call

Evaluation

This is my evaluation for the course. I blocked everything out creating rectangular boxes and filling them with black paint, because these are supposed to be 100% confidential and i wasn't comfortable with having any information exposed.

Final 6: Future of Immersive Education

Immersive Education is a way to take learning outside of the physical classroom, and create an opportunity for people all over a city, state or nation to join together in learning. The Immersive Education idea opens the door into the cyber world where student and teacher can interact together to learn and create.

Right now, in 2010, Immersive Education is a budding idea. While I had never heard or experienced the initiative before this course, it is clear that this way of learning and teaching is where not only education is headed, but business and trade also. By viewing the videos on the Immersive Education website, I was able to see just how far this initiative can travel, both world wide and virtually. Not only are classrooms able to learn in the virtual classroom, they are able to experience a time and place that could never be reached before.

As you can see in these pictures, through my experiences and learning with Immersive Education, I have been able to do things I never otherwise would of experienced. I built a mailbox, flew up to a rocket ship, and walked on water.

The future for Immersive Education is endless. This initiative has started on the collegiate level, but has infinite potential to reach high schools, middle schools and even early childhood teaching. Students are not only able to connect with students that they would normally see in a classroom, but are able to potentially meet other students from other countries in one place. The Immersive Education initiative can help alleviate some issues of over crowded classrooms and also will help encourage students to use each other as resources for learning. With the rate at which technology grows and creates turnover, the sky--especially in the virtual world, is the limit.

My Gizmo

This is my gizmo. I worked in the website to create my new look and took a drive! Aren't the views "SO CUTE!"

Monocular Depth Cue: Atmospheric Perspective

Circled here are some plants that show how atmospheric perspective is a monocular depth cue. The fern closest to my avatar is clearly defined with seperate leaves and branches. However, the further away the fern is, the less defined it is. You can tell that it is a plant, but the leaves and branches are not as clearly made out.

Monocular Depth Cue: Linear Perspective

Circled in this shot is an example of linear perspective. From where my avatar stands, you can see the defined lines of the base of this building. However, as the building expands out towards the sea, you notice a "vanishing point" or an area where you can no longer clearly define the objects dimensions. The object also looks significantly smaller the further away it is from the avatar, despite being the same size.