T-Mobile Sidekick — just one option
Connectivity, access, and mobility are primary problems with web-based or online education. It’s pretty limiting to be hunting for connection, or lugging a laptop when what’s really needed is the ability to instant-message, and to save, send, and transfer text and images — either to one’s own e-mail or to the e-mail of others.
T-Mobile and other mobile communications providers convenient and affordable plans which make these concepts attainable and real. For example, T-Mobile’s Sidekick is a tiny keyboard & PDA, that also offers typical cell phone coverage with a head set. You can buy a tiny digital camera, take photos, then instantly e-mail them. It really opens real-time communication, plus provides the opportunity to collect images, date-stamp them, and save them to analyze later.
Here’s what seduced me — you can get started at only around $200 (with rebate)!! (doesn’t include the camera, or the $19.95 monthly fee; $39.95 if you want full voice & unlimited data transfer). I was paying more than that for my “family-time plan” cell phone service!
The features, and possible applications are the following:
Web browser - real surfing on on virtually all sites - can look up information and upload data to various sites
Mobile Snaphots - just attach the camera, snap a shot and send it via e-mail.
AOL Instant Messenger ™ Service - can communicate with individuals on the Buddy List.
E-Mail - set up as many as three POP3 email accounts to deliver mail directly to the Sidekick — this allows one to make observations in real time, then e-mail them to a special e-mail account set up specifically for field observations.
Educational applications are unlimited. Here are a few ideas:
1. Research methods classes — collecting field data for statistical analysis later. Intersection traffic
2. Project in Marketing research involving consumer trend micro-research: Taco Bell customers from 10 pm to 2 am Saturday - Monday
3. Geology field trip — mapping the outcrop, classifying fossils that can’t be retrieved
4. Botany field trip — magnolia blossoms on a certain date in March
5. Overheard conversations in line to a new release movie
6. Political campaign poster coverage
These are just a few ideas — I truly believe this is the new direction, especially as prices fall, and it will be possible to transfer Excel and MS-Word files via Sidekick as easily as one can through a conventional PDA, but at a fraction of the cost.
Reader Poll
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I love your practical examples here, Susan. This is fantastic. As you know, I recently upgraded to a Handspring Treo 270 with similar capabilities as your Sidekick. As a testimonial, I have already begun using my handheld e-mail for such research with Xplana. At a recent conference I was able to make observations of activity around vendors booths and send the e-mail to my account. I often do tis at meetings as well. An excellent research tool and a real solution to problems with mobility and connectivity (mine is a GPRS phone and offers broad, international connectivity).