Technology+Articles

= Apple’s iPad – It Is and It Isn’t = By Karen Urgitis, Technology Coordinator

It was released on April 3, 2010, amid a flurry of curious and avid Apple fans. In routine fashion, spurred by the teasing of newscasts and pre-release reviews, soon-to-be owners camped outside of Apple stores, ready to invest in Apple’s newest and interestingly innovative computing device. But what is so special about this sleek and modern handheld? What makes it different from Apple’s other digital tools – the iPod, the iPhone, and the MacBook computer? How will it be used in the educational setting, at home, or at the office? What future developments are over the horizon?

My first exposure to the Apple iPad – WiFi version (Internet access via wireless connections – no 3G, or telephone connections), was through a Norwich Public Schools’ intern who was one of the first owners of the original iPad when released this past April. Though he claims it took him a week or two before purchasing, I can vividly imagine him as one of the die-hard campers perched outside of an Apple store the night before the release. Not surprisingly, he was quick to discover its capabilities and potentials and eager to share that with would-be owners. I must admit, it took me but a few seconds to be drawn into the sleek and compact design of this new digital tool.

As a devoted iPhone and iPod user, I was already familiar with music delivery via mp3 player, user-created applications (a.k.a. apps), high resolution video displays, and internet/connectivity features of these smart devices. But on the iPad, these features are all enhanced by a higher resolution screen in a more readable format that is far more suitable to the “mature” user (I’m not admitting to my age). The physical dimensions are impressive. Light and compact, weighing a mere 25 ounces, the iPad is encased in a smooth outer shell with one simple button on the face. I was greatly impressed by the instant-on feature. Press the “home” button, an image appears with a “slide to unlock” prompt. With the swipe of the finger, the desktop screen appears and standard applications display as icons arranged in rows and columns. The option for additional applications is only limited by the storage space on the device (16GB is the smallest – after 2 months I’ve exceeded that capacity). The iPad's touchscreen display is a 25 cm (9.7 in diagonal) liquid crystal display (1024 × 768 pixels) and claims a fingerprint-resistant and scratch-resistant glass. Well, fingerprints quickly blur the screen but I’ve come to ignore them and now consider them physical evidence of a well-used device. Without a purchased plastic covering, the metal case is quite cold and slippery and could easily slide out of a loose grip. I doubt that it could survive a hard knock to the floor or a tumble down the stairs (as my iPhone has done several times, though protected by a hard leather case). Like the iPhone, the iPad is designed to be controlled by bare fingers with movements such as pinching, spreading, tapping, and swiping.

In addition to the touch sensitivity, the display also responds to an ambient light sensor to adjust screen brightness and a 3-axis accelerometer to sense iPad orientation and switch between portrait and landscape modes. I still have trouble seeing the screen in outdoor light, but find the screen to be quite impressive in normal room lighting. The automatic screen rotation works nicely when viewing documents, web sites or videos. Pinching and spreading the fingers on the screen make for quick zooming in and out. Tapping on a word will highlight the text and open a menu of commands to follow. Tapping once next to a word places the insertion cursor that opens up an onscreen keyboard for text/typing. My initial instincts were to attempt the touch typing method I’ve used quite successfully for years, but I soon realized that the texting method of composing was a sensible alternative. The larger keys makes it much easier than performing the same task on the iPhone.

Standard applications include: Contacts, Calendar, Mail, Photos, iPod, iTunes, Settings, YouTube, App Store, and Safari. New apps are continuously written and costs range from free to hundreds of dollars. As the Internet continues to grow with Web 2.0 tools and user interaction/input, many iPad applications are created by average users, proposed then accepted into the Apple store. App shopping has become a frequent activity as my granddaughter and I search for preschool educational programs as well as engaging interactive stories and puzzles. Words with Friends is a free program (as long as you don’t mind skipping through ads that pop up) that lets you play Scrabble with someone you know who also has an iPad or iPhone, or with a random stranger – your choice. Reference material, such as the Periodic Table of Elements, medical dictionaries, language translators, are a few examples of the newest options for acquiring instant information. I seem to be saying, more and more often, “I’ve got an app for that.” As the popularity of the device continues to grow, so does the number of applications that are developed for the newest in a line of handheld smart tools. The company is quick to respond to feedback from its customers. Apple is receptive of any suggestions for improving its newest product, already adding more capabilities in the second generation.In an effort to promote conservation, to save a forest of trees, the iPad is an acceptable solution to a print-free philosophy. All the email attachments that I receive are stored as files viewed through a reader app (GoodReader). I find this especially useful at meetings. Documents are quickly accessible and viewable, and searching for the file is a lot quieter than shuffling through a pile of papers. Some have criticized the iPad for not having a USB port for printing. I applaud the creators for having the gumption to forgo a feature that encourages converting digital text to printed text. The iPad is designed to be a consumption device, not a production device. It is not meant to replace a computer, but to enhance one. You do need a computer to sync with an iPad, to backup files, to share files, to provide information to the device, to nurture, feed, and support the device. Think of an iPad as a off-spring of a computer that is not ready to venture out on its own, that still depends on the parent for support.

Through a 21 st Century Learning Environments grant, iPads and other newly acquired tools will be in the hands of some students at TMMS this fall. It will be a learning endeavor for all involved, from students, teachers, administrators, and back to the sales representative and company. I have been asked, along with the intern who first demonstrated this product to me, to present at a state-wide conference on October 18 th (CECA – Connecticut Educators Computer Association). Though the focus of the presentation is primarily the 21 st century learning environments, no doubt the main interest will be the use of iPads in the educational setting. I am quite certain that I will have great anecdotes to share by then. I look forward to learning from our students, to experience knowledge acquisition through digital tools, the tools of their generation.

Additional resources for this article from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IPad