By Billie Peterson, Baylor University
Dear Tech Talk—
With the rapid changes in technology, it's very difficult for me, an instructional librarian, to keep track of new technology that I might incorporate into the services I provide. So . . . tell me what's new?
--Tempting Technological Toys
Dear TTT-- One of the most striking trends is not so much the development of new technological tools, but the significant changes taking place in the old ones. Everything is getting smaller . . . so much smaller that the size, or lack thereof, of these tools can actually transform the way one thinks about the provision of instruction or other library services.
First there is the computer itself. The traditional laptop computer has been around for many years. It continues to become more powerful, but it also continues to weigh around 10 pounds -- which seems quite lightweight until you have to run through an airport to catch a flight!!
Enter the ultra-lightweight, hand-held (or tablet) computer. There are now hand-held computers, weighing between 1 and 3 pounds, that are capable of doing almost anything that a desk-based computer can do. (Although the personal digital assistant (PDA), such as the PalmPilot, certainly falls within this category, PDAs (used primarily as digital organizers) are excluded from this discussion.)
These new hand-held devices fall into two categories: those that run the full-blown Windows operating system and those that run a stripped down version of Windows called Windows CE. Because of the differences in operating systems, there are some significant differences between these two machines.
Those devices with the complete Windows operating system are heavier (weighing around 2 - 3 pounds); they have a harddisk, which means there is the usual length of time to boot up the computer and the battery life is still limited to a few hours; they can run virtually any standard Windows program; they are pen-based tablet computers without built-in keyboards. The cost for one of these devices is between $2,000 and $3,000. Some current models are the Intermec 6642, the Casio FIVA, Mitsubishi Amity, and the Fujitsu Stylistic.
In contrast, the Pocket PC functions at a level between a PDA (such as the PalmPilot) and a full-blown computer. They are about half the weight of the hand-held computer described above (averaging around 1 pound); they have no harddisk and are solid state, which means they turn on instantly (like a calculator or PalmPilot) and the battery life is significantly lengthened because there are no mechanical parts; they can only run stripped down versions of a few Windows programs: Pocket Word, Pocket Excel, Pocket Powerpoint, Pocket Internet Explorer, and e-mail. However, the available software does allow the user to create basic documents using Word, Excel, or Powerpoint, send and read e-mail, and surf the Internet. For most people, these functions more than meet their needs. Other programs can be written for and run on Pocket PCs, but the Windows CE operating system does limit the complexity of these programs. The cost of a Pocket PC device ranges between $500 and $1000. Windows CE devices range from palm-sized devices such as Casio Cassiopeia, Compaq iPAQ, and HP Jornada 540, to tablet CE devices such as the Fujitsu Pencentra and Hitachi e-Plate, and up to larger units with keyboards, such as the Vadem Clio and HP Jornada 680.
An additional feature of most hand-held devices, and certainly you wouldn't want to purchase one without this capability, is the use of the Universal Serial Bus (USB). USB standardizes the plug and port associated with a wide variety of serial and parallel port peripheral devices, such as keyboards, mouses, Zip drives, CD drives, modems, scanners, cameras, printers, etc. USB also allows you to connect many peripherals at one time, using USB "hubs" that allow daisychaining. So, if you really need to use that normal keyboard or see information displayed on a full-size monitor, you take the hand-held device to the office, plug the office computer monitor into the video port, plug the keyboard and mouse into the USB port, and you are in business. With the Pocket PC, it's a simple operation to attach a lightweight Zip drive on which documents can be saved and then easily attached to another USB-ready computer in order to move documents from one machine to another. With the advent of USB, it is now possible to attach a variety of peripherals on the fly without being a technological wizard.
And what about monitors? There have been significant advancements with monitors, as well. The flat-panel LCD monitor is becoming both a desirable and viable option. There are many advantages to flattop LCD monitors: a 15-inch LCD monitor has viewing area equivalent to a 17-inch CRT monitor; a much smaller footprint (a few inches deep versus 18 inches), freeing up a significant amount of desk space; much lighter (15 pounds vs. 40 pounds); laser-crisp text, sharp color resolution, and no flickering light; horizontal, vertical, swivel, and pivot adjustments; lower power consumption and less heat generation; and no VLF or ELF emissions to raise health concerns.
So why doesn't everyone rush out to buy flat-panel LCD monitors? Cost -- the average 17-inch CRT monitor costs under $500; a 15-inch LCD monitor costs around $1,000, which can almost double the cost of a basic computer workstation. If a 17-inch LCD monitor is needed, the cost can be more than $3,000, which is more money than most people pay for an entire computer workstation. Additionally, unlike the cost associated with many technological tools, the cost for LCD monitors is not dropping significantly.
However, under certain conditions, an LCD monitor may be the most appropriate monitor to use: in a reception area where a sleek, streamlined appearance is important; in an office area were desk space is at a premium; for employees who suffer from severe eye strain due to the number of daily hours spent working at a computer.
Finally, there is the projector. Who remembers the days of the overhead projector and the LCD display panel? Instructors were excited to be able to project computer images, but somewhat dismayed at the dullness of the projected images. Then along came high-intensity overhead projectors and the projected images became sharper and brighter. Finally they developed projectors that functioned only to display video and data from computers. There were tabletop models and ceiling-mounted models. Sure, they were more expensive than an overhead projector and LCD panel, but the quality of the display, even in rooms with normal lighting, made the extra cost well worth it.
The latest evolution in projectors is the lightweight portable projector. Unlike the tabletop models of the past, lightweight portable projectors weigh 16 pounds or less (without carrying case and cables). Many weigh close to 10 pounds and can display 800-by-600 resolution images, even in rooms with normal lighting. Other features to consider when looking at one of these projectors is the number of inputs and outputs for computer and video sources, remote control options, image control options, and the availability of built-in speakers and amplifiers. What about cost? Most of these portable LCD projectors can be purchased for less than $10,000 -- some of them can be purchased for less than $6,000.
What do these changes in technology tools mean to instruction? The most significant change is that instruction no longer needs to be tied to a specific area. Instruction can easily become mobile.
One example would be to use hand-held PC's or Pocket PC's to provide instructional tours. The Armstrong Browning Library at Baylor University has developed an electronic docent, using an Intermec 6642 with 32MB of RAM and a 3GB hard disk. This electronic docent provides visitors with a walking tour of this unique library/museum -- incorporating floor plans, images of objects, and context-sensitive descriptions (text and sound) of items. With this electronic docent, the tour is now totally controlled by the person taking the tour.
Another example of the use of these tools would be with distance education applications, especially those where two-way, interactive video communication is not a viable option. With relatively inexpensive, two-pound (or less), USB compliant, hand-held PCs and 10-pound portable projectors, taking instruction on the road becomes a much less daunting task.
Additional Resources:
Barnes, Katie. "Flat-out Amazing." PC/Computing (May 1999):103.
Breeden III, John, Jason Byrne, Donavan Campbell, Michael Cheek. "Ease of Use and Quality of Images Were Key Factors in Rating Portable Projectors". Government Computer News (May 10, 1999):25.
Dvorak, Katharine. "Powerful, Sleek LCD Monitors to Dress Up Your Desk." PC World (October 2000):92.
Jantz, Richard. "Ultraportable Projectors: Downsizing That Doesn't Hurt." PC World (April 1999): 102.
Kay, Russell. "A First Peek at the Newest Windows. . ." [Windows CE]. Computerworld (March 20, 2000):72.
Krasne, Alexandra. "Microsoft Windows CE, Take 3: More Beauty, Same Beast." _PC World _ (June 2000):72
"LCD Monitors" PC Magazine (May 8, 2000) http://www8.zdnet.com/pcmag/features/lcdprojectors/_open.htm
MicroWarehouse, Inc. http://www.warehouse.com
MicroWarehouse -- Handheld Computers http://www2.warehouse.com/dept_find.asp?dept%5Fid=2612&sel=PDA&cat=pc
Mobile Planet. http://www.mobileplanet.com
Mobile Planet -- Windows CE and Pocket PC Devices http://www.mobileplanet.com/cecentral/dept.asp?cat%5Fid=201&cat%5F name=Windows+CE+and+Pocket+PC+Devices
Poor, Alfred. "LCD Monitors Go to Work." PC Magazine (May 23, 2000):183. http://www8.zdnet.com/pcmag/stories/reviews/0,6755,2558511,00.html
Poor, Alfred. "LCD Monitors Near Perfection." PC Magazine (March 7, 2000):50.
Poor, Alfred. "LCD Monitors: Crisp...Thin...But Cheap Enough?" PC Magazine (April 20, 1999):127. http://www8.zdnet.com/pcmag/stories/reviews/0,6755,2235569,00.html
"Portable Projectors". PC Magazine Online http://www.zdnet.com/pcmag/features/projectors/
"Portable Projectors: Summary of Details". PC Magazine Online . http://www.zdnet.com/pcmag/features/projectors/features.html
Strom, David. "Take Your Show on the Road." Computerworld (June 14, 2000):NA
"Universal Serial Bus (USB)." http://usb.org
"Universal Serial Bus (USB) FAQ." http://usb.org/faq.html
Windows CE. http://www.microsoft.com/catalog/display.asp?subid=22&site=120&x=30&y=7
As always, send questions and comments to:
Snail Mail: Tech Talk Billie Peterson Moody Memorial Library P. O. Box 97143 Waco, TX 76798-7143 E-Mail: Billie_Peterson@baylor.edu
LIRT News, December 2000. Volume 23, number 2.
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