A Question About iPads and other slate computersI have watched, with interest, the very rapid change in the world of technology that started with the iPad and has continued with products from a multitude of companies. Yesterday I looked at the Black Friday ads in my local newspaper and counted about twelve different brands. As an educator, I have thought a great deal about these new products and their introduction into schools around the country. I've also thought a lot about their use as assistive technology.
I have always believed that the best way to choose an AT solution for a child is to think about the features that the child needs in order to complete a task. For a while, slate computers baffled me because they have different features depending on the app that was chosen. I thought they were like computers and software. And in some ways they are. Each app offers different features and different options for those features. That part is like a computer.
Lately, though I've been trying to develop a different kind of feature list. I think that there are actually some features of iPads and other slates that make them uniquely qualified to meet the needs of some children. I want to share this list with you and see if you can help me add to it. My goal is to develop a list that can be used in feature matching that is specific to the device itself so that when there are questions or disagreements about what a child may need, we can use the list in an organized fashion to make AT decisions. I hope you'll help.
Here's my first try at creating a feature list for slate computers.
- Instant on
- Easy to learn
- Few steps to operate
- Immediate access to the information
- Ability to multi-task.
- Ability to switch between tasks quickly
- Lightweight
- Portable
- Small size
- Easy to start/stop/setup
- Engaging
- Consistent interface for all apps
What would you add to this list?
