The Digital Microscope is designed and made by SONY.  The TechnoLOOK allows for the user to save the images to a memory stick so the images can be reviewed at later time.  The price and the technology itself can be obtained at http://www.caltexsci.com/digital_microscope.htm .  The Digital Microscope would be easier and more effective for students to study sciences that require the use of a microscope. 

 KidPad is a program that promotes students to work together while enabling them to create a story with visuals.  It provides basic drawing functionability on a zooming canvas enabled by Jazz.  The program was developed by Juan Pablo Hourcade, Ben Benderson, Gustav Taxen and Allison Druin at the University of Maryland.  There are three major goals to the KidPad;

1) Develop tools that support visual and verbal literacy. 

2) Support collaborative learning experiences for children.  Activities such as creating the color orange requires more than one student.  Therefore two students would have to work together and color with red and yellow at the same time to create the desired result-orange.

3)Provide expressive storytelling tools for young children.  Children can naturally create non-linear stories than linear stories.  The KidPad program gives students the opportunity to utilize what already comes naturally to the while developing linear skills. 

KidPad can be downloaded for non-commercial use free of charge at http://www.cs.umd.edu/hcil/kiddesign/kidpad.shtml

http://www.directron.com/cyberpad.html. 

Adesso has came out with a new CyberPad Digital Notepad that intergrates the familiarity of pen-on-paper feel.  The way it works is you insert the paper on top of the pad and then use the inking pen to write directly on the paper.  This means you have the hard copy (your notebook paper) and the handwritten notes are also captured and stored in the built in or optional card memory slot of the CyberPad!  With this students wouldn’t have to carry around several different binder and notbooks to take notes.  It would be especially handy for notes during guest speakers and lectures.  This new tool is still a little high with the price of $149.99. 

With all of the fears about a flu epidemic one would think there would be talk about precautions in the school room.  One such precation could be the foldable, illuminated keyboard by Adesso.  The keyboard is lightweight and hermetically sealed and can be “immersed in any common disinfectant to eliminate the collection of harmful agents as well as prolong the life of the keyboard itself”. The keyboards could easily be disinfected in schools so that germs could easily be killed before they could be transferred from one student to another.  Grant it this will not eliminate colds, flu, pink eye, ect; but it will help keep students healthy and able to attend class.  The keyboards would be especially useful in science labs where students are working with chemicals and such while entering data into computers. The price is very reasonable at $29.99.

http://www.networkworld.com/cgi-bin/mailto/x.cgi

The docupen has came a long way in it’s little bit of time in existance.  The newest breakthrough is the DocuPen RC800 that is capable of full color 24 bit scanning and quickly scan and store hundreds of pages into memory.  The DocuPen RC800 is especially unique in its ability to scan full page width.  This makes information easier to load to computers and to study.  With a docupen students and teachers could go into a library and quickly scan important information needed for research rather than have to remain in the library for hours or check out numerous books.  This practice would encourage students to use more than internet resources.  This useful tool currently is priced at  $299.99.   http://planon.com/docupen_rc800.php

Features:
Battery Operated for Full Portability Purposes.

Can Store 100’s Pages into Memory
Scan a Full Page Width Including Text & Graphics in as little as 4 seconds
Scansoft PaperPort SE-PC Software Included OCR Capability

Benefits:
- Scan and Save Documents You Need Anywhere, Anytime
- Upgradeable memory slot for increased storage of document scans

Now Scan- photos, magazines, passports or other picture ID, reciepts, literature, contracts….virtually anything!

DocuPen RC800 Features:
- Rechargeable lithium-Ion Batteries
- The DocuPen RC800 uses rechargeable lithium-ion batteries that allows it to remain perpetually charged without utilizing a separate charging unit. Once a user plugs the DocuPen RC800 into a computer’s USB port to download the scanned information, the scanner’s batteries are automatically recharged
- Expandable MicroSD memory slot
- Dual Roller Guiding System The DocuPen RC800 offers a dual-roller guiding system to enhance the user experience by creating a smoother scanning operation and a more accurate scan. The dual-roller guiding system includes strategically placed rollers around the scanner lens to distribute operator’s pressure evenly for smooth and easy scans.
- Optical Registration
- ScanSoft PaperPort SE-PC Software Included
- Stylish zippered sheep skin Leather Case Included
- Using optical registration technology, the DocuPen RC800 can create a highly accurate scan using its optical timing and registration system.

http://www.turningtechnologies.com/

Turning Point is a new twist to the standard classroom PowerPoint Presentation by turining the presentation that is interactive and capitivating to students. Teachers can display questions, surveys, opinion polls and games that allow every student in the class to select a response by using their ResponseCard keypads (”clickers”) and transmit the data immediately to the presentation.  TurningPoint delivers immediate interactive response functionality to students and teachers. With TurningPoint, teachers can evaluate the collective understanding of the entire class and track individual student learning at the point of instruction. Use TurningPoint for participation points, graded tests, and even state standards performance tracking . Reports are available to meet virtually all classroom needs from individual student participation scores to classroom results. TurningPoint’s unique design allows it to seamlessly operate with the leading hardware products, education content solutions like ExamView and Glencoe/McGraw Hill, and other standard productivity tools like Word, Excel, Blackboard, and WebCT. So basically, a students or classroom of students will be able to interact with a powerpoint rather than sit there listening as they struggle to stay awake.  For prices call the customer service toll free at: 1-866-746-3015

 Educator’s of any grade level now have the technology to keep students more alert and active in the classroom.This magic wand comes in the form of a wireless remote looking device known as Beyond Question. Pressing any button allows the student to instantly communicate with the teacher’s computer. With this device each student can simutanlsly answer multiple choice, true-false,yes-no and survey style questions. Once the students have answered the results can be displayed for both the teacher and students to see.  The techer will then have a better idea on whether or not the information should be reviewed. Student’s confidence is raised with correct answers and mistakes can quickly be corrected. Beyond Question can also be used to create a rooster, develop lesson plans, presentations among other functions. The price ranges from $995.00 for the base package (classroom of twenty) to $3595.00 for the large lecture set (100 student remotes.  Personally I think the price is reasonable and worth the interactivity it provides to the students.

http://www.smartroom.com

http://www.smartroom.com

http://www.smartroom.com

 Electronic Copyboards

http://www.electronicwhiteboardswarehouse.com/electronic_copyboards.htm

 This technology is pricey but awesome!!!!  The electronic white board looks like the average white board.  However, with this board a person can save, e-mail, or print (in black & white or color) the information written on the board.  This is done through a built in memory card function that allows you to scan and save your written notes in PNG image format or the information can be saved to a removable compact flashcard.  This new technology allows an audience to concentrate on the lecture rather than taking notes.  What makes it even better is this board is light weight enough for one person to carry it from room to room. The price tag ranges from $995.00 to $1859.00. The size, capabilites and whether you choose color or black & white effects the price. If and when I could afford an electronic copy board, I would definalty incorporate it into my classroom.