Augmented Reality and Its Applications for Education

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

Augmented Reality (AR) has had a tremendous impact on education during the past few years. 

It started out as something really “cool” before developing into one of the most useful resources available for learners. 

What Exactly is Augmented Reality? 

Augmented Reality, which is also known as AR can simply be defined as the process of viewing or scanning a trigger image through a mobile device. This process would give life to a subsequent action. This action can be another image, a video, QR code, 3D animations, games or whatever you want it to be. Even a GIF image can be considered as an AR in action.

The Impact of Augmented Reality on Education

Imagine that you are a student who is sitting in a history class. The lesson you are going to learn is about Egyptian Temples. Augmented Reality has the potential to create a realistic 3D environment of the temple and you will be able to learn it in more of an interactive and appealing way without even leaving the classroom. You can view every corner of the temple and get a clear view of it. That’s the beauty of AR.

Augmented Reality can be used in education via many different methods. These include:

• Virtual Reality

Even though Virtual Reality mainly focuses on games, it can be used effectively in training and education as well. The immersive learning experience delivered by Virtual Reality has contributed a lot towards its popularity. A 3D immersive environment or a 360 degree video shot becomes useful when teaching new languages for students. A large number of learners will be able to get connected to the same virtual space as well which is particularly useful at a time of globalization and increased connectivity between countries via the internet.

• Virtual Reality Glasses

Virtual Reality glasses have also received a lot of attention in the recent past. More specifically, they have become particularly popular among students who are looking for a convenient method to learn marine biology. That’s because virtual glasses are in a position to immerse the students in a seabed environment and help them learn in an effective manner. This method of teaching is not associated with print books. A tablet is being provided to the student by the teacher and the student is asked to follow what appears on the screen. The students can then simply ask what animals are invertebrates and what vertebrates are. Then the students are asked to point them out by having a look. At the end of the lesson, the teacher would be able to know who has got it right and who has not.

• 3D Objects and Motion Capture

Offering training on 3D objects is not an easy thing to do. People who learn about these objects will not be able to get a clear understanding until they interact with the objects. That’s where 3D Objects and Motion Capture comes into play. This method is based on motion capture technology where the students will be asked to reposition the 3D objects that they see.

• Virtual Learning Environments

Virtual Learning Environments involve a platform where students and teachers can come together and collaborate with each other through an intranet. Teachers can use this network in order to create and send homework for their students. In addition, students can complete the assignments and submit them over the network themselves. In this way it is possible for the teachers to have the homework submitted and gathered in an organized manner, as well as being able to access useful statistics at the end of the day. Virtual Learning Environments have changed how traditional class sessions are managed and are thought of as a revolutionary way of e-learning.

Feedback and Monitoring Through Augmented Reality

Feedback and monitoring holds a prominent place in the education system. Otherwise, teachers will not be able to figure out whether they reach the educational objectives or not. Augmented reality creates an ideal platform to achieve this traceability. For example, the teachers will be able to get a clear understanding of what content is mostly viewed by the students and what assignments are completed by them. This type of information can be used in order to make important decisions respective to the students’ learning styles and performance.

Here is a list of some useful applications based on Augmented Reality, which can be used to enhance the quality of education:

1. HP Reveal (formerly Aurasma)

One of the most popular applications allowing to bring tagged images, objects and even physical locations to life. Using interactive digital content like video, animations and 3D scenes named Auras, Aurasma unfolds the amazing world of Augmented Reality with the ‘explore’ and ‘featured’ sections to retrieve the latest Auras. This app has been widely used in education since it allows the teacher and student to create their own interactive content. School displays come to life with this great tool!

2. Spacecraft 3D

This remarkable app created by NASA themselves and recently upgraded, as the name probably gives away, is more closely related to science or space teaching. Once you download Spacecraft 3D and print off the ‘markers’, it is possible to use your iPad’s camera to make a three dimensional spacecraft appear right before your eyes. There is also the option of taking a closer look to the structure of Rovers, Satellites and Telescopes while also looking at all angles of the technology since there are moveable parts on some of the crafts. These features can be quite engaging for children yet the app allows also to single handily bring a research lesson to life. Based on the content this app can be used in particular for students aged Key Stage 2 and 3.

3. Butterfly Fingers

Butterfly Fingers is one app that makes use of the Augmented Reality in combination with SEN. What the app does is that it places animated butterflies in the room while you look through the iPad’s camera. You might be stunned but this fluttering of butterflies can create a calming environment in the classroom especially when you have a very vivid student population. Importantly, the app does not require to be excellent in fine motor skills so it can be useful with children with special educational needs and all age groups.

4. Quiver

Whilst for many applications using AR, the user basically points the tablet’s camera at something and watch the effect, there is nothing physical about the endeavour. In contrast, Quiver is a fantastic app which allows you to physically customize the Augmented Reality object using coloring pages as triggers, and this video shows it in action. The way to do this is simply by downloading and print off markers which you can color and redesign yourself. Once the child (or adult) draws a picture and sketches its parts, pointing at the colored image using the tablet turns it into a three dimensional animation with moveable parts. There different markers, all enabling for creative and imaginative artistic learning. For example, the app can help a child visualize a character and stimulate more ideas for scripts, storyboards etc. 

5. AR Flashcards – Animals Alphabet

One extremely favourable app is AR Flashcards. The app is rather simple: there is a card for each letter of the alphabet, featuring one animated animal for every letter. You therefore realize that immediately the app allow you to play with twenty six Augmented Reality animals. There are more exciting stuff to do though, like using a huge number of dinosaur flashcards available for free. This creates endless educational potentials, ranging from phonics teaching and early language development, to topic-related learning such as using the dinosaurs which are pretty popular among children. Embedding these flashcards in your classroom teaching can therefore help with story writing, artistic endeavours, research projects and so much more!

6. Google Sky

A very interesting Augmented Reality app by the colossus focused on learning about astronomy in a fun and engaging way. Google Sky Map allows you to directly identify stars and constellations using a smartphone camera rather than through a book.

7. FETCH! Lunch Rush

A great educational game app to get elementary level kids to overcome their fear of Maths by learning, Fetch! Lunch Rush released by PBS KIDS uses printable cards as Augmented Reality pieces. Designed in 3D, the app uses the smartphone camera to place graphics in real-world surroundings. Specifically, there is a plot in the game where students help Ruff the Dog feed sushi to a movie crew by solving math problems. 

8. GeoGoogle

GeoGoogle is awesome when it comes to expanding students’ geography skills and help them measure distances to specific destinations, like latitude and longtitude by applying GeoGoogle to real-world surroundings. 

9. AugThat

One former teacher developed AugThat specifically targeting students that are not motivated to follow the classroom routine. Using the app's features, it is possible to create animated lessons in a variety of topics to engage students, including 360-degree virtual environments and 3-dimensional experiences.

10. Elements 4D

One of the most quality apps created by DAQRI, a powerful AR developer, is the application Elements 4D. As the name implies, this app brings elements of the periodic table to life to allow students of elementary, middle and high school level, see chemistry in action. The app work by printing out and assembling blocks that are used as trigger images for an AR experience. There are also lesson plans available for integrating Elements 4D at the DAQRI's website.

11. 4D Anatomy

Another amazing app by DAQRI, Anatomy 4D, allows teachers to design their own anatomy lessons by allows to view 3D images of the human body and heart. The app works by having teachers print off one of the target images and have students look at it through the app. This way they can learn about the different biological systems and bring the human body to life in a fascinating way, turning them "on" and "off" with the touch of a button.

12. Layar

This application employs Augmented Reality features to scanned print materials to enable a rich digital experience. Some of the app’s characteristics include seeing magazines come to life with videos on top of pages, browsing and viewing thousands of Geo Layers to find nearby stuff, enjoying interactice print with pop our content, and sharing your interactive print experiences without having to scan. Layar is thus one great app for use on a variety of learning projects. 

These are only a few Augmented Reality applications that are related to education. You can find a variety of similar applications that have taken the entire education system to a whole new level. Given this increased interest in Augmented Reality in the field of educational technology and technology enhanced learning, substantial empirical research has taken place in the past two decades to determine how this technology meaningfully engages students. 

Conclusion

The existing evidence so far suggests a variety of benefits from using Augmented Reality and similar immersive experiences during the lesson. More research however is needed before a conclusive argument is made, and what is certain, is that the use of Augmented Reality for educational purposes, like any other trending method, should be accompanied by a solid theoretical background while also addressing the individual needs of the particular classroom at hand.

READ THIS NOW: The Potential of Blended Learning for Steering Education

Did you find this article interesting? Don’t forget to drop your feedback in the comments section below. Thank you for reading!

*by andreascy*

How Mobile Technology Has Enhanced Everyday Life

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

It won't be long before there will be an entire generation of adults who won't remember that there was a time when you couldn't snap a picture while listening to music and texting with a friend. Back then, it would take three devices to do all that. Your GPS would be another device and your handheld gaming system yet another. Watching a movie on a phone? That sounded like something straight out of sci-fi. 

Fast forward to today and you can stream your favorite show on your mobile device, keep an eye on your puppy while you're at the office with a tablet, and start a load of laundry from across the globe using your smartphone. 

It's pretty clear that mobile technology is one of the reasons this planet of ours feels smaller every day. Connectivity refers no longer to the person to person virtue but rather to the relationship between our mobile devices and the world around us. More and more, we are interacting with our loved ones, our homes, our workplaces and our stuff via mobile devices loaded with apps. 

The Internet of everything is an evolving concept but mobile technology is already making our lives better in myriad ways. Here are just a few examples:

Taking Care of Yourself

Beyond Fitbit, consumer health monitors and lifetrackers abound – almost all of which rely on apps to store and analyze data. But even without wearables, taking care of your physical and even your mental health has never been easier. 

Smartphones often come equipped with heart rate monitors and pedometers, and mood charting apps like Optimism are promoting healthier habits among their users.

Self-love also means treating yourself to the things you enjoy, whether that’s enjoying a nice night in with a bath bomb and some binge-watching, or using that promotion bonus towards a new smartphone. 

There are also plenty of great ways that technology can help us relax and de-stress, such as giving us access to our favorite songs and movies with streaming services like T-Mobile’s BingeOn and Music Freedom. 

Taking Care of Your Home

Thanks to fully integrated and DIY smart home systems that synch up with mobile devices, it's never been easier to stay on top of all of the tasks most adults are responsible for. Even better, affordable smart home components are becoming more common. There are now smart fridge and freezer combos that will send alerts to your phone when you're running low on staples like eggs and milk. And that's not all!

There are deadbolts that can only be unlocked via an app. TCP's Connected lighting system is a budget-friendly starter kit for those who want to see what smart homes are all about. According to Berg Insights, the market for smart home accessories is only going to get bigger and the accessories themselves are bound to get smarter. 

Keeping an Eye on Who You Love

Pixies Scientific has created a smart diaper that synchs with an app. There are apps that let you track your pet's activity levels and behaviors while you're at work. Baby monitors and trackers that send data to worried parents' phones are starting to look like they wouldn't be out of place in a modern NICU. And nowadays with a tablet and a few pieces of add on hardware you can create your own security system from scratch. 

Paying for What You Want

Apple Pay and Samsung Pay are just the beginning of the mobile payment revolution that will see the US become a cashless society. 

With Samsung Pay in particular you don't even need to shop at stores that have NFC-enabled terminals. Your phone is all you need because of Samsung's pioneering technology that mimics a credit card swipe. And when you can settle the tab with a wave of your phone, it won't matter that you forgot your wallet at home. 

Getting Things Done

Whether the always-on state of modern work is actually good for employees isn't clear but there's something to be said for having the ability to do research, take notes, dial into meetings and clear out your inbox when you actually feel like doing it. Today's smartphones are simply computers in miniature, which means the keys to a truly productive day are always in our pockets. 

Living Cleanly and Comfortably 

Simply living is better thanks to mobile technology and the devices controlled by it. If you wish, you can have a wakeup call that has been carefully calibrated to match your sleep patterns. Via an app on your phone, your smart car can remind you that it's time for its next round of regular maintenance. There are smart flowerpots connected to mobile apps that let caretakers know when houseplants get thirsty. And smart kettles can inquire via text message whether you'd like a cup of tea ready for you when you arrive home. 

Conclusion

There are still some limitations to how much mobile tech can do in our lives and bugs that will need to be worked out. But right now there are so many ways mobile devices, apps and the gadgets controlled by them are making the modern world cooler and more comfortable. It's abundantly clear: our phones are getting smarter and we're reaping the rewards.

RELATED: 10 Gadgets that Will Make your Life so Much Easier

I’d love to hear from you in the comments!

*by andreascy*

The Potential of Blended Learning for Steering Education

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description: 

Think about all of the ways that technology has influenced and infiltrated nearly every aspect of your life. Paying by check? You can do that online or just with your phone. Making a reservation at a restaurant? No need to call - an app will do it for you. Want to turn off the lights and lock your door? Your smart devices can help connect you.

That technological influence extends to our learning environments, too. Classrooms have undergone a centuries-long change that’s only been speed up with the advent of technology. What used to be one-room schoolhouses in the late 1800s are now redesigned spaces which invite students and teachers to engage in learning using tablets, whiteboards, and more.

One of the most prominent ways in which technology is changing classrooms is through impact on what we think of as the traditional learning environment. One classroom with one teacher standing in front of multiple students as an authoritative figure has given way to a concept known as blended learning. The latter is an instructional approach that capitalizes on the best of both worlds - education and tech. 

Blended learning, is a learning trend driving education which in some form, is currently available in nearly every state. In a nutshell, this strategy or approach to teaching and learning involves the student learning through at least partial online delivery of content. In this sense, it offers both traditional instruction - a teacher in front of students - and digital or online content that’s accessible at any time. 

The conceptualizations behind blended learning adhere to the notion that students are not uniform, and learning shouldn’t be either. Based on learning theories such as Gardner’s on multiple intelligences, and multiliteracies pedagogy, it is considered that students have different learning styles and come for culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds which should be taken into consideration when planning a lesson. In this respect, it is suggested that enhancing students’ learning through digital content can be a personalized response to students’ needs and desires, allowing them to learn at their own pace through means that are relevant to their lives.

In relation to the different strategies for undertaking a blended learning approach, six models have been proposed for its implementation: Face-to-Face Driver Model, Rotation Model, Flex Model, Online Lab Model, Self-Blend Model and Online Driver Model. More recently, other alternative blended learning models have been brought to the surface of educational cycles: 

a) The traditional brick-and-mortar blended learning model:

An approach where the instructor uses online platforms to add resources, assign and gather homework, as well as encourage online discussions and other asynchronous learning activities beyond classroom hours

b) The hybrid learning model:

Students attend live events physically or online (for example webinars) while also work in virtual online environments. There could be an arranged schedule where some days students attend the class and others are optional however students must attend online.

c) The flipped learning model:

Teachers and other instructors record their online lectures and students are obliged to watch them before class. During the lesson, they can work on different tasks and in this sense the teacher has more time to work with challenging topics and addresses students’ difficulties. 

Regardless of which type of blended learning model one chooses to adopt, there are certain misconceptions and considerations needed to be addressed. For instance, people often assume that blended learning equals all education online, but that isn’t true. It might be that the focus is on a technology rich environment, nevertheless, there is ‘hands on’ learning. In addition, unlike it is commonly believed, in blended learning students do not work individually only. The can undertake projects in groups with their peers to produce collaborative work online.

Furthermore, blended learning in contrast to the myth that it requires less work than traditional face to face instruction, doesn’t cut down on the amount of work that needs to be done by either students or educators. In fact, both sides may need to work at a more systematic basis. Instructors still need to prepare and students still need to do the work. But blended learning allows those learners to engage with information more frequently in order to fully grasp concepts that may have been more difficult with just one go-round.

Based on these characteristics of blended learning, in summary, the advantages from engaging in such practice have been identified as being:

- The meaningful combination of interactive face to face instruction and digital content through a differentiated personalized based teaching approach

- The use of digitally mediated content such as digital storytelling that has been found to motivate students’ interest and increase students’ learning and affective outcomes

- Access to the instruction such as an online session many times, with stops and pauses to the discretion of the learner.

- Researchers and practitioners suggest that blended learning can encourage students to continue learning outside the classroom. It can expand beyond the traditional school walls to connect with students’ lives.

- Blended learning can maximize the potential for acquiring 21st century skills.

Despite the promising features of this approach, the excitement about the possibilities of blended learning and the ways that technology can better prepare our students and assist our educators needs to be tempered with some serious questions about the process. It’s not a match for every person or every situation. Students need to know what the physical, in-class requirements are, and instructors need to be upfront and proactive about their availability and roles through digital means. 

For instance, the technology that’s a given in a traditional classroom may not be available in each student’s home, which can impact learning and pacing. Students and instructors must have a shared understanding about assignments and work - what files are usable and which are not. And there should be practice and testing so that everyone understands the accessibility and usability of that particular online environment.

Whilst there is no fixed recipe for meaningful teaching and learning instruction, it appears that technology enhanced learning is the present and future of 21st century education. Blended learning could be a flexible and dynamic approach through the meaningful engagement with technology. 

Whatever the end result, it’s important to understand how blended learning cannot guarantee success. It requires commitment on behalf of the educator and careful use of digital means. And therefore it is important to be aware of its different aspects. This graphic is a good place to start.

Source: Quill.com

Conclusively, it appears that exciting times lay ahead for educators and students all together. Now, more than ever, we are in a position to offer the most engaging form of education that will empower students as dynamic and active learners. Blended learning, as it is proposed in this article, is one powerful approach which could change the education game and will be around for many years to come.

READ NEXT: 8 Ways Digital Storytelling Transforms Learning in 21st Century Education: The Research Evidence

I’m all eyes and ears for your comments.

*by andreascy*

6 Learning Trends Driving Education in a Post-Pandemic Scenario

Posted by Dr Stephania Savva

Description :

Following the surge of the Covid19 pandemic around the globe and with the new school year kicking off in September, the talk around the current and future educational landscape globally is resurfacing once more. Here we have compiled the top 6 learning trends driving education in a post-pandemic scenario and beyond. 

The constantly evolving learning demands and needs of a globalized new millennium challenge the teaching practices and strategies for researchers, policy makers and educators; the mission is to reinvent schools for the 21st century. Working within these realizations, several learning trends for education have emerged in the past few years in an attempt to re-conceptualize education. 

Most of these trends are based in the belief that schooling in the 21st century should be connected to real life experiences, becoming meaningful and relevant for students. In this perspective, students as learners are actively engaged in collaborative project-based learning processes integrated in a curriculum that derives from students’ interests, experiences, talents and diverse skills. The learning trends identified below address these understandings and lead the wind of change in education for the years to come.

1. Blended Learning

One of the buzzwords in the educational community worldwide now is blended learning. The term refers to an instructional strategy where the student learns through at least partly online delivery of instruction and content. Teaching within a blended learning environment implies that there are elements of student control over time, place, path and/or pace. There have been six models identified as characteristic of blended learning: Face-to-Face Driver Model, Rotation Model, Flex Model, Online Lab Model, Self-Blend Model and Online Driver Model. The beneficial attributes of any of these models of blended learning are found in the potential to address students’ needs and variant learning styles through differentiated instruction. Such an approach to teaching allows for teachers to make decisions regarding their teaching strategies that will result in better student performance.

2. Game Based Learning

Another trend in education nowadays is game based learning (GBL), which has been cited as a revolutionized way of utilizing games for learning purposes. In particular, GBL is a teaching approach where students undertake work in a game based learning context often in a virtual environment designed by teachers. The intention is for teachers and students to be immersed in the game, collaborate and take action towards a particular learning goal. The aim is to make learning fun, liven up the classroom by engaging and motivating the students. As this is a growing field with increasing interest, the video game industry should consider pairing with researchers to create games that could be employed by formal learning institutions and align with goals of the curriculum. Theorists stress that there is still a need for developing new technology that supports specific pedagogical functions (e.g. group regulation or project management) for schooling in the postmodern era. What we should be aware however is to find a balance between technological or technical aspects and teaching/learning processes.

3. Maker Education

Student work has been taken to a whole new level with the introduction and gradual implementation of maker education or maker movement in schools, a trend starting from the US. An evolution of experiential learning and hands on learning which has been around for more than half a century, the maker education is an approach that adopts a culture of learning by doing which utilizes current and emerging technological tools such as 3D printing, wearable computing, robotics, and coding tools to drive creativity. The intention is to create makerspaces in classrooms where students are given the expressive freedom and digital tools to invent, build and share their work during the learning process allowing for their talents to nourish. 

4. Deeper Learning

Deeper learning is part of a developing movement in the US for education that emphasizes on the knowledge that students need to successfully engage in 21st century jobs and civic life. The term refers to a set of student educational outcomes that stem from a set of core competencies, which allow for students to develop higher order skills and metacognitive understandings. Such an example of a teaching and learning approach to schooling acknowledges students’ multiple and diverse identities, experiences and capabilities while also equipping them to become the flexible and critical learners required in our contemporary societies. Even these students, who have been characterized as multimodally literate (Davies 2006) or digital natives (Prensky 2001), are not ‘per se’ capable to critical reflect and make advanced cognitive processes in their everyday activities. Using the deeper learning theory could empower students’ critical awareness of and uptake of learning tasks.

5. Design Thinking

Design thinking is an emerging trend for education that seems promising in relation to other approaches such as the maker education movement. Stemming from product design processes, design thinking refers to a creative process where you employ problem solving to reach to meaningful solutions in the classroom, school or community. Environments such as schools that implement design thinking use it as a basis for teaching different subjects through workshops where students become design thinkers by engaging in problem solving, brainstorming and other activities that aim to bring solution to real life situations. At the core of this learning approach is the intention to empower students to feel confident to create for solving realistic problems.

6. Technology Enhanced Learning 

Technology has taken the education world by storm in recent years. Technology enhanced learning is an umbrella term used to describe the use and implementation of technological tools such as smartphones and mobile devices including touchscreen and tablet computers for learning, also known as educational technology. The impact of using mobile digital technologies for example through adoption of BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) movement has altered the learning experience for students. Regardless of their background and interests, students nowadays seem to engage in learning more easily when interacting with these devices while they seem relevant to their daily lives where exposure to technology is constant. The interest in educational technology through technology enhanced learning will continue to grow in the coming years. This is driven by the calls for personalized learning and how to encourage a technologically and digitally diverse learning experience which empowers our students. 

The learning trends mentioned in this article are gradually implemented in mainstream education worldwide. The premise is that a more systematic implementation of the above learning theories and practices could transform education for the 21st century.

Hope you found this article interesting, please feel free to let us know your suggestions and what more you would like to see from us. Have a great day!

Top 5 Things Every Mobile Gamer Must Have

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

With phones and tablets edging ever closer to sixth gen console quality, it's not surprising that mobile devices have become many people's go-to gaming machines. High-end graphics are only one piece of the puzzle, though. Better-quality audio, boosted speed and enhanced touch-screen responsiveness have all contributed to mobile's rise in the gaming sphere. A sphere, it should be noted, that will likely be worth $100 billion by 2017 with a majority of those dollars devoted to mobile gaming.

Gamer is quickly coming to mean something very different than it did once upon a time, thanks to changing demographics (women are now the largest video game playing group) and a flood of all-ages titles. But even players who gravitate toward Monument Valley versus titles like Mirror's Edge can appreciate the need for externals. To make mobile your main gaming machine, it helps to have these five things:

1. The Right Device 

Many of today's mobile games have been designed to make use of multiple cores, so a device with a quad- or dual-core processor is a must. More importantly, a device with a quad- or dual-core processor can “future proof” your phone or tablet, i.e., ensure that it can play the new and better games of tomorrow. Multiple cores enhance a device's ability to deliver the kind of impeccable graphics, speed and sound that serious gamers expect and even casuals want. 

2. An External Controller 

Phones and tablets put amazing games into your pocket for anywhere play, but the feel of touch screen controls can leave a lot to be desired. The MOGA Pocket Controller is a serious win for gamers who love the feel of physical buttons and a real steal at about $30. That includes the controller (which looks like it came out of an Xbox One box), a case, tablet stand and the MOGA pivot app with its library of games like GTA and Call of Duty. Thanks to a comfortable rubberized grip and ergonomic wire-free design, mobile gaming sessions can go longer. 

3. A Scaled-Down Sound Solution 

Patching into your wireless sound system is a fine way to overcome the limitations of tiny phone speakers at home but out and about tinny audio is the norm. Or was. The Mini Jambox is incredibly portable at just 6″ x 1″ by 2.3″ and 9 ounces, and the acoustic drivers and bass radiator provide audio that proves that bigger isn't necessarily better. 

4. Longer Game Play 

Big time mobile gamers know that even the baddest batteries can't stand up to a serious session, which means a battery backup solution is essential. The Evio PB108 Power Bank will keep you up and running, which is especially important when you're playing through titles that take time. The 10,500mAh battery takes a while to charge up but once it's good to go, so are you.

5. Something Fun 

Don't let the overuse of the word serious fool you – games are still for playing and at least some of your accessories should reflect that! The Impulse Controller is a wireless mini gamepad with real physical buttons that clips on to your keychain. It's also a great way to find your lost keys, a camera trigger (goodbye, Selfie Stick) and a digital media controller that's compatible with virtually any device. There's also the Joystick-IT Arcade Stick – self sticking joysticks that attach to any touchscreen to give players that old school gaming experience.

YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN: Game-Changing Reasons Why Parents Can Say Yes to Video Games 

There is always going to be a place for consoles in the gaming world. But as the mobile experience becomes richer and more satisfying thanks to must-haves like these, chances are good that place will grow ever smaller.

*by andreascy*

Making BYOD Work For Your Company

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

Many businesses are getting in tune with the digital age, and one of the ways they are doing it is by adopting a bring your own device (BYOD) policy for employees. 

It is a process that has been somewhat slow to be fully adopted by businesses for a few reasons. First, many employers are hesitant to let their employees store private company documents on their own devices for fear that the privacy is compromised. Also, if certain business applications and log ins are used on the employee devices, and the employee leaves to go work for a rival company, they can still view and log in to those applications. 

Through mobile device management (MDM), your business can take the necessary steps in making sure that it will not get burned by instituting a BYOD policy. In fact, the two go hand in hand. In order to execute a safe BYOD policy, companies also need to employ an MDM strategy. Mobile communication companies like BlackBerry have been offering MDM solutions for several years. As the BYOD and MDM trend continue to gain interest, services are becoming even more readily available.

Since BYOD policies are gaining much attention, companies are starting to realize the importance of some of the benefits, such as saving money on hardware, reserving IT resources and creating employee satisfaction. Companies still have to be careful when implementing a BYOD policy because no two companies are identical, so your approach should be tailored. 

Here are a few management best practices to help make BYOD work for your company:

• It is important, first and foremost, to have your employees agree to all levels of a BYOD policy, and do it in writing. This will help all parties maintain a smooth working relationship within the BYOD policy.

• The policy should be clear on what happens if the device is lost or stolen. Companies have the capability to wipe out all of the data associated with their private documents to prevent unauthorized access. 

• Business documents and personal documents need to be divided from each other. This can be done through good application management and programming.

• The policy also needs to clearly state that the devices be compliant with laws and regulations specific to the company’s industry. For example, if you work in government, you need to make sure that by having a BYOD policy, you aren’t violating any legal or confidentiality policies.

• There needs to be a policy about what to do with the device if an employee is terminated for any reason. People change jobs all the time, and you’d hate for them to be able to access all of your company documents after their time there is done, especially if they move on to work for a rival company.

• Lastly, your BYOD policy needs to clearly state that each employee needs to follow specific security guidelines. All personal devices used in a BYOD policy must be secure so as they cannot be exposed to malware, viruses, hacks or any other security breach.

RECOMMENDED: BYOD in Call Centers: Innovation or Disaster?

Since there isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to a BYOD policy, there is definitely a way to cater it so it works for your company. 

*by andreascy*

Game-Changing Reasons Why Parents Can Say Yes to Video Games

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

The iPad just recently celebrated its fourth birthday. In this relatively short amount of time, the tablet evolved from a mobile computer into an e-Reader, small business tool — and yes, babysitter. Kids and toddlers completely enthralled by playing video games on the iPad isn't a cultural or parenting rarity these days. 

Generally, observing young children tuned out to the world, whether at home or in public, provokes negative feelings that range from parental concern to outside judgment. Do gadgets and video games impede adolescent development? Can consuming digital media and gaming instead strengthen the brain and improve cognitive functioning? How much is too much?

Healthy Moderation

NPR also questioned the effects of digital media on children and asked: "Is that iPad help or harm?" Dr. Dimitri Chistakis — father, pediatrician and professor — approaches the contentious subject matter with neutrality. Christakis explains that pediatric research on how touchscreen devices affect children is limited because tablet technology is so new. Based on a compelling theoretical framework, Christakis still recommends that "judicious use of these touchscreen technologies is fine and may even be beneficial." Interactive play can foster essential learning and brain development, he adds. Parents and children can also engage in "joint attention" and play an online game together. Just as a parent would read a book with a child, a parent can play an online puzzle or word game with their little one as well.

Proof in the Numbers

I believe gaming is good for you. The following points highlight how gaming can change gamers for the better. 

• Kids who played Tetris for 30 minutes a day for three months had a thicker cortex compared to non-players. The cortex is the most highly developed part of the human brain that perceives, produces and understands language. Information processing, as well as critical thinking and reasoning, occur in the cortex. 

• Video games can improve early literacy, including letter recognition and story comprehension, for children ages 4 and 5. 

• More than 100 Fortune 500 companies (e.g. IBM and Cisco) use some form of gaming for employee training. 

Boosted Brainpower

Can playing video games really strengthen the mind and increase mental health? Cognitive neuroscientist Sandra Bond Chapman, Ph.D., tells Psychology Today that brain games in particular aren't harmful, but downtime from technology, even for just 30 minutes, produces better brain health. Also, enforce household regulations that help kids reduce digital multitasking. Constantly shifting attentions and responding to every single notification interrupts brain functioning. Multitasking overloads, fatigues and stresses the brain, which decreases mental efficiency. Overusing electronics impedes deep cognitive thinking. Therefore, make it your responsibility to monitor and manage technology use.

The upsides? According to scientists from Queen Mary University of London and University College London, various video games can help train the brain for increased agility and improve strategic thinking, reports ScienceDaily.com. The study was based on subjects who played the strategy game "StarCraft" and life simulation game "The Sims." Data pulled from the subjects' psychological tests showed those who played "StarCraft," as opposed to "The Sims," performed cognitive flexibility tasks more quickly and accurately. Dr. Brian Glass of Queen Mary's School of Biological and Chemical Sciences explains that strategy games improve the brain's "ability to think on the fly and learn from past mistakes." Cognitive flexibility also promotes creative problem solving and out-of-the-box thinking. Rest assured, with balance and management, you can feel confident that allowing your child to play games on the iPad isn't detrimental.

SEE ALSO: The Parents' Guide To Buying Video Games

Dear Friends and Fans, have a great week and remember: "Advertising makes the promise BUT it is your people who deliver it!". 

Keep visiting us! We have a better way! 😉

*by andreascy*

Use Video to Help Mobile Viewers Connect to Your Products & Services

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

Americans increasingly want content delivered directly into the palms of their hands. In the fourth quarter of 2013, U.S. mobile-data revenue jumped to $24.8 billion, according to Bloomberg Businessweek. That’s a 20 percent increase, which experts are attributing to the ongoing spike of people using smartphones, tablets and in-vehicle infotainment. Meanwhile, the Cisco Visual Networking Index reported that mobile data traffic grew 81 percent overall last year. 

These numbers are difficult to ignore. The technology is in place to provide users with clear, informative and creative video content—and now is the time to update how your business shares its stories on the mobile video platform.

Mobile Video Should Stand Alone

Most smartphones can view videos sent through mobile apps or via Web browsers through Flash technology. What you see on YouTube on your desktop is the same video you’d see on your phone or tablet, for example. However, from a marketing standpoint, mobile video ought to take into consideration the ultra-brevity of the medium and short attention span of the mobile user.

The Mobile Marketing Association lists 10 characteristics of a successful mobile marketing video campaign. The MMA suggests businesses start with a mobile perspective and work from there by connecting mobile video into a company’s primary site and landing pages.

Multi-screen connectivity is another priority. The MMA cites how many smartphone users juggle multiple devices at the same time, viewing a video on one while navigating the Web or an app on another. Understanding user habits from device to device will help tailor video for an iPad or an Android smartphone, knowing how video looks and feels in the different formats. Ask yourself if the video is fit for an app, or does it exist purely inside a website viewed through a mobile browser? There’s a different feel and the ease of navigation varies. So as you create a campaign, never forget to think like each specific type of mobile user.

Strengthen Your YouTube Presence

If your company doesn’t use YouTube, it’s time to launch a channel. There’s a lot to consider, though, before you attempt to tap into an audience that includes one billion unique viewers each month.

Brand messaging should be consistent with your company’s primary media. To reach the most viewers possible, video content needs to be posted regularly, so the audience grows familiar with seeing recurring features or brand messages. Sharing video links through social networks like Facebook and Twitter helps capture mobile viewers’ attention.

Optimizing videos on YouTube is also critical, especially if your company is new to video. The average user must be able to find it based on keywords related to your services or products.

Not every company has a team of videographers to produce original content, however. In this case, use stock video through Shutterstock or a similar service. You'll get colorful, inexpensive visuals to accompany your product descriptions or company stories, and these sites have footage for just about anything you could look for.

SEE ALSO: 5 Cool Things You Can Do With The Leading Video Editing Software Programs

With today’s media consumption habits, video helps spread messages. What ideas do you have? Let us know in the comments.

*by andreascy*