Follow-up of the ‘Gesture-based computing’ session

In my previous blog post I asked whether science fiction finds one’s way into our classrooms. Well, it seems the University in Potsdam already achieved this goal.

Todays online session was moderated by Claudia Bremer and the lecturer was Professor Ulrike Lucke from the University in Potsdam. Compliment and thanks to both – Great ‘women power’ 😉

Ulrike Lucke managed to break down the technical part to an easy understandable level. The whole presentation was interesting and entertaining. First, she sketched out the types of gesture, and briefly explained the technology behind and finally presented examples of what they already do in their department. I recommend watching the recording, which will be soon available. It is indeed fascinating what is already possible.

Ulrike Lucke also gave examples how gesture-based computing could be used to support people with disabilities. Having attended the OU course H810 ‘Accessible online learning: supporting disabled students’, I see here a great potential.

Yet, … Ulrike Lucke also admitted that the time-frame from 3 to 5 years given in the Horizon Report 2012 is far to optimistic for gesture-based computing. And that’s the crux of the matter. For the majority of educators, whether K-12 or higher education, gesture-based computing will stay science fiction, at least for the next couple years or centuries.

But talking future education – on the search for another appropriate picture I stumbled over The Guardian website Smart Class 2025. The results from the competiton between 7th grader revealed that:

“Schools of the future designed by today’s 11-year-olds will be built to the highest sustainable standards, and students’ comfort and wellbeing will be prioritized.”

I think its crucial to integrate the student’s perspective in all our planning, they have their own views how future classrooms should look like and what they expect to be thought and how to learn, as the video’s from 7th grader demonstrate. It may help schools find effective ways to integrate ICT into teaching and learning.

However, I find the statement from Bernadette Brooks, one of the judges very applicable not only for this weeks topic, but as well for the other topics from the Horizon report.

“It’s not the technology itself, but what the technology enables.”