xLearn lab & PSP

[McFly]

Have a look at this video by the xLearn lab: http://www.masie.com/xlearnlab/

Hey, why not use the PSP for device based learning, I'm sure the kids will be more interested even if it's not a game in there.

Fredi

 

[cthellis42]

That guy looks like my high school physics teacher... Damn, if HE likes it, I have to buy one, eh?

 

[PC-Engine]

I would think a device with touch input would be a much better interactive learning device. That video also sounds like a paid advertisement.

 

[cthellis42]

He's talking about it more as presentation as well. And for the most part even true "learning" software (depending on age bracket) doesn't require that much imput interaction. You tend to either play with menus, or go straight to needing a keyboard (where both the PSP and DS will fall short, though the DS less so).

Meanwhile, for most purposes it would work just fine, and the guy seems to be concentrating on the screen size, convenience, and various built-in media capabilities.

 

[PC-Engine]

Why not just use PDAs for a presentation device?

The guy's talking about wireless and GPS yaddayadda when PDA have all of that functionality along with touch input a long time ago. Sounds likes he's being paid to ignore other products.

 

[cthellis42]

...how about because PDA's don't come with anywhere near a comparable screen without paying $100+ more (Basically you need to get to the Tungsten T5 or iPAQ HX47xx models before you get there resolution-wise, and still not have the size or graphical capabilities), their sound is usually lacking as well, and you're paying for all sorts of capabilities you don't actually need?

Granted the guy sounds like a cheap infomercial, but we don't really know who he's talking to. For many people, they might want to stress the availability of a good-looking (both screen-wise and case design) machine that can present the material they want to as good as they can without spending a lot on each unit. There are really no other machines on the market right now that offer that--as well as providing other features they may desire (WiFi, media options) at the PSP's price point better than the PSP. High end PDA's carry a high-end price tag, and mid-range ones would not be an impressive presentation vehicle of any sort.

I'm not sure what he's on about "education-wise" though, as I'd certainly trust the programming environment and availability of PDA's--as well as the improved interaction possibilities of the touch-screen--a lot more. But I guess they're not "extreme" for nothing.

 

[a688]

...how about because PDA's don't come with anywhere near a comparable screen without paying $100+ more (Basically you need to get to the Tungsten T5 or iPAQ HX47xx models before you get there resolution-wise, and still not have the size or graphical capabilities), their sound is usually lacking as well, and you're paying for all sorts of capabilities you don't actually need?

Granted the guy sounds like a cheap infomercial, but we don't really know who he's talking to. For many people, they might want to stress the availability of a good-looking (both screen-wise and case design) machine that can present the material they want to as good as they can without spending a lot on each unit. There are really no other machines on the market right now that offer that--as well as providing other features they may desire (WiFi, media options) at the PSP's price point better than the PSP. High end PDA's carry a high-end price tag, and mid-range ones would not be an impressive presentation vehicle of any sort.

I'm not sure what he's on about "education-wise" though, as I'd certainly trust the programming environment and availability of PDA's--as well as the improved interaction possibilities of the touch-screen--a lot more. But I guess they're not "extreme" for nothing.

PDAs also don't get sold for a loss and I doubt a company that makes real education software would want to have to give some of its profit to sony.

 

[rabidrabbit]

That man looks like some leader of a religious cult, I mean why the costume?
He speaks something about Bluetooth earpiece for PSP, the PSP does not have Bluetooth, does it?
I bet they're just getting a few of them so thay can watch pr0n at them.

 

[cthellis42]

PDAs also don't get sold for a loss and I doubt a company that makes real education software would want to have to give some of its profit to sony.

...what difference does that make to the company buying the devices?

As well, unless we're talking about a big commercially-presented product or something that requires UMD (which may require being routed through Sony for now), we're not actually talking about things that give a crap about license fees. Showing employees a training video? Showing a client a presentation? Creating personalized software for use within your company? A classroom presentation?

I'm not really sure who the guy is "talking to," though, so ultimately I don't know their needs or whether a PSP, PDA, or anything else would qualify as anything more than "amusing schtick."

 

[Ty]

Not only that but PSPs will have an immediate draw over PDAs since the PSP is 'cool'. Kids would LOVE to hold and use a PSP - it's the 'cool' one.

 

[Farid]

I agree with almost all what was said in this thread, this video sounded like an informercial, and a bad one since he didn't use the official name of the machine.

The dude, indeed, looked like a cult guru, and a bad one since he didn't talk about higher spherical planes of wisdom and purity.

The PSP can, logically, be used to show some presentations, but in the case of a company showing something to a potential client, a PDA could, and more exactly, should be more useful in this situation.