According to the
AP, high schools across Florida are embracing mobile technology as
part of the learning process. As Ariana Leonard, a Spanish teacher at a public
school near Tampa put it, students' mobile phones are such
an important part of their lives that classroom use is like "giving them another
avenue to learn outside of the
classroom."
The instruction
typically centers around text messaging and use of phone's browsers.
The reason is
pretty straightforward: Among teenagers, 71 percent have cell phones, according
to a 2008 survey by the Pew Internet & American
Life Project. Importantly, that figure remains generally
constant regardless of race, income or other demographic factors.
The medical world is always one to be on the cutting edge of
new technologies so it is no surprise that 64 percent of doctors nationwide are
using smartphones in their practice.
Over time, the emblematic pager will be a thing of the past-a distant
beep dating any medical drama TV show.
According to a recent Washington
Post article, mobile devices are quickly becoming pivotal instruments in
doctor-patient interactions. From
pulling up instructional diagrams to researching drug-to-drug interactions,
smartphone technology is arming doctors with vital information at their
fingertips. This means doctors can make
smart, informed decisions instantly, with the patient by their side. Thankfully, it also means they can show us
something to decipher often tedious medical-ese.
Jonathan Reiner, a cardiologist at George Washington
University, gives a
pretty amazing first person account of how the smartphone can make a difference
in a life and death situation:
One Saturday afternoon... Reiner was
having lunch at a deli when his BlackBerry began to beep. It was a patient's
EKG, sent to him by an emergency room physician. Reiner pulled up the graphic on his handheld
device and saw that the patient was on the brink of a severe heart attack. He rushed to the hospital to perform
surgery.
Real-time data can make all the difference when seconds
count. I'd like to see a pager do that!
Raleigh commuters'
travel time is about to become much more entertaining. This summer, Raleigh, N.C. will be the
first U.S. market to commercially deploy
mobile digital television (DTV) broadcasts to local consumers. CBS affiliate and
Capitol Broadcasting station WRAL will deliver local, syndicated and networking
programming to local Capitol Area Transit (CAT) buses throughout the city with help
from some technology
vendors, including LG Electronics and Harris.
Instead of having to rely on books,
newspapers or iPods for news and entertainment, commuters will be able to watch
the latest episode of Survivor, the local news, or a rerun of CSI.
Additionally, WRAL will include updates on city news, real-time weather and
other information on the digital screens inside the
buses.
"We are proud to be the pilot to
offer mobile digital television to the riders of the Downtown Circulator," said
Raleigh Mayor Charles Meeker in a statement. "We salute WRAL for being pioneers
in mobile digital television as they were in high definition television. We look
forward to the day when all of Raleigh's CAT buses will offer this means of
information and relaxation."
A coalition of
state and national officials including New York City Mayor Michael R.
Bloomberg, has devised a way for New
York City to cut taxpayer costs, stimulate the local
economy, and create jobs. The group says the implementation of new technology
will allow water meters to be read wirelessly and will help individuals and
businesses save millions of dollars each year simply by raising customer
awareness.
Wireless water
meters will enable more frequent and accurate readings of water usage, allowing
customers to identify and cut out any wasted spending. Experts hope that the
estimated 90 million dollar a year savings, based on a ‘modest 5-10 percent
reduction in water use' will be recycled into the local economy.
"This program is
the first in a series of initiatives leveraging this state-of-the-art network
on a citywide scale, creating significant cost savings for taxpayers and
agencies alike." - Department of Information Technology and Telecommunication
Commissioner Paul J. Cosgrave
The new
technology will use radio signals to report water use every six hours. Usage
and costs can be tracked by individuals or businesses online, helping to
identify leaks and waste more readily. The switch over to wireless water meters
will cost the city an estimated $250 million dollars, and the installation will
be free of charge to property owners.
While New York City
is currently the largest city in the world to embrace this technology other
cities like Tallahassee
are also using smart-metering programs for utility customers. If
successful, it is likely more cities will be implementing similar digital
monitoring systems
"Indeed, our love affair with cellphones is increasingly
being coupled with our love affair with the automobile, spawning applications -
some silly, some sublime - that drivers can download to their mobile handsets
for little or no money."
True enough. To
satisfy your inner Brian O'Conner, there's a program called
Dynolicious, which gauges your 0-to-60 times, supposedly to within 0.08 of a
second. It also measures lateral G-forces.
Speaking of speed traps (we weren't but given the above, it
seemed like a natural segue), some new apps give warnings of oncoming
hazards. For example, an iPhone app
called Njection compiles feedback from subscribers and pinpoints speed traps
along any route you input.
And when you hit a pothole going 80, you'll need a new
struts. But at least with RepairPal, you
can get a quick wireless estimate for parts and labor costs, as well as nearby
repair shops with customer ratings.
And those who are more concerned with reducing their carbon
footprint can turn to greenMeter, Ecorio and other apps that suggest ways to
save on fuel.
Just what we need now that the weather's warmer and Spring
Break is here.
If you have a grandmother or grandfather, especially if they're living alone, here's a better option for Valentine's gift than roses or chocolates: a mobile phone. If the power goes out in Grandpa's house during a snowstorm or if Grandma's car conks out when she's driving home at night, a mobile phone could be a lifeline.
Granted, many of the small handsets on the market might not be easy to operate in dim lighting. But as Katherine Boehret reports in the Mossberg Corner [Link] of today's Wall Street Journal, companies are
taking notice. Plantronics just came out with a mobile handset especially for seniors - big screen, large numbers, not a lot of confusing extra buttons. The handset will work on different carriers' networks.
Another option is the Jitterbug, also designed for seniors. You can't surf the Internet but for phone calling, including the urgent 911, it couldn't be easier.
True, a mobile phone won't float around the house like balloons but for their (and your) peace-of-mind, it's a much better option.
We're just back from a
great event in Tallahassee. Many thanks to our panelists -
Tallahassee Mayor John Marks, Florida PSC Commissioner Katrina McMurrian, Bob
Duncan from Rivada Networks and Peter Marx from Analog Protocol. We had a really
great crowd and the Tallahassee Democrat ran a good wrap-up of the event.
You can read the paper's story on
the event here.
Last week and continuing through the spring, Mobile Future will be hosting a series of state-based public education events designed to help educate state lawmakers, regulators and consumers about what's happening with wireless in their state. On Tuesday, February 3rd, Mobile Future will highlight how cities like Tallahassee are utilizing wireless technology to streamline services for residents. For more information on the Tallahassee, Florida panel and to see coverage of the event, check out Florida's state page on our Web site and read our chairman's op-ed in the Tallahassee Democrat.
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Tags: Education, News, Text message, Wireless Innovation, FL