Disruptive Technologies



Disruptive Technologies 


Disruptive technologies.... underperform against existing technology BUT are adopted by fringe costumers who value different things. For example, Google Drive has less features than Word BUT it can share (allowing users to collaborate), is accessible everywhere and save automatically which Word cannot do!

Mixed reality, which includes augmented reality (think Pokemon Go) and virtual reality are currently disrupting a lot of industries! 

Virtual reality is still very expensive... making it difficult to access in a decile one school.  Google makes the cheapest VR headset, costing about $2 on Ali-express BUT it does require access to a smartphone. 

After a quick google and discussion with others at The Mind Lab here are some way get some of the benefits of virtual reality without access to VR headsets:

Google Story Spheres


Story Sphere are 360 degree images with audio embedded within the scene, easily creating an interactive experience.  Here is a story sphere that shows the world from an ant's perspective.

Story Sphere: An Ant's Perspective



Google Expeditions


Google expeditions can be used in 'full screen mode' allowing kids to go on an expedition on their iPads without the use of a VR headset.

Yesterday our junior school visited the Brickman, Lego Wonders of the World at the Auckland museum. How incredible would it be for the kids to extend their experience by exploring the wonders of the world using Google Expeditions! The kids were particularly curious about the pyramids of Egypt. Wouldn't it be just so incredible to take them on a trip to Egypt to explore the pyramids... using their iPads.  

Google Expeditions has hundreds of free wonders of the world you can visit as a class. It has information about the place you are exploring along with questions for the teacher to ask the kids as you explore. The teacher can lead the expedition from their iPad, directing the kids to the places you'd like them to look at. 

Before giving Google Expeditions a go in the classroom... check that you schools wifi allows 'pair to pair' sharing.

When the app has been downloaded onto an iPad it will automatically work without a VR headset. Google expeditions will NOT work on a smart phone without a headset! 











2 comments:

  1. Hi Rebecca

    Great to catch up here with the things you are learning via Mindlab. A number of the things you reference here are totally doable for Manaiakalani kids and you could check in with the Manaiakalani team for 'how tos' and the resources we have available. I have been having fun with the Street View app on my phone these holidays making 360 degree tours for the kids.

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    1. Thanks Dorothy,

      My kids loved working Story Spheres, sparked some great vocabulary and writing. I discovered there wasn't too many spheres to pick from so will have to give Street View a go and make some of my own to use with some classes next term. Who on the Manaiakalani team would be best to contact?

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