As we move into Summer, I like to think about new things I want to buy for next year. I have decided to dedicate this session to new technologies and devices that I have on my wish list, if I could afford them and if they exist.

Scott Tomassetti
Technology Section Editor

"For Teacher, By Teacher" Activity Plan Contest!

One of the best productivity saving device is an all- in-1 PDA. I recently lost my Pocket PC and was out looking to replace it. What's hot in PDAs, or Personal Digital Assistants (now called Handheld Computers), is the new Treo 700w from Verizon, and those devices run on Windows Mobile 5.0. The reason for this is that the Treo 700w has many great features that would be useful to many because it is an all-in-1 device. The Treo 700w is a phone, and digital assistant that:

	Plays audio (MP3) and video (.wva) files via Windows Media Player
	Reads MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint natively
	Continual access to Internet with Pocket PC Internet Explorer
	Reads email with attachments
	Has the ability, with an add-on device, to be networked wirelessly
	Has a 1.3 mega pixel camera for stills and video

In a school that uses Microsoft products these feature are very handy.

There are many devices that can perform these similar tasks, and it should be noted that most of them are Pocket PC or Smart Phone devices running on Windows Mobile 5.0. Check your wireless provider for their version. The unique thing about the Treo 700w is that it is a Palm device running Windows Mobile 5.0. Windows Mobile and Palm have always been rivals, but with the introduction of the Palm 700w the trend has turned and the hybrid device is born. The Palm 700w is also trendy and stylish with a great feel in your hand, and acts like a Smart Phone instead of a Pocket PC. Take a look.

Although personally I have used both Palm and Pocket PC devices extensively for years, I prefer the Pocket PC and all it quirks. If I had my choice right now, being a Verizon customer, I would pick their XV6700, which has wireless networking built in, Blue Tooth, email, phone, broadband access, 1.3 mega pixel camera, and my favorite feature - the two hand thumbnail reverse angle aspect ratio sliding keyboard. The XV6700 turns sideways and the keyboard slides out. This feature is great for reading information about students, and viewing video, pictures, or presentations. Take a look.

Similar devices can be found at various wireless communication providers. Check your provider for details.

Alas, I will have to wait, because they tell me I cannot upgrade without paying retail price until January 2007. This will not stand…

VIRTUAL DDR TYPE OF GAMES

DDR has been out for some time (Dance Dance Revolution), and with touch pads and a game console attached to a TV you have instant excitement in the room.

Last week I was at the nearby mall and saw kids on a projected square, about 12' by 12' wide, with a soccer ball on it. There were no pads, just a picture of it on the floor. The youth would kick the ball and the ball would fly at the goal and reappear in a new location. The scene then would change, and it would be virtual DDR-like dancing with touch squares for your feet. This type of technology is intriguing because of the lack of pads that wear out, and versatility in games that can be added for the user. Although I have not heard of such a thing in the Physical Education setting, I am sure it is being tried somewhere. How cool.

SMART BOARDS

Although not new, Smart boards are hot right now, and way cool. My school had one of the ancient ones that you attach to a regular white board without projection, and would record what you write onto a graphics type device. Many modern schools now have fully functional white boards which display a computer onto which you can interact with. This technology is significant for displaying field strategy, video, picture, navigating web sites for information, or demonstrating a task sheet to students. Take a look.

MY MP3 PLAYER

Although my new PDA (I wish) has a built in MP3 player, I though I might need a new one to wear to my wellness center, the Newington Healthtrax. For this I wanted a small device to wear on my arm that is light and has FM to watch the TV while on the machines and the ability to add memory so I can have a larger list of music to choose from when nothing is on. With the NEW memory card coming out soon that has 16 gigabits of memory, no need exists for a hard drive like the famous IPOD. I went in search (luckily my daughter needed a birthday present) and found the SanDisk Sansa™ e130 digital audio player 512MB

This player has all I need. With 520 Megs of built in memory and the ability to add SD cards in the future with FM and small form factor, it was a buy at $59. The problem came that I could not get it away from my daughter, and had to buy another one for the gym. Luckily the Sansa for SanDisk is relatively affordable. SD cards of 1 gig were running about $24.99 at buy.com so I bought two. For around half the price of a nano, I got a great player which I can expand with FM radio so I can watch TV while on the Machines at Healthtrax. Happy Trails.

VIRTUAL BICYCLES, ROWING MACHINES, AND TREAD MILLS

For those of us lucky enough to be working at a school with a wellness center, a great motivator for some are the virtual bicycles, rowing machines, and tread mills. These machines are similar to your standard stationary machines for wellness centers, except that you can view virtual trails on a TV monitor, race with others, and view workout results. One such device, (which I heard about through Bonnie's Fitware, Inc. technology newsletter) is VCycling. This product is supported by the President's Challenge with their incentive program called VCycling's Virtual Challenge. Take a look.

Although I have not tried the VCycling version, I have used a Version at an apartment complexes gym which takes you on a ride through a virtual mountain bike trail with the option of racing the machine. I choose not to race, but a more leisurely pace through a hilly course, and it was very motivating. I found that I was working harder and longer, and the time on the machine appeared less tedious. Your students may find it just the ticket for extra motivation to reach their personal goals.

CAMERA BUYER'S GUIDE FOR THE PHYSICAL EDUCATOR

Having bought and used many types of Digital Cameras for the Physical Education setting over the years, I have many great tips:

	Buy a camera of quality. You get what you pay for.
	Sturdy case design

Try not to buy the product online prior to having seen it and touched it in person. The case should be metal not plastic, as it will crack when dropped. This feature is more expensive, and usual comes with the higher up models, but occasionally can be found on cheaper models.

	Low light sensitivity. Make sure you can adjust the white balance and aperture.
	A high Optical Zone of more that 3x. 10x is best. An Optical Zoom will get you closer to the action, and give you great quality at the same time. Never trust the digital zooms to give you the optimal picture quality of moving image.
	Has a good to great lens. Better cameras have better lenses, which translates into clearer images.
	Sport Mode picture taking rate. Some point and shoot cameras have the ability to shoot in sports mode where you can capture moving pictures in succession. The rate at which this occurs is important for providing students with feedback for their performances.
	Get at least a 5.0 mega pixel camera. The higher the pixel rate the better quality the picture turns out, no matter what the image size you choose. The cameras with higher pixel rates contain a better quality CCD chip which converts to a better image quality.
	Sound on video. The camera should include sound on video. The absence of sound when editing video is tough.
	Ability to add memory through an SD card. With the SD card coming out that has 16 gigabits of memory on them, this is critical for capturing video and high quality pictures on a high mega pixel camera.

Lastly I thought about camera size, and here are my thoughts. SLR type cameras have larger lens openings that allow more light to reach the CCD, which produces higher quality pictures. The larger form factor makes these types of cameras hard to carry around the field or gym. Most of these models have outstanding features and are usually more complex to operate. If you need professional results go for an SLR, and with the prices dropping fast, they are more affordable than ever. The Canon Rebel is only around $800, which is a huge drop from 2 years ago.

The Small Point and Shoot cameras are great for convenience and to carry in your pocket to shoot quick pictures on the field, but most lack the feature set listed above. They are also easier to conceal. These types are usually more affordable, but aren't very rugged. They are great if you plan to keep a video or picture record of your work for a portfolio. The Canon PowerShot SD600 is only about $250; with the Canon S80 being the new breed at about $450 with all the features you would ever need in a great camera.

Canon PowerShot S2 IS is a mix of the two above scenarios and is a great alternative. With ease of point and shoot, but the image quality that rivals SRL models.

I, as you may or may not have guessed, prefer Canon to the other makers, but Kodak, Sony, Casio, and Nikon make great cameras as well. No I did not get paid to advertise for Canon, but I thought comparing models from the same company would give you an idea of the range of cameras available from various camera manufacturers. I have owned and used all including Olympus, and find that it is the list of features mentioned in the beginning of the article that makes the difference for the Physical Education Professional, not the manufacturer. All manufacturers make both quality and budget cameras, and have their faults. CNET.com is a great resource for you to use to compare products.

How Dieting Works - Dieting is a multibillion dollar industry in the United States, but it doesn't work for most people. The standard story is: Lose 20, gain 30. But there are healthy, effective ways to lose weight. Find out why most diets fail and what you can do to make yours work.

Low Carb Dieting - How Do Diets That Limit Your Carbohydrate Consumption, Like The Atkins Diet, Cause Weight Loss? How do diets that limit your carbohydrate consumption, like the Atkins diet, cause weight loss?

HOW STUFF WORKS. Below you will find information, not only about how different technology works, but information ABOUT that device. Such as, if you have heard of a 'Blackberry' but don't know what it does or what it is, you will be provided that information by following that particular link. Interesting stuff...

How Camcorders Work - If you're looking to delight your friends with hours of your vacation footage in prime, digital form, there's no time like the present. Camcorders have gotten small enough to fit in a pocket and are sporting more formats than ever before. Find out how they work and what to look for when buying one.

How Smart Watches Work - There's no doubt that with the popularity of devices like Blackberrys, Palm Pilots, and Treo, the trend in technology is to get more and more "connectivity" into smaller and smaller packages. The next step in this technological evolution is the Smart Watch.

Smart Watches give people access to news, weather, sports, stocks, horoscopes, MSN Instant Messenger, Microsoft Outlook and much, much more - all from a wristwatch. In this article, HowStuffWorks looks at the technology behind the Smart Watch.

How EyeVision Works - At most sporting events and concerts, people tend to want the best seat available. But where exactly is that seat? You could argue that the best seat is not even at the event itself, but in your home, watching the event on television. Read the rest...

How Olympic Timing Works - In timed Olympic events, the difference between the gold and the silver can come down to a fraction of a second. You won't find that kind of accuracy in your typical wristwatch. Find out about the systems (and back-up systems) that keep Olympic timing honest.

How Web Animation Works - Web animation is one of the defining characteristics of the Web and also separates the Web from books. Learn all about how it works!

How Broadband Over Powerlines Works - Imagine plugging your computer into any electrical outlet in your home and having high-speed Internet access instantly. This service is already available in a few cities in the United States, but there are groups and government agencies fighting to block its proliferation. Learn how powerline broadband is possible and what the controversy is all about.

How A BlackBerry Works - Some people credit the BlackBerry with letting them get out of the office and spend time with friends and family, while others accuse them of allowing work to infiltrate every moment of free time. Learn about the "push" technology at the center of the device's popularity and RIM's dispute with patent holder NTP Incorporated.

How Exercise Works - When you exercise, you're using your muscles to create motion. Your body focuses its attention on giving the muscles everything they need to do their work. Learn about all of the amazing changes that take place inside your body when you exercise.

How Boomerangs Work - It's pretty amazing: When you throw a boomerang, it actually does come back to you - if you throw it properly. Originally used as a hunting weapon, this clever device is now an incredibly fun piece of sporting equipment. Find out why the boomerang returns and how to throw it like a pro.

How Basketball Works - The squeak of the shoes, the roar of the coach, the jab of the elbow! To many of us, basketball is the great American pastime (especially at this time of the year). Whether you're just getting into the sport or you're a diehard fan looking for a refresher course, our easy primer will bring you up to speed.

How Biathlon Works - Imagine cross-country skiing for a few kilometers, then shooting five targets at 50 meters with exactly five shots. Then you pack up your rifle and ski to the next set of targets. This combination of grueling endurance race and marksmanship competition is known as biathlon. Find out how biathlon came to be an Olympic sport.

How Hang Gliding Works - Imagine soaring like a bird thousands of feet above the ground. Hang gliders use some very cool equipment to experience the incredible feeling of flying, and the mechanics of the sport are almost as amazing as the flight itself (but not quite). Learn all about hang gliding.

How Skydiving Works - Imagine falling out of a plane, on purpose, and heading toward the ground at 120 mph. Welcome to the world of skydiving. The United States Parachuting Association estimates that about 350,000 people complete more than 3 million jumps in a typical year. Find out all about this insanely popular sport.

How Rock Climbing Works - Rock climbing is an exhilarating activity that involves strength, control and finesse, not to mention guts. There's a lot of variety in the sport, too. From sport climbing to solo climbing to bouldering, there's something for almost everyone who feels the need to reach new heights. Find out what it takes to make it to the top of a mountain.

Trends in Personal Computing - Spring 2006
The first in a new series of articles called Trends in Personal Computing. Like most of the content on the CompuSports Network sites, it will be original - meaning written by CompuSports Staff or a member of their editorial team. This first Trends in Personal Computing column presents an overview of some of today's hottest topics with a brief synopsis of each. Subsequent columns will go into greater depth on these and more topics that are particularly relevant to sports computer applications. Check it out...