Lesley Anderson

Smart screen interfaces - Case Study

Discuss a situation where that device improves the display or interaction over
any alternative device. Use examples to support your argument.

Touchscreens enable users to interact directly with a display, rather than indirectly via mouse, touchpad or other intermediary input device. They are important in personal digital technology, such as personal digital assistants (PDA), satellite navigation systems, video games, MP3 players and mobile phone with recent steps forward enabling the creation of a compact, uncluttered and truly mobile environment.

The iPod iTouch has a place in this environment. Minimal external controls and reliance on  intuitive touchscreen technology for navigation and application control mean huge changes in personal interaction and experience with technology.

One of the best uses I came across for the iPod, iTouch technology is documented at http://speechlanguagepathologysharing.blogspot.com by Eric Sailers, a speech pathologist working with small children. 

Here, Sailers describes using iPod iTouch interactively with students as part of language assessment and improvement. Students learn to identify and demonstrate the various methods required to effectively use the touchscreen system - such as ’slide’, ‘pinch’ and ‘tap’ and their use within various applications. This is done by responding to requests such as “open shutters”, or “stop monkeys” within popular children’s songs on the iPod Touch.

Roles switched for a second round activity, the student makes requests of the instructor. During this the structure of student questions - complexity and demonstrated understanding are tallied in ‘Tallymander’ - an iPod touch application for tallying. This data is transferred to a spreadsheet for analysis and assessment of individual abilities and language building requirements.

This could be replicated with traditional methods of pen and paper testing, data collection and assessment but using the iPod iTouch is going to be more fun and interesting to students - motivating them to participate in this and subsequent activities. It is also a much more relevant, efficient and streamlined way of collecting data for analysis and has me thinking about other uses for iTouch technology.