Check out our VR Experience Library

Educational Technology has compiled and published our VR Experience Library, which provides an overview of the various apps, adventures, and games available on our Oculus Rift and Rift S systems. Highlights of our library include:

• The Body VR - explore the inside of a human body.
• CalcFlow - create parametrized functions and vector fields in 3D
• Beat Saber: light sabers meet dance dance revolution
• Richie’s Plank Experience - Can you walk the virtual plank?
• TiltBrush - paint in virtual reality on a 3D canvas

If you have recommendations on what else we might add to our library or would like to schedule a VR demo, feel free to reach out to us at edtech@lclark.edu.

What is a camera?

Ever wonder how your digital camera works and what tech is involved.  Sit back, have a pop, and listen.....

Lenovo Mirage Solo with Daydream Standalone Review

Looking for a VR experience using the Google Daydream platform that doesn't require a Pixel phone? The Lenovo Mirage Solo delivers a standalone VR experience similar to that of the Oculus Go. Unique to the platform is WorldSense, a location tracking tech that can add an additional layer of interactivity into VR Experiences.

Interested in giving one a try or have a VR project in mind that uses the Daydream platform? Contact a member of the Educational Technology team or email us at edtech@lclark.edu. 

2018 Faculty Technology Showcase Recap

It's been a couple months, but it's never too late for a recap! On December 6th, Educational Technology once again hosted the annual Faculty Technology Showcase. The 2018 event featured thirteen presenters (eleven faculty!) showcasing the variety of ways they have incorporated technology into their instruction and research. This was enough to give us a few challenges space-wise, a 'problem' we're more than happy to have! A full list of our presenters and descriptions is available at the Showcase website.

In addition to showcasing the efforts of our faculty, Educational Technology had plenty to share as well. In our second year highlighting our virtual reality systems, we included two VR demo stations. The second featured mathematics faculty Everett Sullivan demonstrating the immersive vector-mapping program CalcFlow. Our student employee Keegan Milburn demonstrated 3D models of campus buildings, which could have a variety of applications including Virtual Campus Tours and Facilities Diagrams. We displayed these diagrams using our recently-acquired ClearTouch interactive smartboard. Lastly, we saw the return of our lightboard, which made its debut at last year's event. Philosophy faculty Joel Martinez demonstrated how he's utilized the lightboard as a resource for creating instructional videos for his Formal Reasoning course.

It is always a pleasure to host this opportunity for our community to get together, celebrate success, swap ideas, and, of course, win prizes! We hope to see you all (and more) again next year!

Lightboard at the Grad School

A few weeks ago, EdTech brought the lightboard to the Graduate School!

Faculty, staff, and students were able to stop by York Commons to check it out, take a look at how it worked, and try it out for themselves.

Many excited students came by to play with the board and chat about some great ideas for implementing the board in their schools and counseling centers. Along with having the chance to write on the board with our colorful neon markers, students were also able to see how the lightboard effectively functioned in a classroom.

We pointed a camera towards the lightboard and showed the camera’s image on the TV in York Commons. Since people on the other side of the lightboard would see the writing backwards, the TV acted as a way to see what was being written on the board. The image on the TV was flipped horizontally, and those watching the lightboard during lectures could watch the TV, or a projector screen, to see both the person behind the lightboard, as well as the writing.

Students also had a chance to watch some recorded lightboard lectures created by Lewis and Clark College faculty. Recordings have become one of the lightboard's primary functions, allowing instructors to cover content outside of class in an interesting and interactive way, and then provide the recordings to the class for homework or study material. Some members of the LC community have recorded lectures in our TV Studio and shared them with their classes with much success.

As graduate students think about using the lightboard in their own classrooms and counseling spaces, we hope this success will continue to grow!

The TV Studio will be available for lightboard lecture recording over the week of March 26th - March 30th.

If you would like more information about the lightboard, or would like to schedule a time to record a lightboard lecture, please contact EdTech, at edtech@lclark.edu

2017 Faculty Technology Showcase Recap

On December 7th, Educational Technology once again hosted the annual Faculty Technology Showcase. The 2017 Showcase featured twelve presenters showcasing the variety of ways technology is being integrated into instruction, curriculum, and research. This was enough to give us a few challenges space-wise, a 'problem' we're more than happy to have! A full list of our presenters and descriptions is available at the Showcase website.

In addition to highlighting our faculty, Educational Technology brought in some new hardware we're hoping to see make its way into more classrooms in the near future. We featured a VR demo station, where which provided a hands-on look at theVive, Oculus Rift, Samsung Gear, and Google Cardboard systems. We also gave our laser engraver a live test run as well with promising results, and Chemistry faculty Casey Jones shared how she'd incorporated the classroom iPad set to better leverage online instructional demos.

Also seeing its debut at the Showcase was our freshly constructed lightboard. A lightboard is an DIY illuminated glass whiteboard used for recording video lectures while allowing the presenter to face their audience while presenting. Now that it's complete, we're looking forward to creating opportunities for faculty to create instructional videos.



Last, but certainly not least, we were glad to again offer an opportunity for our community to get together, celebrate success, swap ideas, and, of course, win prizes! At the end of the event, three lucky winners walked away with wireless headphones, a water-resistant Bluetooth speaker, and Amazon Echo Dot. All in all, a fun afternoon. Hope to see you all (and more) again next year!

We Built a Lightboard!

Over the spring semester, your EdTech team designed and built a lightboard.  What's a lightboard, you ask?  Basically, you write on it like a whiteboard, but it's transparent and lit from the edges by LEDs.  The visual effect is easier to grok with a picture:

A Lightboard, just like it says on the lightboard...

 The idea here is for an instructor to be able to see and interact with students while writing on the lightboard.  The image is flipped 180 degrees and projected above the teacher's head in glorious visually appealing fashion.  We got the idea based on a similar design put together by some good folks at San Diego State University.



They call their original device "Learning Glass."  As described on their website, "Learning Glass was developed by SDSU Physics professor Matt Anderson to make learning a more engaging experience for both on campus and online students.
Dr. Anderson has utilized the Learning Glass to create over 450 online videos, stream synchronous lessons, and incorporate this technology into face-to-face and hybrid courses for thousands of STEM students on his YouTube Channel – professormattanderson.com." Check out the link for cool-futuristic-learning-fun.  

We received the bulk of funding for this project through a grant from the Library/EdTech committee.  The total was a few hundred dollars, not counting a few days' hard labor. (Who knew cutting acrylic glass could be so much fun!)  We'd like to especially thank Steve Attinasi from the Physics workshop for lending his time, tools and expertise.

To pilot test our Lightboard, EdTech has solicited the help of faculty in Math/Computer Science and Economics.  We'll be rolling it into classrooms starting fall semester 2017.  Check back for updates on the project, and hopefully we'll have videos of our Lightboard in action.

2016 Faculty Technology Showcase

In December, faculty, staff and students convened at Smith Hall for the annual Faculty Technology Showcase. The showcase is an opportunity for Lewis & Clark to present technology related projects and initiatives that have aided their instruction or research in the past year. This year's event saw an increase in both presenters and attendance as compared to the prior year, with all three of Lewis & Clark's campuses presenting.

New topics this year included an emphasis on the R programming language for Statistics, The Law School's new lecture capture and video repository system - Panopto, and the wireless classroom projection pilot. A full list of presenters, along with descriptions of their presentations, can be found here. EdTech also demo'd several new products, including the HTC Vive, Microsoft Hololens, and the 2016 MacBook Pro. Enjoy the photos, and hope to see you at next year's event!

Will Google Make Us Daydream Believers?

If you are wanting to dive into Virtual Reality, there are currently a multitude of options to choose from. High end headsets currently on the market include the HTC Vive (currently available for demo from EdTech!), Oculus Rift, and recently the Sony PlayStation VR. However, if you're looking for something a step above Google Cardboard, but aren't prepared to drop $399 and up (not counting the cost of supporting computer/console hardware), there is a new option: Google's Daydream, released yesterday.

With a price tag of only $79, Daydream boasts a high quality, yet simple VR experience. At the time of release, it is unfortunately only compatible with Google's also newly released Pixel phone, however broader Android compatibility is expected to come soon. Paired with a controller, the headset is comparable to Samsung's Gear VR, but due to its partially fabric construction, it is nearly 100 grams lighter and based on early reviews, much more comfortable to wear. 

Aesthetics and comfort aside, what sets the Daydream apart? The answer lies not within the headset itself, but its accompanying accessory. The Daydream's motion-tracked controller is a small and sleek device comparable to a presentation remote. Its intuitive use and lack of wires make it accessible when compared to the Gear's offerings.

As far as app offerings go, so far they are relatively slim. For those still under the spell of Pottermania, the Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them VR App is a safe bet. Also included at launch are a number of games, museum tours, and VR experiences produced by news sources such as The Wall Street Journal, CNN, and USA Today. 

        

Product Review: Ricoh Theta S Spherical Camera

Aided in part by innovations such as Google Cardboard, 360-degree video has grown increasingly more mainstream over the past year and a half. Last March, YouTube started allowing its users to upload 360-degree content, followed by Facebook later in the year.

360-degree content is created using either a constructed rig of cameras, or a camera specially designed to capture 360 video. The videos are then stitched together, using a variety of processing technologies. Information Technology has purchased a Ricoh Theta S camera as our first venture into 360-degree production. Though Ricoh is known more for their copiers, printers, and other office equipment, they were the first major manufacturer to enter the spherical camera game, back in 2013. 

The Theta shoots in full HD, with a maximum of 25 minutes of continuous filming, and ~175 minutes of total capacity. An added benefit is the Theta’s ability to live stream content with an active internet connection. Using streaming software such as Open Broadcaster Software (free and open source) anyone can broadcast an immersive experience over the web in an instant.

While other 360-degree cameras (see Bubl, Sphericam 2) offer a more sophisticated multi-camera approach, the Theta does surprisingly well with just front and rear facing cameras. It’s also very lightweight, fitting in the palm of your hand. This makes shooting film in public much more convenient, compared to walking around with an awkward cube or ball-shaped camera.

Product aside, 360-degree video is also starting to open new frontiers in the field of education. Students can now document experiences like field trips and studying abroad in an entirely new format. As an example, check out this virtual museum tour produced by one of LC’s very own students.        

The Hololens Is Here...

Your friendly EdTech department recently acquired a Microsoft Hololens virtual reality device. Basically, it's a Windows 10 computer that you wear on your head and use to interact with the real world.

Microsoft adds, "Windows 10 is the first platform to support holographic computing with APIs that enable gaze, gesture, voice, and environmental understanding on a self-contained device. With Windows 10, holograms are Universal Windows platform apps, and all Universal Windows apps can be made to work as holograms. Holograms in Windows 10 will lead to entirely new ways for us to communicate, create, and explore."

Liz Young enters augmented reality

We are interested in how this technology could be integrated into the educational realm.  As such, we will be actively seeking interested faculty and student partners to help develop applications for use at LC.  Some ideas we've had include virtual tours, virtual 3D modeling, and smart-classroom interactivity.  

If you are a student and are interested in earning a paycheck by developing for the Hololens, please contact Educational Technology at edtech@lclark.edu. 

GoPro Camera falls from 100,000 feet

Yep, you read that right--in June 2013, members of the Grand Canyon Stratospheric Balloon Team and vedphoto.com launched a balloon with a camera into the stratosphere, where it burst. It was found by a hiker two years later, with the footage still intact. 

Watch the footage here:  GoPro Falls 100,000 feet from space

If it wasn't clear from the video, the GoPro is the action camera of choice as it is lightweight, compact, and mountable, and apparently quite durable.   The GoPro camera can capture still photos and video in high-definition through wide-angle lens while being remotely controlled or configured to work automatically.

The IT Service desk has a few GoPros available to checkout.  However, you might want to check the loan agreement before sending the camera into space.  

GoPro is the action camera of choice as it is lightweight, compact, and mountable.The GoPro camera can capture still photos and video in high-definition through wide-angle lens while being remotely controlled or configured to work automatically.

http://www.mygadgets.my

GoPro is the action camera of choice as it is lightweight, compact, and mountable.The GoPro camera can capture still photos and video in high-definition through wide-angle lens while being remotely controlled or configured to work automatically.

http://www.mygadgets.my

GoPro is the action camera of choice as it is lightweight, compact, and mountable.The GoPro camera can capture still photos and video in high-definition through wide-angle lens while being remotely controlled or configured to work automatically.

http://www.mygadgets.my

GoPro is the action camera of choice as it is lightweight, compact, and mountable.The GoPro camera can capture still photos and video in high-definition through wide-angle lens while being remotely controlled or configured to work automatically.

http://www.mygadgets.my

GoPro is the action camera of choice as it is lightweight, compact, and mountable.The GoPro camera can capture still photos and video in high-definition through wide-angle lens while being remotely controlled or configured to work automatically.

http://www.mygadgets.my

Yes, you can 3D print with glass now...

Credit: Imagery courtesy of the MIT Media Lab

Researchers at at the MIT Glass Lab (yes, they have a glass lab) have figured out how t0 print molten glass through a nozzle.

As you can imagine, the main challenge here are the extremely high temperatures involved.

Finding a nozzle suitable for printing glass is  complicated, to work it must be made of a material that can both handle high temperatures and resist the glass sticking to it.

Platinum nozzles are used in industry for some glass manufacturing processes, but are very expensive. Instead the lab settled on a custom-made nozzle made of aluminum oxide.
The machine prints soda lime glass, a family of glasses used in everything from water glasses to windows. But glasses like Pyrex could in principle be printed this way too, albeit at much higher temperatures.

The technology is still in its nascent stage, but if you could, what would you print out of glass?

New 3D printer at LC

This summer Information Technology bought a Makerbot Replicator 5th generation 3D printer to be housed in the Resource Lab in Watzek Library



      The new printer is more reliable, faster, and more affordable than the previous clunker, which has been donated to science.
To celebrate the awesomeness that is the Makerbot,  IT is rolling out a new 3D printing policy.  Any member of the Lewis & Clark community is eligible to use the 3D printer and pay for the print using pages from their print balance.


For example, if you print this model of the Mars Curiosity rover,  it costs about 70 pages of your print balance and takes about 4 hours to print.

We printed one in purple!

You can find plenty of free 3D files online (thingiverse.com) or even design your own model with free software like Google Sketchup.  Look for files with the .stl file extension.

If you've got a hankering to try out 3D printing, contact itservice@lclark.edu (x7225) to set up a printing appointment. 

Telepresence Robots

Video chat programs like Skype and Google Hangout are easy to find and use on smartphones, tablets and computers for one-to-one remote collaboration. Faculty and students alike are asking for technology that can deliver an equally easy to use remote participant-to-classroom experience. One option is to use a telepresence robot like "Buddy," a recent addition to the IT Sandbox, 

Take Buddy for a test drive during the Faculty Technology Institute Petting Zoo or contact us at ed-tech@lclark.edu.


Further Information
Double Robotics
7 Things You Should Know About Telepresence Robots

Have you tried a Chromebook?

The Chromebook sits triumphantly atop a MacBook

In many ways, the Chromebook is a tablet shaped like a laptop. It relies on an internet connection much of its functionality, and it's operating system is built on Google's Chrome web browser. Why would you use one? Well, if you're a heavy user of Google Apps (and we're a Google Apps campus), it's essentially all you need. A Chromebook essentially makes your browser your operating system, and as long as you're okay with the Chrome web browser, you're all set.

You won't be able to install large applications like Microsoft Office or Adobe Creative Suite, even those applications have sensed the wave of the future and begun offering web-based applications. As the internet connection speeds improve, it becomes easier and more convenient to rely on web-based tools and storage to do your work. They're less expensive than iPads, while still having keyboards and USB ports. They can also easily be swapped between users, since Google user data syncs immediately upon login. For those reasons and more, they're gaining traction in K-12 education, as schools look for inexpensive solutions for getting computers in the classroom.

We have a Chromebook as part of our educational technology sandbox, and it is available for checkout to faculty and staff at the IT Service Desk. Drop on by and give it a whirl! You might be surprised with how easy it is to warm up to. Just be sure to follow our instructions for connecting it to campus wireless.

For more information:

• Meet Chromebooks!
• "Considering a Chromebook?" - Chromebook FAQ
• PCWorld - Why Chromebooks are schooling iPads in education