I encountered this cool and powerful tool called Highcharts, which uses jquery to create interactive data visualization. The benefits of using jquery are 1) it works perfectly in environments without Flash (e.g. iPad, iPhone), and 2) it's HTML 5 compatible. The tool is free for non-commercial use.

Two demos below.

1) You can supply data (e.g. such as from a static spreadsheet file, dynamic JSON data from server, or even an HTML table) and customize the type, appearance, and interactivity of the chart. You can put multiple graph types in a single chart. And you can even print the chart or download as images/PDF.

2) It's possible to allow the user to interact with data source.

I just love it.

Google is now hosting a test drive for its new Chrome OS. In the Chrome OS, everything is online with the free 3G data support by Verizon. They are giving away free laptops with the Chrome OS to eligible users in business, education, non-profit, development, and also on an individual basis. Here is a link.

This is a promising concept as the Chrome OS reflects the current ubiquitous, participatory learning culture. I can foresee tablet devices with Chrome OS in the near future to make it even a greater tool for learning. I wonder if we are interested in applying to the test drive and getting a couple for testing and researching.

More reading about the launch of Chrome OS.

MTA has contracted Transit Wireless to equip NYC subway stations with Cellphone and WiFi signals. Read this article from Wired

I encountered this website which summarizes the history of e-reader products. It covers e-reader products from digital books on CD-ROM as early as 1985 to the Apple iPad in 2010. It also leaks some notable potential products such as the Microsoft-HP Slate PC and the Google Tablet PC.

I came across a three-week-old article at Engadget previewing the ASUS Eee Tablet which is going to hit the market after September this year. From the Engadget article as well as some Youtube videos, it seems this device is closer to what we have envisioned for an e-reader for learning:

1. Has some computing power
2. Portable
3. Graphic note-taking (should use a pen because it's really hard to write with a finger on iPad)
4. Relatively less expensive

In the YouTube video below, an ASUS employee said the price range will be $199-$299. We are waiting to hear about more details about this product.