Author: Tony Saxby, Technical Consultant at CSE Education
Could this be a possible future for schools computing? Intel announced the Intel Compute Stick, a fully functional Windows 8.1 PC HDMI dongle for $150 (just over £100).
Based on a quad core Intel Atom processor, 2 GB or memory and 32 GB of eMMC solid state storage. It also supports Bluetooth for keyboard and mouse, a micro SD card for expansion and Wireless that supports IEEE 802.11 b\g\n standards.
Based on a quad core Intel Atom processor, 2 GB or memory and 32 GB of eMMC solid state storage. It also supports Bluetooth for keyboard and mouse, a micro SD card for expansion and Wireless that supports IEEE 802.11 b\g\n standards.
Whilst the specifications aren't going to set any records, it will provide a good level of performance that matches and exceeds many current personal tablet based products.
I can imagine a situation where these devices are given to every pupil as their personal devices. Pupils come to school and simply plug their personal unit of computing into a HDMI monitor and start working. When finished, save the work either in the cloud or on the SD card, unplug and move on to the next lesson. This could easily work in a school with a wireless network.
I can imagine a situation where these devices are given to every pupil as their personal devices. Pupils come to school and simply plug their personal unit of computing into a HDMI monitor and start working. When finished, save the work either in the cloud or on the SD card, unplug and move on to the next lesson. This could easily work in a school with a wireless network.
Why this could be better than Tablet or personal Laptop? Put simply there is very little to break! No expensive LCD panels to replace and insurance costs should be considerably lower. If supported by parent subscription or lease arrangements, this could easily mean significantly costs savings over virtually any other scheme available today. Plus, it’s a pop in your pocket type of device, no expensive cases or bags required to “protect” it.
In the simplest terms, this is a computer on a stick – you simply plug it into a TV and it becomes a fully fledged wireless enabled Windows 8.1 computer.
So the dream scenario - of secure, safe, equal, inexpensive access to the school network and all its resources for every student and member of staff - could be reality very soon and here’s how: plug the Compute Stick in, access Magellan, and open up the school network system with one, secure, single sign on from anywhere.
In the simplest terms, this is a computer on a stick – you simply plug it into a TV and it becomes a fully fledged wireless enabled Windows 8.1 computer.
So the dream scenario - of secure, safe, equal, inexpensive access to the school network and all its resources for every student and member of staff - could be reality very soon and here’s how: plug the Compute Stick in, access Magellan, and open up the school network system with one, secure, single sign on from anywhere.
