So the iPad has finally been launched!

The long awaited iPad from Apple has finally been launched after much speculation.

The technology within the product is slick, taking forward the technologies that enables intuitive access to the software we have come to know from the iPhone. The big plus, of course, is the size of the screen - opening a whole new way of interacting with information located on the internet and processed via the kind of applications we have come to expect. Together with the standard range of goodies you would expect there is an integral ebook reader as well as the option to purchase word processing, spreadsheets and presentations using a multi-touch version of the iWork suite of software.

As well as the ease of use and improving access for learners with visual and hearing impairment or with physical or learning disabilities, the key to educational success will be the quality of applications to extend the potential as an educational device.

The integration with the Apps Store via iTunes means existing applications on the iPhone platform can be used straight away. However, these apps can be re-written to take maximum advantage of the technology built into the iPad. These will be appearing over the next 12 months or so.

As with any new product, the real potential can only become apparent once educators and learners have it in their hands to evaluate first hand. We have a while to wait before we have opportunity to explore the potential of this new product and decide whether iPad is now heading the list of the the ultimate "anywhere, anytime" learning device for learners both young and old.

The ultimate learning device?

The new Apple iPhone has many new features, bringing the spectre of the ultimate learning device ever closer. So, what is all the fuss about and is the new iPhone a step towards the ultimate "anytime, anywhere" learning device?

Technology features such as the G3 wireless technology, maps with GPS and numerous applications from third parties have been well publicised. A key point is the fusion of core technologies - the phone, iPod and access to the internet for web browsing and email into one with the option of iew and potentially creative applications to support learning.

Details about the range of features are contained in the iPhone User Guide - an essential read for the educator.

Whilst a number of these applications are already available (and some are free to download and install), those currently listed in the iTunes education category are somewhat limited in range and scope. A glimpse inside other categories reveals packages with more potential. With imagination, these can be used purposefully to create a number of anywhere, anytime learning activities.

Whilst the purchase price for new iPhone is less than the previous version, one of the major hurdles to overcome after securing availability is the overall cost. Not everyone is in the financial position to buy one of course. In the past, some schools and colleges have purchased a number of iPods for educational use. With the iPhone there are the recurring network costs to budget for as well as the initial cost of capital investment, raising a key question about value for money. Moreover, the use of the iPhone may also be open to abuse if the built-in features to restrict access to certain functions is not used.

Is the new iPhone a step toward the ultimate "anytime, anywhere" learning device? Based on our initial review, it certainly is a confident step forward in the right direction.

Extending the scope of learning activity

With the birth of the now ubiquitous MP3 players, learners had the option of listening to educational audio material anytime and anywhere. Soon this was extended to images and video. Nowadays, learners will have the addition of Wi-Fi technology via the latest incarnation of the iPod from Apple.

Does this mean we are a step closer to achieving the ultimate form of anytime, anywhere learning? Possibly.

Leaving aside emerging safety fears with using Wi-Fi based technology - especially with younger children - this new device introduces another dimension for anytime, anywhere learning.

Wi-Fi increases the scope of potential learning approaches, allowing learners not only access to the internet for research activities but also material presented within learning platforms or virtual learning environments (VLEs) for example.

Certainly the larger screen size (3.5 inch diagnonal) and longer playtimes will be a boon for enhanced podcasts (audio podcasts with pictures, chapters and hyperlinks) and for watching video.

If the design considerations are well-founded and the device is as easy to use as suggested, then the new iPod Touch should provide reasonable access for surfing the web and interactive learning, if within reach of wireless networks. Increasingly, Wi-Fi is available in a variety of public locations and buildings.

For on-campus use, this new device could prove ideal. With a little forward planning, material could be readily downloaded for later use. Whether there is sufficient support or consideration for learners with disabilities remains to be seen.

Where do we go from here?

Well, that is always in the hands of imaginative educators and their students. As ever, there is scope for extending the range and variety of learning activities, linking multi-media materials with both static and dynamic resources made available via the internet or educational intranets.

Wi-Fi: Friend or Foe?

There seems to be an increase in health-related questions about the use of Wi-Fi in educational settings, especially with children and young people. A recent article in The Independent newspaper highlighted the range of concerns being expressed by some notable health watchdogs.

For many schools, the move away from hard-wired networks to WiFi has provided much greater flexibility for using computers for teaching and learning. The expansion and uptake has been quite extensive in UK schools. Wi-Fi has been promoted by the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) - though they emphasise that it is for schools to make making decisions on Wi-Fi procurement and installation.

The debate about use of mobile phones and the siting of mobile transmission masts near school premises has been widely reported. What seems to have been overlooked in the Wi-Fi arena is that the technology uses the same processes as mobile phone receivers and transmitters, emitting radiation - albeit on a much reduced scale. Nevertheless, health concerns about the potential effects of radiation on growing children and young people remain. There is now an increasing number cases where Wi-Fi has either been banned or its use restricted in schools.

The next big question is whether a similar approach is likely to be taken in the home where Wi-Fi is fast becoming the network of choice for sharing internet, audio and video streams.

Is iPhone the future?

The launch of the iPhone by Apple heralds a whole new range of possibilities for anytime, anywhere learning.

The iPhone is a cool package with multi-touch display, an intelligent QWERTY keyboard, OS X multi-tasking and, of course, syncing to PCs. The product integrates three technologies - a widescreen iPod (audio and video) with touch controls, a mobile phone (calls, voicemails, SMS, photos, calendar) and internet communication (web browser with built-in Google and Yahoo!, email, maps and widgets).

Many educators are now actively considering and exchanging ideas on how the iPhone might provide a very flexible platform for a range of e-learning activities.

With the iPhone on sale from June in the USA and October in Europe there is plenty of time to explore what the product can offer for anytime, anywhere learning!!!