Michael Knutson
08-28-2010, 06:00 PM
<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.kno.com/' target='_blank'>http://www.kno.com/</a><br /><br /></div><p><em>"While no one was looking, someone revolutionized the textbook, higher education, and learning itself in one crazy, bold move."</em></p><p><object width="599" height="337" data="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=12223465&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=00ADEF&fullscreen=1&autoplay=0&loop=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="src" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=12223465&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=00ADEF&fullscreen=1&autoplay=0&loop=0" /></object></p><p>From looking at the videos, this device looks pretty spectacular. Starting up, the 'semester view' is presented, with a collection of textbooks and tools. Imagine taking a typical college student backpack: dump it out; turn everything into an electronic equivalent; and put it all into a two-paned tablet. Texts can be annotated and highlighted, objects can be extracted and re-used, and it functions well as a note-taking device and a web browser. </p><p>Looking at the reaction videos on Vimeo, students queried liked the dual-pane approach better than current eBooks, with the ability to "write in the book" very popular amongst those currently saddled with gigantic, heavy $300 textbooks. The Kno is so cool that I'd even consider it, although my school days are long past.</p>