Tom Farrell, an expert on the tablet PC, gave UCA faculty members a crash course on the new technology during a luncheon hosted by the Instructional Development Center.Farrell, an associate professor of business information systems at Dakota State University, was a self-described doubting Thomas when the technology emerged on his campus in 2003, but today he is a believer.
Like UCA, Dakota State University is a wireless campus with a phased-in student laptop initiative. The difference is Dakota State University students are issued convertible laptops, or tablet PCs.
Farrell described the tablet PC as a ?smartboard on steroids.? He demonstrated several innovative uses for the tablet PC including wireless projection, converting handwriting to computer text and ?printing? notes, assignments, etc. to programs such as Web CT for mass consumption.
Terry James, director of UCA?s Title III grant, said the presentation was valuable because several UCA faculty have expressed interest in learning more about tablet PCs.