Computers in Libraries 2013 - Day 0 - Gadgets & Gaming Session

Once again I started off Computers in Libraries with the laid-back Gadgets & Gaming session where miscellaneous technology toys, typically useful for education, are put on display so that curious librarians can see how they work and if there's potential for their use in their library environments.  Many of the items on display this year had been present at previous Gadget & Gaming sessions, like Sphere, a remote controlled ball, slightly larger than a billiard ball, that can be driven using any Bluetooth enabled tablet.  However, several things were new and interesting and here are a few pictures.


Cubelets

The cubes in this picture are items called Cubelets.  They are each self-contained pre-programmed bits of robotics.  They have magnetic connectors on some sides and other functional parts on one or more sides, depending on the function of the Cubelet in question.  They are compatible with Lagos, hence the Lego squares sitting next to them.  The Cubelets can be chained together to create a kind of logical action.  So if a power Cubelet is connected to a sensor Cubelet which is connected to a light Cubelet, the light Cubelet will turn on if it receives an appropriate signal from the sensor Cubelet if the sensor Cubelet is getting power and senses something appropriate.  They are kind of interesting to play with and make for a nice low bar for basic robotics entry.


Finch

The Finch is a piece of robotics somewhat more advanced, perhaps a little too advanced to really be of much use during this gadget petting zoo.  It looked kind of interesting though.  It's a basic robot that is powered via USB cable connected to a computer.  The computer can send instructions to the robot via the USB cable and those instructions can be written in a veritable bevy of languages ranging from basic, kid-friendly languages (Scratch 2.0) to much more difficult languages (C++).  It's fairly inexpensive at $99.  It would have been nice to see it in action aside from having its beak glow though.  The presenters hadn't managed to get that far with the device.  In their defense, it's also kind of hard to quickly instruct people to write functional code for a device in a casual setting where people are chatting, drinking cans of pop and eating munchies.

Robot 3D Printer

The Robo is a serviceable, attractive, inexpensive (at $700) 3D printer with similar specs to the much more popular Makerbot.  It can use either ABS plastic or more environmentally friendly PLA plant-based plastic.  It seems it's primary drawback is there is no enclosure around the main print area.  I don't know exactly how it compares with the just announced, and hugely overfunded on Kickstarter, Micro 3D printer, but I think they are both signs that this technology will continue to improve and get cheaper.

3Doodler

The 3Doodler was a Kickstarter product that has made it into the wild.  It is a hand-held 3D printer, meaning the only computer control it has comes from your brain and it's only as good at drawing a three dimensional object as you are.  It is kind of fun though.  Using it isn't too dissimilar to using a hot-glue gun, except the "glue" rapidly firms up into a stiff, plasticky filament and rather than squeezing a trigger you push buttons on the device.  It's not as revolutionary as the 3D printer, but it's not as expensive either and provides a more immediate creative challenge.

Those were some of the more interesting additions at this year's session.