Check it Out: Exploratory Equipment Loans
CIT will loan the equipment below to faculty for exploration related to teaching, on a first-come, first-served basis:
- 3D SpaceNavigator
- Amazon Kindle (e-reader)
- Sony Reader (e-reader)
- Sony Ultra Mobile PC
- eTrex GPS
NOTE: CIT also loans other more "standard" equipment as part of the Duke Digital Initiative: iPods and tablet PCs. See our DDI pages for more details about these options.
Want an easier way to navigate in your 3D applications like Google Earth?
Heard about the Kindle e-reader from Amazon and want to try it out before you buy one?
Interested in seeing what it's like to work on a REALLY small tablet-PC-like device?
Wondering how a GPS device might allow an interesting class activity?
CIT purchases various instructional technology devices and equipment to learn about them and to understand how they might be useful for teaching at Duke. Faculty can also borrow the devices to explore their usefulness in teaching. The devices we have available vary each semester, as new items are acquired and as old ones become obsolete, so there's always opportunity to try out something new!
When you borrow a device from us, we'll give you a brief tutorial and make sure you know how to find additional help and information. You can typically keep the item for 1 or 2 weeks, and we'll ask you for some feedback when you return it. Feel free to demo the device to others in your department, too!
Fall 2008 Loaner Equipment
3D SpaceNavigator
The 3D SpaceNavigator plugs into your computer via USB to facilitate moving around in a 3D environment. The key advantage of a SpaceNavigator over a mouse and keyboard is the ease of performing intricate adjustments to camera views and models without repeatedly stopping to change directions, zoom, or rotate models. With a SpaceNavigator you can do all three at once. The recommended use is with the SpaceNavigator in one hand and a mouse in another. 3Dconnexion's website has excellent videos to show how the SpaceNavigator is used.
This device would be very useful in building your 3D projects. It is compatible with over 100 3D programs, including Google Earth, Maya, AutoCAD, eDrawings, SketchUp, SolidWorks, and many others.
Amazon Kindle e-reader device
Amazon's Kindle device is the newest entrant in the newest generation of e-book readers which use the "e Ink" display technology. These new "virtual ink" monochrome displays are intended to mimic the look and clarity of type on a printed page and form a basis for portable devices focused mainly on reading books and documents, rather than being an added function to a general use laptop, cellphone or handheld computer.
Books, magazines, newspapers and blogs can be selected for the Kindle through Amazon's website or from the Kindle itself, and are automatically sent to the Kindle using the device's free built-in cell-phone-based wireless capability. The Kindle only reads Kindle-formatted texts, but documents in other formats (such as pdfs or Word documents) can be converted to Kindle format and sent to the device easily.
Although Kindle is designed for text reading, one can also use it to play Audible-format audio books. The Kindle also touts annotation capability (readers can add bookmarks and notes to pages), and a rudimentary web browser.
Sony Reader e-reader device
The Sony Portable Reader PRS-500 is one of a new generation of ebook readers that uses eInk display technology, like the Kindle. These new "virtual ink" monochrome displays are intended to mimic the look and clarity of type on a printed page and form a basis for portable devices focused on reading books and documents, rather than being an added function to a general use laptop, cellphone or handheld computer. Faculty can check out the Sony Reader to explore whether the device would be suitable for material such as book and journal article readings, textbooks, or printed material that might be used in conjunction with MP3 audio.
Operation is similar to iTunes for the iPod; the Sony Connect (PC only) software allows purchase of digital rights management (DRM)-protected ebook titles from the Sony Reader Store (DRM-protected titles can be stored on up to five Reader devices). The device also can display/play material in pdf, jpeg and mp3 formats. A third-party application designed to work with the Sony Reader converts RSS feeds and static web pages to pdf format for viewing on the device.
The Sony Reader includes rudimentary features for reading material, including the ability to bookmark pages, change text size and orientation. The internal fixed battery is only used when the display changes - typically, the device can be used for a week or two between charges.
Sony Ultra Mobile PCs (UMPCs)
The Ultra-Mobile PC (UMPC) is a very small tablet PC, developed as a joint effort by Microsoft, Intel and Samsung. Their goal was to provide a powerful, web-enabled multimedia computer in a small package, making it useful for fieldwork, on-the-go research, and other applications where a larger, more traditional laptop would be cumbersome. The CIT currently has a Sony Vaio UX series UMPC running Windows Vista and containing common applications for web browsing, office productivity, and basic multimedia. The Sony UMPC includes a built-in camera for high quality stills or web video and a camera for web conferencing, as well as a built in microphone for recording and a touch screen with stylus.
eTrex GPS
The eTrex Legend HCx is a handheld, rugged personal navigation device. Users can track their location using the GPS receiver and the digital maps, which include topographic features and landmarks. The eTrex Legend can be used to find your way, find specific GPS coordinates, and track your journey. The device can be connected to a computer using USB to transfer your collected data, so that you can map your journey or specific places visited. For example, you can create a Google Earth visualization using your coordinates from your trip.
