Mobile Learning

…and with it, a chance to have instructional/educational video content, delivered on demand on mobile phones:

Only for demo purposes this video shows how the technology provided by Multimedia Mobile services http://www.multimediams.com is capable to enable any content or service provider to instantly delivering contents or services to any 3G enabled mobile phone. No additional software required like flash plug-in, etc. Perform the exact service provided on internet for computers on the cell phones. So simple, so cool! To be shown on 2007 3GSM. For more information go to http://www.multimediams.com

Yet to be officially launched, the (what else) YouTube video showing YouTube on a 3G mobile phone is accompanied by this message:

A cutting edge mobile technology will be introduced on 2007 Barcelona 3GSM Congress. It provides capability to take any internet service or content to be full experienced, without limitations on 3G mobiles… No extra software, just your mobile device. Simply AMAZING! Future starts monday 12 on 3GSM Congress.

See the video of YouTube for Mobiles in action here.

[via Darla Mack and Technoblabber]

technorati tags:video, youtube, mobile, 3g, cellphone, m-learning, mlearning, mobile learning, mobile-learning, mobilelearning

A new application by software developer Comverse Technology allows the immersive 3D environment, Second Life, to be accessed on internet-connected mobile devices running Java ME. SMS and video streaming can also be integrated between Second Life’s virtual world and the real one.

What does this mean? Well, for a start, Second Life characters are becoming increasingly like real people. Being able to SMS, text, and video-chat with Second Life Characters on both your computer and mobile phone is making these avatars as substantial (or at least, as accessible) as many flesh-and-blood friends and contacts.

Could it be long before virtual avatars begin to blur the boundaries between real and scripted conversation? Try having a chat with a completely automated chat generator; sometimes, it can be eerily like having a chat with a real person. Imagine being able to ask a virtual avatar questions we might ordinarily ask a teacher, and getting back instant guidance or feedback. As a test, I asked the automated chat generator “What is the meaning of life?” and it immediately shot back the very interesting answer “To pursue happiness for ourselves and those we love”. Although that’s a programmed response to a fairly common question, it might not be long until we can “call” a virtual “professor” and ask them questions like “What is the scientific name for the wolf?” or “How do I make a berry souffle?” and get meaningful, useful – and reliable – answers.

Being able to access a virtual guide or mentor from mobile devices could make for learning opportunities – anytime, anywhere, for help with almost anything. While it’s going to be decades before virtual avatars have the intelligence to weight issues – and thus go beyond supplying simple facts or opinions – a lot of the time, all we really need are the facts or opinions, to which we can apply our own intelligence to construct knowledge and make decisions; that, too, is learning.

[Link: Second Life Reuters via Connected Learning Community]

technorati tags:second life, secondlife, 3d, virtual, world, avatar, comverse, technology, education, sms, text, video, mlearning, m-learning, mobile learning, mobile-learning, mobilelearning