By David Sowerwine | Project Leader / Founder
On schedule a swarm of code-friendly students from Menlo School gathered for long hours this summer in the VTS garage/workshop. Over the past winter Skip Stritter, Looma's technical lead, completely re-wrote the Looma software creating a new version. The new code addresses all the comments from field trials, making it extensible so that now it is easy for them to add new types of activities and experiences.
Remember--Looma is an interactive audio-visual projector/sound system that can bring the best educational material from the world--the Internet--to any school, anywhere. As one system for an entire classroom--it is affordable, can run on solar power, and doesn't need an Internet connection.
One team built an accessible, interactive English<>Nepali dictionary, allowing the user/teacher to click (on the wall) on words that appear in projected text (schoolbooks...)--and then reveal the translation, definition, pronunciation, and possibly linked media.
Another team created an interactive map of Nepal, annotated with points of interest, selectable layers for various interests: cities, rivers, mountains, ethnic groups, earthquake data... This can be expanded easily.
A third team added media files to the textbook chapters to provide interesting depth and diversity to the lessons.
A fourth addressed the UX (look and feel) of the user interface, making the icons and buttons mor modern, fresh and beautiful.
And a fifth build some basic vocabulary/spelling activities--for quizes and games.
Meanwhile other volunteers completely revamped Looma's infrared camera interface so that the 'Harry Potter-like' wand-with-a-button now smoothly controls the system.
With a much faster Odroid computer, smooth wand system, and maturing applications, Looma II is coming closer to its potential--exciting access to the world of knowledge for students in any school, anywhere.
We at VillageTech Solutions are all volunteers -- if you or a friend want to get involved in this adventure -- join us!
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