Mobile and Wearable Technologies - Panel Discussion

Synopsis

Recording of a panel discussion with:

Stephan Ridgway - Manager Learning and Innovation, TAFE NSW - Sydney TAFE

Michael Coghlan - Elearning Coordinator TAFE SA

Helen Lynch - Senior E-learning Consultant, Curriculum Renewal Project, Charles Sturt University, School of Policing, Goulburn, NSW, Australia

Facilitated by Alexander Hayes

Recorded at the mTech: Mobile and Wearable Technologies forum exploring the likely impact of mobile and wearable technologies in an educational context. held at INSPIRE Centre University of Canberra 16 August 2013.

Links

mTech 2013

THE CUSTOMER IS NOT ALWAYS RIGHT

The Radisson Blu Hotel on Dubai Creek is a great hotel - that's why I went back a second time. But the Duty Manager on the night I checked out (Sept 12th) - Rahul or Majul? - clearly doesn't believe the customer is always right. I felt I had been misled by information hotel staff had given me on my previous visit. I had been encouraged to book directly with the hotel - something I rarely do - and it ended up costing me considerably more. Consequently I thought  it reasonable that my bill be discounted a little. Rahul wasn't having any of this, and persisted on telling me how hotel bookings work - something I know a bit about! - and only begrudgingly in the end acknowledged, after much prompting from me, that 'he got my point.' He did eventually discount the price and I was grateful for that, but I was annoyed at his stubborn refusal to concede that his hotel staff had erred. Most unusual for front of house staff to be this stubborn in my experience. The money wasn't really the point for me. I just wanted acknowledgement that I had been misled. Rahul - I just don't make up stories to get $30 of my bill, and I think you need to come down a peg or two if you want a long career in hospitality. But, as I said, a great hotel. Right on Dubai Creek with wonderful  views , mostly very friendly staff, and excellent breakfast. Reasonable free wifi. (Sorry if I got your name wrong 'Rahul' - but you know who you are.)

(The above posted to Trip Advisor.)

WHAT TO DO IN DUBAI

DO take an abra (traditional wooden water taxi) across the river (1 dirham)

DO visit the Dubai museum. Excellent reconstructions and model displays of Dubai's past.

DO go to Dubai Mall at sunset and watch the sound, light and fountain show for some sheer fantasy.

DO go to Jumeirah public beach for a swim. Taxis come by frequently to take you to your next destination, Metro, or hotel.

DO take the Metro to anywhere. There's a brand spanking new airconditioned city underground that is fantastic relief in the summer.

DO visit the spice section in the grand souk. Great sights and sounds. And if gold is your thing you can ogle wealthy tourists shopping  in the nearby gold shops.

DON'T bother with the aircon tourist water taxi on the creek unless you're desperate for a cool break.

DON'T bother with the Burj Al-Arab. You can't get any further than the gate and you can see it well enough from other places.

DUBAI MARINA - DO or DON'T? If you want to see first hand the excesses of rich Dubai give it a visit. Its opulence is impressive. But if this kind of thing offends you stay away. (it's also quite a long way from central Dubai.)

Population Profile

If you get the impression that Dubai is full of young men who are on their own without family and not particularly happy, consider:

·         75% of the population is male

·         50% are from South Asia

·         the largest cohort are the 16-29 year olds

Changing World of Education

"The dominant culture of education has come to focus not on teaching and learning, but testing...this...leads to a culture of compliance rather than creativity." (Sir Ken Robinson) TED Talk at http://www.ted.com/talks/ken_robinson_how_to_escape_education_s_death_valley.html

Unsound

Event: Unsound Adelaide. Tim Hecker & Daniel Lopatin (aka Oneohtrix Point Never), Robin Fox, Raime and Trinity (Biosphere, Lustmord, MFO)

Queens Theatre, Thu Mar 14

It began without introduction or fanfare. Two shadowy figures huddled over keyboards, mixers and other assorted gadgetry launched an electronic fanfare of their own that enveloped every square centimetre of the Queens Theatre. It was quite literally an assault on the senses: volume was something you felt not just heard. Often quite beautiful ethereal sounds were disturbed by sonic rumblings that seemed to come from deep within the earth to shake the building and vibrate your organs. A sound and light show followed that just took the concept to a new level. Sound driven beams, waves, arcs, and swirls radiated above and around us in a science fiction fantasy. Except of course it is not sci-fi - it is now. Much excitement lays ahead for those who dabble in the digital arts. *Unsound Adelaide part 1 was a stunning, if a little scary, entree into a field that could blow peoples' minds.

Murder (Queen's Theatre, 6/3/13)

Billed as a meditation on our culture's obsession with violence Murder is surprisingly beautiful. Murder brings people together. In previous ages murder was an accepted public spectacle and drew big crowds. Our contemporary world has been forced to find other ways to indulge our fascination with death, and Murder displays several alternatives in a dream-like narrative. The subconscious realm is represented by puppets with a form and elegance so convincing you forget they're not real. Reality itself however is presented as a blend of dreams, sex, death, subconscious and fantasy - all with overlapping boundaries. Nick Cave's songs provide a suitably ominous soundtrack, and visual media offer clues about location, and the state of mind of the production's only human character. There are macabre moments but they are softened by a trance like atmosphere that teases the subconscious - humans aren't like this on a conscious level are they? Are we? Am I?

DirtDay! - Laurie Anderson

DirtDay! is a remarkable piece of performance art. The stage is lit with candles as Laurie Anderson begins a musical journey punctuated with spoken thoughts on the role of women, evolution, religion, politics, philosophy, economics, death - with superb dramatic timing and plenty of humour. This show has so many levels - a visual feast, a philosophical treatise, an entrancing musical performance, and at times a profound literary event. While Anderson reveals her depth as a serious artist in choreographing the multiple facets of this performance, it is also liberally sprinkled with opportunities to appreciate both the absurdity of existence, and her own art. Her dog gets a cameo role as a guest artist! There were shades of Pink Floyd and Nick Cave in the hypnotic feel of the musical score but the mastery of electronic keyboard, violin and other assorted gadgets produces an overall sound that is uniquely hers.

The Saints of British Rock

The Saints of British Rock tells the tale of a mythical rock band that rise to stardom during the sixties. Using the format of a celebrity chat show, supplemented by slides, movies and animation, they relate stories of their success before disappearing into a time warp that is connected with Camelot and King Arthur. Somehow they are converted into eco-rock warriors and re-emerge as musical campaigners for the natural environment. So far so good. The dialogue from the two main characters however just seems childish and pointless. The intent presumably is to satirise the phenomenon of vacuous rock stars being thrust into the limelight and forced to be spokespersons about things they know little about, but the writing is tedious and lacks punch. Musically the show holds together and has some nice moments. It would work better if they just told the story with music and multimedia and drastically prune the dialogue.

4 Voice - Review

4 Voice are four local lads who promote themselves as Adelaide's premiere acapella group - good on 'em for aiming high! Happily we were encouraged to keep our phones and cameras ON - at least someone understands new media. We were then treated to a high energy, humorous, lively and engaging show of original arrangements of mostly golden oldies, complete with dance routines, and a couple of excellent originals thrown into the mix. (Big tick!) Their infectious stage presence easily gets the audience involved on several numbers. Highlights: the song they use to pick up girls, a zany impromptu restaurant scene, and the vocals of their bass man Tom. A fun show.

Again Amazing - Nicholas Tweedy

There's magic and there's mentalism - Nicholas Tweedy's preference is mentalism but he offers both in this extraordinary show. Lots of card tricks and non-threatening audience participation in an informal and relaxed presentation. It almost feels like you're at home with friends. With each 'trick' the stakes are raised and it becomes harder to believe what you're seeing, but every time Tweedy manages to prove he knows what we're thinking. It's the second time I've seen this kind of mentalism in action and despite my cynicism (apparently Australian audiences are among the most sceptical) I'm now a convert - I believe that mentalists can control what we think! There is no other rational explanation for some of the things that happen in Again Amazing. Presentation could be slicker but my guess is 'Nick' wants to keep it down home and cosy. Treat yourself and go test out your own cynicism.

Inside- Frank Woodley and Simon Yates

This is theatre rather than comedy; art rather than entertainment. Comedy and tragedy are different sides of the same coin, and Inside clearly demonstrates this paradox. Brothers Vasili and Viktor are confined in a dark place, and have been for a very long time. Their symbiotic relationship is endearing and sometimes uncomfortable for the audience. It goes way beyond the fraternal as they struggle to maintain their sanity. A five minute window of sunlight each day allows them to dream, and entertain hopes of escape. There are funny moments and they come as welcome comic relief. Often people laughed at what I found sad - I was searching for the symbolism - while others needed to laugh. Plenty of physical comedy and clever musical moments, but clearly Frank Woodley is trying something new, and it worked for me. But it was much more than just a laugh. 

Tim Fitzhigham - The Gambler

Some would argue that betting is in the Australian blood. An hour with wide-eyed Tim Fitzhigham makes it quite clear that our obsession with betting has ancient roots in the mother country. Tim has done some very strange things in his time, all in the name of a good bet. Pushing wheelbarrows across London, challenging the world's best in chess, rowing a bathtub across the English channel, long distance Morris dancing - and he re-enacts these crazy adventures with the skills of an engaging storyteller. And if his stories seem a bit far-fetched he has photographs to back them up. The appeal of this show is the weirdness of the tales and the humour and infectious energy of the storyteller as we relive his oddball adventures and take our own bets on their outcome. Like a bet? Take a chance and go and see this funny, enjoyable, and instructive show.