Makerbot 3D Printer Gains Traction on College Campus

I received our academic library Makerbot Replicator (the first generation model with dual extrusion) in the summer of 2012.  I spent a good deal of time tinkering with it during the summer, but still didn't have great success implementing it in the fall until I met a freshmen design student in a graphic design class I was visiting. Read more about my first experience with 3D Printing.

So, before I explain how the printer has "taken off" with some needed help, I have to back up a bit and explain what I tried to do to launch a 3D printer on a small private liberal arts college campus.

First, I created a step by step how-to guide on how to get started with 3D Printing.  This guide was meant to "flip the classroom" or give students on campus all of the resources and training they needed (in one place) up until they were ready to load their creation on the actual 3D printer (hardware).  Then I dropped links on the library's home page and sprinkled invitations to get involved with the printer on the library's and university's social media sites.  I got some initial attention and emails from students wanting to know how to get involved even before the school year started. This 3D Printer will be easy to get off the ground - I thought.

However, the undergrad students that did contact me either quickly found out that there was some actual work that went into designing and printing in 3D or were swept away with the beginning of the school year's coursework and social engagements (probably the latter). I also had some students come into my office with drawings days before the semester ended looking to print out a prototype or project for a class.  I had to turn those students away since they had nothing in terms of actual designs nor had spent any time trying to even learn about what a 3D printer was capable of.  So, my next bet was on the faculty.

I got invited to visit a 3D design class in the Art department after some self (and printer) promotion- and thought it was a great chance for these students to put the first student designs through the Makerbot. I showed up to the class and gave a demo of SketchUp, explained the workflow of file types up until you get to Replicator G, passed around a few sample prints, and left the link to my online Getting Started guide.  I instructed students to make their initial designs small or at most something that was 2" tall and 2" wide.

Fox with Hat from Makerbot (painted)

One student in particular responded quickly with her Fox with Hat design (left)- the first student to put a design through.  While it was a little rough going with the brim of the hat  falling off due to the lack of support, it showed a lot of promise.  I had even heard from the instructor that this particular student was helping her classmates navigate the software and the overall process. 

So, I did the smartest thing I could do and hired the student as the Makerbot 3D Printer Work Study for the Spring semester.  Since coming on the library payroll, she has made great strides in being the library liaison for the 3D Printer.  The student has made a video of the printer in action, gave a workshop to a spring 3D design class, printed out her peers' projects from the fall 3D design class, and was recently featured on the front page of the local newspaper. Most importantly, the student is printing student work and orchestrating everything (workshops, software, promotion) with interested professors and students.  

Our next venture will be to feature the Makerbot in action at an upcoming Student Achievement Showcase in the spring, where we will have a chance to take down more names of interested students.  The excitement and interest over the printer did not happen right at the start, but thankfully did finally happen.  While securing the grant to buy the Makerbot and the job of implementing it on campus was mine and mine alone, I always knew that these types of projects and technology belong in the hands of students.  Hopefully in 6-9 months I will post again and have much more to say about how our Makerbot is being used on campus.

*Information contained within these pages do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of Schreiner University.

 

Here Come the Robots

On New Years eve (2012) I saw the first robot commercial run on network television for domestic use products. Maybe this wasn't the first iRobot commercial, in fact I am sure it wasn't, but this was one of those extra long commercials slated during the "New Year's Countdown" on NBC or something- that really cemented the fact that the future consumer technology market, which is currently dominated by hand-held devices (tablets, smartphones, etc.), will certainly include robots. Exciting news indeed.


Yes, the vacuum-style robots have been on the market for a few years, but this was the first time I have seen iRobot advertise on TV with a hint at future products, or rather what might be right around the corner.  The commercial did touch on defence products and other commercial applications,  but seemed to lean towards new products for the average Joe.

Right now, it seems that domestic robots, or those for common folks like you and I, just perform a single task.  My wife was pushing for a Roomba this Christmas, but to me it just doesn't do that much to warrant the high price tag.  No, like many devices or pieces of technology, I am going to wait this out till we see some multi-use robots.

It would seem that for all purposes, these robots of the future are still in the infancy stage, only performing one single task (cleaning floors, clearing gutters, cleaning the pool, and so on).  However, when we start to see products like the Roomba, that can clean your floors while also performing another task, say some sort of motion detection like the Rovio does- then we will start to see household robotics really take off.

Many of us can remotely log-in to security cameras inside our home or control lights and appliances from across the globe.  What if we were able log-in remotely and control a robot to get the mail, pick up newspapers, or feed a pet- take out the trash?  The future of robotics for consumers may be just around the corner.

Honda's Assimo is a star in his own right in his native Japan.  Check out this video as well as others to see what human form robots, like Assimo can do.

$99 Nexus Tablet? A Great Candidate for Higher Ed's Mobile Initiatives

The 1st release of Google's Nexus 7.  Word of a $99 unit?

There is a rumor goin' round on the interwebs that Google has plans to release a $99.00 version of their Nexus tablet.  I am not a tech prophet by trade, but I figured this would be Google's next move as their flagship Nexus came out at a mere $199 for the lower memory unit (Asus appears to be denying the plans, but that is an expected move from a manufacturer).  I expected the $99 version to come out a year later after release of the flagship tablet.

Could the rumored $99.00 Nexus tablet be the piece of technology that educators have been waiting for?  Many in Higher Ed have tried mobile initiatives with the iPad  and many more have toyed with the idea but opted to wait and see. Those institutions that have implemented a mobile initiative (to an incoming freshmen class for example) appeared to have major support from mobile carriers, that most small institutions just don't have.  However, if a WI-FI device could be issued as a secondary device for college students at the price of $99.00 it may make many college administrators take another look.

A colleague bought the first release of the Nexus 7 tablet and dropped it off for me to check out.  Let me just say that it is a great device for the money and a great unit for those that have never owned a tablet (price point alone is accessible at $199).  I can't wait to see a cheaper version and if it is 5 inches or something in the neighborhood of the iPad mini- I am still going to buy it.  The Nexus 7 inch won't give you arm strain from holding it to read an ebook and makes my Xoom feel like a cumbersome paper-weight.

I still appreciate the old Xoom now loaded with Jelly Bean, but frustrated at the performance from the various Android browsers on offer (Dolphin, Chrome, and even Firefox).  Namely Google's Chrome browser for Android should perform well on their own devices but just can't seem to handle modern and popular websites without wanting to shut down (pressing the "wait" button seems to let the page load and avoid closing everything out, but it is a hassle and ruins the consumption of internet and media).

In the latest issue of Wired I just read an article stating that the Google devices have the purest Android experience compared to other flavors out there residing on phones and tablets.  Yes, the bloatware can ruin any OS on the non Google devices, but Google does seem to keep the bloat-factor down, or it could be that we simply no longer consider Google branded Apps bloatware.

                        *Information contained within these pages do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of Schreiner University.

Beautiful Far Away Libraries in Alaska

An amazing view from the stacks of Ketchikan Public Library in Alaska.

I fulfilled my long time dream of visiting Alaska this past summer and even had a chance to visit a few public libraries along the way.  I wanted to use the library's WI-FI to check my email on my tablet and even catch a glimpse of what it might be like to be a librarian in Alaska.

My favorite of all my stops was Ketchikan, Alaska.  Ketchikan seems to have it all for a Alaskan community.  It has a vibrant downtown area, beautiful waterways with sea-planes taking off every few minutes, and even a wonderful public library perched above a river.  There is a great Salvation Army store with all kinds of winter clothes that you just don't find in the lower 48 and a well-known outdoors outfitter where you can find every kind of gear called the Tongass Trading Company (be sure to go to the 2nd floor to see the foul weather gear and outdoor stuff- the 1st floor is primarily tourist souvenirs).

Though there were other libraries to stop and see along the way, the Ketchikan Public Library seemed to have the best vibe and ambiance (and according to the website, it is the oldest public library in operation in Alaska).

When I was in graduate school I dreamt of moving to Alaska and finding that dream librarian job.  I'm sure my Alaskan fantasy was influenced to some degree from the TV series Northern Exposure, which was popular around my teenage years.  

I am not sure I have completely "kicked" my Alaska dream, but I think my visit there either satisfied my curiosity for awhile or sparked a greater fire to someday make the plunge and move up there ("Alaska or Bust!" my sign would have to say).  Either way, Alaska is a majestic and enchanted place that just draws you in.    

I guess I have always been drawn to Alaska and the magnetic force that willed me there predated the popular Discovery shows like Deadliest Catch and Gold Rush.  Well, it was nice to finally have my feet on Alaska's terra firma and drink-in the places and people that I had imagined for so many years.  The Ketchikan Public library was really what I had imagined what a library in Alaska would be like.

While I am sure the library has it's share of everyday library problems, it was nice to visit such a warm and cozy library and experience it as a local patron.  I admit to imagining for a minute what it would be like working in such a beautiful environment.  Shelving books at KPL must be a highly sought after task by librarians and staff. I know I wouldn't be able to stop myself from pausing for long periods of time near the windows to gaze down at the water rushing by.

                              *Information contained within these pages do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of Schreiner University.