mirror mirror

“AirPlay is a technology invented by and used by Apple to let users broadcast audio, video, and photos to compatible WiFi-connected devices.”                             Source

There are some technological changes happening in my home this year as we become enamoured with streaming music, television and movies over the WiFi. In short, our home is untangling from the cables that have, for decades, been snaking dustily behind speakers, computers, gaming and entertainment systems.

 

MIRRORING

Apple TV is proving a popular way for us to view YouTube and iTunes movies. It is pretty cool for watching Flickr streams too.  This kind of AirPlay mirroring will shortly be available in OS X Mountain Lion as this upgrade will bring a range iPad-like features to Apple computers. While waiting for Mountain Lion, AirParrot suffices, mirroring our Mac’s screen to Apple TV, allowing a range of extra and convenient viewing options.

We have also tried out some iOS games, that mirror to the television from our iPads, too. I am not certain that this will be a preferred gaming option for us but it does mean new, inexpensive games can be tried out easily on the big screen.

Mirroring my iPad or iPhone to my computer and television has been more than fun at home, it has been useful at conferences too. Tony Vincent‘s post started me off with using Reflection and then later, the excellent AirServer. These apps allowed me to wander around with my iPad while presenting, demonstrating a variety of tools and ideas that were being writ large on the presenter’s main screen.

I helped my Boss set up his new iPad the other day by turning my Macbook around to face him and mirroring from my iPad. It was a very convenient option while he played with his new toy, watching my screen.

Here’s another idea or two about mirroring an iPad with your own network that may be of interest.

 

NATIONAL BROADBAND NETWORK

This increasing reliance on our WiFi at home has us feeling excited that we will be able to take advantage of the NBN roll-out in Kiama, one of the first in Australia, with the faster connection speeds that will result. For readers not familiar with the National Broadband Network in Australia, this will, excuse my quip, bring you up to speed.

 


cc licensed ( BY NC ND ) flickr photo shared by ihave3kids

POSTSCRIPT (SCHOOLS)

(Mirroring) makes the option of a ceiling mounted data projector with HDMI input look attractive 😉

Roger Pryor‘s quip on Twitter has me thinking about how to set up a classroom that takes advantage of the current technology. I mentioned recently that I am impressed with the Sonos app that is now streaming music sites to our speakers but this is just the start.

What might be possible at school? How can we take advantage of technological innovations to improve engagement and learning?

Your thoughts?

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Comments(3)

    • Andrew

    • 12 years ago

    I already use airplay in my iPad classroom. It is quite a good tool for showing student work to the class and for demonstrating to students what they could be viewing. The ability to knock the previous person “off” was fun at first but students soon learnt to be sensible. When direct teaching is not occurring it also gives the students a chance to put up their pictures and / or play their music (at a reasonable volume and subject to teacher veto and group veto).
    I work with 16 to 18 year old students.

  1. These are important explorations and while my investigations have been largely with AppleTV, I’ll now actively begin experimenting with some of this additional connectivity.

    I find myself wondering about the Federal Government subsidised Digital Education Revolution’s future and if it will have another iteration in 2014. Assuming it doesn’t I wonder about the best use of existing wireless infrastructure in schools. Several threads emerge in my mind and all involve devices that will allow the functionality you describe. BYOD might work, but I’m not certain about the equity issues here. Perhaps the future lies in the provision of access to tablets or technology such as the Chromebook that rely on wireless access to the cloud. Systems could negotiate below retail market prices on such devices.

    At this point I’m still thinking. Of course, as a 65 year old temporary DEC employee, I too have an uncertain future.

  2. I must admit I got a bit lost on the technology but I LOVE that picture. That’s what got me to your article. Thanks for posting.

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