Finally, your greatest and weirdest dream can be realized. Besides being able to check your Facebook account, email your girlfriend, call your Mom on the holidays, or play a Java version of
Golden Axe, you can take a college class via your mobile phone. The questionably named Cyber University in Japan has begun offering a mobile class on the "mysteries of the pyramids," but instead of a typical PC's display of text, images, sound, and video, the mobile version offers a streaming Power Point presentation on the topic. The university -- 71-percent of which is owned by
Softbank, a mobile service provider -- has 1,850 students, and offers almost 100 courses, though only
one is available for phones. Sakuji Yoshimura, head of Cyber University, says that the technology will allow those with jobs or who have disabilities greater access to education. "Our duty as educators is to respond to the needs of people who want to learn," he said -- then went on to add, "Even if the course is interrupted by an SMS."
Update: Did we say
Golden Axe? Because we meant
Wonder Boy. Whoops.
posted Nov 28th 2007 3:08PM
She doesn't look Japanese to me!
I believe it's what they call a "stock photo."
Also, not only Japanese people live in Japan.
Thank you, Captain Obvious. Next time I'll remember to add the sarcasm tag...
I had a phone like that when living in Japan.
Hey - I'm Captain Obvious!
The dog ate my phone/homework?
hold up hold up.....youre telling me that you can play golden axe on your phone?!?!
better save all that magic. lol
I know! I came here to comment on this too, so, java golden axe link plz.
With that headline, why can't you give me a pretty Japanese girl to look at?
Shame on you...
second
Because there's thousands of pretty japanese photos you can find on this thing called the internets.
What is this internet you speak of, and how can I get there?
My internets are clogged so that the race horses can't run through the tubes.
does the girl come with the course?
"Our duty as educators is to respond to the needs of people who want to learn," he said -- then went on to add, "Even if the course is interrupted by an SMS."
This statement would send any teacher I know leaping from the roof.
Which is why your teachers don't work for a college whose majority stake is owned by a cell phone service provider.
Doesn't that photo qualify for a caption contest?
Let us begin!
"WTF this phone is a POS lolz! omg"
"i pressed the on button, but it's still not vibrating."
She's hot - this is bad news for college - I want to see her in class so I can stare at her like a sexual predator, don't let her take classes from her phone.
BTW, the woman in the picture must be taking a course on the history of the cellphone. Note the unbridled enthusiasm.
the phone ironically looks dated (prolly 5-6 yrs old?
I think the phone might be the Royale from Virgin Mobile.
It must suck to pay a few thousand dollars to tske a course on a free cellphone (and imagine if it has the Verizon UI!)
PLEASE SAVE ME, NO VERIzON UI PLZ!
Did your caps lock "unbreak" halfway through typing that?
So when you graduate from a college by taking these courses (if available) will your potential employer at the interview take you serious or will they say this is a fake class like those online courses? but don't take my words for it. haha
Not all online courses are fake
i TaKeses Hi Skool on thee DvvDs dics and I amd doin jussts feayn!!!
(I really am, and it is a cool way to learn!)
Does anyone know her cellphone number?
bro, look at the picture..even she don't know her number.
spaceb: Can't stop laughing. Well done.
i got my masters in cellphonology. with a minor in texting.
The best they could come up with for the first course was "mysteries of the pyramids"? That sounds like a scooby-doo episode, not a course.
She's looking with disdain at her phone like, "Duh! Everyone knows that Djoser had the Step Pyramid constructed by Imhotep, not Sekhemket. What a shitty course."
Prof. Yoshimura is one of Japan's most famous Egyptologists. His courses have been delivered by streaming video on computers for years. As the head of this new university, it makes sense they chose one of his digitized courses to test cell phones as ed media. The title is a little dramatic, but either it's a wonky translation or they wanted to drum up interest.
Can you imagine writing a 5 page report on a cell phone? Torture.
Especially since the predictive text entry doesn't ever, ever predict you're going to type, "Sobekemsaf II Sekhemrewadjkhaw."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sobekemsaf_II
Will it run doom?
I think its kinda funny. You would think that such a technically inclined nation wouldnt need a class like that!
Oh, again, your late on this engadget, verizon wireless had it about 10am this morning. Second time today! Something must be wrong, because this has only happened ONE other time before!
Umm, so do they text you your diploma?
I am student in a course that uses LectureShare as its CMS and it also allows student to get course updates on the cell phone. Its pretty great and I think there is a real future for this type of mobile learning.
Its so lame that I can always tell the articles that will have few comments about the article,, just the picture.. Pictures that stand out for any reason =lame comments with no insight on the article.
I guess I'd do 'er
She looks like the girl in the Headstart Java books.
Wow, strong eyebrows.