STTR Phase I: Digital eWriter for the Classroom

这一创新是开发了一种新的设备，称为eWriter，用于课堂使用，既是一种可持续的纸张替代技术，也是学生/教师互动的有效工具。这些设备通过满足人类制作和记录手写图像的需要，解决了实现可持续世界的问题，而不会对环境造成与纸张生产相关的损害。它们被广泛接受，因为它的书写体验与纸和笔的感觉非常相似。无纸化的课堂工作流程将需要自动收集作业并以电子方式评分的工具。将创建由这些设备启用的虚拟白板，以加强学生/教师的互动。该项目专注于数学和科学教育，这是由于工作的基本性质、特殊符号和格式要求而难以使用其他设备类型服务的领域，例如需要键盘输入的领域。然而，这些设备本身适用于更广泛的主题领域，包括艺术，值得注意的是，一些艺术家已经将eWriter作为他们的媒介。由于eWriter是一项新技术，该项目将是首批探索其应用于教育的变革潜力的项目之一。更广泛/更广泛的商业影响始于显著减少学校纸张消耗的社会好处，后来随着越来越多的学生进入劳动力大军，准备在不使用纸张的情况下工作，该影响扩展到工作场所。同样重要的是eWriter向教师提供的新工具，特别是通过允许教师和学生之间进行无线交互的虚拟白板。有能力的教师将在艺术和科学等不同学科领域找到接触学生的新方法。在学生考试成绩和学术竞争力不断下滑之际，这一点的重要性怎么强调都不为过。在商业上，eWriter显示技术已在美国开发和制造，并投资于俄亥俄州肯特市的卷轴显示生产设施。因此，将这项技术发展成一种教育工具，除了有助于环境保护外，还有助于维持国内经济。现有的eWriter产品、分销、零售渠道和营销为教育发展商业化提供了强大的平台。在教育环境中取得的初步成功显示出在这一领域取得商业化成功的巨大希望和潜力。

The innovation is the development of a new class of devices known as eWriters for classroom use as both a sustainable paper replacement technology and an effective tool for student/teacher interaction. These devices address the problem of achieving a sustainable world by satisfying the human need for making and recording handwritten images without the environmental harm associated with the production of paper. They are widely accepted based on a writing experience which closely mimics the feel of pen and paper. The paperless classroom workflow will require tools for automatically collecting assignments and electronically grading them. Virtual whiteboards enabled by the devices will be created to enhance student/teacher interaction. The project focuses on math and science education, areas that are difficult to service with other device types, such as ones requiring keyboard input, due to the basic nature of the work, special symbols, and formatting requirements. However, the devices themselves are applicable to a broader range of subject areas, including art, where it is noteworthy that some artists have already adopted the eWriters for their medium. As eWriters are a new technology, the project will be among the first to explore their transformative potential as applied to education.The broader/commercial impact begins with the societal benefit of significantly reduced paper consumption in schools and later extends into the workplace as increasing numbers of students enter the workforce prepared to perform their jobs without the use of paper. Also important is the new tool that eWriters provide to teachers, particularly through virtual whiteboards that permit wireless interaction between a teacher and their students. Capable teachers will find new ways of reaching students in subject areas as varied as art and science. It is hard to overstate the importance of this at a time of flagging student test scores and academic competitiveness. Commercially, the eWriter display technology has been developed and manufactured in the United States, with investments in roll-to-roll display production facilities in Kent, Ohio. Development of the technology into an educational tool therefore assists in sustaining the domestic economy, in addition to the environment. The existing eWriter product, distribution, retail channels, and marketing give a strong platform for the educational development to be commercialized. The initial success in educational settings shows strong promise and potential for commercialization success in this field.