On the Web: Hardware Basics

On the Web: Hardware provides access to well known sites that provide computer systems, input, output, and storage devices. Sections are listed alphabetically. If you know of a site that would provide helpful information to teachers, please contact us

Computer Corporations: Hardware, software, support services, and more.

Apple Computer
Apple Computer offers an extensive site where the Apple Store, hardware and software product information (iPhone, iPod, iTunes, iWork and iLife as well as system software (Mac OS X Leopard), downloads, support services and much more can be found. Search this site for recommended ways to use Apple's creations in education.

Dell Computer
Dell Computer offers an extensive site where hardware and software product information (notebooks, desktops, servers, printers and TVs, software and accessories), technical support and help and more can be found. Go to Government, Education, Healthcare and Life Science link to find special pricing for K-12 schools.

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Computer Basics & Tutorials

The following sites basic information, lessons and tutorials about computer basics. Annotations provide more information.

Jan's Illustrated Computer Basics
Jan Smith, a mathematician and teacher, designed this site that holds basic information about computer literacy. The site is rich with pictures and includes information on computer types, software applications, hardware devices and much more.

How Stuff Works
This searchable site is rich of information and is a leading resource for explanations about how computers work. The site includes but is not limited to information about hardware, software, security, peripherals, and the Internet. Check out the Computer Channel that provides information about how Twitter, and social networks including Linkedin, and Facebook works.

Sandy’s Classroom Tutorials
This site, developed by Sandy Berger and powered by CompuKISS, offers helpful tutorials about computer basics, care and maintenance, email, hardware, the Internet, and troubleshooting and so much more. Read about Sandy’s background and roam around this very informative and useful site.

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Input Devices: Digital Cameras, Scanners, and Reviews

The following sites offer current information on cameras inlcuding digital still, video and webcams, scanners and portable audio and video devices. Annotations provide more information.

A Few Scanning Tips
Wayne Fulton has developed a huge amount of information at this site that offers basic to not so basic information about scanning. Included here are screen shots of several popular scanning software. There is also information about ordering his book in print. GREAT RESOURCE!!

Digital Photography Review
This site offers a lot of current information and reviews on digital cameras and accessories.

Digicamhelp
This guide for digital camera beginners and beyond, originally started by an educator to help her less technical friends, has since transformed into pages that present information on digital cameras and photography. This information rich site connects the reader to a buying guide, features, accessories, taking pictures, working with images and more.

How a Digital Camera Works
How Stuff Works provides this section that details the inner workings of a digital camera, detailing the process from capture to output.

Nuance: Scanner Guide for First Time Users
Nuance Communications (formerly Scansoft) offers a scanner guide of basic information for first time users of scanners or to refresh one's memory.

Portable Audio (and Video) Devices
Apple offers various models of iPods. The iPod shuffle plays music, podcasts, and audiobooks. These nifty little audio players have a 1 GB capacity and prices begin around $50. The iPod nano plays music, podcasts, audiobooks as well as video from movies, TV shows and videos. There are more models that are more expensive with greater capabilities.

Webcams
Webcams allow video conferencing. The little camera perks on your computer and streams video across you network. You can see a video at this site. The webcam that Jeff Weisbein recommends is from Logitech (logitech.com) and the cost is approximately $130.

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Input Devices: Electronic White Boards

This section offers current information on popular interactive whiteboards. Annotations provide more information.

Mimio
Virtual Link offers mimeo, a product that converts any whiteboard to an electronic whiteboard for the P-12 environment. At this site, opportunities are available to apply for a grant award to bring this technology to your classroom. There are curriculum solutions as well as an online demo. See this exciting tool

Promethean
Promethean markets the Activeboard, an interactive whiteboard, found in many many of today's classrooms. The Activeboard+2 has a projector mounted to the board making installation a breeze.This site offers an interactive video and more.

SMART Technologies
This company markets the well-known SMARTboard that is commonly found in business and educational training settings. See these interactive whiteboards in action as you watch the online video. A special section for educators is found for teachers to browse the resources available. SMART offers the all in one board that brings together the interactive whiteboard and the projector to offer more flexibility in the classroom.

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Input Devices: PDA and Handhelds and Clickers

Mobile Tech Review [formerly PDA Buyers Guide]
This site offers reviews on a variety of PDAs, phones, notebooks, iPods, MP3 players and more.

Turning Point Technologies
Clickers (student response systems) are used in K-12 education to create dynamic interactive classroom environments. Turning Point offers videos to show this technology in action.

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Output Devices: Printers

Hewlett Packard (HP)
Visit the HP site to explore the resources and services available for educational settings (K-12 and higher education) in your state. Also found here are the "hot deals" at the time as well as K-12 solutions and much more. Of special interest will be the pricing on computers and printers.

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Storage Devices: Drives and Removable Storage Options

iomega
The iomega site shares information about external hard drives (external and portable) with huge storage capacities, as well as CD-RW/DVD players and much more. An online store is available as well as store locators at this site.

Kingston Technology
Kingston Technology offers memory for multiple manufacturers and devices at this site from a drop-down list. It is possible to search by memory type, model name or part numbers that are system specific. There is also a selection of storage choices including USB drives, photo/video storage solutions, mobile solutions, and media readers.

Lacie
Lacie offers its well known hard drives and DVD burners as well as other accessories and displays. Check out this site for the latest in storage and backup possibilities.

SanDisk
This site advises consumers about storage for digital cameras, digital video cameras, and portable storage devices, reader/writers, adaptors and MP3 players. Research this site to see what this company offers and where these products are found.

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Adaptive Hardware Vendors

The adaptive hardware described in the text can be researched by visiting the sample vendors below. While the list is not exhaustive, it is a representative sample of vendors that offer the products in the discussion. Additional information and company overviews may be found at the vendor member web page of the Alliance for Technology Access.

Screen magnifiers allow students who need low-level magnification to see the screen. These devices fit over the computer monitor and magnify the images that appear on the screen. More about screen magnifiers can be found at Less Gauss, Inc.

Monitor mounts allow the placement of the monitor in the most easily seen position. These devices are useful for students of different heights or for those in a prone or other nonstandard position. Vendors that provide monitor mounts include Tash, Inc. and Freedom Scientific.

Programmable keyboards can be customized so letters, numbers, words, or phrases can be entered by pressing keys, which can be larger, smaller, or designated with words or pictures. One example of a programmable keyboard found in schools is Intellikeys by Intellitools, Inc. In addition, Madentec, Limited provides programmable keyboards.

Alternate and programmable keyboards

Intellikeys, Intellitools, Inc.
Ablenet Inc.
Chester Creek, Inc.

Miniature keyboards
Tash, Inc.
Keyboards can be made more accessible by using keyboard additions such as keyguards, moisture guards, and alternative labels. Keyguards are hard plastic covers with holes for each key. They prevent someone with an unsteady finger or who uses a pointing device from striking unwanted keys. Moisture guards are thin sheets of plastic that protect keyboards from spills and drooling. Alternative labels are taped or glued to tops of frequently used keys on the standard keyboard. They can be a different color to add visual clarity, or have raised letters to provide tactile information to the keys.

Keyguards
Pretke Romich, Inc.
Intellitools
Tash, Inc.

Moisture guards
Madentec Limited

Alternative labels for keyboards
Don Johnston, Inc.

Pointing or typing aids
Students who cannot use their hands to access the computer may be able to use a pointing or typing aid, an adjustable wand or stick used to strike keys on the keyboard. These devices are most commonly worn on the head, held in the mouth, strapped to the chin, or held in the hand. All can be used with standard, alternate, or modified keyboards.

Touch screens have become common use in grocery self checkouts and ATM machines. Touch screens are also available for computers in the form of a device that is either placed on the monitor or built into it. Touch screens allow direct selection or operation by touching the appropriate area of the screen. Vendors that can be researched include KEYTEC, Inc. and Microtouch Systems, Inc.

Switches can be used as an alternative to the keyboard. Switches come in various sizes, shapes, colors. They are usually activated by one or two movements; such as pulling or squeezing, sipping or puffing, blinking, or pressing. Enough switch options have been developed that a switch could be placed anywhere—near the hands, in the mouth, or attached to any controllable area of the body, such as near the eyes, activated by a blink. Connecting the switch to the computer usually requires an additional piece of hardware, called an switch interface, and software to interpret the operation of the switch. Switches are used with software programs that employ on-screen scanning. With on-screen scanning, the computer prompts by highlighting in sequence (either by sound, visual cue, or both) the letter, number, or picture choices available. When the prompt hovers on the desired keyboard or mouse function, the student activates the switch. Several software programs have built-in on-screen scanning options to allow switch use, others require additional software. Vendors are switches are found below.
Madentec, Limited
AbleNet, Inc.
Adaptivation
Don Johnston, Inc.
Prentke Romich Company
Tash, Inc.
Zygo Industries, Inc.

Electronic pointing devices allow the user to control the cursor using ultrasound, an infrared beam, eye movements, nerve signals, or brains waves. Electronic pointing devices can be used to access the Internet, enter text or numbers using an on-screen keyboard, and operate most computer programs and environmental controls. They require that the user have good head control, eye control, or the ability to learn control through nerve signals or brain waves. Depending on the skills of the user and the type of device selected, computer commands can be accessed in a variety of ways. Some allow the user to control the cursor by head motions; others require the head to be held still while the computer is controlled with eye movement. Some allow the user to pause or dwell on a key to select it; others require an eye blink to make a selection. A selection of vendors are listed below.
Madentec, Limited
Pretke Romich, Inc.
Brain Actuated Technologies
Pretke Romich, Inc.
R. J. Cooper and Associates
Tash, Inc.

For students that have difficulty using a standard mouse, alternatives are available. Some of these alternatives were mentioned above—alternate keyboards, touch screens, and switches, for example, can be set up to substitute for the movement and click of a standard mouse. Two other mouse alternatives are joysticks and trackballs.

Trackball
Kensington Technology Group.
Logitech, Inc.
Microsoft Corporation

Students who are blind and who read Braille will use a translator and embosser. A Braille translator is a software product that converts text, either obtained by scanning or produced by a word processor, into Braille. The user can then print this translated text into Braille output using a piece of hardware called a Braille embosser.

Braille Embossers
Freedom Scientific, Inc.
American Thermoform Corporation
Beyond Sight, Inc.
Telesensory

Braille Translators
Duxbury Systems, Inc. Duxbury Braille Translator
GW Micro

Headphones and microphones
Certain microphone manufacturers have qualified as being compatible with voice recognition software and will produce effective results. The web sites of two such manufacturers, Lightspeed and Parrott, are listed here. Their products may be purchased through a number of Internet resellers, office and computer supply stores.
Lightspeed Microphones: Lightspeed Technologies Inc.
Parrot Microphones: VXI Corporation, Inc.

PDAs or hand held computers
There is a wide variety of vendors in the general PDA market. The following PDA is specifically designed for those who are blind or with limited vision.
PAC Mate: Freedom Scientific.

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Grants and funding

This section provides sources for grants and funding for classrooms and schools. While not limited to hardware funding, some of the sites found offer hardware and software funding. The more general pages offer lists of opportunities for teachers as well as information and tips on how to secure funding.

eSchool News Online
This site offers options to connect with many technology providers as well as products, review research, case studies and white papers. Teachers can find grant opportunities under the grants and funding section as well as equipment donations.

Teacher Tap: Grants and Grant Writing
Larry Johnson and Annette Lamb present this site that offers much information about grant resources, starting points, information about writing a great proposal and much more. While links may go dead, good information from a successful colleague does not and this site is filled with great information for teachers plus many links.

Smarterkids Foundation K-12
This site offers an array of Smarter Kids grants including ones for Smart products, professional development grants, instruction grants, and many more. This is a must see site to find opportunities that this company gives to teachers and schools to equip classroom with their interactive technologies.

Toshiba America
The Toshiba America Foundation encourages programs that have the potential to improve classroom teaching in science and math. There are grants for K-6 and 7-12 that explain how to apply for these funds as well as allow an archive of funded initiatives.

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