There was a time when rows of students using laptops in lieu of pen and paper was something of a futuristic concept. Now, however, many schools employ technology liberally — and manufacturers are taking note, designing systems with functionality that’s specifically intended for use within the classroom.
Acer has shared details on its TravelMate B117 notebook, a laptop that the company describes as “tailor-made for the education market.” As you might imagine, the computer’s system specifications aren’t anything to write home about, but its classroom-friendly feature set offers some distinct advantages for tech savvy teachers.
A small four-color LED light has been embedded into the lid of the system, which educators can use in several different ways, according to a report from WinBeta. For instance, teachers can quickly and easily carry out a multiple choice quiz by having students use the color of their LED to pick from four different answers.
Acer also suggests the LED be used in place of having students raise their hand, or to signify that individuals have completed an assignment. The company’s TeachSmart functionality allows teachers to monitor a breakdown of what their students’ LEDs are displaying with little more than a glance at their own computer.
The B117 also features an 11.6-inch display, 4GB of RAM, and Intel HD graphics. The system has Windows 10 pre-installed as standard, and boasts one USB 3.0 port, one USB 2.0 port, and an HDMI port with support for HDCP in terms of connectivity.
This certainly seems like a compelling option for schools looking to outfit their students with a fleet of laptops, but it remains to be seen whether the systems will be sufficiently cost-effective for widespread adoption. However, a focus on this area now will certainly reap benefits for Acer in the future, as it seems clear that computers will only become more prevalent in the classroom.