I’ve had a bit of an eye-opener this week in relation to handheld learning/gaming devices. For anyone who knows me or reads this blog then you’ll know that I am a particular fan of Nintendo products and in particular the DS. This has been the handheld console that I have fixated on, mainly because of the game design and as a result I have not spent much time playing with the Sony PSP (other than Loco Roco).
As a result of a mutual contact John Booth from Sony Entertainment contacted me about the PSP and the pilots that were running in schools in England. It appears that there is a lot going on with this device without Sony blowing their trumpet about it. More of a slow burn approach and then talk when they have something to talk about it seems.
Anyway, the strength of the PSP over the DS as I see it are that the PSP can cope with:
- Built in connectivity (no need to purchase the browser)
- Images can be viewed
- Movies can be viewed
- Documents can be viewed
- Flash games can be designed and played
- It has a built in RSS channel
However, the games for the DS are still way out in front in my opinion although there is now a Brain Training game for the PSP.
One school that is piloting this device is Maplesden Noakes in Kent. You can find out more about their PSP pilot via this blog.
Further exploration of the PSP will be happening in the Consolarium next week and as a result there will be more to report no doubt.
I didn't know about the RSS Channel - have you got that up and running on one of them? If I'm up or you're down maybe you could bring it along for a peek.
Posted by: Ewan McIntosh | February 01, 2007 at 03:38 PM
Ewan,
Didn't even know it existed as a specific function until today! I'll have a look at it though and see if I can get it working . Will bring it along next time I'm in Glasgow.
Posted by: Derek | February 01, 2007 at 04:53 PM