The Galaxy S III is due to arrive in the U.S. this summer. This will be one of the cutting edge phones delivered to consumers with a 4.8 inch screen, Android 4.0, as well as an assortment of voice and video tools.
The Galaxy S III will even come with its own pen, and while not as accurate as the Galaxy Note stylus, this seems like a pretty nifty accessory.
The Galaxy S III is the latest, but there are other models with a diverse set of features and accessories (aforementioned Galaxy Note pictured below)
While I understand the Android fragmentation argument, it is difficult not to be impressed by the variety of tools available for these phones.
This leads to my question.
Why does the education community appear to be ignoring Android?
I am considering three theories for why education seems to be ignoring Android.
1. Apps – there aren’t enough compelling Android apps for education
2. Media – the media has convinced people Apple has already won
3. History – Apple has been more invested in education than Google
While it is too early for me to draw any conclusions, I believe this is an important question. What about you? Do you think Android is a compelling alternative to Apple for the education market?
The New York Times published an article entitled “The Education of Mark Zuckerberg” on May 12, 2012. This seems appropriate since Facebook will become a public company on May 18, 2012. The initial stock price will likely range between 28 to 35 dollars a share. At the end of trading, most expect Facebook to be worth 100 billion dollars.
“The Education of Mark Zuckerberg” caused me to reflect on the leadership necessary to build a successful company.
Character is more important than Innovation
What Mark Zuckerberg has done with Facebook in 8 years is remarkable. We are regularly reminded Facebook should not be considered a standard. We are told how impossibly lucky one must be to experience this type of success. While this is no doubt true, it would seem unwise to ignore the important lessons of their success.
Facebook is a success not merely because of an innovative idea. Their success is rooted in a type of character as well. What I am trying to say is Mark Zuckerberg was going to succeed at something. We should focus less on the idea, and more on the growth of his character.
Character is more important than innovation in the building of a company.
Mark Zuckerberg is willing to Learn
“It’s hard to argue. The question, however, is where Mr. Zuckerberg goes from here as a chief executive. He declined to be interviewed for this article, but interviews with dozens of venture capitalists and entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley, as well as with Facebook colleagues and outsiders who have mentored him along his climb, paint a promising picture.”
There have countless critiques of Mark Zuckerberg and his leadership. An aspect of the analysis provided by Evelyn Rusli, Nicole Perlroth, and Nick Bolton in “The Education of Mark Zuckerberg is one of the best. They highlight how well Mr. Zuckerberg has embraced mentorship. In short, this brillant young man is willing to learn from others. He is teachable.
“But Mr. Zuckerberg has also invested in a personal brain trust beyond Facebook’s headquarters in Menlo Park, Calif. He cultivated as advisers such tech giants as Bill Gates and Steve Jobs, as well as others as varied as Marc Andreessen, the co-founder of Netscape, and Donald E. Graham, the chairman and chief executive of the Washington Post Company.”
Few of us will have opportunity to meet and learn from luminaries like those chosen by Mr. Zuckerberg. On the other hand, the majority of us are surrounded by numerous individuals from whom we have much to learn.
The question we must ask ourselves is whether we are as hungry to learn from our mentors, as Mr. Zuckerberg has been to learn from his?
Mark Zuckerberg knows his Limitations
“Even now, with a multibillion-dollar brass ring at hand, Mr. Zuckerberg remains intensely aware of his limitations, these people say. Where he is strong — in product design and strategy — he tends to micromanage. Where he is weak — day-to-day management, operations — he hires people with a defter touch. He has enlisted top engineers and managers, including the formidable Ms. Sandberg, 42. Friends and colleagues say she has coached the often-awkward Mr. Zuckerberg on how to interact with employees and to build Facebook’s business.”
Clint Eastwood is famous for the movie line, “a man’s gotta know his limitations. Clearly Mark Zuckerberg has embraced this attitude. He has done enough self reflection, and listened to enough feedback to know his own weaknesses.
As a result he has surrounded himself with complimentary leaders…those who have our weaknesses as their strengths. Each one of us has insecurities about our weaknesses. For this reason, when we are placed in leadership, it can be difficult to surround ourselves with people who have our weaknesses as their strengths.
Mr. Zuckerberg has done something few powerful men do. He has faced his weaknesses, overcome his limitations, and surrounded himself with complimentary leaders. Impressive and something we can all learn from.
Mark Zuckerberg has a vision for the future
“Several people who were hired this way say the strolls usually meandered along the trail — with Mr. Zuckerberg asking questions of the new recruit along the way — and ended atop a lookout. There, Mr. Zuckerberg would explain the terrain in front of them and his vision for the future.”
Many leaders have a vision for making products, money, or even building a company. Few have a vision for the future. The vast amount of reportage over the last eight years makes one fact clear, Mr. Zuckerberg has a vision for the future. He has a worldview, and it is one which he wants to make a reality.
While we can debate the veracity of his vision, no one can deny its significance. This makes him unique. Bill Gates had this type of vision…a computer on every desktop. Steve Jobs had this type of vision…the computer will be personal.
Success isn’t simply about creating a product or building a company. Successful leaders have a vision of the future.
Mark Zuckerberg is represents a new generation of leaders
Out in the courtyard, the crew — almost all of them men, almost all in their 20s — hoot and skate until it is almost too dark to see much of anything. Across the courtyard floor, giant black tiles spell out the word “hack.” They’ve nicknamed their rink “Hack Stadium.”
The Facebook boys and their captain, Mark Zuckerberg, skate hard. They line up shots with care. And they play to win.
The world is changing…again. Mr. Zuckerberg and his crew represent a new generation of leaders bent on making this change happen. We can either evaluate them with the eye of the critic, or learn from them with the heart of student.
Someone recently did a search with the words “I wish I didn’t have Aspergers.” One blogger felt it was incredibly sad and, as a result, a number of bloggers decided to light up the internet with Autism Positivity blogs and I was asked to participate.
Tweets carrying the hashtag #autismpositivity2012 tracked me down, and inspired me to add my voice. As I contemplated this event, and how I might contribute, everything became crystal clear.
In less than 24 hours, I was going to be attending what promises to be one of the most positive autism events ever held. The timing of this passionate effort to express the positive nature of autsim/asperger’s could not be a coincidence.
Tomorrow night, May 1st, 2012, I will be joining a number of guests in San Francisco for the premiere of the documentary “I Want to Say”. This film found its initial inspiration in the work of Hope Technology School, and is the product of a collaboration between Goodby Silversetein, HP, and Autism Speaks.
It tells the story of children with autism, whose families have used touch technology to give them hope. This hope has helped these children discover their value and purpose as people who happen to have autism.
I reflected on my personal involvement with this project and Hacking Autism, as I watched early segments of the film. What became obvious to me, is many families and individuals with autism need exactly what this films offers.
This is not an evidence based film making an argument about one therapy against another, but a heartfelt collection of stories about the value of those with autism. It is a film which resists the tendency to focus on the educational technique, clinical study, or statistical data point.
Rather than dehumanize it humanizes.
For all intents and purposes, “I Want To Say” is a bit like the movie Rocky. (Rocky III being my personal favorite). Rocky did not make an argument for or against a particular boxing technique, but told the story of one man, an underdog, who overcame impossible odds to make his dream come true.
We need more movies like “I Want To Say”, because everyday someone somewhere is wishing they didn’t have autism, which means they don’t understand the value of their life. We should make it our mission to let everyone with autism/asperger’s know their life has value, and their struggle to overcome inspires us all.
My son with autism consistently tells us, “I was born with autism to change the world.” He doesn’t wish autism away, because he is all to aware of how important his having autism is to everyone who needs hope.
Note: ”I Want to Say” will not be available to the public for some time, but Autism Speaks sent this information out today:
When: Tuesday, May 1st. Event begins at 7pm PST, documentary will air at 7:45 PST
Where: http://www.hackingautism.org (the stream will run on the homepage where the hackathon video currently lives)
Q&A will begin at 8:15pm PST. All viewers are welcome to send questions at any time via Twitter @autismspeaks #hackingautism.
ZDNet writer Eric Lai reported on a Javelin Strategy & Research report, which paints a more positive future for Android than previously assumed.
“For the future, Google Android is expected to continue to gain consumer market share at Apple’s expense, until it takes the lead. While Android’s gains have come at the expense of profits, price-cutting is an established platform strategy that has paid big dividends in the past. Although Apple is clearly the innovator, the sheer number of Google Android tablets, price ranges, and carriers will soon prove overwhelming,” according to the report.
Eric Lai, Android Has 35% of the Market
Apple products have won my heart, and inspired my work for years, but in my view too many have assumed their mobile technology dominance is assured. No where is this assumption more encouraged than in the education market. Few and far between are those involved with education who value Android devices.
Here are five reasons educators should consider an investment in the Android platform.
Android devices are more affordable
Android devices come in all shapes and sizes
Android devices have more innovative features
Android OS is more customizable
Android is losing, so they will listen to the customer
