[school-discuss] health issues coupled with interactive classroom display technology

[Daniel Howard <dhhoward@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

As I watched the US primary election results on CNN, complete with 
multi-finger touch-screen geographical displays, I began to think about 
the health issues associated with various interactive technologies in 
elementary schools.  If a flat panel, touch-screen display was at the 
front of the class, seems like it would be a great way for viruses to 
propagate, unless teachers had to wipe down the touch-screen every time 
a new student came up.  Likewise, if the hand-held markers used by 
commercial interactive whiteboard companies, or indeed by any 
whiteboard, are shared by all students, there's another way for viruses 
to propagate.  If, on the other hand, a hand-held IR pen or whiteboard 
marker was cheap enough so that all students could have their own, it 
would go a long way to reducing a virus propagation mechanism...I think.

Am I way out in left field here?  Does it make sense to evaluate 
classroom technology in terms of health issues?

Just curious in Atlanta,
Daniel

--
Daniel Howard
President and CEO
Georgia Open Source Education Foundation