RedFox to release new ‘educ’ technologies by August
MANILA, Philippines – RedFox Technologies, a division of Asian Technologies Computer Corporation, unveiled new and innovative technologies for educational purposes on Thursday as part of the InnoTech laboratory launch at the University of the Philippines in Diliman.
With the opening of classes, Filipino-owned RedFox is introducing 3 new technologies for the academe: the Interactive Whiteboard, an e-reader, and a Multi-Learner Station.
The Interactive Whiteboard (IWB) is compatible with Windows, Mac, and Linux.
RedFox partnered with Promethean in bringing the Interactive Whiteboard (IWB) to Asia. IWB is an interactive display that combines whiteboard, personal computer, and projector.
The package comes with a small projector called Picos, a 78-inch digital whiteboard, and a gray digital pen. “It can be used in discussions, trainings, and other purposes to view presentations and manipulate it directly through the whiteboard,” according to the RedFox Philippine homepage.
According to Shishiir Manzo of RedFox, the IWB is an effective way to engage students in class discussions. Teachers can use images as background for presentations, play videos, draw graphs, and the like.
With IWB, what can be seen or done on a computer screen can be projected to an interactive whiteboard, Manzo told abs-cbnNEWS.com. The IWB also includes a handwriting recognition software and can work as wired or through wireless connection to a host PC.
Energy efficient, cheaper
Aside from the IWB, RedFox boasts of the Multi-Learner Station which gives access to 5 to 10 computers through a very powerful (RedFox has not released the specifications yet) single desktop PC.
The unit works on 1 operating system and enables easy file sharing.
The package is energy efficient, another plus factor, said Manzo. It uses 250 watts of electricity to power five 18.5-inch LCDs and the central processing unit. A typical desktop computer uses roughly the same amount for every use.
Bookworms and e-book followers can also make use of the WizLib, a local version of Kindle, the reading device being distributed by Amazon.
Aside from viewing e-books, it can store documents, text files, and black and white images.
Though e-books have yet to acquire a following in the country, RedFox is eyeing possible discussions with the local publishing industry to push for e-versions of textbooks. The move, said RedFox, will be cheaper in the long run.
WizLib has 3G and Wi-Fi connectivity.
Other technologies
Aside from these technologies, RedFox is joining the touch-screen smartphone craze and will be releasing its own WizPhone.
It will run on the latest Android 2.0 and comes with a music player, digital map, gaming pad, 3-megapixel digital camera, and other office applications.
RedFox also showed off the new eVolve, the company’s first “all-in-one” personal computer, which combines a computer and television. It can be mounted on the wall or placed on any smooth surface and easily switchable to TV or PC by remote.
The multimedia PC-slash-TV comes in dual core, quad core, and 6-core configurations.
Almost in the same league as the Multi-Learner Station, the new Docking Station connects up to 6 laptops simultaneously through USB and can serve as an external hub.
RedFox started in 1998 and has since been actively churning out personal computers and laptops in the country’s booming technological industry. It has extended its market base to Taiwan, Singapore, and China, while maintaining a manufacturing hub in Cavite, a province located south of the capital Manila.
“We are delighted to say that a modern and up-to-date Philippines is within reach. We are getting there,” RedFox CEO Andy Te said in a press release.
These technologies can be seen at the newly-launched InnoTech Laboratory at the National Computer Institute at the University of the Philippines.
Released earlier in Singapore, China, and Taiwan, these products will be available in the Philippine market by August 2010.
