Tablet PCs as Online Learning Tools

Tablet PCs are recent additions to the range of portable, connected devices that comprise mobile computing. Although the devices are just now entering the mainstream market and there are many technical and user glitches still to be overcome, the devices show much promise as a future component of the online learning infrastructure. This paper discusses early applications of Tablet PCs in learning environments and outlines key applications where the devices might have the greatest impact on online learning in the future. The paper starts with a general description of the Tablet PC and its market potential, followed by a review of current reported deployments of Tablet PCs in education and a summary of findings regarding its utility in such settings. We close out the paper with a discussion of the potential future role that Tablet PCs can play in online learning. Note that at the time of this writing, a Tablet PC model from Apple computing, though much anticipated, has not been introduced into the general market. Hence, this article only discusses Tablet PCs running the Microsoft Windows operating system.