[LON-CAPA-users] LON-CAPA - iPod Touch?

John Merrill lon-capa-users@mail.lon-capa.org
Wed, 11 Feb 2009 12:28:46 -0500


One of my students stunned me with his 3-d rotating tRNA molecule on  
his iPhone/iPod using the app "Molecules", free at the App store or  
link from here:
http://www.sunsetlakesoftware.com/
I had just finished demonstrating JMOL on the classroom computer. From  
the web site:

> Molecules
> Molecules is an application for the iPhone and iPod Touch that  
> allows you to view three-dimensional renderings of molecules and  
> manipulate them using your fingers. You can rotate the molecules by  
> moving your finger across the display, zoom in or out by using two- 
> finger pinch gestures, or pan the molecule by moving two fingers  
> across the screen at once. The combination of the iPhone / iPod  
> Touch's unique multitouch input system and the built-in OpenGL ES 3D  
> graphics capabilities enable you to feel like you are manipulating  
> the molecules themselves with your fingers.
>
> New molecules can be downloaded from the RCSB Protein Data Bank (http://www.rcsb.org/pdb 
> ), an international repository of biological molecules and their 3-D  
> structures. Molecules can be downloaded directly to your handheld  
> device and stored there for later viewing. Multiple visualization  
> modes can be switched to by double-tapping on the 3-D rendering.
>
> Molecules' source code is available under the BSD license.
>
John Merrill

On Feb 11, 2009, at 12:08 PM, Peter Riegler wrote:

> Hi,
>
> one student's, an ipod enthusiast remarks this:
>
> Hi Mark,
>
> besides the ability to interact with websites such as LON-CAPA, you
> could have a look at some of the applications offered in the app   
> store.
> Crayon Physics Deluxe for example is a rather simple looking  but  
> smart
> application that might be helpful for attracting the  students  
> interest
> and conveys basic concepts. I'm sure there are a  couple more, but  
> most
> will probably stick to a basic level.
>
> Another idea is you can make use of the built-in sensors (like
> accelerometers and gps), either through an own application or those
> that are already offered in the app store, i.e. as measuring
> instruments or even more sophisticated tools.
>
> Problems i can see are:
> - Safari on IPhone/IPod touch doesn't provide support for Java and
> Flash (JavaScript is supported)
> - Accuracy of the sensors could be a problem.
>
> Stefan Droeschler
>
> Mark Lucas wrote:
>
>> Hi,
>>
>> Has anyone considered using the iPod touch in conjunction with a  
>> physics
>> class? LON-CAPA?  I'm meeting with a fellow here on campus looking to
>> put in a proposal, and I'm trying to get my head around the
>> possibilities (and problems). Any good places to poke around or  
>> things
>> people have considered developing?
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Mark
>>
>>
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>
> -- 
> Peter Riegler
> Fachhochschule Braunschweig/Wolfenbüttel
> Salzdahlumer Str. 46/48, 38302 Wolfenbüttel
> Tel. +49 5331 939 6314, Fax. +49 5331 939 6002
> email: p.riegler@fh-wolfenbuettel.de
> http://public.rz.fh-wolfenbuettel.de/~riegler
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Biological Sciences
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