Today, September 7th, the “School of the Future” sponsored by Microsoft has opened. The school features smartcard-accessable lockers, tablet PCs for each student, broadband internet at home for each student… and much more.

Microsoft Presspass states the school’s students are 99% minority, with 85% low-income.

Details about what textbooks and such they use is here:

http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/presskits/sotf/default.mspx

Presspass article:

http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2006/sep06/09-06MSPhiladelphiaSOFPR.mspx

 

Wow…. read this quote from the presspass article:

“the building itself incorporates the latest advances in environmental design including a water catchment system on the roof, where rainwater will be collected and used for nonpotable applications. Photovoltaic panels in the glass windows and roof will also reduce heating and cooling costs by converting sunlight into a direct current, contributing electricity for the building and transmitting real-time data for students so they can see the positive impact on the environment. ”

As education is such an important item today… feel free to repost this article in entirety while just leaving a comment stating such & its location.

I’m sure we are going to be hearing much more about this in the future!

=- Joseph Bittman