NASA Releases Sector 33 Air Traffic Control Educational Game App

Beth Dickey
Headquarters, Washington

WASHINGTON -- NASA has released a new educational game with an air traffic control theme for Apple iPhone and iPad devices. The Sector 33 application is designed to challenge students in middle school and above to use basic math and problem-solving skills.

The application may be downloaded free of charge at http://www.nasa.gov/sector33.

An Android version of the app is in development and will be made available in the Android Marketplace in the coming months.

In the game the player acts as an air traffic controller guiding airplanes through a sector of airspace spanning Nevada and California. The player can adjust the planes' path and speed to safely reach certain spots in the sky in the fastest time possible while keeping the planes a specific distance from each other.

"Our hope is that Sector 33 will give students a sense of the importance of math in managing our nation's air traffic and, at the same time, interest them in pursuing a career in aeronautics," said Jaiwon Shin, NASA's associate administrator for aeronautics research in Washington.

The math-focused game also aligns with the NASA Office of Education's mission to engage students in activities related to science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

"Today's students respond positively to experiential learning," said Leland Melvin, NASA's associate administrator for education. "Using an interactive game to spark their interest, while at the same time teaching them fundamental math concepts, is a win-win scenario. It is a perfect way to help cultivate the next generation of engineers and technologists."

Sector 33 is based on Smart Skies Line Up With Math, an educational software title developed under the direction of NASA's Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate and distributed in cooperation with the Federal Aviation Administration and National Air Traffic Controllers Association. Smart Skies has been used in middle school classrooms across the United States since 2005.

For more information about aeronautics research at NASA, visit http://www.aeronautics.nasa.gov.

For more information about NASA's education programs, visit http://www.nasa.gov/education.

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A Military Ode to Steve Jobs

If you're into military technology, you'll definitely like these police technology articles!

By Elaine Sanchez
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 11, 2011 – My friend and I were walking through the parking garage yesterday en route to the mall when she saw me fiddling with my iPhone.

“Let’s have a moment of silence for Steve Jobs,” she said, referring to the Apple co-founder and CEO. I wholeheartedly agreed.

Jobs lost his battle with pancreatic cancer Oct. 5, and the world lost a technological genius and visionary who revolutionized the way we use computers and phones, listen to music and, with the introduction of the iPad, browse the Web. The resultant App Store and its vast array of often-addictive games even changed the way we spend (or to some, kill) our time.

Whether a diehard Apple fan or not, it’s undeniable that Jobs changed the face of technology forever. Year after year, he unveiled one cutting-edge product after another – the iMac, iPod, iPhone and the iPad – making technology as accessible and useful for a military spouse juggling schedules and kids during a deployment as for a high-powered executive balancing budgets and businesses.

Recognizing the astounding potential for a military application, officials continue to explore the use of smartphones and tablet devices in the field for everything from translation to mapping to filing reports. And, as a side note, I read a CNN blog post the other day that says Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, the new chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, uses an iPad each day to access the latest information.

We can also credit Jobs and other visionaries like him for their impact on our military families. In the past decade, our troops have deployed frequently to locations thousands of miles from home. In the past, they would rely on spotty phone service and “snail mail” to maintain connections at home. But now-staple devices, such as the personal computer (which Jobs helped to make wildly popular), the Internet, smartphones -- and the resultant social networking they allow -- have and are bridging the physical divide.

Thanks to this technology, kids can video call their dad in Afghanistan to share a recent achievement, a proud mom can text pictures to a military loved one overseas and a soldier dad can watch the birth of his child from thousands of miles away.

As this technology continues to evolve, I look forward to a future where gaping chasms of distance will become mere cracks in the sidewalk for our military families.

So, for the second time this week, I’d like to take a moment to remember Jobs’ contributions, not just on the technological side, but also on the human side.

Perhaps President Barack Obama summed it up best in his Oct. 5 statement on the passing of Steve Jobs. “The world has lost a visionary,” he said. “And there may be no greater tribute to Steve’s success than the fact that much of the world learned of his passing on a device he invented.”

Logitech Transforms Places You Use Your iPad or Android Tablet with Lineup of Accessories

Introduces Range of Products Including New Logitech Keyboard Case, Logitech Wireless Speaker, Logitech Tablet Keyboard, Logitech Tablet Mouse

FREMONT, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Today Logitech (SIX:LOGN) (NASDAQ:LOGI) unveiled a line of iPad and Android-based tablet accessories that enable you to make the most of your tablet, no matter how or where you use it.

"People love their tablets — the category is growing quickly and is here to stay," said Azmat Ali, Logitech senior director for tablet products. "We've created a great lineup of products for tablet users, and it's just the beginning. Over the coming months you can expect to see additional products for iPad® and Android™ tablets that are designed to help people create, consume and communicate."

Encompassing products for both iPad and Android-based tablets, the new lineup from Logitech features a wide range of accessories — from keyboards to speakers — that help create the perfect environment for your tablet. Whether you want to use your tablet to catch up with friends on Facebook®, post quick updates to your blog, or share your favorite music — Logitech has a product for you.

Highlights of Logitech's new lineup of tablet accessories include:

Logitech Keyboard Case
Created in collaboration with ZAGG®, the latest Logitech® Keyboard Case features the same sleek aluminum cover with military-grade, high-density padding as Logitech's previously announced version. The protective case wraps around the iPad 2 to cover the screen and sides, and the Logitech Keyboard Case uses Bluetooth® connectivity to pair the keyboard quickly and easily. The new Logitech Keyboard Case incorporates a more intuitive keyboard layout and improved keystrokes for even more comfortable typing. It also adds a recess just behind the keyboard that props up an iPad 2 in portrait or landscape mode, virtually eliminating setup and packup time.

Logitech Wireless Speaker
When you want to share your favorite music, the Logitech® Wireless Speaker is a great choice. It eliminates cables and lets you place your speaker wherever you want — up to 50 feet away from your iPad or Android tablet depending on use, settings and environmental conditions. And you'll get rich, full stereo sound — even from across the room — with your speaker's dual two-inch drivers and plenty of bass. A rechargeable battery powers your speaker for up to 10 hours depending on your use and settings—so you can take your music with you wherever you go. And setup couldn't be easier. Just pair with your tablet using Bluetooth wireless, and you are ready to listen.

Logitech Tablet Keyboard
The Logitech® Tablet Keyboard, a keyboard-and-stand combo, comes in two versions, one for Android-based tablets and a second for iPads, and is designed to travel easily, set up quickly and add a touch of convenience to all the places you use your tablet. It pairs easily with your tablet over Bluetooth wireless, so you can use it on your desk, lap or anywhere within 30 feet of your tablet, depending on use, settings and environmental conditions.

Logitech Tablet Mouse
A perfect companion to the Logitech Tablet Keyboard for Android, the Logitech® Tablet Mouse pairs with your Android-based tablet using Bluetooth, and offers smooth, accurate laser tracking, and side-to-side scrolling. The Logitech Tablet Mouse is designed specifically to work with tablets running the recently announced Android™ 3.1 (Honeycomb) platform. Information about these products and additional accessories for iPad and Android-based tablets, including speaker docks, headphones, wireless speakers, keyboards and mice, is available on the tablets accessories page of Logitech's website.

Pricing and Availability
The Logitech Keyboard Case is expected to be available in the U.S. beginning in May and in EMEA beginning in June for a suggested retail price of $99.99 (U.S.). The Logitech Wireless Speakers are expected to be available in the U.S. beginning in May and EMEA beginning in June for a suggested retail price of $99.99 (U.S.). The Logitech Tablet Keyboard for iPad is expected to be available in the U.S. beginning May and in EMEA beginning in June for a suggested retail price of $69.99 (U.S.). The Logitech Tablet Keyboard for Android is expected to be available in the U.S. beginning in May for a suggested retail price of $69.99 (U.S.). The Logitech Tablet Mouse is expected to be available in the U.S. beginning in May for a suggested retail price of $49.99 (U.S.). Visit our blog or website for more information.

Contributed by Bob Johnson's Computer Stuff