Brain Games

Yet another way to get your brain exercising .. improve memory with scientifically designed brain games from Lumosity. I got sucked into Brain Age on the Nintendo DS last year so I thought I'd give this site a try.

This site offers a large catalog of quick-to-play visually appealing browser-based flash games that claim to boost and sharpen your cognitive powers. They are organized into progressive levels of difficulty and different categories of brain challenge – like “cognitive control” and “processing speed.” The idea is to incorporate a few minutes of game play into your daily routine… which they have made easy and pleasant to do. The games don’t require any special knowledge or preparation – they are largely interactive variations on games you’d remember from childhood like the popular card game concentration.

Check it out: http://www.lumosity.com/

There's a 7 day free trial and then it costs $9.95 a month or $79.95 for a year. Speedbrain is available for the iPhone via their apps store. I looked for a Blackberry version which led me to a product called "skyfire". I'll discuss this product in another post ... for now, I'm getting through basic training at the online site. It's harder than it looks!

smart-e-bear by Intellitoys

It's too late for Christmas ... but put this toy on your list for 2009. This soft bear will be your child’s companion during playtime and bedtime for years to come. Not only is he cuddly, he recites up to four hours of songs and stories, and plays games such as “Simon Says” – thanks to electronics tucked into his back. Parents can customize the bear’s responses with their child’s name, favorite music and stories, by using the included software (PC and Mac compatible) and USB port on the bear.

Kids can engage the bear in interactive games by pressing his hands and feet to respond. An online store allows parents to purchase additional songs and stories, available in a choice of languages.

Check it out: http://www.smartebear.com/

Natural software for studying, making, printing and sharing flash cards

Flash My Brain is a unique suite of software that makes flash card learning easy, fun, and worthwhile. The Flash My Brain learning process helps you learn things faster and more completely, while keeping you engaged and challenged.

You can even use Flash My Brain to make flashcards for your iPod or cell phone -- or use them with Flash My Brain for the iPhone.

Check it out: http://www.flashmybrain.com/

Tool for testing and developing SCORM content

Rustici Software’s SCORM Test Track is the ultimate tool for testing and developing SCORM content without the overhead of an LMS.

Advanced diagnostic information, monitoring of sequencing rule interpretation and one-click re-import, all from a dashboard control center, provide the best environment for quickly creating SCORM 2004 content with advanced sequencing rules. Best of all, it’s free.

Check it out: http://www.scorm.com/products/testtrack.aspx

Text Google

Text "weather houston tx" or wherever you live to 466453. Get tomorrow's forecast as a return text message.

That number? It spells Google. For a list of useful shortcuts and tips, text message "help" to 466453.

Check it out: http://www.google.com/mobile/default/sms.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65n-yPpg9yo

Read books by email

Have daily, bite-sized chunks of books you've always meant to read delivered to your inbox for free. Choose the day and time you want to read. Read on any computer or mobile device (including your Blackberry).

Why read books by email?
Because if you are like us, you spend hours each day reading email but don't find the time to read books. DailyLit brings books right into your inbox in convenient small messages that take less than 5 minutes to read. In the words of Dr. Seuss: Try it, you might like it! (Oops -- it would appear that the actual quote from Green Eggs and Ham is "You do not like them. So you say. Try them! Try them! And you may.")

Check it out: http://www.dailylit.com/

Mobile Study - Create quizzes that run on mobile devices

This website allows you to quickly and easily create a multiple choice quiz that can be downloaded and completed via a mobile device.

Once you have completed your quiz, you get a web address link to the quiz that students can access through their mobile devices via the Internet. Once downloaded, the quiz is stored on the student's phone and can be completed over and over again. When a student finishes a quiz, it asks them to enter their name and gives the user the option to send results via text message to the creator.

There is a version for organizations - users who are not in your organization will not be able to see your content.

Check it out: http://www.mobilestudy.org/home/

Adobe PDF Online

Create Adobe PDF Online is a web-hosted service that lets you convert a wide variety of documents to Adobe PDF files.

Select a file from your hard drive, and the online program creates an Adobe® PDF file for you. It can also do optical character recognition (OCR) on image files. Enter the URL of a Web page, and the program will capture it as an Adobe PDF file.

You upload the file and choose the way you want it delivered - converted immediately in the web browser, or emailed to you as a link or attachment. Files will be stored for 72 hours after they are created; files not picked up within 72 hours are discarded.
Check it out: https://createpdf.adobe.com/. PDF Online" src="https://createpdf.adobe.com/images/en_US/createpdficon.gif" width=88 border=0>

Cost is $9.99 per month or $99.99 per year. You can sign up for a trial subscription