ALGORYX ANNOUNCES ALGODOO - NOVEL PHYSICS EDUCATIONAL SOFTWARE OPTIMIZED FOR THE INTEL- POWERED CONVERTIBLE CLASSMATE PC
PRESS RELEASEUmeå, Sweden, Jan 19, 2009
Algoryx Simulation AB, a global provider of software and leading technologies for visual and interactive multiphysics simulation, announced its new software application, Algodoo, for physics education. Algodoo is optimized for the Intel-powered convertible classmate PC and was displayed at the Intel booth and press event at the BETT show - the world's largest educational technology event, in London Jan 14-17, 2009.
Algodoo is a 2D-simulation environment for creating interactive scenes in a playful, cartoony manner, making use of the physics that we use to explain our real world. Algodoo is designed to encourage young people’s own creativity, ability and motivation to construct knowledge. Algodoo combines art and science in a novel way making it as educational as it is entertaining. Algodoo applies a constructionist learning paradigm - learning by designing, constructing and exploring physical systems.
Algodoo is optimized for the Intel-powered convertible classmate PC. It utilizes the webcam to create physical models from live photos, the touch screen and digital pen input for drawing objects, and the accelerometer for virtual experiments and very direct interaction with the physical simulation. Young kids can use Algodoo for drawing and the physics make their drawings come to life. From this they can learn fundamental things about physics such as motion, forces, mass and density. Older kids can construct virtual experiments that illustrate the fundamental laws of physics such as conservation of energy and momentum. They can also build advanced and innovative machines or create an animation to tell a story.
Simulations are created using simple drawing tools and the user can interact with the simulation by click, drag, tilt and shake. Color traces, force and velocity vectors can be used to enhance visualization. Algodoo comes with models for rigid bodies, fluids, chains, gears, gravity, contacts, friction, restitution, springs, hinges, lock, motors, laser rays and optics, and utilizes novel simulation technologies and high performance numerical methods developed in the professional simulation products of Algoryx Simulation and based on academic research at Umeå university.
Algodoo is derived from Algoryx' precursor product Phun, which was made freely available for non-commercial use during the beta testing period. Phun has been a tremendous success and has generated 1.3 million downloads, over 13.000 user provided scenes, and thousands of entertaining video clips on YouTube. Among its users are kids, students, animators, teachers and science centers. The concept is off-spring from research at Umeå University, where Emil Ernerfeldt developed the first version in his MSc project at the Department of Computing Science, supervised by Kenneth Bodin at the High Performance Computing Center North.“I wanted to create an application that brings out the creativity in people, and where anyone can implement their ideas quickly and easily,” says Emil Ernerfeldt, now lead programmer of Phun and Algodoo at Algoryx.
“A dream come true is a tool that builds upon children’s own creativity, ability and motivation to learn. What we perhaps didn’t expect was that Algodoo also would bring out the child in all the rest of us! The Intel-powered classmate PC is a very exciting platform for us to work on, both for its ruggedness and its performance and features, but even more for its business model. We believe the Intel-powered classmate PC can facilitate development of new applications in education, just like the impact the game consoles has for the entertainment sphere. This creates a new exciting market, and in the end this is very beneficial for education,” says Kenneth Bodin, CEO and co-founder of Algoryx.
“We are excited to see Algoryx utilizing hardware features of the Intel-powered convertible classmate PC design, such as the camera, touch screen and accelerometer, to make learning physics fun. Intel works with Algoryx through the Intel® Learning Series, an initiative that supports developers in designing education specific applications for the Intel-powered classmate PC. Algodoo is a great example of how members of the Intel Learning Series alliance can develop engaging and rewarding education experience for students using the Intel-powered classmate PC," says Eugene Hsu, Director of Ecosystem Enabling, Emerging Market Product Group at Intel.
For further information, please visit http://www.algoryx.se/ or contact:
Kenneth Bodin, chief executive officer
e-mail: kenneth@algoryx.se
phone: phone: +46 90 717090, +46 70 631 5520
e-mail: anders@algoryx.se
phone: +46 90 717090, +46 70 392 6467
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visit: http://www.classmatepc.com/