ErgoDAQ
_The
ErgoDAQ is a novel yet practical data acquisition apparatus that acts as the easy-to-use, plug-and-play interface between a wide variety of laboratory equipment and a laptop computer running LabVIEW.
At Ergopedia, we see the future of science education to be the hands-on approach with a focus on e-learning. Central to e-learning are: ready-to-go computer, with no need to install new software; all-inclusive curriculum; wide-range of laboratory equipment; investigations that are integrated between apparatus, computer, and curriculum; easy-to-use laboratory equipment that does not need to be calibrated; and a systems-approach where the electronics and software is set up automatically for the investigation the student is running.
The ErgoDAQ was designed to fit into this vision of e-learning by acting as the bridge between the real-word and the virtual-world. The ErgoDAQ is the interface that makes challenging concepts--such as motion, electricity, and heat--come alive for students in real-time on their computers.
At Ergopedia, we see the future of science education to be the hands-on approach with a focus on e-learning. Central to e-learning are: ready-to-go computer, with no need to install new software; all-inclusive curriculum; wide-range of laboratory equipment; investigations that are integrated between apparatus, computer, and curriculum; easy-to-use laboratory equipment that does not need to be calibrated; and a systems-approach where the electronics and software is set up automatically for the investigation the student is running.
The ErgoDAQ was designed to fit into this vision of e-learning by acting as the bridge between the real-word and the virtual-world. The ErgoDAQ is the interface that makes challenging concepts--such as motion, electricity, and heat--come alive for students in real-time on their computers.
__Advantages of the ErgoDAQ
The ErgoDAQ was designed to simplify the educator and students' experience, allowing them to focus on what is important: the science and the investigations, not computer compatibility. When running an investigation in Essential Physics, all you have to do is: click on the investigation in the e-book; plug the ErgoDAQ into the computer's USB port; and then plug the appropriate apparatus into the ErgoDAQ. You're all done and ready to go! No more juggling different pieces of laboratory equipment--each with its own connectors, software to be installed, and peculiarities. Students plug a wide range of equipmentt--the ErgoBot, sensors, ErgOscillator, voltage source, temperature probe, or sound device--directly into the ErgoDAQ and receive the data immediately into their netbook computer. They manipulate the data through custom interactive tools developed within the LabVIEW software environment. No more installation of software drivers, data acquisition software, graphing programs, statistical packages, and the like--all the equipment in the Essential Physics curriculum will work together out-of-the-box because of the simplicity of the ErgoDAQ interface. |
_About the ErgoDAQ
The ErgoDAQ has many different data ports: USB for computer control and data acquisition; two RJ45 ethernet plugs for sensors, such as a light sensor or temperature probe; heater plug; two standard plugs for an output voltage source; input audio for a microphone; and output audio for speakers.
In some low-power configurations, the ErgoDAQ is powered directly from the computer's USB port; in higher-power configurations, it is powered by a standard plug from a power adapter providing 18V DC input voltage.
Laboratory instruments plug directly into the ErgoDAQ and need no extra step of calibration. When a particular investigation is clicked on from the e-book running on the netbook computer, the ErgoDAQ immediately "knows" what apparatus and connectors will be used. The ErgoDAQ requires no special software installation: it works out-of-the-box by running within the LabVIEW environment on the curriculum's included netbook computers.
The ErgoDAQ is currently being field tested in Delaware as part of the Essential Physics curriculum through a partnership with the Delaware Department of Education and the Delaware Science Coalition.
The ErgoDAQ has many different data ports: USB for computer control and data acquisition; two RJ45 ethernet plugs for sensors, such as a light sensor or temperature probe; heater plug; two standard plugs for an output voltage source; input audio for a microphone; and output audio for speakers.
In some low-power configurations, the ErgoDAQ is powered directly from the computer's USB port; in higher-power configurations, it is powered by a standard plug from a power adapter providing 18V DC input voltage.
Laboratory instruments plug directly into the ErgoDAQ and need no extra step of calibration. When a particular investigation is clicked on from the e-book running on the netbook computer, the ErgoDAQ immediately "knows" what apparatus and connectors will be used. The ErgoDAQ requires no special software installation: it works out-of-the-box by running within the LabVIEW environment on the curriculum's included netbook computers.
The ErgoDAQ is currently being field tested in Delaware as part of the Essential Physics curriculum through a partnership with the Delaware Department of Education and the Delaware Science Coalition.