21st Century Art Tool!

While in class last week, I was shown a "bamboo" pad by one of our colleagues. I was immediately drawn into looking and learning about it and what it could be used for. I think the bamboo pad (original) or even better in an art sense, the bamboo craft pad would be an amazing addition to any art classroom. It's basically a big flat surface (much like the mouse pad on a mac) which allows you to preform all the same functions, but then on top of it, and this is the good part for an art classroom, it allows you to draw (by fingertip or with the pen) on your computer. It is pressure sensitive, and since it comes bundled with photoshop elements, you can make amazing works of digital art with it as well. It's like the best of both worlds: The ability to paint and draw, and the ability to utilize technology, all in one! One part of this product that interests me the most in relation to the art classroom would be for those students with tactile disorders, or other learning, physical, or mental delays who can not always participate in various kinds of art making activities. This would provide an alternative so they could basically get the experience of virtually any assignment without having to necessarily work with the materials hands on. As long as they could use their finger to draw, they can complete beautiful works of art with this product. I can also see it being a fabulous asset to any photo or digital imaging class as well. It's compatible with Mac or PC's and just connects through a usb. It would be good in these classes because of the range of hand gestures it allows you, as well as the chance to edit photos and digital art by hand instead of with a mouse. Technology always attracts attention, and this is an incredibly fun "toy" that I think would interest and engage students for a long time if it were brought into a classroom. Not only is it useful, but it broadens the scope of how our students can create artistically as well.

Here's the link to the main product:
 http://www.wacom.com/bamboo/bamboo_fun.php

And here's a link to the kinds of art you can do with a Bamboo!
Bamboo Art Page