Robert Ferguson
  • Chicago, IL
  • United States
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Robert Ferguson's Discussions

GeekDad Community's Top Software for Old Computers

Started this discussion. Last reply by Daniel Donahoo Mar 26, 2012. 3 Replies

Hello everyone. I'm starting this forum discussion in order to compose a recommended software list for repurposing old computers. I would like to generate a list of the top recommended software over…Continue

Tags: education, cross-platform, old computers, software

 

Robert Ferguson's Page

Latest Activity

Robert Ferguson posted a blog post

Lego Offers Patches for their WeDo Software

As I detailed in an earlier posting, Lego's WeDo software has had compatibility issues with new versions of Flash (Windows and Mac) and Mac OS X. Lego Education's WeDo download page offers a number of patches. I had to do a complete uninstall of the original WeDo package, but the new patches appear to work. For the Mac, there is now a python script run from Terminal which properly…See More
Dec 11, 2012
0 Comments
Robert Ferguson commented on Robert Ferguson's blog post 'WeDo ReDo, Part 1'
"Hi Dean. Sorry to take so long to reply. You've already had to deal with the situation one way or another. But for others who are looking at the problem, Lego Education now has a few fixes on their WeDo download page…"
Dec 10, 2012
Dean commented on Robert Ferguson's blog post 'WeDo ReDo, Part 1'
"was there ? Is there ? a fix for the Flash/activity pack problem ?? New set of kids started at school this month and we cant get WeDo to work :-("
Sep 27, 2012
Daniel Donahoo replied to Robert Ferguson's discussion 'GeekDad Community's Top Software for Old Computers'
"It isn't old, but surely the size of Minecraft makes it a good contender. Plus, while not teaching specific programming, the sandbox nature of the tool and thinking through design and structure help form basic primciples of programming for…"
Mar 26, 2012
Robert Ferguson replied to Robert Ferguson's discussion 'GeekDad Community's Top Software for Old Computers'
"Hmmm. I seem to be speaking to myself.  I've been poking around and in addition to the software mentioned in Pierre Cardoux's thread, I've come across a number of titles. I'm wondering if anyone would care to discuss the…"
Mar 24, 2012
A discussion started by Robert Ferguson was featured

GeekDad Community's Top Software for Old Computers

Hello everyone. I'm starting this forum discussion in order to compose a recommended software list for repurposing old computers. I would like to generate a list of the top recommended software over the next few weeks, and then put it out there as a blog post. If the idea floats, someone else from the GeekDad Community can come along after a while, run a forum query, update the list, and blog it. I'm just going to throw this out there. We are looking for software that is ideally free,…See More
Mar 24, 2012
3 Comments
Robert Ferguson replied to Robert Ferguson's discussion 'GeekDad Community's Top Software for Old Computers'
"Just to kick this off: The two mainstays in our house have been Tux Paint (great for four and five year olds), and Scratch."
Mar 24, 2012
Robert Ferguson posted a blog post

GeekDad Community's Top Software for Old Computers

The big reason why I find myself writing blog entries for GeekDad Community is that GeekDad has been extremely useful to me over the last few years. It validates a particular style of parenting and it has been a huge source of new ideas. There is much for us to share at this nexus of involved parenting and exuberance for science, technology, and the culture surrounding them.To this end, I think it would be useful for us to have a list of GeekDad recommended software for repurposing old…See More
Mar 24, 2012
0 Comments
Robert Ferguson posted a blog post

WeDo ReDo, Part 2

(Lego WeDo crane from the WeDo Resource Set. After building the crane, my kids immediately suspended Max. Mia stands atop the crane.)In…See More
Mar 21, 2012
0 Comments
Daniel Donahoo commented on Robert Ferguson's blog post 'Toward a Theory of the Most Useless Machine'
"Hey Robert. Enjoying your musings. Thanks and keep contributing!"
Mar 18, 2012
A blog post by Robert Ferguson was featured

Toward a Theory of the Most Useless Machine

I was pondering the Most Useless Machine this morning when I came to the realization that this was more than a novelty. Sadly, the machine models, at least at an emotional level, many daily social processes. Let me try this question on you: name an institution that closely resembles the Most Useless Machine?Wait for it...…See More
Mar 17, 2012
2 Comments
Oliver Gingrich commented on Robert Ferguson's blog post 'Toward a Theory of the Most Useless Machine'
"I called that...do you think you could make a machine that panders, in addition to moving around to no purpose?"
Mar 17, 2012
Robert Ferguson posted a blog post

Toward a Theory of the Most Useless Machine

I was pondering the Most Useless Machine this morning when I came to the realization that this was more than a novelty. Sadly, the machine models, at least at an emotional level, many daily social processes. Let me try this question on you: name an institution that closely resembles the Most Useless Machine?Wait for it...…See More
Mar 17, 2012
2 Comments
A blog post by Robert Ferguson was featured

WeDo ReDo, Part 1

(Above, the author's Most Useless Machine Ever rendered in WeDo)Two years ago,GeekDad’s Jenny Williams reviewed Lego’s WeDo Robotics Construction Set for children (the review is still an excellent introduction). I’ve been itching to get one ever since, and I finally pulled the trigger when my oldest child appeared ready for it. After spending a lot of…See More
Mar 15, 2012
2 Comments
Robert Ferguson posted a blog post

WeDo ReDo, Part 1

(Above, the author's Most Useless Machine Ever rendered in WeDo)Two years ago,GeekDad’s Jenny Williams reviewed Lego’s WeDo Robotics Construction Set for children (the review is still an excellent introduction). I’ve been itching to get one ever since, and I finally pulled the trigger when my oldest child appeared ready for it. After spending a lot of…See More
Mar 15, 2012
2 Comments

Profile Information

What are some of your geeky hobbies?
Aerospace, Lego, aquatic biology, Arduino
Mac/PC/Linux?
Mac
Favorite geeky media (books, music, movies)?
Kraftwerk

Robert Ferguson's Blog

Lego Offers Patches for their WeDo Software

Posted on December 10, 2012 at 6:20pm 0 Comments

As I detailed in an earlier posting, Lego's WeDo software has had compatibility issues with new versions of Flash (Windows and Mac) and Mac OS X. Lego Education's WeDo download page offers a number of patches. I had to do a complete uninstall of the original WeDo package, but the new patches appear to work. For the Mac, there is now a python script run from Terminal which properly…

Continue

GeekDad Community's Top Software for Old Computers

Posted on March 24, 2012 at 10:30am 0 Comments

The big reason why I find myself writing blog entries for GeekDad Community is that GeekDad has been extremely useful to me over the last few years. It validates a particular style of parenting and it has been a huge source of new ideas. There is much for us to share at this nexus of involved parenting and exuberance for science, technology, and the culture surrounding them.

To this end, I think it would be useful for us to have a list of GeekDad recommended software for repurposing…

Continue

WeDo ReDo, Part 2

Posted on March 21, 2012 at 11:00am 0 Comments

(Lego WeDo crane from the WeDo Resource Set. After building the crane, my kids immediately suspended Max. Mia stands atop the crane.)

In…

Continue

Toward a Theory of the Most Useless Machine

Posted on March 17, 2012 at 10:00am 2 Comments

I was pondering the Most Useless Machine this morning when I came to the realization that this was more than a novelty. Sadly, the machine models, at least at an emotional level, many daily social processes. Let me try this question on you: name an institution that closely resembles the Most Useless…

Continue

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