Micah Haji-Sheikh

Professor Joni Flowers

EDU 214/ Fall 2016
November 22nd, 2016
Emerging Technology in the Art Education World

When it comes to fine art, technology is not the first thing that comes to mind. Great
painters, like Vermeer and van Gogh are a little more at the forefront. Yet technology in visual
arts is just as important. According to Animation a World History, the fall of the Soviet Union
brought forth new demands for cartoons in film around the 1990s (Bendazzi 8). In just the past
year alone, over 130 animated feature films were made (Bendazzi 13). But in order to animate
your art, you first must know how to digitally create it.
The graphics tablet was first introduced as a handwriting device called a Telautograph,
way back in the 1800s (Prof.). It was created by Professor Elisha Gray who worked on the
invention of the telephone at the same time as Alexander Graham Bell (Prof.). This invention
used a hard instrument such as a piece of wood or something resembling the stylus of today, and
the plate one would write on (Prof.). The pressure of the tool on the plate would give the
impulse to the machine, while the reproduction is brought about by a tracing point, which may be
a properly-linked pen or even a movable arm in the receiving machine at the other end of the
line (Prof.).
But the graphics tablet didnt stop there. In the art world of today, digital art is just as
important as paints and canvas. In some cases, it can be argued that with the development of
movies, video games, video reality, and social media digital art is the new age of fine arts. Let
me introduce you to the Microsoft Surface, the next big thing in art education. Unlike most

graphic tablets, the Surface lets you see what your drawing at the same time as you are drawing
it on the screen (Kolle). This is vastly different, and extremely helpful with it comes to digital
art, as before most tablets are a solid piece of tech, almost resembling a mouse or track pad. To
be able to watch what your hand is creating just like you would if you were using paper and pen,
elevates digital art in a way like never before. Simply put, you are able to draw directly on the
screen (Banes 2). I chose this tool because as an artist, I have tried and struggled with graphics
tablets. Im a very visual person, and if I cant see what my hands are doing, I have trouble
creating my best work. I believe the Surface is a much better and more encompassing tool.
Surface launched back in 2009 in the UK. An article by David Banes at the time says
Surface is a new tabletop technology from Microsoft, which by combining a direct dynamic
touch interface with the ability to recognize and interact with objects, offers the opportunity to
significantly influence teaching and learning with technology for pupils with special educational
needs (SEN) (Banes 1). Banes also says that the Surface eliminates the need for a mouse or
keyboard, which makes it more accessible (Banes 2). Whats nice about the surface is because of
the different ways you can configure it, if you decide to use it as a computer, a tablet, or anything
in between, you have the option to do so (Banes 1). I also like this as a tool for elementary
students, because hands-on learning is a big developmental stage for them, and as a future
elementary art teacher, this technology stands out for me.
Since 2009, there have been ten versions of the Surface released, each bigger and better
than the last (Kolle) The latest in the Surface line (the Surface Studio and the Surface Book i7)
were both released on October 26th, 2016 (Kolle). As you may have guessed, the Surface is
directly competing with the iPad. However, because of its capability to be a computer, tablet, or
graphics device, the Surface is clearly the better choice. Its current, compatible, and because it

runs on Windows, its simple to use. As teachers, we must be flexible. We need to be able to
teach all of our students in the best ways possible. Why not have technology that can do the
same?

Works Cited
Banes, David. "Microsoft Surface - a New Approach to Access and Technology." Journal
of Assistive Technologies, vol. 3, no. 1, 2009., pp. 2931doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/17549450200900006.
Bendazzi, Giannalberto. Animation: A World History. Burlington, MA: Focal, 2015.
Print.
Kolle, Iril C. Graphics Tablet Solutions. Cincinnati, OH: Muska & Lipman, 2001. Print.

"PROF. GRAY'S TELAUTOGRAPH." The Washington Post (1877-1922)Jul 04, Washington, D.C., 1887.http://ezproxy.library.csn.edu/login?
url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/138120398?accountid=27953.
ValueWalk: Microsoft Surface Pro 4 Vs. Apple iPad Pro, Newstex, Chatham,
2015.http://ezproxy.library.csn.edu/login?url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/1719272053?
accountid=27953.