When the iphone was released, the crowds were mostly concerned about its appeal as a sleek new gadget for the tech-savvy. But, some educators are beginning to see the iPhone's potential as an educational tool. The Kansas City InfoZine reports:

"One researcher at the University of Kansas saw through the hullabaloo to recognize that the pioneering iPhone offered promise as a distance-learning tool. According to James R. Miller, associate professor of electrical engineering and computer science at KU, the pocket-sized computer can perform like an on-the-go classroom.

"It's pretty much a complete computer system in your hand - and oh, by the way, there's a phone there, too," Miller said. "People are beginning to expect on-demand delivery for education. They may be out in a field someplace or completely away from standard Internet connectivity. Well, if they can pick up their iPhone and turn it on, that technology is making it possible for them to get this on-demand education that they need."

With the iPhone and the recent release of Amazon's Kindle, a device that works as a portable classroom may not be far off. Neither of these devices are quite right for learning at a distance. But, we're getting very close.

(Image: Courtesy of Apple)