Virtual Technology

Group discussion will focus on the emergent technology "Second Life".
View Second Life webpage at http://secondlife.com/whatis/index.php?sourceid=0912-wisl-affiliate&siteID=UO85MF6im_8-2LqasQmKHdWdA1n2w.OC5w
 
or watch the introduction video below.

VISIONS 2020: Transforming Education and Training Through Advanced Technologies

I am currently reading the research work by these great technology authors like Professors Chris Dede (Harvard Graduate School of Education) and Randy Pausch (Carnegie-Mellon University - Alice Software developer) and famous names like Bill Gates (Microsoft founder) on the future of education and technology.  The link below will introduce you to the future of educational technology. The readings are scenario based story-telling that captivates your imagination and stimulate ideas - enjoy.

The following reference was retrieved from the USDLA (United States Distance Learning Association) website (I just joined as a member at student rate $30.)

U.S. Department of Commerce, VISIONS 2020: Transforming Education and Training Through Advanced Technologies, Washington, D.C., 2002. Retrieved from http://purl.access.gpo.gov/GPO/LPS34165

No Boundaries - Futurist Technology

Identifying a specific technology that astounds us all beyond our belief is challenging as trends for the last decade has been nothing but innovative technology. The most prevalent change in technology that has offered positive social change is the phone system. Advanced technology has enable society to communicate freely beyond the confinements of our office and home.The phone system is one such technology that emerged at the turn of the century as an innovative tool.This advance and robust technology gave us the freedom to communicate miles away without having to leave our homes. Society  was captivated by the phones’ capability of transmitting sound over analogue data. Fast forward to the 21^st century and phones have become a multifaceted device enabling people to multitask.  What does this all mean to us as a society? Simple, advance technology allows us to be efficient and effective at work, at school, at home, and even on vacation (so we think).

The flip side to of being able to Skype, podcast, e-mail, attach documents, and receive data all on an application phone is information overload. Besides having to remember so many numbers and characters, we are expected to respond immediately to messages and have reports readily available within hours.  Communication is quickly filling up our "life meter” as our activity of daily living involves use of “apps” to complete tasks.  


What once met our social need to communicate rapidly has now bombarded us with too much information.  Society has set the bar at “high-altitude” (where dizziness is frequent due to lack of oxygen) expecting results immediately and quick fixes to long-term problems through voice mail and texting.  On the contrary, the benefits of advance phone technology is its ability to guide us to our destination via built in GPS system, quick rescue response, purchasing power i.e. shopping and listen to lecture captured classrooms. More so, thanks to wireless connection we can entertained  ourselves with video podcasts and games. App phones can be improved by technology that learns our behavior through usage and provide information that matches our needs, likes, and personality.    

Lynda Marshall
June 14, 2011
edited June 16, 2010