Rhymes of History

Rhyme of History-Virtual Worlds

Virtual worlds are rhymes of history in that they predate computers (Wikipedia, 2010). Virtual worlds will rekindle trips to exotic destinations without the cost and time of the journey. The learners being enabled to interact with the virtual world and have the sense of being a part of worlds will give them a realistic view of the content.

When Kevin Kelly gave his lecture on “the next 5000 days of the web”; found at: http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/
kevin_kelly_on_the_next_5_000_days_of_the_web.html , it was mentioned how computer technology has moved from embodiment which was computer to computer to restructure which is page to page to what he calls “one machine” which is data to data and the fourth step of transparency which is a virtual computer world where everything known will be on the world wide web or cyberspace.

More and more educators are beginning to see how virtual worlds can be a valuable teaching tool. Educators may want to teach students about the vegetation in different climate zones and the class can take a trip to the different zones without actually leaving the classroom or home. Students could build engines and even perform medical procedures in virtual worlds. Data in cyberspace will be our virtual world of information that we depend on.

Reference

Kelly, K. (2007, December). The next 5,000 days of the Web [Speech]. Speech delivered at the EG 2007 Conference, Los Angeles. Retrieved from; http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/
kevin_kelly_on_the_next_5_000_days_of_the_web.html

Thornburg, D. (2009). Emerging and Future Technology, Rhymes of History; Laureate Education Inc. video

Wikipedia (2010). Virtual Worlds retrieved from; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_world#History

Smartphone Module 2

A smart phone enhances productivity and enables new ways of conducting business beyond the confines of the office. Data once reserved for offices is now on a much smaller, mobile and convenient device.

Netbooks is the next step

Retrieves and Rekindle

Interest in web mail services

SMART and iPhones and the like may make desktops or even laptops obsolete.

Tetrad Model

• Enhancements: What does this technology do that is new?
  
• Obsolescence/Obsolete: What does this technology replace?
  
• Retrieval/rekindles: What does this technology bring to mind (or retrieve) from the past?
  
• Reversal/Demise: What might replace this technology in the future, or what might it cause to occur?
  

Enhances Allows for new ways of conducting business outside of the confines of the office. Business can be conducted on a mobile device.	Obsoletes Has the potential to make desktops or even laptops obsolete.
Rekindles Interest in web mail services and multi-tasking capabilities	Reverses Netbooks may be the next step of this technology

References

Ganapati, P. (2008). The Next Netbook Trend: Cellphone-Like Contract Deals; Gadget Lab; retrieved from: http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2008/12/next-time-you-s/

Silicon.com (2006). Analysis: What is a smartphone? retrieved from;
http://www.silicon.com/technology/mobile/2006/02/13/analysis-what-is-a-smartphone-3915639

Thornburg, D. D., (2008). Emerging technologies and McLuhan's Laws of Media.Lake Barrington Il: Thornburg Center for Space Exploration.