Module 5 Assignment: Blog Post on Red Queens and Increasing Returns

Module 5 Assignment: Blog Post on Red Queens and Increasing Returns

Thornburg (2014) discusses how the idea of the red queens comes about when you have two competing technologies that trying to emerge as the leader in the technology innovation race. Thornburg (2014) references the theory of increasing returns when it states that it is possible that between two competing technology innovations one will begin on the path of extinction due to the winning technology innovation capturing the attention of people more than the other. An excellent example of this was when Nintendo was battling against Sony and Microsoft for control of the video game console market. In 1990, Nintendo captured the hearts and minds of gamers with the Super Mario game with their Super Nintendo gaming system.

However, since 1990 Sony and Microsoft has fought back with their versions of gaming system which proved to rival Nintendo’s technology innovations with the inclusion of the Play Station and XBOX. Today, almost 30 years later Nintendo no matter how they have tried to battle against XBOX and Sony with its inclusion of the Nintendo Wii; they are not able to compete with the others. Nintendo seems to have fizzled out and they are not in the lime light as they once were. Now, the competition is primarily seen between XBOX and Play Station. Consumers are interested in more lifelike computer graphics. Today, games can be purchased online and downloaded with the gaming console instead of going into a store to purchase them. This same transition of technology evolution also applies to movie videos.

To complete assignment four I watched Minority Report on my iPad using the Amazon library app. I had previously purchased the movie and was able to watch it from my iPad. Today, I like the ability to watch my movies from either my smart phone or iPad. I would have to say that the competition between DVD and on Demand Video Streaming is both an example of Increasing Returns and Red Queens. It is an example of Red Queens because initially Blockbuster was in competition with Netflix. However, Blockbuster could not get compete with Netflix’s mail in order system, lower prices, and greater availability. I, too, remember going to Blockbuster and many occasions looking to rent to latest video release only to be turned away because all of their video selections have been rented out to customers. Now that Blockbuster has went bankrupt and fizzled out, the Red Queens today are Netflix and Amazon. Netflix is an example of increasing returns because Netflix is starting to emerge as the premier in Internet TV by creating shows that are primarily shown on the Internet as opposed to being on a cable television channel. One of my favorite shows to watch is “Orange is the new Black” which was created on the Internet.

References

Brownlee, A. (2015). The Evolution of Video Rental Stocks. Retrieved from https://blogonmanagement.wordpress.com/2015/05/18/disruptive-innovation-in-the-video-rental-industry-story-of-netflix/

Severny, A. (2015). The movie theater of the future will be in your mind. Retrieved from

https://tribecafilm.com/stories/future-of-the-movie-theater-is-in-your-mind

Thornburg, D. (2013d). Red queens, butterflies, and strange attractors: Imperfect lenses into emergent technologies. Lake Barrington, IL: Thornburg Center for Space Exploration.

Module 4: Blog Post on the Disruptive Power of Google Glass and Its Precursor, the MIT Sixth Sense Project

Module 4

Blog Post on the Disruptive Power of Google Glass and Its Precursor, the MIT Sixth Sense Project

Dr. Thornburg (2014) discusses disruptive technologies as technologies that replace existing technology with functionality that is more efficient and cheaper thus making the old technology obsolete. People are always interested in the new bells and whistles of technology. This is exactly people rush to get the new iPhone or iPad because they are anxious to see what new functionality the device will offer to users. Sixth Sense technology is emerging as disruptive technology because it allows the user to do the same things that they could do with existing technology except without the device itself.  Users are able to use hand gestures to manipulate digital information. The technology that is being displaced is the smart phone because users will no longer need an actual phone to make and receive calls. Using the sixth sense technology users could have the functionality of a phone on the palm of their hands or any other surface. Sixth sense technology also displaces iPads because users will no longer need to have a device to interact with social media. Users will be able to communicate with friends and family using sixth sense technology by emailing, taking pictures, and calling them without using a smart device. In the sixth sense technology video demonstration Pranav Mistry takes a picture using his hands by simply making the gesture of taking a picture. He sends an email with the picture attachment. Users of sixth sense technology will benefit from using this type of technology because the sensors of the finger tabs enable the technology to gather information about what the user is holding. This will enable companies to work with sixth sense technology to offer options to purchase the object from online companies such as Amazon.com without clicking the app on a smart device. The sixth sense technology would be great for a classroom because educators are always searching for ways in which to make learning more hands on for students so that are able to interact with the curriculum. Sixth sense technology combines the fascination of new technology and the instructional theories of hands on activities in the classroom. The sixth sense technology would be great an English language learner because the student would interact with objects in their environment and the sixth sense technology could identify the object both in their native language and the second language. The sixth sense technology could also verbalize how to pronounce this new vocabulary.  I do not see sixth sense technology being displaced by another disruptive technology for a while. The sixth sense technology is barely emerging so I believe Microsoft and Google will work to ensure that further applications of sixth sense technology are developed. Sixth sense technology will evolve to include computer programs where users can manipulate MS word programs without using a computer, keyboard, or mouse. Users will be able to save, edit, and retrieve data without having an actual computer to perform this functions.

References

[Andrew Phillip]. (2012, April 12). 6th sense tech Demonstration. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/rWf4xS-28nU

Laureate Education (Producer). (2014a). David Thornburg: Disruptive technologies [Video file]. Baltimore, MD: Author.

Sixth Sense technology. (2012). Retrieved from http://www.engineersgarage.com/articles/sixth-sense-technology

Module 3: Blog Post on Rhymes of History Technology

Module 3: 

Blog Post on Rhymes of History Technology

Thornburg (2014) describes that principle of rhymes of history as the affect or impact of a new development that rekindles something from the past. I found especially noteworthy in Thornburg’s view of the rhyme of history as it relates to technology, was that the focus was not on the evolution of technology ; but the affect of the technology that is being rekindled. The example for illustrates the rhymes of history that I have decided to focus on individual presentation tools. In the 11^th century, students in ancient Sumeria and Babylonia used clay tablets to display their cuneiform writing. This evolved into the creation of the slate board which was used in the 18^th century. The chalkboard was developed later in the 19^th century to presentation information. After the chalkboard, the invention of the dry-erase board emerged which utilized dry erase markers. Now, today we have iPads that have apps that function as interactive whiteboards. Therefore, the iPad is rekindling the idea of presenting information to convey a message to another person. However, today we can this message without using a pencil, pen, or stylus apparatus. People can now use their fingers to write or draw a message. Today the message can also be shared with not only the people who are next to you but globally. Using the Educreations app for the iPad the user can create a visual that has text and share their creation for another person via email or post on social media. 

Babylonian Clay Tablet

Chalkboard and Chalk

 iPad Educreations App 

 References

Dunn, J. (2011). The Evolution of Classroom Technology, Edudemic: Connecting Education and Technology. Retrieved from http://www.edudemic.com/classroom-technology/

Laureate Education (Producer). (2014h). David Thornburg: Rhymes of history [Video file]. Baltimore, MD: Author.

The History of the Classroom blackboard (2012) Retrieved from http://education.cu-portland.edu/blog/reference-material/the-history-of-the-classroom-blackboard/

Module 2: Blog Post on Emerging Technologies Tetrad

Module 2:

Blog Post on Emerging Technologies Tetrad

The tetrad that my group has decided to write about is TVs. I have decided to narrow my tetrad on the topic of Holographic TVs. After completing my first tetrad on holographic technology, it has inspired to further research how this type of technology could be applied to TVs. Purewal (2010) discusses how a research team from the University of Arizona have been working on the development of holographic TV technology in 2008. Purewal (2010) expands on how holographic TV technology by writing that the technology utilizes Ethernet, a computer, the computer then sends the data to a 50Hz nanosecond pulsed laser, which shoots holographic pixels called hotels onto a plastic screen or "photorefractive polymer material." 

Thornburg (2013) summarizes McLuhan's Laws of Media by rephrasing them by writing: 

• What does it do that is new?

Holographic TV’s allow the viewer to look at the picture with using a screen. The image is displayed as an apparition floating in the air. The viewer is able to look at the picture without using 3D glasses. 

• What does it obsolete?

Holographic TV will make 3D TVs, HD LED TVs, and Plasma TV’s obsolete. Instead of buying a big screen TV that takes up a lot of space, the consumer can extend the image to the size they prefer using a projected image

• What does it rekindle from the past?

 The use of holographic TV will most likely bring back family time where they would gather around the TV share experiences due to the latest eye catching technology.

• What does it flip into when pushed to the extreme?

 Thornburg (2013) points out that McLuhan’s theory of the Laws of Media lend itself to the notion that each new invention sets the stage for its own replacement. As a result, this new holographic TV technology will mostly be replaced by a more life-like image that will be displayed in holographic smartphones that have TV apps embedded within them. Consequently, the consumer will be able to view their favorite TV shows on the go using their newest smart watch.

References

Purwal, S. (2010). Holographic TV Coming in 2017. PC Word. Retrieved from http://www.techhive.com/article/209772/Holographic_TV_Coming_Your_Way_in_2017.html

Thornburg, D. (2013e). Emerging technologies and McLuhan's laws of media. Lake Barrington, IL: Thornburg Center for Space Exploration

Assignment One: Emerging Technology

Joseph Rodriguez

Assignment One: Emerging Technology

Drs. Thornburg, Solloway, and Rogers defines emerging technology as a process that involves all stakeholders to look at how technologies could be potential used to increase work place productivity which would in turn yield greater student gains by impacting their everyday lives.

There are two definitions that I believe are most relevant in explaining how to facilitate the diffusion of an emerging technology in my workplace would have to be Thornburg’s definition and Roger’s definition. I would choose Thornsburg’s definition as opposed to Solloway because emerging technology does not have a lot of production costs involved in the emergence of it in the educational field. Rogers’s definition involves stakeholders as the people moving the emerging technology into everyday practice. This is where both definitions work in conjunction to improve workplace procedures, practices, or policies. As educators we determine a need that requires further investigation to improve workplace productivity then we will champion its cause to bring this new strategy, procedure, or policy into fruition. An example of this emerging technology that I am referring is the influx of Web 2.0 Tools in the classroom. For my more specific example of Web 2.0 technology that has been emerging lately within my experience as a teacher and as an instructional specialist is Padlet. The website address is https://padlet.com/ Using Padlet, the students can write, read, listen, and speak which is very essential to the English language development of English Language learners.

My position on emerging technology influences how I share these technology integration strategies with my teachers at my schools greatly. Once I am aware of a need or curiosity I have tried to determine how I can best support my teachers to reach the ESL students that we serve. One of my Sheltered Instruction teachers asked me how they incorporate iPads in their classrooms without having to spend money for an app. I immediately thought of Padlet and its potential uses in the classroom are endless. Padlet has the ability for students to create online videos, write posts, submit attachments, and respond to classmate posts. I have conducted various professional development trainings at each of the seven schools that I oversee to ensure that Padlet is being added to the teacher’s instructional technology tool kit.

A current technology that has emerged within the past few years is the iPad. The iPad was released April 3, 2010 and within the past few years iPads have been emerging in classrooms to assist in teaching. A challenge with using the iPads in the classroom is that teacher need professional development to able to use iPad with fidelity in the classroom. It is incorrect to assume that teachers automatically know how to maneuver through apps in an iPad. It is not enough to give teachers new technology to use in their classroom, we need to make sure that they have adequate ongoing technology professional development on how to use them appropriately. One of the problems that are associated with iPads is that misuse of this new technology by the students. Students already know how to use an iPad and we will use the iPad to get on social media, play games, listen to music, or any other activity that is not related to the teacher’s curriculum.

However, the integration of the iPad has many benefits for promoting a 21^st century technology literate learner by allowing students to utilize multiple components of multimedia in one device. In today’s society educators are looking for ways to integrate technology that will cost the least amount of money. Using the iPad, teachers and student have access to a plethora of apps that they could use to learn the content. iPad’s create a more versatile technology based learning environment because students can create, publish, and share multimedia projects with the world using free apps. Students can communicate with other students from not only their classroom but the world in an online community.

Potential pitfalls of using iPad’s in the classroom included: Wi-Fi connectivity, distraction factor, and battery issues. Many schools have WI-FI access for students to use in their classrooms for learning their content. However, the connection speed might be slower if the students are also using the WI-FI connection for their smart phones. Consequently, the WI-FI connection is being strained to accommodate videos, music, or other multimedia that is being streamed by the students. A way to remedy is to have a stronger signal for WI-FI, have students put to their smart phones in a centralized location once they enter the classroom so that are not using them during instructional time, having the school district or campus technology personnel install firewalls that prevent students from going to streaming websites. Another potential pitfall is the distraction factor because some students might be tempted to use other apps that might entice students to exhibit off task behavior. It is recommended that the teacher monitor the usage of the iPads by walking around the room instead of being stationed at their teacher desk assuming that their students will follow teacher directions. Some iPad’s when utilized in increased amounts of time will drain the battery of the device. It is recommended that iPad’s be plugged in when not in use so that students will not have an excuse to not participate or complete assignment due to iPad not being charged.

TAGS: emerging technology, future technology, educational technology

Website where emerging technology is featured.

iPads in the Classroom

GRAPHIC IMAGES

References

Laureate Education (Producer). (2014a). Elliot Soloway: Emerging vs. emerged technologies [Audio file]. Baltimore, MD: Author.

  

Laureate Education (Producer). (2014k). David Thornburg: What is emerging technology? [Video file]. Baltimore, MD: Author.

Rogers, E. M. (2003). Diffusion of innovations (5th ed.) New York, NY: Free Press.

Thornburg, D. (2013b). Current trends in educational technology. Lake Barrington, IL: Thornburg Center for Space Exploration.

Thornburg, D. (2013e). When is a technology emergent? Lake Barrington, IL: Thornburg Center for Space Exploration.

Module 1_Blog Post on Identifying an Emerged Technology

Module 1_Blog Post on Identifying an Emerged Technology

Hello Everyone,

Drs. Thornburg, Solloway, and Rogers defines emerging technology as a process that involves all stakeholders to look at how technologies could be potential used to increase work place productivity which would in turn yield greater student gains by impacting their everyday lives.

There are two definitions that I believe are most relevant in explaining how to facilitate the diffusion of an emerging technology in my workplace would have to be Thornburg’s definition and Roger’s defintion. I would choose Thornsburg’s definition as opposed to Solloway because emerging technology does not have a lot of production costs involved in the emergence of it in the educational field. Rogers’s definition involves stakeholders as the people moving the emerging technology into everyday practice. This is where both definitions work in conjunction to improve workplace procedures, practices, or policies. As educators we determine a need that requires further investigation to improve workplace productivity then we will champion its cause to bring this new strategy, procedure, or policy into fruition. An example of this emerging technology that I am referring is the influx of Web 2.0 Tools in the classroom. For my more specific example of Web 2.0 technology that has been emerging lately within my experience as a teacher and as an instructional specialist is Padlet. The website address is https://padlet.com/ Using Padlet, the students can write, read, listen, and speak which is very essential to the English language development of English Language learners.

My position on emerging technology influences how I share these technology integration strategies with my teachers at my schools greatly. Once I am aware of a need or curiosity I have tried to determine how I can best support my teachers to reach the ESL students that we serve. One of my Sheltered Instruction teachers asked me how they incorporate iPads in their classrooms without having to spend money for an app. I immediately thought of Padlet and its potential uses in the classroom are endless. Padlet has the ability for students to create online videos, write posts, submit attachments, and respond to classmate posts. I have conducted various professional development trainings at each of the seven schools that I oversee to ensure that Padlet is being added to the teacher’s instructional technology tool kit.

References

Laureate Education (Producer). (2014a). Elliot Soloway: Emerging vs. emerged technologies [Audio file]. Baltimore, MD: Author.

  

Laureate Education (Producer). (2014k). David Thornburg: What is emerging technology? [Video file]. Baltimore, MD: Author.

Rogers, E. M. (2003). Diffusion of innovations (5th ed.) New York, NY: Free Press.

Thornburg, D. (2013b). Current trends in educational technology. Lake Barrington, IL: Thornburg Center for Space Exploration.

Thornburg, D. (2013e). When is a technology emergent? Lake Barrington, IL: Thornburg Center for Space Exploration.