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/