Red Queens and Increasing Returns (posted from APPLE store due to viral issues) =(

When you decided to obtain a DVD for your science fiction assignment in Module 4, where did you go to find a movie based on a Philip K. Dick book?

When I was choosing my DVD, I wanted to pick one that I didn’t think everyone else would pick.  I knew Minority Report would be a popular choice, however, my boyfriend thought I’d throughly enjoy Paycheck, and he was right! So, the search began and how difficult it was! Due to the fact that Paycheck is an older movie, it was not in one of the million Redbox or Blockbuster Express boxes in the 10 mile radius of my house. Because of these boxes, there is only one Blockbuster store left in the city of Atlanta, and it took me an hour and a half to drive 10 miles thanks to traffic, and rain shutting down the exit ramp to the Blockbuster! I was thinking, “How ironic, that now because of these great $1 boxes we don’t have to go far for new movies, but it’s such a pain in the butt to rent an older movie!” It was a good example of how technology always has  a negative side to it also!

 Did you rent or purchase a DVD, or did you view it digitally on your computer using Netflix or a similar vendor of video-on-demand?

I rented the movie, Paycheck, from the one and only Atlanta-surviving Blockbuster. It was not available in any of the Blockbuster Expresses or Redboxes. I did look for it online, and also in my On Demand titles, however, it was nowhere to be found!

Is the current competition between DVDs and video-on-demand an example of increasing returns or Red Queens?

Arthur (1996) defines increasing returns as “the tendency for that which is ahead to get further ahead, for that which loses advantage to lose further advantage” (p. 100). I think increasing returns happened in regards to DVD stores vs. DVD $1 boxes. Like we have learned about the timelines of emerging technologies, they don’t happen overnight, nor catch on overnight. Redbox for example though invented in 2003, they didn’t surpass Blockbuster sales and locations until 2007. It was an obvious example of how Redbox kept getting ahead, with more and more locations and rentals, and Blockbuster stores starting closing all over the country. Blockbuster caught on to the new trend, with the creation of the Blockbuster Express.

I think that in regards to DVDs and videos-on-demand, they are examples of Red Queens. Red Queens are not as common as a force as others. As Thornburg  (2009) explains, it is the existence of a huge competition between two technologies, in the process of which, they leave behind all other competitors. Both DVDs and videos-on-demand are competing with one another. DVDs continue to get cheaper to purchase, and Redboxes and Blockbuster Expresses continue to gain popularity and locations everyday. These DVD machines offer new movies for $1, while videos-on-demand do not. However, videos-on-demand offer newer movies, sooner, for $4.99/a night. They also offer many older movie for free. So there are benefits to DVDs and videos-on-demand and both compete with each other to become better and better!

Where do you think DVDs and video-on-demand are on the four criteria of McLuhan’s tetrad?

I think that DVDs and video-on-demand are on the “enhance” quadrant of McLuhan’s tetrad . These DVDs and video-on-demand enhance the old way to watch movies in regards to VHS, etc. With new blu-ray DVDs, viewers can watch videos from the comfort of their own home with special features like ever before. Old DVDs can also be enhanced with better picture quality, like many of the old version Disney movies that are being re-released with new enhanced formats.

References:
 Arthur, W. B. (1996). Increasing returns and the new world of business. Harvard Business Review, 74(4), 100−109.

Thornburg, D. D. (2009a). Increasing returns. [Vodcast]. Laureate Education, Inc. Retrieved from http://sylvan.live.ecollege.com/ec/crs/default.learn?
CourseID=4199715&Survey=1&47=5797856&ClientNodeID=984645&coursenav=1&bhcp=1

Thornburg, D. D. (2009b). Red queens. [Vodcast]. Laureate Education, Inc. Retrieved from http://sylvan.live.ecollege.com/ec/crs/default.learn?CourseID=4199715&Survey=1&47=5797856&ClientNodeID=984645&coursenav=1&bhcp=1

Second Life-Try #2

How is Second Life a disruptive technology?

Second Life is a disruptive technology because it replaces the physical teaching environment with a virtual teaching environment. As Thornburg (2009) describes, disruptive technologies are wild card technologies that seemingly come out of nowhere to make obsolete an existing technology. Second life fits this description because it is a virtual world where things we imagine in the real world and things we cannot imagine will be made possible (Nuthall, 2008).

What technology or innovation did it displace?

Second Life displaces video games such as Sims, while also displacing current methods of video conferencing, travel, and classrooms. While Second Life hasn’t completely displaced any of these innovations quite yet, the more it grows and develops           the closer it will be to completely displacing them. Second Life also replaces social networking sites. While in Second Life, avatars can meet “physically” and interact with one another. As stated above, eventually SL could displace traditional classrooms, because teachers will be able to meet, interact, and teach students virtually. I really hope this happens and I can be an instructor because teaching from home would be wonderful!

How many years do you think Second Life has left before another emerging technology or disruptive technology replaces it?

In my opinion Second Life still has at least 10 years or so before another emerging technology replaces it. Second Life is not widely used enough yet, therefore, I feel like there is still time for it to grow, mature, and develop into a better technology tool.

What are the social benefits of Second Life, and what might be the social implications of virtual worlds in your industry?

There will be many social benefits of Second Life in the elementary education field. Teachers would be able to teach classes without leaving the comfort of their home, while providing interactive lessons for their students. They would also be able to interact virtually with their students. I think this would allow teachers a lot more time to communicate openly with students. Teachers would also be able to share videos, lesson plans, etc. extremely easily.

References:
Rosedale, P. (2008). Second Life [Video]. Retrieved from http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/the_inspiration_of_second_life.html.

Thornburg, D. (2009). Evolutionary technology Vodcast: In Laureate Education, Inc. Emerging and future technology.

Robotic Vacuum Cleaner-Week 6 Blog

     

What does that technology rekindle or retrieve from the past that is a recurring theme of history? 

Dr. Thornburg’s Rhymes of History stated a very important point this week that “new technologies” are really just progressions or growths of previous ones. I remembering watching this episode of the Jetsons where with just a press of a button this robot vacuum would turn on and clean their whole floor! This reminds me of the iRobot vacuum my grandmother purchased 4 years ago. 

This iRobot rekindles vacuum cleaning from the past. The vacuum cleaner was invented due to advancements brought about by the Industrial Revolution. The original vacuum cleaner progressed right along with time. In 1899 with the gasoline powered vacuum cleaner, 1901 with the electric vacuum cleaner, and fast forward to 1969 with the first self propelled vacuum cleaner. Then in 2002, iRobot inventor Helen Greiner along with colleagues, introduced Roomba, the robot vacuum cleaner. While some people would call this iRobot a "new technology," Thornburg would remind us that it is really just a progression of the vacuum cleaners of the past! 

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CLIPLiQDIk0

Website: http://store.irobot.com/category/index.jsp?categoryId=3334619

Timeline of Vacuum Cleaner: http://timerime.com/en/timeline/288654/History+of+the+Vacuum+Cleaner 

Interactive Whiteboards (Mimio) Tetrad Lauren Dart

Enhances  *Transforms ordinary lessons, into extroadinary learning experiences *Makes ANY whiteboard interactive, by attaching the device to the board	Obsoletes  *Traditional whiteboard *Chalkboards (if still around) *SmartBoard
Retrieves  *Brings to mind past online technology programs such as Oregon Trail, or Carmen Sandiego, that can now be “brought to life” on the interactive whiteboard.  *Fufills the need for interactive teaching methods	Reverses *Newer/more improved models to make whiteboards interactive  *Handheld computers for the entire classroom that link to the teachers computer, so everyone can see what is going on without the need of a whiteboard.

Web links

http://www.mimio.dymo.com/en-US.aspx

http://rmtc.fsdb.k12.fl.us/tutorials/whiteboards.html 

Week 1-Emerging Tool-Mimio Interactive

     

Link: http://www.mimio.dymo.com/

The Mimio Interactive is a current technology that has emerged in the past two years in my school. The Mimio Interactive is an interactive system which you place on your existing whiteboard, and it automatically can transform it into an interactive whiteboard! It connects with your computer, so you can have access to all files, games, and internet resources from your whiteboard. In addition, the Mimio Connect is a free website with access to free and engaging lesson plans and activities created by teachers.  

What problems or challenges have been associated with this technology?

The Mimio Interactive had problems because teachers were given the tool (Mimio) at the beginning of the year, however, due to the chaos of meetings, open houses, and other events, teachers were never effectively introduced to it. They were also not trained how to set it up or use it. It was just sitting in a box in their room. There were many teachers who tried to use it without direction, and had challenges setting it up, getting it to stay fixed on their whiteboards, etc. 

However, once the beginning of the year began and teachers settled into their routines, training was set up and implemented very effectively. Rogers (2003) describes the five stages of the adoption process as knowledge, persuasion, decision, implementation, and confirmation. Our technology administrative team led us through all five stages effectively. However, Rogers (2003) discusses a “selling phase” in which the person who was sharing the technology “builds up” the technology and shows selling points of it, or reasons why everyone should be using it. Before the Mimio went through this “selling phase” teachers were complaining that they were tired of being introduced “new” things all the time, before they have even got accustomed to using the last technology tool that was presented, the Smartboard. As with any technology, there were some teachers who just were not willing to learn how to use yet another “new tool.” 

Another problem, was that the Mimio Interactive kept falling off of the whiteboards creating a lot of frustration for the teachers. The suction cups very rarely hold it safely on the whiteboard. After a couple weeks thought, teachers figured out they could just place the Mimio on the marker tray and the whiteboard was still able to become interactive. In addition, the Mimio Interactive power cord is very fragile and when broken is not replaceable by our school. 

What societal need does it meet, and what are its benefits?

The Mimio Interactive meets many societal needs. First, it encourages and motivates young technologists to apply their knowledge by using a technology tool. Many Academic Knowledge and Skills can be taught and reviewed through the use of the Mimio. As Thornburg (2009) stated in his article, “Current Trends in Educational Technology,”  “In the isolated classroom, the teacher and textbook reign supreme.” Due to this, there is a societal need in education to make learning more motivating to captivate our 21st century learners’ attentions. Our 21st century students are mesmerized by technology and get excited when they can learn through new technology tools! The Mimio makes learning so interactive that students don’t even realize they are learning! Mimio transforms traditional learning topics that used to be taught by reading a textbook, into fun, engaging activities. Students are able to “experiment” and physically “interact” with their own learning. 

What would make this technology even better, avoiding the pitfalls you identified?

The Mimio has actually evolved significantly from the original Mimio Interactive that is currently in our classrooms. The DYMO corporation has made many significant alterations and released a newer version called the “MimioTeach.” The newer MimioTeach is wireless, therefore the pitfall of the fragile power cord is avoided. The MimioTeach is also attached to the board magnetically, so weak suction cups will no longer be a problem. 

To make this technology even better would be more effective training of the users. If the Mimio Corporation could send out representatives to train the technology people and teachers, the tool might be more quickly and easily adopted. 

References

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

Thornburg, D. D. (2009a). Current trends in educational technology. Lake Barrington, IL: Thornburg Center for Space Exploration.