Module 5 Assignment: Increasing Returns

Increasing Returns: The Dwindling of DVD to VOD

One powerful force that can drive the emergence of technologies is the concept of

“increasing returns.”  The concept of “Increasing returns” is coined from a branch of mathematics called Chaos and Complexity Theory (Laureate Education, 2014e). David Thornburg (Laureate Education, 2014e) describes the “increasing return” model as two innovations hitting the market at the same time in which one of the technologies will get locked in and drives the other to extinction.

The current competition between DVD’s and video on-demand (VOD) are current examples of the force of “increasing returns.” It is more apparent now than before that the DVD-to-VOD window has reduced.The release dates of the DVD’s and the availability of VOD has had a tremendous widow collapse within recent years. Before it was typical to see at least a 30 day gap between the release of VOD from DVD’s. It is now common to see many films released on VOD the same day as DVD’s.

One reason I believe this window has started to close is due to the ease of accessibility to film through cable networks, such as Xfinity, and internet based providers such as Netflix. Consumers have shown less interest in purchasing physical media with the option now available online as well as cable networks. 

Richard Greenfield, a BTIG analyst, explains that Hollywood studios have begun to show more interest in protecting rental economics from services such as Netflix and Redbox than protecting DVD sales ().The dwindling interest in the purchase of DVD’s has supported the increasing economics of VOD rentals.

In regards to McLuhan’s tetradic model, DVD’s are befitting to dwell within the second quadrant as they are becoming obsolete by VOD.  VOD enhances consumer’s accessibility in the comfort of their own homes as well as increasing access through various mobile devices.  Although DVD sales have not completely plummeted, it makes sense that VOD will continue to be a prominent choice to consumers.

References:

Laureate Education (Producer). (2014e). David Thornburg: Increasing returns [Video file]. Baltimore, MD: Author.

Laureate Education (Producer). (2014g). David Thornburg: Red queens [Video file]. Baltimore, MD: Author.

Lawler, R. (2010, August 20). Studios giving up on DVD, pushing VOD instead. Retrieved from https://gigaom.com/2010/08/20/studios-giving-up-on-dvd-pushing-vod-instead/

Module 4 Assignment: Power of Disruptive Technologies

The Power of Disruptive Technologies: 
A Look at Google Glass & SixthSense Technologies

Disruptive technologies are newer technologies that have the same functions of an existing technology. However, its functionality is more efficient, therefore displacing the existing technology. This phenomenon of disruptive innovation was first coined by Clayton Christensen’s research which was later publicized in 1997 (Clayton Christensen Institute, n.d.).  Its theoretical nature explains how new technologies transforms an existing technology. In addition, David Thornburg (Laureate Education, 2014) suggests that disruptive technologies have the capacity to address the second quadrant of McLuhan’s tetrad in regards to emerging technologies obsoleting other technologies.

In our society today, wearable technologies, such as Google Glass and MIT’s SixthSense, have become a disruptive technological force that enables us to augment the physical world around us.

The infrastructure of Google Glass resembles the features of smartphones.  This hands-free device is designed to use voice command similar to many mobile computing devices.  Although the public experiment of Google Glass was currently brought to a halt on January 19, 2015, implications of its abilities are far from leaving the market. Currently, Tony Fadell, former Apple executive and Nest Founder, is now overseeing the project (Burns, 2015).  

With the SixthSense device you are able to use hand gestures to interact with information by bringing the digital world to the physical world. Digital information becomes tangible through a mobile computing device that has an embedded camera and projector enabling people to do things such as draw, take pictures, and watch videos.

These devices have extreme benefits for people to interact with the world around them.  In reference to the third quadrant of McLuhan’s tetradic model, I believe it also have the potential to bring back the social experience from  people engaging behind a monitor and encourage us to be more engage with our surroundings. As technology continues to emerge, I look forward to newer innovations disrupting the current models of the Google Glass and the SixthSense, within the next five years allowing us to augment our world with digital information.

Both of these disruptive technologies have the power to obsolete mobile computing devices and will have a positive impact in education. The social implications of these technologies will allow educators to create first-hand experiences to share with students, enhance flipped instructional model, as well as engage students in the world around them for an extreme learning experience. I believe wearable technologies will disrupt teaching methodologies in the future creating another paradigm shift in instructional practices.

References:

Burns, M. (2015, January 19). Today is the last day to buy google glass. Retrieved from http://techcrunch.com/2015/01/19/today-is-the-last-day-to-buy-google-glass/

Clayton Christensen Institute. (n.d.). Disruptive Innovation. Retrieved from http://www.christenseninstitute.org/key-concepts/disruptive-innovation-2/

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

TED India. (Producer). (2009). The thrilling potential of SixthSense technology [Video file]. Retrieved January 22, 2014, from http://www.ted.com/talks/pranav_mistry_the_thrilling_potential_of_sixthsense_technology.html

Module 3 Assignment: Rhymes of History

Rhymes of History: Before there was Skype there was the Picturephone

When examining emerging technologies, it is important to understand underlying forces that help shape its existence by evaluating how they emerged and how they might impact our world. There are numerous forces that cause new technology to be developed. Many of today’s new technology are a fresh emergence of another technology, from the past, to which its impact was felt many years later. This force is known as rhymes of history and continues to drive the emergence of technology today.

David Thornburg (Laureate Education, 2014j) defines a rhyme of history as the effect or impact of a new development that rekindles something from the past. This retrieval of the past can also be seen in McLuhan’s tetradic model when examining emerging technology. It is not so much the technology itself, but the effect of that technology being rekindled. In today’s society, video conferencing applications, such as Skype and Google Talk, are very beneficial for ongoing productivity in education, business, and personal aspects of one’s life. In the last decade, this buzz of using video conferencing has recently gained more popularity.  However, I was very surprised to discover that these video conferencing applications, which are commonly used by tablets, cell phones, and other computing devices, rekindled the first model of the Picturephone, introduced in 1964. I know, I know.  What in the world is a Picturephone?  We all are familiar with the popular 60’s cartoon, The Jetsons.  One familiar technology that stood out was the use of video conferencing throughout the cartoon series.  To our surprise this technology was not a just fantasy of the future, but rather an emerging technology that was already being introduced to the world by ATT, at the World’s Fair, around the same time the cartoon was airing. The Picturephone was a telephone, with a video display, that was capable of a face-to-face communication in real time. Although, the Picturephone was a colossal failure for its time, it has evolved for 50 years and has enhanced today’s communication in our society.

More information about the Picturephone:

Bell Laboratories Records of the PicurePhone

Debut of the First Picturephone 

Picturephone: How Bell Lost a Half a Million

References:

Engineerguy. (2014, July 14). PicturePhone: how bell telephone lost a half billion, but nearly created the internet. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WzdCKBZP4Jo

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

Laureate Education (Producer). (2014j). David Thornburg: Six forces that drive emerging technologies[Video file]. Baltimore, MD: Author.

Module 2 Assignment: McLuhan Tetrad of the Cloud

McLuhan’s Tetrad of the Cloud 

The cloud application is an emerging technology that has provided a mobile platform to allow users to expand their work beyond an office or school as well as providing access to personal content from many devices. It has reshaped the structure of productivity in a way that has impacted many lives on different levels.

In this blog, I will use the McLuhan’s tetradic approach in accessing the cloud application. McLuhan’s tetrad is a remarkable tool to assist one in developing a futuristic view that can anticipate emerging and future technologies. The nature of the tetrad is based on four quadrants that are not sequential but rather occurs simultaneously (Thornburg, 2013e). Aspects of the McLuhan tetrad are as follows:

•         What does the technology do that is new or enhance?

•         What will the technology make obsolete?

•         What does the technology retrieve or rekindle from the past?

•         What will reverse from technology or flip into?

David Thornburg eloquently states that McLuhan’s tetrad “forces you to think about artifacts in a new way, making you more aware of new technologies as they emerge” (Laureate, 2014f). This tetrad allows one to make informative decisions about technology. Using the tetrad is helpful in determining if a technology will help students learn more effectively as well budget wisely as you begin anticipating what technology could possibly replace it. In addition, it allows us to be more creative in the process of how to utilize technologies that will truly assist in facilitating learning.

Enhances:

The cloud application enhances the ability to access content at anytime from anywhere. Storing information in the cloud give you virtually an unlimited storage capacity where third party service provides backup and recovery solutions. Users are able to easily switch devices and easily access content without having to save it on a singular device in order to transfer information. In addition it promotes social collaboration among others through sharing features in real time. This is ideal for use in education...

Obsolescence:

With cloud access readily available, the flash and hard drive becomes obsolete due to the lack of need for external storage. Cloud applications, such as Google Drive, allow you to store information online through a third party source that provides various platforms and features and, in most cases, are free.  Also, it obsoletes expensive productivity software, such as Microsoft Office, because similar productivity applications are available in the cloud where users can create various documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and forms.

Retrieval:

The cloud application retrieves a library organizational system for data and content online as well human social interactions. Since the cloud allows for multiple users, it also brings back group and collaborative effort from a distance.

Reversal:

The cloud application provides many advantages and problem-solving solutions for companies and educational demands.  However, there are concerns in regards to the lack of privacy and security. Many cloud applications are run by a third-party provider so it increases privacy concerns.  

References:

Dimensional Studios. (Producer). (2014). Gorillaz & Madonna: Grammy awards [Video file]. Retrieved from http://www.eyeliner3d.com/gorillaz_madonna_grammy_awards.html

Laureate Education (Producer). (2014f). David Thornburg: McLuhan’s Tetrad [Video file]. Baltimore, MD: Author.

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

Module 1 Assignment: Identifying Emerging Technology

Moving to the Cloud

Emerging technologies are imperative for the advancement of our society and critical for demands of 21^st century learning needs. In Dr. David Thornburg’s (2013b) paper, Current Trends in Educational Technology, he discusses the constant changing landscape of educational technology and explores various technologies that have transformed to help shape and reshape educational practices. One transformational technology, that would be a good addition to Dr. Thornburg’s list of current trends in educational technology, is the transitional process from hardware and software management infrastructures to internet-based computational infrastructures.

Cloud computing is an internet based computing model that creates a virtual environment for users through a shared network of servers. In recent years, cloud computing has helped reshape learning and system management in K-12 education.  The CDW Government (2013) released a study stating that 40% of schools are turning to the cloud for storage to house their data.  However, storage is not the only reason schools are starting to migrate. The study also found that 36% of school used the application for conferencing and collaboration and 33% uses it for office and productivity tools.

From Global Journal of Computer Science and Technology

Although cloud computing helps eliminate the need for computing hardware and software to manage educational system needs, it also helps shape productivity for student learning. I found the figure to the left in an article from the Global Journal of Computer Science and Technology (GJCST, 2012)  and thought that it was a good visual representation of how cloud computing is used in e-learning as a business model to structure learning management. Through the cloud, communication has become essential between teacher and students. It allows interchangeable sharing of documents and other digital activities for students.  However, some issues associated with the application are security, compliance, and possible outages with the main concern of protecting private student data. Pitfalls of cloud computing can be overcome with the appropriate level of planning and architectural effort (Bonfante, 2014). Some experts say that the problem is that many school districts have not set clear polices for storing data effectively (Davies, M.R., Cavanagh, S., 2014).

Cloud computing delivers on-demand computing resources over the internet.  It is much cheaper to run than to purchase software that has to be maintained and the cloud application infrastructure works as a utility for the user.  With major hardware and software brands, like Microsoft and Google, making cloud space solutions (GJCST, 2012), cloud computing is emerging quickly with many advantages that outweigh the issues with the application. With the correct design and implementations of policies and procedures from school districts, cloud computing will revolutionize the shape aspects of K-12 education and directly support opportunities to enhance 21^st century learning.

References:

Bonfante, L. (2014, July) Three flawed issues of cloud computing. Retrieved from http://www.cioinsight.com/it-management/expert-voices/three-flawed-issues-about-cloud-computing.html

CDW Government. (2013). 2013 State of the cloud report. Retrieved from http://www.cdwnewsroom.com/2013-state-of-the-cloud-report/

Davies, M.R., Cavanagh, S,. (2014, January 8).Cloud computing in K-12 expands, raising data privacy concerns. Retrieved from http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2014/01/08/15cloud_ep.h33.html

 GJCST. (2012, July). Cloud computing issues and benefits modern education. (12)10 Retrieved from http://thejournal.com/articles/2013/02/19/cloud-computing-to-make-up-35-of-k12-it-budgets-in-4-years.aspx?=THECL

 Nagal, David. (2013, February 19). Cloud computing to make up 35% of K-12 IT budgets in 4 years. Retrieved from http://thejournal.com/articles/2013/02/19/cloud-computing-to-make-up-35-of-k12-it-budgets-in-4-years.aspx?=THECL

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

Welcome

Welcome to my Educational Technology Blog!

Hello All! Welcome to my blog.  My name is Jocelyn McDonald and I am looking forward to blogging through my journey as a doctoral student at Walden University.  I am currently studying Educational Technology and will be blogging in regards to issues and trends in education with this matter.  The beginnings of this blog will be in conjunction with the Walden course EDUC 8342 Emerging and Future Technologies. I am looking forward to sharing  knowledge as well as gaining perspectives within the realms of educational technology. I welcome comments, questions, and feedback in response to any of my post.

A little about my background:

I have been teaching for he past 10 years in public education within the Houston area of Texas. Growing up, I never thought I would become a teacher or even would be remotely interested in education.  I had always had a strong passion for science and looked forward to becoming a Pharmacologist. Little did I know that I was already destined to love the field of teaching.  As an undergraduate I attended Stephen F. Austin State University, in Nacogdoches, Texas, where I received a Bachelors of Science in chemistry.  The next step was graduate school.  However, to my surprise a bundle of joy arrived and education was an profession to join with flexible days off through out the year. Therefore, I started teaching chemistry and fell in love with the connection  was able to make with students and my passion for science.  After 8 years of teaching chemistry, I wanted to to do more and and love how different technological aspects began to transform my teaching practices.  I then decided to go back to school and get a Masters of Education in Instructional Technology at Houston Baptist University in Houston, Texas. After my first year in school, I decided to start teaching technology.

I am looking forward to growing professionally and personally through this experience.

Cheers to Educations,

Jocelyn McDonald, M.Ed.