The Power of Disruptive Technologies:
A Look at Google Glass & SixthSense 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.
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
Hello Jocelyn,
ReplyDeleteI like your post on Google Glass and Sixth Sense. I do hope that these advances in how we interact with computers can help us to become more social once more. It is a little bit sad sitting in a restaurant seeing whole families or groups of friends with their heads down looking at a smartphone screen, and not at the people they are with. I also can see some very strong uses in the classroom. It could very easily obsolete the photocopier in my classrooms if students would be able to download from the cloud a worksheet, project it on a piece of paper and use a stylus (or their finger) to write the answer. They could then save their work and email it to the teacher.
Thanks for the post.
I agree that Sixth Sense technologies could ironically free us from the confines of the previous technologies. Tablets have somewhat allowed us to do that by giving us a computer experience anywhere as opposed to sitting behind a desk or laptop in the airport. What is exciting about this prospect is that more information is available, and it actually encourages social interaction. Imagine being able to bring up an advertisement on the wall of the mall before you enter so you and your friends can decide how and where you want to start shopping. I think the monitor has been one of our biggest constraints and has caused social media to be so isolated.
ReplyDeleteJocelyn,
ReplyDeleteI is interesting that you mention this type of technology can make phones obsolete, but at the current cost, it is rather difficult. Do you see people paying over a thousand dollars for that. It is even more interesting that Google has stopped selling the device as they take time to upgrade and re-design. I am not sure if it will come out cheaper, but I doubt it.