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Now for the OPPOSITE of true leadership — “America’s higher-education model isn’t broken” — from the president of a university charging ~$60,000/yr

On 07/13/2012, in change, colleges, cost of getting a degree, Daniel S. Christian, education reform, higher education, leadership, teaching & learning, universities, by Daniel Christian

From DSC re: the item below — an example of the opposite of true leadership
(To see an example of TRUE leadership, see my immediately previous posting re: Christensen and Eyring.)


Give colleges more credit — Op-Ed at the LA Times by Barry Glassner and Morton Schapiro
Doomsayers are wrong. America’s higher-education model isn’t broken.

Barry Glassner is president, and a professor of sociology,
of Lewis & Clark College in Oregon.
Morton Schapiro is president, and a professor of economics,
of Northwestern University in Illinois.

 

From DSC:
I was going to title this posting “‘America’s higher-education model isn’t broken.’ Easy for you to say Morton and Barry.”

An excerpt from their article (emphasis DSC):

While for-profit colleges enroll an increasing percentage of all undergraduates, the demand for education at selective private and public universities and colleges continues to grow, as evidenced by dramatic declines in the percentage of applicants they admit.

Nice. Let’s see how many people we can decline — that’s a great  way to serve our society! Then let’s pride ourselves on this shrinking  percentage of people who actually get into our university.  Woo hoo!  That will help with our ever-important ratings/prestige/branding even more! (Please note: The dripping sound that you are now hearing is the sound of drops of  sarcasm  hitting the floor.)

A few brief questions for you Barry and Morton…

  • When was the last time you lived from paycheck to paycheck?
  • Do you know what that’s like?
  • Have you ever been in that situation? If so, when was the last time?

You two are so far removed from the society — that you say that you are trying to help and serve — that you don’t even recognize the strength of the current that you’re swimming in.  You swim with — and serve — the 1% (not the 99%).

One other thing worries us. There is a surefire way to make today’s dire predictions come to pass — if educational leaders feel compelled to listen to scaremongers who are all too anxious to force us to adopt a new model that eliminates outstanding professors and their passion for teaching, research budgets and the pursuit of new knowledge, the residential college experience and the core commitment to excellence that have made American higher education the leader in the world. If that were to happen, we might end up with colleges and universities that aren’t worth saving.

For transparency’s sake, I attended Northwestern University — and did very well there. It’s a great school in many ways. But I wonder what the percentage of professors are at NU who are there to work on being the best professors/teachers that they can possibly be. I question how many have a true passion to teach.  Research? Yes.  Teach? Not so much.

In fact, from my experiences at NU, I remember several graduate students grading my work or teaching our classes. Speaking of those folks…I wonder…were those graduate students trained in teaching and learning?  Were they given a background in any sort of School of Education? Or pedagogical training?  BTW, those same questions can be asked of NU’s  full-time, tenured faculty members; and I’ll bet you that the answers are not pretty. Also, in many other of the courses I took at NU, I had hundreds of students in them so I seriously doubt that any of my professors even knew who I was.

BTW, what does a year at NU cost these days? From what I can tell from NU’s website, roughly $60,000+ for 3 quarters worth of tuition, room, board, and associated fees.

The system’s not broken you say…hmmm…seems to me I have to pay the price of a pretty darn nice house in order to get an undergraduate degree at your place.  But then they tell me that an UG degree isn’t worth much these days…that what you really need is graduate work to get a good job. Hhhmmmm…

Northwestern and other universities and colleges like it have strayed far off the noble path from which they began their journeys. Look out for #1 has not only been Northwestern University’s motto these last few decades (replacing the long held Quaecumque Sunt Vera motto) , it is the unofficial teaching/undercurrent that it delivers to its students year in and year out.

 

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Now THAT is true leadership — when people (who have a lot to lose) take serious risks to urge change. [Christian]

On 07/13/2012, in business side of he, change, changing business models, colleges, cost of getting a degree, dangers of the status quo, Daniel S. Christian, education reform, funding / grants, future of higher education, game-changing environment, higher education, innovation, leadership, reinvent, staying relevant, strategy, student-related, surviving, United States, universities, vision/possibilities, by Daniel Christian

My hats off to Clayton Christensen and Henry Eyring!  My respect level just went up yet another notch for these two people.

Seeing as Clayton is a Professor at ***Harvard‘s*** Business School and Henry is an ***Administrator*** at Brigham Young University, their stance and recent letter to college and university trustees nationwide is a wonderful example of true leadership.   They risked many things by taking a stand and urging institutions of higher education to change. Their purpose is noble. Their message should be heeded.

From the website of the American Council of Trustees and Alumni: (emphasis by DSC)

Clayton Christensen: higher ed trustees “crucial as never before”
Harvard Business School professor (and bestselling author of The Innovator’s Dilemma) Clayton M. Christensen and Henry J. Eyring of Brigham Young University recently sent a letter to college and university trustees nationwide, recognizing a critical turning point for the future of higher education. “If you’ve been serving for more than a few years, you’ve seen a big change in the nature of trustees meetings,” the authors wrote. “Before the downturn of 2008, the agenda tended to focus on growth and on ways to fund it…. At some point, the bubble was bound to burst—or at least start to sag. Now that it has, your role becomes crucial as never before.” The letter urges trustees to demand innovative solutions to expand student access and improve academic quality at their institutions: “The innovators can do more than merely avoid disruption. They can help usher in a new age of higher education, one of unprecedented access and quality, a combined industrial revolution and renaissance.”

 

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Addendum on 7/16/12:

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Future Scapes: Imagining technologies for a sustainable 2025

On 07/02/2012, in 21st century, change, future, global / globalization, technology (general), by Daniel Christian

Future Scapes: Imagining technologies for a sustainable 2025

 

Welcome to FutureScapes: What do you think life will be like in 2025?

FutureScapes is an exciting collaboration project that aims to explore the potential of technology and entertainment to create a better, more sustainable world in 2025. It’s not about predicting the future so much as imagining the possibilities. We face an infinite number of possible futures ahead of us. But one thing is clear: the world of 2025 will be very different from the one we live in today.

Since September 2011, the FutureScapes collaboration has brought together some of Europe’s best thinkers, doers, writers and inventors. Their brief was to explore how technology can help us live better, more sustainable lives in 2025. After an extensive research capture phase, specific concepts were developed in two workshops, one in Paris and one in London, and have since been refined by design and innovation partners Superflux, The Pipeline Project and Engage by Design.

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University of Virginia — “…a few early raindrops and gusts of wind before the real storm hits.”

On 06/27/2012, in change, changing business models, colleges, community colleges, cost of getting a degree, dangers of the status quo, Daniel S. Christian, education reform, elearning, future of higher education, game-changing environment, higher education, innovation, internet, leadership, New "Amazon.com" of Higher Education, online learning, reinvent, staying relevant, strategy, surviving, by Daniel Christian

From DSC:
My cousin helps Fortune 500 companies innovate and deal with change management-related issues.  Something he once said is rather haunting to me now…

“Often when organizations start feeling the pain, it’s too late at that point.” (Think Blockbuster, Kodak, Borders, and many others.)

So that has been the question I’ve been pondering these last couple of years — are we already too late to the game?

 

Public universities see familiar fight at Virginia — from the NYT by Tamar Lewin on 6/25/12

Excerpt (emphasis DSC):

The tumult at the University of Virginia …reflects a low-grade panic now spreading through much of public higher education.

…

But the 10-point outline she offered — listing state and federal financing challenges, the changing role of technology, a rapidly changing health care environment, prioritization of scarce resources, faculty workload and the quality of the student experience, faculty compensation, research financing and the like — was almost generic, and would have applied to nearly every public university in the nation.

Rebuilding Mr. Jefferson’s University — from insidehighered.com by Kevin Kiley

Excerpt (emphasis DSC):

In a statement before the vote, Dragas said the events of the past two weeks have actually unified the campus around a series of questions it needs to address. “Prior to these events, there seemed to be a roadblock between the board’s sense of urgency around our future in a number of critical areas, and the administration’s response to that urgency,” she said. “Also, many of our concerns about the direction of the university remained unknown to all but a few. This situation has now keenly focused the attention of the entire university community on the reality and urgency of the specific challenges facing the university  – most of which, once again, are not unique to U.Va. – but whose structural and long-term nature do require a deliberate and strategic approach.”

University of Virginia: Only the Beginning — from The American Interest by Walter Russell Mead

Excerpt (emphasis DSC):

What we see at UVA this month is just a foretaste of the storm that is coming — a few early raindrops and gusts of wind before the real storm hits. The country needs more education than the current system can affordably supply, and the pressure on the educational system will not abate until this problem is resolved.

Fixing college — from the NYT by Jeff Selingo, editorial director at The Chronicle of Higher Education, who is writing a book on the future of higher education

Excerpt:

Other information industries, from journalism to music to book publishing, enjoyed similar periods of success right before epic change enveloped them, seemingly overnight.We now know how those industries have been transformed by technology, resulting in the decline of the middleman — newspapers, record stores, bookstores and publishers.

Colleges and universities could be next, unless they act to mitigate the poor choices and inaction from the lost decade by looking for ways to lower costs, embrace technology and improve education.

 

Ousted Head of University Is Reinstated in Virginia — from the NYT by Richard Perz-Pena

Excerpt (emphasis DSC):

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — Facing a torrent of criticism, the University of Virginia trustees made a stunning turnabout on Tuesday, voting unanimously to reinstate the president they had forced to resign over concerns that the university was not adapting fast enough to financial and technological pressures.

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The future of higher education and other imponderables [Siemens]

On 06/18/2012, in business side of he, Canada, change, dangers of the status quo, education technology, future of higher education, game-changing environment, global / globalization, higher education, innovation, leadership, MOOCs -- Massive Open Online Courses, New "Amazon.com" of Higher Education, reinvent, staying relevant, by Daniel Christian

The future of higher education and other imponderables — from elearnspace.org by George Siemens

Excerpt:

Educators are not driving the change bus. Leadership in traditional universities has been grossly negligent in preparing the academy for the economic and technological reality it now faces. This failure is apparent in interactions I’ve had with several universities over the past several months. Universities have not been paying attention. As a result, they have not developed systemic capacity to function in a digital networked age. In order to try and ramp up capacity today, they have to acquire the skills that they failed to develop over the last decade by purchasing services from vendors. Digital content, testing, teaching resources, teaching/learning software, etc. are now being purchased to try and address the capacity shortage. Enormous amounts of organizational resources are now flowing outside of education in order to fill gaps due to poor leadership. Good for the startups that were smart enough to anticipate the skill and capacity shortage in higher education. Bad for the university, faculty, and support staff.

I have delivered two presentations recently on the scope of change in higher education, one in Peru at Universidad de San Martin Porres and the other at the CANHEIT conference. Slides from CANHEIT are below…

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Addendum on 6/20/12:

Addendum on 6/21/12:

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How Smartphones make us Smarter: The Changing Face of Education [Harper Mac]

On 06/12/2012, in change, education technology, interactivity, mobile learning, mobile technologies, smart/connected TV, trends, by Daniel Christian

The following is a guest post from Lindsey Harper Mac*

How Smartphones make us Smarter: The Changing Face of Education

Considering how many opportunities online institutions have offered to non-traditional students, it’s no surprise that the technological advancement of mobile learning is also transforming higher education as we know it. Mobile education is an excellent tool for learners of all different backgrounds, schedules, and ages because it makes learning more accessible and engaging for those who may not flourish as much in a traditional classroom setting. Whether you’re a non-traditional or a traditional student, attending an industry-current degree program with a focus on mobile learning can enhance your overall experience while accommodating your busy schedule.

How Mobile Learning Devices are Improving Education
According to a report by Blackboard and Project Tomorrow, 98 percent of students in U.S. high schools have access to some kind of smartphone. With older students, empirical evidence shows that this statistic is probably even higher. For instructors who may lament the growing popularity of smartphones, it should be noted that these devices are beneficial for more than just playing Angry Birds.

Abilene Christian University (ACU) recently provided students with iPods, iPhones, and even iPads to improve the learning experience from multiple angles. One example of how this institution has enhanced learning through mobile devices is through the theater department at the university, which recently used these devices to present an interactive performance of the play Othello. The student newspaper also launched an iPad version of each publication, while instructors throughout the school have used mobile phones to facilitate more enriching discussions on controversial subjects.

Mobile Devices and Smart TV
Smart televisions are another notable advancement in the tech industry that improve accessibility to the web and education-improving apps. With these new smart TVs, you can more effectively connect multiple devices to one another for a more holistic user experience. For example, say you wanted to watch a TED talk on the political climate in Afghanistan by accessing it through your TED mobile application. With a smart TV, you can stream these educational videos right onto your television screen for a more engaging and all-encompassing viewing experience.

Students can even access the Internet from their smart TVs, so they can always keep up with communication from their instructors and be alerted of any updates regarding upcoming assignments. Since online programs often require a great deal of self-discipline and a constant flow of communication, smart TVs can provide an excellent solution for students trying to balance school life with personal life.

We live in an exciting time where everything comes with a portable alternative. The mobility of education in particular has enabled many non-traditional students to better themselves and achieve higher degrees through alternative media. With the proliferation of mobile devices among students and professionals alike, opportunities for enhancing learning have also been discovered through these tools. As more and more devices get “smarter,” so do we.

 

*Author Bio:
Lindsey Harper Mac (@HarperMac11) is a professional writer living in the Indianapolis area. She specializes in writing guest posts covering social media and education. Currently, Lindsey is completing work on her master’s degree.


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Be not afraid: Embracing the iPad and the wonderful world of apps in the classroom [Pinto Zipp]

On 06/11/2012, in Apple, change, cloud-based computing / apps / other cloud-related, education technology, smart classrooms, teaching & learning, by Daniel Christian

Be not afraid: Embracing the iPad and the wonderful world of apps in the classroom — from FacultyFocus.com by Genevieve Pinto Zipp

Excerpts:

While this initiative was directed over 18 months ago it was not until recently that I had an “aha” moment which helped me to embrace my fear of the unknown and challenge myself to explore the utility of the iPad.

…

This student helped me to realize that my use of the iPad and the many apps available was limited only by my willingness to think outside the box and try something new. So each week since then I have explored a new app.

 

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The new workplace [Cross]

On 06/02/2012, in 21st century, change, collaboration, corporate universities / corporate training, formal learning, generational differences, informal learning, social learning / networks, workplace, by Daniel Christian

The new workplace — from internettime.com by Jay Cross

Excerpt (emphasis by DSC):

Six years ago few people believed that informal learning made much of a difference. Today’s common wisdom is that most workplace learning is experiential, unplanned, social, and informal.

Informal learning tops many training department agendas. Companies are attracted by the low price tag. However, few of them are doing much systematically. They’ve converted a few programs but they’ve failed to improve their learning ecosystems.

We’ve shifted how we think about learning since the Informal Learning book came out. It’s a new ball game and we need to play by new rules. Consider what’s changed…

From DSC:
If this is the case, what could/should that mean for those of us working within higher education?

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Six things to know about the robots in your future [Worzel]

On 05/17/2012, in 21st century, Artificial Intelligence/Agents/LLMs/and Related, change, emerging technologies, future, innovation, robotics, society, trends, by Daniel Christian

Six things to know about the robots in your future — by futurist Richard Worzel, C.F.A.

Excerpt:

Accordingly, we’re about to be surprised, for real robots and their non-physical counterparts, computer intelligences, are about to enter our lives in a very real way. And initially at least, our reactions to them are likely to be that they are either creepy, or infuriating. Let’s start with the ways in which we are likely to encounter robots and computer intelligences, and then let me move on to where the evolution of robots is headed.

Also see Richard’s The Innovation Revolution

Excerpt (emphasis DSC):

We are standing at the edge of the next revolution, one that will shake the foundations of the corporate world. It will both create and destroy jobs, and build and decimate organizations, and at speeds that will catch people – and organizations – by surprise. The winners will be those who foresee what’s ahead, think clearly about how to take advantage of these emerging trends, and act decisively. We are witnessing the end of “business as usual” in any sense of the phrase.

In the corporate world, we tend to think of innovation as a corporate process. It typically involves a team looking for improved ways of doing things the organization already does, then implementing them to increase the corporation’s profitability, or competitive advantage, or both.

Yet, one long-term trend is clear, undisturbed, and will be markedly disruptive: power is devolving from large organizations to individuals and small groups.

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The Campus Tsunami [Brooks]

On 05/04/2012, in 21st century, change, changing business models, dangers of the status quo, Daniel S. Christian, disruption, education technology, future of higher education, game-changing environment, higher education, innovation, Learning from the Living [Class] Room, New "Amazon.com" of Higher Education, new business models, online learning, staying relevant, surviving, by Daniel Christian

The Campus Tsunami — from The New York Times by David Brooks

Excerpts:

But, over the past few months, something has changed.The elite, pace-setting universities have embraced the Internet. Not long ago, online courses were interesting experiments. Now online activity is at the core of how these schools envision their futures.

…

What happened to the newspaper and magazine business is about to happen to higher education: a rescrambling around the Web.

From DSC:
What David Brooks said in this last bolded sentence (above) is what I have been saying, but in a slightly different way:

Other industries have been up to bat, and the Internet was pitching.  Higher education used to be on deck. But now, higher education is at bat.

 

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The “Innovator’s Dilemna” strikes again; another solid example of the need to reinvent one’s organization.

On 05/02/2012, in business, change, corporate / business world, dangers of the status quo, Daniel S. Christian, higher education, reinvent, staying relevant, surviving, by Daniel Christian

Sayonara Sony: How industrial, MBA-style leadership killed a once great company — from forbes.com by Adam Hartung

Excerpt:

Who can forget what a great company Sony was, and the enormous impact it had on our lives?  With its heritage, it is hard to believe that Sony hasn’t made a profit in 4 consecutive years, just recently announced it will double its expected loss for this year to $6.4 billion, has only 15% of its capital left as equity (debt/equity ration of 5.67x) and is only worth 1/4 of its value 10 years ago!

 

From DSC:
Blockbuster, Kodak, and now Sony — and I’m sure there are countless others who have moved in and out of prosperous times — but those three come instantly to my mind as more recent examples of The Innovator’s Dilemna — which strikes again!

It reminds me of a Steve Jobs’ quote (and I’ll use the item found at Yastrow.com)

One of Jobs’ business rules was to never be afraid of cannibalizing yourself. “If you don’t cannibalize yourself, someone else will,” he said. So even though an iPhone might cannibalize the sales of an iPod, or an iPad might cannibalize the sales of a laptop, that did not deter him.

 

Addendum (with emphasis from DSC):
Another thought comes from Guy Kawasaki’s talk at TEDxHarkerSchool entitled, “The 12 Lessons I Learned from Steve Jobs”

  • You need to jump to the next curve — don’t duke it out w/ others on the current curve (DSC: Like from the book Jonathan Livingston Seagull...don’t fight it out on the beach with the other seagulls. Instead, learn how to fly. <– that’s been my prayer, LORD teach me how to fly.)
  • Customers cannot tell you what they need  — they can only describe things in terms of what they already have; bigger, faster, cheaper, status quo
  • Challenging your mind is a sign of intelligence  (DSC: Reinvent, staying relevant, be able to completely reverse a viewpoint, cannibalizing own business)
  • “Experts” are clueless
  • The biggest challenges beget the best work
  • Design counts
  • Use big graphics and big fonts
  • Value does not equal price

 

 

 

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Some sharp innovations and designs within learning spaces and offices

On 05/01/2012, in 21st century, A/V -- audio/visual, architecture, change, collaboration, corporate / business world, corporate universities / corporate training, creativity, Daniel S. Christian, design, engagement / engaging students, innovation, learning spaces, smart classrooms, videoconferencing, web-based collaboration, by Daniel Christian

ExoPC and Panama team up to bring ‘tablet desks’ to students— from HuffingtonPost.com and The classroom of the future: Panama wants to give students “tablet desks” — from tabtimes.com by Doug Drinkwater

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The teacher controls the interactive board using an user friendly interface

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Adobe Photoshop Controller for EXOdesk
Adobe Photoshop TM Controller for EXOdesk makes it possible to control Photoshop TM from an EXOdesk in order to boost your productivity.

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What’s happening in the workplace? — from metropolismag.com by Jan Johnson

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The evolving office in 2012, equipped with Allsteel’s collaborative furniture collection, Gather

 

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Marriott Hotels & Resorts, Steelcase, and IDEO Collaborate to Innovate on the Future of Meetings and Work
Marriott Hotels & Resorts Launches “The Future of Work Innovation Co-Labs” To Offer Enhanced Hosted Work Experiences for Gen X and Gen Y Global Travelers.

Excerpt (emphasis DSC):

Los Angeles, Calif. – The nature of work is changing: it’s mobile, fast-paced and global. While most people demand choice and control to work when and how they want, wherever they are, working remotely doesn’t always offer consistent options when it comes to access, comforts and convenience. Marriott Hotels & Resorts, the flagship brand of Marriott International (NYSE:MAR); Steelcase, the world’s leading workplace experience provider; and global design and innovation consultancy, IDEO, today announced a collaboration to design, create and test innovative concepts and solutions for the future of work and meetings in hotels. The collaboration comes to life this week as a showcase of these potential solutions is unveiled at the Marriott Hotels & Resorts Global General Manager Conference in Los Angeles.

 Also see:

 

360.steelcase.com -- The Next Office from Steelcase

 

The new Steelcase space in Strasbourg

Also see:

Also see:

 

 

  • .The Pitfalls of sitting too close — from sales-jobs.fins.com by Kelly Eggers
    It sure sounded like a good idea. When Tuft and Lach Law, a small law practice in St. Paul, Minn. opted for open, shared office space, they didn’t expect to hate it. After all, numerous academic studies have shown that workers are more productive in open offices and, in the trendsetting tech industry, open plans are standard. For the law firm, it didn’t work out that way. “We had a receptionist and secretary sharing a workstation,” said Thomas Tuft. “The one with the biggest voice could be heard on the other’s phone calls and in attorney offices by clients on the phone with the attorneys.” If two people had to take a call simultaneously, they were forced to whisper..
    ..
  • Creating Learning Spaces Through Collaboration – The Library is a 3rd Place to Consider — from Aaron Cohen Associates
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  • Space-saving dome shaped bookshelf built into workspace ceiling – – from PSFK.com

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Space-Saving Dome Shaped Bookshelf Built Into Workspace Ceiling

 

A sample image from University of Exeter item re: learning spaces

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The refurbished Forum Library
opens 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Addendum on 5/24/12:

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Barriers to Adoption of Online Learning Systems in U.S. Higher Education [Bacow, Bowen, Guthrie, Lack, Long]

On 05/01/2012, in 21st century, 24x7x365 access, Artificial Intelligence/Agents/LLMs/and Related, change, changing business models, dangers of the status quo, Daniel S. Christian, emerging technologies, future of higher education, game-changing environment, higher education, learner profiles, online learning, organizational change, personalized/customized learning, United States, by Daniel Christian

Barriers to adoption of online learning systems in U.S. Higher Education - May 1, 2012

 

Excerpt from the preface:

Digital technology has already changed the way colleges and universities function, but no matter how significant those changes feel today, real transformation is just beginning. Every day, a new program in online learning is announced, and on the horizon is the promise of using new adaptive learning technologies —or what we have come to call Interactive Learning Online—to educate more students than ever before at lower cost and with similar or even better learning outcomes.

This Ithaka S+R report is the first in a series that will provide leaders in higher education insight into what has been learned from online learning efforts to date and new research to help them move forward with the development and deployment of more advanced systems in the future.

Many of the lessons in this report can readily be applied locally; that is, they will help leaders make sound decisions for their own institutions. We have also identified two critical issues that if addressed at a system-level, will lead to better outcomes for all: the need for open, shared data on student learning and performance tracked through interactive online learning systems, and the need for investment in the creation of sustainable and customizable platforms for delivering interactive online learning instruction. We hope this report will help to stimulate discussion and planning among leaders on these important topics.

 

Also see:

  • Tempering the Rise of the Machines— from insidehighered.com by Steve Kolowich
    Excerpt (emphasis DSC):
    The report, called “Barriers to Adoption of Online Learning Systems in U.S. Higher Education,” was co-written by Lawrence S. Bacow and William G. Bowen, the former presidents of Tufts and Princeton Universities, respectively, along with several Ithaka analysts. It was bankrolled by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The report contained little advocacy one way or another; rather, the authors appeared to strive for a dispassionate analysis driven by a general sense that the rise of machine learning is inevitable and universities should be prepared. Their findings were based on interviews with senior administrators at 25 public and private, four-year and two-year colleges, including “deep dive” analyses at five of them.
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10 changes to expect from the library of the future [onlineuniversities.com]

On 04/27/2012, in change, future, library / librarians, by Daniel Christian

10 changes to expect from the library of the future — from onlineuniversities.com

Excerpt:

Libraries have acted as community cornerstones for millennia, and every April marks School Library Month, celebrating how they promote education and awareness in an open, nurturing space. What makes them such lasting institutions, though, isn’t the mere act of preserving books and promoting knowledge. Rather, it’s the almost uncanny ability to consistently adapt to the changing demands of the local populace and emerging technology alike. The library system probably won’t disappear anytime soon, but rather, see itself blossoming into something new and exciting in congruence with today’s myriad informational demands.

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Changes in what the “TV” is and how it will be used — helpful, informative article by A. Baxi

On 04/23/2012, in 21st century, 24x7x365 access, A/V -- audio/visual, change, cloud-based computing / apps / other cloud-related, future, smart/connected TV, technologies for your home, by Daniel Christian
The evolution of a couch potato: How TV and viewers are changing — from hindustantimes.com by Abhishek Baxi

Section headings:

  • Remote controls are dead
  • Let’s bring social in
  • There’s an app for it
  • Viewer is the king

Excerpt:

The future of TV will be based on experiences to engage, entertain, and activate viewers stemming from creativity, imagination, and innovations in technology. While traditionally, TV has been a medium of consumption, the Web experience via PC, mobile, or stand-alone devices, has also brought in real-time engagement. While many call it the death of traditional TV industry, it might just be the factor which brings growth.
Addendum/also see:
  • Luminous Design – the Future of Smart TV — from  innovationexcellence.com
    What is the future of Smart TV? How to create a luminous design that will enlighten TV experience across devices, and make it really consistently Smart? Who could tell us the way better than Dale Herigstad? Dale is Chief Interaction Officer at Possible, and an internationally recognized designer and thought leader on the future of interactive and “many-screen” rich media interfaces.
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