Technologies of the future: 5 trends to watch for 2013 — from forbes.com by Eric Savitz
Excerpt:
What does the immediate future hold? Here how the IEEE Computer Society sees the computing world unfolding in 2013.
On 11/07/2012,
in MOOCs -- Massive Open Online Courses, technology (general),
by Daniel Christian
On 10/04/2012,
in adult learning, education technology, lifelong learning, new media literacies, technology (general),
by Daniel Christian
Three steps to improving your tech literacy — from onlineuniversities.com by Justin Marquis
Excerpt:
For anyone who lacks confidence using today’s advanced information and communication technology, overcoming the fear of failure and the unknowns of the digital world can be a daunting task. I regularly teach introductory technology classes to adults returning to college to get a degree or enhance their career options with a new credential, and this fear of technology is the biggest obstacle that these individuals face in learning to use computers in ways that will make them more productive and more attractive candidates for employment.
Fortunately there are no obstacles to learning about technology that can’t be overcome with a positive attitude and some perseverance. Here are three steps that you can take to improve your tech literacy and become more confident using computers.
On 10/02/2012,
in 21st century, change, disruption, emerging technologies, future, health, innovation, nursing, technology (general), web-based collaboration,
by Daniel Christian
The coming revolution in health care — from inc.com by Adam Bluestein
To understand how the American health-care system is about to change, forget Washington. Look to the innovative companies hard at work on the future.
Excerpts/BIG IDEAS:
- Medicine is a marketplace
With new software, the doctor will see you now, not in three weeks.
. - The consumer is king
How to get good data into the hands of patients.
. - The digital health record is here
A cure for chronic paperwork.
. - Health care is social
Is the crowd smarter than your doctor? Just possibly.
. - The house call makes a comeback
A computer screen becomes an exam room.
. - The algorithm is in
Why smart software means better diagnoses.
. - Your doctor is watching you
How a simple text message can make you healthier.
Also see:
- Could ePatient networks become the superdoctors of the future? — from fastcoexist.com by Anita Hamilton
As technology allows patients to pool their knowledge, can the collective experience of the sick create better care?
On 08/24/2012,
in art, drama/theater, faith, geography / geology, hearts -- matters of the heart, history, K-12 related, languages and translation, pedagogy, real-world assignments, relationships, religion, science, teaching & learning, technology (general),
by Daniel Christian
Excerpt:
The site presents teaching examples—for both elementary and secondary classrooms—from a range of subjects: art, cooking, dance, technology, drama, English, environment, geography, history, technology, math, foreign/second language, music, physical education, health, Bible class and science. (There are also categories titled “teacher,” “tests” and “topics.”)
Each example leads off with a question: “What if a grammar lesson challenged selfishness?” “What if success in math depended upon forgiveness?” “What if history could inspire students to love their city?” The site also provides tabs labeled “The Approach,” “Training,” “Big Picture,” and “Information,” where teachers can learn how to apply what they’ve learned in their classrooms.
“The website helps teachers ask key questions and make strategic decisions, not only about what to teach but about how to teach,” said Matt Walhout, Calvin’s dean for research and scholarship. “It relates specific topics like language, history, and math to the overarching Christian principles of faith, hope, and love.”
Also see:
On 08/17/2012,
in Europe, future, global / globalization, interactivity, policy, research, science, society, technology (general), vision/possibilities,
by Daniel Christian
.
.
Also see:
- Scientists aim to predict the future with $1 billion Earth simulator — from dvice.com
Excerpt:
Imagine what would happen if you had a computer program that could take in data from sensors everywhere on Earth and then plug that data into a detailed simulation for the entire Earth all at once. If you’re imagining being able to predict the future, you’re imagining correctly, and E.U. researchers want to make it real.The Living Earth Simulator is a billion-dollar proposal to spend ten years developing a computer environment that can simulate everything. And not just simulate, but also explore predictive models of how everything going on in the world interrelates with everything else, deriving connections and correlations that we never knew existed.
…
In order to get that billion dollars, the Living Earth Simulator has to beat out four other future and emerging technologies projects that are all trying to win funding from the European Commission.
On 08/16/2012,
in 21st century, business side of he, change, changing business models, corporate / business world, dangers of the status quo, Daniel S. Christian, disruption, hearts -- matters of the heart, publishing, technology (general),
by Daniel Christian
Key quote/lesson from “How Barnes & Noble destroyed itself” — from fool.com by John Maxfield
An unnecessary tragedy
What makes B&N’s story tragic from a shareholder’s and book-lover’s perspective is that it wasn’t inevitable. The company would be in an entirely different position if its leadership hadn’t pooh-poohed online retail in the late 1990s, when the now-dominant Amazon was in its infancy. Consider this from its 1998 annual report: “Although it is clear the World Wide Web, with its profound possibilities, will become a major component of the future of bookselling and publishing, we believe retail bookstores will remain the foundation of our industry . . . shopping and browsing in a bookstore is an irreplaceable experience, and it is woven securely into the fabric of our American culture [emphasis added].”
From DSC:
I love going to B&N; sipping some coffee and reading a book. So don’t get me wrong, I really enjoy the physical experience of going to a bookstore. But the lesson for higher ed — as well as for the corporate world — is that technology cannot be pooh-poohed and shoved aside. Those who do so will be very sorry that they chose that route. There can be danger in pursuing the status quo.
How about your organization…is there solid representation of technology on your board/executive suite/leadership team?
My last thought here relates to my posting What happens in our hearts has very practical, relevant implications in our daily lives
In 2009, the company paid its chairman of the board, Len Riggio, nearly $600 million for B&N College, an amalgamation of campus-based bookstores that controlled the rights to the parent company’s trade name and was then owned by Riggio and his wife.
At the time, it looked like a classic covetous overreach by an executive to extract capital without selling shares. When all that’s left of B&N is a Harvard case study, however, my guess is that this blatant display of avarice and disregard for minority shareholders will be characterized more ominously as the proverbial straw that broke the camel’s back.
.
Also relevant here:
- ReadWriteWeb DeathWatch: Barnes & Noble — from readwriteweb.com by Cormac Foster
On 07/03/2012,
in 21st century, analytics, corporate / business world, Daniel S. Christian, data related items, e-books, e-publishing related items (EPUB and more), e-readers, ethics, hearts -- matters of the heart, morals/values, policy, reading, social media, strategy, technology (general), the downsides of how people use tech,
by Daniel Christian
From DSC:
Readers of this blog will know that I am pro-technology — at least in most areas. However, as our hearts can sometimes become hardened and our feet can sometimes find themselves on slippery ethical ground, we really need hearts, minds, and consciences that prompt us to care about other people — and to do the right thing as a result of that perspective.
Example articles that brought this to my mind recently include:
7 sinister technologies from Orwell’s 1984 that are still a threat — from dvice.com by Hal Rappaport
Excerpt (emphasis DSC):
Technology is a wonderful thing, but in the words of Spider-Man’s Uncle Ben, “With great power, comes great responsibility.” If we are not careful, the technology we know and love could be used against us, even subtly. In the year 1984, Apple thought IBM was the bringer of “Big Brother.” In reality, the technology of today better resembles George Orwell’s dystopian vision than a 1980s era PC.
Every day we are in the process of becoming a more connected society. With social networks, cloud computing and even more specific, less-thought-about tech such as Internet-connected home surveillance systems, we may find ourselves in a delicate balance of trust and paranoia.
…
While we are grateful that we don’t live in a world as bleak as Orwell’s Oceana, it’s clear that the technology now exists to make his world possible if we let it. Keeping our paranoia in check, we should all be mindful of our technology and how it’s used. Security is a good thing and so is saving money, but consider how much of each your personal freedom is worth.
Wiping away your Siri “fingerprint” — from technologyreview.com by David Talbot
Your voice can be a biometric identifier, like your fingerprint. Does Apple really have to store it on its own servers?
Online merchants wrestle with the ‘creepy’ factor in web personalization — from readwriteweb.com by Dave Copeland
Excerpt:
“What I’ve discovered through building and running very targeted online ad campaigns using this data is that users respond favorably to ads that are more targeted, but only if the ads don’t make it clear that I’m targeting sensitive information about them,” he said. “What’s most interesting, and what I’m learning, are which attributes are considered too creepy, and which ones are acceptable.”
“Google Now” knows more about you than your family does – are you OK with that? — from readwriteweb.com by Mark Hachman
Excerpt (emphasis DSC):
Google Now aggregates the information Google already collects about you on a daily basis: accessing your email, your calendar, your contacts, your text messages, your location, your shopping habits, your payment history, as well as your choices in music, movies and books. It can even scan your photos and automatically identify them based on their subject, not just the file name (in the Google I/O demo, Google Now correctly found a picture of the Great Pyramid). About the only aspect of your online life that Google hasn’t apparently assimilated yet is your opinions expressed on Google+. But that’s undoubtedly coming.
Social network privacy settings compared — from techhive.com by Nick Mediati
Excerpt (emphasis DSC):
It should go without saying that protecting your privacy online is kind of a big deal. While people are generally good at not giving out their personal information to just any website that asks for it, those same people can be found filling their Facebook accounts with everything from their birthday to where they live and work. Putting this sensitive information onto a social network not only leaves your data exposed to third-parties (advertisers and so forth), but also to anyone who happens across your profile.
Facebook, Google+, and Twitter all have settings that let you tweak what others can see on your profile—but navigating them can be a bit of a mess. Not all social networks give you complete control over your privacy online, so here’s a quick overview of what Facebook, Google+, and Twitter allow you to do.
U.S. companies lost at least $13 billion to espionage last year — from ieee.org by Robert Charette
Google Glass & Now: Utopia or Dystopia? — from extremetech.com by Sebastian Anthony
Excerpt (emphasis DSC):
If you didn’t watch the Google I/O keynote presented by Vic Gundotra, Hugo Barra, and Sergey Brin, let me quickly bring you up to speed. Google Now is an Android app that uses your location, behavior history, and search history to display “just the right information at just the right time.” For example, if you regularly search for a certain sports team, Now will show you a card with the latest scores for that team. When Now predicts or detects that you’re leaving home in the morning, it will display a card with any relevant traffic information. If you have a lunch meeting in your Google Calendar, Now will show you the route you need to take to get there — and when you need to leave to get there on time. If you search Google for an airline flight, Now will show a card with the flight details (and any delays).
Big e-reader is watching you — from PaidContent.org by Laura Hazard Owen
Why privacy is big business for trial lawyers — from technologyreview.com by Antonio Regalado
Tech companies that make privacy mistakes can expect a lawsuit.
Legal discovery: The billboard is imaginary, but the trend is real.
Trial lawyers are ramping up lawsuits over online privacy breaches.
Flickr Creative Commons | AdamL212 and istock/stocknroll
Addendums
On 7/6/12:
- Your e-book is reading you — WSJ.com by Alexandra Alter
Digital-book publishers and retailers now know more about their readers than ever before. How that’s changing the experience of reading.
On 7/16/12:
- NIF sets record with 500 TW laser shot, lab-based nuclear fusion not far behind – — from engadget.com by Sarah Silbert
Excerpt:
NIF’s latest test shot, fired July 5th, set a new record with 192 lasers producing more than 500 trillion watts of peak power and 1.85 MJ of ultraviolet laser light. Mind you, that’s more than a thousand times more energy than the United States uses at any given moment, not to mention a hundred times more power than other lasers can fire consistently.
. - Not your typical recruiting /”now hiring” piece!
Shape the World – Aldebaran Robotics is recruiting
On 7/23/12:
- It’s Terrifying and Sickening that Microsoft Can Now Listen In on All My Skype Calls — from forbes.com by Eric Jackson
. - Facebook, Google Less Trusted Than Your Grocery Store [STUDY] by Emily Price
On 07/02/2012,
in 21st century, change, future, global / globalization, technology (general),
by Daniel Christian
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.
On 06/28/2012,
in educational games / serious games, innovation, interactivity, music, technology (general),
by Daniel Christian
Soundplay: The Intersection of Music, Gaming and Technology — from mylifescoop.com by Jason Johnson
Excerpt:
Soundplay is an exploration of the new gaming landscape, where independent game developers are today having the same transformative impact indie musicians have had on music over the past decade. We asked five innovative young game developers to create original games that didn’t simply use music as a soundtrack but that were original works inspired by specific songs. Today we feature another one of those five. It’s a remarkable time in the gaming world, where thanks to Intel’s advances in processing technology indie developers can create fully formed games without the assistance of major publishers.
On 06/27/2012,
in adult learning, Daniel S. Christian, lifelong learning, pace of change, technology (general),
by Daniel Christian
From DSC:
I recently wrote a piece for EvoLLLution.com — a site focused on LifeLong Learning:
.
Some linked up resources along these lines:
- RSS feeds
(understand RSS feeds; obtain a feed aggregator such as Google Reader; subscribe to the relevant blogs and websites in one’s discipline; create your own blog, using WordPress for example; post your own relevant items on it, while not forgetting to point people towards your own RSS feed!) - Twitter
(get an account; identify knowledgeable people; follow them on twitter; post your own items on twitter) - See if there are some Yammer-based communities of practice in your enterprise or in your desired discipline (there are other social networking/learning applications as well)
- LinkedIn
Join groups that line up with your industry, your profession and your professional aspirations, engage in discussions on best practice and use your groups and connections as a network of colleagues. - Facebook
“Like” institutions or organizations that are relevant to your area of interest and reach out to individuals within your field. - Community bookmarking tools such as Delicious or diigo
- Ways to discover content on the web such as StumbleUpon or Digg
On 05/22/2012,
in analytics, Augmented Reality (AR), Australia, cloud-based computing / apps / other cloud-related, collaboration, education technology, educational games / serious games, emerging technologies, engagement / engaging students, expectations, future, game-changing environment, higher education, human-computer interaction (HCI), learning ecosystem, mobile learning, mobile technologies, MOOCs -- Massive Open Online Courses, multimedia, new media literacies, online learning, open courseware and systems, publishing, teaching & learning, technology (general), telepresence, trends, videoconferencing, web-based collaboration,
by Daniel Christian
.
Excerpt:
After exploring the body and the heart, developer eMedia has released a Pocket Brain app for iOS devices that provides a detailed look at eight layers of the brain, including cross sections, nerve pathways, and a load of supplementary learning material. eMedia calls the app a “fully searchable interactive 3D atlas” with structures that are pinned with identifications and additional clinical and anatomical information, and users are able to add their own notes on the brain within the app.
9 new life-saving technologies for doctors — from PCMag.com by Chandra Steele
These apps for physicians cure some of the ills facing the tech-deficient medical field.
Example:
Philips Vital Signs Camera
On 01/27/2012,
in game-changing environment, global / globalization, learning ecosystem, lifelong learning, marketplaces, society, technology (general), workplace,
by Daniel Christian
10 findings that will shape students today for the workforce tomorrow — from GettingSmart.com by Dr. Tracey Wilen-Daugenti
Excerpt:
“Tomorrow’s Evolving Workplace” is from the upcoming book Society 3.0: How Technology Is Reshaping Education, Work, and Society, by Dr. Tracey Wilen-Daugenti (Lang, January 2012).
In the worst economy since the Great Depression, Californians are struggling to earn a living, get an education, and raise a family. How will we adapt to learn, work, and connect in the future? A new book with findings from Apollo Research Institute describes how businesses and workers will compete for jobs and opportunities in a global, technology-driven marketplace.
Below are just some of the findings…
On 01/12/2012,
in Daniel S. Christian, faith, global / globalization, hearts -- matters of the heart, relationships, society, technology (general),
by Daniel Christian
A reflection on “Making Holes in Our Heart” from The Technium:
Excerpt — that is also quoted in that piece:
There is a hole in my heart dug deep by advertising and envy and a desire to see a thing that is new and different and beautiful. A place within me that is empty, and that I want to fill it up. The hole makes me think electronics can help. And of course, they can.
They make the world easier and more enjoyable. They boost productivity and provide entertainment and information and sometimes even status. At least for a while. At least until they are obsolete. At least until they are garbage.
Electronics are our talismans that ward off the spiritual vacuum of modernity; gilt in Gorilla Glass and cadmium. And in them we find entertainment in lieu of happiness, and exchanges in lieu of actual connections.
From DSC:
Readers of this blog know that I lean towards a pro-technology stance! 🙂 However, I also realize there are limits to what technology brings to the table. Though the author goes onto comment about his being ok w/ holes in our heart, I think he misses the greatest void in the human heart that only the LORD can fill — not technology and/or other things that humankind may create. I’m not saying that I’ve always known what that feels like to have the LORD fill that hole in my heart, but I continue my journey in my relationship with Him, pressing on…sometimes feeling His presence…hearing Him speak to me at different times and in different ways…all the while hoping that I will know that feeling intimately and consistently. But ultimately, all of this technology — when compared to knowing Christ – IS garbage.
The Apostle Paul puts it this way in Philippians 3:8 (NIV):
8 What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ