A New Red Queen

Increasing Returns or Red Queens?

Recently, as I wanted to watch a particular science fiction movie I searched my Netflix account, and then I looked on my video on demand menu from my cable company.  As a consumer of movies my first inclination was to go to a video on demand source to find a movie.   I remember a time when we had a Blockbuster video store in every city for people to rent DVDs. There has been a fierce competition between DVDs and video on demand (VOD) over the years. So what is driving this race? As two forces that are competing as emerging technologies, one will have the advantage over another which is known as Increasing Returns or Red Queens.

Arthur describes increasing returns as “the tendency for that which is ahead to get further ahead, for that which loses advantage to lose further advantage” (Arthur, 1996, p.100).  Thornburg’s definition of red queens is “two technologies that are in fierce competition with each other to gain an advantage over their competition by meeting new needs and becoming better (Thornburg, 2013e).  I was baffled over the contest between DVDs and VOD because depending on the individual perspective one could justify both forces. My point of view is that DVDs and VOD are an example of red queens.

A Red Queen Emerges

DVDs and VOD have been in existence side-by-side over the last decade.  Cable companies offered video on demand; however, many Americans did not have wi-fi and high Internet speeds to begin using this feature. I remember a huge craze for DVDs and Blu-ray devices, and then DVR’s became popular with cable companies allowing users to save their movies for regular access. Netflix began to surface; however, many people continued to watch DVDs as normal. Eventually, I recall using Netflix to order DVDs, and they would be shipped out to the home, never having to worry about late fees from the local video store. With the advancements in technology, smarter devices, cell phones, tablet, TVs, and faster Internet speeds it is much more convenient to stream a VOD right from a phone, tablet, or television.

As DVD and VOD remained in the fierce competition for many years, VOD was continually improving. VOD has grown due to many factors including easier access to videos from multiple devices, convenience, and a large supply of VOD from cable companies in private enterprises such as Netflix, Hulu, and many others. According to Thornburg red queens are when one competitor gains the advantage by meeting new needs and getting better. Even though DVDs did evolve into Blue rays, a new Red Queen emerged the VOD due to its evolution and compatibility with today’s high tech, multiple gadget generations.

Where do DVD’s and VOD align with McLuhan’s Laws of Media?

McLuhan informed us that all emerging technologies follow the four laws of media (as cited in Thornburg, 2013c). How does this apply to the DVD and VOD; where are they according to McLuhan’s laws of media? The VOD is the extension or enhancement, bringing about something new. Due to this improvement, the DVD is in obsolescence as the VOD gets more use and DVDs use diminishes. The newer technology of the VOD is driving the DVD into obsolescence.

Links:

History of Blockbuster http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/blockbuster-inc-history/

Dish Network purchased Blockbuster http://about.dish.com/press-release/financial/dish-network-completes-acquisition-blockbuster-assets

Blockbuster attempted Netflix model http://money.cnn.com/2004/08/11/technology/blockbuster_rental/

Blockbuster closed stores http://www.bbc.com/news/business-25345257

References:

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

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.

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

Thornburg, D. (2013e). When is a technology emergent? Lake Barrington, IL: Thornburg Center for Space Exploration.

 

 

 

Google Glass as a Disruptive Force

Google Glass is an innovative approach to wearable technology. It allows users to access information from their glasses such as email, video, camera, the World Wide Web, and practically everything one could access on a computer. Because of this new invention, other technologies are displaced. Google Glass replaces desktop computers i.e. used by physicians before surgery, smartphones as handheld devices i.e. to videotape, tablets, and laptops as devices that are carried around by individuals. Google Glass provides a hands-free wearable device that exceeds the capabilities of the traditional handheld devices.

Society benefits from this new invention because Glass provides instant access to electronic records, files, and information. For example, doctors can access patient records, charts, and medical information during surgery (as featured in the article below 7 biggest innovations in healthcare). In the education field, it can benefit students allowing for simulations of dissections through Glass with the information available as the student’s practice in the lab. Through Glass virtual tours can be visited in the classroom providing exploration activities for the students.

Technologies trend and fade, currently Google Glass is emerging into many areas. I would predict Google Glass to emerge, trend, and fade in 5 to 6 gears. This device is a great form of wearable technology. I like the fact that it allows users to be hands-free. I think the next future device will include augmented reality along with holographic images allowing individuals to go to meetings without ever leaving their home.

Here are some links to more resources on google glass:

5 Google Glass uses in education

http://www.educationdive.com/news/5-google-glass-uses-in-education/136221/

14 Google Glass innovations in education

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/vala-afshar/14-google-glass-innovativ_b_5410893.html

Google Glass and the power of Technology to Change the World

https://www.theguardian.com/media-network/michaels-rosenblog/2014/mar/07/google-glass-technology-changing-world

Seven biggest innovations in healthcare technology

https://www.theguardian.com/media-network/michaels-rosenblog/2014/mar/07/google-glass-technology-changing-world

 

Rhymes of History: Messaging

There are many forces that drive technology. One of the forces that are evident in text messaging or Short Messaging Service (SMS) also called text messaging is called rhymes of history. A quote by Mark Twain is, “History may not repeat itself, but it sure rhymes a lot” (Laureate Education, 2014h).  I find history rhyming or rekindling with the invention of text messaging or SMS in many ways.  SMS rekindles sending a note, or typing a letter, sending an email, postal mail, phone calls, and messenger services. The desire to communicate and send a short note, or a few words to another person has always been a desire of humans for generations. Many inventions have served the purpose of communicating such as the typewriter, keyboard, computer and cellphone and texting.

A timeline of SMS messages can be found in an article from The Week newspaper at http://theweek.com/articles/469869/text-message-turns-20-brief-history-sms. The timeline shows the progression of SMS messages up to the latest method using Twitter.com. Although SMS or text messaging was invented 20 years ago, it has evolved over time into what we see today.   Today Twitter is a traditional method of SMS text messaging (Gayomali, 2012).  Encyclopedia Britannica informs us at https://www.britannica.com/technology/text-messaging that the extensive amount of text messages per day is approaching one trillion messages sent globally (Stewart, 2016). Users enjoy sending short messages instantly, and globally through cellular devices, and the Internet.

Teachers can use SMS text to send out anonymous reminders to students, and parents at remind.com. Sending out text messages to students as a reminder allows students to stay connected to the classroom, after school hours.

Within learning management systems, messaging is used in electronic communications within chat rooms and discussion boards. The development and capabilities of messaging have grown exponentially over the years. With today’s smartphones, multiple apps are used for messaging back and forth such as Twitter, Snapchat, Kik, Instagram, and much more.

Karah

References:

Laureate Education (Producer), & . (2014h). David thornburg: Rhymes of history [Video/DVD] Baltimore, MD:

Gayomali, C. (2012). The text message turns 20: A brief history of SMS. The Week.

Stewart, A. (2016). Text messaging: telecommunication. Encyclopedia Britannica.

McLuhan’s Laws of Media

What is Aleks?

According to Aleks.com, it is “Assessment and Learning in Knowledge Spaces is a Web-based, artificially intelligent learning system.” With Aleks adaptive questioning, students are assessed and taught based on the functional level of the student. Courses are available in a variety of subjects from kindergarten to college level https://www.aleks.com/about_aleks/course_products.

The Aleks learning program was founded on research, with several financial grants from the National Science Foundation www.nsf.gov. Aleks learning program was birthed from the Knowledge Space Theory. Several founders of Knowledge Space Theory are current officers of Aleks Corporation.

A recommended tool to analyze a new or emerging technology is McLuhan’s four laws of media, which is a simultaneous, complementary technology cycle effective when considering diffusion of technologies. Dr. Thornburg informs us that the four laws of media are 1) extension/enhancement 2) closure/obsolescence, 3) retrieval, 4) reversal (Thornburg, 2013).

When considering Aleks as a new software to implement, I would use McLuhan’s four laws of media to analyze Aleks. The advances that Aleks brings is individualizing adaptive learning without the instructor present. Aleks obsoletes paper and pencil work and assessments, as well as brick and mortar schoolhouses. Aleks rekindles gaming in students because they are familiar with technology and it allows them to work on a computer similar to them playing games on the computer. The reversal of Aleks is a new and improved learning system that incorporates virtual reality learning. Aleks.com appears to be a useful tool for learning using artificial intelligence to drive the adaptive learning content.

References

Laureate Education (Producer), & . (2014). David thornburg: What is emerging technology? [Video/DVD] Baltimore, MD:

McGraw-Hill Education. (2017). What is aleks? Retrieved from https://www.aleks.com/about_aleks

Thornburg, D. (2013). Emerging technologies and McLuhan’s laws of media. Retrieved from https://class.waldenu.edu/bbcswebdav/institution/USW1/201750_27/PH_EDUC/EDPD_8092/readings/EDPD_8092_Module_2_5_Emerging_Technologies_and_McLuhans_Laws_of_Media.pdf

Emerging Technology

A current technology that is emerging in the education field is the use of online classrooms such as Google classroom.  My definition of an emerging technology is, “An emerging technology is something that teachers and students are not aware of, priced high, only used by a small percentage, it is not essential to teaching in the current model and is considered an innovation going through three stages within the district 1) information gathering, 2) conceptualizing, and 3) planning (Rogers, 2003; Laureate Education, 2014; Laureate Education, 2014) .” The use of an online class is shaping the productivity of students.  Several complaints that I’ve heard students say are 1) the teacher is not teaching, 2) use of worksheets on the Google classroom web page, generally replacing DOK level 1 recall skills.  Although several students have complained the hands-on technology of an online class environment meets the needs of our digital generation of students within today’s society appealing to visual, auditory, tactile and kinesthetic learners.  Students desire accessibility to their curriculum via their phone or laptop. An online classroom is a great tool; however, several pitfalls that come with this are: 1) lack of teaching due to front-loading material, teachers not making time to teach, but rather relying on the technology to teach students 2) using the technology as a traditional paper worksheet rather than using an interactive program, which self-adjusts, and provides the student with feedback. The use of software programs does not replace the students need for asking questions, or teachers modeling correct methods of content. Using a software program on the computers that self-adjusts, interacts, and provides feedback would meet the needs of the learner.

The web link for a tutorial on google classroom is https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/google-classroom/mfhehppjhmmnlfbbopchdfldgimhfhfk?hl=en

Article on one year anniversary of Google classroom https://www.edsurge.com/news/2015-05-06-google-classroom-celebrates-one-year-anniversary-with-new-features-for-teachers

Karah

References

Laureate Education (Producer), & . (2014). David thornburg: What is emerging technology? [Video/DVD] Baltimore, MD:

Laureate Education (Producer), & . (2014). Elliot soloway: Emerging vs. emerged technologies. [Video/DVD] Baltimore, MD:

Rogers, E. M. (2003). Chapter 10 innovation in organizations. Diffusion of innovations (5th ed., pp. 402-435). New York: Free Press.

Thornburg, D. D. (2013). In Creative Commons, Thornburg Center for Space Exploration (Eds.), When is a technology emergent?

(Image Retrieved on 6.9.16 from https://www.edulastic.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Google-Classroom.jpg )

McLuhan’s Laws of Media

 

The use of Marshall McLuhan’s laws of media allows critical thought over how the use of holographic technology will advance, obsolete, rekindle, and reverse if implemented (Thornburg, 2013c). These four effects of media work together simultaneously (Thornburg, 2013c).  The tetrad is a great tool for considering cost effectiveness and usage over a period of time. The proven model webpage provides information on McLuhan’s Laws of Media.

Karah

References:

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

Smartphone Tetrad

The four effects of technology (enhances, obsoletes, rekindles, reverses) work together simultaneously, complementing each other (Thornburg, 2013c) and are known as McLuhan’s Laws of Media. Thornburg informs us that Marshall McLuhan’s four laws of media help us to explore and discover new technologies (Thornburg, 2013c). The technology of the smartphone links to the next upcoming technology that will change the smartphones success.

The use of tetrads can be utilized by school districts to consider the past, present and future impact of technologies. The tetrad allows for critical analysis of the technology allowing an individual or an organization to make cost-effective decisions. Additionally, the graphic representation of the content makes it easy to understand, and present.

Karah

References:

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

Educational Technology and Design

Learning

This morning I came across a paramount thought in the field of education. I like the way Professor Chris Dede, Ed.D. of Learning Technologies at the Harvard Graduate School of Education sums up learning. Professor Dede stated that “focusing on learning and then adapting learning to instruction is more effective,” rather than vice versa (Laurette Education (Producer), & Laurette Education (Director). (2015). Educational technology defined. [Video/DVD] Baltimore, MD:). What a concept! If educators followed this model, we wouldn’t have so many students failing or at remedial levels of proficiency here in the U.S.

Karah

Introduction

My Blog name is Karah. I’m a RSP high school math teacher, with a strong passion for technology and design. After 10 years of teaching my desire is to increase student achievement through the use of educational platforms and designs that are user friendly, manageable, and engaging. As I pursue my Ph.D. In Educational Technology and Design, at Walden University I have created this blog to share with you tidbits of my journey throughout my courses.

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