The Disruptive Power of Second Life - Module 4 Blog Posting

According to Cerf (2008), Social networking allows people with a common cause the chance to connect with others who have similar interests. Unfortunately, this does not come without consequences; now more than ever we are susceptible to people whom we are willing to share personal information with, but yet never make personal contact with. The program is also quite time consuming.  Like many of its counterparts in Facebook, it absorbs much of your time. Due to the nature of the Second Life program, you spend more time exploring the islands instead of collaborating with others in the program.  Instead of personally calling or writing someone, you can participate in “virtual conversations” with the participants.  With the rapid advancements in technology, I feel that it will not be long before another virtual program will come along to replace it. Or has it already? 

Rosedale (2008) reminds us that the virtual world was created for those of us who “crave the idea of creating an identity where anything is possible.” The social benefits would be that you can converse with others without leaving comfort of your own home.  For people who are shy or don’t like to go out or who cannot due to physical disabilities, it is a way for them to stay connected to the real world.  In education, it would be a way to stay connected with other educators from across the country or around the world; however, due to the time needed to devote to the program in its current state, I doubt that many educators would be able to devote that kind of time to a program such as Second Life. 

 http://youtu.be/lHXXsEtE3b4
 

References:

Cerf, V.G. (2008). The disruptive power of networks.  Forbes.com. Retrieved on October 25, 2012 from http://www.forbes.com/forbes/2007/0507/058.html

Rosedale, P. (2008). Philip Rosedale on Second Life [Video]. Retrieved from http://www.ted.com/talks/the_inspiration_of_second_life.html.

Module 3 Blog Post – Rhyme of History

In his speech, “The Next 5,000 days of the Web,” Kelly (2007) alludes to the impact which the web will have upon our very lives through embodiment, restructuring, and co-dependency.  He reminds us that these machines are merely “portals to the web” which has allowed us to transform from linking computers, to linking data.  As with any technology there is a price;  being so connected also makes us transparent. 

During his speech, I was suddenly reminded of the Star Trek movie, “Voyager” where the Voyager satellite went around collecting information until it was finally ready to come home and share the information it had collected to its creator.  When Kelly kept referring to the web as “the one” and that we are the web, I began to wonder if that has not already happened to us.  Our co-dependency on our portable devices has begun to take over our own lives. People are calling, texting, tweeting, sharing pictures, videos, etc. at the blink of an eye. 

One of these forms of technology which falls in this category is the ability to use a touch screen device to record your thoughts using digital text such as with my I Phone.  This is reminiscent of the notepad, or as one of my former colleagues called it, his own personal palm pilot.  It is portable thus allowing you to have easy access to it when needed.  Even on my I Phone I have a memo pad app where I can create my grocery list.  Now with the emergence of the I Phone 5, I wonder where the next I Phone will take us? 

http://www.apple.com/iphone/

http://www.ted.com/talks/kevin_kelly_on_the_next_5_000_days_of_the_web.html

References:

Laureate Education, Inc. (2009). Emerging and future technology. Baltimore, MD: Author.

Kelly, K. (2007, December). Kevin Kelly on the next 5,000 days of the Web [Speech]. Speech delivered at the EG 2007 Conference, Los Angeles. Retrieved from http://www.ted.com/talks/kevin_kelly_on_the_next_5_000_days_of_the_web.html