Module 2: Tetrad for a Smart Phone

Tetrad of a Smart Phone

Progression #1

Enhances: The devices offers the ability for everyone to have access to anyone at anytime by phone, text, e-mail, videoconferencing, etcetera.

Obsoletes: Obsoletes the Cell Phone, GPS navigational device, Yellowbook, MP3 player, etcetera.

Retrieves/Rekindles: Retrieves the rotational dial phone with the long twisted cord and the big Yellowpages sitting beside it.

Reverses: Reverses into a wearable/implantable communication device that responds to brain waves, thoughts, and voice in an intellgent environment.

Progression #2

Enhances: Users will feel like they think and act simultaneously with this device. It begins to become a "part" of the user.

Obsoletes: Obsoletes the Smart Phone

Retrieves/Rekindles: Retrieves the cell phone that could only be used to make wireless phone calls from external locations.

Reverses: Reverses into a fully implantable device that seamlessly interacts with the user at a subconscious level.

Reference Links to other resources:

Elon University/Pew Internet Project. (n.d.). Imagining the Internet: A history and forecast: Back 150 timeline. Retrieved April 7, 2011, fromhttp://www.elon.edu/docs/e-web/predictions/back150years.pdf

Elon University/Pew Internet Project. (n.d.). Imagining the Internet: A history and forecast: Forward 150 timeline. Retrieved April 7, 2011, fromhttp://www.elon.edu/docs/e-web/predictions/forward150years.pdf

Dimensional Studios. (2008). Musion eyeliner: 3D holographic projection system. Retrieved fromhttp://www.eyeliner3d.com/cisco_telepresence_holographic_video_conferencing.html

Thornburg, D. D. (2008b). Emerging technologies and McLuhan's Laws of Media. Lake Barrington, IL: Thornburg Center for Space Exploration.

Blog Comments for Module 1

As of Sunday, June 19, 2011, I have commented on the following blogs:

Sullus Teague
http://sullus-teague.blogspot.com/2011/06/blog-trends.html?showComment=1308535203435#c4347718542177049230

Cathy Marziali
http://cathymarzialiedtech.blogspot.com/2011/06/blog-post-week-1-click-to-future-i-have.html#comments

Elizabeth Sanford
http://elimariesanford.blogspot.com/ _________  I was not able to comment on her blog because she had not contributed her blog thoughts to Module 1.

Module 1 Blog: Current Trends in Educational Technology

Cisco Telepresence in the  Classroom

Cisco Telepresence is a high-tech videoconferencing system that is designed to provide a virtual face-to-face meeting in an environment that is appealing, consistent, and real-to-life.

The learning experience can be expanded.  You can conduct live, lifelike meetings without traditional classroom constraints.  The high-definition, high quality video experience extends the reach of the existing facility, and provides access to content and experts everywhere, anywhere, anytime with lecture capture and video podcasting.  This technology can bring together multicultural student groups and improve administration and staff productivity.  Non-tradition courses in schools can be offered to students who do not live in the same regions.  There have been Mandarin Chinese classes offered to students all over the country at one time, in one classroom, with connectivity. Location is no longer a constraint.

What problems or challenges have been associated with this technology?

Some challenges associated with this technology include bandwidth issues that can slow down the video connection and could disrupt the videoconferencing sessions.  A proper data connection must be used to get the most our of this technology.  Cost is another obstacle, but this can be overcome when school districts work together to make the best use of this technology.  With the use of Telepresence, many more interesting and unique classes can be offered even if only a couple of students sign up from one school.  In this situation, the teacher may or may not even work at the school where the class is being offered.

What societal need does it meet, and what are its benefits?

Up until recently, one would have to travel to have a face-to-face meeting with a colleague, a fellow classmate, or a professional.  This could cost a lot of money, and possibly the meeting wouldn't even take place because of the numerous obstacles.  Now, all one has to do is us the Telepresence system to have a class or meeting with students and/or participants from all over the world.  I work in Los Angeles, and sometimes I drive up to 2 hours in traffic one way in order to have a face-to-face meeting with someone.

What would make this technology even better, avoiding the pitfalls you identified?

Currently, this videoconferencing technology has been perfected to allow the participants to truly feel like they are in the same room and sitting at the same table as the other participants who may actually be on the other side of the world.  A more effective placement of cameras would make this technology even more life-like.  Currently, when you talk to the person on the other side of the "table", you look at the camera which is above their eyes. They see you looking slightly above their head.  I would like to see the camera embedded directly in the screen at a place that is lined up with the eyes of the other person.  This would improve the social aspect of feeling like you are looking into someone else's eyes when you are talking to them - this would make it much more life-like.  If you haven't experienced this technology yet, it is definitely a great experience.  I am excited to follow its progress over the years to find out how else it may be used.

Emerging and Future Technology - Welcome

My name is Lewis Chappelear, and I am a high school Engineering and Design Teacher in the Los Angeles Unified School District (California). I received my Masters in Mechanical Engineering in 1995 and worked as an engineer for a couple of years. I then left that career to open a restaurant in Toronto, Canada. In 2000, I had closed the restaurant and moved to Los Angeles to start a new life. That is when I found teaching. I felt that my life has come full circle because I am able to do everything that I love - teach, do engineering, and learn! I am continuing my endeavor to be a lifelong learner by pursuing a PhD in Education, specializing in Educational Technology. I hope to one day go into education administration as a principal, director, or consultant.

I am always finding new opportunities to make a difference in our world of education. I have been on committees to rewrite our state's standards for the teaching profession; I am on a national committee with the U.S. Department of Education to plan and execute a new test for NAEP; and I am on several committees with the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) to work on new areas of certification. The best part about my job is that I get to consult in the field of education, and then I get to go back into my classroom and work with my favorite young little people in the whole world. I will be teaching a summer program for gifted middle school students in Las Vegas this summer, and this is the only class at Walden University that I am taking this quarter.