Rhymes of History Technology

http://www.tivo.com/

TiVo is a great example of how video recording has evolved. It is a recurring theme of history. I'm sure we all remember the Beta recorders or at least the VCRs. Throughout history there has been a need or desire to record television shows, sports, and/or movies to view later. TiVo continues this same concept. Of course, TiVo offers a lot more. It is a much "cooler toy". TiVo is a Digital Video Recorder that allows internet access, music access, Netflix movie access, and High Definition recording. "It is not the technology but the affect of the technology that has been rekindled." (Laureate Education, Inc., 2009).

References

Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2009). Rhymes of History. Baltimore: Author.

Module 2 Responses

I responded to Bianca Lochner at http://lochneruni.blogspot.com/ and

Alexandra Salas  at http://edutechtalk.blogspot.com/

Module 2 – Cloud Computing

Computing as a service providing an online infrastructure               Obsoletes software discs

                                                                        Cloud Computing

Reverses close family units through social networking sites            Retrieves a virtual world


Enhances: What does this technology do that is new?
Cloud computing allows industries to use internet programs to build the infrastructure for their businesses. Whenever the internet is a variable, people are able to access information from anywhere in the world that has internet access. They can plug into the system from home, vacation, their car, public transportation, the hospital, etc. It allows people to take their position in their industry outside of the building.
Obsoletes: What does this technology replace?
Cloud computing replaces the software and software licenses that was once necessary to use the particular program on a computer. Each computer needed the software program uploaded or downloaded on the computer to build the infrastructure. If sharing of information was necessary, it would have to be saved to a disc or file and sent to the person needing the information. Discs and files could become damaged or infected, misplaced, or stolen.
Retrieves/Rekindles: What does this technology bring to mind (or retrieve) from the past?
Before large corporations affected the family structure, families lived close to one another and shared stories, information, and arguments often. Within the last fifty years or so, families have spread apart around the world because of work. The use of cloud computing in social networking allows families and friends to maintain a close bond by sharing ideas, stories, pictures, videos, etc. daily or as often as necessary through social networking sites. The close family unit is conserved regardless of where family members may live.
Reverses: What might replace this technology in the future, or what might it cause to occur?
The growing use of cloud computing may create a functional virtual world for us to live through. Instead of going to the store, we would go online and order what we need for delivery. Instead of going to the movie theaters, we might watch a movie on Netflix or some other hosting site. Instead of visiting friends and family, we might contact them through social networking sites. Instead of going to work every day, we might login to our cloud computing web address to complete tasks. Instead of going to school a school building, we might enroll in online schools. The list goes on!

Module 1 Responses

I responded to Valeria Shanks

http://valeria824.blogspot.com/2011/09/module-1-emerging-technology-biometrics.html?showComment=1316385164827#c3849838748150863690

and Margaret Neal

http://msmneal.wordpress.com/2011/09/18/current-trends-in-educational-technology/#comment-8

From transparent viewers to opaque viewers

The overhead transparency projector is being replaced with the digital image viewers or document camera. The new technology can be used the same way as the overhead projector, but without the transparency film, wet-erase marker, liquid and tissue to erase mistakes, and the need to sit directly in front of the projector screen. The document viewer can be used from anywhere in the room if you have a ceiling projector and computer. You can use regular pen and paper; and you can record the entire lesson, save it on the computer and share it with absent students, parents, or other colleagues. It is definitely an emerging technology within schools.

It meets the need of demonstrating or sharing information with students without having to sit in the student’s way of seeing the projected image. It also allows recording of the lesson using the visual of the camera and audio using the computers microphone or a microphone attached to the computer. The recording feature is handy when you need to share a lesson with students that were absent or if a parent needs some guidance when trying to help their son or daughter at home.

The only problem associated with this device is that it is electric and uses software on a computer when it is necessary to use most of its features. Computers can develop viruses or other complications that could affect the software. Electricity black outs or electrical wiring issues could cause problems with its use, as well. It can be attached directly to a projector without computer use, but then it functions much more like an overhead projector with the capabilities of showing all documents and artifacts without a transparency.

The document camera would be even better if it didn’t need a computer to access all of its capabilities.

 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Document_camera