Second Life: A Disruptive Technology

According to Thornburg (2009), a disruptive technology is any technology that has a dramatic effect on the path of other technologies.  After interacting with Second Life and exploring its capabilities, I am firmly convinced that it is a disruptive technology.  To support this claim, Rosedale (2008) stated that Second Life has the potential to change the way people interact with the Internet.  It has also changed the way that people interact with each other.

Second Life is a virtual, 3-D world that allows people to create an avatar and interact with other people.  However, this is not the extent of the power of Second Life.  Participants can enter customized worlds or worlds created by others and interact with people, music, and merchandise.  In fact, Second Life allows people to go shopping in virtual settings and interact with the people that inhabit those worlds.

Second Life was unveiled in 2010 and has changed over the course of the past four years (Wikipedia, 2010).  While I did interact with Second Life, I cannot attest to the way it has changed, but it appears that the graphics and the capabilities have been upgraded as technology has become available.  As I explored the various worlds, I noticed the number of users worldwide and realized that this technology is here to stay.

As a first grade teacher, I see the benefits that this technology could have on my classroom.  Students are always interested in interacting with other students, probably now more than ever.  Creating a virtual world that provides meeting places for students and provides boundaries that make interactions safe would give students unlimited collaboration power.  It would also give students the opportunity to travel uninhibited around the world.

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

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

Printed Materials: Rhymes in History Technology

Being married to a history nerd, and I mean that in the absolute nicest way possible, often gives me access to pieces of information that I may have never known otherwise.  As I think about rhymes in history and the relationship between technology of the past and technology of the present, I immediately recall one of my husband’s nuggets of knowledge.  The printing press, most commonly known to have been developed by Johann Gutenberg, is one of the most influential and profound advancements in history.  After doing some research I found that the Chinese actually perfected the art of the printing press long before Gutenberg, but the effect of the Gutenberg printing press is immeasurable.

David Thornburg (Laureate, Inc.), a leading futurist and expert of emerging technology, contends that all technology is inspired by themes and ideas of previous technological advancements.  I mention the Gutenberg printing press because it is an example of a rhyme of history.  Since the development of the printing press the ability to produce and distribute printed material has improved and advanced exponentially.  From the printing press with moveable type, technology to produce printed material has included the earliest typewriters, advanced typewriters, the development of computers and word processing applications with attached printers, to the ability to produce printed text in eBook form.  While the technology has changed, the theme and the idea has remained the same: print material as quickly and efficiently as possible.

While I do give my husband quite a hard time for his interest in history, this activity has brought about an appreciation for being able to trace things back to the root of the innovation.  Understanding the profound effect of the printing press and connecting its solution to a problem to the modern ability to print on command has been enlightening and interesting.

Thornburg, D. (Producer). (nd.) Rhymes of history. [Video podcast]. Laureate Education, Inc.