EDUC 7108 Final Video Submission

Increasing Returns: Video Stores Still Exist

When I read the prompt for this blog I initially thought I would be writing an obituary for the dead video store.  However, after thinking long and hard about the situation I discovered that the video store is not dead, simply working part time and staying away from Facebook.  Of course I am personifying the video industry, but when one looks closely at the progression of the video store, there is evidence that it is still a viable option when searching for movies to watch.  I must admit that my family no longer looks to movie stores as a means of watching movies, but there are those families that do.

In the last module we had to acquire a movie to be able to meet the requirements of an assignment.  Without hesitation I fired up the Apple TV and went to searching the Netflix app to find the movie.  Using this technology has become such second nature, I did not give any thought to finding the movie any other way.  It’s a good thing for me because the town I live in lost its Movie Gallery about three years ago.  The only option to rent in this town is to visit the movie renting machines at the grocery store.

When trying to decide if this was a situation of increasing returns or a situation that exemplifies the Red Queen hypothesis, I decided that this was a situation in which the video on demand companies and digital media companies were increasing returns.  Sure, one could make the case that video stores did not adapt and change, thus falling by the way side, but there are examples of video stores that did make changes and have become ultra-successful in face of the digital age. (Read this article: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/08/blockbuster-die_n_4235344.html).  This is a demonstration of how some companies did adapt.

The digital movie companies and the video on demand features of cable providers meet the needs of a certain niche.  Those with access to the Internet and wireless functions have the ability to meet their needs using Netflix or Hulu.  However, there are still those people that rely on videos without the use of computers.  While it may be due to financial means or lack of technology, they do exist and still find a way to access the media they desire.  Again, it would be easy to say that the situation of the video store is that of a victim of the Red Queen, but in fact that is simply not the case.

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.