Eye on Technology – 2010 Horizon Report
Posted on June 8, 2010 by Rob Nettleton
Filed Under Apple, Collaborative Tools, Laptops, Research, iPod, websites
The 2010 Horizon Report is finally out and, as expected, contains details on the 6 most up-and-coming technologies that we need to keep our eye on. Two of the technologies are expected to be adopted within the next year, whereas we’re looking at a minimum of two or more years for the remaining four before they’re adopted. Download and read the report if you would like a very detailed analysis of each of the 6 technologies.
One year or less
Mobile computing
While it suggests that the “adoption” of mobile computing is something that will take place within the year. In many ways mobile computing has already taken the classroom by storm in the face of laptops, smart phones, apple technology (iPhones/Pods/Pads). What the Horizon Report is suggesting is the adoption of using mobile computing as a pedagogical tool; combining the students desire to be constantly connected with an “increasing range of activities fully supported by applications designed especially for mobiles.”
Open content
Open content is a huge item for discussion today and is growing in its popularity. It particularly addresses the many barriers associated with education, such as cost for textbooks and accessibility of resources for some regions. Open content would address these barriers by making academic content freely accessible. Of course, within the concept of open content remain issues of copyright and intellectual property when we talk about the reuse, re-purposing and sharing academic or scholarly work.
Two-three years
Electronic books
The accessibility of having books online has changed the way students interact with learning resources. When you think about students lugging their weight in textbooks to and from class and the monumental costs associated with some textbooks, it’s easy to see why electronic books are growing in popularity. It’s not as common now to see, but there is already knew technology that enables you to download and read books online. Check out eBook Reader to get some reviews on the most popular models. There is certainly no question that the popularity of electronic books is going to continue to grow. It ties together many issues that students are actively involved within: rising costs associated with education and environmentalism.
Simple augmented reality
“The concept of blending (augmenting) virtual data – information, rich media, and even live action – with what we see in the real world, for the purpose of enhancing the information we can perceive with our senses is a powerful one.”The use of cell phone applications (iPhone or Blackberry apps) are perfect examples of how we can augment reality into virtual data.
Three-four years
Gesture-based computing
“Devices that are controlled by natural movements of the finger, hand, arm, and body are becoming more common.” This is particularly evident in the gaming world. With the development of the Wii console where users can play video games without pressing buttons, and instead, just perform the actions they want their character to. How this can be used in an educational setting is still being determined, but there’s no doubt that it’s a growing phenomenon.
Visual data analysis
It’s easy to get lost in a thousands and sometimes millions of numbers while you’re trying to identify patterns and solve problems. However, given the advances in visual data analysis, we’re able manipulate and view data in ways never quite thought possible before. “Visual data analysis is an emerging field, a blend of statistics, data mining, and visualization, that promises to make it possible for anyone to sift through, display, and understand complex concepts and relationships.”
It’s incredibly important to begin discussions of how these new technologies can have an impact of education and teaching.
Are gesture-based computing techniques the way of the future for obtaining practical hands-on learning?
Will having full access to scholarly work be a positive or negative contribution to academia and the pursuit of knowledge?
And where will mobile computing take us next?
How can we take advantage of it?
Post your thoughts or concerns!
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