I found an article on computerworld.com written by Mike Elgin that struck my attention with the title,"How Cell Phones Will Replace Learning". The article starts off with the question, Can you find out anything instantly with a cell phone? And the author answers, Not yet. I really like the article because it compares learning and finding out information from your cell phone,to a scene from the original Matrix (one of my favorite movies). He compared his question to the scene where Neo asks Trinity, "Can you fly that thing?, referring to a helicopter. Trinity says "Not yet". Then she takes out her cell, calls Tank (the operator) and says, " I need a pilot program for a B_212 helicopter." Tank sends the data to her phone and it downloads the knowledge to Trinity's brain. Now she knows how to fly a helicopter. Now that's a bit extreme for real life but that is where technology is going where we can use our cell phones for instant information.
The only difference between Trinity's cell phone and ours is the complexity of the information. But the idea of cell phones being the answer to questions or knowledge engine as Elgin describes it. Elgin claims every new advancement in technology is a step closer to where Trinity was in the Matrix.
Microsoft's introduced Bing 411, a competitor to GOOG-411, which is a free service that provides information through a phone call. Put Bing 411 phone number into your phone, call it. But instead of Tank answering the phone, a recorded computer voice guides you through the instructions. You can get directions, traffic conditions, the weather, movies, and can connect to any business. You can teach it where you work and live, so if you say "work" and "home" and it knows what you are referring to.
That doesn't sound to futuristic but Elgin brings up the combination smartphones, free 311 and Web 3.0 (Whatever Web 3.0 is lol). But Elgin explains Web 3.0 as basically the Internet but smarter and more human like. It will understand how facts and ideas are connected, understanding what you're looking for and take that into account. Basically cognitive computing or semantic web. I did a presentation on cognitive radio for Dr. Norris class. Cognitive when referring to electronics basically means the hardware knows what is going on, it has intelligence and can think on its on.
So basically the Internet becomes your personal assistant, adviser, informant and spy. But Web 3.0 isn't just about movies, directions, food and the weather. It's about everything. You can ask it, "who played 'Trinity' in The Matrix?"; "where should I get my car fixed". And you'll be able to make requests like "Pay my tuition with my credit card"; "Send flowers to my girl"; or "Let me know when that new Gucci hit the Web." So in the future when somebody asks you a question you will already have your cell phone in your hand ready!!
Although Elgin does have a point I believe it will be a long time before we truly are learning through our cell phone. The advancement of that will be due to the merge of the cell phone and laptop which has pretty much already happened with the blackberry, iphone, and netbook products. As the years continue he is right in that technology and elearning will become much more prevelant compared to your standard class room style.
ReplyDeleteJabari,
ReplyDeleteIt will definitely be interesting to see what happens with smartphones, netbooks, education, and training. Can these small devices be the delivery systems of the future? If we truly chunk learning into 1-5 minutes clips, can they be delivered using cell phones at just the right time?
My new G1 phone has the ability to Google search using voice. I think my phone may finally be able to help me transition to using voice on my computer. We'll see!
Dr. Keane