My recent nano difficulties brought to the forefront just how inter-dependent my technology ecosystem is and how dependent I've become on it. The loss of my nano also meant I could not use my Nike+ system, which meant I lost the convenience of storing all my run data in one place. Not to mention the loss of accuracy in distance, time, and calories as I would be estimating based on past experience. But, it also meant the loss of other things as well like the ability to conveniently hook into my JBL stereo system, build specifically to work with Apple products, and the ability to play music through my surround sound system downstairs.
I know, I know. Poor me bitching about luxuries like this. But while these are nice-to-have's, I certainly can run without all the accoutremonts, I got me to thinking about how much we're designing things for these ecosystems in education. More and more we are designing applications and formatting content so that it works with mobile devices such as iPods, iPhones, and Blackberries. And we should be doing this. This is the way the world is moving. But what happens to the student who loses her phone or whose iPod breaks? We store a lot of content on these devices and we rely on their portability and connectivity to provide us virtual access anytime and anywhere.
Fortunately, there are other ways of getting access. Many students have laptops and the computer labs keep late hours so hopefully, in most cases, it's a loss of convenience more than anything. But it does point out how these items are quickly becoming necessities. How many people will use only a mobile device to connect in the near future? How will this change the educational landscape?
Just like how the automobile made it possible for people to move farther away from where they work, these devices make it possible for you to be anywhere and still be connected. And with applications and services being so inter-dependent having one part of the ecosystem breakdown could cause a critical failure.
I don't have any answers. Really, this post is about my own stark realization of how dependent I am on all the pieces of my technological ecosystem functioning. It's a gradual thing, this building of the ecosystem. So subtle you do no realize how deep you're in until something breaks down.
I know, I know. Poor me bitching about luxuries like this. But while these are nice-to-have's, I certainly can run without all the accoutremonts, I got me to thinking about how much we're designing things for these ecosystems in education. More and more we are designing applications and formatting content so that it works with mobile devices such as iPods, iPhones, and Blackberries. And we should be doing this. This is the way the world is moving. But what happens to the student who loses her phone or whose iPod breaks? We store a lot of content on these devices and we rely on their portability and connectivity to provide us virtual access anytime and anywhere.
Fortunately, there are other ways of getting access. Many students have laptops and the computer labs keep late hours so hopefully, in most cases, it's a loss of convenience more than anything. But it does point out how these items are quickly becoming necessities. How many people will use only a mobile device to connect in the near future? How will this change the educational landscape?
Just like how the automobile made it possible for people to move farther away from where they work, these devices make it possible for you to be anywhere and still be connected. And with applications and services being so inter-dependent having one part of the ecosystem breakdown could cause a critical failure.
I don't have any answers. Really, this post is about my own stark realization of how dependent I am on all the pieces of my technological ecosystem functioning. It's a gradual thing, this building of the ecosystem. So subtle you do no realize how deep you're in until something breaks down.
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