In looking ahead to what Digital Life would be like in a decade form now, the Pew Research Center’s Internet Project conducted an online study from November, 2013 to January, 2014. There were 2, 558 participants comprising knowledgeable individuals and tech builders. Some notable themes were present in what participants foresee.

Respondents foresee the information setting will be such that it will require no effort to access the internet and the majority of people will turn to it so easily that it will be automatic or natural as electricity. Respondents foresee a linking together of mobile, wearable, and embedded computing into the Internet, thereby enabling individuals and their environments to turn to ‘artificial intelligence-enhanced cloud-based information storage and sharing.”

Notably, these knowledgeable individuals share the view that there is an impending future change in  technology. However, they differ on its repercussions. The majority of respondents thank that:

• There will be an ambient networked computing setting established due to prolonged multiplicity od Smart Sensors, cameras, software, databases, and massive data centers in a world-encompassing information fabric called the Internet of Things.
• “Augmented reality” betterment to the actual-world input that individuals understand by using technologies that are portable /wearable/implantable.
• The physical and social realms will experience intelligent analytical mapping, tagging, and databasing (See here).

Concerning the Internet in the next decade. Lee Rainie one of the presenters at the World Future Society World Future 2014 event presented a detailed list of what experts predict for the Internet in the coming ten (10) years. Rainier discussed how internet availability everywhere impacts the way people behave, the arising of new social and cultural separations, the serious disruption on education, and how a new kind of companies will impact the Internet.

To read the full report (See here).

March 12, 2014 was a memorable date for the World Wide Web as it marked 25 years of its existence. Sir Tim Berners-Lee succeeded in making the internet turn into technology adopted and used by many people worldwide instead of just being a geeky data-transfer medium which only specialists and a handful of enthusiasts supported. Without a doubt the Internet has affected almost every facet of people’s lives from the manner in which they create, get, and share the news; how they care for their health, how they do their jobs, the make up of their political activity; how they deal with government; the way and extent to which they communicate with family and friends; and how they form into communities. The spread of the internet and its impact is unbelievable.

In 2014, internet use by adult Americans was at 87%. There has also been an unbelievable adaptation of internet related technology as well. From  2000 there has been a dramatic rise in the adult who own cellphones. Similarly, the number of adults who own smartphones has risen. In face of its plusses and minuses, the overall view of many is that the internet is something positive. A study found 90 % of those who use the Internet consider it as something good personally, and 76% thought it is something beneficial to society.

To read the full report (see here).

Americans Interacting with the Internet: 2000-2015.

As Internet use inches closer to saturation among some groups, what is the adoption trend for others?

Starting in 2000, the The Pew Research Center’s unit examining the internet and society started consistently measuring how Americans adopt the internet. So far the unit has done 97 nationwide surveys involving adults who have documented the way their day-to-day life revolves around the internet in spite of various sections of society.

Various main trends arise from analyzing the data gathered over the 15 years. On one hand, Internet use is at its peak among mainly highly educated young adults, as well as those from more well- to – do households. On the other hand, Internet adoption rate had been historically lower but steadily increasing among older adults, groups with a lower level of education, and groups in the lower-income bracket. However, there are still digital gaps. Differences exist also among racial groups and communities. Although the gap has narrowed, White or English Speaking Asian-Americans are more internet users than African-Americans or Hispanics. Also, although more than 75% of persons living in rural communities are online, they are less prone to use the internet than suburban and urban residents. The gap between the percentage of female and male internet users has narrowed considerably from less that half for women in 2000 to within a 1% today. For the entire report (see here).

Online Learning or e-Learning has revolutionized the education field. This new mode of teaching and learning has its many challenges and opportunities. This relatively new mode of learning has seen rapid improvements from its inception in the 1980s to now. Although online learning has overcome initial criticisms there are still many oponents. There are also many challlenges. For example, finance, adecuate tehnology, qualified teachers, internet access, and user knowledge, are some of the main concerns cited in research. This blog will be discussing some ways to solve the lack of technology in schools and eLearning teacher training.

In July, 2015, Secretary of Education A. Duncan….

The New York City Schools District

Educational Technology blog, and written materials that I produce or will produced over the years as an EdTech enthusiast. Please feel free to use, but I ask that you credit the work to me, Wycliff Coward, Ed.D.