Technological context
Networked - Open Innovation - Wireless/portable - Interactive
Out of all changes mentioned, those in the field of technology are the greatest. The knowledge of science increases exponentially and scientists announce the start of a new era: the era of information exchange.
The beginning of the "great leap forward" was definitely made by the arrival of the internet. As, suddenly, people and institutions became directly interconnected and information exchange became just a matter of some digital code, sharing and disseminat of knowledge increased dramatically. Today we see that many more devices than 20 years ago get connected to a network or the internet. Smartphones have become a classic example, but also domotics can be controlled by mobile phone, priests can ring church bells through a text message, and entire movie libraries are accessible through digital TV. The term networking not only implies the internet, but also field-bus networks in companies, local Ethernet networks, GPS...
The Internet has also contributed to the boom of the open source community. Innovation is no longer the unique domain of large multinationals. Large groups of enthusiastic volunteers now work together on much larger and more ambitious projects, for example the Linux operating system. The advantage of such an open innovation lies is the fact that there is no money involved. Because there is no money involved, it does not matter if something goes wrong. This creates more experimentation and it also creates stronger innovations. Many forward-looking companies have now discovered the power of open innovation, knowledge sharing and collaboration across borders, and jumped on the bandwagon.
A change that is strongly characterized by the formation of networks is the transition to wireless devices. Wireless means great flexibility, the chance to leave the four walls of your office, a greater accessibility and omnipresence of information. Wireless means more personal. While in the past, a phone used to part of the home and shared between all residents, it is now personal. This involvement goes further and further. Who does not get nervous these days when someone seems to be unavailable on their cell phone?
The concept of interaction is becoming increasingly widespread and goes even further. Multi-touch allows multiple users to use one device at the same time, Google docs allows you to simultaneously work on the same document with more people. Computers in a classroom are connected with each other in a mini-network, while the teacher can follow on a screen what exercises the students are working on using classroom management software. In general, multimedia and technology are becoming more important in all aspects of life, at home, at work or at school!
Source: New World of Learning (VANERUM Group).