October 1, 2008

Welcome to my first professional blog. Before you yawn loud enough to rattle a molar lose, you should be aware that the meaning of "professional" will be tested at times. I want this blog to be true to its original purpose: more a flow of comments and thoughts than a formal piece of writing. Topics will vary and may even -EEP- digress completely from reading or education. So, without wasting another keystroke, I begin...

We are approaching a time when many technologies are mixing together at an exponential rate creating events people a 100 years ago would have called magic for lack of a better explanation. Don't believe me? Can you recall when the original version of Star Trek came to viewers across the nation and people scoffed at the small units they used for communication? It's no laughing matter these days as those communicators are not only in daily use but also frighteningly smaller and more capable.

Now, let's take a common piece of school technology, one which costs quite the pretty dime mind you -the Smartboard. Think of how you oohed and ahhed when you saw it for the first time. It was quite cool and is still impressive. That experience came to me 5 years ago. Keep that number in your noggin. Here were are, the calendar reads, 2008 and anyone with an LCD projector, a Wii-mote, and an infrared pen can make a working Smartboard. Not possible right? Let, me turn you into a YouTuber (another amazing technological happening mind you) to show you how it works. Follow this link. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5s5EvhHy7eQ

(If this link doesn't work then follow this one:
http://www.boingboing.net/2008/04/11/ted-talks-johnny-lee.html)

Did some more oohs and ahhs escape your lips? I know they did from mine. This is the tip of what you, I and your children will see and use within the next twenty years. If you enjoy reading about the future, technology, and its disruptive nature check out anything written by Ray Kurzweil, in particular his latest book The Singularity is Near. Be warned. His material is very dense at times (yeah, I skimmed parts) but well worth the comprehension battle.

Mr. Lagana

The guy who wishes he were half as smart as the technologists he looks up to. Then again, given my propensity for sophomoric activities, maybe it's better I'm not so clever after all.