Forces that Drive Obsolete and Emerging Technologies Presentation

Forces that Drive Obsolete and Emerging TechnologiesPresentationBy Sharon Luke (McDaniel)

Good Afternoon, Welcome to my presentation on forces that drive obsolete and emerging technologies. The purpose of my presentation is to show how the 6 forces that drive obsolete and emerging technologies have affected the videocassette recorder, better know as the vcr, and the ability to stream media. The obsolete technology that I found in the supply cabinet where I currently work is the Videocassette Recorder (VCR). VCRs were still in use, somewhat, only three years ago. The VCR has been replaced by the use of computers and United Streaming.1Early

The VCR has been around since the early 1970s. 2Later

The VCR was upgraded to the DVD, and now Streaming Media is becoming popular. 3Now

Streaming Media allows instructors to use parts of videos, instead of having to watch the whole video (EdTech, 2010). There are many times when students would be more interested if we just took clips from several videos and showed them. Streaming Media, such as United Streaming, allows instructors to do this. 4

In order for a technology to be something that my organization would want to integrate in the school system, it would need to be something that could be proven to benefit teaching and learning. The price would need to be realistic. If the price was too high, the system would want to look into something else. Recent studies on the technology would be very important. School systems would want to make sure there would be a need for the technology, for many years to come.5Tetrad 1Videocassette Recorder

The main purpose of the VCR was to make it possible to show a movie to people, either at home, or in businesses and schools. Filmstrip projectors became obsolete because of VCRs6Tetrad 2Streaming Media

The main purpose of streaming media is to be able to watch a movie or show a movie to people, either at home or in businesses and schools. VCR and DVD players have almost become obsolete because of streaming media.7Interview 1Interview #1Name: Al RowellPosition: Technology SpecialistPlace of Employment: Lowndes County SchoolsDate of Interview: October 15, 2010*This interview focused on the decision to purchase technology for the school system. On October 15, 2010, I interviewed Al Rowell. He is the head Technology Specialist for all 12 schools within the Lowndes County School System. He has worked for the school system for 23 years. Mr. Rowell was working for the Lowndes County School System, when they purchased videocassette recorders for the schools.Questions and ResponsesHow many people are involved in the decision to buy new technology for the school system? Do you remember the general process, that was involved with getting VCRs in the school system?This is not a decision that a few people make one day and purchase the next. School systems go through a process, when purchasing technology. As a Technology Specialist, I am the one who proposes a new technology to the school system. The videocassette recorder was becoming very popular in the schools, in the early 1980s. After researching this technology, I proposed it to the school system. They approved the purchase of, I think, 250 VCRs, to be divided between the schools in the system. How much money is usually spent on the technology needs for the school system, for one year?I could not even begin to give you a specific amount. Technology expenses are not like every day expenses. In the area of technology, we are given an amount we have for that year, and that is what we can spend.How often does technology break down and have to be fixed?Technology breaks down and has to be fixed on a daily basis. This is why we have 3 full time technologists throughout our schools.How much do yearly repairs and upkeep cost each year?Yearly repair and upkeep of the technology in the schools is covered under the amount we receive each year for technology. We work with what we get.How much does training with the technology cost the school system each year?This is also covered under the amount we receive each year and sometimes we spend more in this area and sometimes we spend less in this area.

Mr. Al Rowell, a Technology Specialist, with the Lowndes County School System. He was working with the school system when the decision to purchase VCRs was made. Mr. Rowell stated, I was not the only person to make this decision. There was a process, and several people made the final decision.8Interview 2Interview #2Name: Laverne HillPosition: Media SpecialistPlace of Employment: Lowndes High SchoolDate of Interview: October 22, 2010*This interview focused on the use of the technology in the school. On October 22, 2010, I interviewed our new Media Specialist, Laverne Hill, who is in her second year at Lowndes High School. Ms. Hill said that Streaming Media is becoming the way to watch videos in the classroom. Many schools have already started Streaming Media and some have for several years. It has become very popular at Lowndes High School, especially United Streaming, which is what we currently use.Questions and ResponsesHow often is training provided on the use of the technology that is available in the school?We have training on the use of technology, at least two times a month. All of the teachers in the Lowndes County School System are asked to turn in a Request for Training form, at the beginning of each semester. I put a schedule together and send it out to all of the schools. Anyone who wishes to attend one of the sessions has to e-mail me one week before each session.What specific types of training have taken place in the last year?We have offered training on creating web pages, Infinite Campus, and United Streaming. We have several training sessions coming up on creating Power Points and Graphic Organizers.How long do training session last?Two hours, is the longest session we have had so far. The sessions start at 3:15 pm, which is directly after school.Are individual training sessions provided, when needed?No, there are no individual training sessions. The smallest session so far, consisted of 12 participants. The training was a photo workshop.What is the cost of providing training sessions for teachers?There is no cost for the training sessions. Between myself, and the 126 other teachers, just at Lowndes High, there have been a number of volunteers to teach each topic.

Ms. Laverne Hill, the Media Specialist at Lowndes High School stated, Lowndes High School began using United Streaming about 2 years ago. She also said, teachers find United Streaming easy to use and more teachers will use it when they learn how easy it is to use.9Interviews 3 & 4Interview # 3 and Interview # 4Name: 2 teachers who currently work at Lowndes High SchoolPosition: TeacherPlace of Employment: Lowndes High SchoolDate of Interviews: Week of October 18th through October 22nd.*These interviews focused on teachers who have actually used VCRs and United Streaming. The third person I interviewed was Mrs. Rae Hubbard, who has been working at Lowndes High School for 15 years. She currently teaches 10th grade Literature to students with Mild Intellectual Disabilities. The interview took place on October 19, 2010.Questions and ResponsesName 1 advantage of using a VCR.The biggest advantage of the VCR was being able to go through a chapter and read, discuss, complete activities, and then show a video to reinforce everything we went over. Name 1 advantage of using United Streaming.The biggest advantage to me, with using United Streaming, is being able to show current videos.Name 1 disadvantage of using a VCR.The biggest disadvantage of using a VCR is the equipment. Sometimes, there are problems with the video tapes.Name 1 disadvantage of using United Streaming.The biggest problem I have had with United Streaming is when the internet goes down. If I did not previously download the video I wanted, and the internet stops working, I have to find something else to do.Would you rather use a VCR or United Streaming?I personally, would rather use a VCR. The movie is right there and you can show it. The fourth person I interviewed was Mr. Adam Gray, who has been teaching at Lowndes High School for 5 years. Adam Gray is currently teaching Social Studies and is a Wrestling coach.Questions and ResponsesName 1 advantage of using a VCR.Using a VCR is very simple. It is easy to set up and play.Name 1 advantage of using United Streaming.There is an extremely large amount of topics to choose from.Name 1 disadvantage of using a VCR.Sometimes the tapes break.Name 1 disadvantage of using United Streaming.Sometimes, the movies do not pull up to show when you want them. Would you rather use a VCR or United Streaming?I would rather use a VCR, because they are always ready to use.

Mrs. Rae Hubbard and Mr. Adam Gray, teachers at Lowndes High School, both agreed that they would rather use a VCR, instead of using United Streaming. Both agreed that the biggest disadvantage of streaming media had to do with internet problems.10Evolutionary Technologies

The force of evolutionary technology is when a new technology is an extension of the technology it is replacing, the new technology is better than the previous one (Thornburg, 2008). The videocassette recorder (VCR), made it possible for people to be able to record something or purchase something that had already been recorded, and watch it later. VCRs became available to average people in the middle 1960s. The price was about $1,000 (The People History, 2004). Before this, there were Video Tape Recorders (VTRs), which were like the old reel tapes (VCR and Home Video History, 2007). The reel-to-reel film projectors could show a movie, but it was really a series of pictures (Essortment, 2002). When looking at the technology we have had since the VCR, we see DVD players, which came out in the late 1990s (DVD History, 2010). Even DVD players went through some changes, until streaming media became a possibility in the early 2000s (The MTA.com, 2004). Streaming media can be used in the areas of documentaries, learning resources, assignments, and education (eStream, 2003). Streaming media has been in the schools for several years and Discovery Education has made this very easy, with United Streaming. 11Rhymes of History

The force of rhymes of history is when a new technology brings back an activity that was done in the past (Thornburg, 2008). During the middle 1900s, families spent time together in the evenings, watching television shows together. Both of these technologies, the VCR and streaming media, bring this family time back. Families can either get a DVD or instantly watch a movie together in their homes. When I look at the force, rhymes of history, I see a similarity between evolutionary technology and rhymes of history. The VCR and streaming media have both provided entertainment to families and have brought families together, by changing to meet the needs of the current time, which causes one technology to be replaced by a new form or improvement of the previous technology.12Disruptive Technologies

The force of disruptive technologies is when the new technology fills the same need as the technology it replaced (Thornburg, 2008). VCRs and streaming media serve, served a purpose, that was already being met by a previous technology. The newest form of the technology has been more efficient and has caused the previous technology to become obsolete (Thornburg, 2008). The VCR replaced the reel-to-reel movies. Being able to stream media has replaced the VCR. Each new technology has been more efficient and easier to use than the previous technology. This has caused each technology to become obsolete, when the improved technology has emerged. 13Science Fiction

Science Fiction movies show some futuristic technology that actually gets developed and emerges. A large number of people watch Science Fiction movies, and are exposed to some technology that will emerge sometime in the future. Science Fiction movies do not seem to focus on ways of watching movies. A large number of the movies focus more on the actual device used to watch the movies. There was also a large amount of cloning and time machines (Winterbottom, 2003 & Fonda, 1973). The closest technology to showing movies would have been the memory scrapbook, which read and stored memories from the mind, and the person could watch the memories on a small screen (Winterbottom, 2003). Science Fiction has not had an impact on either of the two technologies. 14Increasing ReturnsVCR vs DVD Essayhttp://www.directessays.com/viewpaper/59473.html

*Click on this link to see a comparison of the DVD and VCR players. The force of increasing returns is when there are two technologies competing, and one of the technologies is chosen as the one most people use (Thornburg, 2008). The force of increasing returns has more to do with two types of the same technology coming out at the same time. This did not happen when VCRs came out or when streaming media started being used. If DVD players had come out earlier, this might have been considered the force of increasing returns. DVD players came very close to causing VCRs to become obsolete, but being able to stream media is taking over quickly. There is not enough information to determine if streaming media will have any competition.15Red QueensRed Queens

The force of red queens is not common. This is kind of like increasing returns however, there are more than two competitors and two are chosen (Thornburg, 2008). The ability to stream media is just emerging and becoming popular. The force of red queens might have an impact on streaming media, but the force of red queens did not impact VCRs. United Streaming and Netflix appear to be moving ahead, but I am not sure if the force of red queens will impact streaming media yet.16Summary of Evaluation

*Click the first link The videocassette recorder (VCR), made it possible to easily watch educational videos in the schools. The VCR did not require any set up, other than hooking a cable to the television set. Anyone could use a VCR. After the VCR started becoming popular, the price started going down and most people could afford to buy one. The majority of households had at least one VCR. The DVD player was on the way to take over the VCR, but the ability to stream media became possible and is taking over the way to watch movies. McLuhans tetrad is like a graphic organizer. The tetrad summarizes the purpose of a new technology in a way that makes someone think about the reasons the obsolete technology was originally adopted and why the new technology replaced the obsolete technology. By studying the purpose of the technologies, people can better understand why each one became popular. 17Forces that were important * Evolutionary Technologies*Disruptive TechnologiesRhymes of History

The six forces that explain why a technology was adopted and replaced can help explain the reasons for the adoption and the replacement (Thornburg, 2008). Each force causes someone to look at the processes behind the adoption and replacement. The force of evolutionary technologies and the force of disruptive technologies were very important with the emergence of the VCR and the ability to stream media. Each technology was an improvement to watch movies. The VCR was easier to use and had less problems than the reel-to-reel movies. Streaming media is a process of typing on a computer and showing a movie on a computer, monitor, or television set. The force of rhymes of history had some impact on the emergence of the VCR and the ability to stream media. When the reel-to-reel movie projector was replaced by the VCR, the VCR made a big difference. The same difference was made with the ability to stream media. Each time, people were able to watch movies more easily than with the previous technology. 18Other Forces*Science Fiction*Increasing Returns*Red Queens

The forces of science fiction and increasing returns did not impact the VCR or streaming media. Science fiction does not focus on movies, and increasing returns does not impact the VCR or streaming media. The final force, red queens, did not impact the VCR because no competitors were around with the VCR. I think the force of red queens might impact streaming media, since there are competitors starting to emerge. The forces of evolutionary technologies, rhymes of history, disruptive technologies, and red queens have had an impact on the VCR and streaming media. The forces of science fiction and increasing returns did not impact the VCR or streaming media. The VCR emerged because there was a need to watch movies that did not take 20 minutes to set up. Movies have been used in education to introduce a topic, stress a topic, and review a topic. The VCR was needed at the time it emerged, but being able to stream media is the newest way to watch movies. 19Speculation on the Future

The future of streaming media is not known for sure at this time. Streaming media has only been a possibility for 5 to 7 years. This technology is in the early stages of emerging. Because of the ability to stream media, people will not need VCR, DVD, or any other bulky machine to watch a movie. Streaming media makes it possible to download or watch movies whenever a person wants to watch a movie. The movie can be watched on a computer or a television. Being able to stream media instantly fills the need of instant gratification from instant entertainment.20

Streaming media will be popular for about 10 years. I have not seen anything that would be able to take the place of streaming media at this time. Some of the possibilities might be the ability to go to certain channels and watch anything, whenever you want, or to be able to interact with the movie like a game. I will still be involved with teaching in 10 years, which is when I predict that a new technology will take over the ability to stream media into homes. This makes it important that I look to the future and study which technologies might be taking over, so I can research and learn how to use each new technology when it begins to emerge. If I have studied and completed research on the new technology, I will be able to help with the emergence of each one. If the new technologies fill a need and I can help others learn about the technologies, I can help introduce the new technologies. 21Open hyperlink and listen to the video: Thank Youhttp://www.edutopia.org/clearfield-high-school-technology-video

ReferencesCode 46. (2003). Directed by: Michael Winterbottom. Video.DVD History. (2010). History of DVD. Retrieved from didyouknow.org/dvdhistoryEdtechteacher. (2010). Using film clips in the classroom-United Streaming. Retrieved from: http://thwt.org/unitedstreaming.htmlEssortment. (2002). 35mm film projector. Retrieved from http://www.essortment.com/all/mmfilmproj_rlkf.htmeStream. (2003). Step 3: Learn about educational uses. Retrieved from http://estream.schule.at/?url=step3Gray, A. (2010). Lowndes County High School : TeacherHill, L. (2010). Lowndes County High School: Media SpecialistHubbard, R. (2010). Lowndes County High School: Teacher

23Idaho Transfer. (1973). Directed by: Peter Fonda. VideoRedmond, J. (2010). Until video tape recorders became available. Retrieved from ieeexplore.ieee.org/iels/5308791/5323961/05323967.pdf?arnumberRowell, A. (2010). Lowndes County Schools: Technology SpecialistThe MTS.com. (2004). Streaming media. Retrieved from http://www.ccs.neu.edu/home/imperium/timeline.htmlThe People History. (2004). The changes to video recorders and VCR technology over the last 50 years. Retrieved from http://www.thepeoplehistory.com/vcr.htmlThornburg, D. (2008). McLuhans tetrad. Laureate Education, Inc.Thornburg, D. (2008). Six forces that drive emerging technologies. Vodcast. Laureated Education, Inc.VCR and Home Video History. (2007). Television history The first 75 years. Retrieved from http://www.tvhistory.tv/VCR%20History.htm

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