The Disruptive Power of Second Life

How is Second Life a disruptive technology?

Thornburg (2009) stated that disruptive technologies were new technology with the same functionality of an existing one, yet they function more efficiently and obsolete the existing technology. Christensen (2002) stated that disruptive technology could be broken down into two types; 1) one that does not create a new market, but changes the product, or 2) a new technology that disrupts existing technology and obsoletes it. Either way, disruptive technologies can potentially change pedagogy and impact curriculum and instruction. Second Life Education has effected educational instruction and may be replacing some online instruction as well as traditional instruction.

What technology or innovation did it replace?

I think that Second Life replaced some of the gaming technology. I also think that it has potential to replace online learning or some facets of online learning. For example, the virtual worlds are being used by some educational institutions for lecture rooms and meeting halls. Some nursing schools are using the virtual world to teach maternity nursing and the avatars are delivering babies in a virtual maternity ward.

How many years do you think Second Life has left before another emerging technology replaces it?

According to Thornburg (2009) in the video "Disruptive Technologies", no technology is secure for very long because there will be another technology that will emerge and obsolete the first one.

What are the social benefits of Second Life, and what might be the social implications of virtual worlds in your industry?

According to Rosedale (2008) Second Life could be used to spark creativity in participants to design things that are new and imaginative, and give individuals the chance to begin again, leave society, and transform themselves. My industry is nursing and I believe that Second Life Education could encourage nursing students to to connect with nursing students around the world and exchange and receive information.

References:

Christensen, C. (2002). The innovation economy: How technology is transforming existing industries and creating new ones [Video Podcast]. Laureate Education, Inc.

Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2009). Disruptive Technologies. Baltimore: Author.

Rosedale, P. (2008). Philip Rosedale on Second Life [Video]. Retrieved  from http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/the_inspiration_of_second _life.html

Module 3 Rhymes of History Blog Post

In the video "Rhymes of History" (Laureate Education, Inc., 2009), Dr. David Thornburg described rhymes of history as "the affect or impact of a new development that rekindles something from the distant past." I was thinking about group communication that can be used by families or by organizations to contact people at once via a cell phone, text message, or voice message.  Group Communication is available at the universoty where I am employed. We have this service for all faculty, staff, and students who wish to be notified in cases of extreme or inclement weather, impending danger, or any campus emergency. A rhyme of history that group communication rekindles is the smoke signals which were used to alert a large number of people impending danger or to give an all clear sign.

References:

Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2009). Rhymes of History. Baltimore: Author.

Smoke Signals. (2004). Retrieved from http://library.thinkquest.org/04oct/00451/smokesignals.htm