World change

I've been spending a lot of time thinking about how technology is changing our world, and what impacts that will have on the presentation and delivery of education. Here is an outline of some of my recent thoughts:

Customization

Technology is changing our reality, and we are starting to expect the world around us to react to our needs. Consider:

A. Walmart -- Much has been written about the marketing giant. And a lot of the press focuses on how Walmart is crushing small retailers, exploits its workers, and all sorts of other negatives. All of which may be true. Walmart also has a very efficient supply chain, where they try to move products directly from the manufacturer to the customer, with little or no time in warehouses or on store shelves. They work very hard to offer the customer the lowest price possible, and are constantly working to lower prices further (check out their current pressure on the recording industry for sub-$10 CDs.) They do this (and make a lot of money) by being very good at predicting what people will want, and when. The result is when I walk into a Walmart, if everything is working properly, they will have not only the items I want, but items I didn't remember I needed. And in fact one of the top complaints from Walmart customers is that they end up walking out with more items than they intended on buying. The environment is anticipating and responding to my needs!

B. Dell Computers -- Again a very efficient manufacturer, almost no warehousing, and very good information systems. When a customer calls to place their order, the computer they are purchasing doesn't exist. For an order placed at 8am, Dell assembles the parts, builds the computers, and has it packed in a box, on the loading dock by 2pm the same day! Again a quick response to my individual needs and desires for what my computer should be.

C. Amazon.com -- Amazon is a special case, as they fit into my thoughts at several different levels. In the role of customization, they develop a profile of my buying preferences over time. Based upon my past buying behaviors, the Amazon.com store adapts to me. So when I connect to the store the selections I see are different than when my wife connects. Amazon responds one way to me, and another way to her. By the way they have patented this technology, and it is seen as a key advantage over their competitors. It must be working.

These are just a couple of examples of commercial enterprises that are using technology to efficiently get us the items we want (or need), when we want and at a price that beats their competition. They don't always get it right, but their success and continuing growth show that they are meeting our needs. The fundamental effect is that our perception of the world is being changed. We are starting to live in a world -- at least when in one of their segments of the world -- that anticipates and responds to our individual desires.

Two other areas that I see in this technological world change are socialization and information context. I'll write more about them in later posts.