[trends] Learning 5 in 5 : diminishing hurdles for technology

Here is my second prediction for the learning '5in5', five learning and development trends to happen over the next 5 years.


2- Diminishing hurdles for technology enhanced learning

What does it mean?
Technology end user experiences become ever more simple and natural to use. That means that whatever hurdles to technology adoption we had to overcome in the past, they'll become smaller and smaller. First there is the trend to use 'natural' interfaces in our interaction with technology. You already know about making gestures to the Xbox Kinect, how to 'finger' your iPhone (don't go there, you know what I mean!), and you may have watched MIT research on the sixth sense. Expect 'brain power' to become an interface too in the next years. We'll be able to control with thoughts. Secondly there is the trend that enough people (and not just the young) are familiar with technology now to move it further into a daily normal thing. We get very upset when the wifi at a conference breaks down. It's 'normal'. And for the traditional 10% die-hards that will still stay away from new technology as long as they can: that will no longer be labelled as a learning problem, but a recruitment issue. Thirdly, we will increasingly have the technology with us. Either we'll take it with us (mobile phones, tablets and tracking devices), or the sensors will be in the environment (camera's, public access points).
As technological hurdles and barriers ever diminish, invasion of technology enhanced learning continues beyond the point it becomes part of the everyday normal. It also means it becomes a commodity (Where is my margin? Where is my research budget?) and won't label you a cool innovator any more than it will your grandma (who is probably also really cool anyway).

Sign of the times

• Watch this TED Brussels video where Peter Hinssen explains the magic that happens after the flip, when digital becomes the new normal. We are there, but slightly less in education.
• Still in its infancy, 'brain power' interfaces are available as toys: I recently purchased the MindOut game with the mindwave portable scanner. I still need to play more with the technology to get my brainballs bigger (again, don't go there! Look at the game trailer to understand)
• If you once more want to hear of the mobile revolution and get numbers of how many people carry which type and make of mobile technology with them, be my guest and watch Mary Meeker predicts or float learning's 12 mobile trends.

Agree? Disagree? Like? Dislike? Dear reader, what does it all mean?  :-)