"The future arrived it just wasn't equally distributed..."

In reference to this question, I am not sure. I do believe in the equality of opportunity for education but I highly doubt this would even be possible. Even with the incorporation of emerging technologies to all schools, not all teachers are trained to use the products are open to doing so. I addition I teach at a middle/upper socioeconomic school where our technology upgrade entails mounted LCD projectors from the ceiling whereas inner city school in my area have issued personal laptops to students for classroom use. How can socioeconomic status make a difference here? I'm not trying to discredit any discrepancies but my question is how is it ever going to be overcome when people have difference motives and views of technology. That is why I believe it must be a government initiative. The first step is Obama's idea for nationwide wi-fi. If we are to compete with the Chinese, as all our comparisons are made with, everyone must have equal access to technology and I don't think that is something that can be regulated at the state level. I know it is idealistic but it is the only way any discrimination can be averted.

Works Cited
Thornburg, D. (Producer). (nd). Diversity and Globalism. [Video Podcast]. Laureate Education, Inc.

Red Queens and Increasing Returns

My hubby has been wanting a new DVD player so for his birthday we purchased a Blue-Ray DVD player with Wi-Fi capability. So this assignment provided the perfect opportunity to try ordering a movie through our internet accessibility.

Well you may be able to consider the competition between DVDs and videos on demand as an example of Red Queens because both are putting going to the traditional movies out of business (hence the insurgence in price). DVD players like mine cut the costs of getting out to the movies greatly. Also with RedBoxes around everywhere (though I have never used them before because Clark Howard advises against it) also make it highly convenient not to leave home. To make an application of increasing returns, I do believe wi-fi capability will obsolete DVDs. One reason is the fact the it saves space not to have shelves and shelves of DVDs (this is my personal pet peeve solved!). Moreover the addition of wi-fi to DVD players is taking off from the idea that you could order DVDs to be delivered to your home from online. This on-demand type option will also be easier to meet the developments of TV enhancements in the future and is a way for consumers to avoid buying compatible DVDs now to find out in a couple of years they can no longer be read. This is a non-linear process because as consumers we are unaware of the rapid advancements occurring to television.

I think DVDs and video on demand are on the obsolescence side of the four criteria of McLuhan’s tetrad. Both make going to the movies obsolete; the only reason people would go is for the ambiance and to see the latest and greatest. I would rather stay home and eat food from my house than drive to the theater, buy pricey tickets and food there, and have to deal with icky theaters. Isn't this why many are putting home theaters in?

Works Cited
Thornburg, D. (Producer). (nd). Increasing Returns. [Video Podcast]. Laureate Education, Inc.
Thornburg, D. (Producer). (nd). Red Queens. [Video Podcast]. Laureate Education, Inc.