Module 5: Increasing Returns and Red Queens

My friend, Cynthia Shelton, rented the movie Blade Runner which is based on Philip K. Dick’s book “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?” and brought to my home on a planned visit the first of October. I do have NetFlix which I am crazy about because I don’t have time to browse shelves for DVDs. The current competition between DVDs and Videos on Demand (VOD) are not an example of Thornburg’s (2009) increasing returns. Thornburg describes increasing returns as “two innovations hit the market at the same time.” DVDs were out before VODs. The founder of NetFlix, Reed Hastings, saw NetFlix’s opportunity when DVDs met critical mass (Anderson, 2004), so I’d see this competition between VODs and DVDs as an example of Red Queens. Blockbusters, one of the largest chains for renting DVDs, are the clearly losing, closing, and declaring bankruptcy.

McLuhan’s tetrad with DVDs and VODs

Enhancement
DVDs for rent take time out of people’s day to go by the stores to rent them.
Netflix, a VOD, enhances watching movies by having the convenience of ordering almost instantaneous viewing of many movies and games. It also has instant replay. It also is compatible with Blue Ray and is cost effective.

Obsolescence
The VODs and DVDs have almost completely replaced the VHS for watching movies. NetFlix also can mail DVDs to your home.

Retrieval
DVDs and VODs bring back the idea of plays, theaters, the drive-in, and the movie theater.

Reversal
DVDs make it possible to pause and view movies at a later time. It has great video quality and sound compared to that of the VHS. NetFlix has these capabilities.


Reference

Anderson, C. (2004). Tech’s long tail [Vodcast]. Retrieved from http://www.ted.com/

Thornburg, D. (2009). Increasing returns and red queens. Laureate Education, Inc. Retrieved from http://sylvan.live.ecollege.com

Video I Responded to Week 12

I had a video response on May 21st for:
Soushira Liverpoolmorris
http://eduspiration.edublogs.org/
Brandon (Brandy) Lutz
http://lutzedu.blogspot.com/

I had a video response on May 24th for:
Nadine Petrie-Waymyers
http://waymyers-distanceedu.blogspot.com/
Luis Aviles
http://farawaylearning.blogspot.com
Tabitha Edenfield
http://tabithaedenfield.blogspot.com/
Robert Hopkins
http://toehaw-nextgenerationoflearning.blogspot.com/

Using Technology to Enhance Collaboration in Elementary Education (YouTube)

My video can be found at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUR9hHYK5_g

Howard Rheingold on Collaboration

Rheingold (2008) stated that collaboration spreads across disciplines. It requires cooperation, action, and interactivities. As agriculture advanced, cities were built, and leaders kept count of taxes by making marks in clay. The alphabet was created but the elite administrators were the only ones allowed to use it. Then, according to Rheingold (2008), the printing press caused spread of collaboration and the alphabet was no longer just for the elite. He went on to say that soon there will be people walking around with super-fast computers. The sheer fast progression of this across the decades show that what Rheingold said was right on point, people have a need for interaction. I also think this is part due to the want human beings have for a need to be recognized for some contribution to the world. I don’t feel that anyone wants to think that life for them is just what there is on earth between birth and death. Whether, as I do, you believe in God or not, there is still a need to know that you “carry on” after death. Even as a proclaimed atheist, Susan B. Anthony, made her mark on the world. Why? I think she wanted to “live on in history” after her death. According to Wikipedia, Susan B. Antony (2009) was once noted as saying in regards to a family about to have their seventh child, “What a dreadful creature their God must be to keep sending hungry mouths while he withholds the bread to fill them!” It is notable to say that Susan’s niece disputes the claim that her aunt was indeed an atheist. There is always going to be more collaboration on the ideas in Wikipedia for just that reason, people have an instinct, not only to interact, but to disagree as well as continue their life after death.
With the advancements in technology, collaboration among learners is at an all-time high. Technological advances will not stop; therefore, this collaboration will be better and greater daily. The constructionist principle of a community of learners through communication is at its highest peak ever and is reaching higher.

Susan B. Anthony. In Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Retrieved October 7, 2009, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Susan_B._Anthony

Rheingold, H. (2008). Talks Howard Rheingold on collaboration [Video podcast]. Retrieved from http://sylvan.live.ecollege.com/