Bill Gates Predicts the Future...
15 Years ago, Bill Gates wrote the book, The Road Ahead, which included quite a few predictions on the future of technology. How did he do?
From: "Bill Gates: More Profit Than Prophet" in The Atlantic
http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2010/05/bill-gates-more-profit-than-prophet/56982/
Correct:
The Wallet PC: (1) Hello Smartphones. (2) If Gates predicted it, why didn't Microsoft beat Apple to market?
Social Networking: Easier to keep up with distant friends & enable new companions. (Note: The Atlantic says "Hit and Miss" -- I disagree & think the premise of Gates comment was a definite hit.)
Videoconferencing: Webcams are ubiquitous.
Wrong:
E-mail: Eliminate the need for many face-to-face meetings.
Wireless Networks: Mobile devices will send and receive messages, but too expensive and unusual to receive video. Dead Wrong! (Perhaps this explains why Microsoft is playing catch up in the smartphone market.)
Online Shopping: You will be able to interact with the florist as she arranges the bouquet.
The Internet vs. World Wide Web: The Internet is a bit player in the information highway of the future.
Privacy: technology will enable privacy.
3/8 This shows that even the most technologically savvy are challenged to envision the near future. As educators, we need to take this to heart. What will our students need to be able to know and do in 15 years? I'll place my bets on Google's advice:
Our Googley Advice: Major in Learning
