When Technology and the Human Race Become One

Our world is very quickly pushing itself to a place where the digital and physical worlds coexist. It is a scary yet exhilarating concept. With some of the most powerful companies in the world progressing these technologies to grow their business for economic benefits, there is no doubt in my mind that our world will see something close to singularity within the next 60 years.

Although we cannot tell the future, today, Moore’s Law stands true - every two years the overall processing power of computers has doubled. I can see the day when computing surpasses the human race – this may sound like a joke but if you open your eyes you will find that you are reading from a screen and have been looking at a screen for hours on end, EVERY DAY.

We are all addicted to technology, we are all dependent on technology, and we are all subject to it. Get this - 75% of all internet users in the world use Facebook. ALL of us curate the best pictures, the best statuses, or the best check-ins to ensure that we look the best online.

We are already creating virtual images of ourselves without even knowing it. Not only that, but most of us have created a habit out of this, AND as technology creates even better experiences for people AND as we become even more reliant, the further away we detract from human roots.

Big data, predictive analytics, and AR + VR are exploding in our face. How the human race deals with it is the real question.

What are we going to do to ensure that technology is utilized for the betterment of the human race?

Tech is my passion but I’m no singularity expert, or some conspiracy theorist. I’m just a student who wants to see technology influence the people around me in the best way possible. 

by Jared Stephens

The Future of Universities | Technology & The Classroom Experience

The class of 2015 is savvy, ambitious, and ready to take on the world. Like the graduating classes before it, this one is well equipped with the knowledge and toolset to begin a meaningful journey along a successful career path. But their degree granting institutions aren't so steady- the university system is bound to undergo a technological transformation.  

Universities will not disappear from society, but the way they operate will dramatically change. Mass online open courses are (MOOCS) are being incorporated into traditional college settings, and we can expect other leading institutions to jump on board this trend. ASU has recently teamed up with edX - a partnership between MIT and Harvard - to allow first year undergrads to complete their entire first year of schooling online. These students will have access to a wider variety of courses, taught by renowned professors from around the world, anywhere and anytime.

Anyone who's survived the freshman year dorm life would say this 'online outsourcing' would depreciate the college experience. Because after all, social networks and relationships are one of the most memorable and long-lived rewards of attending college. Universities will have to walk this fine line, and bridge the gap between online learning and in-person socialization.

Rather than completely abandon the on-campus model, schools will need to re-think the classroom experience, and redesign courses to incorporate in-class socialization and teacher interaction. All to often college students sit in lecture, browsing Facebook and shopping online as professors read off Powerpoint slides that are already posted online! Online courses can be used for studying, learning, and thinking, while the classroom should be a place of clarification, collaboration, and team work. The Internet still has it's benefits for being utilized in class, but regulations and even mobile apps can incentivize students to use the web appropriately. 

Some elementary schools have adopted this "flipped" classroom model. Salman Khan, founder of not-for-profit Khan Academy,  is one of its leading advocates. His website offers educational videos with complete curricula in a variety of subjects, completely free of charge.

Today's youngest generations are digital natives- they are incredibly good at picking up a new technology and learning it themselves. Future college students will not only be proficient at online learning, but they will accept new learning models because they fit into their technology infused lifestyles.

In order to stay relevant in the rapidly developing technology society we life in, existing universities will need to integrate modern forms of learning into their systems. Not only will this distinguish them as leaders in academia, it will ensure that our "social media" society values interpersonal and social development just as much as technological proficiency. 

by Charlie Stephens