Elearning - February/March 2008 - (Page 4) Editor’snote Toward Gigabit Internet? New e-learning tools stand to benefit in a big way in the near future. T he article in this issue on Web conferencing explores the bandwidth conundrum that many Web developers (and, ultimately, users) will face in the coming years. As Internet learning continues to explode, creating the “global village,” technology is at a bandwidth crossroads. The megabit Internet uses electrons to move information over wires, technology that has given birth to killer applications like VoIP and streaming music. These are amazing advances, but when was the last time you had a videoconference that wasn’t choppy? In order to run lifelike, super-high-definition video conferencing with 100 people at once or photorealistic virtual reality role-playing tutorials, you need gigabit Internet access. Unfortunately, unless you have a military budget or your name is Bill Gates, the $15,000 to $30,000 per month required to receive that kind of bandwidth isn’t economically feasible. But all signs point to such access becoming affordable in the not-too-distant future, opening up new horizons for Internetand/or Web-based learning tools. For instance, a small nanotech company in Wilmington, Del., has patented molecularly engineered “nano-material,” which allows ultra-high-speed, fiberoptic communications chips to be inexpensively made out of plastic. These chips could bring the gigabit Internet to every home and every office for virtually the same price as what it now costs for the megabit Internet — about $30 per month. Third-Order (www.third-order.com) has patented its revolutionary material. But the guess here is that more such companies in the near future will be exploring other ways to make e-learning easier and — most importantly — much more affordable. Jerry Roche Editorial director 4 February/March Elearning! http://www.third-order.com
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