The Disruptive Power of Second Life

Second Life can be considered a disruptive technology because of its interactive abilities.

Linden Labs has created a 3D virtual reality experience that allows users to experience a virtual presence online. This interactive online experience can have great impact on the home video gaming system and TV. Both of these technologies do not allow you to interact with unknown users or to create fantasy worlds.


Second Life provides opportunities for individuals to create and explore social settings. Virtual worlds can provide a real world experience. They allow you to socialize using avatars. You can take on new identities and personalities. While I feel they can be beneficially to education in a variety of ways, I feel they have not yet reached their full potential. I feel Second Life is still an emerging technology and will only improve over time. I do not see virtual world being replace any time soon but I do see the way in which we use them have a greater impact on learning. They most certainly have the potential to create virtual high school classes and school campuses for hospitalized students or for students seeking diplomas in alternative school setting.


Linden Research, Inc. (n.d.) Linden Lab: Makers of Second Life. Retrieved July 22, 2010 from http://lindenlab.com/


Linden Research, Inc. (n.d.). Second Life. Retrieved July 22, 2010 from http://secondlife.com/


Avatar (computing). (2010, July 14). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 11:38, July 22, 2010, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Avatar_(computing)&oldid=373486560

Rhyme of History - Microwave Oven

The microwave oven has become as common as the kitchen sink in every household. This technology gained popularity in the1980s in the US. They are a way of life. The microwave is now a necessary for both residential and commercial use. Percy Spencer, has been credited for this accidental discovery. This discovery has transformed the way homes prepare meals.


The microwave was introduced in 1967 in Chicago by Amana. According to Dixie Trout, the vice president of consumer communications, “many appliance manufacturers, such as Amana, aimed to take the drudgery out of the typical homemaker’s life and replace it with the modern conveniences of the ‘home of the future.’( SMECC, 2007). This was during the dawn of the “Supermom” which was spurred by the large number of mothers who entered the workforce.” (SMECC, 2007). This was important because women desired to spend less time in the kitchen and more time with their families after a full day.

The microwave rekindled family bonding. As both men and women strive to find balance between work and home, the microwave helped to increase family time.

Amana. (2010). Retrieved July 8, 2010 from http://www.amana.com/


The Great Idea Finder. (2007). Percy Spencer. Retrieved July 8, 2010 from http://www.ideafinder.com/history/inventors/spencer.htm

Sharpe, T. (2007). Microwave Oven. Retrieved July 8, 2010 from http://www.smecc.org/microwave_oven.htm


Yahoo. (2009). Yahoo Dictionary. Retrieved from http://education.yahoo.com/reference/dictionary/entry/supermom