The Next New Thing

With the speed and scope of the Internet, it is sometimes difficult to figure out how many “new media” devices are available and there is a good chance that many new are being worked on now in the background.  I am not sure if my idea already exists somewhere on the web, but I think the next new thing should involve using the internet to create “virtual classrooms,” which would allow all kinds of students from any location to learn from a professor relaying information from his or her computer.  So many students today have access to the a computer, webcam, and the internet and tapping into the speed and efficiency of this network can help reduce utility costs of schools, transportation costs, and help time management for all students and teachers.  While the security and privacy of online communities may be concerns for new users, advancement in technology and integration will help people learn about things they are interested in, contribute their knowledge on all kinds of topics and learn from the comfort of home.  Having “virtual classrooms” could involve an online “conference” where the professor lectures from a webcam in a chat room and only his lecture is broadcasted in a video feed.  Those in the “class” would be listed in side panel (much like a buddy list), which would take “attendance,” and if a student wants to ask a question or make a comment, the teacher may allow the person to type/video chat the question.  There are days when going to school would make sense and other days where a person could be more productive if they were given their own time to finish projects or assignments.  As new media becomes more sophisticated and people have more busy schedules, I feel that using new media to make schools (especially colleges) more efficient is the next big thing for new media and society.