Forecasting with Delphi for Emerging Nanotechnology

My preferred innovation is Nanoscience for emerging nanotechnologies. This area of research impacts nearly everything from creating new sustainable energy sources to bio-imaging, to computational optical data storage. Have you heard of the proposed space elevator from NASA? Carbon nanofibers are now being studied in the laboratory that may make this more science than fiction.

The area of particular interest for my Nanoscience innovation is for the emerging field of nanomedicine: medical monitoring, intervention, and wellness. Currently, we can have our DNA analyzed to see what propensity exists for acquiring genetic illnesses. Interventions can sometimes be made as proactive prevention. Diseased cells have particular characteristics often unique to individuals. High resolution scanning can enable nanomedicine to prevent, halt, and repair cells on the DNA level. Conventional treatments for disease may become obsolete.

Dieters beware! This video introduced by Dr. Andrew Maynard called, The Twinkie Guide to Nanotechnology, gives an introduction produced by The Project for Emerging Technologies.

One of the ethical questions posed in the video concerns a barrier to adoption as nanoparticles are introduced into our bodies. When is too much of a good thing bad? How and when will we know? More questions arise as possible uses of nanoscience emerge.

Global promise for Nanoscience will both support and complicate applications. Concerns for regulation created an impetus for a handbook on regulation of nanotechnologies internationally. Innovation is spurred by the creation of common standards. Economically, third world and developed nations stand to improve the quality of life for not only humankind, but the planet itself through advancements in Nanoscience.

Since a peer reviewed, international handbook already exists ($299) a Delphi method approach is suggested to identify opportunities to prioritize and commercialize for applied nanomedicine research via collective intelligence. A homogenous group of experts can be used for nanoscience specializations while heterogeneous experts from across nanoscience fields can participate in the broadest, initial Delphi round. While the pure research methods are mostly quantitative, applied designs are more qualitative suggesting a mixed mode approach. Several research universities are beginning to collaborate using federated identity management, Shibboleth and an open source learning management system called SAKAI. International funding organizations such as UNESCO can facilitate the Delphi Method among participants.

Empowering Possibility through Media, Classically

The TED Talk assignment led me to seek serious play. Dr. Stuart Brown shared his work at TED, although the talk delivery does not inspire the topic. I did find someone with comments within Dr. Brown's talk whom I will now follow on this TEDster's blog.

Ultimately, my TED choice was influenced by a book the speaker wrote primarily with his wife, called The Art of Possibility, published in 2000 by Penguin Books.

Quote from the book spoken by Ben: "Waiter, I have a perfect life, but I don't have a knife."

In the TED talk below, Benjamin Zander, embodies passion for his topic. He exudes leadership and moral authority exhorting listeners to attend and relate to his interpretation of a classical piece of music. His manner is funny and he playfully engages attendees wherever they are in relation to classical music. The media demonstration of sound creates emotion while Zander translates meaning of the activity for our brains.

Instrumental music including classical is often universally and temporally embraced across cultures. In Orlando, I am now seeing local movie theaters advertise for the Metropolitan Opera and concert performances that are shown in high definition with surround sound. Technologically, I wonder how emotional reactions will compare when someone nearby munches popcorn. Personally, I prefer the idea of getting dressed up to experience the concert hall, but the price of admission limits access. The masses have the potential to experience such media that can be played on iPods and phones besides computers and tablets. Virtual worlds have shown potential to engage users emotionally through 3D immersion.

Zander mentions his role in this TED talk as a conductor to awaken the possibilities in others. In this case, the others are his orchestra. The pressure for perfection among professional musicians must be daunting. Robots will be able to imitate orchestral achievement someday like Data on Star Trek, but I wonder whether they will play to "play," improvise, and most of all awaken possibility in others.

When I complete my CTU doctorate degree, my next educational endeavor will be a certificate in Appreciative Inquiry. There are of course a few unfinished tasks in my current pursuit such as completing a compelling dissertation and coursework, challenging inquiry, making life-long friends, and transforming my life etc. I do indeed have a perfect life!

The photo above was taken in 1998 in Paris at the Père Lachaise Cemetery. It is Chopin's grave and I was struck by how he died at age 39. Likewise Mozart died at age 36. I do love classical music and wish I could play any instrument, but most of all I have a passion for learning and being a part of a community of scholars.

TED Talk Honorable mentions:

#1 Sir Ken Robinson - Changing Education Paradigms (beautifully illustrated ~12 mins)l

#2 Jill Bolte Taylor - Stroke of Insight (first person account of stroke as a brain scientist ~ 18 mins)

#3 Carolyn Polco - Saturn Expedition (planetary scientist showing awe for the meaning of the landing ~17 mins)

2010 Horizon Report

The New Media Consortium’s Horizon Project is much more than a report that is reprinted into several languages, distributed internationally and created for higher education, K-12, and museums.

The Project is a true collaboration in its creation of reports. I had the privilege of serving on the Advisory Board in 2007, but while the Board makes final determinations of the contents, anyone can scout, tag, and comment on recommended technologies. Fittingly, EDUCAUSE adopted the NMC’s project and process. The 2011 Horizon Report is scheduled to be released at the annual EDUCAUSE Learning Initiative (ELI) conference next month in Washington, DC.

For the 2010 report, one key technology predicted for adoption within two-three years is simple augmented reality (AR). Today, I purchased 20 virtual shares of augmented reality stock to boost my virtual net worth on the predictions game presented by the National Institute for Technology in Liberal Education http://markets.nitle.org I also referenced augmented reality in the Delphi Method Activity.

Augmented reality is expected to proliferate to produce $350 million in revenues by 2014 according to ABI Research (p.22). The use of tablet computers that use front and back facing cameras will fuel more rapid growth of AR. Markers read by cameras and mobile GPS positioning allow AR-enabled gaming and data visualization. Just as there has been an explosion of apps both for devices and the Web, AR content will be available for every aspect of daily life. The preservation of digital evidence that contains AR intrigues me for how the Law field will be transformed.

The trend reported in the 2010 Horizon Report that fits well with AR is the abundance of meaning making through available resources, relationships and the ability to author, create, and eventually annotate everything you see and experience. Expertise will become both clearer and murkier to detect, changing the role of educational institutions fundamentally. AR will dovetail with mobile computing and data visualization. Gesture-based computing will eventually enable the ability to annotate reality to enabling us to author our own personal AR.

Greetings fellow journey-men and -women scholars

This is my blog for CS855 Futuring and Innovations via Colorado Technical University's Institute for Advanced Studies program within the Doctorate of Computer Science in Emerging Media. Winter 2010.

My fellow classmates are researching interests in cloud computing, enterprise architecture, security, and other innovative technological topics.

My background is mostly in education. I am more Bandura than Vygotsky, Bruner than Piaget, especially on Tuesdays. Definitely Bransford and Dewey for enjoying afternoon tea.

I am seriously studying the importance of play in innovation, along with freedom of thought and authenticity. Tune in from time to time. I am a work in progress.